"Are you ready for your close up?" Lucy asked Chat Noir as he checked his hair in her body length mirror. He looked at her through the reflection. She sat at her desk, sitting in the chair, spun to face his direction. Her head rested against her fist as her elbow leaned on the dest edge. Her legs crossed with her top foot bouncing ever so slightly.

"Chat Noir is always ready for a closeup." He replied with a wink, making the girl across the room laugh and roll her eyes.

"I wonder what kind of stuff she's gonna ask you guys. I mean, the world knows practically nothing about you, so the possibilities are pretty limitless. It's prime time so you know they are gonna dig deep."

Chat smirked and walked over to the chair Lucy was sitting in. Placing both hands on the armrests, he hovered above her.

"Deep huh?"

"Oh yeah. Super deep. The questions people are just dying to know." She replied leaning back. "Like what's your favorite dinosaur?"

"I'm afraid that's much too personal."

Lucy gave him a toothy grin. "But what is it?"

"Velociraptor." He admitted. "Fast, smart, deadly. Just like me." Hearing Lucy's laugh at his answer was like music to his ears. "What's yours?"

"Brachiosaurus." She replied easily.

"The long neck ones that eat leaves?"

"Yeah."

"Why?"

"I don't know. The land before time maybe."

"Little foot was an Apatosaurus."

"Yeah, but there isn't a lot of difference between the two other than their appearance."

"Then why chose the one that isn't Little foot?"

"I like the head bump."

"Why?"

"I...I'm not sure really."

They both laughed and Chat glanced at the clock on her nightstand, standing up straight in a hurry. "I'm gonna be late." Lucy smiled and waved him off.

"Well, scram then!"

"I'm glad we had this chat, I think I'm much more prepared now that we've gone over possible sample questions. You'd make a great PR Manager, really."

"Good, I just wanted to make sure you were prepared. Don't ant you ging out there only to end up a...catastrophe."

"Wow, I am clearly rubbing off on you in the worst possible way."

Lucy stuck her tongue out at Chat, making him shake his head before climbing out her window. Grabbing her beloved, dark blue throw blanket, Lucy wandered out of her room and into the kitchen. Reaching into the white pained cabinet, she pulled out a bag of popcorn and tossed it into the microwave, scrolling through her phone as she waited for it to cook. She could hear the door unlock and her mother rush inside and drop her keys off on the counter.

"I almost thought you wouldn't make it," Lucy spoke, getting a wild wave from her mother.

"Yes, yes, yes, I know! Don't talk to me! I need to get comfy!" She said speed walking into her room, tossing her heels off in the process. Lucy laughed and grabbed the popcorn out of the microwave, tossing it into a large bowl, before melting some extra butter. When her mother emerged from her room, she no longer wore her blouse, pencil skirt, and heel, but instead an oversized blue t-shirt, and white cotton shorts, accompanied by some fuzzy black socks. Her own gray throw blanket in her hand as she made her way to the fridge to grab two sodas and bringing them to the couch with her. Lucy plopped on the couch next to her mother and grabbed the remote, turning on the tv and flipping to the show 'Face to Face'. Lucy had promised Chat she would watch the show, and her mother, when she had brought it up, was more than interested in the interview. Monica had no real knowledge of Lucy's friendship with the feline hero, as Lucy was a little uncertain about telling her. After all, that wasn't a normal friendship and of course, there was the fact that Chat snuck into her bedroom after hours. They never did anything scandalous of course, but she knew what it might look like. Still, what her mother did know, was that Lucy had had her fair share of Akuma encounters and that Ladybug and Chat Noir had been there to save the day every time. The older blonde woman couldn't help but be as interested in the heroes of Paris as everyone else.

OoOoOoOoO

Chat Noir was almost worried when Ladybug didn't arrive around the same time as himself. Tigress had already been there, the punctual person she was. Luckily, Ladybug popped in at the last second and took a spot next to him.

"I thought you decided to stand me up, m'lady!" He said playfully.

"And let the audience down? Never. I'm sorry I'm so late, Nadja." Ladybug apologized to the host who looked relieved to see her.

