a/n, chat's mask can be found here as designed by re-unknown on tumblr:

polkadotsdesign . tumblr post / 153114132864 / re-unknown-feliz-d%C3%ADa-i-had-to-draw-so-fast

and Alya's dress can be found here as designed by edendaphne:

jenni-arts . tumblr post / 153114010771 / edendaphne-lol-this-sketch-kind-of-ran-away

'Alright, hold still. We've only got one shot at this.'

Chat Noir could not have been moved with a sack of bricks.

He wore a perfect tuxedo, with a replica of his tail hung through his jacket between his coattails. His bell currently hung in place of a bowtie, and Marinette was presently affixing his new mask.

'Try not to look like too much of a lummox with non-superhero gloves on.' She pointed out.

'Yes, my lady. Although might I implore you to speak for yourself.'

Marinette was fighting ready, her pigtails affixed in exactly Ladybug's style, with the help of hairspray and extra ribbons. Her dress was perfect, clinging to her bodice in such a perfect Ladybug fashion, reminding all of the suit it represented, black stripes framing and accentuating everything exactly that ran from the top of the strapless wonder almost to her knees, widening and narrowing to emphasise her budding curves. She wore her mask, a black choker with a red jewel hanging from it, and was going to wear long black gloves up to the tops of her arms that apparently his father had found for her that fit her, well, like a glove.

Yes, he'd already made that pun.

'Alright, you're finished. Don't touch it while the glue dries.' She touched his nose easily, eyeing off her handiwork.

But she might have been staring a little too long.

He winked at her.

She may have blushed, but it was hard to tell under the lace around her own mask.

So he turned and disappeared through the door and into the bathroom, to examine her creation.

It was a jet-black mask, exactly like Chat Noirs, but the embellishments gave it something just that bit extra. It had colourful flowery patterns around his eyes and matching lily-shaped designs around the bottom edge of the mask. Around the edges was white, scalloped lace, and overall he had the effect of a Chat Noir straight from a Dia De Meurtos festival.

Fake ears had been pinned to his hair, but these had matching Day of the Dead designs, with yellow flowers sewn onto them with great ease, and white lines sewn gracefully that curled away from the centre of the flowers.

Marinette appeared anxiously in the doorway, her skirt gathered in one hand. 'What do you think?'

He rushed over to her, cupping her face with both hands.

'I love it.' He pressed his lips to her forehead around her mask for a moment, then grinned at her. 'It's stunning. Better than I could've ever imagined.'

She flailed at him, but seemed lost for words.

'Now, you need lipstick worthy of my lady.' He grinned, seizing her by the hand and towing her back into the bedroom.

Alya looked around the room anxiously, running her free fingers through her hair.

She looked stunning, and the selfie that she had sent to Nino earlier had proven that.

She wore a full length, cobalt blue dress that was off the shoulder with gorgeous scalloped edges stretching around her shoulders. It was long sleeved, with the sleeves stretching over the backs of her hands, with scalloped edges again. The whole dress was incredibly figure hugging, and consisted of a metallic brocade fabric with swirling, sparkling designs over the entirety of the dress.

Her hair was pulled back into a perfect quiff, poofing well enough to match Beyoncé herself, clipped back to the back of her head with the rest of her hair spilling over her shoulders loosely.

She was wearing contacts for the evening, in favour of wearing a peacock-styled mask, with the feathers starting from her nose and spreading outwards over her face in a careful, well balanced design that stretched over her eyebrows and up to her temples.

She was presently rifling through her periwinkle blue clutch, and pulled out her phone in order to take down notes.

It vibrated in her hand, and she pulled up the message.

'Hey, how's things?' Marinette questioned. 'Isn't that ball on tonight?'

'YES AND I'M SUPER EXCITED' Alya replied, careful not to grin too maniacally. 'But CN+LB aren't here yet... '

'That's depressing. Do you think they'll be doing interviews?'

'They damn well better all things considered. Also, I doubt they'd be able to escape the press tbh.' Alya found herself a chair and sat down in it carefully. 'You're gonna love the dress that I picked up in Lisbon, Mari'

Alya sent through the selfie that she had sent to Nino earlier, and had to wait a few minutes for a response.

