Oxygen was like the next episode of his favourite TV show, thought Chat Noir. When he needed it most, it wouldn't come.
He tried to breathe deeply, but his heart felt like he'd just run a marathon. He hoped desperately that Ladybug wouldn't notice, because his identity was at stake here if he let out the euphoric whoop he was restraining.
However, Ladybug wasn't looking at him. Not even a tiny peek through her long eyelashes. Her head was bowed, the lights of the city reflecting in her glossy hair.
"Ladybug?" he asked gently, managing to hold back the urge to scream 'I'm Adrien!' and let his transformation drop. Even a palaceful of camembert wouldn't quench Plagg's fury if he did something like that.
She didn't lift her head, and Chat Noir thought he saw a tiny tear splash down her face and onto the beam they were standing on.
He hesitated for a moment, then reached out and touched her shoulder. She flinched like he'd poked her with a cattle prod. Chat snatched his hand away. He didn't know what to do. He had virtually no experience when it came to girls and their emotions. Finally, he sat down on the edge of the tower, where he'd been perched before his lady arrived. Maybe he'd just found out that the love of his life returned his feelings (well, sort of), but if Ladybug was hurting, he would do anything for her.
He heard a sniffle from behind him, then a whisper as delicate as a china teacup. "I'm so sorry, Chat Noir. So, so sorry."
He spun around in surprise. Ladybug was in the same position, except from this angle, Chat could tell that she was definitely crying. He scrambled to his feet, and approached tentatively. "Ladybug, you don't have to apologise."
Her shoulders shook as she sobbed silently. "Yes, I do." Her voice barely qualified as a whisper, so quiet Chat wouldn't have been able to hear it if it wasn't for his cat-like senses.
"No, Ladybug. You don't," soothed Chat. He wanted to help her. He hated to see her cry, and felt guilty of being so happy while she was so clearly not.
She sank to her knees, and Chat Noir sank with her. Finally, Ladybug looked up at him. Her lovely blue eyes were shining with tears, and silvery streaks tracked down her cheeks. She looked so heart-wrenchingly beautiful in her misery that Chat's chest ached. "But I hurt you, Chat Noir. Of course I have to apologise. You're my friend."
"You didn't hurt me," said Chat with a smile.
Ladybug wiped at her tears with her gloved hand. "You don't have to lie to make me feel better, Chat Noir."
Impulsively, Chat reached out and grabbed Ladybug's slight shoulders. Ignoring her flinch, he made her face him. "Look at me, Ladybug. I swear on my life, you didn't hurt me. Please stop crying."
Ladybug stared at him, tears giving way to disbelief. "Chat, I pretty much rejected you. Again. How could you not be hurt? After what you said earlier, well, I understand your feelings," she said. "And I'm sorry that I can't accept them. I really am. But I've loved Adrien for a long time now." She groaned, and punched herself. "Sorry. That last part was really insensitive. Maybe I should leave."
"No." His voice was calm, measured, in control. His emotions were not. I've loved Adrien for a long time now. Adrien. Him. Ladybug loved him. "Stay, Bugaboo. I've got some questions."
Ladybug stared and the ground, then shrugged. "I owe you at least that. Shoot."
Chat smiled to himself. Finally, some answers.
Don't push your luck, kid, warned Plagg. He didn't often speak up when Chat was transformed.
Yeah, yeah, he thought back. Turning his attention back to his lady, he cleared his throat. "So, first question,' he began. "Is Adrien your boyfriend?"
Ladybug spluttered. "No way. He doesn't even know I exist."
Interesting. "A fan crush, then?"
Ladybug sighed. "That was an exaggeration. I see him a lot, but he doesn't return my feelings. Not exactly a fan crush, but I don't like him just because he's famous, you know. And if that's the time, I have to go." She was looking at her yo-yo, which was in phone mode. Ladybug stood. "Bye, Chat. Thanks for talking. I'm sorry for what I did."
Chat sighed. "For the last time, you did nothing wrong, LB. Stay safe." He hugged her quickly, before he could lose his nerve.
