Okay you guys. I'm warning you here and now. This is a VERY high rated T, bordering on M, but I don't think it requires that rating. But if you don't want to see any sexual content— it's very symbolic in the way that it's written, as in, it's not a straight-up sex sense, but it's very heavily implied— there will be a line break in the middle right before the content and after so if you'd like, you can skip over.

Anyways, I'm not gonna lie, I'm really proud of this chapter. While I don't think of Adrien as 'damaged' losing a mother at fourteen (It has been said that it's been a year since he lost her, and another year by stormy weather 2, with their miraculous so I'm placing them at least at 15 years of age (Legal in France) and having a cold, distant father who fills his life with nothing but a busy schedule has to be hard on the mind every now and then. And this is where it comes out to show. I hope you guys enjoy!


The courtyard of the school at night was eerily silent. No cricket in the background chirping it's usual sound, not even the white noise of the A/C running. Just, dead quiet that surrounded him.

But that didn't stop his mind from running away like it always did when it was quiet. That was when his thoughts came out to play. Nothing to keep his thoughts at bay— good, bad, it didn't matter. Thoughts of his mother, of his father. Of busy schedules and what he had to do next. He had to keep his father happy, he was the only one he had left since his mother disappeared. His father deserved happiness.

Even if it meant the very breath he took was planned three weeks in advance.

He still had school, his friends, his double life, and now he had her. Ladybug. It was a fair balance in his mind.

He wasn't depressed, far from it actually, although, he did miss his mother very much, and to an extension, his father. But he worked through that and the hard parts of his day when he felt overworked. When his mind wandered to thoughts of his father's words, the endless photoshoot, the paparazzi and all that came with fame.

Try as he might, they eventually found him. Rushing through his head like a mighty river. He had to shut his mind down when that happened, but it was still okay.

It was enough.

It had to be.

Shaking the thoughts away he looked up to his partner that stood next to him. Seeing the joy that bounced off her eyes he couldn't help but ask, "What're we doing here exactly?"

A grin broke out and took hold of her lips. "Isn't it obvious? We're here to fence. For fun."

He was kinda taken aback by the odd phrasing of her words. "And the other times that I fence for competitions aren't?"

Her grin turned knowing. "No, but when it's for a competition, you have a goal in mind. A reason to fence. A.. reason to make your father happy." Her eyes turned solemn at that. "You used to love fencing when you were younger because you just thought it was fun, no other motive behind it. So, that's what we're doing. We're fencing to make you happy. No one else."

What?

Just…. What?

When had she picked up on that? How? He was so careful with the sport. He loved it, truly he did, but he always kept it a secret that he missed to fence just because. How… how did she see that?

Gosh, did he love this woman.

Realizing he was staring too long, he figured it was actually better to say something. "Thank you. That.. that means more than I could ever say."

She giggled and moved in closer, nuzzling his shoulder before parting from him to into the area where they held the fencing equipment.

She appeared in front of him moments later wearing a strange feathered mask that was easily placed from the art department of the school.

"Okay, Lovebug, what's that for?"

She smiled and pointed to the open space above their heads. "I know all too well from having an entire blog dedicated to me, how many news helicopters are in this city. I don't think it would be a good image to have out there of Ladybug attacking local supermodel Adrien Agrests. Plus, the thing that gives me my ability to be Ladybug needed rest for the night, so I figured this would work just as good for a disguise."

He chuckled and shrugged his shoulders. "Fair point. Speaking of which." He picked up the saber and tossed the handle end at her, with her quickly snatching it out of the air. "How versed are you with a blade?"

She took her bottom lip in between her teeth. "Well I don't exactly want to say but-"

He lunged forward without notice to give a little tap to her caf with his saber. Not hard enough to sting, but just enough to get her attention. "See right there, you left yourself wide open. If this were a real fight I might not have been kind enough to go for you-"

He was cut off when his rear end hit the concrete followed by a sharp sting in the right ankle. "I didn't even see you move! How? When?!"

She gave him a sly smile. "Samurai films. My dad's a really big fan."

Adrien smiled as he picked himself up. "Careful now, give out too many pieces and the puzzle of who's behind that mask might just solve itself."

She took a strike at him, yet, he blocked it with his attention now fixed on her stance. "I don't think that's going to be much of a problem considering my parents."

This time, he swung using only his wrist to push her blade away. "In that case, I don't think I'll be holding back like I do with the other's."

Her smile widened at his confession. "So, you are holding back?"

A cat like smile graced his face as the moonlight shined against his teeth. The air was cool aa a sudden breezy swept through the courtyard. Before she had a chance to react, he bolted from her sight, as she heard a whoosh come from behind her. He went for a long strike, leaving him open for a counter attack.

He wanted to test the water of how she actually was a with a saber. A mistake he would come to regret as he was nearly smacked in the face by her strike. He allowed his legs to go limp as her blade just passed over him causing strands of hair to be lost in the darkness of the night.

Her smile became predatory. "Come on, take me a little more seriously. I fight Akumas on a daily basis, I think I can handle Mr. Agreste at his best."

"Careful there Mrs. Ag… Ladybug. You might not like what you unleash."

She didn't seem to notice his slip up, or she ignored it. Either way, she didn't call him out on it, thankfully. "Why don't you stop testing me and we can both find out."

"Permission?" He let out with a playful smile.

