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Chat Noir looked as the orange sky glowed down upon the town. The breeze ran against him as he sat on the edge of a house near his school. Beside him sat Ladybug, his lady whom he cherished more than anyone else.
The air hung heavy on his chest as he tried his hardest not to stare at her.
After the day's work, if uneventful, Chat and his lady would sit and talk for a while. No one started it, but it became an unspoken rule after… Fu. Ladybug had changed since then, her smiles turned plastic and her remarks sounded fake at best. He knew his lady was faking, but what could he do? She seemed less and less attached to him, and more solitary… and more interested in Rena Rouge. He tried to get closer, but at every moment, she's put up the same fake smile and protest an "I'm fine!"
Chat shook his head and sighed deeply. She wouldn't trust him with her identity, why would her feelings be any different?
There had been multiple times he had tried to imply the idea, but every attempt was either ignored or shut down. Just a moment earlier, he had tried again, but it was to no avail.
Just thinking about it made him annoyed.
“Kitty?” Ladybug called. Chat turned to face her but didn’t look her in the eye. “Kitty, I’m sorry. I know you're mad.” she said, positioning herself so that she was looking him in the eye.
“Lady, I know the rules. I do. But it doesn’t make any sense!” he mumbled, diverting his eyes yet again.
Ladybug took a deep breath in and then sighed. “Chat, there are reasons for the rules.” she said with a huff.
Chat exhaled sharply, startling Ladybug. “Then why,” he shouted, “can’t I know those reasons!” He shook his head and turned away. His face was starting to blotch red and moisten with tears but he wouldn’t let her know that.
“They aren’t pretty stories, Kitty… and they aren’t old, they’re my stories, my reasons.” she said more firmly this time, anger was clear in her voice.
“Do you not trust me...” he blurted and before he could stop it he added, “like you trust Rena Rouge?”
A silent pause passed between them as they slowly looked each other in the eyes.
“I- I didn’t mean that! I’m just feeling left out.” Chat clamored.
Ladybug sighed and visibly winced as she squeezed her eyes closed. “You did mean it Chat, and it was valid.” Ladybug sighed again, and quickly blinked away the forming tears on her eyelids.
“I told her my identity.”
Chat felt his ground shake and his world shift as the words processed in his head.
“What?”
“She knows, I told her. It wasn’t on purpose, but when I was at my lowest…” Ladybug sucked in a sharp breath, “she was there, and I- I broke, Chat. I broke and I can’t fix it.”
Chat felt his anger rise, then cool at her words quickly, leaving him in a state of shock. “I just want to know why it can’t be me, then? Why can’t you lean on me?” he said, constraining his voice as not to start shouting.
“I can’t tell you, Chat. I want to, but I can’t.” she said, her voice on the edge of breaking.
Chat stilled and backed off a bit. “Fine, but I won’t stop trying, I won’t stop until I know.”
“I wouldn’t expect anything less.”
The orange light slowly dipped into the horizon and afternoon became night.
"I didn't mean to hurt you, Chat. I hope you know that." Ladybug cut the silence.
Chat was startled at the sudden words, but softened quickly. "My lady, I know you care, I only ask you keep in mind my feelings sometimes."
For a moment, Chat thought he had overstepped, but then he heard Ladybug softly reply, "I will. Goodnight, Chaton."
Chat sighed, "Goodnight, My Love." But Ladybug was already gone.
--
It had been a week since they had last sat after patrol. Hawkmoth was getting stronger and more consistent. It terrified Chat. They were barely winning now, and it was starting to take a toll on everyone.
Chat was humming a small tune as he sat on the building's edge, watching as the world slowly passed him by. His lady, next to him, sat quietly, seemingly listening to him.
"You know, I love it when you sing." Ladybug said.
"You know, I-," Chat paused, he couldn't get the word 'love' out anymore, "enjoy singing too" he finished oddly.
The two returned to silence as they say in each other's company. The breeze blew harder, as if it were trying to compel emotion.
Chat's thoughts focused mainly upon their last conversation. How he had overstepped and how he hadn't gotten anything from it.
Suddenly, he asked himself in his thoughts "what was he doing?"
