Ladybug was late.

A week ago, Chat Noir would have been worried about this. He would've freaked out, scared that he didn't know about a new Akuma victim. She could've been in trouble without him.

But after today, he had a pretty good idea of why this was the case.

A zipping noise sounded from the other side of the Eiffel Tower, and Chat jumped to his feet.

'... Hey?' Ladybug started uncertainly as soon as she returned her yo-yo to her hip. She stared at the ground, shifting her weight from foot to foot.

'Hey,' he replied. He held himself back awkwardly, waiting for her to make the first move.

'So... you-' Ladybug started, before closing her mouth again.

'And you-'

'Yes.' She nodded, the movement seeming stiff. Her eyes were still trained to the floor, causing Chat to sigh ever-so-slightly.

'At least it was us who found out first, right?' Chat Noir said. He sat down at the edge of the tower, letting his feet hang off the side. Ladybug hesitated for a moment before coming to sit by his side. 'It could've been an Akuma, or Hawk Moth, but...' he motioned to the two of them, letting that finish his sentence.

'I-I guess...?' she pulled a leg to her chest, letting her chin rest on top of her knee as she watched the city lights. The golden glow reflected in her bright blue eyes, and Chat felt a smile gracing his features.

She caught it out of the corner of her eye. '...what?'

'Nothing.' Chat said. It really was nothing- a tiny detail most would miss.

Her eyes were the exact same shade.

'I'm sorry, this is awkward I just-'

'It's fine,' he said simply, giving a small shrug. 'It's understandable after today.'

'Well, yeah, but I don't know how I didn't see it or why it doesn't- you- and- an-and me! Ladybug!'

Chat Noir gave her a cattish smile. 'Did I shatter your-'

'Volpina!' she yelped suddenly, and Chat blinked. 'That entire day was you running around back and forth! That's how you knew that Ad- you.' her cheeks flushed red under her mask.

'That's how you knew it was an illusion.' she muttered, pulling her knee in tighter. Chat nodded.

'To be honest-'

'Pun.' Ladybug interrupted.

'Wha?'

'Start your sentence again, but do the pun.'

'Ooookayy... tabby honest,' Chat restarted, and Ladybug smiled in response. 'Simon Says was a whole other level. I transformed what... three times that day? Plagg said I owed him so much camembert for that.'

'I think the worst I had to deal with was the Evillustrator incident,' Ladybug said, her eyes brightening the more they spoke. 'It was so hard not to transform and help you out!'

Chat chuckled. 'You did well as yourself, though.'

Ladybug fell silent, staring out at the city again. Chat's ears drooped. '... did I say something wrong?'

'You don't deserve me as a partner,' she said 'there are people that could do my job much better.'

'My Lady, no.'

'What? It's true!'

Chat swished his tail grumpily. 'Ladybug, there's nobody in Paris who could take your place.'

'But-'

'And that's final,' he confirmed, 'and besides...' he continued, nudging her side gently with his elbow. 'I'm glad it's you.'

The spotted hero gave him a weak smile. 'I'm glad it's you too.'

'Now then;' he said after a moment. 'I believe introductions are in order.'

'What? But I-'

'Hello, Ladybug,' he said, ignoring her protests. 'My name is Adrien Agreste. Child model, student, and part-time hero. You are...?'

'Chat, we're in public.' she hissed, glancing around to check for any bystanders.

'It's the middle of the night though! Come on, this is our first meeting, you have to do it.'

'Fine, fine;' she sighed, letting go of her leg so she could swing it over the side of the tower and turn to face her partner properly. 'I'm Marinette Dupain-Cheng, student, designer, daughter of a baker. I save the City nearly once a week.'

Chat laughed. 'It's nice to meet you... Marinette.' his smile widened as he said her name.

'You too, Adrien,' Ladybug replied.

'But,' Chat said. 'there's someone else I'd like you to meet.'

'Huh?'

'Plagg-'

'Chat! Someone will see!'

'Claws in.'

Green light shot upwards from his feet, trailing along Chat Noir's body. A black blur shot out from the light and floated down to rest in his blonde hair, which had smoothed back down into a styled look.

