Chapter Text
Talking To The Moon
To some, it may seem like the humid night in Paris would be the perfect time to rendezvous the ancient roads that lead to the perfectly imperfect places that one can get lost in with both their minds and hearts apart from disasters of reality. To some, it was true.
But not for the hero cladded in midnight black with the name of Chat Noir, running on top of Paris’ equally ancient rooftops, wind in his hair being his silent companion as he freely flew past the architecture of the city of lights and love.
Ever since Ladybug was deemed the new guardian of the miraculous, they never were able to properly patrol with one another like they used to. A selfish part of Chat Noir craved for his Lady’s undying and undoubted attention, but he knew what she was up against. Being a guardian at such an early age and also being the wielder of one of the two most powerful miraculous – though Chat Noir firmly believes that the Butterfly and Rabbit should be the most powerful – and also being the number one defensive lineup of Paris all took a toll on her, so he would not pressure her to do anything, even if his heart ached for her during nights like this. He would do his duty and support her, even at their worst.
For the most part, Chat Noir was alone during patrols, running around Paris like a vigilante in the night, prowling silently, protectively, incandescently, protecting his beloved city from criminals, akumas, Hawkmoth, and butterflies. To say he was slightly traumatized by just a single butterfly would have been comically idiotic just a few years ago, but it was the reality he lived in now, a reality nearly 2 million other individuals that called Paris home. If he was in the right mind, he would think he would have moved out of this Godforsaken city as soon as the first akuma came around, but he never did. He doesn’t think he would ever will at any point in his life. There was too much history in this city, personal and otherwise.
So here he was, on top of some unknown building, during one of the hot, humid nights of Paris, the moon was his only companion against the darkness that threatened to consume him whole. It was nights like this where he would think that the moon would be his ONLY companion when he was transformed as Chat Noir. Plagg wasn’t here, for obvious reasons, hisLady was nowhere to be found these days, he had no idea who the other heroes were with the exception of Queen Bee, but that was clearly not gonna work out, at least for now.
For now, he was alone, perhaps that’s a good thing. They say being alone helps you clear out your thoughts, to help cleanse the mind’s palette of obscure thoughts and running imaginations that seem to be more of a hindrance than that of a creative blessing. But now though, he felt like it was a blessing rather than the former. He had a lot in his mind, from the fact that their beloved master was gone, from the fact that the other heroes’ identities were compromised, that it was clearly a downward spiral when it came to them right now, from his growing responsibilities as Adrien and as Chat Noir, finally, his feelings for Ladybug in general… It was a lot to take in.
He was a literal kitty, all alone on a roof, without his lady. It was a reality he had to accept, for better or worse.
Humming a tune of melancholia, Chat Noir turned to see off just a few blocks away was that all too familiar balcony that housed so many memories of a beautiful girl with midnight blue hair that cascaded down her shoulder like shimmering dominoes in a line that also somehow managed to shine even when the darkness of the night seemed akin to her own locks. But she was always like, Chat thinks subconsciously, she always had the power to command attention even if she didn’t intend to.
His feelings for this girl had changed ever since he held her that night Ladybug never showed up, when he held her to take her to that date spot he prepped with the utmost tender care he had. She fit well in his arms, as if she was meant to be in his arms for forever and always. He always had that thought in the back of his mind, that if by some reason he met Marinette first, would he be pursuing her instead.
These were his feelings he told the moon religiously.
Perhaps it would make sense.
Perhaps she was the right choice.
She was the one he was looking for, but failed to see after all this time.
With Marinette, he was flying, more so than he was Chat Noir.
With her, he felt more than himself.
“Marinette…” Chat Noir said in a light voice filled with epiphany and longing.
Without a second thought of regret, he hopped off the balcony and flew towards hers.
A journey of only a few meters away, but one that felt like an eternity, but it was worth it just to get to her.
To most, it would seem so insignificant, so trivial, so mundane.
But to him, it was a change… a much needed change to be more specific. Something that was worth it, she was worth it, she was worth the chance.
So here he was, Chat Noir, hero of Paris, standing on the railing of a pleasantly surprised Marinette Dupain-Cheng. His Princess, his epiphany, his change…
“Bonsoir, Purrincess.” And with a bow, he watched it begin again that first midnight he visited her on that fateful balcony, for all he knew, there was no turning back from here on out
He found that he didn't care, not one bit.
And for now, it was enough for him.