Aye, Jeremiah, that's why I'm putting what the prompt is just under the title of the chapter. I had to follow them and make the story fit each prompt at the end of the day. Half the story was written before the prompts were finally out. It was a bit of a challenge, but I wanted to take the risk. I hope it's a success because I do have a soft spot for this work and it was fun to follow the prompts even though some were very hard.

good read.

CHAPTER 19: Voyage

[PROMPT: Arcades]

Adrien could have sworn he died and went straight to heaven. There was no place on earth where his Lady would act so carefreely, let alone allow him to touch her so intimately.

"I'm r-ready."

"Okay, hold on, M'Lady."

Her grip on his shoulders tightened whilst his hands slid along her sides, holding her waist to help her to get down from the fishing boat. The touch of her bare flesh against his bare hands felt electrifying, sending a jolt down his spine. This was a whole new level on the scale of partnership.

Eventually, her body slid off the edge, supported by the strength of his hands as he let her slip leisurely into the water. She fell onto his torso, her body pressing flush against his, and he hoped she couldn't feel the erratic beating of his heart which threatened to escape his ribcage sometime soon.

Their eyes remained securely shut, but both of their embraces welcomed the other with wide open arms, and he could tell she was trembling against his body.

"Can you swim on your own? You're shaking."

"Y-yes. Just a bit colder than expected. I'll be fine, Chaton."

Adrien let go of Ladybug reluctantly, but one of his partner's hands remained locked with his own. She wasn't lying to him; she was really scared of drifting offshore.

Being deprived of their sight kind of made it difficult for them to stay long. Yet, they still enjoyed a few quiet minutes in the water. Just the two of them, moving slowly so as not to drown, their fingers laced, and the silence settling, trapping them in a quiet bubble of bliss.

"Was it a date?" Chat Noir asked as a joke as they reached the hotel where their rooms were booked. His clothes were thrown over his forearm; it had been out of the question to put them back on over wet and cold underwear.

Ladybug stopped in her tracks just before the hotel's front door. She looked serious—too serious? He tilted his head, his eyes narrowing, trying to read her reaction when she suddenly rose on her tiptoes. Her lips unexpectedly found his cheek and lingered there for a couple of wonderful seconds before she pulled back slowly.

"I guess it was," The heroine whispered, her cheeks turning a vivid shade of pink, matching the color of the dress which was folded over her forearm.

Oh, gosh. He wished he could see her in that very dress for another date. She would look gorgeous, for sure.

"I need to show off my gentlemanly skills then," said Chat Noir, a smitten look plastered on his face as he reached for the door and opened it for his date. His date; the word made his head spin in a delightful way. "After you, M'Lady." He bowed slightly, holding the door open as she walked by.

"Thanks, Chaton."

They both walked toward the reception desk, earning a strange, probing stare from the guy who sat behind the counter.

"Good evening, we're here for the keys of our rooms."

"You are the actors for that movie about superheroes, right?" The guy stood up, reaching for some papers on the desk on his left.

"Good insight," Chat chuckled; the man looked impressed with the costumes and there was reason to be; it wasn't work done by a costume designer, but the real magical deal.

"Here's the document for the check-in. The rest of your staff already signed. It's just missing yours; you're the last to arrive." The man handed them two pens, one of which the hero gently pushed back.

"I won't need it," the feline politely declined. He reached for his back, drawing his baton and the sudden appearance of the weapon made the receptionist hastily step back. "Hey, calm down, dude, I just have my personal pen in it." Chat opened a small sub fund at the tip of his baton before turning it over and placing it straight on the document for the check-in, affixing a stamp on it. "There, all done."

The man blinked and came closer, looking at the document. "A paw print?" His eyes widened as he looked up with disbelief to the feline hero.

"Yes." Chat puffed his chest with pride; he'd literally waited for years to use that stamp!

"You know that you're not actually a real cat, right?" The receptionist raised a brow, a flabbergasted look still furrowing his features.

