Chapter 11-Flight

The last chapter was a bit of a filler, and we're going to continue that a little bit longer. But there will be some important topics of conversation in this chapter. And some fun ones as well.


Adrien loved being Cat Noir for three main reasons. First and foremost, it gave him the chance to spend time with who he considered (now more than ever) to be the most amazing girl in the world. Second, because it gave him the power to help people when they needed it. And thirdly because it gave him an escape from the pressures of being Adrien Agreste. But besides all of that, he did also enjoy the fact that being Cat Noir allowed him access to abilities that most people dreamed of having. Such as flying.

He felt such tremendous freedom while flying. Soaring through the sky, sometimes dipping down below the clouds to look at the world below, sometimes rising above the clouds to bask in the sunlight; few things made him feel as free as flying. And considering one of those things was flying and laughing alongside him, this particular flight made him feel more free than any other.

AstroCat's gaze fell on that source of his feeling of freedom, and she must have felt his eyes on her, because she turned and smiled at him. "Want to race to Mumbai?"

"I'm in no hurry." AstroCat replied, content to draw out the trip. "Natalie isn't expecting me back for hours. And it'll only take us an hour to get there and back at this speed."

CosmoBug's expression shifted. It was hard to tell from the bright sunlight above the clouds and the visor covering her face, but still, AstroCat could see it. "What's wrong?"

"Uh…"

"M'lady?"

"Ok," she mumbled, clearly uncomfortable, "if this is none of my business, stop me any time. But I can't help but notice that you've been talking about Natalie pretty easily. How exactly did things go with her last night? Did you confront her?"

AstroCat went quiet. Memories of last night's 'confrontation' with Natalie rose to the surface, along with feelings of embarrassment.

"I, uh…I couldn't bring myself to do it last night."

CosmoBug didn't look surprised, merely curious.

"When I made it home, I had it all planned out." AstroCat explained. "How I was going to confront her, how I was going to keep myself in check and talk to her rationally. How I was going to demand answers." He sighed. "Then she walked in."

AstroCat huffed a laugh through his nose. "I broke the second I saw the look on her face. She's been so different since my father died. Ever since she started trying to be a mom to me, she's shown a lot more emotion than before. But I've never seen her look as happy and excited as she was when she came into the kitchen." AstroCat could hear the amazement in his voice as he continued. "She said she's been working on some big surprise for a few weeks, and she finally told me what it was. Next summer, she wants to take me on an African safari. She wants to show me some of the places she and my parents traveled when they were younger."

"That sounds exciting." CosmoBug grinned. "We'll have to figure out what to do with your miraculous during the trip. I'll have to find a temporary holder and an excuse for Cat Noir to be gone from Paris for so long. Maybe have you come back for a patrol sometime during your trip to provide cover?" CosmoBug had started mumbling to herself, brainstorming options.

"Anyway," AstroCat said, with emphasis, bringing CosmoBug out of her thoughts, "Natalie seemed so excited that I just couldn't bring myself to spoil things. The way she was describing everything she wanted to show me just made me realize how much she was trying to be there for me, how much she has been there for me, just like you have." AstroCat smiled a grateful smile toward his partner and she grinned back. "After that, I think I finally understand how you felt after my dad died, and why you did what you did. And I think I can honestly say that if I hadn't forgiven you last night, I'd be able to today."

CosmoBug's face softened and she flew closer to AstroCat. "Thank you." She said simply, but the emotion behind the words spoke volumes about the depth of the feelings AstroCat could see in her eyes. Her face was still somewhat obscured by her face mask, but her relief and gratitude could not be concealed by something so simple. And AstroCat wondered what he had done to deserve her.

"I'm really lucky-" They both began at the same time, then stopped, realizing they were about to say the same thing. They both laughed, squinting as they both realized that each one thought they were the lucky one in the pair.

