Hello, my Miraculous readers!

It's the tenth chapter already! Hope you are enjoying the ride so far!

Sorry I didn't post it sooner! I have been extremely busy xD

Enjoy :*

All cards on the table

Right when the words came out of his mouth, Adrien felt in his gut that he shouldn't have said them. One thing was admitting to himself he liked Bugzhinette and flirt a little by text, another completely different was to almost declare his love for her over the phone. Especially when he knew that she was bound to react badly to it. There wasn't much he knew about her – because she was so reserved – but there was a lot that he'd easily guess.

Adrien was a bit tired of this dance they had been dancing. He wanted to know her, for real. He desperately needed someone like her in his life. He knew she liked him, at least as a friend… Because why bother to talk so much with someone you have never even met? And he was okay with only being her friend if that was all she wanted from him, but… He wanted to be able to meet her, talk to her, and see her. He couldn't get rid of the image of Zhi Ruo whenever he tried to envision her and it was getting him frustrated. Frustrated to the point that he'd said what he shouldn't have on a phone call that shouldn't have happened.

In his defense, she had called him first, even if it hadn't been on purpose. After she answered his call, he had been so excited that he was actually talking to her that he'd forgotten to filter his thoughts. And the result of that had been she turning cold and distant and ending the call right after he praised her for being the perfect girl for him. He had apologized, of course. He also sent a new text when she didn't respond to the first one, but she was at the movies, and he didn't want to be a bother, so with extreme effort and hoping she would say something to him when the movie was over he'd put down his phone and focused on work, trying to forget his worries and trying to forget that she was in London with her friend.

If he just went for a walk… Pass by a few movie theatres…

But that was insane. Even if he did see her, he wouldn't be able to recognize her.

Shaking the silly thoughts and absurd ideas off his head, he focused on his working table, where the pink and black fabric lied tangled together. A sly grin grew on his face. At least one good thing came out of this: his plan to piss off Zhi Ruo Léi was thriving along with his growing frustration.

"I just hope Thomas doesn't fire you when he sees that Ladybug's icon red suit has become pink," pointed Lucie as she entered his workroom.

"Has no one ever taught you to knock before entering someone's room?" he replied with a smile, not bothering to look at her as he picked up the pink fabric. Adrien's plan was to show it to Thomas when it was too late to change it.

"Zhi will be pissed when she sees her wardrobe," Lucie giggled and Adrien's grin widened. "No one can contest that she looks really good in pink, though. She looked beautiful at the premiere."

"The best part is that she won't even know who to yell at," Adrien added waving his brand tag with an X on it, while he ignored the last part of Lucie's comment.

"I don't think I ever saw Zhi yelling at anyone, Adrien. If she does this time, it's because it really got on her nerves," Lucie giggled.

"That is kinda my main goal at the moment," Adrien laughed and Lucie refrained from doing the same. What he was doing was funny, but he wasn't doing it for fun. Lucie sighed. It had been so long… In her opinion, Zhi and Adrien needed to forget the past and work things out. They weren't seventeen anymore! They had grown up! And they had such a great friendship back in the day; why not go back to that, now that they had had the time to move on? Lucie might be the younger one, but they were the ones still acting childish.

Noticing that Lucie hadn't said anything, Adrien turned and caught a glimpse of her gloomy face. "What's wrong?" he asked.

"It's nothing," Lucie shrugged. Adrien lifted his eyebrows. "I was just thinking that there will be a massive bad atmosphere if you and Zhi don't fix your issues before we start recording the new Miraculous movie." Adrien visibly breathed in and turned back to face his working desk.

He knew she had a point. Part of him wanted to fix everything and pretend that nothing had happened… but the other part, the angry one, was pissed at him for even considering it. Zhi didn't deserve a second chance. She had broken him. He had never found it in him to love again until now, and he didn't even know the girl he was falling for. Somehow, the angry part of him blamed it all on Zhi. Everything that was going wrong in his life was Zhi Ruo's fault. He knew it was immature to think like that, so there was a war inside him.

Lucie rested a hand on his shoulder. "Adrien," she called quietly. "I know she hurt you really badly, but it has been almost eight years. You will be forced to coexist with her again, either you want it or not. You are both adults. Isn't it better if you just let it go? Try to get to know her again? Because she must have changed…" Adrien lifted his head to say something but Lucie didn't let him. "Maybe she changed for the worse, but maybe she changed for the better. You will never know until you give her a chance." If she wants a chance, that is. Lucie added mentally.

Adrien gulped. Why did Lucie have to be always right?