'OH MY GOD ALYA YOU LOOK AMAZINGGGG' Marinette replied. 'What sort of fabric is that?'

'Metallic Brocher' Alya smiled. 'Do you think I'll be up to par? ;)'

'YES' Alya could almost hear Marinette pounding at her screen with her thumbs. 'You might even outshine Ladybug and Chat Noir!'

Alya made to respond, but Marinette sent through another text.

'Hey, do you remember me talking about that surprise when I last spoke to you?'

'Yeah, what's up with that?' Alya rested her chin against her hand, propping it against the table.

It wasn't her official seat, but nobody seemed to be really caring about assigned seating just yet. The namecard that faced her was unrecognisable to her, and she shrugged.

'Well, see if you can spot it around the place tonight.' Marinette sent cryptically. 'Have fun!'

'What's that supposed to mean?' Alya questioned aloud, eyeing her surroundings.

'What do you mean?'

But she never got a response.

Alya stood and brushed herself off, as if she needed to. She meandered her way through the crowd, looking disinterestedly through the masses.

How am I supposed to figure out what a "surprise" could be? Alya pondered. Also, how on earth did she even get it here? She shook her head.

There was also the other pressing matter at hand that had her on her toes.

This was a busy show, the biggest event of the whole cruise.

If there was going to be a major akuma on this trip, then tonight was going to be the night.

She could feel it in her bones.

The staff were looking anxious as well, they must have been thinking the same thing.

Tensions seemed to be running high as people bustled around the main ballroom of the ship.

The room itself was huge, with a large stage at the front of the room and billowing red curtains draping from either side. The room was large enough to account for a second floor from which to view the stage, and a handful of boxes scattered around the walls, with intricate gold furnishings decorating the parapets of all of the viewing areas.

However presently the chairs for the primary viewing area had been removed in favour of an open standing area in the centre of the room, with round tables scattered around the edges, long white tablecloths draping from all of them.

Towards the rear of the room was the main entrance, all of which was presently lit up for the guests to arrive through.

Alya was presently loitering towards the rear of the room, near the pathway through the tables between the main entrance and the open floor that the staff had created, making for a natural process of socialisation.

It was all very well organised, in Alya's opinion.

But all of this did not stop her craning her neck in order to try and see the precise moment when Ladybug and Chat Noir made their entrance.

But there were a lot of question marks that she had in regards to the presentation of these two superheroes for the evening.

Would they go for a spectacular entrance, from the front of the room?

Perhaps swinging in from the second floor onto the stage?

Or into one of the boxes?

And what would they wear?

Would they come in regular costume?

It did fit in with the theme, after all?

Or would they dress up?

And how would they dress up?

Both of their costumes were rather covering, it would be difficult to try to conceal them beneath another outfit?

Or would they not come in costume, so that they could come in costume?

Just, so many questions.

And none of them would get answers until the superhero duo got off their lazy butts and got here on time!

Well, on time was actually twenty minutes ago, but still!

And what were they going to do if an akuma showed up right now?

Get there in time to see the panic?

Alya sighed.

What will be will be, she supposed.

But she didn't have to wait long.

Not a few minutes later Ladybug and Chat Noir appeared, surprisingly through the main entrance just like everyone else.

Alya all but sprinted over there in order to get photos.

The crowd was going ballistic over them, and their gorgeous outfits.

Chat wore a perfect tuxedo, with a Day of the Dead themed mask, his ears matching with swirling yellow flowers, and Ladybug wore an exquisite red and black themed ladybug dress in a mermaid style so reminicent of her suit that she was unmistakable.

More than that, Ladybug had her arm looped through Chat's casually, but was holding her head up high as she looked around the room curiously.

And upon entering the room, Chat with a grin had hurled a fistful of glitter in the air right above Ladybug's head, giving her entrance a sort of enthreal feel to the superhero.

She tried to wave away some of it, but the dramatic entrance had been achieved, and it now clung to her hair and shoulders in a sparkling addition to her whole ensemble.

