Chapter Text
A woman sobs alone in a darkened broom closet, where nobody judges her for not having showered in days, nobody looks at her with empty pity, and more importantly, nobody tells her to give up…
It’s also where a little, dark butterfly caught her completely off-guard as it sunk into the warn out piece of paper in her shaking hands. Suddenly, the shaking stops.
“Hello Madame Rêveur, I am Hawkmoth. Too long have you suffered the pain of being so close to the one you love, and yet so out of reach. I will give you the power to make not only yourself happy, but everyone else in Paris too. All I ask for in return is that you bring me the Miraculous of Ladybug and Chat Noir.”
“Some jewellery for the chance to hold the one I love? What a reasonable price…” Madame Rêveur comments, as dark, malevolent energy ripples over her body, completing the transformation. Hawkmoth let out a hearty laugh.
“That’s exactly what I’ve always thought, my dear akuma.”
~
It was pure coincidence that Chat Noir was out for a joy run when the akuma appeared, no matter how lucky is seemed. However, the idea of seeing Ladybug made him feel very lucky indeed. So far the victim hadn’t done anything besides draw a crowd. In fact, the woman seemed very unakuma-like in general. Her clothes were very human, despite being very lavish; just a designer gown with evening gloves. She must have said something that got her in Hawkmoth’s good books if he wasn’t putting her in his usual nightmare get-up. The only thing that really gave her away was that she was floating mid-air over an intersection with her eyes glowing white.
“Paris! I am Madame Rêveur and I’m here to make you all happy by giving you what your heart desires.” She projected clearly, rather than yelled or screamed. A nice change of pace.
“Well, that doesn’t sound so bad.” Chat commented to nobody in particular.
“But in order for your dreams to come true, you must be sleeping! Goodnight, my sweethearts!” She announced, before she thrust her arm out and a wave of dust billowed out of the gown and spread like a ripple in water. The wave itself was simple enough to dodge. What Chat Noir wasn’t expecting, was for the dust that had settled on the roof where he had landed post-dodge to be just as effective. He felt himself grow increasingly drowsier by the second, and before he could hit the ground, he was out.
Chat Noir awoke with a jolt, surprised to find himself on the same roof where he fell asleep. When he thought about it, it was kind of messed up that he was used to coming to in the middle of a fight nowhere near where he last recalled being. He shrugged the thought off. Constant confusion and peril was worth it to spend time with his lady. He stood up and surveyed the area for damage. What he saw was confusing. There wasn’t any damage, and yet something felt incredibly off. If anything was comparable to how it felt, it would be like going into the street view option of an online map but in virtual reality. The elements were all there, but something was jarring about the execution. He glanced down towards the street. The size of the crowd was diminishing quickly as couples partnered up and appeared to be rushing off somewhere with unveiled delight. Chat Noir brought his thumb and index to his chin as he thought back to what the akumatised victim had said. Something about being asleep and making dreams come true? Did that mean that everyone that got hit was now in a dream world? Would Ladybug even know how to find him if he got hit and she didn’t?
“Chaton!” A voice as sweet and windchimes called out, causing him to turn to the direction of it with far too much enthusiasm.
“My Lady! This really is a dream come true if I get to spend time with you.” He greeted, wiggling his eyebrow beneath his mask as he lifted her hand to his face to plant a quick smooch to it. Instead of pulling her hand away, she giggled as she moved it to cup his cheek gently.
“Silly kitty.” She commented lovingly as she smiled up at him. Well, this was strange. He doesn’t always get as far as a comforting touch, or a “silly kitty”, but here he was getting both! As he looked deep into her eyes, he couldn’t help but notice the way they glanced down at his lips, or the way she drifted in closer to him.
“M-my Lady? What are y – hmph!” His question was cut off by Ladybug suddenly pressing her lips to his. No matter how confused he was, he wasn’t about to pass this up. He enthusiastically returned the kiss, pulling her small form closer in to his body. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and deepened the kiss, sending shivers up and down Chat’s spine and encouraging soft purring to emit from his chest.
“I love you so much.” She whispered delicately after finally taking her lips from his. As much as he wanted to hear her say those words, it was all too good to be true.
“What?” He questioned, hoping he was wrong.
“I said…” A kiss on the nose.
“…I love you…” A kiss on the forehead.
“…so…” A kiss on one corner of his mouth.
“…much!” Another on the other. Looking down, she was looking up at him with full adoration and love. It wasn’t anything like how Ladybug usually looked at him.
“You’re not real, are you?”