Nadja smiled and turned to the camera. "Good evening. I'm Nadja Chamack and this is Face To Face. For our first edition, I welcome the beloved guardians of Paris - Ladybug and Cat Noir." The camera turns to them as she greets them for the show. "Hello, thanks so much for accepting this exclusive live interview."

"Well, thank you, Nadja, we're honored to be here." Ladybug said politely. Chat nodded and turned to the camera.
"And hello to all my fans!" He said, blowing a kiss and giving a wink.

"I'm sure thousands have tuned in to watch you tonight," Nadja told Chat, knowing how popular he probably was to girls.

"Oh yeah," Tigress commented. "I can think of a few." She smirked, glancing at Chat.

"Don't encourage him, Nadja, or the cat won't stop purring all night." Ladybug warned but Chat was quick to respond.

"Don't listen to her. Bugaboo's just a spot jealous." When there were no Akumas to fight, Ladybug was a much more easy-going person. Usually, Chat's comments annoyed her, as she felt it was important they stayed focused on the task at hand. But here was different. Tonight they just got to sit on a couch and talk. So, just for tonight, she wouldn't give him too hard of a time about it.

"Hey, I thought we agreed on no more Bugaboo calling, pussycat." She joked, flicking his bell.

"But it's so cute." Chat replied with a chuckle.

"It's obvious you two are very close." Nadja moves on, needing this interview to go well. "People know you but they don't really know you. We see you saving Paris but we don't know anything else about you. Tigress, you are a little newer to the group but people are just as curious."

"We won't be keeping anything from you, Nadja." Chat told her, but of course, Ladybug felt the need to clarify.

"Well, we do have to keep a few secrets, including our identities of course."

Nadja seemed to have no problem with that, as her scoop had nothing to do with the hero's identities. She then asked to hear from some fan callers to ask questions. Chloe, being the first one, called just to say hello, and in a way seemed to be promoting her father's hotel. Nadja quickly moved on from the call, to have Alya appear on the screen, asking Ladybug if she could also get an interview since she had more viewers than Nadja did. On the other side of the screen, Lucy frowned a little. She knew how important the Ladyblog was to Alya, but to go on someone else's show and say something like that was rather rude. Nadja grew a little concerned when her daughter's face appeared on the screen and Marinette was nowhere in sight. Before she could get any real clarity on it, however, her boss's voice rang through her ears and she knew it was time to pull out the hard hitting question. This wasn't how she had wanted the interview to go. She had wanted it to be a nice relaxing time, and work her way up to the personal stuff. But with her boss in her ear, filling her with doubt, Nadja had no choice but to dive right in.

"Uh, Ladybug, Cat Noir, um, so a lot of fans think of you as a couple of superheroes. But also, and I quote-unquote, as a couple. Period."

Both Ladybug and Chat Noir looked at her, thrown off by the question.

"However, it has come to some people's attention that there may be a third party in the midst."

"W-what?" Ladybug asked and Tigress almost fell over in laughter.

"Oh no...no no. There is no love triangle here." She laughed gesturing between herself and her two partners.

Nadja gave Tigress a small apologetic smile. "Well, I'm glad that you have made that clear, but I actually wasn't talking referring to you Tigress. It is of speculation that there might be another woman in your life Chat Noir. A civilian."

"Uh-uh-I'm very sorry Nadja, but we're superheroes. We're not here to answer such personal questions." Ladybug tried to smooth over as Chat stared at Nadja with wide eyes. "We're here to ensure all Parisians that they're safe and that it's only a matter of time before we defeat Hawk Moth, that's all."

Nadja sighed and lifted her tablet. "Fine. How do you explain these photographs then?"

The first photo to pop up was of Chat Noir and Lucy. With Lucy kissing him all those months ago to break the spell on him that Dark Cupid had placed. Chat blushed under his mask, almost entirely forgetting that Lucy had told him that had happened. Although she explained to him the situation, this had been the first time he was seeing the evidence of that day.

"She wasn't kissing him! She was saving him!" Ladybug argued as Tigress raised an eyebrow to the screen. This encounter happening before she had joined the team.

Nadja continued to scroll through several photos. Some of Chat and Lucy as well as some of him and Ladybug. Most of the images were during Akuma attacks were he and they were in close proximity.

