Work Text:
Izuku stumbled over the step up into the campus of UA, falling forward, too heavily logged down with books to be able to catch himself.
Oh no, He thought absently, as the floor raced up to meet him. I’m going to be late for class.
Izuku’s eyes closed tight. But instead of the pain of concrete meeting nose, Izuku found himself comforted by a secure weight.
“Are you alright?” A sinfully smooth voice spoke out.
Izuku’s eyes shot open, and he pushed himself upright. Upright, out of the arms of Todoroki Shouto.
Todoroki, who was currently watching him with the same kind of gaze you had for severely startled small animals.
“You’re fine!” Izuku chirped, meaning to run a hand through his hair nervously, but being stopped by the massive pile of books still in his hands. “I - I mean, I’m fine! Not that you’re not fine, I just… I’m good! That’s all. Thank you, Todoroki.”
Todoroki stared unblinkingly down at him. “Okay,” He murmured and walked off.
Izuku sagged, the awkwardness of that conversation more heavy than his books.
“Ouch, that was terrible,” Uraraka said from behind him.
Izuku sighed. Of course, she’d have seen that.
Uraraka took half the pile of books from his hands and skipped ahead. “I can’t believe you like him, he’s so oblivious. I swear he’s the last person to know you have a crush on him!”
“Uraraka!” Izuku spluttered, running to catch up. “I - I - shut up!”
Her laughter was cut short by the disproving look of their teacher as they hurriedly entered the classroom. Turned out Izuku was right. They were late.
Izuku scurried past Todoroki’s seat, ignoring the biting glare of Bakugou. Just as usual. Oh, why did Todoroki have to be best friends with Bakugou of all people? Izuku doubted even Bakugou would call them friends.
Still, Izuku thought to himself as he fiddled with his ladybug patterned earring, I will always have one thing Bakugou doesn’t.
Izuku touched down on the rooftops of downtown Japan, his trusty yoyo springing back to his hand.
Chat Noir was already there, legs kicked out over the rooftop, dangling into the abyss.
His ears flicked towards Izuku, but he didn’t move to see who it was. At this point, both trusted each other far too much to ever need to check.
Izuku plopped down next to him, resting his arms back agains the roof and gazing into the sunset.
“Isn’t it just beautiful?” Izuku whispered.
“I’d say it’s just purrrr-fect,” Chat Noir said, mouth ticking into a smile.
Izuku attempted to bat his ear, but Chat ducked under his blow, smile now fully grown into a grin.
“Come on! That was a good one,” Chat laughed.
“It was painful, is what that was,” Izuku chuckled back.
Chat’s tail flicked back and forth as he resettled himself. He leaned his head on Izuku’s shoulder, messy white hair tickling at Izuku’s chin.
Izuku brought up his hand to pet at Chat’s hair, fingers dragging through his hair. His ears twitched, and Chat began to purr.
“You’re such a softie, aren’t you really?” Izuku murmured.
“Hey! It feels nice,” Chat answered defensively.
“I’m sure it must,” Izuku said, while reaching for that spot behind his ear that always made Chat purr louder. Just like he’d expected, Chat purred loud and clear, a rumble that vibrated through Izuku’s shoulder, even through the suit he wore as Ladybug.
He felt Chat’s head shift, hair tickling against his chin as Chat moved.
“You know, this doesn’t have to just remain here,”
Izuku pulled his hand away. “Chat,” he said warningly.
“But Ladybug, is it really that big of a deal? Would knowing each other’s identities be that much of a curse?”
Izuku sighed, Chat pulling his head away completely to look him in the eyes. His sad eyed stare was always hard to resist, even with the glowing green cat eyes that made Chat just that slight edge off from human.
“The risks are too high, Chat. If we tell each other, we might slip up and next thing, the whole of Japan knows, and Hawkmoth can take our Miraculous just like that.”
Chat fell silent, air punctuated by the whipping back and forth of his tail.
“I…” Chat began, and licked his lips. “You’re one of the only people in my life who actually cares about me. I don’t… I hate having to leave this, everyday.”
Izuku frowned. He didn’t know much of Chat’s homelife, but he’s heard hints that imply Chat is far lonelier than his happy outer persona puts on.
“Do you have any family? Anyone who might be out there to care for you? I can’t imagine someone as nice as you would be so alone.”
Chat’s eyes flickered off into the distance. “My dad… I guess he cares about me. I think.”
“Well, that’s something, isn’t it?” Izuku tried. “Look, I really can’t tell you. I can’t put my family in danger. I can’t risk it. I know it’s hard, but I will always be here for you as Ladybug.”
“I guess so,” Chat said, staring glumly into the distance.
Izuku held out his hand.
“Hey,” He said gently. “Let’s make the most of this evening before Hawkmoth makes another Akuma. We deserve the break. And maybe you can tell me some more puns? Who knows, you might have a nugget of gold up in that brain of yours.”
Chat’s eyes moved back, and a ghost of a smile passed over his face.
“Okay,” He said at last. Chat moved back, pressing his shoulder up against Izuku’s. Izuku’s arm wrapped around his shoulders, reaching up to once more comb through his hair.
“Soon, we’ll defeat Hawkmoth, and then I will tell you. I promise,” Izuku whispered into the night.
There was a pause, a pause only filled with the sound of their breath escaping into the air. The sun was nearly fully down, and soon the air would be cold and biting.
“Thank you,” Chat murmured as he nuzzled his head down. Izuku felt Chat’s tail wrap around his back. It was unlikely he even knew he was doing it. It happened a lot, Chat’s cat like traits belying his true feelings. Izuku never called him out on it though. Allowed him to have that privacy.
Instead, Izuku just allowed himself to be tugged closer, felt the rumbles of Chat’s purrs pass through his chest.
Izuku stared at the horizon as the sun finally passes below the cityline.
Together, they will defeat Hawkmoth, and he won’t have to push Chat away any further. He can see it, a future where the city of Japan is at peace, where he will confess his crush to Todoroki Shouto, and everything will be okay.
But that day has not come yet, and for now, Chat will have to bare the loneliness. Izuku will do all he can as Ladybug to help, but he hopes, desperately so, that someone in his civilian life will step up.
But for now, he will find peace in these moments with Chat, watching the sun go down over the rooftops of Japan.