...this should make some ladynoir fans happy... ;o*
xo moonbaby
Ladybug flung herself across Paris, testing her limits, swooping down so far as to brush the rushing pavement, flinging up high enough to do 3 flips, landing on narrow ledges just in time. She was pulsing with anger, her head throbbing, her heart bursting in her chest. Pushing, pushing, running, leaping, strung out on residual adrenaline and rage, trying to escape how hurt she was. Finally, she came to rest at the top of the Eiffel Tower, perched precariously on a balcony above the city, listening to the void that beckoned below.
Her miraculous beeped again. With a familiar whoosh, she was just Marinette in her fashion show dress, crouching ridiculously on a ledge. She crashed backwards painfully onto the floor of the balcony, just managing to catch Tikki, who flopped into her hands.
"Tikki?" Marinette's hot anger made way for concern. It had been a long hard fight against Fantastique. "Are you ok?" The tiny pink Kwami opened her blue eyes. To Marinette's surprise, the Kwami's eyes were swimming with tears.
"Oh Marinette, I'm so sorry that happened! If I wasn't so tired, I would be just as angry at Chat Noir!" The Kwami had a defiant look on her face for a moment, but fatigue claimed her. Marinette found a cookie in her purse and nestled the Kwami down comfortably to eat and recover.
Marinette looked out over the city, awash with a myriad of feelings. Her anger was still there, burning in her, but underneath it was panic. She fingered her dress. The pride and happiness she had felt from the fashion show seemed years away. The glow of Adrien's admiration was surely lost forever.
"Adrien! What was he thinking tonight!?" Marinette sputtered. Her heart lurched in pain at how he could have been hurt, and then at how she, as Ladybug, had torn him apart in her rage at Chat Noir. Paris sparkled before her, but everything seemed dull, exhausting, hopeless. When was the last time she slept, honestly?
A clinking noise broke into her thoughts- Marinette froze. Clink, whoosh, clink, whoosh, getting louder, coming towards her. Chat Noir!
"Tikki!" Marinette whispered desperately. "Chat Noir is here, I have to transform! Are you ready?" Tikki struggled to finish the last bites of her cookie. "Almost!"
"My Lady?" called out a familiar voice, tentatively, from below the uppermost balcony. Marinette's anger returned in full force. Of course he's scared, he should be!
"What!?" she barked back, hoping to keep him at bay.
"May.. may I..come up?" Chat Noir's heart was hammering in his chest. How do I make this right without explaining my identity? he wondered. He was miserable for himself, but filled with concern for his Ladybug.
"Wait!" It was a command. He waited. There was flash of light, a whoosh, and then Ladybug bounded to the very tip top of the Eiffel Tower, silhouetted against the moon.
Chat Noir flipped up onto the balcony below her. He opened his mouth to speak.
Her blood boiled, and she dove at him, tackling him to the floor. They rolled over and over. She was trying to hit him, scratch him, pummel any inch of him she could reach. She got him good across the face, and he suddenly stopped fighting. She was on top of him, pinning his wrists down. "How dare you!? Where were you?!" she cried, over and over.
He didn't resist, just looked at her, eyes gentle and apologetic. She deflated, and her hands flew to her face as big tears started rolling down her cheeks, splashing onto his leather suit in fat drops. She sobbed and sobbed, crying as he had never seen anyone cry before, least of all his powerful Ladybug. Chat Noir sat up and maneuvered her off of him, so she could press her face into her knees and he could wrap his arms and legs around her in a hug.
"I'm so sorry, Ladybug, I'm so sorry." he whispered into her hair, smelling her sweat and panic and also the sweetness beneath it that was all hers. What an evening. He thought he was being so clever, taking down Fantastique as Adrien, but of course it looked like betrayal to Ladybug. Would she be able to forgive him, without the truth?
"I needed you, and you weren't there. Adrien Agreste put himself in danger to help me, because you weren't there, Chat Noir! He did well for a civilian but god, I thought I was going to lose tonight, and he, and I.." She trailed off in a new bout of sobs, angry, but still pressing into his embrace.
"I know, I know. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." Chat Noir struggled to come up with a lie, but lying to her made his mouth fill with bile. He swallowed painfully. "I had.." an identity crisis? Really, Agreste, that's going to make her feel better? "..a plan, and it backfired, and I really screwed up, and I'm just so sorry, Ladybug." He hoped it was good enough, knew that it wasn't. She just kept crying, and the lump in his throat was painful with guilt.
Just when he thought she was starting to calm down, Ladybug gave a start. "Oh, god, Chat!" she said, her voice strangled with anguish. "I was so upset, I yelled at Adrien!" Her angry words came back to her and she moaned again. "The look on his face!" Fresh tears sparkled in her eyes, and she hung her head.
"Don't worry about that now, Ladybug," he soothed. He wiped away a tear. "You can find him later if you want." Very self-serving, Agreste, nice one. Despite the guilt and upset, Chat Noir was struggling to maintain his composure with her so close to him, wrapped up in his arms and legs, bathed in moonlight. He had imagined versions of this before, but she was never in tears.
A black-gloved hand lifted her chin, a thumb gently swiping the tears from her cheeks. Green eyes searched hers, full of concern, and something else. Ladybug's stomach fluttered.
It is unfair that crying makes her eyes even more blue, Chat Noir thought. I didn't think that was possible.
The hot anger subsided as exhaustion and relief washed over her. I feel safe. The flutter in her stomach increased, like an akuma struggling for freedom. She was swimming in the green glow of his eyes, secure in the warmth of him encircling her. His face came closer.
Eyelids suddenly heavy, heart drumming, Ladybug let go. Chat Noir's warm lips touched hers in a small, tentative kiss, sending a crackle of electricity to his brain. Her eyelashes fluttered, and she exhaled a small noise, full of want. Chat Noir felt as though he was standing on a precipice—he dove.
His mouth crashed on hers, cradling arms pulling her close. The kiss swept over them both, a warm river of thrilling certainty, crashing and swirling. Her lips even taste pink. Her hands found his face, pulling him closer, pressing, needing him. Words were gone. There was nothing else; only the two of them, their breath and bodies intertwined, mouths hungry, hearts racing.
After an unknowable amount of time, they broke apart, breath ragged. Blue spotlights fixed on his face.
He spoke first, voice husky with desire and emotion.
"My Lady.." his face was serious. Guilt had suddenly gripped his heart. "Are you.. angry with me?" Concern was spread over his face.
Ladybug blinked. Her lips were parted, still moist from the kiss. Chat Noir struggled not to swoon.
"Oh, Chat Noir, I don't know what I am," she breathed. A smile crept to her lips. "But I'm not mad."