Chapter Text
Ladybug was swinging from one building to the next as she debated with herself. Adrien’s open window was taunting her. He had recently called Ladybug his hero on the news and she all but swooned when she heard that. His emerald eyes gleamed at the camera cheerfully as he spoke about how she saved his life and was his role model.
Unfortunately, that led her to where she was now. Swinging uncertainly from building to building as she decided whether or not she should go in and thank him face-to-face. On the one hand, it was an abuse of her power as Ladybug. But, on the other, she got to thank her crush personally. Biting down hard on her lip, she sucked in a deep breath of air before gathering her courage and swinging through the open window.
Looking around the large room, she spotted no sign of the blonde. Curiously, she called out to him, “Adrien, are you here?”
She heard a yelp come from the bathroom along with a small crash. Ladybug thought she heard a stifled laugh before hearing Adrien grumble at himself. She tilted her head to the side as she waited for him to come out, wondering just why he was talking to himself. Soon, the boy emerged from the bathroom, smoothing out his red and black spotted Ladybug themed shorts. Adrien glanced up at her from beneath his lashes almost sheepishly as he rubbed the back of his neck, “Sorry, I-I was in the shower.”
She blinked wildly at him for a few moments, feeling a blush creep up her cheeks before she began waving her hands at him wildly, “Oh! I-I’m so sorry for interrupting! I had no idea! I-I’ll just go,” she turned to leave, already reaching for the yo-yo at her hip.
“No, no!” Adrien practically shouted, grabbing onto her wrist lightly to prevent her from leaving. Ladybug turned back around slowly, her eyes flicking down to where his hand covered her wrist. He followed her gaze and instantly let go of her, rubbing the back of his neck nervously as he apologized, “Sorry.”
“It’s alright,” she gave him a small smile, deciding to avoid telling him that she already missed his hand atop hers. She rubbed her wrist lightly to try and regain at least some of the warmth Adrien’s touch had ignited.
“I didn’t mean to make you leave,” he murmured as his lips quirked up slightly, “I’m actually really glad you’re here. I was just wondering, um, why you were here?”
“Oh!” Ladybug chuckled nervously, avoiding his gaze, “Well, I um, saw the press conference.”
Adrien swallowed quietly, his green eyes holding what seemed like a touch of fear and worry as he asked almost hesitantly, “Yes, and?”
Blinking wildly at him, she nibbled on her lip, “Um, well I was in the neighborhood and wanted to stop by and say thank you.”
One of his eyebrows raised as he crossed his arms, his fear instantly disappearing and leaving a smug grin in its place, “Do you usually make civilian calls?”
“No,” Ladybug giggled, “You’re actually the first I’ve ever visited like this,” she gestured in between them.
Adrien’s eyes sparkled with pure delight as he asked, “Yeah?”
“Mhm,” she nodded her head shyly.
“Wow,” he breathed out in awe, raking a hand through his hair, “If I’d have known all it took to get Ladybug to come over was to say a few nice words on a press conference, I’d have done it months ago.”
She blushed lightly, tucking a loose hair back into one of her pigtails, “I-It wasn’t just a few nice words. You said I was your hero, Adrien. Your role model,” her hand reached out to grab his as she squeezed it gently, “That really meant something to me.”
Adrien’s eyes darted down to their intertwined fingers before he dragged it back up to her gaze. He swallowed quietly before squeezing her hand back, “Well, it’s true. You are my hero,” he whispered quietly.
Ladybug could barely help herself when her next words slipped past her lips, “Aww, my sweet prince,” she stared at him softly before her brain caught up to her mouth and she realized what she said. Mentally slapping herself, she felt her face turn a deep, dark tomato red. Her cheeks flaming she stuttered her apology, “I-I’m sorry! I don’t know why I just said that!”
Or why it felt so right . Like it’s something I’ve called him forever .
Instead of the disgust and anger that she expected to come from the model, however, was a look of awe and almost adoration, “I-I don’t mind,” he breathed out, “You can call me that for the rest of my life if you want.”
This time it was Adrien’s turn to blush, his eyes widening in shock like he also didn’t know what he was saying. She almost missed it, though, her mind desperately trying not to imagine her and Adrien old, gray, and married . He would call her his hero and she would call him her prince and everything would be right in the world. Ladybug cleared her throat once, nibbling on her lip as she peeked up at him from beneath her lashes, “Okay, my prince.”
Adrien practically beamed at her, his face lighting up with joy as she called him that nickname once again. He chuckled at her breathily, shaking his head, “Ladybug, you’re amazing, you know that right?”
Adrien thinks I’m amazing! Eeeee!
Doing happy little jigs in her mind, she grinned back at him, “T-thank you, but y-you’re just as amazing!”
“I’m so glad I did that press conference,” he murmured almost inaudibly.
“I’m glad you did that press conference too,” Ladybug gave him a bright smile, “I don’t think I would have had the confidence to come over if you hadn’t.”
“W-well, you’re always invited to come!” Adrien rushed to speak to her, “Really! I don’t care if I’m sleeping or not! Just wake me up! A-and now that you’re here do you want to stay and watch a few movies?!”
She froze for a few moments before bursting into a cacophony of giggles, stuck on imagining ways of waking Adrien up. Preferably with a kiss. With a quiet, lovestruck sigh, Ladybug dragged her eyes to the window forlornly, “You’re so adorable, my prince and I wish I could stay but I had better go. I still have to finish patrol.”
“Oh,” his lips twisted into a pout, “Are you sure?”
“Yeah,” her eyes strayed back over to his couch longingly, “I really wish I could stay, though. Believe me.”
“Well, like I said, my window is always open to you buga-, my bug,” Adrien gave her a wide smile that actually looked more like a grimace.
Shooting him a curious look, she pulled her yo-yo out from around her hip and began twirling it, “I’ll see you soon then?”
“Yeah, definitely,” Adrien nodded rather dumbly after her as she walked over to the window.
“Sweet dreams,” Ladybug gave him a quick wave before swinging away as fast as she could, already wishing she could go back to stay longer.
“Sweet dreams, bugaboo,” he whispered after her, watching her disappear into the night sky.