'Got any cheese?' Plagg yawned from on top of Adrien's head. Ladybug blinked.

'...what?' Adrien said, raising a perfect eyebrow.

'N-n-nothing.' she stammered. 'I just... I knew it was you, but... seeing it.'

'Yeah,' he agreed 'It's the eyes and hair, isn't it?'

'No!' Ladybug cut in, cheeks darkening again. 'it's actually... the eyebrows.'

'The eyebrows.' he deadpanned. Ladybug nodded, blue eyes wide as she looked at him.

'Well, if you two lovebirds are finished gawking at each other,' Plagg said, and Ladybug made a choking noise. 'I haven't seen Tikki in millenia! Bring her out!'

Ladybug was still recovering from the Kwami's comment, her ears flushing now. 'Tikki,' she managed, desperately avoiding Adrien's gaze. 'Spots off.'

Her light was pink, glittering more than Chat's had. It trailed slower too, fading into the air.

'Plaaaaaaaagg!' a tiny voice shrieked. A red blur shot out of Adrien's vision, crashing into Plagg. The two kwami tumbled off his head, spinning wildly through the air. 'Plagg!' she squeaked again, hugging the cat-ish creature. Adrien turned to watch them, the two tiny beings hugging and smiling. Tikki was crying, squeezing Plagg as tight as she could.

'Tikki! It's been so long!'

'I know! I missed you! I missed you so much!'

'Whiskers.' someone whispered from next to Adrien, and he tore his eyes from the kwami to meet the blue eyes of Ladybug.

No.

Marinette.

'Sorry, what?' he said, having not quite registered what she said.

Marinette bopped his nose, a hint of a smile showing on her lips. Adrien noticed her cheeks were still tinged red, as if her mask was still in place. 'Your whiskers,' she repeated. 'You still have them on.'

Adrien went cross-eyed, trying to see his cheeks. It didn't work, but he sighed anyway. 'That's going to be fun to explain to Father.' he said.

The two kwami floated down to settle on the edge of the tower, chattering away. They seemed to be catching up on all the years they missed from being apart.

Marinette smiled as she watched them. 'Which reminds me;' she said 'We didn't complete our game last night.'

'Our what?'

Marinette giggled, shaking her head. 'I'll go first then. Favourite food?'

'Oh!' Adrien exclaimed in recognition. The game had been cut short with her Lucky Charm. 'Anything from your parent's bakery!'

'Really?'

'Of course! That time I came over to your place for practice for the tournament- I mean, I didn't end up competing, but your parents are so nice! They made food for me!'

'Food.' Marinette mumbled. 'if that's all it took...' she trailed off, catching his eye. 'Sorry.'

'For what?'

'Nothing;' she replied hastily. 'How about I bring in some food to class tomorrow?'

Adrien nodded eagerly. 'That would be amazing, Mari!'

'Anything in particular?'

'Pastries. And cookies.' he said, grin forming once more. Marinette smiled when she noticed his real smile didn't change, whether he was in his suit or not.

'Your turn, anyway.'

'Umm... I'm drawing up blank.' he admitted.

'But knowing who we are opens up so many more doors!' she insisted. 'It should be easy to come up with one!'

'Well, I've got nothing.' Adrien shrugged. Marinette sighed in defeat, dropping her head to rest on his shoulder.

'Why not?' she pouted.

'Because I want to learn the slow way;' he found himself saying. 'As friends and partners.'

'That was so cheesy.' she snorted.

'Cheese?!' Plagg's attention shot over to their conversation. So did he, hovering in front of his chosen's face.

'Nothing, Plagg, go back to speaking to Tikki.' Adrien groaned, rolling his eyes.

Marinette laughed at the interaction, and Adrien smiled again. He was glad it was Marinette resting on his shoulder, rather than someone else.

'Silly kitty.' she murmured.

'I'm just Adrien, though,' he replied.

'Whiskers~' she snickered, sitting up so she could poke his cheek again. 'You'll be my kitty until they wash off.'