They moved through the crowd with a certain deftness, skimming through until the mayor approached them, who gestured to one of the boxes raised above the communal area.

But only when Alya managed to get close enough to speak she was roughly shoved out of the way, nearly sending her sprawling.

She caught herself, and turned to glare and possibly throw obsenities at the rudness, before recognising the shade of eye-watering yellow and the blonde hair that had thrown her arms around Ladybug.

'Chloé,' Alya seethed.

Despite Ladybug's obvious discomfort, Chloé had pulled her in for a tight hug, then turned and taken a fast selfie with the superhero.

Chloé wore a floor-length, bright yellow ballgown with floaty puff sleeves and a tiara reminiscent of a yellow Cinderella. Her mask was yellow with tints of tasteful green, like a budding flower, but it was wasted on the personality beneath.

'You look lovely,' Chloé was saying to Ladybug, gazing down at the girl's dress, before snatching her gaze over to Chat Noir, who hung back uncertainly next to the mayor. 'And you too, Chat, don't you look positively dashing?' She fluttered her eyelashes at him, and Alya made a careful note at the way Ladybug's eyes flashed.

'Well, thank you, Ms Bougeois,' Chat replied, with a hint of shyness. 'You look beautiful yourself.'

'Of course I do, it's the best that money could buy.' Chloé rolled her eyes, but completing the action into a short twirl. 'I deserve nothing less.' She latched onto Chat's arm, not noticing of the way that Chat was leaving sparkles on her dress untidily. 'You should come and visit Daddy and I in our box, the view is going to be spectacular over all of these, people.' Alya heard the hesitation, and from the look on his face Chat did as well.

So many interesting notes to make.

'Well, thank you for your kind offer,' Chat said, subtly tugging at his arm, but he was trapped.

'Indeed,' Ladybug followed, resting a hand on the superhero's shoulder with dangerous calm. 'Thank you for your kind offer, but there are other people that require our attention.'

'But there's no problem,' Chloé said, almost a little pointedly, 'I have much the same people to talk to.'

Alya made another note of this, it was like there was some animosity between the two?

Well, that's nothing new for Chloé, but this was particularly so?

'I adore your mask, by the way, Chat Noir,' Chloé changed the subject. 'Did you have it made? Or where did you get it?'

If Alya had blinked, she would have missed the slightest glance exchanged between Chat Noir and Ladybug. She took this as an opportunity to stop taking notes and just start outright filming.

'Well, a friend made it for me, actually. She's very talented.' Chat smiled calmly, and Chloé seemed to rile at this.

'Is that so?' She giggled. 'You must tell me their name. I'll look through some of their designs.'

Another person appeared over Alya's shoulder, and she moved to let them through.

It seemed Gabriel Agreste wished to join the fray.

'I see you went with my gloves, Ms Ladybug.' Agreste took one of her petite hands, and instead of kissing it like many were half expecting, he simply turned it over in his hands as if examining the fit.

'Yes, thank you.' Ladybug smiled.

'Which designer did you get your dress from?' He questioned, raising his eyebrows slightly at the unfamiliar design.

Chat nudged her slightly, and she stood a little straighter.

'From a friend who designed this for me especially, Marinette Dupain-Cheng.'

Both Chloé and Gabriel Agreste looked shocked, but strove to cover it up. 'I can't say I'm personally aquainted with this designer.'

'She's that horrid girl in my class!' Chloé burst out, raking her eyes over the dress once again, before backpeddling wildly. 'I mean, she's a close, personal friend of mine!' She covered, giggling. 'We do everything together, I'm surprised she hid that design from me! She must have wanted to surprise me,' she shrugged casually.

It was Alya who was most surprised, very nearly dropping her phone in shock.

Wow, Marinette, now that is a surprise.

'She's very up-and-coming,' Chat pointed out, grinning. 'She designed Ladybug's dress, and our new masks for tonight.'

'Very, impressive.' Agreste swept his eyes over the two once more. 'I will have to make some inquiries.'

Someone tapped Agreste on the shoulder and pulled him away, leaving the three youths to themselves.

'Anyway,' Chloé said, 'enough about fashion. Tell me, Chat, how do you know Marinette?'