For a moment she was stiff as a board, but then she relaxed into him. The rise and fall of her chest pushed against his ribs, and her pigtail tickled his neck. She smelled of fresh bread and lotus, a pleasant mix of familiar and exotic.
Chat never wanted the moment to end, but he released her. She smiled up at him.
"Goodbye, Chat Noir. See you soon."
She swung off into the night. Chat watched her red spotted form dip and rise gracefully until she disappeared from view. Damn, he loved that girl.
And she loved him back.
Marinette flopped onto her desk chair, head spinning almost as much as the chair. "I'm a horrible person, Tikki," she whimpered.
Tikki zoomed over. "No you're not, Marinette! We all make bad choices sometimes. It'll be fine," said the pink kwami reassuringly.
Marinette gazed at the ceiling. "I broke his heart, didn't I?"
Tikki may have been Creation itself, but right now she really felt like breaking something. Far from breaking his heart, Marinette had probably made him the happiest boy in Paris. How could she be so oblivious?
Tikki forced herself to stay calm. Marinette must never know about Chat Noir's true identity. Tikki was a stickler for the rules, even if it did mean lying to her chosen. "I'm sure you didn't break his heart. You could never do that, Marinette. I'm sure Chat understands."
Marinette slid off her chair. "It's been a long night, Tikki," she yawned. "I think I'll go to bed."
Tikki gave her an encouraging smile. "Good idea, Marinette. Try not to dwell on it, or you'll never get any sleep."
"Got it," came a muffled voice from Marinette's loft bed.
"Can you please go to sleep?" begged Plagg. "I'm tired."
Adrien leant against the window, gazing at the city lights. He was too wired to sleep. "Ladybug loves me, Plagg," he said dreamily, for the tenth time that night.
The little kwami snorted. "Already covered that, kid."
"You don't understand! She said it herself! Adrien Agreste! She loves Adrien Agreste! Me!"
"Go to sleep, lover boy," growled Plagg.
Adrien stared off into the distance. As Plagg watched, his chosen suddenly went very pale.
"Adrien?" Plagg flew over. "Do you need some cheese? You're looking a little pale."
The model looked at him. "She loves Adrien. Not Chat Noir."
The tiny cat rolled his eyes. "Oh, for cheddar's sake. Get over it!" he snapped. Lack of sleep usually made Plagg cranky, but this was a lot even for him.
"She shouldn't like me, Plagg."
"Oh, please. If you start banging on about how you're not worthy of her, I'm going to throw up," he sneered.
Adrien looked devastated. "Listen to me, Plagg! Ladybug shouldn't like Adrien. She says she sees me a lot, so she must know me, right? But- but Adrien isn't who I really am! When I'm Chat Noir, I can speak my mind! Do what I want! Act how I want! I don't have to be Gabriel Agreste's precious perfect model son! I can be me! So why does she like Adrien, not Chat Noir?"
Plagg just stared a him. "I'm pretty sure you're suffering from split-personality disorder. Maybe you should stop referring to yourself in third person."
"Plagg! I can't let Ladybug fall in love with me! It has to be Chat!"
"Better," said Plagg lazily. "But please don't tell me you're jealous of yourself. I don't know if I can deal with you if you're suffering from schizophrenia."
Adrien just looked confused. "Okay. But she can't fall in love with me as Adrien!"
"Too late," said Plagg sleepily. "She's fallen for you hard. Good luck stopping her."
Adrien groaned. "She can't, Plagg. I have to stop her. But I think I'm going to need a plan."
Hi readers! I'm back! Sorry for not posting for a while! I had a hectic weekend, but I'm here now. Secondly, sorry about the cliffhanger! I really didn't mean to, but I'll try to make it up to you, my wonderful readers! Also, unfortunately my computer suffered a glitch that made all my reviews disappear, but they reappeared today and I was finally able to read them! Thanks to all those who posted a review! And yes, that was Percy and Annabeth, because they are amazing! I honestly can't tell you how happy those reviews made me, but your words made my day so much better. Please, please leave reviews, as they are the camembert to my inner Plagg! Thank you all so much!