"Wow, my lady, you're so strong."

Ladybug smirked at Chat Noir. She was carrying him in her arms, away from the streets full of people, to a secluded alleyway. He had injured his foot during the fight, and while he was still able to walk just fine on his own, he was moving far too slow to find a place to hide before his transformation wears off.

And so, Ladybug scooped him into her arms and ran. Once they were hidden, Ladybug set Chat Noir down gently and stretched her arms over her head. "Oh, it was nothing," she said, winking at him.

Chat Noir gave a knowing grin. "You're exhausted from carrying me, aren't you?"

Ladybug gasped. "I'll have you know I'm a frequent gym goer. These guns aren't just for show."

"Oh, really?"

"Yes, really," Ladybug said, leaning down and giving Chat Noir a nose boop with her finger. "Now don't be upset about getting injured today, alright? You were awesome, as always, and I couldn't have gotten the akuma without you. In fact, if you hadn't intervened in the fight, I would've broken my arm, or worse! So thank you, Chat Noir. I owe you so much."

Chat Noir tried to give a smirk and give a cheeky remark, but a genuine smile found its way onto his lips instead. All he could manage was a quiet thank you.

Ladybug knelt in front of him and touched his cheek, ignoring the sound of his beeping ring. She adored the look on his face. "Will you be alright?"

"I will, but you won't if you don't leave soon. I'll be transforming back to my regular old self, and if you saw my face, you might swoon too hard and faint," he winked.

"You keep telling me that, mon chaton. I'll be so disappointed if it doesn't actually happen," Ladybug laughed and stood up, turning to leave. She made her way up to the rooftop and jumped her way home, all the while hoping her partner would reach home safe.

Marinette groaned. From the corner of her eye, she could see Adrien watching her intensely. "Come on Marinette, just a little bit more," he said.

She groaned again and pushed with all her might. She could feel it lifting, bit by bit. Every inch was satisfactory. Finally, she straightened her arms and held the barbell high above her head. Adrien erupted into cheers, and Marinette gently brought the immense weight down.

She sat up and stretched her arms above her head. They had spent the entire afternoon working on their arms. Adrien's foot still hurt, but he didn't want to tell Marinette and make her worry, so he insisted they made today's workout solely an arm day.

He handed her a bottle. "My arms feel like jelly," said Marinette after a long sip.

"The sign of a successful arm day."

"Your arms don't look that successful, though," she said teasingly.

"Oh, really?" Adrien chuckled. "Maybe I should add boxing to my list of sport activities then? On top of fencing and gym with you?"

"Sounds like a plan. You can stop when you have guns like mine." Marinette showed him her biceps, earning her a fit of laughter from Adrien.

"Looks like I've got a long way to go!" he said sarcastically.

"Better get started then."

"I'll get to it, right after you finish your set with these barbells. I mean, you have to set a high standard for me to catch up to, right?" Adrien gave Marinette a cheeky smile. She gave Adrien an amused and annoyed look, but got back to work with lifting the heavy weights.

Adrien watched Marinette, admiring her strength and dedication. She reminded him of Ladybug.

No, don't start comparing them, Adrien thought to himself. He recalled what he had told Ladybug several nights ago, about how he was trapped between the sky and the sea. He tried to choose between them, but he couldn't come to a decision.

He couldn't choose Ladybug because Ladybug didn't love him in that way, and if he tried to push it, it could ruin their partnership, which was far more complicated than ruining a friendship, because the safety of Paris and her citizens were at stake if a rift came between them.

And he couldn't choose Marinette, even though he was falling for her fast, because she deserved so much, but Adrien knew he could only give her half of him since Chat Noir had to remain a secret, and he would risk Marinette's safety if her told her.

So that ruled out choosing through reasoning, and Adrien was back to square one. If only they were the same person, Adrien thought, then all his problems would be solved.

"Are you sure you want to go patrolling tonight?" Ladybug asked Chat Noir.

"My ankle's fine. I stayed off it today, and it feels a whole lot better now."

"But it still hurts a little, doesn't it? I saw you wince when you landed just now. Don't you want to rest?"

Chat Noir laughed. "My lady, if I decided to rest every time I was hurting, then I would never get out of bed." He placed his hands on her shoulders, squeezing them to reassure her even though he had unknowingly startled her deeply with what he had just said.

"I'll be fine," he said. "I'll take it easy tonight."

She stared into his green eyes and placed a hand on his cheek, something that was becoming a more and more frequent gesture. Ladybug felt Chat Noir lean his head into her hand, and she smiled. "Alright," she said. "But if I see you wince even once, I'll break your leg myself to make sure you get that rest."

"Wow, nothing is more heart-warming than loving threats from my lady!"

"Silly kitty," Ladybug said, laughing at him as they parted and went on with their individual patrols. She made sure to keep her eyes on him throughout the night. If Chat Noir fell, Ladybug knew she would go running to him in a heartbeat.

"I can't believe you and Adrien still aren't together," Alya complained. It was a Saturday morning, and Alya had decided to come over to Marinette's house for some delicious food. They hung out in her room and caught up. It was an odd thing to do – to fill each other in with details of their own lives. They see each other every day, but it seems like they've been so far away, leading lives completely separate from one another. Marinette never knew she could miss Alya so much.

"I mean, you two already act like a couple," Alya went on. "Clearly you like each other a lot, you're practically inseparable. There's nothing holding you two back from being together. I just don't understand, Marinette."

"I know," Marinette said quietly. "I think maybe we're just waiting for the right moment?"

"The right moment?" Alya asked sceptically.

"Yeah," Marinette said, unconvincingly. "The moment. I'm sure it'll come someday."

"And then what? You'll kiss him when the right moment arrives?"

Marinette blushed. "Something like that."

"Marinette," Alya said softly, putting a hand on her friend's shoulder. "It's been months. The right moment won't come unless you make it happen. Love takes effort. But it's worth it."

Marinette stared at Alya sadly. Her friend was right, of course, but she was missing one important detail: Marinette's secret life. And that secret life involved a particular cat that makes her want to wrap her arms around him and listen to the beating of his heart in his chest at night, and figuring out if he could purr like a real cat. It was far more complicated than waiting for the right moment, it was also about choosing the right person, and Marinette desperately wanted to tell Alya that. Alya would know what to do.

But Marinette couldn't, so she stayed silent and nodded. Alya smiled lovingly at her friend. "Oh, Marinette, come here," she said, spreading her arms. Marinette embraced her and closed her eyes, feeling nothing but the Alya's warmth and her hair being stroked affectionately. "You can do it, girl. You deserve love and happiness. And Adrien can give you that."

No, Marinette thought, it won't be… enough. She couldn't choose Adrien over Chat Noir. But she can't choose Chat Noir over Adrien either.

It was all so confusing. Marinette sighed and tightened her grip on Alya. For the first time, she desperately wished Adrien and Chat Noir were the same person. At least then she wouldn't have to choose between them.

But of course, nothing ever goes the way Marinette hoped. Or at least, that was what she thought.