Chapter 1
Once again the fight with Hawk Moth had ended in their favor, both had only seconds before their identities would be relieved. "Gotta go kitty, see ya!" Ladybug yelled with a wave of her hand, as she was about to take off.
"Wait!" Called Cat Noir. "You know Milady, it's been three years since we met. And it was on this very day you...dare I say it? Fell from the heavens and into my claws." He gave a slight chuckle at his joke before bowing down and taking her hand to kiss it. "Purr-lease, can't we at least celebrate one anniversary of the first day we met? Would it hurt to just..you know, go to see a movie or dinner?"
Ladybug grinned and shook her head no, as she pulled her hand from his. "Cat Noir we've been through this hundreds of times before. You know I'm in love with someone else." A thought came to her. 'Though sadly I still haven't been able to confess my love to him. And now that we're both graduating high school this spring I fear we'll never be together.'
Cat Noir sighed heavily. "Yeah I know. It's always the same hurtful line. Screw how I feel, right Ladybug? I Don't see why we can't have a simple night to celebrate?" After his words he pulled his baton from his belt behind him and left.
Ladybug knew Cat Noir was a good friend and partner, but between her love for Adrien and their identities needing to remain a secret. 'It's not just because I'm in love with another person Cat Noir, it's also because we can't let ourselves become Hawk Moth's next victims . If we were together as a couple he would surely use that love against us.' With a heavy sigh she threw her yo-yo and swung away.
Cat Noir however didn't head home, instead he viewed the setting sun from another rooftop. The view was purrfect from here. And when his powers fell, Plagg fell into his hands. Adrien handed Plagg his favorite cheese and after he was finished eating, Adrien would return to his Cat Noir figure. After all, he couldn't sit on the rooftops as Adrien, but in his superhero suit no one would think much about it.
So once again he called out the special words. "Plagg, claws out!" Within seconds he was re-transformed into Cat Noir. His mind was a million thoughts as he sat there looking out over the Paris skyline. 'I wish you could've seen this Milady, it's so beautiful, just like you. But I'm not the one you're in love with to enjoy doing these things with. I wonder if this guy even knows or deserves your love?' The red and yellows mixed in the sky and soon shades of purple brought the end of the day along with darker skies. And so the little kitty left his perch on the rooftop and headed home.
Now safely at home, Ladybug was once again Marinette. With a yawn and a stretch she flopped back into her bed. A picture of a blonde haired boy her age smiled at her. "Oh Adrien, how I wish we could sit and watch the sun set. It would be sooo romantic." Her cheeks blushed a deep red as she imagined sitting next to him on a rooftop, her head resting on his shoulder and everything was perfect.
Tikki simply smiled and shook her head. The rules of a Kwami wouldn't allow her to say who Cat Noir really was to Marinette. Still Tikki felt sure in time the two would know. Only how would Marinette handle the news? 'I really hope she doesn't take it too hard.' Tikki thought.
Quickly sitting up in bed Marinette remembered. "Oh Tikki, I'm sorry here." The last battle with Hawk Moth had been harder than usual. Both Ladybug and Cat Noir had to recharge during the fight. So with only one macaroon on hand at the time. Marinette promised Tikki one as soon as they returned home.
"Thank you, Marinette." In no time Tikki had almost finished her tasty treat. "I'm glad to see you so cheerful today, of course you and Adrien were enjoying a decent conversation before that ahkuma showed up."
Once again Marinette's eyes sparkled at the thought of her crush and her enjoying time together. "Yeah….it was dreamy." Marinette said, as her cheeks started to blush a light red. "I can't believe I was actually able to have a conversation with him, and I didn't stammer or stutter my words." Still Marinette lacked the courage to tell Adrien she liked him more than just a friend. However it was a start for her just to be able to hold down a conversation with him.
Tikki smiled, she knew Marinette had many conversations with Adrien. Just not as Adrien himself, but as Cat Noir. "You see you can have normal conversations with Adrien, you need to just be yourself Marinette. I think you need to stop thinking about how much you really like him. Those are the times you do better at talking to him." Marinette agreed, still she knew that would be impossible. How do you simply ignore your feelings of love for someone.
Not far from Marinette's house, Cat Noir was making his way home. He had looked at the sky and thought of her enough for one day. "I just don't see why I can't let this go, Ladybug has told me countless times before she's in love with someone else. So why do I keep trying to make this work between us, I already know the answer I'll get every time." Taking one last jump, Cat Noir was now home and after a few seconds returned to being Adrien once again. Plagg of course quickly found his Camembert stash and was relaxing on the bed.
"Who needs a girlfriend when I have you, my gooey tastiness." Adrien rolled his eyes at his Kwami's crazy words. "You know when I get upset, I go to the kitchen and find the most disgusting piece of smelly cheese I can find. The smellier the better."
Adrien honestly wasn't interested in food at a time like this. "Seriously Plagg, like I'd be that desperate. I might be heartbroken, but I'm not that bad." He set up in bed and looked around his room. "It feels like all I ever do is follow everyone's rules. And ever since mom left, father treats me like a mushroom. Just suck here at home and constantly being fed shit about what's good for me. How is it that I'm not allowed at least some happiness?" With a heavy sigh he flopped back onto the bed and covered his eyes with his arm. "It's no use Plagg, Ladybug will never love me...like I love her…"
His heart ached for Ladybug more everyday. And with every rejection came a greater chance of being akumatized. In fact it was a wonder he never got akumatized at times like these. On this day however his heart was broken, and was mixed with a small spec of hate. Hate for the one Ladybug loved instead of him. "I can't stay here feeling like this. I thought I could come home and forget this but I can't." In a flash Plagg was sucked into the ring on Adrien's finger once more. And in that moment Hawk Moth had picked up on his negative emotions and since it was Cat Noir, this would be his greatest plan yet.
"Such a shame, nothing like feeling like a stray cat thrown away. Only wanting to be loved, but not even an ounce of care from the one you love." Hawk Moth spoke as he turned a white butterfly a dark purplish color between his hands. Flying off to it's destination and landing on Cat Noir's golden bell. Cat Noir could hear a voice speaking to him. "Cat Blanc, I don't need to tell you who I am. However I will tell you I'm giving you the power to find the one who is your rival in love. And in return you will give me yours and Ladybug's Miraculous. "Now go and let's see if you can find the one who has stolen your Ladybug's heart."
With a devilish grin Cat Blanc announced. "Oh I'll find him and Ladybug, then once I'm finished she'll only love me!" A dark purple cloud surrounded him and once it disappeared...Cat Noir's black costume color was gone. It was replaced with a silvery white color and his green eyes were now blue. "Get ready milady, it's time this cat gets the love he deserves."
With an evil laugh, Hawk Moth simply smiled. He had never imagined he'd be this lucky. "There's no way this can fail, and if I have to I'll settle for just the black cat Miraculous. It will be one piece to the puzzle at least." However Hawk Moth soon found out the cat wasn't going to be so easy to control….