Chat Noir landed on the tower behind her. It was their favorite spot, the landing they always used. Normally they'd meet there for joint patrol but it was technically his night off. But he'd been tired of being cooped up as Adrien and decided he needed some air. Chat hadn't expected her to be there. He had just wanted to be out in the open not trapped in his room. She should have been on patrol. His lady's presence was always a pleasant surprise though, or she usually was. She was curled up, legs folded against her chest, head on crossed arms. Never a good sign. As he approached her, he noticed the familiar look on her face. He sighed.

"That boy still bothering you?" Chat asked calmly. It was hard to be calm sometimes. Ladybug's mystery boy both depressed him and pissed him off. How could someone not love his Lady? Were they blind? No, even the blind could see how perfect she was. The boy had to be an idiot. Ladybug nodded to his question. He settled down beside her. "What'd he do now?"

"Nothing." She whispered into her arms.

"Well something had to upset you."

"It's nothing. I'm just being stupid."

"And why's that?"

"He was just hanging out with a friend."

"Ah, I see." He could understand that feeling all too well. "And you were jealous and now you're beating yourself up over it." She just glanced at him and didn't deny it. "Its perfectly normal to be jealous."

"But I have no reason to be. We're just friends. They're just friends. There's no reason to be jealous."

"Jealousy is a funny thing," he said sagely, "its not logical, it just is. It happens. You feel it. You let it go."

"You make it sound so easy." Ladybug said, finally starting to uncurl. He fought back a smile. Progress.

"I've had a lot of practice." He explained.

"Oh, has a pretty girl caught your eye?" She smiled teasingly at him. He tried not to frown. She never believed him when he said he loved her.

"Why? Jealous?" He teased instead, forcing a smirk. She laughed. Another point to him.

"No, I already have one person to pine for, cat boy." She tapped his bell so it rang softly. "I'm booked."

"Me-owtch, you wound me milady." He said falling back dramatically. She laughed at him. Another victory. He sat back up. "But truly, I do have a lot of practice. Not just in terms of romance." He looked down on their city. He could imagine all the families going by, children playing at the park. Everyone running about, living their lives without anyone telling them what to do. Yes, he had lots of practice being jealous. "Sometimes I just wish things were back to how they were. Before mo-. Before our family fell apart." He settled on. "Sometimes its hard watching families on the street, oblivious to how lucky they are."

Ladybug gave him a sympathetic look. They'd brushed the subject a few times. Never going into details for identity's sake. But she knew enough, enough to know some of what his home life was like. Enough to not question when he randomly decided to go on patrol at odd hours.

"It's okay to be jealous, milady. Everyone feels it from time to time. No one can blame you for being human."

"I just-" she cut herself off, struggling to find the words. "It's just..hard. To imagine him with someone else. It hurts so much." He could tell from her voice how much. An all too familiar ache settled in his chest.

"I understand," he muttered more to himself then her. Then more clearly added, "If it bothers you that much why don't you tell him?"

"What?" she shrieked. "I can't do that! You know I can't!" Her wide eyes stared at him as if he was crazy. Maybe he was.

"Why not?" he argued back. Looking her in the eye, those lovely bluebell eyes. "The only reason you've given me is that you're scared and don't want to ruin your friendship with him. I understand being afraid. Its terrifying trying to confess to someone you love." He'd been terrified the first time he'd told her. But she brushed it off as a joke which hurt more than the rejection itself. "But you can push through that. You're Ladybug. You're the most brave and courageous person I know. And if he's really your friend, even if he doesn't feel the same he'd understand. Your friendship won't fall apart over unreciprocated feelings. That's just not how strong friendships work." Like ours won't fall apart no matter how many times you reject me, he thought.

She just shook her head, avoiding his gaze. "I can't. I just can't."

"You can. I know you can. You're strong. If you love him this much you have to tell him." His heart screamed at him to shut up, but he told it to be quiet. His lady needed his help and he would give it regardless of his own feelings. "Plus, who could possibly deny you. You'd have to be a complete idiot not to love you." It came out far more heartfelt than he intended. She glanced up at him, eyebrows pinched together.

"For someone who claims to love me, you seem very determined for me to get with another boy." She was challenging him. She was just trying to get him to back off and argue that he did love her. But now wasn't the time for that. Well not completely. He tipped her head to look him dead in the eye.

"I do love you." He said softly. "I know you don't believe me. I know you think I'm joking. But I'm being completely honest right now. I love you. I have always loved you. I will always love you. But that's why I'm trying to convince you to confess to your mystery boy." She blushed at his confession.

"And why is that kitty?" she argued awkwardly, pretending everything was normal as she tried very hard not to look at him. But he simply moved his head into her line of sight.

"Because when you really, truly love someone," he swallowed hard to overcome the rush of emotions that were barely contained. "You want what's best for them. You want them to be happy, even if that's not with you." He let his hand drop and looked away. "Because even if it hurts and even if it kills you inside, that's not what matters. All that matters," He looked her in the eye again. Her beautiful blue eyes staring at him with something he couldn't quite name, slowly being blurred through tears he wouldn't acknowledge, "is that they're happy. And one day you'll learn to live with that, and that will be enough." He could only see the blur of blue and red and black color in front of him, through the tears he was refusing to shed. They were going to fall soon though. She could definitely tell at this point but that wasn't what she needed to be focusing on right now. He quickly stood up and looked away though he really couldn't see anything. He could already feel the wetness rolling down his cheeks but he made sure not to look at her. His feelings were not what was important right now. "So," his voice wasn't right, he tried to clear his throat but only seemed to make it worse. "So, you need to tell him. He'll either love you or he'll be an idiot but you'll still be friends. It won't be so bad. You can do this my lady. You should go claim your happiness." His vision cleared enough for him to look at her again. "Claim happiness for the both of us okay?" He tried to smile like he always did, but the tears were back and probably messing it up. "Good night, my Lady. And good luck. Not that you'll need it." Then he turned and ran away. Maybe it was a good idea to stay in his room after all.