Marinette let herself concentrate fully on her task as she jumped from building to building. As Ladybug, she didn't really need to worry about falling, but she would forever keep it in the back of her mind. Even superheros were human, after all.

She let her very normal worries about Adrien slip to the back of her mind. She was meeting up with Chat Noir now anyways, and the two were so different. With Adrien, she probably would struggle just giving him the time of day. But with Chat she felt so different. Forget stuttering in front of boys- as Ladybug she was in charge. That boldness faded with her costume. Without the safety of being anonymous, it was much harder for Marinette to feel comfortable in her own skin. It was hard when Chloe was constantly bragging about her designer duds or recent blowouts. It made Marinette feel even more conscious of her messy pigtails and handmade hats and bags.

She scampered down a fire escape before leaning against the brick wall of the alley. She had chosen this location last time because of its proximity to the fabric store, figuring if she had been caught at work that it would make things a lot more convenient. After all, it was tough to find a place to meet up that the general public wouldn't notice eventually. Places like the Eiffel Tower were a dead giveaway. They may be centrally located and easy to find, without giving any clues as to what their respective identities were, but even late at night there were people there.

Ever since the pair had been mobbed by waiting fans there who had been keen enough to notice their proclivity towards the tourist attraction, Chat had been quick to agree to meet in less flashy cases. Chat held an odd hatred towards crowds that Marinette couldn't quite wrap her head around. Sure, that many people definitely slowed them down, but Chat grew weary every time a new group of fans encountered them. He could be quite the diva- even most of the teenage girls were often more covetous of a photograph with Ladybug.

Marinette found herself waiting longer than she usually did for Chat to arrive. In all honesty, she was often the one that was late. It could be a challenge to slip away from her home when her parents were checking up on her. She didn't mind much- it was nice to know how much they cared- but she couldn't help but wonder why Chat Noir didn't seem to have the same issue. When he finally slunk into the alley some half an hour late, she couldn't help but question him.

"Chat! Where have you been? We agreed to meet here quite a while ago."

He smiled with a rogue grin. "Calm down, milady. I just got… cat up in some personal business."

Marinette groaned at the forced pun before leading Chat out onto the quiet street. As the two began a brisk walk, she couldn't help but note that the light was still on in the fabric store, and she felt a pang of guilt for leaving so early. Sure, she hadn't initially been asked to do more than she had, and her early exit had allowed her encounter with Adrien in the park, but Mrs. Guinebertiere wasn't getting any younger. She knew that the older woman could use the help.

Shaking herself from her thoughts, Marinette turned her focus to the rest of the neighborhood. It seemed to be a quiet enough night. They had been rather lucky the past few weeks- no akuma had been able to visit them. She risked glancing up at the sky- perhaps she could see the stars.

Marinette soon found herself seeing stars, but not the kind that she had hoped for. Light pollution blocked out any light from above- it was hard to make out the moon, let alone the faint starlight. She sat on the pavement, stunned.

Chat Noir's laugh kept her from dwelling long on her fall. She looked up at him in annoyance.

"If you'd stop laughing and give me a hand up?" she teased. Chat complied, smiling widely.

"That was quite the tumble, milady. You were just about whiskered off your feet!"

The dependable quirkiness and poor puns of Chat made Marinette feel safe again. That was probably the best part about having a super alter ego. Despite the risks that it brought along, it offered an escape from everyday worries into a world where, however dangerous, Marinette just couldn't believe she was actually doing what she did. She was no stranger to scary situations, but as Ladybug, there was an added lens as if she was only watching and not participating. She lost her clumsiness to the fog, emerging as the strong, confident, and witty super heroine that Paris had come to love.

She and Chat moved on to a different neighborhood. She was shocked at how quiet it was as well. Oh, there were rowdy teenagers out far too late, probably up to no good, but Marinette felt that she was hardly in a position to discipline them. She was a teenager too, after all. Though some might describe her as conservative, Marinette felt that she simply used more discernment. Her friends were a different crowd, but that's what she loved about them.

She looked over at Chat. She supposed she counted him as one of her friends. Marinette certainly was very comfortable around him. Despite knowing nearly nothing him, she was able to be herself- albeit a slightly different version. Even Alya wasn't privy to this side of her.

How different would Chat be in their real lives? No, not real lives. This certainly was a very real part of Marinette's life. Their ordinary lives, among the citizens of Paris. What was he interested in? She supposed she wouldn't ever find out; she trusted him too much to ask and break their bond. And he extended the same courtesy. Don't ask, don't tell. She couldn't help but analyze every piece of information he let slip.

A girl could wonder, couldn't she?