'Uh, we met her on patrol, just after the mayor invited us on the cruise, and offered to design our outfits?' He looked a little anxious, but it wasn't surprising. They had just outed her friend as a major designer.

'But she said she didn't want a huge fuss, so,' Ladybug started up, but was cut off by Chloé.

'Oh, she always seemed a bit ambitious to me. Imagine, being this desperate to get your designs approved?' She laughed into her fingers, and Chat used the opportunity to pull his arm free.

'I think they're wonderful,' Ladybug defended.

And Alya stepped right in.

'And I think they're stunning.' She said, standing firm against Chloé.

Ladybug and Chat Noir looked at her with a moment of surprise, but Alya did not miss the relief mixed in as well.

'What do you know about fashion?' Chloé shot at Alya.

'Enough to report on it.' Alya shot back, before turning her attention to the two superheroes. 'Can I get a photo of you two, please?'

'Of course you can,' Ladybug smiled, shifting slightly to stand closer to Chat.

However Chloé took this opportunity to slide in between Chat and Ladybug, throwing a carefree arm around them both.

'Whenever you're ready, Alya,' Chloé fluttered her eyelashes at the reporter, who almost visibly started steaming.

'I asked for Ladybug and Chat Noir, not busybody Queen Bees.' Alya shot at her.

Chloé rolled her eyes. 'Do you want the photo or not?'

Alya took Ladybug gently by the hand and pried her away from Chloé, then moved to remove said barnacle from Chat Noir.

'What do you think you're doing?' Chloé snapped, gripping onto Chat tighter.

'Rescuing a damsel in distress.' Alya replied, glaring the girl down.

Behind her, Ladybug snorted, while Chat complained. 'I'm hardly a damsel,' he started.

'She's not talking about you, kitty cat,' Chloé replied, winking at him. 'But I'm sure I don't need rescuing from you?' She raised it as a question, and Chat frowned.

'I don't think you do, Ms Bougeois,' Chat replied, with an intonation that it should have been the opposite.

'Hey, Chloé, didn't I hear you say you were basically going out with Adrien last week?' Alya snapped, proffering her phone, which was still filming.

'So? Adrichou's not that serious, I think the word I use to describe that boy is "tenderhooks".' Chloé started walking her fingers up Chat's shoulder. 'So what does it matter?'

'I know that "Adrichou" would be hurt,' Alya pointed out. 'Especially to see you flirting like this.'

Chloé flinched slightly, before looking at Chat with outright longing. 'But,'

'She's right, you know,' Chat pointed out. 'What would he say?' The corners of his lips had turned down into a perfect I'm-not-mad-just-disappointed grimance.

'Oh, but he's just so forgiving.' She said, with such a tone like his nature was almost a little ridiculous. 'I'm sure he wouldn't mind.'

Not that anyone would have seen it, but he flushed angrily. He pried her hands off of him, and moved to stand next to Ladybug. 'I think I do, Ms Bougeois. Young men, no matter how strapping, are not playthings.'

Chloé followed after him, but did not touch him. 'But,'

'In fact,' he slid his hand into Ladybug's, and looked sideways at Alya, who stared back with wide eyes. 'If you treat them like this, then all you will find for yourself is unhappiness.'

'Precisely, Chloé Bougeois.' Ladybug agreed. 'How long do you think Adrien would be forgiving for, if you continue to treat him this way?' She gave Chat a reassuring squeeze.

'But,'

'So begone!' Alya waved her away, eager to get the last word.

And Chloé fled.

The three watched her go, before turning to look at each other.

'So, are you two...?' Alya questioned, raising her phone and nodding down at their entwined hands.

Ladybug released him quickly, using that hand to cover the phone for a moment.

'Alya Césaire?' She questioned. 'A private word, if you don't mind?'

'O-of course!' Alya stopped the recording, and stashed it in her clutch for good measure.

When her hand was free, Ladybug clasped it tightly and smiled at her. 'Thank you for all you have done for us.'

Chat grinned at her over Ladybug's shoulder.

It took Alya a moment to realise the superhero had left something in her hand, and she opened her free hand to see a memory card.