She looked into his eyes with fierce determination. "Granted."

He kept his swings tight, making sure not to leave himself open as she advanced forward, taking away the courtyard that faced his back. She was good. But she asked for his best and that's what he was gonna give her. He placed his free hand on the railing of the stairs as he pulled himself onto the steps, breaking free of her advancement.

Not having to hide her super athletic prowess her powers granted her, even to a point without the suit, she jumped high into the air, taking a light swing as she landed just above him on the stairway. She began to press him down swing after swing but made a fatal error when she went to jab at him.

Her saber just missing his shirt he spun around her to regain the high ground, when she knocked him off the steps with her elbow. He caught himself as she jumped down to his level.

Without giving her a moment to breathe, he pounced forward only to feel a small tinge in his chest. Looking down he could see the tip of her blade bending at on his clothes. Sweat had started to run down his neck when he could finally hear it.

Silence.


In the time they had been sparing, he heard not a thought, not his father's voice nor the harsh flash of cameras, only the flow of the battle. A smile split his face upon the realization and when he looked up all he saw was the amazing woman that caused this peace inside him. As the moment enveloped them he stepped back pushing her saber to side taking a deep breath before pouncing at her resuming the fight.

She was surprised at his advances, yet, she agreed and began to dance with her partner around the courtyard as their sweat began to fly off with every step they took. Their movements were rapid and fluid as the kept in sync with every breath they stole from the other.

The dance was fierce and filled with fire as they locked eyes not daring to stray from the others gaze. Their moves while precise, yet felt primal, as though they had done this dance for eternity, two beings locked together in a never-ending shift of power to see who would prevail.


In the end, it was a draw, as the two laid on the hard concrete gasping for breath, the cool breeze of the night relieving the heat between them as it pressed against their bare skin. Neither of them spoke as they looked deep into the night sky above them.

"I guess you were right not to be dressed in your uniform for tonight. If anyone got wind of that people might not look at Ladybug the same for a long time."

She slapped his arm in play. "And what about you and your image?"

"Yeah, I my image can go jump in a hole. Now my win-loss ratio. That's something I can't live with being tarnished."

She sat up making sure to pick up his shirt in the process. "Boy, are you asking really for a rematch after that?"

He shrugged. "I'm just saying, I have an image to uphold, right?"

"Isn't the guy supposed to be tired after fighting like that?"

An eyebrow arched. "You know, I spend every day on my feet in front of cameras. It's hard for me to stay still for too long."

"Calm down, Mr. 98% Muscle."

He smiled. "So, you remembered that?"

She smirked. "Of course."

She buttoned up his shirt as she adjusted her stance. The smile on her face so genuine as picked up the saber once more. He picked up his blade and readied himself for her first move, yet, something seemed off. Her swing left nothing open on her yet he knew even if she did he would not have found it.

The guilt started to settle in.

He had been pushing it back for weeks now, but after what they had just done, what they just did, together, it all came bubbling to the surface. Try as he might, he couldn't ignore it.

He jabbed forward only to have his advances denied by a swift swing to the thigh.

She didn't know.

He tried again, go for her blind spot but his movements were sloppy and he knew it.

She didn't know he was Chat.

His butt hit the pavement hard as she let out a soft gasp before he raised his hand letting her know he wasn't giving up.

He knew they talked about it once in a hypothetical situation, and she wouldn't be upset if he was, but it rang clear that she still had no clue whatsoever that he was her partner. At least she'd flat out told him that they knew each other as civilians.

She'd had no idea.

He pressed on only to be denied again and again.

One of the few people that he could be real with.

Another miss!

And he still couldn't be fully open with her!

He felt a sting in his other ankle.

Maybe the universe just wanted to taunt him.

He slashed frantically in the air not aiming for her anymore.

Maybe it was trying to break them in the slowest way possible.

He let out a ferocious yell as sweat pooled above his brow.

But he would continue to fight back. His lady was worth it. No matter the guilt he felt in deceiving her.

She swung and his blade caught hers.

He could only hope that she'd forgive him after the reveal. If she didn't, then he'd have to accept whatever he was given, even if it hurt.

He shoved her saber away advancing forward with slow and steady steps.

Maybe he deserved it.

A near miss.

Afterall, she was willing to share that they knew him as her, but he couldn't give a hint that he was Chat?

He caught her off guard as he lunged forward. Surprise in her eyes as she glimpsed the determination in his.

Even if she was the one that wanted their identities to remain a secret in the first place. After all, she did say rules were made to be broken.

She was against the wall.

His head was hurting.

Sparks trailed his blade as it scraped against the brick wall where she stood not a moment ago.

He just didn't know what to do. He was at a crossroad.

He stood there taking in heavy breaths as she stood motionless. Seemingly frightened by the sight of his frustration.

Yet the way she looked at him. The way she cared. He pushed forward and fought on. If she was willing to fight for him, then he could never stop fighting for her no matter what the cost, no matter what the universe wanted.

This was his life. This was his choice! Darn what the universe wanted for him and Darn what his father wanted! Right now, in this moment, what he wanted was in front of him and he would fight the world to keep it! He would fight the world to keep her. His girlfriend, his choice, his peace.

Fate was going to be something he made with her, not something that fate made with them.


Please tell me what you thought! Was it too much? Was it just okay? Until next time! Lots of love!