"Just think about it, okay?" she urged him with an understanding smile. "You have around two months to decide." He nodded and she laughed softly, looking at the pink fabric in his hands. "Please don't give up on the pink ladybug suit, even if you decide you should make peace with Zhi. It looks great."

The next day, Buggzhinette finally answered his texts. He had sent the normal good morning greeting and she had responded as if nothing had happened the day before. He was really relieved when she answered, but throughout the day they kept on making small talk and everything seemed out of place. She was cold with him and it wasn't just his mind playing tricks. Her texts were visibly shorter and sharp. He tried to ask more than casual questions, personal ones, but she dodged them all of as a child's butt dodges the syringe.

Only around mid-afternoon, he understood:

Everything is wrong.

She kept answering, but she wasn't her light, funny self anymore. She was avoiding him.

Although he felt that he shouldn't, the thought of never having what he had with her ever again was eating him from the inside, so he decided to be forward with her and ask about the night before.

He would start casually and see where she led the conversation.

[17h21 Today]

Chat_Noir999: So, how was it last night?

Yes, that should do it for starters.

He set down his phone and kept on working. She probably would take some time to answer.

Adrien was sliding a black thread through a needle hole when her reply came.

[17h33 Today]

Buggzhinette: It was good.

Great. Is that all she is gonna say?

He let go of the phone and grabbed two hands full of hair with frustration. He did not want to answer irrationally. That was what had put him right in the middle of this mess. Truth be told, he felt a bit silly… It just wasn't reasonable that they'd been talking for a little over a month and he had fallen for her already. It wasn't normal! Or okay! Her reaction was bound to happen! For all she knew he could be a very well disguised creep, trying to find his way into her life or/and her panties. He had to think this through.

Should he get it out in the open and apologize? Claim he was joking?

But he wasn't joking! What if he really wanted to let her know his true feelings next time and she thought he was joking too?

He remembered Lucie's words: he was an adult. He should behave like one and own up to what he had said because it was the truth. It was crazy, but it was the undeniable truth and he wasn't going to lie about his feelings. Not to the girl that he–

–loved. He forced himself to finish that thought as a grown man should.

[17h39 Today]

Chat_Noir999: LB, I'm sorry I said what I said the way I said it. I shouldn't have.

That was good. He apologized for the way he'd said it, but not for the content of what he had said. Because he'd wanted to say it and it wasn't a lie.

His heart pounded, as he partially prayed that she didn't notice that 'small' detail. He audibly blew the air through his mouth, trying to calm down. He didn't like not being able to do anything. He hated that he was in her hands. That was a position where he felt very uncomfortable. The worst part was that this type of terror wasn't new to him. Why did he let his guard down so soon for this girl?

To his surprise, she didn't take as long to answer as he'd expected, although the answer wasn't very pleasant.

[17h43 Today]

Buggzhinette: I really don't know what you expect me to answer, Chat. And it pains me to see that you still think that "it's better to ask forgiveness than permission".

Adrien frowned and typed, feeling offended with what he'd just read. She not only had missed the 'small' detail – another love confession ignored –, but she also tried to lecture him!

[17h43 Today]

Chat_Noir999: I'm only sorry about how I said it! I should have picked a better moment.

With his frown lowering, he added:

[17h44 Today]

Chat_Noir999: But I'm not sorry for my words. Not when they are the truth. I'm sorry I didn't meet with you and said it to your face. In person. That's what I'm sorry for! If I had, you'd know I meant every word.

Sent.

Fuck.

Now he'd done it.

I meant every word.

He did mean every word, but, like the day before, he'd spoken out his heart without a filter, burying himself deeper when he should be scratching for a way out of that hole.

She didn't answer.

Not for a long time. And it was hard to focus on work knowing he was walking a tightrope and might fall. He pondered whether to send another text, but what could he say? He wasn't going to apologize again. He had his pride too.

Well, it was out. Loud and clear and there was not much he could do except owning up to it. Maybe he should risk whatever was left to risk and beg her to meet him? What did he really have to lose that he hadn't put on the line with all he'd said? She was obviously already pissed at him...

He picked up his phone and received her response.

[18h08 Today]

Buggzhinette: I still don't know what you expect me to say.

Adrien breathed in and out, gathering all the courage he could get.

This was it.

[18h10 Today]

Chat_Noir999: Say you'll meet me. I need to see you. Please meet me.

There.

All cards on the table.

He felt very nervous but somewhat proud. What was the worst that could happen? That she would say no? He could live with that for a little longer.

