Cat Noir stood outside his bathroom door for a minute, thinking hard. Why did Ladybug care so much about him? No. Scratch that. Not him, Cat Noir, but him, Adrien Agreste. And when he had leaned his head against the door, why did it feel like Ladybug too had leaned her head against the door? He let out a long sigh. No way to know for sure. Ladybug was gone now. His head snapped up, as he rushed to his open window and searched the skies. Ladybug was gone now! And she would be heading back to the Eiffel Tower to say good-bye to him.

But he wasn't there. As far as she knew, though, he hadn't moved and was simply waiting for her to get back. Which meant, in order for him not to blow his secret, or for her not to lower her, let's face it, already low romantic opinion of him, he'd have to beat her to the Eiffel Tower! Oh, that was definitely a hard task. A hard task indeed. But, he was after all, Cat Noir. If anyone could do it, it would be him. As he crouched on the edge of his window, a small beep rang out.

He glanced down at his black ring, just in time to see it turn white, and the rest of his costume burned away as well, leaving him in his standard Agreste Brand clothes. Adrian let out a groan before falling backwards and into is room from the window. As he wearily got up and brushed himself off, he cursed his rotten, black cat luck. Now he'd have to recharge Plagg before transforming again, and beating Ladybug to the Eiffel Tower.

Oh well. At least Plagg was a fast eater. He'd just have to hope that Ladybug's kwami was a slow one.

Slow. So slow! "Tikki, hurry up!" Marinette exclaimed to the little kwami, who was munching a chocolate chip cookie as fast as she could, which, for the record, wasn't much. "I'm eating as fast as I can!" The little ladybug kwami assured her holder. Marinette anxiously looked around the rooftops for any sign of her partner. Surely Cat Noir wouldn't have left yet, would he? On normal days she wouldn't have cared too much if he took off without saying goodbye. That never happened, by the way. But today, ever since Volpina was defeated, for now anyways, she had a pressing question in her mind. How had he known? How could Cat Noir have bet with Adrian's life like that? If it had really been him-

No. Marinette shook her head to clear her thoughts. No. It wasn't Adrien. He was safe, she had just checked that. She glanced down to see Tikki still eating that single cookie. And the little kwami wasn't even halfway done! Although, who could blame her? Because of the attack, Marinette had to skip lunch. She sure could use a cookie right now...Tikki saw Marinette gaze longingly at the cookie in her little hands. She giggled.

"Marinette, you have an extra in your purse. You can eat it, I don't need it." The girl's face lit up.

"Thanks Tikki!"

As Marinette ate the delicious cookie, from her own bakery, she couldn't help but think about her mysterious partner. As much as she wanted to deny it, Marinette had to admit that Ladybug really wanted to know who was behind the charming, yet reckless mask. Of all the people who walked in the bakery every day, was it possible that Cat Noir was one of them? She gazed up longingly at the Eiffel Tower, where, hopefully, Cat Noir still sat, waiting for her. Oh well. Her questions would probably never get answered, but she had a couple that certainly had to be.

Cat Noir hopped onto the railing of the Eiffel Tower and sat down, leaving one leg dangling off, and he tilted his head back into the warm mid-afternoon sun. Running a hand through his golden hair, Cat Noir let himself catch his breath and think. He had actually beaten Ladybug to the Eiffel Tower! How had that happened? Maybe...hmm. Maybe he had been right? Ladybug must have stopped on the way to recharge. Her kwami must really have been slow. Or, she must be eating herself. His stomach growled. Cat Noir groaned. Maybe lunch would have been a great idea...

He gazed out over Paris, hoping to catch some sight of the red-and-black clad superhero. Every day, every minute, every second he spent with her, the more he wanted to know who she truly was. What was she so afraid of? If only he had known Ladybug would take so long, then he could have taken all the time in the world and searched every street on his path. Surely he would have caught a glimpse of the girl. She would have been in too much of a rush to hide herself. Oh well. Cat Noir let out a long sigh and leaned back once more, closing his eyes.