AstroCat's mind wandered as they continued their flight. He thought about how Ladybug had made such an impression when they had started their superhero work, and from the way Marinette had talked, she'd fallen for Adrien not long after. Marinette had been correct in the park earlier. If either of them had discovered the other's identity, they would likely have gotten together much sooner. That made him wonder about previous holders.

"I wonder if we're the first black cat and ladybug to fall for each other?"

CosmoBug stared at him.

"Sorry, that was a little random," AstroCat apologized, his hand going behind his helmet. "But I can't help but think about it. It just seems hard to believe that we'd be the first partners like us to get together."

"We're not." CosmoBug informed him quietly. He looked at her questioningly, and she told him, "After I started to realize how I felt about Cat Noir, I asked Tikki about it. And she confirmed it's happened before. But with us having to worry about being akumatized, she worried about us being a couple. Well, us being a couple while knowing each other's identities." she clarified.

"That's interesting, when you think about it." AstroCat mused. "Do you think it's because of the superhero work, or just people who are chosen to be Tikki and Plagg's holders being people who'd be attracted to each other?"

"Both," CosmoBug suggested. "The superhero work is exciting, and that definitely helps foster passion and romance. But Tikki and Plagg are both two halves of the same whole. And that kind of feels like what couples are. Don't you think?"

"Absolutely," AstroCat agreed, his voice soft and emotional. "I guess it was probably easier for the black cats and ladybugs in the past, when they could just know each other's identities from the start."

"True," CosmoBug agreed. "But this way, we really know it's not just the superhero stuff that brought us together. Not knowing our identities helped us fall for each other twice. That makes me a lot more confident in us."

AstroCat grinned, "Yeah. I'm totally with you there." Then this grin took on a more wicked look. "Does that mean you're confident enough to tell me the ridiculous lengths you took to get to know me?"

CosmoBug looked panicked. She tried to speak, and started sputtering, reminding AstroCat of how she had acted around Adrien before.

"I, I-I don't think that's wise." CosmoBug said, trying, and failing, to sound dignified.


Inside of the CosmoBug suit, Marinette panicked.

How could she tell him about all of the crazy things she had done before they were a couple? If Adrien found out about her memorizing his schedule, or making a single special macaroon each week for him, or any of her other crazy plans, she'd never be able to look him in the face again!

At first, AstroCat's expression would have made an akumatized villain jealous, but after a few moment's his expression softened and he looked anxious.

"M'lady, are you okay?"

"Fine." CosmoBug replied, her voice a higher pitch than usual.

Showing a tenderness that was much closer to Adrien than Cat Noir, AstroCat flew closer to her, and placed his hand on her shoulder.

"Whatever it is, I promise it's okay." His eyes were burning with curiosity, but also the earnestness she associated with Cat Noir.

She shook her head. "Too embarrassing."

AstroCat sighed.

"This isn't me keeping secrets." CosmoBug insisted. "This is me not being able to tell you without dying of shame."

AstroCat's expression cleared and he gave her a chuckle. "Now I'm really determined to hear about these 'ridiculous lengths'."

CosmoBug fidgeted.

AstroCat laughed. "But I can understand you not wanting to talk about this. I promise I won't pressure you about it, but I would like to hear about it all, someday."

"Someday." CosmoBug promised. "When I can admit to it all without my face resembling a burning coal."


"Does that mean you-"

"And there's something else I-"

Both heroes stopped and gave a brief laugh. "After you." AstroCat said, gesturing toward CosmoBug.

"I know you're upset with Felix too," CosmoBug started again, "since he didn't tell you about your father either. But do you think you'll be able to be understanding with him, like you've been with me and Natalie?"

AstroCat hesitated. "The situation is a little different with him, all things considered. I don't know if I can be as forgiving as you-"

"Not so much forgiving as willing to give him a chance." interrupted CosmoBug. "He's got a long way to go before earning my forgiveness, or that of the kwamis, I promise. But I think he's sincerely sorry for what he did. And that's a start. And I have other reasons for trusting him with Duusu, besides that."

