Ah, so I'm excited. I loved this writing this chapter, but next chapter is the start of the Cheater Arc! It won't be more than five chapters, but you'll meet some key characters, and Kitten will be revealed for those who haven't figured it out yet.
Thank you to anyone reading this, please review.
-Chapter Four: How He Sees Her-
"How do I know I can trust you?" Bryden asked, taking a subconscious step back from the girl dressed in black leather. At his question she giggled softly, placing a claw on his chest, right below his heart. "You don't. That's what makes life so interesting. Us so interesting."
His throat felt thick at her words, but he swallowed down the lump present. He needed the cat miraculous, a partner, and she was the chosen. Bryden threw away all doubts in that moment, extending his hand as he chose to trust the guardian's judgement in picking this girl as a hero.
"Fair enough, partner."
Two and a half years passed since that day on the roof of a business he couldn't quite say he remembered the name of. At the time all focus had been on her, the black cat of misfortune.
For a year prior he and the preteen female had been enemies; him fighting in the close comfort of the law with his new found powers, while she stole from and beat the wealthy in the streets. Robbing banks with her abilities, there seemed to be no light in her darkness. Or it had seemed that way to a boy sheltered from the cruelty of the world. It's underbelly filled with racism, poverty, and injustice. All the things she chose to stand against, despite the fact she was probably only around twelve at the time.
Still, two years later and he was no closer to figuring out the riddle that was the feline.
Her playful flirts, saucy jabs, sweet as honey singing voice when a mission went well, and they were alone on the roof during patrol. Over the years her barriers seemed to break down, little by little. The fake smile he came accustomed to her showcasing slowly became genuine, laugh lighter. Although still a formidable foe, he could tell there was no joy for her to hurt others, even crooks, as when they were being wheeled off in the dead of night, no absence of light could disolve the image of the pain she felt.
Kitten soon became the strongest person he knew.
When times were hard, he'd look at her for light. Positivity. Though he never dated anyone, Bryden was sure losing her would be worse than the lose of any romantic partner. She was so much more than that, her very laugh melted away any and all doubts he had.
That said, Ladybug was not in love with Kitten Noir.
When around Aubrey, his hands got clammy, his very heart stopping in her presence. He couldn't talk, stuttering and stupidly tripping over himself.
The love he felt for both women were completely different sides of the relationship spectrum.
And, in his darkest moments of realization, he depressingly knew Kitten didn't hold the same amount of trust for him as he did for her.
"Bug?"
A small voice snapped the red dressed hero out of his thoughts, turning to the girl that weighed on his mind that evening.
"H-hey Kitty. Sorry, lot on my mind."
With a sheepish chuckle, he took the carry out bags from her arms, propping himself on the edge of the roof as he popped the steaming white rice open.
"So," stabbing the one time use chop sticks inside the paper canister, "What up? Anything to report?"
Every other patrol they split up. He would take the more posh areas, her the not so nice ones. It was her own request, brushing off his concerns with how she knew the area well. This only solified his belief her identity must be from that side of town.
In years before he had been relevant, Bryden read about marches and riots for equality. Gays, those of different race, the disabled, and so many more fought. Now the world seemed equal in those aspects, but the one thing no one could change? You only mattered if you had wealth.
Father a top ranking cop, The Commissioner; and his mother a veterinarian surgeon, his life was easy. People looked at his family with respect, pride. Yeah, people expected greatness from him, but that was alright.
"Nothing to report. A few muggings, but nothing too sinister." Tossing her hair back, she preferred McDonalds over his Chinese food, her offering him one of her ten peice nuggets. "For me?" He swooned dramatically, earning a giggle from his partner. "Yeah, can't leave poor little Buggy starved."
They stayed like that for awhile, before he chose to break the comfortable silence.
"You know, next December, our anniversary will be striking that three year mark. Maybe we should tell each other about our identities..."
"No."
"I know you're against it Kitty, but hear me out. It'll be easier, and I know you won't get akumatized. You're too strong. You won't sell me out."
He was pleading, but didn't she trust him like he her?
All Ladybug received was a sigh, before his feline partner stood, walking away. "Patrol is over. Good night, Bug."
And like that, she was gone.
Kitten never offered any explanation for why. Everytime he asked to know who she was, the usually light hearted cat would become guarded like when they first met, and refuse to answer.
She didn't trust him, and that hurt more than anything else he'd ever been through.
Days passed before the two spoke again, his mother often warned him of the wrath of a woman scorned.
It had been a bit past one am, when he bumped into a hooded figure. The figure scurried away quickly, Bryden assuming she feared him. Not everyone approved of the heroes, even to that day.
It wasn't until he was home, that the male took notice of a small, wrinkled note stuffed in the string of his yoyo.
'How the fuck...'
Opening it, blue scribbles caught his attention, taking a moment to read the messy handwriting.
'I'm sorry, Buggy.
One day maybe, but not now. Not soon.
Kitty Kat, The Girl of Your Dreams~'