They had found a secluded spot in the park, surrounding trees sheltered them from the icy breeze and any prying eyes. It was warmer than the roof top, so it would do for their conversation. In all the time they had been a crime fighting duo, they had not spent this much time in each other's company with out an Akuma to defeat. They had conversations between catching Akumas and appearing at public events, but having a meaningful, in-depth conversation, had always been beyond their reach.
'I wonder how long we have?' Chat Noir was building up the momentum to continue with the conversation when Ladybug thought it would be best to prompt him.
"You were saying about your friend," she was looking up through the leaves, able to see the twinkling stars in the sky above. The grass under her hands, Ladybug leant backwards with her legs straight out.
Chat Noir could feel how relaxed she was, he found it strange considering the circumstances. This was not normal for the two heroes, they had never hung out like this. Their purpose was to protect the people of Paris, not to socialise with each other while in their hero attire.
"My friend-" Chat Noir adopted the same position as Ladybug, "what a person."
Ladybug knew she was doing right by listening to her black cladded partner, but a pang of jealousy struck her core. 'What is up with me, am I jealous at not being the object of his affections?' her internal thoughts staying put, Ladybug did not want to add any more stress to Chat.
"She has the most beautiful, kind and genuine soul, but I lost her." Chat gushed, his smile was genuine with the thoughts he was having. His smile soon faltered though to be replaced with a furrowed brow.
Ladybug glanced at him sideways sensing his shift in mood, not knowing if she should interrupt or just let him continue.
"I thought she hated me," he continued with a shrug, changing his position to a hunch and crossing his legs, he started playing with the grass beneath them. "Then we seemed to talk easier, and she became more relaxed around me, I thought she might have liked me liked me," he looked hopeless, "But she then helped me with another girl-"
"Chat, how many girls have you had a thing for?" She nudged him jokingly. Chat Noir glanced at Ladybug, a cheeky grin on her tilted face, he knew she was just trying to lift his mood. Ladybug shifted her position to cross her legs, Chat Noir's face was visible to her now, a faint smile could be made out on his face. It worked.
"You and my friend are very much alike," he avoided her question. "It was only when I got to know her properly, that I seen the similarities in your ways," He became rigid. Ladybug noticed but let him carry on. "As you-you were telling me there was another...I changed my target. She is very clumsy," he chuckled fondly, "and can be awkward at times but in an adorable way...she sees who I am...on the inside."
"Chat," Ladybug could see him reliving his experiences, his emotions that had been pent up inside. There was a hint of happiness, mixed with regret and despair. "Is this helping you?" Her voice was laced with concern as she frowned.
"I need to-to explain a few things, I can't talk about this stuff to N-my friends... I pushed them away too." He stopped himself luckily. "All our friends were pairing up, and then this guy came on the scene who just seemed to-to get her an-and could communicate with her in a different way-"
Ladybug's eyes widened. 'This seems very familiar.'
"So I gave her space, and at the same time a friend of the family was needing a friend and we got close, and M-my other friend, gravitated towards her now boyfriend. I've not really spoken to her very much as my now ex-girlfriend didn't like how close I was to her." He sighed, "I want to talk to her but..." Ladybug could hear the bitterness he held towards his ex, this girl who had caused a problem for him, between him and his friends, Ladybug was angry with her too.
"Is this why you changed towards me?" Ladybug couldn't stop herself.
"My feelings for you were still strong," he continued despairing as he spoke, his head now in his hands. Ladybug leaned closer without realising, waiting for his words to come. "But she thought it was M-my friend, who was on my mind, so I had to change how I was with you too." He had almost dropped names in the conversation, he was getting sloppy and emotive.
'Keep it together Agreste! You've almost said Marinette twice now.' Chat reprimanded himself.
"It wasn't fair on my ex-" he defeatedly continued, "I couldn't continue on with it how was... so I broke it off and haven't spoken to her since..." he trailed off at the end.
A few moments went by, Ladybug was processing the information that had just been rolled out in front of her, she could tell this story, it sounded so familiar to her. 'Adrien had been there, but our friendship was awkward, they got on after a while, but then Kagami came on the scene, so Luka was there, and-and-'
"Ladybug are you ok?" Chat asked peering at her troubled face. She was sat staring at the floor, now hunched over absentmindedly playing with the grass on the ground beneath them.
"I'm sorry Chat," she turned to face him, eyes wide, there was fear in her eyes. "Can we continue this tomorrow."
His face dropped and looked like his world had crumbled around him, as Ladybug struggled to get up and away as fast as she could.