AstroCat raised an eyebrow. He doubted CosmoBug could see that, but his silence must have gotten the message across. "I'm sorry, but this is something that I can't share. It's kind of a guardian thing. I swear, I'm not keeping secrets again. It's more about confidentiality than anything else."

AstroCat took a deep breath as he appraised CosmoBug. That was twice in as many minutes that she said she wasn't keeping secrets. He knew her well enough to know when she was being evasive or trying to hide something or make excuses, however. And as far as he could tell, she wasn't doing any of that. Her voice was the same as when she was giving the team directions on how to stop a villain; firm and confident. When she was trying to make excuses for something, she sounded much more like Marinette. Or at least, how Marinette had sounded when she had been so nervous around Adrien.

AstroCat sighed, "Okay, okay. I don't want you to break confidence. But I still don't know if I can be understanding with him."

"Just focus on being civil with him today." CosmoBug suggested. "I agree that you need to have the chance to talk things out with him. But let Adrien do that. I need Cat Noir today."

AstroCat started to agree, but then stopped and narrowed his eyes. She knew full well that he couldn't resist her when she said she needed him.

AstroCat pulled a face. "You don't fight fair," he muttered.

"That's why our team always wins." CosmoBug smirked.

"Fine." AstroCat relented in a sighing voice. "I'll be civil today. But I can't make any promises for when Adrien confronts him."

"Good enough." CosmoBug said simply. "Now, what was it you were going to say?"

AstroCat took a deep breath. "I don't want to make any accusations without proof, but I think Natalie might have been Mayura."

CosmoBug was so surprised by his statement that she faltered in her flight, falling below the cloud cover. As she rose back up to face AstroCat, her shock was so profound it was visible to AstroCat even at a distance through her now water covered face mask.

"Since we were planning on using the peacock miraculous today, I started thinking about it a lot more last night, and at one point I realized we never actually knew who she was. But she was obviously close to…Hawk Moth," AstroCat said the last two words with difficulty.

CosmoBug's expression turned thoughtful.

"Like I said, I don't have any proof, but I've been thinking it over since last night, and as far as I can tell, it's the only thing that makes sense. She was closer to my father than anyone, so she's the only person I can think of that fits."

"She definitely knew your father was Monarch. And she said that she had used the peacock miraculous while it was still damaged." CosmoBug admitted. "I remember that from that final fight with him."

That got AstroCat's attention. "Why didn't you say anything?" he hissed.

"I couldn't say anything before last night, since I was trying to keep you from finding out about your father. But honestly? With everything else that happened that day, and everything else we talked about last night, I kind of forgot."

AstroCat could feel himself giving CosmoBug another appraising look. She definitely sounded less confident than she had before, but she seemed more embarrassed than anything. And given everything else that had happened that day, it wasn't unreasonable that she could forget something like that.

"Okay," AstroCat breathed, calming himself, "fair enough. Anything else I should know about her?"

"I think she tried to stop him that day." CosmoBug answered quietly. "I don't know for sure, but I think she finally realized he had gone too far and tried to stop him." She paused and AstroCat could see that now she was the one appraising him. "I've also seen how she is with you, and I know that she cares about you. You said yourself how much she's been there for you since your dad died. She's a good person, Adrien. Maybe she was Mayura, but that isn't important now. People can change. And I think you changed her for the better."

AstroCat was quiet at that. Could she be right? He wanted to believe she was, but this was like what had happened back in his counterpart's universe. He couldn't be sure until he talked it out with Natalie. But if last night had been any indication, it would be hard to work up the courage to do that. If only he didn't have to do it alone.

"If you want, I can help you confront her, as Ladybug." his partner suggested, as if she had read his mind.

He was about to agree, knowing that Ladybug being present would make the confrontation much easier. But then the truth of her words registered, and AstroCat started to slow, his mind coming to an unpleasant realization, until he was hovering just over a particularly thick cloud. CosmoBug didn't notice at first, but when she did, she immediately flew back to him.

