Chapter Text
Ladynoir waved goodbye to André, turning and launching herself towards the Eiffel tower while waiting for her masked bug. She caught a glimpse of André just as her feet left the ground. He was waving, giving her a wink and a knowing smirk. “How does that man always know everything?” she wondered.
She landed atop the Eiffel office, reminiscing upon the memories of the multiple fights alongside her kitty here. There was the time with Volpina, but she tried to erase that from her memory for obvious reasons. The one memory that stuck out to her was the fight with the Zombizou-fied army. Once again, her kitty had sacrificed himself for her, trusting her even with his life. Even though he didn’t know her identity, the memory still tugged on her emotions. Tears pooled in her eyes as she remembered the many times she had rejected him as Ladybug. Granted, even now she knew that she simply had to reject him because their dating would be way too dangerous, but just the thought of breaking her kitty’s heart was devastating.
She remembered how heartbroken he was the night André was first akumatized. Never again, she swore. Never again would her kitty suffer. She wouldn’t let anything happen to him, no matter the cost.
“Claws in,” she whispered, Plagg whizzing out of her kitty’s ring.
“I know that you can’t tell me who he is,” she whispered, eyes glued to the ground below. “But I want him to know that I love him, no matter who he is beneath the mask . . .”
“Goofball or not,” Plagg said, “he loves you with all his being. He even rivals me in his cheesiness for you, in a manner of speaking,” he said, pressing his paw to her cheek. “I guess he’s your goofball now,” he joked, Marinette looking up to him with a slight smile amidst the tears. “Now excuse me, I must have some Camembert before I puke from disgust,” he said, crossing his arms and attempting a playful scoff.
“Oh, right. Here you go,” she said, handing him the Camembert slice from her bag. “I’m so glad Chat and I had the forethought to blindly swap food this time amidst the smoke.” Plagg gobbled the Camembert whole, reminding her just how opposite their miraculous and kwami really were, even if Plagg had a soft spot in him that Marinette knew just how to manipulate.
“Alright, let’s go meet up with our goofball,” she said with a wink. “Claws out!”
. . .
Misterbug hummed his tune atop the Arc de Triomphe, feeling closer to his lady, his princess, even though apart. Ladynoir stealthily landed behind him, listening to him hum.
“Hey, little kitty,” he joked without turning.
“Aw, I was listening to your voice,” she pouted.
“Well, that song means so much to me,” he said as she sat down beside him. “I may be alone without my lady, but I am strong because of her. I would be lost without my purr-incess,” he said.
“I’m so happy for you, Chat . . . though we do need to discuss safety, especially now that Hawkmoth knows the name of your girlfriend. Of course, you will have to stop being together in public,” she began.
“Yeah, I don’t know how André could have found out about us. I remained hidden around the corner, and I was sure he didn’t spot me.”
“That man is magical for sure,” Ladynoir agreed.
They looked out at the night around them. After a few moments of reflective silence, Ladynoir said, “I hope our dynamic never changes, Chat.”
“Never,” he confirmed. “We’ll always be the amazing duo that we are.”
“As always,” she giggled. “Though I hope Marinette keeps you out mischief,” she winked.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” he said with a smirk, arms up in mock surrender.
“Right, the kitty would never get into mischief, now would he?” she joked, eliciting a playful laugh from Chat and breaking his mock display of innocence.
“You know me too well,” he admitted with a playful smile.
. . .
Misterbug hid around the corner of the wall atop the rooftop of the Arc, whispering “Spots off.” He gave Tikki a hug, waving her goodbye as she took the earrings and phased through the wall.
Around came Plagg with a playful look. “You can tease me for my cheesiness all you want later,” he said, donning the ring. “But right now, I need to go see my lady. Claws out!”
He waved goodbye to his masked partner as she swung away into the night before he turned around and propelled himself in the direction of Marinette’s house.
. . .
Ladybug barely beat Chat to the destination, landing into the open hatch into her bedroom. “Spots off!” she called as she rushed down to her desk chair to feign busyness whilst her kitty was gone.
Chat lightly knocked on the glass of her balcony door before coming down to greet his purr-incess.
“Hey, there, my kitten,” she said but was not answered as Chat just extended his staff to switch off the lights.
“Claws in,” he whispered, pulling her into his arms.
His embrace felt so different now, the feel of his leather suit being replaced by a kind of soft warmth. She relished the warmth and love of his arms, not wanting to pull away.
She finally looked at the silhouette of his face. “Just because you don’t have a bell anymore doesn’t mean that I’m not in charge here,” she smirked, lightly flicking his chin with her finger.
“Oh, trust me, I know,” he whispered with a laugh. “But for now, I just want to hold you in my arms, mask and suit aside.”
“I love you, kitty,” she whispered, arms on his chest, drinking in the warmth and safety he provided.
“I love you more, my purr-incess,” he whispered, leaning his chin atop her head.