Ah.
This feeling would never get old.
Ladybug soared over the rooftops of Paris, tall Parisian houses and clusters of clouds rushing by like she was staring out the window of a moving vehicle. Being Ladybug made her feel so strong and in control, which was an oddly refreshing break after her clumsy, shy routine as Marinette.
"Over there M'lady?" Chat Noir suggested, pointing one of his black-gloved fingers over to a nearby rooftop.
Ladybug emerged from her thoughts and looked at her companion, nodding. The two heroes leapt over a building with ease and landed on a high-up, panelled rooftop above all of Paris. That was another thing Ladybug loved about being a superhero; the incredible views. Just being able to see Paris in a way most others could not was something special in itself.
Houses stooped below her, resembling small figurines on a toyshop shelf. The Eiffel Tower provided a picturesque backdrop against the clouds, which had been streaked with flecks of yellow as the sun divided up its golden rays amongst them, weary after its long day and wanting nothing more than to step down from the sky and surrender to the moon. Ladybug sighed. Closed her eyes. Breathed in, breathed out. Calm.
"What is it?"
Chat Noir roused Ladybug from her thoughts once more and she turned to face him. Sat down on the edge of the roof, Chat Noir swung his legs daringly over the ledge and looked at his lady. Ladybug sighed and perched herself next to him, staring into the sky.
"That was one of the hardest akumas we've ever faced. We only just saved them. Hawkmoth's powers are getting stronger, and so is he," Ladybug confessed. She paused, hesitating, "what if... what if, until now, all of this has just been beginner's luck, and we can't win against Hawkmoth? What if one day, we're out of luck? If we fail, we let all of Paris down, and it'd be our fault."
Ladybug shifted her gaze to her lap and wrung her hands nervously. She couldn't bring herself to meet Chat Noir's eye, because as much as she came across as a strong superheroine, deep down fear ate away at her, worry gnawing at her suit until it reduced her back to scared, nervous Marinette who made hasty promises she could never keep, who couldn't let anyone down. Deep down, Ladybug was scared of being caught off guard, scared of failing everyone. Her country, her loved ones, Chat Noir. Saying it out loud, made all of her worries feel more real.
Chat Noir placed his hand on Ladybug's arm and she moved her head in his direction, still not looking him in the eye.
"We can win, and in the end we will. We're Ladybug and Chat Noir. As long as you have me by your side, as long as we work together, we'll beat Hawkmoth, I know we will. Us against the world, like it's always been," he soothed, smiling warmly.
Chat Noir put all his faith in Ladybug, as he hoped she did in him. He trusted Ladybug to always come through, and he thought it a shame that she didn't see so herself. Ladybug brought herself to look at Chat Noir and smiled tentatively.
"You're right. Thanks Chat. I think that there's been so many people akumatized lately it's got me panicked. This is turning out to be such a stressful job!"
"Tell me about it!" Chat Noir replied.
Both started to laugh, glad to relax out of the way of any trouble.
Chat Noir fumbled around and unzipped the pocket sewn into his super suit, pulling out a delicate white flower. Clearing his throat nervously, he got Ladybug's attention.
"This is for you M'lady," he said, trying to keep his nervous voice steady, "it's a wax flower. It symbolizes lasting love. I thought of you when I saw it."
Ladybug instantly felt sick to her stomach, not because she hated anything Chat Noir had said or done, but because every time this happened, she turned him down. After all, he knew her heart belonged to someone else, as she had told him every time he serenaded her. Guilt flooded her stomach, plunging her insides to ice.
"Look, Chat Noir, it's really sweet but... you know I love someone else. I don't want to turn you down and you know that I value your friendship more than anything, but you can't keep asking me like this. I feel so bad," she explained, biting her lip.
"So, what, I'm just supposed to ignore my feelings for you just because you feel bad? It's not how it works. Feelings don't just go Ladybug," Chat Noir snapped, his sadness turning to anger a lot sooner than he'd expected. Almost giving a bitter laugh in anger at his bad luck, Chat Noir stood up and dropped the flower in his hand, letting it sink slowly to the floor. Ladybug turned to face him.
"Believe me, I know. But what do you want me to do? Chat, I can't keep having this conversation with you. I never know whether or not you're being serious."
Chat Noir's green eyes narrowed coldly and he strode to the edge of the roof, baton clutched in his hand.
"I may be a joke to you Ladybug but take this seriously: every time we fight together, I risk my life for you, which you never do for me. And you know why? Because I trust that you will save me and everyone else. Clearly, you don't feel the same," he lashed.
Ladybug's eyes widened, caught off-guard by Chat's sharp tone.
"You don't know that. I don't ask you to save me after all, it's because we're a team. If you don't have to, why do you even bother?" she asked, genuinely curious.
Chat Noir took a steady breath before replying, trying too hard to block out too many emotions and Ladybug could tell that from his face. When he eventually found the voice to speak, it came out as barely a whisper.
"Why? Because I'm in love with you, and it's killing me."
Chat Noir extended his stick and zipped off over the buildings into the distance, leaving Ladybug stranded on her own in the sunset, completely confused and hurt.