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Marinette's journey across the city's skyline led her to the small park near her home. She smiled at the lights they'd set up, each one twinkling and sparkling against the night sky. She had every intention of enjoying the view as she passed by, intent on getting home and back to her homework, but a lone figure standing near the park's entrance caught her attention.
She'd recognize that blond mop anywhere, changing her trajectory and landing several feet from him.
"Good evening, Adrien," she said with a smile spreading across her features. "Isn't it a bit late to be out?"
He returned her smile though his didn't quite reach his eyes as she'd hoped it would.
Taking a step closer, she nodded at the lights. "They're pretty at night, aren't they?"
"Yeah, they are." He didn't move closer to her or the lights. Instead, his feet did a stationary shuffle beneath the large archway. "I haven't seen them since my mother disappeared. It was something we always did together when I was younger. It's not the same without her."
She clipped her yoyo to her waist and approached him, taking the initiative for once. She stretched out her hand, hoping he wouldn't mind creating a new memory with her at his side.
"You don't have to do this, Ladybug. I'm sure you have better places to be," he said under his breath as he slipped his hand around hers.
She smiled brighter and tightened her grip on his hand. "Nope. Can't think of anywhere else I'd rather be. Come on, let's see some twinkle lights."
Walking beside each other, they entered the park and walked under the hundreds of strung strings. Most had the white bulbs, giving off a warm feeling despite the cold, but others had multi-colored bulbs to create a fun experience for kids and kids-at-heart.
"This is nice," he said, breaking the silence between them. "Thank you for doing this."
"Anytime, Chaton," she whispered.
Neither spoke as they neared the end of the park's lights, not wanting to spoil the effect the lights had on them and their surroundings. Soft snowflakes had begun to fall and land over the previous night's accumulation. Tiny flakes gathered in their hair and tickled their exposed skin.
Shivers skated over her despite the covering of her magic suit.
A jacket covered her, warming her. The scent of expensive cologne wafted from the fleece-lined interior and soothed her as she inhaled. Only her partner could make her feel this safe on a cool evening with snowflakes dancing around them and twinkle lights sparkling in the background.
Both sank onto a nearby bench, his arm resting along the back while she snuggled into his side.
"Being with you makes me miss her a little less," he whispered, his cheek resting against her hair. "I figure I'll always miss her, but I know I can handle it as long as I have you, my lady."
"I'm not going anywhere, Chaton." She shifted so she could see his eyes and found them full of hope. Reaching out, she cupped his cheek and smiled. "With Hawk Moth gone, I have wondered if we'll lose our miraculous, but I haven't worried about losing you."
He returned her smile, a bit cheekier as his mood lightened. "Well, it helps you know who I am behind the mask. I'm still in the dark as to who you might be. I have my suspicions, of course, but it's not like I can go up to them and ask them straight out. That would be so awkward if I was wrong."
Giggling, she scooted closer, her thumb rubbing along his cheek. A tiny gasp escaped when he leaned into the touch, his eyes closing briefly as he relished the contact between them.
In the growing silence between them, snowflakes continued to fall. Bigger flakes mingled with the smaller ones.
A single, fat flake landed on his nose, its perfect form catching her attention. Swiping it with her finger, she held it up for him to see and earned an intrigued look for her efforts.
"Make a wish," she whispered.
"I think that's for eyelashes, my lady, not snowflakes."
Rolling her eyes, she persisted. "Just make it already, Chaton. Remember, don't tell me or it won't come true. Hurry before it melts."
He stared at her a moment longer before his eyes drifted closed, scrunching in the cutest way she'd ever thought possible. They remained that way as he made his wish. When he opened them again, he smiled at her and blew at the snowflake. It had melted against her fingertip, but she'd already had plans to make his wish come true.
"We should get home. It's growing colder," he said breaking the silence between them. "Can't have a sick bug when school's tomorrow, can we? Come on, I'll walk you back to the park's entrance."
"How do you know I have school? Hmm?" She took the arm he offered, her hand sliding into the bend at his elbow. Leaning in close, she smiled at the slight blush rushing over his cheeks. "Is it possible you're fairly certain you know who I am? Are you hoping I'll tell you and confirm if you're right or not?"
The blush grew brighter under the twinkle lights, but he smiled down at her, ready to indulge her.
"It might've been close to what I wished for, yes." He nudged her with his shoulder as they continued to walk through the park. "I had hoped with Hawk Moth's defeat that I would learn your identity, but I've found my lady can be quite stubborn."
She shook her head, her smile growing mischievous. "Maybe I wanted to be sure the trouble was over, silly Chaton. It's not a bad thing to be a bit cautious at times."
"You're right. It's not."
They had come to the park's entrance once more, the twinkle lights glowing behind them. Snowflakes continued to fall around them, giving the entire scene an ethereal, magical feel to it.
"Wishes do come true," she whispered, turning to face him. "I know mine did when I learned you were the boy I loved behind the mask, Chat."
One gloved hand cupped her cheek, drawing her closer to him. He smiled down at her, his other hand coming up to stroke one of her pigtails. "I'm glad it did, my lady. I know deep in my heart that I'm going to love the girl behind your mask, too, because she's amazing and beautiful whether or not she wears this mask."
His thumb traced the bottom edge of her mask, sending a delicious shiver down her spine. Her blood pressure skyrocketed as a thousand and one images flooded her mind of them together, in and out of the mask.
"You're cold."
His voice broke through the haze the images had created.
"Not really," she said though she leaned toward him and his body heat. Rising on tiptoe, she pressed a kiss to his cheek. "I should go, but I have something for you before I go."
"What is that, my lady?"
Placing her hands on his shoulders for balance, she brought her lips to his ear and whispered, "If you want to know who I am, all you have to do is turn to the seat directly behind you at school tomorrow. That's where I'll be."
"Oh," he breathed and dropped his hands to her waist, crushing her to him, "I knew it. This is the best gift you could've given me, my lady, my Marinette. Thank you."
She giggled though she did try to appear stern when she pulled away, saying, "We'll discuss that possessive streak of yours tomorrow. Good night, Chaton."
With a kiss, she took off toward the bakery across the street and the lit balcony above her room. She turned to wave and found Adrien had disappeared from his position near the entrance.
"Or we could discuss it tonight," a voice said from behind her.
She turned to find Adrien dropping his transformation and walking toward her.
"That is, if you don't mind a bit more company tonight?"
She smiled. "Not if it's you. Come on, I'm sure there are some yummy treats left we can share. I want to be sure my Chaton is warm before I send him back into the cold later."
"Knowing I'll be seeing you tomorrow, I'll never be cold again."