Adrien felt himself sinking into a bad mood. As soon as he arrived home, he collapsed onto his bed and sighed. He could not go on like this - he needed to talk to Ladybug. All the stress she had inadvertently been giving him was definitely the reason for his newfound insomnia.

They did have a patrol tonight - it was every other night that they went around the city, talking and joking and rarely finding anything they needed to take care of. It was these times that Adrien cherished the most, because it was the time he could approach his lady the most easily.

The hours blurred together, consisting of Adrien falling asleep for a second and then waking up disoriented. Plagg popped in every now and then to talk to him, but replying felt like a chore, so he didn't do it at all.

Finally, the time for patrol came around, and Adrien called out the familiar words: "Plagg, claws out!" He punched his fist in the air tiredly, but as the transformation went on, he felt more and more invigorated. He savored the good feeling his transformation gave him, and leapt out the window.

Plagg had already told him about how the adrenaline was false, and as the Miraculous energy faded, so would his own. But Chat wasn't planning on using Cataclysm any time that night, so he figured it would last him a while before he gave out. Besides, if he was going to talk to Ladybug, his worries would be resolved and he could finally sleep.

Chat let out a whoop of joy, delighted about having a clear head and a solution to his problem. As he passed by a window box full of flowers, he plucked one pink rose, and flipped it between his fingers. It would like nice behind Ladybug's ear.

He landed with a roll upon the roof they always met on, and waited for Ladybug.

She arrived about three minutes later, a frown on her face. Deciding to skip the antics, Chat stood up and touched her arm lightly with his left hand, keeping the one with the rose hidden behind his back. "My Lady, what troubles you?" She looked up into his eyes, surprised at the caring in his voice.

"It's nothing, Chat." She pulled her elbow away from him, and walked over to the other side of the roof. "It's just a minor thing in my civilian life."

He padded a few feet towards her. "Tell me."

She was facing the Eiffel Tower, its glow shining and illuminating her silhouette. Her head turned to the side, so that she could glance at him out of the corner of her eye. "No."

He took one step closer. "Please, Ladybug. I want to help you."

She sighed, and her rigid figure sagged. "Okay." Ladybug turned to look at him. "I... I have a crush on this guy, but when I tried to talk to him today, he just... shut me down." Chat felt his ears and tail droop, and the hand that was so delicately holding the pink rose clenched a little. So... she had somebody else. Not him.

He put some false joviality into his words, a fake grin plastering his face. "Well, the guy must be an idiot to reject you." She looked down, and mumbled a small 'yeah'. He took one step closer, and decided to do it anyway. He held the pink rose out in front of his chest, and gave a formal bow while gracefully handing the rose to her. "I don't know who could reject somebody as beautiful as you. My Lady, I hope you take this as a token of my admiration."

Ladybug took the rose hesitantly, but something akin to disbelief shone in her eyes. "Look, Chat... not tonight. I've put up with your flirting for our whole friendship, but I'm actually upset now! Could you be serious, just for once?!" Desperation laced her words, and she let out a breath she hadn't known she was holding.

Chat's lips parted slightly, and this time his ears really drooped. He folded in on himself a little, the hurt evident. "I apologize, Ladybug. I'll... I'll stop now."

Ladybug obviously realized Chat was cut up, because the anger that she had been feeling fell away. "Oh, Chat, I'm sorry... I didn't mean that." When he only turned away from her, she sighed and looked down. "I'll leave. I'm sorry, Chat. I'll see you Wednesday." He heard the sound of her yo-yo, and when Chat turned back, Ladybug was gone with only the rose left in her place.

Chat walked over to the rose and picked it up, tears pricking at the sight. He had thought... he had thought that perhaps he meant something to her. He had thought that maybe he was more than a friend, and had thought that she knew how he felt. But all she was - was tired of him, and his unwelcome advances. That much was made obvious.

He fell to his knees and let out a small sob. It was too much - five days and five nights without sleep, the rejection of the one he loved the most. His misery was all symbolized by this agonizingly beautiful pink rose clutched tightly in his hand.

Then, a small dark butterfly landed on the rose, and it turned to a violent shade of black.

He looked up, his cheeks flushing and anger rising in his heart.