Chapter 29 – The Bug and the Pussycat

Ladybug sat cross-legged high up on the Eiffel Tower with her yoyo flipped open, replaying the video Alya had posted to Instagram. The wide smile on her face somehow got broader as she watched a certain couple lean in for a kiss. Happiness swelled in her chest. Never in a million years had she thought that her fantasy of becoming Adrien's girlfriend would become real. While all her past elaborate schemes to win him over had given her hope, some inner part of Marinette had assumed her chances of actually scoring Adrien as a boyfriend were low. The guy was a teen heartthrob for a reason.

Absently twirling her finger in the hair of her right pigtail, Ladybug was only faintly conscious of the light footfalls heading her way. She caught a glimpse of the lanky dark figure striding towards her from the corner of her eye, and as she turned her head to look a feeling of deep affection radiated from her features.

Chat Noir sat down beside her, peering over her shoulder to see what she was watching. "Again?" he grinned.

"Yeah, what can I say? I'm a romantic."

"Mm," Chat Noir hummed with a look of deep satisfaction. "As am I."

"I noticed," she added as she leaned her shoulder against his upper arm.

"So…now that Marinette and Adrien are a couple, where does that leave us?"

Ladybug eased her weight off her partner and sat up to look at him. "I don't really know. Honestly though, it's probably better that we keep our relationship secret along with our alter egos."

Chat Noir pouted. "Seriously?"

"Seriously," she chuckled as she ruffled his wild blonde locks with one gloved hand. "We can't have Hawkmoth cluing in, particularly when a certain romance has been shared over the internet."

Green eyes studied the yoyo phone in her hand as he let out an exasperated sigh. "And here I was thinking I'd finally gotten the girl."

Again, Ladybug beamed at him with a twinkle in her blue eyes. "You have but it's top secret."

"Meaning?"

"Chat Noir continues his relentless pursuit of his partner."

Black masked eyebrows lifted with interest. "You want to be chased?"

She rose to her feet, thumbing her yoyo closed. "It's what we do."

Following suit, Chat Noir stood as well. "And you'll continue to act all annoyed and put out by my flirting?"

Ladybug shrugged. "Well, mostly."

"Mostly?" he asked as he crossed his arms, one masked eyebrow cocked.

"If it's just us I might reciprocate."

Looking from side to side, Chat Noir took a step closer and leaned his face down towards hers. "We appear to be alone now."

"We're standing on a national monument. People own binoculars and drones."

"You really are a tease. You know that, woman?"

A cheeky grin spread across her features as she poked his chest playfully. "I'm no worse than you."

"Now that sounds like a challenge to me. Perhaps Adrien will suddenly feel self-conscious at school and keep his hands and lips to himself."

A snort escaped Ladybug, "You lack the restraint besides you'd be punishing both of us."

"There are times when I hate that you're right."

Walking backwards, Ladybug crooked a finger at him. "So, that leaves the chase Chat Noir."

"I suppose it does," he purred with a sensual gleam in his eyes, matched by his confident swagger. "The question is, what happens when I catch you?"

"Hmm, I guess it depends." Ladybug answered as she tapped a gloved finger against her chin.

"Depends on what?"

"If you catch me somewhere secluded or not."

A lopsided grin spread across his face. "I think I get the idea. Secluded it is."

And with that Ladybug raced off giggling while Chat Noir smirked as he chased after her.

The End

There we have it, one story that was meant to be a quick write that ended up being much slower and longer than intended. Oh well, I hope you enjoyed it.

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