(Pre-Chapter Notes: This takes place in Season 4, after Gang of Secrets!)
The sun was setting over the Seine. The warm, amber glow of light illuminated the water, causing it to glimmer with a sort of iridescent radiance. Five heroes: Ladybug, Chat Noir, Rena Rouge, Vesperia, and Carapace all sat by the riverside, dangling their legs over the edge.
It had been a peaceful weekend for them. Shadow Moth had been strangely quiet, and with the lack of akumatized villains and sentimonsters to battle, the heroes had plenty of extra free time.
For Rena Rouge and Vesperia, this meant they had more time to scheme. They'd come up with one idea: to get Ladybug to reflect. Maybe reflection would help her remember all the fun memories she had with Chat, and the fond ones too.
"What was it like in the beginning?" Vesperia asked Ladybug innocently, hoping her tone wasn't too obviously scheming. "When it was just you and Chat Noir?"
Ladybug's blue eyes turned thoughtful as she turned to gaze at her partner. "It was... different," she replied finally. "We were still learning all about the miraculous and our powers!"
"And each other," Chat Noir added, giving his partner a doting look. Ladybug blinked, a smile spreading across her face.
She pushed him lightly on the shoulder, "Silly kitty," she laughed. "Back then, I barely knew there was more to you than fun and jokes!"
Rena Rouge and Vesperia exchanged knowing glances. Vesperia struggled to hide a beaming smile. It was clear how close the two had become since they first started being superheroes.
"Say, what did you think of Chat Noir the first time you met him?" Rena asked. Ladybug narrowed her eyes suspiciously, but didn't hesitate to reply this time.
"I thought he was silly," she answered, earning herself a glare from Chat. "Very talkative. But also very brave. It almost seemed he had been waiting for something like this to happen, becoming a superhero. He was keen, but also hasty. I remember he used his Cataclysm on a goal post, and then tried to use it again on the Stoneheart without knowing he could only use it once!"
"My Kwami didn't explain all the way!" Chat Noir scoffed, feigning offense and leaning towards his partner.
Ladybug rolled her eyes but didn't move away. "More like you didn't listen," she retorted, tilting towards him. Vesperia noticed the heroine's cheeks were becoming suspiciously red. "But what you lacked in patience you made up for in courage and humor, and I couldn't ask for any more than that."
"I remember the first time I met Rena Rouge I was pretty stunned," Carapace murmured, glancing sideways at his girlfriend. Rena Rogue smiled.
The conversation was slipping away, but Vesperia and Rena Rouge knew they had already gotten what they wanted out of it. The five heroes relaxed as the sunlight faded into starlight, relishing together the time they had.
...
"And Ladybug and Chat Noir save the day again!" Alya focused her phone camera on the heroes, who had just defeated Mr. Pigeon for what seemed like the billionth time. That man really had to get a grip on his animal obsession. "Quick, let's speak with Ladybug and Chat Noir before they transform back!"
Alya quickly rushed over to the black-spotted hero and held up her phone. Ladybug and Chat Noir waved. "Hey, Ladybloggers!" Chat Noir and Ladybug said at once smilingly.
"Hey, there," Alya said. "You've gotten better and better at beating Mr. Pigeon since the first time!"
"We'll always do what it takes to save akumatized victims," Ladybug replied. "Let's just hope Chat Noir's feather allergies don't slow us down again!" She added teasingly, shoving her partner on the shoulder.
Chat Noir sneezed. "Hey! It's not my fault their feathers get everywhere. I would have cataclysm'd the birdcall earlier if I hadn't—"
He sneezed. "Sneezed." Ladybug burst into giggles.
"Chat Noir did that the first time, too. We were trying to catch Mr. Pigeon by surprise, but the feathers..." she trailed off as her earrings beeped. She backed away and waved. "I'm going to transform back! See you, Ladyblogger!"
Her laughter rang through the air as she swung away.