A/n: Originally posted 6/28/18

.:Chapter 5: Arousal:.

*flash-back*

Thankfully, nothing too personal had come up during the rest of their conversation on the roof that night, so she didn't regret staying. Cat seemed to respect her strict boundaries more than normal - whether it was his mind adjusting back to reality or because he was grateful, she didn't want to question it.

They were interrupted by an akuma attack. Hawk Moth had created the Pharaoh - a villain with the abilities of several ancient Egyptian gods, but he could only hold one ability at a time. Oddly enough, Ladybug learned that her Kwami was actually as old as time, and that there were many Ladybugs before herself.

Cat seemed taken aback. His earlier hesitation to pry evaporated. "Just how old are you, Ladybug?" It seemed for the first time that he considered she might not be the same age as him.

"You know I can't answer that."

*/end*

"So, you really like this Cat Noir, hmmm?" Juleka hummed into the phone. She almost sounded amused.

"Ick, no way!" Marinette automatically responded, before thinking the instant denial sounded a bit false, even to her own ears. She was surprised by Juleka's directness, but the two women had grown close over the years, and Marinette knew that talking on the phone could be easier for the shy girl than face-to-face conversations.

Marinette was shaken to her core for a moment by her own split feelings on the Cat Noir matter. Did she have a crush on her partner? She knew that Juleka wouldn't take news of a silly crush on a superhero too seriously, but her brother, on the other hand, would.

Luka had tolerated her few past infatuations with good humor and patience. They both knew that in a long-term relationship, interests in other people were bound to crop up. The important thing was that the two chose each other. Generally, Marinette's feelings were nothing serious. Their relationship had only truly been in trouble about ten years ago, when the designer took her first real fashion job. She was a little too interested in a fellow intern, who reciprocated her feelings. Eventually, he had tried to convince her to break up with Luka. Ultimately she had refused, and ended the friendship.

Luka had weathered his share of crushes, too - but Marinette knew that if any cropped up while he was on tour, he worked day and night to keep his distance. The road was a dangerous and tempting place, and she knew if he put a toe out of line, social media would be all over him. Even if he didn't mess up, the uglier side of social media was quick to cast blame. The pair had been through a lot, but they were stronger for it.

"I could never like that guy. He's super arrogant," Marinette continued, trying to convince herself, also. "Have you heard how he talks in interviews?"

Juleka chuckled, a sound she didn't make often. "You sound like you're not so sure. Plus," she lowered her voice to a whisper, "I saw that Cat Noir piece on your art page. Nice detail on the abs, by the way."

Marinette sighed. She had felt weird about posting that picture, but not posting it felt worse somehow, like she was trying to hide it. "All right, Juleka… I'll tell you what I think."

A few countries over, Luka was killing a few moments of downtime by scrolling through his feed on said art sharing site. His gaze flicked over his fiancée's most recent contribution again and his heart constricted, flooding with pain almost as much as the first time he had seen it. The detail in the picture was breathtaking.

While most of the piece was black, fittingly, it was still in color, and startling emerald cat eyes looked out from a haunted, gaunt white face. Golden hair splayed out at odd angles, giving Cat Noir somehow both an angelic and yet sinister look. He looked as if he were a saint, and the city treated him as such, Luka knew. But the superhero also looked dangerous, like his eyes could peel the layers off of you - like they were looking into your soul. This was the part that disturbed Luka. That, and the many hours he know it would have taken Marinette to finish this piece.

The musician knew his sister wouldn't understand all the reasons for his request, but he still hoped that Juleka could get a bit more information out of Marinette than he could. He knew his betrothed would - possibly unintentionally - not be as guarded with Juleka about the subject.

A text from his sister pinged. You don't have anything to worry about, bro.

He wasted no time in responding. How do you know?

It was a really weird conversation. She talked about him in a totally almost hero-worshippy way, which is funny because I know she likes Ladybug, but she doesn't get that way about her.

