Chapter Text
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Ladybug and Chatnoir were supposed to be patrolling the city. But instead, they were sitting on a ledge of the Eiffel Tower looking out on Paris from above. The ledge they were on gave them an amazing view of the city, while keeping them hidden away from prying eyes. It was their favorite spot to hang out at. It was where they started and ended patrols and were they would stay in times like now, just to talk.
"Isn't the view just beautiful" ladybug sighed looking up at the sky. This high up, at night, it was possible to see a few stars, even with all the light pollution coming from the city below.
"Not as beautiful as you m'lady" chat answered. Ladybug lowered her gaze to look at him, only to find he was already looking at her. They were sitting side by side, closer then when they had settled down. That sneaky alley cat had probably moved closer when she wasn't paying attention. She playfully bumped into him. "Yeah, right..." She said with an eye roll.
"Seriously, I mean it bugaboo" chat shot back at her, with so much sincerity in his voice all she could do was believe him.
Soon he was wearing a huge grin, "is your father a thief?"
Ladybug looked at him questionably, she didn't see where this was going, "no he's a baker" she answered without thinking, and almost immediately after the words left her mouth, her eyes widened, "I mean, no he isn't, a baker I mean, like I would give away such personal information, hahaha, right?" She knew she couldn't fool him.
"You're a terrible liar, m'lady, but I'll let it slide. Now where was I, oh! right" he cleared his throat and started again, "are you sure?" He asked still grinning
"Hum....yes?"
"Look at the sky bugaboo" he said and pushed her head so she was looking at sky. She was still looking at him questionably, but after a few moments, she obliged.
"Ok... Now what?"
"See all the missing stars?" he asked
She rolled her eyes before answering, "they aren't missing chaton, we just can't see them because of the light pollution"
He scoffed, "yeah, that's what everybody thinks, but I know better"
"Oh really smartypants, and what's 'the real reason' " she asked
"Your father stole them and put them in your eyes, and now sparkle like the night sky" he finished with a wide grin. Ladybug blinked a few times before bursting out into laughters.
"Oh. My. God. How did I not see that coming"
Chat's grin became even wider, "because you were to distracted checking me-owt" he offered.
"I walked right into that one, didn't I?" Ladybug said after she calmed down
"Paw-sibly" he smirked
They stayed silent for a few minutes, just enjoying each other's company and staring out at the city -in ladybug's case - or staring at somebody -ladybug, in chat's case. The silence was broken by ladybug as she turned to face chat,
"This is nice" she sighed
"Yeah" chat agreed, "just you and me lovebug, on top of the world" he said gazing out at the city.
Ladybug sighed, "we've gone over this before chat, I'm not your lovebug, I like someone else"
Chat winced, he didn't like the turn this conversation was taking, and yet, he didn't do anything to stop the turn.
"Ok I get that, but let's be honest, what does this mysterious guy have, that I don't ?!" He asked pointing to himself. He had expected for ladybug to brush him off and ignore his question, but she actually answered, seemingly lost in thought.
"He's amazing, kind, generous, he's always there to help people in need, and he's super cute...oh and he's a model, but that's not why I like him. He's perfect" she sighed dreamily.
"...weeeellll, I'm also a model" chat stated matter of factly. Not that he thought it would change much, but... "And I'd like to think I'm amazing, kind, generous and always there for people, I am a super hero that protects Paris on a regular basis, ya know? So I ask again what does Mr Model have that I don't?"
"You're a model?! Tha..." Blond hair, green eyes, there's only so many models with thoses features, what if- no! no, no, no, don't think about it, it's impossible, "...that doesn't change anything" ladybug said shaking her head.
"You sure LB, I heard you hiss-atate when you said that" he smirked and she groaned.
" HE doesn't make horrible puns, and don't call him Mr Model" she pouted
"Oh really? What a shame... But I'm purr-ty sure you secretly love my puns"
Yeah, ok she did. Not that she would ever admit it, but she was a terrible liar.
"You wish" she whispered, but loud enough so that he heard. He just smiled knowing he won.
