Chat Noire had long ago found out that getting her 'Bug to rub her ears was a great way to get her talking when something was bothering her.

The fact that she got an ear rub out of this was, of course, a delightful bonus.

So, when Ladybug was clearly preoccupied throughout their patrol, once they stopped for the night Chat shoved her head under her partner's arm (having to bend well down to do so, her 'Bug was so tiny yet so mighty) before crawling into her lap and flopping down with a satisfied thrum of a purr.

It didn't take long before Ladybug's gloved hand was stroking through her curls and rubbing gently at her ears, enticing a steadier purr from deep in Chat's chest.

And it didn't take long for Ladybug to start talking, like she knew she would. "… Chat?"

"Mmhmm?" Words were a little harder than normal when Ladybug hit that special spot right at the base of her ears, oh that was heavenly.

"Have you ever had a crush on someone?"

Chat opened her eyes and rolled to stare in slight disbelief up at her Lady, gaze steady and liquid gold, then gave one slow blink in answer.

"… Right, stupid question." Ladybug sighed and went back to running her fingers through Chat's curls. "It's just… there's this girl in my class…"

Simultaneously, Chat's heart leapt high in her chest and sank down into her stomach. On the one hand, this meant that Ladybug wasn't entirely straight. On the other, from the direction the conversation was clearly going, she liked someone else.

Swallowing hard, she shoved her head harder under Ladybug's hand and forced her softened purr up a notch to reassure her. No matter what, Ladybug was her friend first and foremost. "Go on."

"Well, she's… she's my best friend, outside of the costume. And at first I had a crush on this boy in my class, and she was always trying to help get us together, but then he started dating his best friend and I'm happy for him, I really am, but… Chat, she's so amazing, she's so brave and kind and selfless…"

Chat, for her part, was fighting down a stab of jealousy at every word coming out of Ladybug's mouth. "I think I get the idea, 'Bug."

"Right. Sorry." Chat glanced up to see that Ladybug was blushing, which extended up under her mask, which was so adorable that it should be illegal. "But… Chat, I don't even know if she likes girls, and I don't want to ruin our friendship or make things weird between us, and I don't know if I could even tell her and get the words out. I get all tongue-tied and stuttery and mix up my words when I even think about it."

"Oh, 'Bug…" Shifting slightly, Chat propped herself up on one arm, then used the other to drag Ladybug into a hug, purring soothingly for her. "She'd have to be an idiot to not want you. And if she turns you down, just tell me and I'll knock some sense into her, okay?"

"But… you…"

Chat gave a sad smile, leaning in to gently press her lips to Ladybug's forehead while she searched for the right words. "Yes, I do have feelings for you." She had made that abundantly clear throughout their partnership. "And I won't lie, I am a little jealous. But I care about you more, and if she is the one that would make you happy, then go for it."

It took a moment, but then Ladybug was hugging her back, so tight that for the hundredth-time Chat wondered how her tiny 'Bug could be so strong. "Thank you, Chat."

"You're welcome, my Lady."

Quietly, under the mask, Alya closed her eyes and felt her heart break.