On the other side of the screen, Monica slowly turned her head to look at her daughter with wide eyes. Lucy sat, staring at the screen, mouth open, letting popcorn fall out of it. Her eyes met her mothers and Monica blinked at her.

"Something you wanna tell me?" All Lucy could do was form a cringy, awkward smile and look away.

"It's so obvious that there is an entanglement happening here," Nadja said. Ladybug could feel her patience slipping.

"These are just a bunch of photos taken out of context! We're only doing our job. We save the city every day, we're not a couple! And neither are they!"

"Maybe one day.." Chat spoke aloud without thinking.

"Chat! Not now!" Ladybug warned him, making her partner go quiet.

"Why wont you tell the truth?" Nadja asks, pushing the subject.

"Hate to break it to ya, but Ladybug is telling the truth. She and Chat are not an item. Now as for-"

"Tigress!" Ladybug snapped making Tigress roll her eyes and cross her arms. "This interview is so over!" Ladybug said, pulling at both her partners. Chat, feeling a little bad for having to cut the interview short pulled back slightly.

"What's the rush?"

"Blah blah blah, superhero stuff, blah blah." Tigress dead paned, helping Ladybug pull Chat away.

"But your fans will be disappointed without an answer!" Nadja tried to argue as they made their way to the door.

"If they're our true fans, they will understand." Ladybug said, walking out with her partners in tow.

OoOoOo

On the roof, Chat looked around. "Now, who are we saving again?"

"Just us." Ladybug explained. "Nadja was willing to do anything to make sure her show would be a success and I'm not about to answer any more of her prime questions."

"That's the price of success my lady, the price of stardom." Chat said casually. Tigress crossed her arms and leaned in towards Chat Noir.

"You're so nonchalant about your personal life being pried into Chat, I would almost assume you're used to it."

Chat laughed awkwardly, stepping back from Tigress. "We're superheroes, not stars we should be doing our job not looking like fools on TV." Ladybug then said, pulling out her yo-yo to leave.

"Hey wait! I wasn't planning on getting home so early!" Chat said, voting after her. Tigress scoffed not wanting to follow and instead turned to go home.

As Chat caught up with Ladybug, the two came across a mega screen showing an Akumatized Nadja.

"Tonight, Ladybug and Cat Noir disappointed all their loyal fans by refusing to admit their love for one another or even acknowledge the third party." Suddenly the screen behind her changed, showing what looked like a reverse screen into Lucy's home. "Luckily, I now have the ability to find our little missing piece and I've prepared some trials just to see how far they're prepared to keep the truth hidden from us."

Monica and Lucy screamed as Prime Queen reached through the screen and grabbed onto Lucy.

"Lucy!" Monica shouted, jumping at Prime queen only to get tossed aside as the villain pulled Lucy through the tv, tieing her up in the process.

"Let's meet the mystery girl herself! So your name is Lucy! Such a pretty name for a pretty girl. Tell us, Lucy, what is your relationship with Chat Noir?"

"There is no relationship between me a Chat Noir!" Lucy argued, struggling to get free. Prime queen glared at her before pulling her through the screen once more, this time, landing on a subway train. The train stopped and the passengers all ran off, not wanting to get in the middle of the villain and her plans. Prime Queen tossed Lucy to the ground making her moan in pain, before hopping through the screen and getting rid of the conductor, taking control of the train herself.

"Welcome, to the subway of suspense! If it reaches seventy miles per hour, you can say goodbye to your precious little friend." Prime Queen taunted. "Well, well, look here, the ratings are rising! More and more of you want to know if our superhero friends will get here on time. The suspense is killing her! Hahaha. Cat Noir! Are you willing to travel through the screen to save your darling, Lucy?"

Chat Noir glared at the screen. "Are you ready M'lady?"

"It could be a trap, I would rather get there on my own." Ladybug argued but Chat shook his head.

"There are many, many subway lines in Paris, which means a hundred and forty miles of rails. If we want to get there in time to save Lucy, I don't think we have a choice."

"Huh, just admit you love being on TV."

Chat smirked as he readied his staff. "I don't get stage fright, Bugaboo."

