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"What's that?" Chat asked, lading beside his partner, watching as the Ladybug holder fiddled with a cute little bag, decorated with a blue bow.
“Huh? What- Oh hello Chat, sorry I was in my own world.” Ladybug apologized, moving to put the item into her bug phone, only stopped by Chat’s hand on her wrist.
“What is it? M’Lady?” Chat asked, curiosity peaked by the little bag.
“Oh. Uh, you’ll think it's silly, but… it’s for my crush.” Ladybug started, watching as Chat tried to conceal a flinch but didn’t stop the holder from continuing. “I was going to give it to him today but I was too nervous, I trip over my words, I’m nothing like Ladybug outside the mask.” Ladybug admitted sadly, watching Chat frown.
“I don’t believe that. You’re still the same person, with or without a mask, Bugaboo.” Chat retorted, glad to see his partner shoot him a smile.
“Thanks, Chat.”
“So you couldn’t give it to him?”
“No. I fumble and stumble and I’m just a mess. I can’t tell him.”
“Why don’t you practise with me? Pretend I’m the boy you like, I’ll act like him, one second.” Chat offered, being dramatic, shaking his arms and wriggling his facial muscles before shooting her a look.
“I’m ready. How do I act? Am I totally suave and cool or am I the silent mysterious type?” He playfully asked.
“You’re… You’re kind, generous and polite. You never fail to help those in need and you get along with everyone.” LB started to explain, Chat’s look softened.
“I can see why he stole your heart then, M’Lady, you’re making such big heart eyes I am blinded.” Chat wheezed, trying to stay optimistic and humorous despite his heart breaking at the thought of Ladybug with someone else. But he was respectful. He’d deal with reality if that's what fate demanded of him.
“Sometimes you remind me of him, and other times you’re the furthest thing from him, especially when you drop those ridiculous puns.” Ladybug added and Chat stuck out his tongue.
“My puns are at a level only the most cultured of people can appreciate.”
“Sure, sure…”
“Anyway I thought we were practicing.”
“No way, I changed my mind, that would be way too awkward!”
“Aw c’mon Bugaboo, I’ll be serious, I can be serious, honest!”
“Says the superhero who just stuck out his tongue at me…”
“Oh. Well that was ages ago, I’m a changed man now, LB!” Chat begged, Ladybug rolled her eyes.
“You can have this though, if you’d like, I don’t have the courage to give him it and it will go to waste if not.” Ladybug offered, holding out the little bag to the other cat hero. Chat took it gently, as though it was a precious gift even if he knew it wasn’t originally for him.
“Thanks Bug!” He was actually a little excited to see what was in it. His sharp claws carefully undid the bow, tying the ribbon into his hair, making a tiny ponytail.
“Look, we match!” He pointed out, Ladybug laughing at his silly antics, the other hero was glad he cheered her up a little, when she continued to give little giggles every time she caught sight of his hair.
Once he opened the little parcel he found a single passionfruit macaron.
“Ooo my favourite!” Chat gushed, pulling it from the bag and holding it between two clawed fingers.
“I made it myself.” Ladybug offered, not giving away her identity too much hopefully.
“You did?! Ladybugs baking? I get to try your baking?” Chat asked excitedly, instantly nibbling at the treat, giving a noise of appreciation.
“If you bake like this all the time, my Kwami will expect me to propose, I warn you.”
“Plagg. Really? I thought he liked Cheese. That’s what Tikki told me.”
“Yeah but if you can bake this good.” Chat started, pausing to take another bite, the treat gone in the next mouthful. “He’ll expect Cheese bread daily. The little mongrel loves the stuff.”
“Well, you tell Plagg he’s welcome to any, anytime, I’ll bake some and bring some to the next patrol as a thank you for watching out for you.” Ladybug smiled.
“Plagg? Looking after me? No no, Ladybug, you're so wrong, I look after him. I feel like a glorified babysitter.”
“Ah but who keeps you safe when you mindlessly throw yourself into danger?”
“Oh.. good point, don’t tell Plagg though, his ego is big enough.”
“Bigger than yours?”
“Hey! Rude.”
“Sorry. Chaton. What did you think then?”
“It was gorgeous. It was my favourite flavour too so I lucked out there.”
“Was that a pun?”
“Maybe.”
“Well, I thought it was gorgeous, and you should totally try again tomorrow, channel some of that Ladybug confidence! You’ve got a big Chat Noir stamp of approval on your gift, and if whoever you’re giving to can’t appreciate it, he’s stupid!” Chat suggested.
“Okay, I’ll try tomorrow! Thank you, Chat!” Ladybug thanked, leaning to press a quick chaste kiss on the hero's cheek. Chat flushed and nodded.
“Yeah, no worries!”
What Chat didn’t expect, was less than 24 hours later, “Adrien- Please take this!”
That his classmate, Marinette, would hand him a similar bag, this time in a pretty red that looked familiar to a certain bug he knew. The bow was black and green and made Adrien smile. She’d carried some of Chat with her, part of his advice mixed with her confidence boost. Opening the bag led to no surprise of contents.
“Sorry- do you hate it? I’m so sorry, I shouldn’t have- I- I can take it back if you don’t want it-” She fumbled.
Adrien gave her a big smile, untying the two ribbons, slowly reaching to tie his hair into the shortest little pigtails possible, not breaking eye contact with his classmate whose pretty blue eyes widened. He knew she’d figured it out but to hammer it home he smirked.
“Like what you see, M’Lady?”