One of Chat Noir's favorite things about being a superhero was helping people. Sometimes it was big ways, like stopping a rampaging dragon or saving hundreds of lives at once. Sometimes it was small ways, like posing for a picture with someone who looked down or helping retrieve a soccer ball that had gotten kicked over a fence.

His other favorite thing was hanging out with Ladybug. For obvious reasons.

It was always a special treat when he got to do both (especially when he wasn't getting pelted by magical golf balls or falling victim to mind control yet again or jumping into a monster's mouth or whatever). Tonight, they were volunteering at a nursing home, reading stories and playing board games with the residents. He loved listening to them talk about what their childhoods and teenage years had been like. He loved making them laugh with his silly jokes.

Everything seemed right with the world. He was surrounded by happiness. He flicked his gaze over to Ladybug, who sat between two women on a pink sofa. A photo album was open on her lap, and the women were pointing and smiling. But Ladybug's eyes were on him, expression unbelievably soft as she watched him.

He'd never seen her look at him like that before. It made him feel gooey and giddy, and he waved to her like the dorkasaurus that he was. The gentle giggle he heard right afterward was worth potentially embarrassing himself in front of his new friends, though.

When it was time to leave, neither Ladybug nor Chat Noir were ready to part ways. The sun had long since set, but the night was still young, and the air was fresh and brisk.

"You look like you feel better," he said as they sat on one of the many benches of the Jardin du Palais Royal. Water from the fountain splashed somewhere behind them. The rows of trees and beds full of flowers surrounding them rustled quietly in the breeze. One benefit of being superheroes that they didn't use much was the ability to sneak into places like this after they had closed. It was wonderful to have the garden all to themselves.

"Better?" Ladybug asked.

"I don't think I've heard you stutterall week. Did your… problem clear up?"

"Oh." Ladybug tucked her hair behind her ear and studied her knees. "Yeah, I guess it's not really an issue anymore."

Chat Noir was about to congratulate himself for being such a good partner who helped her through a stressful time when she added, "I kind of just accepted it."

He frowned. "That's bad. If something's bothering you, you can't give up–"

"No, it's fine." She waved her hand. "I don't want to fight it anymore." She sighed.

That didn't sound fine, but he couldn't really argue if he didn't know anything about it. "So, if it's not a problem anymore, can you tell me now? You know you can talk to me about anything."

"You're easier to talk to than anyone else I know, but I– I don't think… think I could–" She waved at her mouth to show how tongue-tied she already was over it.

"I promise I won't judge if you stutter," he said. "It's okay if you're upset when you talk. I don't mind."

The air stilled as she thought about her answer. The scent of flowers was heavy around them. "Not upset exactly, but maybe… It's–" She floundered for the right words, and Chat Noir waited patiently. "Um, without specifics." She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. "A boy."

All his breath left him in a rush. "Oh." This was about the boy that she'd had a crush on for years. The one who was too dumb to notice her. She hadn't mentioned him in ages. Was he causing problems for her again? Was that where the stuttering had come from?

"Yeah, a boy," she said. "It's just… would you say it's really difficult to hold onto hope after no reciprocation for so long?"

He shrugged noncommittally. He wanted to tell her the truth, that he was still crazy about her. It was the perfect opportunity. But he didn't think it wouldn't be particularly appreciated in the middle of her trying to explain her feelings for someone else. "I guess it is," he said, because his only hope was that it would be true for her and she was finally giving up on the other guy.

"Oh," she said sadly. "I thought so— I mean, I'd hoped, but…"

They were quiet for several moments. The water still gurgled softly. The moon was strong enough to cast shadows through the trees. Every time the wind blew, the shadows rippled and danced at their feet.

Ladybug finally spoke again. "How easy do you think it would be to… light that candle again?"

Chat Noir's cat ears perked up, then flattened again immediately. That sounded like she already had given up on the other guy, but that she also wanted to rekindle the feelings for some reason. "Why are you asking me? Do you want to relight it?" Would it make you happy? he asked silently. Don't you think you could be happy with me instead?

"I want your opinion," she said simply.

Something wasn't right with this discussion. He couldn't imagine why she would want to hear what he had to say about this. All he wanted to do was tell her to give up on her unrequited love forever, so he said, "I don't think candles can be relit."

Ladybug leaned forward and away from him, resting her elbows on her knees and her face in her hands.

She looked utterly defeated.

Why did it even matter what he thought? He was not following the thread of this discussion. At all. "Why do you want to relight your candle anyway?"

"My candle?" she asked, sitting up again. Her deep frown relaxed and her face cleared. "My friends are right. Boys are really bad at subtext."

"What conversation are we having?"

Ladybug hummed, resting on her knees again, but this time smiling up at him. "You're really cute when you're confused."

She wasn't making any sense, and her comment was more tease than compliment. He stood and backed up for a better view of her. Maybe if he had the right – he didn't know, perspective – then it would suddenly make sense. "Couldn't you just be direct?"

She sat up slowly, eyes searching him, and she suddenly looked as uncertain as he felt. "After this discussion, I don't think I'd like your response if I tried." She got up and walked past him, out from under the trees and toward the water fountain. Cold moonlight danced along the pool's surface.

Chat Noir followed her as she sat down on the lip of the fountain. "Sorry," he said, not sure what he was exactly apologizing for.

"It's okay. I knew at the beginning I'd have to figure out a plan. It was silly to hope that I could have it this easily. It's been a long time. I wish I knew how to make…"

Without the trees providing shelter, the wind was more cold and cutting. Ladybug slid closer to him for warmth and rested her head on his shoulder.

Zmmmm. Chat Noir's brain buzzed, her touch quickly drowning out worries about what clues he was missing and his list of strange things she'd been doing. Her hand slipped up his forearm and around his elbow to link their arms together. It was only natural for his head to fall gently on top of hers after that. If she kept it up, he was likely to start purring. He already felt like he was melting into her side.

"I got it," she announced, thankfully not moving from her spot. "I know what to do."

"That's good," he breathed. "Congratulations." Her hair smelled really nice. Bread and shampoo and something that was all her.

He never wanted her to move.

But eventually she had to.

"It's getting late," she said, leaning away and standing up a long while later.

He stood up too, inescapably drawn to her.

The water gurgled as they stared at each other, before Ladybug pushed herself up to her toes and laid a gentle kiss on his right cheek, and then his left.

Chat Noir's brain started going fuzzy again.

"Thank you," she said.

"For…?" he asked, watching the way her mouth formed the words, before remembering that they were just friends and she was probably in love with someone else, and training his gaze somewhere less enticing. Like the grass growing between the gaps in the cobblestone behind her.

"For being so supportive. For always helping me." She grabbed his hands, content to let them hang together in between them. "I love spending time with you. You're wonderful."

He nodded. His heart was full and his mouth felt tingly, and he was sure if he tried to speak, the words would come out all wrong. How could she still do that to him without even trying?

"Until next time?" She gave his hands a quick squeeze before dropping them. "Bye!" She threw her yoyo and was gone.

His empty hands twitched limply. "Bye, Lovebug."

A/N: And now the real fun begins.