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"You haven't lost me."
What?
One heart skips a beat, the other marching forward to a beat its always known. Steady, consistent.
Ladybug knows the exact moment she realized she was in love with Chat Noir. And it is exactly that, a moment. It's brief, happening all too fast. It feels sudden, but not random; like she's known this moment was always coming. It's Chat Noir, always Chat Noir. He's standing beside her, chest puffed strong and proud, back straight with a mirthful look in those jade green eyes. He looks ahead to the evening sky, then turns to her.
He gives the fragile, scared girl a look of trust and understanding, of love. A look he's given her before, but... it's different now, somehow. In that moment, she falls.
Why does she feel like this? Why now?
"Why don't you just give up on me?" She spits frantically, "I've lost all the miraculous! I'm the worst guardian ever, I wanted to control everything! I didn't listen to you, I lied to you, I kept you at a distance!" She rambles out, regret staining her words, potent and loud. She's gasping her words out, fingernails digging into her kneecaps. "Everytime you offered me a helping hand, I never took it! I really made a mess of everything," Her face sinks between her knees, breath unstable and scared.
Chat stares at her, as if searing into her skin with his eyes that he'll never give up on her.
It's quiet. Soft and wispy, just a stillness in the air for a moment in time.
The world feels like it's ending, crashing all around them and the only air to breathe is the air Chat breathes into her. A clearing in a smog filled sky, bright and sunny, and so, so warm. He is her air, her sunshine and the morning dew to the blades of grass. Chat waits for her to take a deep breath.
She breathes.
"My Lady." Chat says gently, as if coaxing her to look at him. His voice tells her she is okay, that everything wrong in the world is standing still and falling back into place, that he will guide her, help her to rebuild their crashing kingdom.
When she does finally look up with tear brimmed eyes and a stuffy nose, Chat meets her eye carefully. He gives her a stern look, then smiles, extending a hand to her. A hand she's held a thousands times before, a hand that is as good as her own by now.
Thunder strikes in the distance. It casts a vibrant purple hue around the blonds figure, illuminating his green eyes. Beautiful. So many thoughts rush through her in a moments time. There is fear. There is the unknown and the great fall, but there is also a familiar smile and a great leap. She can jump and not call it falling, because with Chat Noir with her, she could never fall. This is not falling.... this is diving head first into love.
Ladybug feels the heat gather in her cheeks and the sting of tears in her eyes and she knows the way she's looking at him is lovestruck. What else could this feeling be? Bubbling and circling, whizzing around in the air and igniting her skin.
And yet, she can't stop. Her heart thuds heavy and light and free and crazy in her chest. She stares longingly at the hand now outstretched for her, only ever for her, and when she takes it, she doesn't let go. Can't let go. Ladybug holds her partners hand like a lifeline, melting when he squeezes it to pull her from her thoughts.
He pulls her up slowly, allowing her to take her time to take her place in front of him. When she stands on pinstraight legs, he yanks her into a tight hug, tight enough to steal her breath away. Breath she doesn't need when he is her air. She breathes him in. Her legs shake, now. Chills breaks out on her skin, the wind sweeping her hair out of her eyes, eyes that are wide and curious. Ladybug wraps her arms around him, pulling him closer and closer and resting her chin on his shoulder.
"We're gonna get them back, one by one, until the very last. We'll make sure this never happens again." Chat promises confidently. For some reason, she believes him. He could tell her they'd get them all back tonight and she'd believe him in a heartbeat. This is trust. Trust that runs deeper than her own blood, a bond stronger than any magical bind tying them together.
"You... and me?" Ladybug whispers, flicking her eyes to the thunder crackling sky. White flashes all around them. "You, the greatest superhero there ever was. Them, the people of Paris!" Chat pulls away, turning her body towards the crowd of Parisians now chanting their names. They stand below them on the ground, fists pumping to the sky with voices full of trust. There isn't a trace of hesitancy nor fear in her peoples voices. Her body reacts with a breathless gasp. When did they get there? Why do these people still believe in her? She... failed them.
Another breath pushes past her torn lips.
No. She casts a quick glance at Chat. No, she didn't.
"And me, your loyal partner." Chat says, voice strong and true. Ladybug stares at him and turns her full body to him, a heavy blush staining her face and neck, bluebell eyes wide and doe like. Then her eyes soften, acknowledging the feeling coursing through her like electricity. New and exciting, but familiar and warm. She smiles brightly. There's a newfound strength in her, a strength she's never known. Humming, she tears her eyes away from the core of her strength, the person who gave her strength.
Chat only stares at her with lips parted, warmth blooming in his chest. He knows that look. The look she just gave him. Oh, yes. It's a look he's grown acquainted with, one he never knew could be reciprocated. A worn but happy sigh leaves him and he turns his face to the people of Paris, squeezing His Lady's hand.
So this is love.