Ladybug was on the nearest rooftop, and was about to yo-yo onto the railing of the Eiffel Tower, when she spotted a lean, black, figure. She gently contracted her yo-yo and peered closer. Ladybug unintentionally let out a girlish giggle. It was none other than Cat Noir, leaning back on the railing as though he hadn't a care in the world. Even Ladybug had to admit, with the sun glinting off his leather clad costume, and golden hair...he actually looked pretty cute! Maybe, in a world without Adrien-

No! Not a world without Adrien. Now that was a scary thought. Ladybug swung up on the balcony of the Eiffel Tower, being extremely cautious to not make a sound. She slowly crept closer and closer, hoping to surprise the unsuspecting feline.

Cat Noir let himself relax and enjoy the warmth and peace of the moment. He never got moments like these. Not as Adrien Agreste.

As that side of him, he always had t look poised and elegant. Maintain the "picture of perfection" that came with being the son of the ever-famous Gabriel Agreste. His schedule was also packed with fencing lessons (which came in handy as Cat Noir), piano (he enjoyed those), Chinese, (those really helped him get to know Marinette, she had needed his help communicating, and he got to spend the day with her! Not that he like her...or anything), and his photo shoots for his father.

His life as Cat Noir was definitely more interesting. But anytime he had to transform, it was because there was another akumatised villain. Sure Adrien got to unleash his wild side, his true side, but he never got time to just lie there, basking in the sun, and enjoying the world around him. Except...well, except whenever Ladybug was late for patrol. That rarely ever happened, but, even though he cherished each and every moment with Ladybug, some alone time with no action would really help him. Still, ever since he became Cat Noir, he'd never felt so, so free. That was who he truly was.

Unfortunately, Ladybug never seemed to find him too appealing. But she'd come around. Speaking of which...His cat ears ruffled ever so slightly, and he detected a slight shift in the air around him. And then there was the smell. More like a...delightful aroma. Chocolate chip cookies. Ladybug...she always smelled like chocolate chip cookies, fresh out of the oven. Kind of like Marinette's bakery, and Marinette too...Ladybug's smell was distinct, at least to him, with his enhanced smell and hearing. And she was getting closer. He kept his eyes closed and relaxed.

A cocky smile played on his lips. Let her come, he thought. Make her wonder.

Ladybug stepped closer, silent as night, even though it was still around she could clearly see his face. Was that a cocky grin on his face? She wondered why. He couldn't possibly have heard her coming, could he? She had been so quiet. Ladybug shook her head and cleared her thoughts. Of course he hadn't heard her coming. She reached out to touch his shoulder.

Cat Noir felt a gentle hand brush his shoulder.

But before it settled down he said, "Ladybug...," his eyes still closed. He felt it draw back.

"How did you know?" A soft voice breathed. That's when he opened his eyes and blinked, as the bright sunlight filled his vision. Cat Noir hopped off the railing and turned to face his partner.

"I can always tell when you're around M'lady," he simply said, and was pleased to see that a small smile played on Ladybug's face, as she grew serious.

"Cat Noir, we need to talk. Now."

He was taken aback by her dire and desperate tone.

What was so important that she needed to talk about? To him no less. Nonetheless, he was ready to listen. Always.

"Of course. But whatever about?" His curiosity was building; He had never seen her this serious before. Then again, today's battle was also unlike any other. Volpina, the villian, had become akumatized after a run-in with Ladybug. Even after defeating her, Lila still had bitter feelings towards his lady. He had a sinking feeling that today wasn't the last they'd see of Volpina. Maybe it was about that...

Ladybug took a deep breath. Her question may be too blunt, but she needed an answer.

"How did you know?" She asked. Cat Noir stepped back. He should have anticipated this question. Did he not see it coming? Maybe he could get out of this. The superhero decided to feign innocence.

"Wh-what do you mean?" He asked, hoping Ladybug hadn't noticed his slight stutter at the beginning.

Oh she had noticed alright. She had a feeling he knew exactly what she was talking about. Yet still she repeated the question and pressed on.

"How did you know that the kid Volpina was holding was an illusion and not the real Adrien Agreste?"

Cat Noir sighed. How could he tell her the true reason? That was just it. He couldn't. So, he tried to avoid it by returning to his original argument.

"I just knew, okay?"

