I don't own ML

Chapter 2

This was better than anything Adrien had ever experienced. No roller coaster could top the feeling of leaping high into the night sky, plummeting downward, then landing perfectly on his feet. He felt invincible-like nothing in this world could hurt him, physically or mentally. Plagg was right. The old kwami had turned him into a hero after all. Gabriel Agreste couldn't lock Chat Noir in his bedroom, or forbid him from going to school, or forbid him from being him.

God, was this how Ladybug felt all the time?

Ladybug. Suddenly, it him that she had a civilian identity as well. She wasn't an immortal goddess like many on the Ladyblog had theorized. How old was she? Did he know her? Or she was a stranger? A new person to grow close to, another person to discover more about?

Chat realized that he was going to have to meet up with her eventually. They would reveal their identities, and begin an amazing lifelong partnership that would spawn countless legends and at least one cartoon.

Excitement coursed throughout his whole body as he glanced down at the gleaming streets of Paris. Many people were still bustling about on the crowded streets, and he saw many look up at him in wonder.

"AKUMA!" someone shouted, and everyone started running indoors in a panic. He saw many people get trampled in their mad dash to get away from the threat.

Where was it? Chat Noir searched for the new supervillain, but saw nothing from the high rooftop he was on. Then it hit him-they thought he was the akuma. Of course. He probably inherited all the black cat's bad luck the second he put the ring on.

"Ladybug's here!" a civilian said. Adrien saw the superheroine jump toward the chaos, toward him.

"I'm not an-" But it was too late. He felt himself get wrapped up in her yo-yo and get hung upside down on a nearby lamppost. The people milling about started cheering when she got down on the ground.

"It's in his bell," he heard her mutter to herself.

"I'm not-"

She reached to grab said bell, but was cut off when the feline hero said, "I'm not an akuma, Ladybug. I'm like you. I have a kwami and a miraculous-just like you."

Ladybug froze. Her hand dropped and she narrowed her eyes. "Where is your miraculous?" Her tone was short and icy. He clearly hadn't made the best impression.

"Well, My Lady," he started. His cheeks burned bright red. Adrien told himself to act like all the heroes on TV. He couldn't get nervous here, not in front of his idol or all these random people. "It's my ring. I'm Chat Noir, and I must say, you are the cat's meow."

She rolled her eyes at him. Then, she untied her yo-yo string and said, "Meet me by the Eiffel Tower, Chat Noir."

Several mile high jumps later, Adrien found himself at the top of the Eiffel Tower with Ladybug. He internally groaned. This day wasn't going as he'd planned. He was supposed to swoop in and save the day, winning both the hearts of Ladybug and Paris. Instead, he was heading off to a talk that seemed more like an interrogation than a meet-and-greet.

"Where did you get your ring?" Ladybug asked. She was staring intently at him, and he couldn't tell whether she was annoyed at him or angry.

"My cat."

Her glare became harsher. "What?"

"I mean-my cat is my kwami. He was a regular cat but then he became this floating creature whose obsessed with cheese, and he gave me this ring-"

"I believe you."

"Wait, what?"

She shot him another questioning look. "I said, I believe you. If you were an akuma, you wouldn't know what a kwami was. Plus, you didn't hurt any civilians or try to steal my Miraculous. Not that you could anyway."

For a second, Adrien was insulted. Then he saw the warmth in her eyes. Ladybug was teasing him, almost like he was her friend.

"Definitely."

Ladybug looked down at the city of Paris, with all of its lights and glowing buildings. "It's amazing to be up here, isn't it?"

"Yeah," he whispered. "It is."

She looked back at him. "We can meet up tomorrow, at midnight, right here. I'm sorry, I just have a lot to do tonight, but tomorrow we can finish our talk."

Adrien nodded. He realized that he'd forgotten about Miss Bustier's essay that was due tomorrow. Most of it was done, but he still had to wrap it up.

Chat Noir gave a huge grin. "Sure thing, My Lady."

And he knew in that moment that becoming a hero was the best decision he's ever made.

AN: So, here's the second chapter, with Adrien's first meeting with Ladybug (as Chat.) I had fun writing this, and I hope anyone who reads it enjoys it too. Please leave any criticism in the comments (grammar, if any of the characters are OOC, etc) Thank you!