Chapter Text
Chat Noir has told Ladybug that he loves her a total of 57 times. Now none of these were technically confessions because that would require that his Lady had heard any of these declarations. And he's tried to tell her. He really has, but one of their Miraculous is beeping or the press is right there or he gets brainwashed by an akuma or a middle-aged man dressed like a freaking butterfly is trying to kill one of them again!
It was always something. So, Chat gave up on waiting for the grand moment and began taking advantage of the small moments that they did have.
He tells her as she swings away from the latest Akuma battle. He says it when he sees her take care of Hawkmoth’s latest victim. He declares it when she races ahead of him on patrol with a laugh on her lips. He breathes it after every single “Bien Joué.” She doesn't know about any of them, but he remembers each one. All slightly different, but all containing the same truth. Chat Noir is hopelessly, irrevocably in love with Ladybug.
And it's so obvious or at least he thinks it should be. As soon as he sees her his eyes light up and his heart thrums. And it's no different this night when he is running across the rooftops on a solo patrol. The cool air felt amazing on his flushed cheeks only encouraging him to race faster..
He's working on his final lap when he hears the tell-tale zip of a yo-yo, making his ears jump to attention. Chat screeches to a stop and turns in time to see her land in a crouch behind him on the rooftop. A smile spreads across his face with no effort at all.
“Evening, my Lady. Wasn’t expecting you tonight,” he greets with a bow.
“Hey, minou,” she replies slowly then shakes her head as if to clear it.
“Woah, you alright? You look tired.”
“More like exhausted,” she replies with a lazy smile. “I was trying to do some physics homework, but I swear it puts me right to sleep.” As if to prove her point she broke into another jaw-cracking yawn. “So, I came out to get some blood pumping.”
Chat splayed a hand over his chest. “And here I thought you had come just to see little ol’ me.”
That earned him a giggle and he had to work hard to keep his lips pursed in mock-offense. A fight he quickly lost when Ladybug walked over and flicked his bell.
“Of course, I’m happy to see you too, minou.” She stretched once more, thankfully not noticing the way her partner had suddenly forgotten how to breathe. She let her arms fall to her sides as she looked over the lit-up city. “Up for a run?”
A smirk slid on his face. “Lead the way, my Lady.”
And just like that they were off. They weaved and bobbed around chimneys, leaped from roof to roof, laughing as they went. But much too soon for Chat’s taste, Ladybug was bringing them to the tower, but he followed her nonetheless and plopped down next to her on one of the beams to look out over the city, their city.
They swung their legs, Chat more enthusiastically, as they talked about their latest battle and anything else they could think of that wouldn’t give too much away about their identities.
They were currently on the subject of their kwamis, and Adrien had more than enough to say about his nightmare of a furball. He was ranting about the number of times he has ended up with cheese smeared on his fingers when he went to grab something out of his bag, but he was cut off suddenly by a weight landing on his shoulder. He looked down to find the most important person in his life leaning against him, fast-asleep. This wasn’t an entirely new occurrence, but it made his heart flutter all the same.
He leaned forward ever so slightly to make sure that her eyes were closed before whispering the three words he’s said 57 times before.
“I love you.”
His heart stutters when she moves in her sleep almost in response to his declaration, but when she doesn't move any further he returns his gaze to their city and misses the brilliant blush searing his Lady's cheeks.