Chat Noir lounged on a rooftop in Paris, one hand behind his head, the other twirling his baton. "I wonder when Ladybug will show up," he said. No one was listening, except for Plagg, of course. But the kwami couldn't respond right now, and Chat took the opportunity to air his thoughts aloud. "She usually gets here before me. Maybe she's found an akuma?"
He closed his eyes and focused his hearing on the sounds from the city. Heightened senses, like those of his feline namesake, were something that came with the powers, though only one worked at once. Chat listened as hard as he could, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary – just cars, people talking, the usual pigeons. He spun his baton around once more and caught it in his hand, looking at the glowing green paw print on the front. "I guess if she had found the akuma, she would have called me. We've been doing that pretty much all summer." He sighed.
"She's probably doing something as…whoever she is." Chat Noir resumed twirling his baton while staring at the clouds drifting across the sky. "I wonder what she's like when she's not Ladybug. She's probably really cool, with lots of friends." He frowned. "Maybe she has a boyfriend and is spending time with him. Or a girlfriend." Chat sighed again. "That would mean she doesn't love me back….She's never mentioned dating someone. Maybe there's still a chance she'll fall for me." He paused to mull over that thought for a moment. "I just wish she would soon."
"Wish who would do what soon, Chat Noir?"
So engrossed in his thoughts he was that Chat didn't hear Ladybug approach. He turned only his head towards her and cocked an eyebrow, pulling out his more dramatic side. "Wish you would show up soon, of course," he said. In one swift movement, Chat Noir rolled off the roof's peak and slid to a stop next to his partner. "And it appears my wish has been granted! Good afternoon, Ladybug."
Ladybug, standing there in her red and black-spotted glory, rolled her eyes at Chat, but he could see the slight grin on her face. "Good afternoon to you too, Chat Noir. I take it nothing interesting has happened so far today?"
"Not yet," Chat said. "The city has been relatively quiet today."
"That's good." Ladybug turned, hands on her hips, to face the Paris skyline. "Ready to patrol, Chat?"
"Of course, my Lady. But one question…"
Ladybug turned back and looked Chat in the eyes, an amused smile on her face. She knew what was coming. "You know I won't tell you, Chat Noir."
"Yes, but I think I have it this time. I've seen you with her, so I know you're not her, but maybe you share this in common. Is your name…," Chat paused for dramatic effect. "Alya?"
To his surprise, Ladybug threw her head back and laughed, a clear, pure sound that made Chat's ears tingle with happiness. "Like the blogger? I'll tell you this one, Chat. No, my name is not Alya. That would be funny, though. Imagine, Alya, talking with someone else named Alya but not knowing it."
Chat Noir shrugged. He doubted he was right on this anyway, but inwardly he smiled at her reaction. "It was worth a shot."
"Okay, Chat. Whatever you say," Ladybug said, calming down from her laughter. "We should get to patrolling. Should we split up today, or stick together?"
I'd like to stay with you all day long, Ladybug, but Chat couldn't quite say that out loud to her. "I suppose we can –"
He was interrupted from making a decision by a cacophony of car horns coming from several blocks away. Chat and Ladybug exchanged a look, then, without speaking, leapt simultaneously from their roof to another, heading towards the horns. They were not an unusual noise in a city, for sure, and it was likely not an akuma, but the duo left anyway. If something was wrong, they could always be there to help.