OoOo

Lucy was relieved to see Chat and Ladybug as they jumped into the train car. Chat quickly grabbed onto her, attempting to get her free from the ropes.

"We have to stop meeting like this, people are starting to talk." Lucy joked earning a grin from Chat as he freed her. The train shook and the three grabbed the beams for support.

"You're about to be the stars of the highest-rated show in all of TV history!" Prime Queen spoke as she appeared in the train car, showing off the meter on her arm.

"The Akuma must be in that watch!"Ladybug said. "I'll deal with Prime Queen."

"I'll deal with the door." Agreed Chat as they both ran towards the villain. Prime queen quickly avoided them and went back through the screen before Ladybug could hit it. Chat attempted to open the door but had no luck.

"We're trapped!"

"The rules for my show are simple, admit the truth live on TV that you're in entanglement and I'll stop the train!"

Ladybug glared at Prime queen through the screen. "A superhero never lies! We won't admit to something that's not true."

"I want my scoop!" She demanded.

"I'll use my Cataclysm." Chat suggested but Ladybug rejected the idea.

"No wait, we might need it for an emergency."

"Yeah, like right now!" He argued, thinking about the speed of the train.

"We have to lure her over her first or we'll never capture her Akuma! So let's just play along with her, at least it'll buy us some time."

"Meaning?" Chat asks, confused.

Ladybug grabs Lucy's arm and pulls her over. Lucy looks at her with a raised eyebrow as Ladybug looks to Prime Queen.

"Okay Prime Queen, you win. I confess, Cat Noir and I are entangled, as you said. We, Lucy and I are.. in..love..with Chat Noir." She forces out and Prime Queen stops the train causing the three to fall over. Both girls land on top of Chat and a vibration erupts from his chest.
"Did I just hear you purr?" Ladybug asks as Lucy tries not to laugh.

"Wha-? No way!"

"Our two heroes have saved their friend's life by admitting their true feelings. Our viewers are going crazy! But, our TV ratings haven't maxed out yet. You must do better!"

Ladybugsmiled at the screen and attempted to get Prime Queen to come through the screen. "Then come and join us, Prime Queen. You're the host and the star of the show after all. Then you'll have your ratings."

"My show, my rules, Ladybug! To prove that your feelings are genuine, you're going to have to take off your masks, confronting each other and Lucy! Which means you must both give me your Miraculous!"

"Not a chance, Prime Queen!"Ladybug argues but Chat strikes an idea.

"Wait, I know how we can prove our feelings." Chat spoke putting an arm around each girl, pulling them in. Ladybug glared at Chat as he puckered his lips. Peeking at her and seeing the expression he turned his head to Lucy who frowned at him disapprovingly. She's too caught up in this…pretend life she's so completely submerged in. And you know what? She likes it. She loves it. Even though she knows deep down inside, it's fake. That the way he talks to her, looks at her, touches her...is all for show. Lucy is some sort of protection for Chat but she didn't care. She wanted it. Wanted him. And yet as he stood inches from her face, ready to pull it off a sense of dread filled her body. It was so easy for him to pretend.

"Not a chance kitty." Ladybug said, pushing him away from both of them.

Prime Queen frowned at the screen before turning it off the screen confusing the three teens.

"Is the show over?"

"If we can't get her to come through we cant capture her Akuma!" Ladybug said.

"My dear viewers, you are in for the reveal of a lifetime!" Prime queen broadcasts on the screen above them. She opens a sarcophagus revealing Alya inside. Alya struggles against the ropes and looks at them pleading.

"Ladybug, help me, please!"

"Oh wait, isn't this the girl who started the famous Ladyblog? The first one who ever filmed Ladybug?"

"Ah! No, Alya!" Ladybug says, panicked at seeing Alya held captive as Lucy curses under her breath.

"Next trial, your Miraculous! Or else your biggest fan will be mummified!" Prime queen threatened opening a portal through the side screen for them to pass through.

"We can't just leave Lucy." Chat argued.

"Yes, you can," Lucy spoke before Ladybug could put in a word. "I will be fine right here. Go save the day and everything will be back to normal."

