Just something quick and simple with all the LadyNoir Angst that is going on in season 4. They need it, we need some fluff and here it is!

Disclaimer: I am not owning Miraculous Ladybug and all characters in it.

Enjoy:D

Black Ink

"And you really want to do this, Milady?", Chat gently asked, feeling amazed by her bravery yet again.

"Uh-huh! And I can't wait, until I have it on my skin!"

He gazed down to her, gently brushing a few strands of her hair from her forehead and just marveled in the way she rested her head on his lap. Once more he was hit hard by the realization on how much in love he was with that gorgeous girl in front of him. But he couldn't deny that little, envious ache in his heart, when he realized, that he would never be able to see that tattoo she had designed for herself on her skin. At least not in the nearest future…

"Oh kitty…", she whispered - knowing too well, what he was thinking about, and she reached up for his cheek to caress it lovingly. He immediately leaned into her touch, sighing a little at the warmth and comfort the small gestures brought to him. He certainly would never get tired of these tiny, but meaningful touches, and she knew it as well - and probably that exactly was the reason, on why she put a little more pressure in her touch. Just to reassure him, that she did not mind his thoughts and doubts and fears.

"I will show it to you…"

A tiny smirk tugged at the corners of his lips and he chuckled.

"You know, that I don't mind an identity reveal…", he mumbled sincerely, moving his head slightly, until he could place a tiny kiss onto her palm.

"…not until we have defeated Shadow Moth…"

"I know…"

"But for now I will think about a way to show you the tattoo, once it's done. Just the tattoo!"

"Uh… I get to see a little bit of your skin?"

"Just the arm!"

He smiled.

"That's more, than I could ever ask for…"

"I know…"

He had stopped to ask about an identity reveal a long, long time ago. Not only because it had annoyed her to a certain degree, and not only because the pain it brought to him, every time she refused his request. No… his own, teenage self had started to realize, that she did not hide her identity from the world and from him, because it scared her to take this step. But she just wanted to protect everybody she ever loved with that. After all - Shadow Moth was still out there, and he would love to make them regret any of their missteps.

So they agreed to take this step of revealing the identity to the other once he was defeated - freeing themselves from the burdens, that their hidden identities when the right moment would come. Only they were supposed to know then, and he couldn't wait for that day to happen.

Of what he had gathered by now, she couldn't wait, either…

"Don't you want to have a tattoo as well?", she asked curiously into the silence between them.

Chat flinched, nervously scratching the back of his head. Of course - he liked tattoos. Black and colorful ink on skin held a very creative promise of individuality. A promise of freedom - to do, what ever he liked. But he never thought about this very topic too long - he knew too well, that his father would never allow him a tattoo as long as he modeled for the company. And he certainly did not want to show up with on all too suddenly to give his old man a heart attack - even though his best friend Nino and his Kwami would urge him to get one just for that very reason.

Therefore, he quietly said:

"I don't think, that I should get one…"

"Why?", she wondered out loud, and he could tell, that one eyebrow started to climb up on her forehead, just underneath the mask.

"My father wouldn't like that…"

"You are 18, aren't you? I don't think, that your father has a saying in that anymore…"

"Don't want to give him a heart attack, Milady…"

Ladybug pursed her lips - very well sensing, that her kitty indeed yearned for some ink on his skin as well - deep down knowing, how good he would look with it as well. Wouldn't it just suit his whole aesthetic anyway- a tall, muscular man with eyes, that could reach into the very soul, wearing black leather every time they saw each other. Gosh… she would love to see his arms, with tattoos all over his skin - and that thought made her blush, and he grinned at that slightly.

"And if you put a tattoo somewhere, where your dad won't see it?", she yet sweetly said and tried to fan the hot air around her - and with that her not-so-sweet thoughts away. But for now this very question made him laugh even harder.

"Believe me - he will always know! Unless I put one on my behind!"

She certainly would not mind seeing that happen, but Chat just didn't see the point in it. But still she continued to ask:

"What would you want as a tattoo? If it didn't kill your poor Papa right away?"