She grinned at it, shoving it directly into her clutch.

'This is going to get me that internship!'

'We certainly hope so.' Ladybug smiled.

'Because your Ladyblog certainly is the cat's pyjamas,' Chat smiled, shaking her hand as well.

Ladybug facepalmed.

'Wow, thanks!' Alya gushed. 'So, tell me,' she pulled out her phone again, this time to take notes. 'How did Marinette get in contact with you two? Exactly?'

The two superheroes exchanged a look.

'Like I said,' Chat started. 'We met her on a patrol of the city. She waved us down, didn't she?' Chat looked at Ladybug. 'From right atop her room.'

'That's right,' she nodded. 'It must've been the day after we agreed, so about a week before we departed?' She looked to Chat for conformation. 'She waved us down, and showed us some designs she had in a sketchbook. They were really quite stunning.'

'So of course, we agreed. She took our measurements right then and there.' Chat smiled.

Alya grinned back. 'So that means Marinette has you two's measurements.' She made a fast note. 'I'm just surprised she managed to keep it a secret from me, we spent almost that whole week together!' She paused. 'No wonder she was looking tired at the end of it. Making all of this, and packing for her trip? Yikes.'

'She did look fairly worn down when we saw her.' Chat admitted.

'I just can't believe it. She doesn't even have a website!' Alya shook her head. 'As soon as I sit down for the dinner, I'm going to put one together for her. Oh, wait!' She exclaimed, and the two jumped. 'I made that Instagram account for her ages ago! I wonder if she's put anything up on it?' She addressed the two superheroes. 'If anyone asks about Marinette's line, tell them that she's on Instagram. We can get everything else sorted when she get's back from China in a few days.' She shook her head. 'I'll bet the silly girl hasn't even changed her password from the one I set her up with.'

'That's very kind of you, Alya,' Ladybug smiled, looking slightly frazzled. 'Are you sure she wouldn't mind?'

'Hell, I'm doing that girl a favour.' Alya grinned evilly. 'This is going to be the starting point of her career! Now stand still so that I can take some more photos!'

It seemed the way that the evening was intended to be set out in a very mingled style dinner, with meals interspersed with live music that played from the stage.

Ladybug and Chat Noir had an evening that was filled with rollercoasters, stretching from the highs of taking photos with Jagged Stone to the duller sections of mingling and making small talk with representatives of Paris and people in high politics with the Mayor, whom seemed to only want the two superheros to mingle with people who could better the overall opinion of Paris and thus its revenues.

They were dogged by reporters, who seemed to be slightly disappointed that the two did not swing up to their table in their box in the usual fashion, instead taking the more mortal route of the stairs.

They encountered Chloé twice more in the evening, with each meeting getting shorter and shorter, as it seemed she had lost her patience with them. Not that they minded.

It was only towards the end of the evening that things changed.

The main meal of the evening was wonderful, each table was given a pot of fondue and was supplied with different styles of breads and meats in order to utilize said fondue to the best of their capabilities.

After the meal, the band increased in volume and started to play a perfect waltz, and many people together formed a dancing circle in the front of the open area.

Chat Noir offered a hand to his lady up in their box, who took it uncertainly.

'My lady, might I have this dance?' He grinned at her.

Ladybug squeaked. 'I've never danced before, Chat. You know how clumsy I am.'

He shrugged. 'It's a waltz. They're not so hard.'

'I think the only person I've ever even tried to dance with was my father, but I nearly broke his foot I think,' Ladybug flailed.

'You'll be fine, Ladybug.' Chat Noir smiled.

He lead her down the stairs and into the main room once again, where the attention was immediately drawn to them.

The crowd held their breath, obviously expecting something miraculous.

Chat bowed to them all, and then endeavoured to ignore them as he lead Ladybug through the crowd to the centre of the room, right in front of the band.

'Are you alright?' He questioned to her quietly, placing a hand on her waist.

She shook her head indecisively, landing a delicate hand awkwardly onto his shoulder.

'Just do what I do. Follow my feet.' He smiled. 'Just trust.'

Ladybug smiled, and let him lead her through the simplest movements of the waltz.

