Ladybug adored Paris at night. All the glittering lights and the cool breeze through her hair made her really feel like she had something worth fighting for. It was serene, beautiful, and above all else it was worth the effort she gave.

A familiar purr sounded behind her. Ladybug tried to be upset that he always seemed to interrupt her thoughts, and the incessant flirting too! Oh, that cat never knows the appropriate time for anything. But she did enjoy his company. "Hello, My Lady." Chat Noir said. "Out for a walk with the stars?"

Ladybug hummed in response and continued watching the lights of the cars far below hurry along to wherever it was they needed to go. "My Lady," Chat said when he settled beside her, standing erect and holding his hands behind his back casually. "May I ask you something?"

Ladybug eyed him curiously, "Of course. What is it?" She didn't have Chat's night vision, but she thought she saw a blush darken her partner's cheeks.

"It's just, it's kind of personal. Nothing that would give away our identities! But, uh," He shook his head. "Ladybug you know how I love you?"

"Oh this should be good." Ladybug said without thinking. Anything that started like that (that wasn't coming from Adrien) couldn't end well, she thought. Chat actually flinched at her words, and she felt bad for saying them. She should have been more careful, he even told her it was something personal! She couldn't return his feelings, but the last thing she wanted to do was hurt Chat.

She turned more towards him, and he turned to her, looking far more unsure of himself than just a few moments earlier. "Okay, that was probably a terrible way to start that thought…"

She touched his shoulder to silently tell him she was sorry. He looked in her eyes with a small smile to tell her he understood. "I wanted to ask if… if you thought it was possible to…" Chat glanced down, and then over to the Parisian skyscape. "Do you think it's possible to like more than one person at once?"

Ladybug had to take a moment. Chat Noir has a crush on someone else? Someone from his civilian life? She wasn't sure at first how she felt about that revelation. I guess I've just always taken his affection for granted, she thought. It was just a fact of the world. Chat Noir likes Ladybug. It never bothered her, except in those moments where she was afraid she hurt him by saying something careless, or was afraid to lead him on by returning his flirty banter, but they had good chemistry, and they both understood what they were to each other, and even though he flirts, he never tries to push her. But if he likes someone else? Ladybug couldn't help but think, despite her protests that he's just an annoying, silly, cat, that whoever it was is one lucky girl indeed.

"I think," She said finally, "That it's totally possible to like two people at once."

Surprisingly to her, by the way Chat's face fell, that wasn't what he wanted to hear. "Oh."

"What's with that face?" She asked, "Isn't it good? There's some lucky girl out there just waiting for you!"

Chat frowned, obviously thinking hard. "I just didn't want it to be true. I kept telling myself, I love Ladybug, I can't have a crush on someone else! But…"

"Why not? You can have someone in your life, the one where you don't have to wear a mask." Chat flinched again and Ladybug berated herself. Why can't I say the right thing with him?

Chat took a deep breath and looked her straight in the eyes. It had been a long time since she saw those emerald eyes so serious. "My Lady, I didn't want it to be true because there is no 'lucky lady', aside from you of course. Actually it's a, uh, it's a boy that I like."

"You like a boy?" Chat nodded stiffly. "I didn't want to think about it, so I kept telling myself it was impossible but… yeah… yeah I think I have a crush on a boy."

Oh Chat, Ladybug thought. All she wanted to do was give him a big hug and tell him everything's okay. Tell him that he's still her trusted partner and something like this could never change that.

After a few seconds debating it, she did.

Chat Noir seemed surprised by her hug, but quickly wrapped his arms around her as well. "You're the bravest little kitty I've ever met, you know that?" She whispered. "I'm really happy that you could share this with me."

"With you, My Lady?" Chat pulled away with a wink, and he smiled easily. "Anything."

Ladybug smiled good-naturedly in return, but she still had so many questions buzzing around in her mind. "So what does this mean for you?"

"For me?" Chat gulped, looking unsure once again. "I don't know. I'm kind of new to this after all."

"What about him?"

"Him? Oh no! Nothing! I'm not going to do anything. I don't think I'd be brave enough, anyway. And I'm not sure I'm ready for everyone to… know."