[18h13 Today]

Buggzhinette: I will travel for work and will be out of reach. Don't try to contact me, I won't answer.

His heart fell on his feet as he read her message.

He had been wrong.

How could he miss it? THIS was the worst that could have happened and he wasn't prepared AT ALL when it hit him.

Feeling the world crumbling at his feet he held on to the phone as if it was a life buoy. She hadn't mentioned a trip for work before! She must have made that up! Even if she was traveling for work, where on earth do you go to get so 'out of reach'? Not only she was completely ignoring his advances, she was also ditching him. Big time. And that hurt. He never imagined she'd do that because he thought he meant something to her too.

[18h15 Today]

Chat_Noir999: Don't do this, Bugz.

[18h17 Today]

Buggzhinette: I don't have much of a choice. I have to sustain myself.

The natural way she responded made him feel like the lump on his throat had gotten bigger. He didn't mean 'don't do this' as in don't do your job and she knew it!

[18h20 Today]

Chat_Noir999: And you will travel to the fucking middle of nowhere, where there's no internet or cell line at all?

Even though they were texting each other, he wouldn't conceal the bitterness and frustration in his words and he knew that wouldn't escape her either.

[18h21 Today]

Buggzhinette: No. I just won't answer you.

That hurt more than anything she'd said so far. He wanted to throw his phone to the wall and scream with pain. But he didn't. He forced himself to breathe, and he forced himself to pretend not to care as much as he did.

[18h24 Today]

Buggzhinette: I'm sorry. I don't want to hurt you, but I think it's better if we take a time out. I will need to be very concentrated in my next job and you have been a distraction that I can't afford to have.

Adrien let out a frustrated snort.

[18h25 Today]

Chat_Noir999: Now who's asking for forgiveness rather than permission!?

[18h26 Today]

Buggzhinette: Chat, I really am sorry. I understand your frustration, but this… whatever it is we have... is toxic for me. I have to walk away if I want to keep my sanity.

It was toxic for him too! But running away from their feelings was never going to be a solution! It was toxic because they hadn't met yet!

Hope started to root on his chest like a weed, feeding itself from the realization that she was running away from 'whatever they had'. She hadn't told him that she didn't have feelings for him. It was probably because she did have feelings for him that she was running. If he could just convince her not to...

[18h29 Today]

Chat_Noir999: It's toxic because you keep trying to run away from me! From what we have! Don't try to deny it, because I know you feel something too. Otherwise, you'd stopped talking to me the moment you said you would. Please, please, M'Lady, meet me.

He eagerly waited for her answer, not bothering to put down his phone.

[18h31 Today]

Buggzhinette: I can't.

Hope withered a little, giving place to frustration and bitterness.

[18h32 Today]

Chat_Noir999: Can't or won't?

In the state he was in, minutes seemed more like hours passing. Adrien got up and walked back and forth on his working room, trying to find interest in the objects on the room. He was beginning to wonder if she'd answer at all when she finally did. He rushed to his phone.

[18h45 Today]

Buggzhinette: Both.

Another hit to his already crumbling heart. At least now she wasn't dodging the subject and was answering truthfully. He was prepared to answer when another text from her arrived.

[18h46 Today]

Buggzhinette: And I need a time out. I will be out of Paris for about two months and I need space. I won't take my Catphone with me.

She needed space.

He let himself fall on the chair, feeling utterly defeated. He shouldn't have said anything this early on. She probably thought he was a creep. And even if she didn't think that, why would she believe him? They'd started talking not so long ago; it was hard for him to believe he felt like that for her, so why would she believe him?

Sighing, he wrote his thoughts exactly.

[18h49 Today]

Chat_Noir999: Is it because you don't believe me, or because you think I'm a creep?

He tapped his fingers on his working desk, waiting.

[18h53 Today]

Buggzhinette: You lost me there, Chat. I believe you. I believe you when you say you hate Zhi Ruo Léi. I believe you when you say you are a great designer. I believe you. But I really don't understand the question.

Maybe his worries weren't the right ones? Maybe she did believe him… Well, if she felt what he felt, it wasn't hard to believe the other had fallen too...

[18h55 Today]

Chat_Noir999: Then believe me when I say I'm in love with you.

And at the same time he sent it, he received:

[18h55 Today]

Buggzhinette: And why would I think you're a creep?

…

Maybe because I keep declaring myself to you? Like a creep?

The more he did it, the easy it became. He was at peace with his feelings for her, now that they were out.

[19h00 Today]

Buggzhinette: You don't know me.