He smirked - for the very first time allowing himself to let his mind embrace that very question, now that his lady had voiced it out loud.

"…how about tiny ladybugs in various places? And you are very welcomed to come closer and search for them on my skin?"

Ladybug gasped at that scandalous suggestion, slapped his muscular chest with the back of her hand in a playful way, but tried to hide that deep, crimson blush on her cheeks, as she allowed herself to think about it for some moments longer.

"You dirty alley cat!", she still mumbled underneath her breath. "So - apart from that - what would you actually want for a tattoo?"

His previous suggestion had been a serious one - and perhaps he should hold on to that idea for a little while longer.

"…seriously… I don't know… Perhaps a partner tattoo to yours? Something with a black cat as well? Or… don't know - something that just looks cool? Like… big… black… pictures…"

"You don't have an idea?"

"Absolutely not!"

She smiled sympathetically up towards him and gently brushed a finger across his chin.

"I would love to design you one, once you know what you like…"

He smiled at that - knowing to well, how much he would love her art on his skin - anything she drew. Briefly his eyes rested on that sketchbook, that laid behind her. That page with her own tattoo design was still opened up - the silhouette of a black cat underneath the moon. It was perfect - he loved it as much as she did and even without her saying it out loud, he knew who who exactly this tattoo would be referring to.

Him

And there was just something beautiful about that thought, that he would somewhat always be around her - even if he wasn't always by her side. And even… if that wonderful and lovely relationship did not work out in the very end - even though both wanted it to be their Always and until only death would part them.

He definitely didn't want any other girl by his side anymore- had known it, since the first time he had seen her in her red, dotted and bright-eyed glory.

So… Perhaps he should indeed think about a partner tattoo to accompany hers one day.

"I wish, you could go with me…", she blissfully said after some time when silence once more tried to accompany them, finally sitting up, put leaning against his shoulder, instead. Sighing and he could tell, that she was inhaling his scent. He did it as well - loved that faint smell of shampoo, that clung to her hair and the sweetness, that came from her skin. It certainly didn't surprise him, that Tikki just loved to be around her Chosen - the sweetness loving Kwami surely had a simple and fulfilled life, living with a human, that suited her just so well. He on the other hand had a cheese-loving narcissist with destructive tendencies by his side - but truth to be told - he loved Plagg just as much, as Ladybug loved her Tikki

"And I wish, that I could hold your hand…", he mumbled and opened his left hand for her, and he didn't need to wait for too long, until she laid her small one in his, lacing their fingers together with a little, blissful sign. "…I love to hold your hand…"

"I know you do…", she sweetly whispered, her head shifting on his shoulder, until she rested her chin on it, gazing towards him through the darkness. "Just as much, as you love to kiss me, right?"

Chat chuckled at that - very well knowing of the request, that hid within her words.

"You do, too…"

"Correct~"

He finally shifted and brought his second hand up, holding her close by the base of her neck, before he leaned in to take that kiss, she had offered. Both closed their eyes, just enjoying their time together. Breathing as one, melting into each other's touch and…

…and then there was that super annoying Akuma attack, that would keep them up and on their feet for the better half of the night.

Adrien still noticed that horrible fatigue, that clung to him ever since he woke up for school. Far too early for his own taste and not even that cup of coffee, that Nino had brought along for him could help him with that. What a shame - because of that he could not daydream about his lady and how bravely she would face her session at the tattoo parlor she had that afternoon.

"Oh Alya~", Marinette wined too suddenly behind him, and he could see his friend in an obviously flustered and frustrated state. "I was so counting on you there!"

"I know! And I am sorry! But my Maman is visiting my sick grandma, and she is counting on me to make sure, that my sisters won't blow up the apartment! You know, what happened the last time they tried to use the microwave…"

Marinette flinched and even Nino and Adrien, who had turned around and had started to listen as well cringed, as they all collectively remembered Alya's very graphic depiction of that.

But the black-haired girl sighed, before she hurriedly placed something inside her backpack, again, that looked like one of her many sketchbooks - it somehow reminded Adrien of something, that he had seen before - but the tiredness for now clouded too much of his perception to place finger on it at the moment.