As he took in her worried expression, AstroCat started to realize how much he had come to depend on Marinette. His father's death had broken him; not completely, not beyond repair, but that loss had left deep cracks in his soul. Whatever his feelings toward the man were now, Adrien had needed his friends, and especially Marinette, to continue and pick up the pieces.

Shouldn't she be able to rely on him too?

"What's wrong?"

AstroCat wouldn't meet his partner's eye. But he said, in a small voice. "I'm sorry. It's just… you saying that makes me realize how much I've been relying on and depending on you."

"Well, that's what partners do, after all-"

"You know that I don't mean as partners." AstroCat argued.

CosmoBug was quiet for a moment, then nodded. "You're right, I knew what you meant, but so what? Couples depend on each other-"

"But it feels like I'm the one doing all the depending on you." AstroCat said quietly. His voice was soft, but the guilt and frustration were easy to hear. "You should be able to depend on me just as much, but lately, I feel like I haven't been there enough for you."

CosmoBug's answering smile was warm and understanding. That only made AstroCat feel more guilty.

"You've been healing. And you've been there for me more than you think." She floated closer to him and put her hand on his shoulder. "Even before we were together, you were always trying to be a good friend to me. And when Ladybug needed it, Cat Noir was there to support her emotionally too. Support like that is important."

AstroCat understood what she was saying, but still…

"And don't pretend that you wouldn't support me if I needed it now." CosmoBug continued. "If Marinette was struggling and ever needed Adrien for something, he'd be there in a heartbeat. No matter what was happening. Don't try to tell me otherwise."

AstroCat grinned in spite of himself.

"Just because I haven't needed you as much lately, doesn't mean I won't. And it's comforting to know that there's someone who will always be in my corner when I need them."

AstroCat looked up and into the eyes of his partner. They were wide and honest. Marinette really was good at bolstering people when they needed it. Before she could react, he'd pulled her into a tight hug.

"Cat Noir!" she protested.

"The clouds are right below us and too thick to see through. No one will see us."

CosmoBug stopped resisting as she realized he was right. Folding more into the embrace, she squeezed him back. Perhaps she realized he needed to show her that she was right, that he would always support her. Or perhaps she needed him more in that moment than she had realized. Floating apart, they looked at each other, their eyes conveying more on the subject than words ever could.

As they started back on their way to Mumbai, CosmoBug picked up on where their previous conversation had left off.

"So, would you like me to help with talking to Natalie?"

AstroCat shook his head. "Thanks, but I don't think I should rely on you for something like this. Everything you said was true, and it means a lot that you'd offer, but if I need your help to stand up to my family, then I'm going backwards. It would be just like what happened with my father's orders all over again."

"You consider her family?" CosmoBug asked quietly.

AstroCat hesitated, then nodded. "I have for a while now. Before, I thought she'd end up as my step mother, and I was happy about that. Happy to have her in my life, and happy that she made my father happy. Or I thought she did." He shook his head, dismayed. "Now there's a chance she'll be my adoptive mother. I think you're right that she's changed, and for the better. But I'm not sure what I think of her adopting me, considering what she's kept from me."

"So, what are you going to do?"

"I still need to confront her. No matter how hard it is, I just need to grit my teeth and do it."

"Hm." CosmoBug sounded thoughtful. "How about this? Let me know when you plan to confront her, and make sure you're both in your garden at home. I can be on the roof listening in, and if things get ugly, I can step in."

AstroCat thought on that for a moment. He was determined to do this without Marinette's help, but knowing that she'd be close by if he needed it would make confronting Natalie easier. He nodded. "Okay, that sounds like a good idea. I don't think I'm going to confront her yet. We still have our counterparts to look after, and maybe a few more days of processing everything will help. But I'll let you know when I plan to talk to her about all this."

