Chapter 3

Chat surveyed the city from his perch on the Eiffel Tower, which had become the usual meeting place for his patrols with Ladybug. He liked to get there early so he could watch her swing in. Even after all this time, he still found her captivating. Her midnight hair was longer now than when they first met, and she usually styled it in a loose braid, rather than the twin tails she used to favor. She had matured in the last three years, though she had never disclosed her exact age to Chat. He had learned to give her space and not pressure her to reveal more about herself, though it pained him. Their relationship had also matured. Chat still flirted with her and made ridiculous jokes, and Ladybug still brushed him off and groaned at his puns. He knew she secretly loved them. But the dynamic between them had slowly changed over the years. It was more familiar and comfortable. With every battle Chat fell a little deeper in love with her. He knew he was in over his head. He knew she may never return his affections more than as partners. And though he had resigned himself to wait however long it took for her to be ready to let him into her heart, he could feel it slowly eating away at him.

"Hey, Kitty." He heard from behind him and turned to see Ladybug walking slowly up to him. How had he not heard her swing up? He must've been deeply lost in thought.

"You're looking pawsitively lovely, as always." He chuckled to himself, but stopped short when he saw her face. She looked like she had the weight of the world on her shoulders. She hadn't even rolled her eyes at the terrible pun. "Milady? Is there something wrong?"

"I'm fine, Chaton." She tried to dismiss him. "It's just something personal. A conversation I had with a friend has been bothering me."

"Oh." He managed, fighting every instinct in his body that screamed at him to press further, to comfort her. To hold her. They didn't discuss personal matters. Ladybug had insisted on it. It was too easy to let details slip out, risking revealing their identities. She was a little too cautious, and he was a little too reckless. At least they balanced each other out.

They stood there awkwardly for a tense moment before Ladybug let out a exasperated sigh.

"This is ridiculous." She grunted. "You're my partner and I can't even talk to you." She crossed her arms and kicked at the ground. Chat was unsure of how to respond for a moment. She had never let on that their arrangement bothered her before. She was unwavering in her resolve to keep their civilian lives separate and secret. Until now, that is. Chat didn't know what had prompted her change of heart, but he couldn't let this opportunity slip through his fingers.

"You can talk to me about anything, Ladybug." He finally said quietly. "I know you want to keep things separated, but it doesn't have to be like that. You can trust me. You have to know by now that I would do anything to protect you."

Ladybug was taken back. She looked genuinely hurt by his words.

"I trust you completely, Chat." she said with deep conviction.

"Then what is it?"

He could see the war going on inside her as their eyes locked for a long moment.

"It's something my friend said... You-" she hesitated. "You think we're a good team right, Chat?" Chat beamed.

"Milady, we are pawsitively moewvelous together." She couldn't help but melt a little at his crooked grin.

"I'm serious, chaton." She chided. "My friend thinks that knowing each other's secret identities would make us a better team. I can't help but wonder if she's right." Chat was stunned. He had held out hope of her changing her mind for so long that his mind would scarcely let him believe his ears.

"You...want to reveal our identities?" He asked, confused but hopeful.

"I-yes. Wait, no." Ladybug stammered and Chat scratched his head in confusion. "I mean, not right away. But...yes." He gaped at her with wide eyes for a moment before a smile spread across his face.

"And how do you purrpose we go about this?" He asked, and she placed a finger over her lips while she pondered the question.

"Tell me something about yourself, not as Chat." She stated, causing his eyes to dance with excitement. "Something small. And I want you to think about it, then tell me on our next patrol. In return, I'll tell you something small about myself."

"Consider it a date, Milady." He said with a wink as he leaned closer.

"Don't push your luck, Kitty." She scolded, unsuccessfully trying to hide a smirk by turning away from him and pulling out her yoyo. Chat counted that as a small victory. "We should start our patrol."

Chat watched her with a lovesick grin as she swung away. For the first time in a long time, his heart swelled with hope. His Lady was finally letting him in.

He vaulted after her. As they raced across the rooftops of Paris, Chat felt lighter than he had in ages. The fight with his father was long forgotten. He couldn't help the way he watched her as they ran along their patrol route, and it didn't escape Ladybug's notice. She couldn't help but feel as though a weight had been lifted from her shoulders, despite the anxiety that lurked in the back of her mind.

When they had finished their patrol they were once again atop the Eiffel Tower. Neither of them were ready for the night to be over, and they found themselves sitting side by side and overlooking the city.

"Chaton, do you think we know each other?" Ladybug broke the silence as they dangled their feet over the edge of the balcony. "I mean not as superheroes, obviously. Behind the mask." She took in the surprised expression on his face, followed quickly by a mischievous grin. She was probably going to regret bringing this up, but the thought had been eating away at her since her conversation with Alya.

"Believe me, Milady, I would know you anywhere. There's no way I could have met you and not recognized you." He replied with a wink. "I don't mean this in a creepy stalker way, but you carry yourself very distinctly." Though he meant it as a compliment, her downcast demeanor made him wonder if he had said something wrong.

"I'm not…" She started, then second guessed herself and dropped her gaze. "I'm different without the mask." She said quietly. Chat reached over to gently lift her chin, and her eyes met his again. She made no effort to brush him off the way she usually would, even though she was acutely aware of how close they were.

"I don't know much about you under the mask." He began slowly. "But I know you. I know you are kind, and brave. I know you have the heart of a warrior. I know that you would sacrifice yourself for those you love. No matter how different you are under the mask, those things can't change." He couldn't help but gently stroke her jawline before forcing himself to pull his hand away.

Speechless, she stared into his earnest eyes, soaking in his words. She knew he cared for her. It was evident from the countless times he had thrown himself in harm's way to spare her, in the way he gave her space when she asked for it, and in his eyes now as they searched hers. He only knew one side of her though. He knew her as the coordinated akuma fighting superhero, not as her clumsy, soft-spoken alter-ego.

"I'm afraid you'll be disappointed " She finally confessed. It was like breaking a dam. The words came flooding out. "We've been through so much together, and you mean so much to me, I just can't bear the thought of letting you down. Especially after all the times you've had my back. What if you find out that under the mask I'm clumsy, and shy, and always late, and... are you laughing at me!?"

Chat was blatantly laughing with a huge grin on his face. She wanted to be angry but all she could manage was bewildered.

"Forgive me, Milady." He managed through chuckles. "But that's what you're worried about? You could never disappoint me, Buginette." Sobering, he gently touched her cheek again, and again she made no attempt to brush him off. "The mask isn't what makes you a hero. You are. No matter who is behind that mask, I could never think less of you. I thought you knew that by now."

For a long moment she just sat there, stunned. He really thought that much of her? As she gazed into his ernest green eyes She could feel her walls start to crumble and the anxiety begin to fade.

"You really are hopeless aren't you, Kitty?" She teased with a smirk, as she flicked the bell on his collar. "Thank you, chaton." She continued in a sober tone. "For always being there for me, and for being so patient with me."

"Always." He replied with a warm smile, and took her hand in his to place a kiss on it. To his delight, rather than pulling her hand away, she slipped it into his and rested her head on his shoulder. In that moment, Chat felt as though he could fly.

* Author's Note *

Thank you so much for reading! This is my first attempt at a fanfic. I have most of the story planned out already and the next three chapters just need a little more editing. I have two small kids, so my updates will probably be unpredictable, but I promise I won't leave you hanging.

Comments and reviews are welcome! I would love to know what you think! :)