"Perhaps I should make an appointment for another day, then…"

She looked so sad, Adrien could tell right away and even Nino frowned beside him.

"What appointment?", he therefore bravely asked. Marinette's eyes immediately flew in his direction, and she nervously tried to shrug it off.

It wasn't the same nervousness as all these years before. She wasn't the same, adorable and stuttering mess anymore and whenever she would try to speak to him, and he liked that about her - of course in a friendship-kinda-way. For his heart would always belong to his lady and - of what he had gathered - Marinette must be seeing some guy as well. But Nino was just as clueless about said boys identity, as he was and Alya would not say a thing about it.

But - it was okay - nobody was allowed to know about his secret relationship with Ladybug, either. Not even Nino…

"Our girl here wants to get a tattoo! Today!", Alya happily chimed in, before Marinette even had the chance to utter one word out loud.

"A tattoo? Really? Where? What kind of tattoo?", Nino was immediately thrilled by that idea. Adrien on the other hand slowly blinked once in confusion and surprise. After all - his very own girlfriend had an appointment for that as well! How high were the chances, that his friend Marinette and his girlfriend Ladybug would get one on the same day? But…, then again - people got their tattoo nowadays like some change their underwear. Okay, Monsieur Agreste - that was a weak comparison. Yet it reminded himself, that getting a tattoo was a fairly normal affair in these days and there was certainly nothing spectacular about it, when two girls he knew would get one on the same day as well.

…still…, how high would the chances be, that Ladybug would show up on the very same tattoo shop, like Marinette?

"Something I drew myself… it's nothing special…", the girl in front of him yet mumbled, and it looked like she tried to get smaller and to get away on the spot.

"But it is something special to you, when you want to have it on your skin!", Adrien gently said and smiled - immediately recalling his conversation with his lady the night before.

"It's surely something mundane like a piece of cake, am I right, Dupain-Cheng?", came it from across the room, as it was Chloé, who had tried to insert herself into this very conversation as well - of course in her usual and ridiculous charming way.

"A piece of cake? Well, that is something I would get for myself!", Nino said, as thankfully neither gave in to the blond girl's teasing. "And a croissant here, right on my wrist. Oh - and here I want to have my headphones! And how about a turtle here and-"

Nino kept going on and on - talking about tiny bits and pieces, that would resemble his personally just so well - staying gleeful through it all, as he dearly ignored when Alya cleared his throat, while Marinette seemed to panic for a second at the word 'turtle'.

"I'll get my back tattooed one day!", came it from the back of the classroom, as it was Kim, who added something to that as well.

"And I want one on my ankle. Something pretty and colorful~ Oh - I know! I want flowers there! And a teeny tiny unicorn!", Rose exclaimed.

"And I want one on my arm! Or two~"

By now the whole class was talking. Everybody had a concrete idea on what they wanted to have on their skin and where. Some like Mylene and Max right away said, that they did not want any at all, which was okay as well.

Adrien was amazed, that they all have been able to have these tattoo wishes already. While he had never been allowed to think about them at all.

As his eyes wandered from face to face, his gaze eventually stopped on Marinette's face once more, who still seemed to be utterly frustrated with the missing company for said appointment. The blond even believed to find some uncertainty and fear in her eyes, when their gazes locked for a brief moment.

He still smiled.

"Then I will go with you…", he eventually and gently said. "I'll just write Nathalie, that I will see a friend after school…" - and that he of course would take care about all his homework, once he was back at the mansion before the cook would even start to prepare his dinner.

"You would do that?", Marinette carefully asked, to which he sincerely nodded.

"Of course!"

It was around noon, when he received Nathalie's (or rather his father's) permission to go out and see his friend after school - thankfully! Otherwise, that nervous, shivering bundle, that was the black-haired girl had to go on her own to get her tattoo in the afternoon. Deep down he would wish, that his lady would be there, too… And this right here was certainly the place, where Ladybug would get her one as well. It was an artsy, colorful place with lots and lots of friendly people working there. The walls were painted with colorful murals - each wall depicting a different style of tattoo, and even he felt welcomed to chose one for himself. And gosh - this place was clean!

