Dear Reader, I had some amazing feedback as to where this chapter could go and it's taken me a while to decide. This morning I just let my fingers do the typing and this is what we have. Thank you so much for your support :)

Chapter 19 – More than Words

Chat Noir was bounding across the rooftops as the thought struck him that he was running away from his troubles, again. As his feet touched down on the following building, his steps slowed to a trot. Throwing his head back, Chat scrunched his masked eyes closed and stopped. "What am I doing?" he asked himself out loud. Dropping his face into his hands, the black clad hero sucked in a slow steadying breath. He needed to think rationally but it was hard when emotions like anger, hurt and betrayal ate at him. But honestly, had Marinette/Ladybug done anything worse than he had?

Raking his gloved hands through his hair, Chat Noir laid back his cat ears and let out an angry snort. At this point, his reaction was more a pressure release since he wasn't quite sure where to direct his rage, but he needed to get a grip on himself. Honestly, it was a miracle Hawkmoth hadn't sent an akuma his way already.

Agitation had Chat Noir pacing the narrow pitch of the roof he stood upon. Inwardly he hoped that no one was sleeping in the room below, as they would think there was a ghost on the prowl.

With his intense gaze focused on the tiles at his feet, Chat Noir didn't immediately notice the other person leaping his way. Only as he reached the end of the roof, when he pivoted around to pace the other way, did his cat ears pick up the soft sound of a thud nearby. Lifting his head, Chat Noir froze on the spot as Ladybug sprinted towards him, skidding to a halt before him. Her gloved hands wrapped around his upper arms as she looked at him with steely determination.

Those familiar blue eyes tracked across his face and her bravado seemed to ebb. Chat watched as Ladybug's top teeth sank against her bottom lip, pulling it nervously under her top lip. As his eyes lifted from her mouth to her gaze it dawned on him. She was hesitant because she knew who lay behind the black mask now. She knew he was Adrien Agreste, and he had broken her heart as badly as she'd crushed his.

Anger eased into empathy. Chat Noir's hands raised and settled themselves on Ladybug's hips. The expression on her masked face echoed his pain and uncertainty. Movement over her shoulder caught his attention and his eyes bulged. "Akuma," he hissed quietly.

Panic etched itself across Ladybug's features as they stared at each other. Poised as they contemplated their next move. Suddenly, Ladybug's hands skated up his arms, along his shoulders and cupped his jaw. The move had him unconsciously stepping forward as she tilted his face down, the burning intent in her eyes so fervent that Chat Noir forgot about the akuma as Ladybug launched to her toes and claimed his mouth with her own.

A euphoric groan escaped Chat Noir as Ladybug curled herself around him, one hand sifted into his hair with wide spread fingers while the other snaked around his broad back. For years he'd dreamed of this moment, of having his lady kiss him like this. As if she were trying to brand his very soul with such searing intensity. He wanted to speak the words, to declare how much he loved her in that moment, yet he couldn't pull himself away from the magic of her mouth.

Part of his brain tried to remind him that this resolved nothing. While passion was a form of communication, it wasn't the same as talking things through. However, Chat Noir didn't want to think right now. He wanted to feel. He wanted to revel in a dream come true. But the shriek of metal straining under extreme conditions had the pair parting lips. Two masked faces turned serious as they realised the akuma had found a replacement victim.

"Hawkmoth really has the worst timing," Chat Noir growled with a shake of his head.

Ladybug's gaze was on the akuma, assessing the current situation. "Yet he's as unimaginative as ever. Looks like he's resurrected Gorizilla."

A wince passed over Chat's face as he thought of his bodyguard. "Crap, he's probably in trouble because Adrien was mysteriously absent from his room again."

At this, Ladybug turned her head and smirked. "Suddenly your lateness to all those akumas revolving around a certain model makes sense."

Plucking his baton from his back, Chat Noir couldn't help but add, "Indeed. You were busy carrying me in your arms." Leaning close, he whispered, "And I loved every second of it."

Ladybug gave him a playful shove, clearly regaining some of her usual confidence. "Let's get this done."

What can I say, this story is meant to be fluff and I wanted to ease up on the angst. Yes, they need to speak to each other and nut things out but I figured some more kissing was just plain fun.

Of course things will be weird in the morning, the angst hasn't completely disappeared ;)