A few minutes later, Chat Noir left the store through its side entrance. He wore a shirt not unlike the white button down he always wore. A designer hat worth more than most people's entire outfit sat on his head in an attempt to disguise him. He hadn't liked this hat much when he modelled it as Adrien last month, and he didn't like it much now, but Chat had to admit that Ladybug had picked the right color to complement his eyes.
With his tail tucked up the back of the shirt, Chat strolled over to a nearby restaurant with a large awning stretching above his head, casually pretending to look at the menu. In his hand was Cataclysm, summoned and waiting for Ladybug's signal.
The heroine slipped out of Gabriel's shop and started looking into each storefront, as if she couldn't find Chat Noir. He could see the akuma hovering distantly, watching Ladybug as well. Will she fall for it? Hopefully.
Ladybug was close enough to Chat Noir that she could be at him in a moment's notice when she shouted his name – "Chat Noir!" – and began running towards him. The akuma took the bait and leapt out of the sky, swooping down. She landed under the awning and looked around, trying to spot Chat Noir. By the time she did, it was too late.
Chat Noir waved from his position atop a table, arm within reach of the awning's support bars. He grinned at her before slamming the palm of his hand against the bar with Cataclysm, weakening the metal structure before ripping the swatch of fabric down from the ceiling. He dove into the doorway of the restaurant as the fabric smothered the akuma, covering her in a blanket of yellow and green.
The akuma struggled underneath the fabric. Chat used his staff to launch himself over the mess of fabric as Ladybug swung her yo-yo around the captured statue lady. He came to a stop right next to Ladybug and tugged off the hat and shirt. "Good aim, my Lady."
"Thanks, Chat," she started to say, but was interrupted by a ripping noise. The akuma tore through the fabric and leapt into the air. She threw the fabric right on top of the duo as she passed overhead. The moment's distraction was all she needed, for by the time Chat and Ladybug had freed themselves, the akuma took aim and dropped a wall of water directly on top of Chat Noir. The akuma flew away, laughing to herself.
Ladybug gasped. Her eyes became unfocused, and Chat thought he saw light sparkle across her eyes before it faded away. Then Ladybug shook her head, as if breaking out of a trance. She smiled up at Chat and stepped towards him, so close they were almost touching. His heart fluttered in his chest as it always did when she smiled at him.
"Are you okay, Ladybug?" Chat asked.
"Of course I'm okay," Ladybug said. "Everything's okay when you're around."
With that, Ladybug reached up with both hands and pulled Chat's face down to hers, not caring that he was dripping wet. He froze as their lips touched, his shoulders tense and eyes wide with shock. What is happening? This was nothing that Chat had ever expected would come from Ladybug. But after a moment, he relaxed, placing his hands on her arms and kissed her back. It was gentle and soft, but at the same time, strong and assured, much like Ladybug herself.
A rush of joy ran through Chat Noir as the moment he had dreamed about came into being. He and Ladybug stood there in the middle of the street, not moving, just reveling in the simple intimacy of a kiss. People crowded around the couple, but gave their heroes space, realizing that something incredible was happening. She loved him back.
Chat did not want to break off the kiss, but the familiar beep from his ring brought him back to reality. He was Chat Noir, protector of Paris, and she was Ladybug, the heroine everyone loved. There was an akuma on the loose; this was not the time to be kissing in the middle of the street!
No matter how much he wanted it to be.
But why had she…? Chat caught his breath as the realization hit him. The light he saw splash across her face wasn't imagined. The akuma must have done this to her. He stepped back from her in horror. It wasn't his Ladybug who had pressed her lips to his, but rather, a Ladybug under the influence of an akuma. A knot grew in his chest. His Ladybug didn't love him like that. Chat held back tears at the thought.
"Chat Noir?" Ladybug's face twisted in concern. "What's wrong?"
"Ladybug, I…" Chat began, but his ring beeped again, signaling that he was running out of time. He grimaced. "I have to go, but I promise we will find a way to reverse this." He turned to run and find a place to hide before his transformation wore off.
"Wait! Chat Noir! I have something to tell you," Ladybug cried after him. Chat stopped and looked back, meeting her beautiful blue eyes. He knew what she was going to say before she said it. "I love you."
Chat stared at her for a second longer, then turned and leapt up the nearest building, leaving Ladybug behind in the street.