Chapter Nine

Dauphine University was a very good school a few arrondissements away, which gave plenty of time for Cat Noir to try to sell his terrible ideas to Ladybug.

"I bet I can lure her in," he yelled over the wind. "I am quite a catch, after all."

Ladybug's pigtails whipped behind her as she swung and gracefully landed on a roof, already looking for the next anchor to latch onto. "I hate this identity bait idea," she said for what felt like the hundredth time. Ignoring the punny flirt was probably the best course of action.

He dropped in next to her. "We don't have many options. This will get her attention, and you know it."

The terrible part was that she did know it. This would be the most efficient. But curse him for being right.

"I promise I'll be careful." He smiled, then extended his staff and vaulted ahead of her. She angrily threw her yoyo, catching it on a balcony railing. She followed him at a distance, wondering, yet again, if she should tell him what might happen to his memories.

The rush of high-speed yoyo travel was usually thrilling, but today it wasn't enough to make her mind shut up. Would he help her if he knew? It was kind of like lying if she kept the truth from him. Would it be cruel of her to make him choose? But really, she wasn't even sure what would happen, so she might be worrying nothing. By the time she had caught up to him, she'd finally decided not to say anything.

Cat Noir was standing on a narrow peaked roof, one hand on the chimney for balance. In the other, he had his baton's screen pulled open.

"I hope you're not texting my cell again," she said as she landed. "It's not going to go through."

"Just making sure we're still going the right way."

"What?" She elbowed his side. "Don't want to stop and ask for directions?" Though, the thought of texting gave her an idea.

Ladybug – 1:22 – Hey, this is LB. Texting from the yoyo. Can you get some info for me? Chantal's got a thing against secrets. Think you could find out what her boyfriend was hiding from her?

When she looked back up, she jumped at seeing Cat Noir's face hovering next to hers. He'd leaned in to read over her shoulder, and he was so close that she could smell cheese on him. "We both know you can see from farther away than that," she said. Neither of them moved until Alya's message came in.

Alya – 1:23 – LADYBUG'S TEXTING ME! K;LAJKD KD WLKEGN!

Ladybug – 1:23 – Yeah, it's still just me.

Alya – 1:23 – I HAVE THE NUMBER OF A MAGICAL YOYO AS A CONTACT IN MY PHONE!

Cat Noir started to laugh, and Ladybug tried to sigh in frustration, but it didn't have the right effect. Smiling at her friends kind of ruined it.

Ladybug – 1:23 – Can you help? We need to hurry.

She glanced in the vague direction of the school. The sky was clear, and the sun was hot. Why would anyone just be sitting on a roof in this weather? They may have already missed their chance.

Alya – 1:24 – Absolutely! I've got a full battery and tons of questions!

Alya – 1:24 – One thing I have found out, Chantal is a HUGE Ladynoir shipper. lol

"Great," Ladybug said.

Ladybug – 1:24 – Thank you. Let me know immediately if you find something *important* out.

Closing the yoyo's screen, she searched for another anchor, making sure she was not looking at Cat Noir. She knew he'd seen Alya's last message. If she didn't acknowledge it, she hoped he wouldn't either. Her hope was vain.

"You know, it's always nice when we both have something in common with the victim."

"I am not a Ladynoir shipper." She threw her yoyo and took off, not bothering to ask him if she was heading in the right direction. The cold sting of the wind helped keep the heat off her face, but only a little.

"You are," he called out, keeping pace with her easily. "Deep down."

"NoTP!"

The buildings were short and close together, so they traveled on foot, leaping over gaps and dodging chimneys.

In under a minute, Cat Noir announced he could see the building. "It's that big gray one with the black windows," he said, pointing ahead of them as they ran. The roads were getting busier and wider.

Ladybug shaded her eyes, barely able to make it out in the distance. Dauphine didn't stick out above the other buildings very much, so it couldn't have been very tall. All she could really see was a wide, flat, gray thing. "See the akuma anywhere?" They jumped over another busy street. Just a few more buildings and they'd be there. "We need to pin her down before she fl- uh, runs off again."

Cat Noir tried to stifle his laughter. "Before she fleas?"

"You have fleas!"

In three giant bounds, they were there, and Cat Noir was still laughing as they looked around. The roof was slick and mostly flat, aside from normal roof outcroppings, like chimneys and roof access doors. She could be hiding behind any of those. The tiles were black, and her feet were already starting to feel the heat through her suit. Hanging out here would be a terrible idea, except for the fact the building was slightly taller than the ones across the street, and surrounded by nothing but more streets and some trees on the other three sides. Her yoyo wouldn't be as useful for travel without something tall to latch onto. And it was out in the open, the perfect setup for an akuma, especially one so gifted at escaping.

The school itself was enormous, and it surrounded a large courtyard filled with students who called up to the heroes as soon as they saw them. Ladybug waved, and then slunk away from the edge. Chantal wasn't down there. The atmosphere on the roof seemed muted and calm. Cat Noir crouched in the middle, looking peaceful, but Ladybug's adrenaline surged when she saw his ears twitching and swiveling.