Ladybug eventually laughed behind them, the whole exchange being quite a huge sketch—even funnier than the old ones from Harry Clown. Stifling a giggle, she leaned over the counter and whispered to the dumbfounded receptionist, "I wouldn't be so sure if I were you. I've heard him purr before, you know." She tilted her head, pointing to her partner who began to laugh and fake a cough to muffle his reaction.

"Right…" The man was completely thrown off, looking at them as if they were actually going to film a remake of Alien vs Predator, or maybe Lilo and Stitch—mutants, disguises, and all—who knew…

Ladybug pursed her lips, holding back the burst of laughter that threatened to escape her mouth, signing the document with a simple 'LB' and a symbol looking pretty much like her yoyo—which Chat Noir found very cute.

"Great. Here's the card to your room. It's on the 15th floor, room number 300."

The mirth of the two heroes was cut short as they both choked while trying to swallow their laughter.

"Our room, like one room?" Ladybug inquired, and the receptionist nodded. "It must have been a mistake. We should have two rooms. Like, two people, two rooms."

"I'm sorry, there's no mistake. You do have the Royal Suite though; there's a very large couch in it."

Chat Noir quickly grabbed the card and thanked the man, dragging a speechless Ladybug into the elevator. He looked at her worriedly as she fell completely silent during the trip to the 15th floor. The telltale sound of the elevator reaching its destination and the doors opening echoed around them, breaking the deafening silence. They walked out of the cabin, straight toward their room. Their room; there was no way this would work without his Lady freaking out. He did not want her to freak out, not after such a wonderful evening spent with her. A date, as she called it. He needed to think of a plan to take things slowly so as not to rush her when she was making herself so vulnerable to him.

"Did you bring the Horse Miraculous in case of an emergency, M'Lady?" Chat Noir inquired, stopping her as she was about to open the door leading to their hotel room.

A beat of silence.

"M'Lady?" He waved his hand in front of his partner's face and she jumped back.

Ladybug shook her head and breathed out slowly. "Sorry, I dozed off. I suppose I'm still tired from last night's hangover, the flight, and all... What did you say?"

"I asked if you had brought the Horse Miraculous with you in case of an emergency?" he repeated, tone gentle so as not to pressure her.

"Uh, right. Yes, I have it."

He stretched out his gloved hand, palm up. "Gimme."

She didn't question him, astonishingly subdued, and opened her yoyo, handing him the sun glasses he asked for. Dazed, she missed the moment he unified, turning into Stallion Noir before opening a portal.

"I'll sleep in Paris," Stallion Noir offered. "I'll be back in the morning. That way, you can have the room for yourself and some privacy."

If she had missed, or actually dismissed, what was going on up to now because she was internally screaming and having an existential crisis, she was now completely aware of the fact he had suggested leaving her alone.

And she did not want to stay in the hotel room without him tonight.

She did not want him to leave.

"Please, stay with me. I m-mean… It's not a problem. The receptionist said there was a couch. I'm pretty sure there's enough room for b-both of us in there." Saying that, she opened the door of the room wide open, making her point as she revealed a large, luxurious and contemporary suite. "See?"

"Uh… okay" Stallion Noir stepped out of the portal where he was already halfway a foot inside of his bedroom.

Wait. His bedroom.

"You've got an arcade machine in your room?" She inquired, her tone inquisitive as she stared at the portal closing behind her partner's back.

His hand moved to the back of his neck as he forced a cringe smile on his lips. "Hm, y-yes. Actually, I have three. I'm a big fan."

"Let me guess; Tetris, Pac-Man and what else… Hm… Tekken?"

"In fact, it's Tekken, Super Mario Bros and Dance Dance Revolution." Chat Noir smiled helplessly, his hand rubbing his nape with renewed vigor.

"Dance Dance Revolution," Ladybug repeated, her previous dazed state back to snap her in the face in full force.

That sounded pretty familiar for some reason

.