CHAPTER 10: Is that a bottle of champagne?

[PROMPT: City lights]

The top of Montparnasse Tower was the best there was in terms of vantage point. Some would have thought the Eiffel Tower would have been the best place, but they were wrong—so wrong. From the top of Montparnasse, you could at least fully behold the lights of the Dame de Fer. A sight you couldn't have from atop the Iron Lady.

Chat Noir slowly took in the city lights while waiting for his Lady. Not an iron one though, but still quite a piece of woman—rock-solid as she was. And tonight, he hoped he could somehow pierce the hard and rocky armor for her to finally let go.

He lifted the object he held in his hand and deliberately exposed it to the city's light. What he had brought there should help him in his quest to allow Ladybug to release some tension. His hand spun the bottle very lightly, making the liquid inside dance in a circle. The sparkling bubbles now looked like golden flakes reflecting the warm lights of the Eiffel Tower. A smile tugged at his lips. He didn't spare any expense. Only the best for his Lady, and the best was actually a bottle of 'Perrier Jouët Belle Époque' at 375€ per bottle, and he might have saved a second bottle for the end of filming, or for the day she'd finally accept him—safe to say, it'd more than likely be opened to celebrate the end of the filming.

He heard the telltale noise of a string snapping the air, and he quickly turned around, hiding the bottle of expensive Champagne behind his back.

Just in time.

She landed gracefully on the roof, the beauty and elegance springing from her was more dazzling than the city lights, and all the lights in the world, for sure. She was putting all the stars to shame with no effort, making the twilight sky pale in comparison.

"Good evening, Chaton." She beamed at him.

"M'Lady." He bowed to her, bending down so that the lights flickered off of the slightly golden reflection from the gift he was hiding behind his back. And the way her left brow lifted only confirmed that she caught a glimpse of it.

"Is that a bottle of Champagne?"

"Oh, so no swearing tonight? No 'fucking bottle of Champagne'? Who are you and what have you done to my Lady?"

Ladybug let out a groan, a pout curling downward at the corner of her lips. "I promised Tikki I'd make an effort with that," she explained.

"And I told Plagg I wouldn't bring the bottle of Champagne with me tonight, but it looks like I failed to keep my promise. Although… I didn't actually promise, so it doesn't count, right?" He narrowed his eyes, a claw gently scratching his chin.

His partner tilted her head and pursed her lips, obviously weighing the pros and cons.

"Right. You're safe with that one."

Chat fought the urge to pump his fist in the air, but couldn't help matching his words with a mocking tone. "I hope you heard that, you little rascal. You're not allowed to claim any cheese compensation for something I haven't actually done," he warned his kwami. "Now, let's open this." He started to work on the cork. His claws made the task a little bit harder, but he still managed to free the bottleneck.

"Pull!"

He turned around just in time to see Ladybug grab her yo-yo and aim it at the cork before unleashing the string of the yo-yo, the weapon knocking the tiny cork far away into the sky.

Ladybug laughed aloud before turning around, seeing Chat Noir blinking at her, his eyelids fluttering in disbelief.

This woman was a freak, but he loved it. She was so imperfect, it was unreal, yet wonderful.

"Ahem, sorry." She coughed into her fist. "I got carried away. My non— I mean, my grandmother, she taught me how to shoot a rifle. Anyway…" She threaded her fingers together, fiddling nervously.

"Your grandmother sure sounds like someone you would rather have with you than against you," he chuckled awkwardly, his hand rubbing the back of his head.

"Oh, no! She's a sweetheart actually. I'm sure you will love her!"

Chat Noir froze, his mind going blank for a second as his heart skipped a beat, or two—three? 'You will love her' like it was actually likely going to happen? Oh, wow. It felt like a burst of fireworks scattering in a million colors deep within him. Fireworks he wasn't sure he could keep under control and he didn't want to end up burnt; when you play with fire, you end up getting burned…

He had to keep cool. Very cool.

Ladybug must have sensed the unease suddenly crashing between them after her statement, because she started pacing around the roof and soon changed topic. "Did I miss something? What are we celebrating?"

"Nothing special. I just thought it'd help let go of some pressure and… anger?"

He bit his bottom lip. She was going to hate the idea.

"Oh… sure," she shrugged as she took the bottle from his hand and slowly brought it to her cherry-pink, kissable lips.

Scratch that. She was okay with it. Miss 'goody two shoes' was actually going to let loose. Oh, wow—a milestone in history! Wait. Her lovely lips were already wrapped around the bottleneck, leaving no doubt about her intention as she sipped a swig of the golden drink.

He stared, transfixed, and pondered the fact that he was going to put his mouth where she had put hers. It was a vicarious kiss, right? He was somehow going to kiss her. And taste her. Oh gosh. He wasn't sure he was going to survive to his own brilliant idea to drink Champagne with Ladybug, without bringing champagne glasses… Actually, he didn't know if it was a good or a bad thing to have forgotten glassware for the drink. Because, damn it, seeing Ladybug sipping Champagne straight from the bottle was a pleasing and pretty hot sight to behold.

He gulped, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down. At some point, he didn't even know what his civilian name was anymore.

But at least he knew he was going to kiss Ladybug tonight—through the bottle of Champagne. And in only a few days, he would kiss her for real. Straight on the lips.

I swear these two with a bottle of champagne is going to be epic.

See you tomorrow for more 3