Luka was at a loss for how to respond, dread filling his heart. He saw his sister's "writing" icon for a few minutes, before: Ugh, I'm calling you. Too much to type.

"I don't know what it is, Luka," Juleka said. "But she definitely has no ill intentions. I mean, she seriously wants to marry you!"

Luka already knew Marinette's pure heart, but he still had his misgivings. He certainly didn't doubt her intentions, but knew that even someone like her could be led astray. He grunted noncommittally.

"She talked about him totally as if he's on another level," Juleka pressed on. "Marinette doesn't see Cat Noir as attainable - not that she would even want to attain him, of course. She doesn't see being with him as something that's even possible. She just thinks he's a seriously good person under all that posturing and exterior - that's what inspired her drawing. But, the exterior is seriously off putting for her."

There was that, at least. That might not be enough to keep her away from him, though, if they've only been working together four months and he's already this inspiring to her, he thought sourly. He had never wished more than in that moment that he could tell someone else who Ladybug's alter-ego was.

"Yeah, that's not too comforting," Luka replied. "It seems like Cat Noir is going to be around for a while."

"You guys have been around for a while," his sister responded, exasperated. "Remember, you two have been together almost as long as I have been alive? You were high school sweethearts, and your relationship survived this entire time. That's pretty rare, I think."

Luka sighed. "I know, I know, Juleka. Thanks for that, and I appreciate you looking into this for me. You're right. But I just can't help but feel something is different this time."

"Crap, I totally spaced," Ladybug said, horror creeping through her. She was talking to Cat Noir's disembodied head. He was being silly and flipping through the air while talking, thus having trouble keeping his face in the frame.

Her partner called and texted a bit more often than was strictly necessary. Ladybug usually ignored the excess communication, and only responded when she was needed. However, this conversation was tricky - it was technically about superhero business, because a local sculptor had been inspired by Ladybug and Cat Noir to build a piece in their honor. Encouraging and fostering goodwill in the citizens they protected was their duty, but she had completely forgotten about the ceremony and missed it. The situation was a weird gray area because her personal life was interfering with her superhero life. They were both her lives, right? Then why did it feel so hard sometimes to be both Marinette and Ladybug?

"That's not like you, Ladybug," Cat Noir prodded, feline eyes boring into her through the video link. He had stopped showing off for a few seconds to be serious. "Trouble in paradise?" It was a guess at best, and not a good one. Cat had already made a few advances over the last few months, which she had quickly rebuffed.

However, she did empathize with her unlucky partner. When she had first become Ladybug all those years ago, her superhero persona was sassier and more confident than her normal persona. Consequently, she really couldn't fault Cat Noir for acting larger-than-life. Since he found her attractive, he was bolstered by his super-powered persona into being more confident, hence the constant jokes and clumsy pursuits. Along with her sense of understanding, his good heart also made it more tolerable… though not less annoying.

"That's none of your business, Cat Noir," Ladybug reminded. "My personal life is not up for discussion right now… or ever, for that matter."

Cat pouted and eyed her morosely.

"Look, I'm really sorry that I missed it. My civilian life is booked to the max right now. I understand that my superhero duties take precedence. But, sometimes it's hard to balance them both. Ugh, I wish that our communicators would work when we're not in costume."

"We could just exchange phone numbers in real life, that way we always know what's going on!" He grinned at her. It looked more like a shark's grin than a cat's.

"Not going to happen."

"Someday, M'Lady, it will happen." his eyes glittered. He was filled with such resolve, it shook her. "Anyway, don't apologize to me," Cat sulked suddenly. "Apologize to your new lover. Théo Barbot."

"Umm… the sculptor?"

"Yes. He apparently has taken quite an… interest in you. You inspired the statue. He said that everything he had went into that statue and that he worships you."

She blanched. "No…"

"He might as well have said that he worships you. It's how he acts," Cat grumbled, narrowing his eyes.

"Aww, is Kitty jealous?" It was her turn to grin, amused in spite of herself.