…if only he could get one - then this would be his place to go…

"You really don't have to do this, Adrien…", Marinette gently reminded him once more, as she looked up from her phone, once she had written a message to somebody. Perhaps her secret boyfriend - he would never know.

Funnily enough his own phone beeped once, only a second later. He would read it in only a moment.

"But I want to…", he kindly said. "I can tell, that you are nervous…"

"I am downright scared!", she admitted and fanned herself some air. "I don't like needles! And now I am willingly allowing some big, bearded guy to push one into my arm, to get black ink underneath my skin! That's just… crazy!"

Adrien chuckled, and thankfully it soothed her poor nerves as well - at least a little.

"And still you want to do it?", he wondered and patted her arm in a friendly manner.

"Absolutely!", she said and finally smiled as well. There was even a small blush on her cheeks, and it looked ridiculously adorable, while her eyes started to gleam with nuance of dreaminess in them. "It will mean a lot to me, when I have something on me, that reminds me of…" Her voice trailed of, and she looked over to the wall on her left. But Adrien immediately understood her - Ladybug has reacted similarly, when she had said, that her first tattoo was meant to secretly resemble him. Well - his hero alter-ego, of course.

"…your boyfriend?", he therefore added. "Does he know?"

Carefully she looked back towards him. Shyly nodded.

"…he loved the design!"

"Then you should definitely get it!", he enthusiastically said. "Otherwise you will regret it, if you never did it!"

Her smile widened once again, and he could tell, how much this encouragement meant to her.

"You are right…"

"May I see it then?", he surely would see it, once it was on her skin. Still - curiosity won this time once more.

"Of course!"

Marinette bowed down to get her backpack from underneath her chair. Rummaging through her belongings, until she found the same sketchbook, she had hidden away so carefully in class.

But she had not the chance to open it, to show it to him now, for somebody already called for her name - and really - that was a big, bearded man, who was going to get her tattoo done, just like she had told him.

"Mademoiselle Dupain-Cheng?"

Adrien merely followed behind - both of course dodged the question, if they were in a relationship and thankfully the man was not interested to ask any further for now. He rather started to talk about the things he would be going to do in a minute, about the pain she would feel, about the instruments and tools he would use. Marinette was the one to listen carefully - Adrien on the other hand used this moment to sneakily catch a glimpse of the message he had received a few minutes earlier - hoping and praying, that his father did not change his mind and that he had to come back home right away.

But instead he found a cute little message from his lady, written their secret chat, that couldn't detect their real numbers and names.

"I am there.", she had written. "I am scared and afraid, that it will hurt. My best friend couldn't come, either. But thankfully a good friend of mine came along with me. I hope you don't mind, that he will hold my hand, instead. But I wish it was you…"

He had to read it twice. The first time around he smiled warmly at her words - knowing deep down, that she was worrying too much. Of course, he would never mind, that some other guy would hold her hand, while she was suffering - even though she chose to do it herself. But then - when he read it again, he found a few strange coincidences in her words.

Apparently Ladybug was just as afraid about her tattoo session, as Marinette. And her best friend couldn't come, either - just like Alya couldn't be there for Marinette. Instead, he was here - another boy, not her boyfriend…

Okay - those were just a lot of coincidences…

"Adrien?", Marinette's voice so suddenly reached his ear. It was tiny. So quite and vulnerable. "Do… do you need to go, don't you?"

He looked back up from his phone right away - still standing by the door, that lead inside this small room.

"Huh?"

"You don't look happy…"

His eyes widened, and he wondered what he must be looking like, while he had stared on the small screen for far too long, while two dots inside his brain begged to be connected. But he wanted to refuse the truth he found there - not ready to give in to that thought, if his lady and Marinette were one and the same-

"Nah - my girlfriend just wrote something confusing to me…"

"Your girlfriend?"

Oh… he was not supposed to say that out loud. But for now his mind was just too busy to say something else.

"Don't worry. I will stay!"