"What did you say, Kitty?" she questioned. Chat groaned, he said that out loud.
Chat shook his head softly, "Nothing, my lady, just questioning how the world made him so beautiful." he said flirtatiously.
Ladybug groaned but a smile was on her lips. She'd never admit it, but Chat knew she liked it when he flirted and complimented her
"I see that smile, my lady. You can't hide from me!" He said, falling into her lap.
Ladybug faux-pulled away and let out a long "No!"
Chat turned his body to stare at her. She had beautiful eyes, eyes that never lied, beautiful blue eyes. Her lips were beautiful too, red and well shapen, and her voice, he wasn't sure he knew anything sweeter in tone. And her nose? It was a cute button on her face, completing her, the one he loved.
He softly reached up and touched her nose with his forefinger. "Boop!" he said. Ladybug giggled in response. "Silly kitty." she said.
After a moment, Chat Noir stood up and stretched with his arms high in the sky.
Ladybug turned around and looked at him.
"You know, my lady, have you ever wanted me in another color?" he said flirtatiously. He strutted around, pretending to walk a runway. "I think you'd look purrfect in anything, but my favorite will always be red." He said. He made no sign that he noticed the blush upon his lady's face, not wanting to risk the moment.
"You know, I could do any color for you, even, hm…" he thought for a moment what color he should say, "even white, my lady."
Ladybug was smiling throughout the exchange, but when he finished, her face had drained of color.
She was frowning now, but she was visibly trying to smile.
"I'm sorry, Kitty. I- I'm not sure," she hiccupped out a sob, "I'm not sure why I'm…" she stopped trying to speak.
Chat looked in horror at what he started. "My lady, what did I do? Did I say something wrong? Oh what have I done?" he said. He looked worriedly at the girl.
"No, no, nothing's wrong, just a memory… you- you're not him. You didn't do anything. It didn't even happen in this world, it won't happen in this world." she rambled, her breath quickening. Chat could tell she was panicking.
Chat quickly sat back down beside her and took her into his arms.
"Ladybug, what happened?" he said.
"Noth- nothing! I'm just overreacting. Nothing is wrong." her voice broke and tears were streaming down her face. The face Chat loved so dearly was contorted and it made Chat wince.
"Ladybug, something happened, I need to know so I can help." he pushed a little more.
"I don't want to hurt you. It's not- you didn't- It wasn't you, it was him." she said. Her thoughts were skipping from place to place, obviously overwhelming her.
"I can take it, trust me." Chat said but a part of him doubted it.
Ladybug took a shaky breath in. "A… while ago Bunnix grabbed me and I was forced to fix the future…" she said, pausing to collect herself.
Chat breathed in, whatever this was, it wasn't good.
"And when I got there…" she looked at him and gritted her teeth, trying to slow her breathing. "When I got there, you were there… but it wasn't right."
Chat looked at her with intent, "what wasn't right?"
"You weren't sane. You were somehow akumatized. You were in white and you were calling yourself Chat Blanc. And I- I had to fight you, Chat." she said, turning away from Chat's gaze.
Chat stilled, he was akumatized? How? And what did he do? What destruction did he cause?
"My lady," he said slowly, "what did I do?"
Ladybug winced, "you… you whipped out all of Paris. Not knock them out, killed them."
A sob escape Chat's lips. He did this to her, he made her scared.
"Chat… you knew my name, my real name. And somehow I know that's what started it. You knew and somehow, someway it got you akumatized, it got you all but killed." Ladybug ranted.
"God, this is all my fault. Stupid flirting, stupid crush. I'm so sorry, Ladybug." Chat said, slapping his palm to his head.
"No, Chat, it- it's not your fault, please. I need you. Everytime I see you, I know you're safe, that I haven't failed you. That's why I can't risk telling you my identity, why I don't want to force to much on you. I can't see you like that again." Ladybug countered. She looked at him with a desperate look.
"Then I'll stay by you till Hawkmoth is killed." Chat said coldly.
"I don't need that, Chat. I just- I need you to stay. Here, with me." Ladybug said and Chat's expression softened.
"B-but-"
She shook her head, "I just need that, Chat. The rest we'll figure out together."
"Okay."