Chapter Text
It had started as a joke, mainly. Adrien never expected that Ladybug would take him up on his offer. After all, the normal reaction when it had started raining would have been to just postpone patrol for better weather, right? Nobody liked getting wet in the rain, so the chances of anything bad happening even if they weren’t around were slim.
But for him, patrol was his favourite time with his lady. So he’d jokingly suggested they get an umbrella and just make the most of it. He’d expected an eye-roll, a “Don’t be stupid, Chat,” or anything else really. But not the slight hesitation, the look of uncertainty that crossed her face. And her quiet “Ok.”
He’d left her under an awning for like a minute, knowing exactly where to find an umbrella. He just made sure it was big enough for both of them. And then they were off. Of course, having patrol the normal way was out of the question. They couldn’t exactly hop from rooftop to rooftop while holding the umbrella between them. Then there was also the added risk of slipping on something wet while doing so, which could end badly for both of them.
So, walking around it was. Which somehow made it feel even more surreal. Them, under the umbrella, just walking around. It was almost like they were out there for fun, not doing patrol. But he shouldn’t let himself think that. Probably Ladybug had her own reason for doing this. After all, they were friends and enjoyed each other’s company, right?
Almost as soon as they started their, well, walk, for lack of a better word, they were surprised by Alya. He really suspected that the girl spied on them and knew when they were out and about. How else would she know exactly where to find them and at the right time too?
She just snapped a quick photo of them, no doubt to post on the Ladyblog and fuel whatever rumours there were of their current relationship status. He found himself sighing, casting a worried glance in his lady’s way. He really hoped this wouldn’t make her feel uncomfortable about their little stroll in the rain. Ladybug just looked lost in thought. So he politely sent Alya on her way and it was just the two of them again.
And it almost felt like there was no one else there. The rain was falling steadily and the streets were deserted. Also night was almost there, dusk quickly turning to darkness because of the heavy clouds in the sky. Not surprisingly, nobody wanted to be outside in weather like that.
Normally, so would Adrien. He didn’t like the rain and when he was Chat it was like some cat-like instincts made him avoid water like hell. But he didn’t mind this time. He was with his lady and after all they had their own shelter from the rain. Although, while the umbrella was the biggest one he could find, it was still hard to protect them fully from the downpour. They needed to be a little closer to each other for that, he reasoned. Tentatively, he brought an arm around Ladybug’s shoulders, almost expecting her to jump out of her skin at the sudden contact.
Instead, she surprised him again. It was as if she’d expected it, had wanted it maybe. Because she just sighed and relaxed into him, her head reclining to his shoulder, a spotted arm winding around his waist. For an almost full minute, he didn’t dare to breath as not to break the spell. Surely, this couldn’t be happening. They were still walking, slowly as not to jostle each other and to better hide from the rain. But the feeling was different. There was no way he would still think of this as patrol. For one thing, none of them paid any attention to what was happening around them. They were in their own little bubble, under the umbrella, as if cut off from the rest of the world. And there was none of their usual banter too.
He didn’t dare speak, because he loved having her like that, relaxed and just enjoying his company. And she wasn’t speaking either, whatever was on her mind keeping her occupied. They just kept walking, their feet mindlessly tracing the familiar streets, no destination in mind.
If he had to describe Ladybug’s mood, it was a strange word that came to his mind - resigned. It was as if she’d given up on pretending, on keeping him at an arm’s length. There had been so many moments recently when he’d caught her looking at him thoughtfully, as if lost in another world, where she could love him back. It was as if she knew it could happen, but she didn’t know exactly how and was trying to work it out by observing him. Why she was doing it, he wasn’t sure. Was it to make sure it didn’t happen? But then again, why would she be thinking any of that? Most likely, he was reading too much into normal pensiveness. He’d better not put his hopes up, right?
But for tonight… well. It was as if no rules applied to their little rendezvous in the rain. It was just them and nothing else mattered. Tomorrow, it would be back to normal, he’d bet. Not mentioning this episode, not exactly pretending it never happened, just leaving it behind. That little moment in time when they could be how they wanted to be, not worrying about the consequences.
He didn’t know how he felt about that. It was so much and yet not enough. He longed to stop, turn around and sweep her off her feet, literally. He could see it so clearly. The umbrella would fall to the ground, forgotten. They’d hold onto each other tightly, not minding the rain at all. And their lips would meet in the sweetest kiss one could imagine. He could almost feel her fingers in his wet hair, the taste of her on his lips. It could happen so easily.
But no. He couldn’t risk pushing her away. For whatever reason, she’d decided to give him this evening. He’d cherish it and not allow his treacherous heart to make him want more. It was enough. It had to be enough It was all she could give him for now and he had to respect that. And one day, well, hopefully things may be different.