When they realised that nothing spectacular was going to occur, the crowd backed off them to a certain extent.

For now, it was two people at a masquerade ball, dancing together.

For one part, they were happy.

Slowly turning in a circle, repeating the same few steps while Ladybug figured out what she was doing.

Of course it could be no one else.

Ladybug herself could feel a warmth that was her feelings for the boy that held her.

A warmth that spread from her chest to her fingertips, and all the way down to her toes.

It was like the sun before the burn, had she ever felt this way before?

But on another, it was like they were waiting.

Like the tip of the iceberg, or the breath before the phrase.

Had they ever felt this way?

Chat Noir chuckled to himself.

It was like all of his Christmases were coming true.

He found himself wishing for an endless night.

He'd do it, he'd lasso the moon and the stars and pull that rope tight.

He'd even caught himself asking if it'd ever get better than tonight.

Dancing right here with his Ladybug.

He also found himself praying that Hawkmoth would be a bro and not throw an akuma their way right when they were having such a good time.

He knew in his gut it would happen eventually, but for right now...

Right now was dedicated to Marinette.

'Mind if I cut in?'

Both jumped, and looked up at the intruder.

'Mr Mayor, of course you can,' Ladybug said, albeit a little reluctantly. 'I must warn you I'm not a terribly good dancer.'

Chats ears somehow drooped, even though they were mere replicas of his normal ears.

'That's very kind of you.' The mayor smiled. 'Chat Noir, I'm sure my daughter is around if you...?'

Chat fought back a slight shudder, from their earlier conversations with the girl. 'I'll just go and get my lady a drink.' He looked at her. 'Any preferences?'

'Surprise me,' she smiled.

He grinned back with a brief salute, then disappeared through the crowd.

'I just wanted to thank you once again for coming on this trip with us.' The Mayor started, and shifted slightly, like he was expecting her to lead the dance.

'It was hardly a problem, I apologise for all of the akuma issues that has followed us.' Ladybug said seriously, her mind racing to follow the steps she had just learnt, and lead as Chat lead.

'Like you said, it was hardly a problem. There weren't any serious issues that arose from the two. Do you think we should anticipate any more for this trip?' The Mayor said as they started the first steps.

Ladybug smiled ruefully. 'To be honest, I'm not sure, but Chat Noir and I are being vigilant as always. If anything arises, and I do mean anything, we will be able to handle it as quickly as possible.'

'Also, might I add, you look stunning tonight.' The mayor smiled. 'I heard you're wearing a very new designer of Paris's own?'

'Well,' Ladybug flushed under her mask. 'Thank you. I'm glad that I've been so kindly received for this event. Yes, she's certainly a Parisian, and I hope that she continues to design into the future.' After tonight, you just try and stop me! Thank you Alya! 'I'm told that she has a current Instagram account with some of her designs.'

'Out of curiousity, do you two know each other well?' The Mayor winked at her.

Do Ladybug and Marinette know each other? Pfft, if only you all knew, she chuckled internally.

'Only a little.' Ladybug said instead. 'I seem to recall encountering the girl a time or two with the akumas in Paris, but we must have made an impression on her if she were to be kind enough to do such a favour for us.' She lead the Mayor into the slow circle that she had been performing with Chat Noir earlier. She hoped to not have to perform too much more self preening, it was making her slightly uncomfortable.

'I seem to recall my princess Chloé saying that she is in her class.' The Mayor was stepping surprisingly lightly for his size. 'Apparently they are quite firm friends.'

'I wouldn't know,' Ladybug said blankly. 'But I'm impressed with how Chat Noir's mask turned out. I appreciate the detail put into it.'

'Indeed.' The Mayor replied.

Chat Noir appeared over his shoulder then, with a brightly coloured drink in each hand.

'Chat Noir, as you might have guessed,' The Mayor stepped back from Ladybug, freeing her to take one of the drinks from Chat, 'feel free to help yourself to any of the beverages tonight.'

Chat laughed. 'Well if I wasn't I may have just stolen from the ship,' he winked mischievously.

Someone else stepped forward to ask for Ladybug's hand to dance, and Ladybug handed her drink back to Chat absentmindedly.

