Chapter 28 – Forgiveness
"I'm only accepting part of your apology," Ladybug said.
Disappointment as sharp as an electric shock forced Cat Noir backward, and he pulled his hands out of hers. After all her talk of trust and promises to be understanding, she just ignored his confession and-
Ladybug didn't let him get far, grabbing all ten of his fingers and reeling him back to her, until they were closer than before. He stared down at their joined hands.
"I forgive you for lying. And for hiding things from me. But you can't apologize for things that aren't your fault. Kitty, look at me." She waited until she was sure he was listening. "Don't apologize for getting hurt. We both know it's a dangerous job."
He nodded. They hardly talked about it, but the risk was always there.
"And..."
The word hung between them, tempting and mysterious. "And?" he asked, too curious to let her hide behind her silence any longer.
"And I have a confession of my own."
His cat ears perked up, even as he told himself to be wary. A confession could be for a lot of things. For wrongdoing or bad news, not just for love. He braced himself.
Ladybug took a step closer, then another, until they were chest to chest. More hesitantly than he'd ever seen her move, she reached for him, cupping his face with both hands, and he sank into her touch.
"I love you," she said.
When had the world started spinning so fast? When had things stopped making sense? How could she have admitted this now, after telling him she hadn't chosen yet? After such a big fight? She couldn't really mean it the way he had, could she?
He wanted to run away until things made sense, but Ladybug wanted him to talk to her, and he trusted her enough to stay and ask.
"Love me?" he asked. "As in...?"
"As in I'm in love with you. You're my best friend, and I care about you. More than you know. It just took me a while to catch up with you."
Ladybug's smile filled his vision as happiness started to fill up his heart. He hadn't realized how empty it had been for so long until she started pouring her love in. And he kept filling and filling until he finally thought he would burst.
"I love this communication thing," he said.
She giggled. "Anything else you want to know?"
"Just one question. Can I kiss you?"
In answer, Ladybug pulled him down and kissed him first.
Author's note: FINALLY! There's only four chapters left, and they're all going to be disgustingly adorable. All aboard the fluff train! Choo choo!