Chat ran across the rooftops like he was chasing something. Or was he running away? In that moment, he could neither answer that question nor bring himself to care. All that mattered was the wind on his face and the rapid beat of his heart. This was his and his alone. This was his sanctuary, his escape from the dark, swirling thoughts that kept trying to arise in him. In the back of his mind, Plagg's words were still ringing.

"Maybe you should take Ladybug's advice?" the black kwami had said as he hovered over Adrien's bed. The model frowned at him from his seat at the computer. He had a site on playing card divination pulled up and was comparing the cards he'd gotten from Alya and the thief. Apparently, the Ace of Spades was a card for misfortune and often associated with death. Yeah, that was a wonderful thing to find out when the damned thing had been attached to his back. The seven of the same suit usually represented some sort of hidden obstacle. He had been contemplating what that would mean for he and Ladybug when the small black cat spoke up.

"What do you mean?" he asked, hanging on the back of his chair.

"Oh, don't give me that, kid," Plagg scoffed. He sank down and grabbed a slice of camembert from the platter sitting on the bed. He took it with him as he flew over to face his chosen. "You know exactly what I mean. You should talk to someone."

"Like who, Plagg? Natalie? My dad? Yeah, I'm sure that'll turn out just great." He ran a hand through his hair with a sigh. "They'll probably just ship me off to a shrink every week."

"Maybe that's what you need right now. At least you'd be getting this stuff off your chest."

Adrien raised an eyebrow, the beginnings of a smirk pulling on the corners of his mouth. "Isn't that what I have you for?"

"Hey, I think I do enough for you as it is! Listening to you pinning over Ladybug, day in and day out. And now you're obsessing over this Spades chick, too. When are you gonna realize that cheese is so much simpler than girls?"

Adrien fought the blush dusting over his nose. "I'm not obsessing over her!"

"Oh, yeah? And what do you call what you're doing right now?" Plagg pointed a paw to the computer screens. "Seriously, you've done nothing but think about her since she appeared."

"She offered us a challenge, Plagg. I'm just being cautious."

"No, you're being curious. There is some truth to that saying, you know."

Adrien looked back to the cards laying on his desk. He picked up the ace, letting his thumb trace the design at the center. Death and misfortune. That was the card she tagged him with. He knew it was a bad idea to get too involved. He knew that the moment he allowed her to get close enough to feel his breath against him. But hell if he knew why he couldn't let it go. He tossed the card aside and stood.

"True or not, I don't think she's gonna let us forget about her just yet," he said to the kwami. "So, for now, we're just gonna have to deal."

Plagg sighed, then ingested his cheese. He knew there was no talking to the kid once his mind was made up. He also knew what was coming next.

"Plagg, claws out!"

With a sigh, the little feline was sucked into his chosen's ring.

Chat soon found himself back at the Louvre, hunched over the edge he'd seen the thief on for the first time. His catlike eyes took in the dimly lit museum and the several police cars that surrounded it. Alya's blog post had spread like wildfire, and soon the whole of Paris was eager to find out just who the Thief of Spades was. As a result, Mayor Bourgeois had doubled and tripled security for the painting. Chat wanted to take comfort in that, he really did. But he couldn't help the nagging feeling that they were playing right into the thief's hands. Shaking his head, the feline hero took out his staff and prepared to vault over to the next roof.

He would've made it, too, if someone hadn't been standing on his "tail".

A sharp cry came out of him as he was stopped short in his jump and came crashing over the side of the roof, dropping his staff. He heard it clang beneath him and roll away. Chat dangled for a bit before he was suddenly released, causing another yelp. Fortunately, there was another roof just a few feet beneath him, and he didn't fall too hard. Unfortunately, he landed flat on his stomach. And damn, did that hurt. He groaned as he rolled to his side and cried out for a third time when a weight landed on his stomach. Green eyes blinked up at the giggling girl on top of him, his arms pinned down just above his head.

"Well, what do you know," Spades purred. "I guess cats don't always land on their feet."

Chat prayed his mask hid the blush he had. "Y-you!"

She laughed and sat back a bit, her hands still holding his wrists down. "Aww, come now, kitten. Aren't you at least a little bit happy to see me, again?"

In all honesty, Chat was no stranger to this very awkward position. Several of Hawkmoth's victims had thrown the cat on his back during the heat of battle. Somehow though, this time felt more... intimate. He tried to swallow the hard lump in his throat, hiding his nerves behind a cocky smirk.

"Well, honestly, miss, I wasn't quite expecting mew just yet. I thought our date was in four days."

She gave him a cheshire grin. "So you did get my message."

"A bit hard to miss, Thief of Spades."

"Oh, that name just sounds pretentious, don't you think? I always did prefer Spades. It just suits me better."

"Ooo, punny," Chat said with a small chuckle.

"Thought you'd might like that." She bit her lip, leaning forward. Once again, Chat was reminded just how compromising their position was. He squirmed a bit against her weight on his stomach, and his eyes couldn't help but wander down her petite frame. He felt her eyes do the same to him, sending a small shudder through him.