She obviously wasn't at peace with her feelings for him, nor did she entirely believe him, even though she said she did. Now was his chance. He had to ease her fears and make her believe in him. He had to make her take a leap of faith.

[19h07 Today]

Chat_Noir999: But I do know you. I'm not saying it's not weird that I have these feelings for you, but I can't deny them anymore. I'm losing my sanity here, too. You think the solution is to run away from me, but that will only make us both miserable and that is not a solution.

[19h13 Today]

Buggzhinette: I think you're mistaking love for curiosity. You don't know who I am and you have the thrill of the chase. You don't love me. You are just curious to meet the girl behind the mask. You don't know me. You know what I want you to know. You wouldn't be so eager to meet me and declare your love for me if you really did know who I am.

She was scared. Really scared. He could see that now.

His Lady wasn't running because she didn't feel what he felt or because she was sick of him! She was scared of getting hurt! She was scared he might not like her outside! Even though he felt a bubble of relief growing on his chest, as he finally understood what she was so worried about, he couldn't help but feel a bit insulted. What kind of person did she think he was? Still, he needed to show her she was wrong. He couldn't just give up, even if she thought so poorly of him. He needed to show her that he did know her and it didn't matter what she looked like, she was the girl he was in love with.

[19h20 Today]

Chat_Noir999: But I do know you. You are the sweetest, funniest, most amazing person I've ever talked to! You are sassy and ironic. You get every stupid joke or pun I make. You genuinely care for everyone around you! You are confident most of the times, but you're also insecure. And that's because someone has hurt you badly. I know that much! Bugz, please, please, believe me. I know you are scared, I am a bit scared too, but I would never do anything to hurt you. It doesn't matter who you are! I only care that I never met you because I want to hug you and kiss you! (if you'd let me) I have this need to know you are real… It's like you came out of a dream and I don't want to wake up! I don't care what you look like, M'lady. I'm in love with you.

And he waited again.

He waited, ignoring the fact that Zhi Ruo Léi herself was reading that message. He waited, ignoring the fact that that message had only made the girl he was in love with more certain that they needed to break it off now. He waited, ignoring the fact that his Lady wept with a broken heart as she wrote:

[19h23 Today]

Buggzhinette: You are wrong.

Another text followed that.

[19h24 Today]

Buggzhinette: It does matter who I am.

Adrien felt his cheeks warm up. From his uninformed point of view, she'd totally missed the point.

[19h26 Today]

Chat_Noir999: Of course it matters who you are. That's not what I meant!

[19h27 Today]

Buggzhinette: Then what did you mean, Chat?

[19h29 Today]

Chat_Noir999: I meant it won't change how I feel about you.

This time he didn't have to wait for her answer.

But he didn't know that she was right and he was wrong.

Everything he'd said had only made his Princess more scared of her own feelings. He was going to break her heart because of who she was.

[19h32 Today]

Buggzhinette: Wrong again.

Who was her to decide that for him?

[19h33 Today]

Chat_Noir999: What the hell, Bugz! You don't know that!

[19h34 Today]

Buggzhinette: But I do.

Adrien let out an unhumorous laugh, as he wrote back:

[19h35 Today]

Chat_Noir999: No you don't!

And once again, a text popped up at the same time he'd sent his.

[19h35 Today]

Buggzhinette: Take care, Chat.

That 'Goodbye' of hers hurt him more than anything she'd said until then. His chest burst with fear and frustrated anger.

[19h37 Today]

Chat_Noir999: What! Don't ditch me just because you don't like where the conversation is going!

Half hour passed and she didn't answer.

[20h11 Today]

Chat_Noir999: Please, Bugz, don't do this to me! You're being childish!

Another hour passed and the fear and anger became despair.

[21h00 Today]

Chat_Noir999: Please talk to me...

He didn't eat much. He couldn't find it in him to do it. Lucie and his father tried to make him talk, but he didn't want to.

Despair didn't leave him. He was soon begging her not to leave him.

[22h39 Today]

Chat_Noir999: Princess, please, please forgive me. I need you in my life! If it's too soon for you to agree to meet me, I don't mind! Or if you don't EVER want to meet me, I'm fine with that too. Please don't ignore me. Please talk to me. We can figure it out!

She didn't answer and he didn't sleep that night.

He kept texting her every once in a while. Sometimes with hours apart, sometimes with just minutes, unaware that she couldn't sleep either and that every begging text from him was like a knife piercing her broken heart.

Don't kill me just yet! *Ahaha* I'm sorry it's not fluffy, but we need this chapter. Believe me. XD

Lots of love,
AuriMoon*