"Is she here?" she whispered.

His ears flicked in her direction, and he nodded, pointing to what looked like a very large central air unit diagonally across the courtyard. "I don't think she's here," he said loudly. He stood, but kept his eyes closed. "I can't hear anything."

Ladybug poked his shoulder – much harder than necessary – to get his attention, and he cracked one eye open. She pointed, trying to explain her plan silently, trusting he'd understand. She'd swing around back, and he'd cross the courtyard? Cat Noir nodded, and they both took off. She dropped off the side of the building and hooked onto the top of the fire escape.

On her upswing, she saw Chantal crouching behind the unit, ready to pounce, just as Cat Noir landed on top and leaned forward to look down. Ladybug had just enough time to yell a warning before Chantal sprang, arms straight up. Cat Noir jumped backward. Black fingertips brushed the air inches away from his face. Ladybug landed and threw her yoyo again, narrowly missing Chantal's feet, but she arced over Cat Noir and took off across the roof.

"So close!" he yelled as he barreled after her. Ladybug wasn't sure if he was referring her own near miss or the akuma's. She reeled her yoyo in once again, frustrated. Why couldn't the woman stay put for five seconds?

Instead of taking her chance to escape, the woman in black turned suddenly and leapt, landing in Cat Noir's path. Ladybug watched as he stumbled to try to stop in time. He wasn't going to be able to.

Without thought, she threw the yoyo again. She didn't mean to trip her partner, but as he fell and rolled out of danger, the akuma lost her balance and missed him. Before Ladybug caught up to them, Cat Noir had untangled himself and Chantal had jumped away again.

"This is ridiculous!" Ladybug said. "We're too out in the open here!"

"We can't take the fight inside. Too many students."

"It's summer. One of these classrooms has got to be empty," she said.

Chantal was staring at them from a distance, weight shifting from side to side, ready to attack again. Ladybug spun her yoyo in anticipation.

Cat Noir cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted, "I know something you don't know!" The woman froze in a crouch, face angry. "And I'm not gonna tell you!"

They were standing close to the courtyard, and Ladybug chanced a look over the edge. The interior was long and narrow, and there were wide stairs leading down into the building. Perfect.

"Oh, the things I could tell you!" Cat Noir said. "Except I'm not going to!" He walked a little bit closer to her and put his baton away, making himself look like an easier target.

Using him like bait was making her insides squirm, and it wasn't even enough. Chantal was just watching and waiting for them to make a move. "I wish I could have kept my secrets!" Ladybug yelled. "Secrets are great!"

"Secrets are awful," Chantal finally called back. The dispassionate voice cracked slightly. "I'm helping you."

"What was your boyfriend keeping from you?" Cat Noir asked.

"Nothing."

"Isn't that girl-speak for 'something really important'?"

"Leave him out of this!" Her voice had started to shake.

It was working, but they needed to make her mad enough to follow them into a trap. "Why are you hiding things from us?" Ladybug asked, inching forward. "We're going to uncover all your secrets!"

"I bet he was hiding lots of things from you," Cat Noir said.

Chantal sprang.

Ladybug had barely enough time to throw herself at her partner and knock them both out of the woman's way. They plummeted over the edge, tumbling, until Cat Noir wrapped an arm around her waist and slowed their fall with this baton. As soon as their toes touched down, she grabbed his arm and raced down the steps. Screaming started behind them, but it sounded panicked, not hurt. The akuma had taken the bait.

Ladybug shoved Cat Noir forward, then took up a position hidden next to the doorway, yoyo ready. He looked back at her and nodded. He'd continue baiting her. She'd be the ambush.

"Over here!" he called. Chantal stepped through the doorway. The yoyo flew, red streaking toward black, and missed again. The akuma took off down the hallway. Cat Noir threw his baton, tripping her, but she rolled forward and up again in one fluid motion and didn't even slow down.

"Maybe this wasn't my best idea," Ladybug said. They chased her through pristine, empty hallways, and doors flashed past them. Within seconds they were lost.

"She can't go very fast in here," he said. "If she doesn't find a door outside, we just have to wait for her to wear out."

"That's a big if." Her lungs were already starting to burn, but Cat Noir said he could still hear her pounding footsteps ahead, so they kept going. Her yoyo started to beep. An incoming text message.

Alya – 1:37 – Coming as a great shock to absolutely no one, Anatole's skipped town.

Ladybug – 1:37 – Who?

Typing while running turned out to be difficult. She reached out a hand and grabbed Cat Noir's shoulder so she wouldn't run into a wall while she read the messages out loud to him.

Alya – 1:37 – The boyfriend. He ran away. No other reporter thought to interview the akuma's boyfriend's landlord, but I did! Nice guy, and he knows a ton of stuff!

Alya fired off a string of texts as they turned down twisting hallways. The akuma stayed a few steps ahead of them, barely out of sight.

Alya – 1:37 – There was a big fight at his place Saturday morning. They both sounded mad. She stormed off. He didn't hear what they were yelling about, though.

"Too bad," Ladybug added.