"Like what you see, kitten?" she taunted.

Chat licked his lips, mouth suddenly dry. "It is a nice view, don't get me wrong. But I'm afraid I only have eyes fur one."

Spades faked a pout. "Don't tell me your cheating on me. What's this girl got that I don't?"

Just then, the thief felt something zip around her wrists, tying them together. She was yanked forward just enough to force her to let go of Chat's wrists. They both looked up to see none other than Ladybug standing just a few feet away. She held her yo-yo taught on her captive, a small smirk on her lips. Her partner's face glowed with joy.

"Well, I'd have to go with the yo-yo, for starters," he said, cheekily. "Great to see you, Milady."

"I take it this is the thief you were talking about?" Ladybug gave her yo-yo another tug, wrapping the string around her wrist and forcing Spades to her feet. Chat wriggled out from under the thief and sat in a crouch just behind her.

"Right you are, bugaboo. I'd be careful, though. She's a slip-purr-y one." He looked about for his staff.

Spades tsked, looking at him over her shoulder. "Naughty boy. Who said you could kiss and tell?"

"Can it, thief," Ladybug snapped. "Guess we didn't have to wait four days to capture you after all."

"Don't be so sure, Red," Spades said, still smirking. "Think of this as foreplay for the main event. It's gonna take a lot more than your little toy to take me into custody."

Chat finally laid eyes on his staff. As he moved to get it, Spades smirk shifted to a grin. Ladybug frowned at her. What could she possibly-

Suddenly, the thief bolted to the side. Ladybug reacted, jerking her yo-yo string back, albeit a second too late. Spades rushed towards the black clad hero bent over his weapon and used his back as a spring board, slamming him back to the ground and launching herself off the side of the roof. Suddenly, Ladybug was dragged forward. She dug her feet into the roof to keep from going off the edge. Spades dangled from the yo-yo for a moment before putting her heels against the side of the building and acting as dead weight. Fear flashed in the heroine's eyes as she realized what was happening.

"Chat!" she cried out, feeling herself start to topple over. Not a second too late, she felt the arms of her partner wrap around her waist. Their combined weight kept the thief suspended at the building's side, but while, they managed to keep Ladybug from going over as well, the confusion had given Spades enough time to untie her wrists and tumble the couple of feet she had left to the ground safely. With nothing left to hold onto, Ladybug and Chat fell backwards onto one another. Chat groaned. He was really going to be sore after all of this. He didn't even realize he was still holding his Lady until she was pushing out of his arms.

"Chat, let go of me! She's getting away!" The bug scrambled to her feet first and made after the thief.

"Ladybug, wait!" Chat reached out to stop his partner, but she was already grappling her way to the ground.

Spades beat pavement as fast as her legs would go. She could hear Ladybug running right on her heels, and she grinned in glee. The thief led the chase into the park, vaulting over benches and ducking around trees as she went. The spotted superhero matched her step for step. She wasn't going to give her the chance to sneak off. Not this time. Sure enough, she closed the distance between them and took out her yo-yo once more. She threw it, wrapping the toy around Spades' forearm and bringing the chase to an end. The thief was yanked to a stop. She looked down at the string, then glanced back up at the advancing Ladybug.

"Fun's over, thief," she said through her pants. "You're coming with us."

Spades grinned again, shaking her head. "Oh, I don't think so."

Chat had ran after his partner as soon as he had caught his bearings. It had taken him a moment to catch up to the girls, but his timing couldn't have been better. Or worse, depending on how you look at it. He had spotted his partner just in time to see the thief yank the yo-yo to her and Ladybug along with it. He stopped running altogether when he saw them lock lips. Needless to say, his jaw hit the ground pretty fast.

Ladybug was frozen stiff. One moment, she was being tugged forward, the next she felt a soft pair of lips over her own. Eyes wide, she let out a small gasp, accidentally giving Spades full access to her mouth. She felt the other girl's tongue against her own and an arm wrap around her waist. A whiny moan sputtered from her throat as she tried to weakly push her away. The kiss was soon broken, and much to Ladybug's dismay, a knee connected to her stomach, sending her doubled over to the ground. The thief laid eyes on the still stunned Chat, and she chuckled. She sent him a quick, two-fingered salute before running off into the night. Chat watched her go for a moment. He then shook off his shock at what he saw and rushed to his Lady's side. She was still clutching her side, groaning as she sat up.

"Are you alright, Milady?" Chat asked, kneeling at her side. He laid a hand on her shoulder while she steadied herself. Her bluebell eyes were still wide as saucers as a hand covered her lips. She didn't seem to notice him at first, too wrapped up in her silent stunned panic.

"Ladybug?" he asked again, this time catching her attention. She blinked up at him and turned a bright cherry red. Part of her hoped he hadn't seen it, but the small blush he had told her otherwise. The heroine groaned again.

"I think I'm beginning to see what you meant, Chat," she muttered under her hand. "That woman is definitely trouble."