Ladybug nodded her head. "She's right. Lucy, when we jump through you need to break the screen. This way Prime Queen can't get back to you."

"Yeah, you got it." She agreed.

Chat didn't like the idea of leaving her behind but did not have time to argue, giving Lucy one last glance before hopping through the screen with Ladybug. When they were gone, Lucy looked around, realizing she had nothing to use to break the screen with. She took a deep breath as balled her fist, looking from it to the screen. This was going to hurt a bit.

OoOoOoOoOOoO

Later that evening Lucy sat on her bed at home. When she had first arrived her mother ran over to hug her, happy she was home safe. After her mother calmed down the two went to bed. Lucy stretched out her hand. Ladybugs magic had fixed everything, as it always does, including her hand, which she felt she might have broken on the screens in the train car. Every part of it worked fine, and no trace of what she had done was evident any longer but the memory of her fist hitting the glass, and the pain that shot through her when she did, still remained. She jumped a little when Chat jumped through her window with a relieved look on his face.

"You weren't still on the train when I got there." He stated and Lucy raised an eyebrow and nodded.

"Well, yeah. Was I really supposed to just wait around for you?"

"Oh, uh. No, I guess not." Chat said rubbing the back of his neck. A pregnant silence filled the air. For once Chat found himself incredibly uncomfortable with it. "So, that interview was wild." He stated casually while leaning against the wall. Lucy let out a deep breath and nodded in agreement.

"Yeah...yeah, definitely. An entanglement. How ridiculous."

Chat chewed the inside of his cheek as he pushed off the wall and walked over to Lucy, holding out his hand to her." You wanna go have a sit on the roof with me?" Lucy looked from Chat's hand to his face apologetically.

"You know, I'm actually a little tired." She excused. The truth was not that she wasn't tired. She was. But her exhaustion was more emotional than anything. Chat was exhausting. She couldn't read him. It was so easy for him to be this flirty and affectionate person, and Lucy didn't know what to make of it anymore. What did he want from her? What did she want from him?

"Come on. Just for a few minutes. Purdy please." He asked, a pout on his face.

Caving, she took Chat's hand and let him bring her to the rooftop. Once again, her fears were minimal, because even though she did not understand Chat's emotions, she knew he would never let her fall. At least, she supposed, in a literal sense. They sat up there and looked out to the horizon as they had done many times before. The moon shined brightly over them as the sky remained clear.

"Lucy, about what Nadja said.."

"Chat you don't have to explain. Ladybug said it all. Those are just a bunch of pictures taken out of context."

"Well, yeah I know but-"

"I really think I should get to bed." Lucy interrupted, standing up.

"I just don't want you to be upset about what she was saying." Chat said, getting up as well, his ton pleading.

Lucy turned to him and gave him a small smile. "I'm not upset about that. I promise." She said looking down at her feet, swallowing. "I won't get mad at you for people assuming things about something they know nothing about. Something, honestly I don't even truly know about."

"What is that supposed to mean? Lucy wait." Chat said, grabbing ahold of her arm before she could turn away.

"What are we doing Chat?"

"Wha...I"

"People are always going to make assumptions Chat Noir. Everyone does. It's not a crime, but I feel like the real answers, the ones those people want, you don't even have." She admitted. "Up until recently, I have been completely fine with you just dropping in. I was content with the idea of being your friend but today, an assumption was made about that friendship being more and you didn't even attempt to clear it up. And then, Ladybug comes up with this crazy plan to trick Prime Queen and you have the audacity to not only try and kiss Ladybug but when she rejects you, you turn to me. And it was in doing so that I have gotten so accustomed to you keeping secrets and needing to lie to me for the sake of your identity...that I forgot how good at it you are. How easy it is for you. And it shouldn't...but it bothers me."

Chat stared at her at a loss for words. How could he be so stupid? How could he see how that might hurt her? Lucy attempted to pull away but Chat tightened his grip trying to come up with an excuse for the way he acted but he didn't have one. He knew Ladybug would reject him. She always did. But Lucy...Chat wanted to kiss Lucy and this seemed like such an opportunity to do so. The chance was right in front of him, and he wanted to take it. But now he could see. He could see how easy it was to think he was just playing a part. Ignoring her emotions.