"I understand. I'm always here if you need me."

"I know." He grinned at her. "Thank you."

The next day at school, Marinette surprised herself with the many doodles of black cats surrounding her work. I guess I just have him on my mind. She thought. It wasn't a bad thing, but it was strange, considering her crush was still right in front of her. She had done some searching on the internet the night before after she got back from patrolling as Ladybug, staying up late into the night because of it. But though she was tired, she was also happy. Happy that Chat could trust her with something like that about him. When she was browsing the internet she came across a lot of "safe spaces" for LGBTQ people. She felt herself flush a little at the thought that she was Chat's safe space. The place he felt comfortable enough to let that part of himself in the open.

She decided she definitely wouldn't let him down.

"Hey Marinette, what's got you so happy?" Alya leaned over giving her a strange look.

"Oh, nothing." She said, "I was just thinking about someone."

Alya gave her a conspiratorial grin and pointedly glanced at Adrien. Marinette felt her face heat up but didn't protest. It was probably for the best that Alya assumed she meant Adrien. It meant less danger of outing herself as Ladybug and more importantly, less danger of outing Chat.

Marinette continued drawing small black cats in the margins of her paper, each of them getting up to mischief in one way or another. She even went so far as to draw Chat Noir himself once with that familiar smirk that made her feel like she could be brave too. Like she was Ladybug again.

She quickly covered the doodle with another piece of paper.

When school ended, Marinette found out she wasn't quick enough. "What was that? I didn't know you liked Chat Noir! You never seemed very interested when I talk about him and Ladybug!"

"Ah, what?" Marinette responded to her friend.

"You can't fool me, I saw you draw him. And all those black cats before then, those were just coincidence, right?"

Alya said it in a teasing tone, prompting Marinette's response. "I was drawing some cats. You know I like cats. And then seeing all those black cats made me think of him, is that strange?"

"I suppose not." Alya smirked, "But I wonder why you made them all black?"

"Because I only had a black pen, silly."

"Mhmm. I think you're a fan."

"Of that silly cat?! You're crazy." Marinette laughed. "I will admit though, he does a lot to keep us all safe, just like Ladybug does. Everyone should be a fan."

"Just don't go forgetting about Adrien now. Besides, we all know Chat Noir is with Ladybug."

"He is not!"

"You protest too much for your own good." Alya smirked her best "gotcha" smirk and leaned in close.

"I just don't think Ladybug would be with someone so loud and frivolous." Marinette crossed her arms as she defended herself.

"And what about you?" Alya wiggled her eyebrows suggestively.

"Of course not! Chat could never compare to Adrien." Besides, she thought, he already has a crush on someone else. The thought was strange to Marinette. If there was no Adrien, maybe she would give Chat a chance, but… in the situation they're in, she's glad he found someone else. It makes her feel a little better about not returning his feelings.

"OOOhh, speaking of whom!" Alya said gleefully. "Adrien is coming this way now!"

"Huh?" Marinette turned and saw her crush walking toward her. "Oh no, what do I do? What do I say? What-"

Alya laughed, "Just try to relax, Marinette."

She couldn't.

"Hey." Adrien greeted them. He paused while Alya said hello and Marinette stuttered out all she could of a greeting. He rubbed his neck and looked away as he asked, "Do either of you know where I can find a list of all the clubs here at school?"

Alya responded for her since Marinette couldn't form words. "You need a list of clubs? Aren't you already in like ten of them?"

"I just wanted to check something."

Alya gave him a curious look but took his phone and brought up the club listing on the school website for him. "There you go. What were you looking for? One more club to put on your resume? Martial arts? History?"

"Ah, actually, I was…" Marinette was astonished that for once Adrien was also at a loss for words. Unfortunately that didn't have anything to do with her. "I was looking for the GSA."

"Wha-?"

"Thanks, Alya!" Adrien grinned, his face red, before he turned and walked away, not giving either of them any time to respond.

"THIS IS BIG!" Alya announced, taking Marinette by the arm and practically dragging her back to Marinette's home.