Relief reached Marinette immediately, and she exhaled, before looked back to that big, bearded man, nodding bravely, before he started to apply the first draft with temporary ink on her arm - now officially allowed continuing.

Adrien used this one more minute to write one more message towards Ladybug, now that the other two were distracted for the moment, and before he had to hold Marinette's hand to keep her from succumbing to the pain.

"I wish it was me, who could hold your hand…"

He prayed, before he sent the message - his own heart skipping one, two beats, as her phone immediately chimed from her bag.

"Perhaps it's me, who holds your hand, Milady", he bravely added, his phone almost falling from his limp fingers, when that well known beep from her phone answered to his ridiculous thought.

Oh…

His eyes immediately found Marinette's face, again. He mustered those brilliant blue eyes, those faint freckles on her skin, that smile, that was always soft and kind and…

…and just so much like Ladybug's.

Almost mindlessly he stumbled closer, finally putting his own phone back, while he sat down on that chair beside her. Her left hand immediately reached out for his, grasping him tightly, while she apologetically smiled up towards his face.

And her hand… it fitted into his big one just as perfectly, as Ladybug's…

"Thank you for being here…", she whispered once more.

He nodded, held her gaze - not ready to look at the faintly blue draft on her skin - fearing, what he would find there. Hopefully something artistic- but probably the silhouette of a black cat underneath a crescented moon.

"I am so sorry, when I squish your fingers…"

He nodded once more.

"Why are you so pale, Adrien?"

His eye twitched.

But thankfully he didn't need to answer to that.

"Ready, little lady?"

"I am!"

For the longest time there was just the soothing, soaring sound of the tattoo machine as it worked on the girl's skin. Of course - Marinette held her ground bravely. Would barely flinch, would not pull away, and she wouldn't clench his hand as badly, as first expected.

She would casually try to talk with the tattooist. Or with Adrien - but out of the two men, the big, bearded one was the one to answer more often.

"You did not tell us, if you wanted a tattoo yourself… today, in class…", Marinette eventually asked most casually, as her eyes shifted from the work, that was done on her skin towards the blond by her side. "So… do you want one?"

Adrien gulped. He still had no answer to that. His father would never allow it anyway. But he still enjoyed the thought of them having a partner tattoo. Something, that would resemble her as well.

For now, he shrugged, as he still was not sure, how to act, to speak, or to breath, while his mind still tried to make conclusions, that were not allowed to be there in the first place.

But the reveal was done nonetheless. And his suspiciouness was confirmed, when he let his eyes wander bravely towards her arm to see the black ink there.

Of course - it was the black cat underneath the crescented moon. The very motive, that she had designed for herself and which secretly resembled his hero self.

His eyes landed back on her face. She was so unbelievably confused about his strange behavior. So unaware of the identity reveal she found herself in. And probably worried as well.

"Almost done, little lady…", the man said, as he finally stopped the machine, most carefully cleaning her skin. "I hope you like it!"

It was adorable - the way Marinette squealed with joy, as she gazed towards the finished piece. She seemed to glow with excitement and joy - knowing she had made the right decision.

Adrien had more eyes for the girl at the moment, even when he had let go of her hand reluctantly - he surely had enough time to endlessly gaze at her tattoo as well. If… She still allowed him to do that - depending on how things would go between them afterwards.

"I'll get something to wrap it up real quick. Just a moment!"

He hurried away - probably to another room to get whatever he would need to wrap the tattoo up.

Adrien on the other hand tried to be brave himself, now that his girlfriend has proven how amazingly brave she could be once more.

"Tiny ladybugs…", he finally said and Marinette finally looked back at him, just as curiously. "In various places. And you may look for them, whenever you like…"

Her brows furrowed at his strange reply. She looked at him, from head to toe and back to his face. When he carefully nodded, she gasped - remembering these exact words just too well.

"You?"

He shrugged, and he finally allowed that Cheshire grin on his lips, that he couldn't hold back anymore.

"…looks like I was allowed to hold your hand after all, Milady~"

And thankfully she soon started to smile, as well.