Ladybug studied his eyes. They looked nervous, and his ears and tail twitched the slightest bit. He knew something, but he didn't want to tell her. Cat Noir was hiding something, but what? And why? Ladybug knew she needed to know more.

"But how could you be so sure?" She asked him, her voice rising, and lower lip trembling now. "What if that was the real Adrien?"

Cat Noir stepped back, struck with the truth of the matter.

"I-," He tried to think of an answer. What if he wasn't Adrien? And that really could have been another person. When given the choice to give up their Miraculous, or the person, what would he have done? Of course the obvious first reaction would be to give up their Miraculous instead of chancing it.

But, given more time and thought, there were also some loopholes to this. For instance, if Volpina really did drop the person down the Eiffel Towers, either Ladybug or he could easily catch the person. And on the off chance that they don't...

"Well, if it was the real Adrien, that would mean at worst, one life lost vs. all the people in Paris!" He retorted, with the argument that made the most sense. To him, anyways.

Ladybug shook her head fervently. A life lost? How could that be so, so okay with him?

Especially Adrien's...how could Cat Noir be so heartless? Sure, if Hawk Moth had their Miraculouses, Paris would be miserable, but no one would die, right? She hoped. After all, Ladybug would have gladly given up her Miraculous if it meant Adrien would be safe, even if she endangered all of Paris. Although, she hadn't been thinking straight when "Adrien," A.K.A., Volpina's illusion, had been threatened.

Maybe there was some truth to what Cat Noir was saying. Either way, he couldn't risk people's lives like that!

"But Cat Noir, our job is to protect every citizen in Paris! You can't just bet with people's lives like that. Especially not with Adrien's..." her voice faltered at the end, realizing what she just said. Had she revealed too much? Ladybug took a step back, brining her hand up to her mouth in recognition of her obvious mistake.

Cat Noir raised an eyebrow and shook his head in irritation. She couldn't really blame him! His argument made the most sense, but Ladybug's emotions got in the way.

Her emotions...she never let her emotions get in the way of her life as a savior of Paris. That was something he admired, and also, he wasn't afraid to admit, was irritated by, since this was the reason she kept shutting him down. But for her to let her feelings slip, that only ever happened when she was around him. No, scratch that. Not him. Adrien. Could it be possible that his civilian self had something to do with this?

The last thing he needed was another girl fawning over him because he was a model.

Especially not Ladybug. Well, only one way to find out.

"Why do you care so much about this "Adrien Agreste" guy?" He demanded, making air quotes with his fingers as he spoke. "I mean, you were willing to give up your Miraculous for him! I know he wasn't just a random civilian to you," Cat Noir finished, crossing his arms over his chest, and waiting for an answer. Ladybug froze, as Cat Noir held her gaze, daring her to answer.

"I-I...," Ladybug stammered. But, was unable to come up with an excuse. Should she tell him? He already suspected something, so she might as well come clean. There was no way to get out of this one anyways. Ladybug sighed, defeated. "I'm sorry Cat Noir, but I- I love him," she said, turning away so she wouldn't have to see the hurt in eyes.

Now it was Cat Noir's turn to step back. His hands fell limply to his side, as his jaw hung open. This couldn't be happening!

Ladybug. The Ladybug. His Ladybug, only liked him for his looks and his money. Of all the people...He stood there in shock, wondering so much about this was going to affect them, (and boy was it going to change everything) that he almost missed what she said next.

"Most people know him as a handsome, rich model-," Cat Noir sighed at that. Of course. But Ladybug hadn't heard him and continued on.

"But...I've gotten to know him for who he really is..." Cat Noir's ears perked up at this point. "...I'll admit I didn't like him much when we first met. I sorta accused him of scheming with the school bully to make my life miserable, but...I was wrong. I was so wrong!" Cat Noir had a weird sense of déjà vu. Why did this seem so familiar?

"He helped me out, and I realized, there's so much more to him than meets the eye. He's so sweet, and kind, and misunderstood..."

Cat Noir felt a gush of emotions. Who was Ladybug who knew him so well?

"And yes, he's cute too, but besides that he's amazing. And even though I've hardly been able to talk to him, I- I love him Cat Noir, I'm sorry..."