*A/N*The long awaited chapter 6 is finally finished! Between the holidays, writer's block, the hubs being deployed, and this being a surprisingly difficult chapter to write, it was a rough task getting it done. I hope you all enjoy the extra long LadyNoir fluff! :)

Chapter 6

Ladybug was the first to swing up to their favorite perch. It wasn't often that she had the opportunity to simply gaze out over the city and soak in the quiet. Chat was almost always there waiting for her when she arrived. Not that she minded. Seeing that stupid grin he always got when she landed never failed to lift her spirits, not that she would ever tell him.

She closed her eyes and savored the warm breeze, choosing to release her braid and let the wind flow through her midnight hair. There was something purifying about the air up there. The sounds of the bustling city became increasingly distant and faint the higher she climbed, and the lights far below danced in a rhythmic pattern. This was the view that had finally inspired her latest design project. After toiling feverishly for the entirety of the day, the end result was nearly perfect. Marinette felt it was one of her greatest works yet.

"You look peaceful." Chat commented as he climbed the last bit up the tower.

"You're late." She playfully scolded without opening her eyes.

"I had a couple stops to make. Would Milady accept a peace offering?"

"She might." Ladybug countered as she peeked open one eye. When she caught sight of the "offering" he held out to her, both eyes shot open wide. For printed on the side of the outstretched paper bag was none other than the seal of her parents' bakery. The very same seal that she had designed herself. Inside were the croissants her father had made that morning. Chocolate croissants, if her nose was correct.

"What is it?" Chat asked, noticing her odd reaction to a bag of pastries. "This happens to be the finest bakery in Paris." He bragged and Ladybug couldn't hold back a snicker.

"Looks like my friend was right after all." She replied and Chat cocked his head quizzically. "We must have at least seen each other without the masks."

"Wait, what?" Chat blurted. "You know that from a bag of croissants? How?" He eyed the bag skeptically.

"I'm not giving away all my secrets just yet, chaton." She teased as she flicked his bell and plucked the bag from his hands.

The two settled into a familiar position, side by side with their feet dangling over the edge of the platform. Ladybug opened the bag to reveal not only several chocolate croissants, but a delicate yellow rose bud as well. Chat watched with pride as a smile touched her lips.

"A yellow rose symbolizes friendship." Chat said as she brought the bud to her nose and breathed in the aroma. "I thought it was fitting."

"Quite." With a smile, she tucked the small rose behind her ear, then pulled two croissants from the bag and handed one to Chat. "To friendship." She held the croissant in the air and Chat followed suit.

"To friendship." Chat repeated.

A comfortable silence fell between them as they savored their treats and the view, until finally Chat spoke up.

"So," Chat began slowly. "You said that under the mask you're different. Different how?"

"Oh. Um. Well, for starters I don't do parkour in my spare time." she let out a half chuckle and tucked a stray bit of hair behind her ear. "In fact, I would probably break my neck if I tried basically anything I do as Ladybug."

"Oh?" Chat perked up, a mischievous smirk spreading across his face. "Could it be that the graceful savior of Paris is a clawset klutz?" He bumped her shoulder with his and she pouted.

"Yes! Ok? Without kwami magic I can't walk across a room without tripping over my own feet. Happy now?" She crossed her arms to demonstrate her annoyance, and Chat laughed. Then his expression softened. The smile stayed on his face but his eyes looked off into the distance. Ladybug thought she spotted a hint of sadness.

"That reminds me of my friend Ma-"

"No names!" She cut him off suddenly. He clenched his jaw for a split second, then dropped his gaze to his lap to concentrate on the small pebble he had picked up and was rolling absent mindedly between his fingers.

"I have a clumsy friend, that's all. At least I used to. I'm not sure what we are anymore." He looked back up to the skyline and threw the pebble into the distance as Ladybug eyed him quietly. It wasn't often that Chat dropped his nonchalant façade enough for her to glimpse the pain behind his eyes, but she could see that this lost friendship deeply bothered him.

"I'm sorry." she whispered, not knowing why but feeling the need to. Someone needed to apologize for hurting her chaton. He shrugged and dropped his gaze back to his now empty hands.

"People move on, I guess. She was one of my first real friends though. We were classmates a few years ago. But the last couple years our schedules were different and I guess she was busy. We haven't talked in a while."

"Who wouldn't want to hang out with you?" she dramatically rolled her eyes in an attempt to lighten the heavy atmosphere. "Doesn't everyone need a friend with messy hair and an endless supply of painfully awful puns?"

"Excuuuse me, milady, but my puns are purfect!" He dramatically threw his hand to his chest, but quickly softened again. "You're not the only one who is different under the mask, you know." He looked at her thoughtfully.

"Alright, chaton, I spilled my secret. Now it's your turn. What's the black cat of Paris really like?"

"I...don't get to cut loose very often. The house I grew up in was...strict. I haven't been able to completely break free of that yet. I'm working on it though. Being Chat is the only time I have any sort of freedom."

"And you use it to pun me to death?" she groaned, earning a chuckle from her partner. "That's an abuse of power."

"You know you love them, Bugaboo." he teased, leaning in, and she booped his nose, pushing him away.

"I will admit no such thing!" she protested, earning a smirk from her partner. "Besides, how many times has one of us taken a hit because you just had to make a joke at the exact wrong time?" She said in a more serious tone and pointed an accusatory finger at him. "I mean seriously! Could you please take the joking down a notch?" She griped.

"You could participate you know. It wouldn't kill you to let your hair down just a little." He reached up and ran his fingers through her silken hair. She ignored the goosebumps that rippled down her neck, and shot him a frustrated glare.

"You don't get it, Chat!" She sighed in exasperation. "Ever since the first time I transformed I've convinced myself I'm going to mess everything up. When we're out there fighting akumas, I'm putting everything I have into fixing things." Her voice steadily rose in intensity, unleashing the pent up angst. "I'm the only one who can cleanse the akuma. I don't get to joke around and take stupid risks! I can't afford to slip up!" Chat stared at her with wide eyes. "Not after what happened with Stoneheart. Half of Paris was turned into rock monsters. If I mess up people could get killed." She added quietly, hanging her head.

"Hey," He put a comforting arm around her and she gave into him, letting him be her support. "I do understand. Believe it or not, I've spent most of my life being pressured to be absolutely perfect. Perfect hair, perfect clothes, perfect grades. But being Chat...it's the only time I get to be free, to blow off steam. I guess I tend to let that freedom go to my head. I'm sorry." He offered sincerely, gently lifting her chin with a finger so her eyes met his. Her nose nearly brushed his and he fought the compelling urge to close the gap between them and kiss her.

"It's not the puns themselves." She said softly, looking away and breaking the moment. Chat swallowed and forced himself to refocus. "It's just the timing. In the heat of battle isn't really the best time for one-liners. Could you possibly save those for when there isn't a psychopath trying to steal our magical jewelry?" She asked in a lighter tone and he smiled.

"For you, Milady, anything." He raised her hand to place a kiss on her knuckles, and she tousled his hair playfully in return. "You see? We're getting better at this teamwork thing already." He said with a wink.