Alya – 1:37 – She was recently accepted at ParisTech. Starting as a freshman in the fall.

"Lucky!" Cat Noir said. It was one of the best universities in the country, about thirty kilometers south.

"Maybe that's why she was out here," Ladybug said between ragged breaths. "A school connection?"

Alya – 1:37 – The two of them have been dating for a year. Anatole asked his landlord about selling his lease and moving down there to be with her a couple times.

Alya – 1:37 – I have a theory, but I want to double check. I need to talk to her family again.

Ladybug – 1:37 – TY.

Alya – 1:37 – No prob. I'll text back in a few.

"No!" Cat Noir said. "Her footsteps changed. She's outside again!"

They put on a final burst of speed and crashed through the doors. The sudden sunlight made their eyes water. They had come out the front doors, and a short flight of stairs pointed straight to the busy street. "Do you see her?"

Chantal had probably run off again, but Ladybug put her back to his, just in case.

"I can't see anything," he said, covering his sensitive eyes. "Your radiant beauty has blinded me."

"There she is!" Chantal slipped back over the edge of the roof she'd peeked over as soon as Ladybug pointed at her. "Wait! We want to talk to you!" Not a complete lie. Talking to her was all they'd really accomplished so far. Ladybug swung herself across the street and up to the roof.

Cat Noir stumbled after her. She could tell his eyes were still streaming, but at least he could see again. "Yeah, small talk! What do you do when you're not an agent of evil? What's your akuma name?"

"I'm not like the other akumas," she said. "I'm helping you! I'm not ashamed to use my real name." She was a few roofs away from them, and she dropped into an alley. By the time they reached the spot, she had disappeared again.

"Chantal sounds sincere," Ladybug said.

"She's still annoying," Cat Noir muttered.

"Next time we get close to her, I'm calling Lucky Charm," she said. "We can't keep doing this."

"Until then, we'll just have to use our natural charm."

They took off, only to find her and then lose her again behind a building a few seconds later. When they landed to look around, a piece of a shadow broke off and hurled itself at Cat Noir. Ladybug barely had enough time to register that it wasn't a shadow and move to block the akuma. "Lucky-" Chantal had been aiming for Cat Noir's face, but got Ladybug's instead. There was no searing cold this time. She had no more secrets to give.

Chantal stumbled back, surprised, and Ladybug reached for her. She almost missed. Her fingers brushed the fabric of her clothing and got caught on a pocket, briefly exposing a folded piece of white paper, faintly glowing purple. There it is!

Cat Noir darted around them and managed to grab one of Chantal's wrists, but she broke free and jumped out of reach. "Why won't you let me help him, too?" she asked.

"I'm happy not knowing who he is," Ladybug said. "It's safer this way." The akuma was only a few buildings over, but if she called Lucky Charm now, would it be enough to overcome the distance? The woman moved so fast. They needed to get her back inside somewhere, but no ideas came to mind, and she was already getting farther away. With no other plan, their only choice was to try to chase her down again.

After a few minutes of fruitless running, they were both out of breath. Cat Noir dropped onto a roof and put his hands on his hips, chest heaving. "I lost sight of Westley."

"Westley?" Ladybug panted.

He leaned against a dormer window, hiding in the only shade on the roof. His suit was probably worse in the heat than hers. "She needs an akuma name," he said. Ladybug settled into the extra space next to him.

"But why Westley?"

"Princess Bride? Westley wore all black."

Ladybug shook her head. "The Dread Pirate Roberts wore all black. Get your geek facts straight, Cat. Plus, he wore a black mask and was blond." She reached up and ran her fingers through his hair to emphasize the point. She wished she could have felt it through the suit. It looked soft.

And then she realized what she was doing and yanked her hand backward. "Uh." She cleared her throat. "S-so Roberts is your nickname now. That's t-the point I was trying to make."

Cat Noir stared at her. Aside from a slight blush, she couldn't read his expression. Why'd she have to make everything so awkward?

Before her hand fell, he grabbed it and bent to kiss it softly. "As you wish," he murmured against her fingers.

Her heart definitely missed a beat, and her thoughts started to spin uncontrollably. He didn't just- That almost sounded like a confession. He didn't just confess to me with a movie quote. He couldn't have. He doesn't- What is happening right now?

He turned away without looking at her, but she caught the blush blossoming under his mask. There was no flirty punchline or attempt to play off what he'd done. He was serious? His fingers trembled slightly around hers. Her hand felt heavy as he finally let it fall. He did! He does!

His back still to her, Cat Noir vaulted away, following the path the akuma had taken. Ladybug watched him get smaller as she stood there in shock. She felt like a marionette whose strings had all been cut, her body slack as realization sunk in.

He hadn't been joking. He had never been joking.


Author notes:

For those of you who haven't seen The Princess Bride, I hope I made it clear what was happening and why she was reacting that way. If you were confused, here's some context: Westley and Roberts are the same person, and this is a quote from the movie about him: "That day, she was amazed to discover that when he as saying, 'As you wish,' what he meant was, 'I love you.'"

Thank you for the reviews and other feedback! I really appreciate it! :)