While Chat and the Mayor conversed nearby, Ladybug took a few turns with the man before actually taking in what was happening, and peered up at him.

'So, I'm terribly sorry,' Ladybug started, and the man looked surprised for a second, before laughing.

'No, I'm not surprised you don't recognise me.' He grinned.

He was a tall, well built sort of man with a plain looking mask, and a casual type of powder grey suit with a purple tie. He had short, poorly styled hair and an overall impression of being rather haggard.

'You broke my elbow yesterday?' He hinted.

Ladybug paused, then paled. 'I'm so sorry about that, are you alright? Mr,'

'Baker. But call me Thomas.' The man who was Nightmare smiled.

'Thomas.' Ladybug confirmed. 'Again, I'm so sorry for what happened,'

'Actually, I don't remember it at all.' Thomas said blankly. 'I was shown the security tapes later, but apparently I'd taken out the ships lighting or something?'

Ladybug chuckled slightly. 'Actually, it was more like you'd pulled a black fog over the ship. It was pretty scary.' She admitted. 'We fought, I pushed you into the pool, we fought some more, you caught me, so I broke your arm to incapacitate you. Again, I'm sor-'

'No need to apologise.' He dismissed her. 'To be honest, I would have done the same thing in your shoes.'

'What put you into that situation, if you don't mind me asking?' Ladybug questioned curiously, but then paled as Thomas visibly slumped. 'No, that's too personal,'

'It's alright.' He took a deep breath, and paused in their dancing. 'My wife left me just as we were going to leave on this trip. I was in a very bad place when Hawkmoth got to me.'

'That's awful! I'm sorry to hear that.' Ladybug released him, clasping his hand.

Thomas smiled ruefully. 'Well, I was saying that I wanted to stay in Barcelona for a while. I think I might go ahead and do that, just to cool off for a while.'

'I think that's a great idea.' Ladybug smiled. 'How's your Spanish?' She said jokingly.

'Mi español está bien, gracias por preguntar.' He said bashfully.

She laughed blankly. 'Well it sounds great to me. I'm glad that you're doing better.'

'Do you think there's going to be another Akuma? I'd hate for someone else to go through this.' Thomas questioned seriously.

'Chat Noir and I will remain vigilant as always.' Ladybug said seriously. She was aware that she was repeating herself, but she figured it to be the best answer.

Thomas nodded seriously, before changing the topic. 'You seem a lot younger than what I've seen on the news, to be honest.'

'Oh? Well I have heard that television ages you,' Ladybug smiled.

'My niece never shuts up about you. She idolises you.' Thomas smiled slightly. 'I'm glad that she has such a great role model.'

'I'm lucky to have such fans as your niece. Would you like me to send her a note of some description?'

'Oh, well, things are a little tense at home, so maybe next time.' Thomas sobered, looking pensive. 'But I'll tell her the next time I see her that I got to have a dance with her hero.'

'Speaking of heroes,' Chat leaned into the conversation. 'Your attention will be required soon, my lady, for dessert.'

'Chat, this is Thomas.' Ladybug introduced. 'He was the man from yesterday who was the akuma Nightmare.'

Almost imperceptibly, Chat's eyes narrowed. 'Nice to meet you.'

Thomas raised a hand to shake Chat's, but Chat raised his hands that were full of drinks almost apologetically.

'I've seen you on the news. I'll probably get in trouble for saying this, but my niece has a huge crush on you.' Thomas said.

'Is that so?' Chat grinned a half grin, not relaxing. 'Your niece has good taste.'

'Even though I don't remember it, I'm terribly sorry about yesterday,' Thomas started, but Chat shook his head.

'No hard feelings.' Chat offered Ladybug's drink back to her, and took her by the elbow. 'It was nice to meet you, but I heard they're doing a chocolate fountain for dessert.'

Thomas raised his hands. 'Say no more. It was great to meet you both. Sorry, and thanks again.'

Chat towed Ladybug away determinedly with hardly a backward glance.

hope it lives up to par! Can I get any predictions as to what the next chapter's going to be about? haha I'm so excited for all of you to see it :3