CosmoBug smiled warmly at him, and AstroCat was reminded of exactly how supportive she had been to him. "You two will work it out. That's part of what being a family is."

AstroCat grinned back at her. "I guess you're right." But then his smile faltered. "But I'm really not sure what to do about her being Mayura, if she really was. I haven't forgotten about what she did to Buggette, you know."

AstroCat had expected more words from CosmoBug about how he shouldn't judge Natalie so harshly. What he had not expected was for CosmoBug to narrow her eyes at him, looking dangerously close to angry, along with some other emotion AstroCat couldn't place.

"Well, I certainly know which creation of the peacock miraculous was your favorite." CosmoBug growled.

Wow, AstroCat thought, in shocked recognition. I don't know if I've ever actually seen her jealous before.

"Hey, I thought she was you." AstroCat replied, holding his palms toward CosmoBug. He thought back on that day, and with embarrassment, realized how that situation might look to Marinette now. "I only kissed her because of that. I swear."

"I know." CosmoBug grumbled, clearly still frustrated. "And I suppose I can forgive you for that, considering the resemblance. That doesn't mean I like it."

"Does that mean you forgive yourself for not being able to tell the difference between me and Felix?" AstroCat proffered, desperate for a change in topic. "I mean, he's not a senti-being, but still, he looks just like me."

CosmoBug started at that, clearly caught off guard by the question, and AstroCat heaved a huge sigh of relief at managing to distract her. If he hadn't bowed his head and closed his eyes in that relief, though, he might have caught a glimpse at the panicked look on CosmoBug's face, and wondered what it meant.

"I-I, I mean, well…"

"I've told you over and over again that what happened that day wasn't your fault. I think it's about time you start to forgive yourself for it." AstroCat told CosmoBug, trying to sound as confident as she did when acting as leader of their team. "I know you blame yourself partly because you thought you knew me so well, but so what? Anybody can make a mistake. And besides, my parents and Felix's couldn't tell us apart when we dressed up as each other. If they couldn't, then you have no reason to feel bad about not being able to tell us apart."

"You're just trying to distract me." CosmoBug accused, obviously trying to regain her composure.

"Yeah," AstroCat conceded. "But everything I said is still true."

CosmoBug didn't look convinced, and AstroCat suspected that nothing he could say would persuade her to forget about her mistakes that day. That didn't mean he wasn't going to try, but he knew it would be a long time before she forgave herself.

"It does seem kind of crazy when you think about it." CosmoBug mused, her face shifting to a more thoughtful expression. "In a way, you were right all along. If I had known you were Cat Noir, all of that could have been avoided. And who knows how much else."

"It is crazy, isn't it? How many ridiculous situations do you think we've been in because we didn't know? Like, remember that time we were going to be in Clara Nightingale's music video, dressed up as…ourselves?" AstroCat belted out a laugh as the absurdity of that situation fully hit him when the last word left his lips.

CosmoBug giggled, and AstroCat was relieved to see her in a better mood. "Or how about the time I lent Adrien the snake miraculous." Her eyes narrowed again, but this time they did so mischievously. "You tried using second chance all those times to try and win me over, didn't you?"

"Sure did." AstroCat grinned, unabashedly. "If only Adrien had known how much he didn't need to do that at the time."

"Got that right."

"And remember that time your dad invited Cat Noir to brunch?"

They both laughed, and continued pointing out the many, many absurd situations their ignorance had created during their partnership.


This chapter is a bit on the shorter side, and is meant to be light hearted. With a little set up for future chapters. But the plot point that's been building since chapter 4 is right around the corner. Will they be able to create senti-beings to protect each other? If they are, will the senti-beings really work? And what other obstacles might have to be overcome? Only one way to find out.

See you next time!

~Sneak Preview~

That's why you've always been so against us knowing each other's identities.

Um, I don't think that's a good idea either.

I don't like being strong armed.

Please comment and review!