"What?!" Ladybug raised an annoyed eyebrow at Chat Noir, and put a hand on her hip. "Why are you looking at me like that?!"
"You have beautiful eyes you know," Chat Noir leaned in towards her, "with or without your mask."
"Wh...what?!" Ladybug stammered, stepping back, and tripping over her own feet.
"Your hair was a little shorter than I had imagined," Chat Noir went on with an encouraging smile, "but I suppose that is part of the miraculous magic trying to shield us from finding out each other's identities."
"You...you figured out who I am?!" Ladybug asked in a stricken voice.
"I think it was really brave the way you sacrificed your identity to save me!" he reached for her spotted gloved hand and let himself imagine the bare hands he had seen before. "You don't have to worry though! I won't tell anyone! Now that I know I can protect you M..."
"No, no, no!! Don't say my name!" Ladybug pressed her finger against his lips. "How could this have happened!"
"Mi'Lady, really everything will be fine...better than fine! We actually know each other...kind of...we go to the same scho..."Chat Noir tried to assure her, only to have her muffle him with both hands this time.
"No, no, shhh...not another word. Oh it is worse than I thought! She saw me, and she told you! She couldn't go a few minutes without spilling my secret identity!" Marinette fumed thinking that Mireille had somehow messed up and let it slip to Chat Noir of all people that Marinette was Ladybug. Surely she had to do it accidentally, Ladybug tried to calm herself...maybe Mireille hadn't known that Ladybug and Chat Noir didn't know each other's secret identities. She hadn't thought Mireille was that kind of person. She was one of the people in Paris who hadn't ever been akumatized...at least...not yet.
Ladybug let out a frustrated sigh and through up both her hands. Now there were two people who knew her secret! She drew her hands across her face and peaked through her laced finders at Chat Noir who just watched her expectantly. She had really wanted to maybe have the chance to tell him who she was herself one day, but maybe there was still a way for her to fix this mess.
Ladybug straightened herself and looked at Chat Noir. "I don't know what you think you saw or what that girl told you, but I'm not who you think I am," Ladybug tried to sound more confident than she felt.
"Haha Ladybug, very funny. There is no way that you are going to convince me that what I saw with my own eyes was some big misunderstanding. I sent you through the bakery, and then you come out of the same bakery ready to defend me! You were just steps away from me when I looked you straight in the face! You're honestly going to play it this way Mi'Lady?!" Chat Noir said pointedly.
"I don't know what you think you saw," Ladybug continued determinedly, but if you really saw who I am under this mask, you wouldn't be looking at me the way that you are now. I'm not always like this...like this perfect hero you seem to have in your mind!"
"Mi'Lady!" Chat Noir stepped closer, and put her hand on her shoulder. "You really think I'd love you less now that I know who you really are?! You're smart, caring, sweet, and beautiful...with or without your mask. I know you can sometimes be shy, but surely you've got to know how excited I am to finally have gotten to see who you are."
"What gave me away?" Ladybug watched Chat Noir cautiously.
"Well the Dupain-Cheng bakery bag for one!" Chat Noir chuckled. "Not much of a disguise really!"
"Was it the bag or the girl under it?" Ladybug narrowed her eyes.
"Ladybug, what are you talking about?" Chat Noir sighed. "Can't you accept that I accept you, knowing what a wonderful person you are? Neither of us meant to have things come out this way, but now that I know isn't it a relief? Aren't you the least bit happy?" Chat Noir's voice turned pleading, searching her eyes for a sign of hope that things would be okay between them.
"Oh Kitty," Ladybug's shoulders dropped. "You know why we've kept our identities a secret this whole time. Of course I want to be able to share that part of my life with you, but it just puts you, me, and everyone we love at risk."
"So you're not mad at me for finding out?" Chat Noir ventured.
"Of course not!" Ladybug seemed surprised. And then she dropped her head. "If anything I'm mad at myself. You might not be the only one who found out who I am today. And if you truly know who I am, I'm not sure if I can trust her."
"Her? Her who?" Chat Noir asked concerned.
"Not yet Kitty. I will let you know when I've had a chance to talk with her. Maybe Tiki will know what to do!" Ladybug clenched her hands determinedly, and turned to go.
"Mireille!" Chat Noir called out, and caught her by the hand.
Ladybug spun on her heel in surprise that he had guessed the girl's name. Chat Noir however read her look of surprise differently. Chat Noir brushed a kiss on the back of her hand. "See you soon Mi'Lady!" he winked and then bounded off happily.
Ladybug watched him frozen with apprehension and confusion. Somehow she had missed something...but she couldn't quite figure out what it was.