"And so... How come you aren't with him already? " he asked. He was curious after all. He got afraid he had over stepped his bounderies when he saw her slump down, but she still answered. Kinda desperately, like she needed to talk to somebody about it, he understood that feline all to well so he promised himself to be there for her, even if it broke his heart in the process.
"I don't think he even notices me, not in that way at least. But I can't blame him, I always get tongue tied around him and I can't speak full sentences.... and I'm super clumsy, he would never want to be with someone like me" she said as she hugged her knees to her chest and hid her face.
Somehow, her description of herself reminded him of someone, he just couldn't figure out who exactly, besides he couldn't dwell on that, he needed to comfort his partner.
"Well he's dumb model if he doesn't realize how amazing you are" he said as he wrapped his arms around her small frame and hugged her. They stayed like that for a while, untill ladybug's breathing was normal again. She hadn't even realized she was crying untill chat wiped tears off of her face. She smiled up at him and hugged him back, her thank you muffled onto his chest where her face was pressed. She could hear his heart beating abnormally fast, and then she realized in what position they were and quickly backed away, a red blush creeping up her face.
"Sorry" she said sheepishly
"N-no problem" he said, rubbing the back of his neck and a blush of his own on his face.
They stayed like that for a while, purposefully avoiding eachother's eyes.
"If, if you don't mind me asking, how... How did you fall for him.... Your crush..." He nervously asked.
While he had been hugging her, he hadn't been able to resist the urge to sniff her hair... Yes, he sniffed it. But he couldn't help himself, call it cat tendencies. Anyway, when he did, he got hit by the familiarity of the scent. Her hair.... smelled like... Marinette? Because, yes, he had already sniffed Marinette's hair too... As chat of course... Without her noticing... OK, he was NOT proud of it, leave him be. Maybe they used the same shampoo... And did their hair up the same way... Was he seriously only realizing NOW that they attached their hair the same way?!? ....Marinette who acted painfully similarly to ladybug's description of herself in front of her crush. But in front of him... Was it possible that his lady was Marinette and had a crush on him, Adrien. He wasn't possibly that lucky... Right? No... Yes.... Maybe... Only one way to figure it out, ask more questions.... So here he was, asking the first question that came to mind...smooth.
To his general surprise, she actually seemed happy to answer his question. Ok well that was a good start.
"It was on the second day of school, there had been a misunderstanding with bubble gum that morning, and I judged him to fast and got mad at him. After school, it was raining and I was waiting outside for it to stop because I didn't have an umbrella. He came and apologized, even if he hadn't done anything wrong, then he gave me his umbrella, I took it and it closed on me. And then he laughed... He has a beautiful laugh..."
At the way her eyes widened a few seconds after she stopped talking, he was purr-ty sure she hadn't meant to reveal that much. But, holy shit, as he let the information he just received be processed by his brain, he ultimately realized he was siting next to Marinette. On top of the Eiffel Tower. Because she was ladybug. Marinette was ladybug. She had been siting behind him in class all this time. Now that he thought of it, it was so plain obvious, he didn't know how nobody had figured it out yet.
He must have been lost in thought for longer then he thought, because ladybug was now clapping her hands in front of chat and calling his name. Marinette was.
"Sorry m'lady, I got lost in thought"
She frowned "you better not be trying to figure out my identity, or the one of my crush, I didn't mean to say all that, it's just...youragoodlistenerandwell...yeah, sorry"
"Why would you be sorry" he asked, trying to filter out all the happiness that was in his voice, because he wasn't supposed to know it was him she had a crush on.... Oh wait... That answers his question, he mentally facepalmed.
She raised an eyebrow, "well hum... Talking about my crush in front of y- "
"It's fine really, I'm ok, don't worry" he wasn't going to let her beat herself up about it.
She was about to say something, when she got interrupted by the beeping of her miraculous, "well, I gotta go, see you soon chaton" and then she zipped off on her yoyo.
"Yeah, sooner then you think" he whispered once she was well out of hearing range. Then he realized it was Friday. So he wouldn't see her again untill Monday, if there weren't any akumas. Or... a certain cat could could come visit her tomorrow. Yeah, he'd do that, now... all he had to do was figure out how exactly he was going to tell her, and that was harder then he thought.