One shot

Hold Me

/Ladybug struggles between her growing feelings for Chat, being Guardian of the Miraculous and balancing her superhero and civilian duties.

The air in Paris is cool at night, even during the stifling hot months of July and August. Ladybug closes her eyes as she sits on the edge of the rooftop. Even with her eyes closed she can see the lights of Paris, the city that never sleeps. The smallest breeze sends a chill throughout her and she shivers. She wraps her arms around herself and tucks her knees under her chin. Never before has she felt so exhausted and alone. As a single tear runs down her cheek, she is so engrossed in her misery, she doesn't hear the familiar clink of a baton hitting bricks.

"Ladybug?" a voice calls out to her, tenatively. Ladybug gasps, and hurriedly wipes her tears on the edge of her suit. She turns her head to see a concerned Chat Noir gazing worriedly at her. "Chat!" she exclaims in a false cheery tone. "Lovely night for some stargazing, wouldn't you think? I was reading about the constellations earlier, in fact! Did you know that-" Her chattering dies down as Chat reaches out to put his hand on her shoulder. Slowly, she turns her face upwards to face him. His green eyes are full of concern and sympathy as he brings his hand up to cup her face.

Ladybug blinks, her eyes suddenly filling with tears again. "Ladybug," Chat Noir whispers, his eyes searching her face, "What's wrong?" She stares up at him for a few moments as the noise of the city below them suddenly quietens and the world stops. Her face crumples and suddenly she can't control herself anymore.

"I'm so tired of being Guardian and not having enough time for my friends! I'm terrified of them thinking I don't care about them when I do! I never have time for being a civilian AND a superhero and I feel like I'm pushing away everyone, including you! I have to lie to protect everyone and I somehow always manage to hurt them anyway."

Chat wraps his arms around Ladybug as she sobs into her hands. "Ladybug," he begins, gently pulling her hands away from her face as she gazes up at him, her blue eyes full of desperation. "Ladybug", he repeats, "Please never worry about pushing me away when I'll always be here for you. You don't have to carry all this on your own. We're a team, partners. There is no Chat Noir without Ladybug. We're the Cat and Bug team, remember?"

Suddenly all the air is squeezed out of his lungs as Ladybug throws her arms around him. "Thank you, Chat," she sobs into his shoulder, "You're always here for me. I don't deserve you," Chat hugs her tighter. "LB, Master Fu chose YOU for a reason. You're amazing Bugaboo and so strong. We all believe in you and I'll always be here when you need me,"

Slowly Ladybug pulls away and gently grabs his hands with hers. She smiles as she takes in his messy appearance. "Chat, did you even brush your hair before coming here?" Ladybug giggles as she tries smoothing down his wild blonde hair with her hands. He shakes his head sheepishly, peering at her from under his now messier hair. "I saw you were out alone and I was worried about you," Chat says earnestly. Ladybug's smile grows bigger. "Chat, you know I care about you, right? I may not love you in that way but I do love you. You're my best friend, Chat. I'm always here for you too,"

Chat Noir beams as he listens to her. He finds he doesn't mind too much that she said she doesn't love him in that way. Ladybug cares for him! He feels like singing from the rooftops, his heart is so full of joy. He picks up Ladybug around the waist and spins her around as she squeals in surprise. He laughs at her surprise and the way her fingers dig into his shoulders as she struggles to keep her balance. She protests but she is grinning so widely, her face feels like it might come off. Chat Noir gently puts her down again and they both stand there grinning breathlessly at each other.

"Well then, m'lady, I better be off then. Will you be alright going home?" Ladybug smiles up at him. "Of course, Chat, I always am. Will I see you tomorrow?" Chat scrunches his face up, confused. "I don't think we have patrol until Thursday, Bugaboo," Ladybug blushes, dropping her gaze to the ground. "Do we have to have a reason to see each other?" she says, shyly.

Chat Noir's mouth drops open, shocked. "Um, well, I guess not?!" Ladybug giggles at how flustered he is. "Eiffel Tower at 4pm?" she asks. Chat Noir grins, a look of elation on his face. "Sounds perfect, Bugaboo. See you then," Quickly, before he can stop himself, he leans over and kisses Ladybug's cheek. Ladybug gasps, as she feels his lips brush her cheek and how her skin tingles after he pulls away, slightly pink. He smiles at her one last time, and then he is gone, swallowed up by the dark Paris night. Ladybug stand there, frozen to the ground as her fingers linger on the place where Chat had kissed her. As she stared at the place he had been standing, she tried to ignore the fluttering in her stomach.