"I wasn't lying." Chat then spoke as Lucy tried to turn away from him. She paused and Chat swallowed nervously. "I wasn't pretending to want to kiss you, Lucy, I just-" Before Chat could finish his sentence Lucy spun back to face him, placed both hands on each side of his face, and pressed her lips against his. For a second, all Chat could do was stand there in shock, wide eyes, not believing what he was feeling. But then his eyes closed, and his grip on Lucy tightened. He had been waiting for this. Needing this. And for a second all he could feel was bliss and relief. He didn't want the moment to end as their mouths moved together. He couldn't wait until tomorrow when-And that's when it hit him. He was Chat Noir. Tomorrow, when school began, he wouldn't be able to do anything. He wouldn't be able to approach her like this, to hold her like this, to kiss her like this. Their relationship would have to be a secret. He could never go anywhere with her publicly as Chat. It would put her in too much danger. Just look at what happened today from the simple speculation. They would always try to get to him, through her. It wasn't supposed to be this way. He pulled away from her and his heart broke at the sight of her smile. The sight of her smile that faded at the sight of his own revelation.

"What's wrong?"

"I...I can't this isn't right." Chat sputtered out trying to get his thoughts in an order that would make sense to her.

"This isn't right?" Lucy repeated, her voice just above a whisper.

Chat looked at her, his eyes wild and desperate as he stuttered out apologies.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry." He backed away from her as he ran his hands through his hair in frustration. How could he explain this? What was he supposed to tell her? He panicked. The boy in black who every day fought evil villains with superpowers, panicked. And in doing so, he ran away. He left Lucy, standing on the roof blinking away her tears as she watched him go. She forced herself to not look down as she shakily crouched down and grabbed the edge of the roof, knowing if she looked down, she would most likely fall, and Chat would definitely not be there to catch her. Pushing herself onto the flat concrete surface and making her way to the roof door, Lucy covered her mouth to control her sobs. When she got back to her own room, she quietly closed her bedroom door and pressed her back against it, falling to her knees. She was so stupid.

OoOoOo

Adrien screamed into his pillow and Plagg gave him a sympathetic look as he munch on his cheese.

"I'm such an idiot Plagg."

"Can't argue there." His Kwami agreed with a sigh, making Adrien glare at him.

"Seriously?"

Plagg floated down next to Adrien and rolled his eyes. "Listen, kid. We've been over this already. Love hurts sometimes. Superheroes and girlfriends don't mix well. It's not impossible, but keeping that balance is nothin easy."

"So what am I supposed to do?" Adrien asked, desperate for some sort of council, even if only by his Kwami whose only love was smelly cheese. Plagg sighed as he tossed back his last piece of cheese.

"I don't know if there is anything you can do Kid. You've been going on and on about this for what feels like an eternity, and then it happens and the moment you realized things wouldn't be so easy breezy, you bolted. Literally ran away. Leaving, might I add, a girl who is afraid of heights, on a roof."

Adrien lifted his head with wide eyes. "Oh god no! I'm such-"

"An idiot. Yes, we covered that already. Don't worry, I'm sure she's fine. And by fine, I mean not dead on the pavement. Lucy's a big girl, being left on a roof probably isn't the highlight of her problems today." Plagg floated over to his bed area and laid down. "Maybe this is a good thing. Now that Lucy probably hates Chat's guts, you can swoop in as Adrien and it'll all be fine." He said casually. Adrien wasn't so sure.

Whoever said that love hurts was wrong. Love is excruciating, especially when you can feel it slipping through your fingers and there is nothing you can do about it. Like someone was playing tug-of-war with your limbs, ripping to shreds whatever was left behind. What it would feel like when love was lost...he wouldn't survive that. Adrien closed his eyes willing the tears to stay hidden behind his eyelids and focusing on breathing in and out instead of the pain that was ramming in his heart.

Hey.. how's it going? I told you it was gonna get good. Or maybe bad? Can't be all rainbows and fluff after all. As always remember to like and comment because I love hearing what you guys think. The more I do the more motivated I become to get out the next part. I hope everyone has been having a good holiday! I'll see you in the next chapter!