I love you.
He had tried to tell her. Now it was hopeless.
How was he going to find her again? Ever since they defeated Hawkmoth last winter, Ladybug hadn't reappeared. He had no idea what had happened to her. He still checked the Ladyblog every morning just in case, but he knew it was a lost cause. It was almost summer now, and nothing was happening. He still took his suit out every night on patrol, something he and Ladybug used to do together. She hadn't shown up since the big battle. Now, whenever someone needed help, they cried, "Chat Noir!" instead of "Ladybug!" like they used to. Back then, Chat Noir got somewhat annoyed by that. Like, "Hi, random civilian, I exist too!" Now, he would give almost anything for it to be like that again. Forgotten, Ladybug had probably put her Miraculous away, thinking that she wouldn't need it anymore, now that Hawkmoth was gone.
Chat sighed, sitting down on the roof of Notre Dame. Sooner or later, the Ladyblog would catch wind of his presence. He didn't care as much anymore.
What was the point of being a superhero if you couldn't be with the one girl you love?
Sure, Adrien Agreste had gone on plenty of dates. But none of the girls he had gone out with were anywhere near as outgoing, kind, clever, or brave as Ladybug. How was he supposed to move on?
Cloe had taken him to dinner last night, but all he could think about was the fact that Ladybug was perfectly happy eating what Cloe called 'peasant food'. He had gone out with Marinette last week, and she was amazing and sweet, but she simply wasn't Ladybug. His other friends were all settling down- Ivan and Mylene were happy, having been together for seven whole years. Nino and Alya were getting married next summer, with Adrien being the best man. But in five months, Chat had heard nothing from Ladybug. Sometimes he wondered if it wasn't all a dream, and he had never really known her. When that happened, he would transform to make everything feel real again. But there was something wrong with it. Chat Noir simply wasn't Chat Noir without his Ladybug, and Ladybug hadn't been seen for months.
He sighed. He really should get home- he had college in the morning, and he couldn't be late again. Sometimes he wondered why he still bothered with patrol. Yes, he had captured several petty criminals, but the police could have done that. With Hawkmoth in jail and his butterfly Miraculous with Master Fu, Paris was safe- from Akuma attacks, at least. He crept through the window into his modest apartment. Although Adrien Agreste could afford a mansion bigger than his father's, he preferred staying in his little three-room flat and use his money for better things, like feeding the homeless and paying for college.
Just before closing his window, Chat stuck his head out, his cat ears brushing against the glass.
"I love you, Ladybug," he called out softly, "wherever you are."
Author's Note:
Hey everyone! Thank you so much for reading this. I know that I probably just wasted a few minutes of your life, so apologies for that! Anyway, as always, I'd love feedback and constructive criticism, but please keep it constructive and not negative. Inappropriate comments will be removed. Your positive comments really help this fangirl keep writing!
-Astraea