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"Whatcha doooooing?"
Miss Hound looks up from her ball, seeing Chat Noir's shit-eating grin, his chin resting on the end of his staff.
"A message from Ladybug, giving instructions for the patrol."
"She's really not coming, huh?" His grin dampens like he's trying not to be rude by hiding his disappointment. Which he is, of course.
"No. I guess she didn't want to get between the cat and the dog, hm? Couldn't handle a natural rivalry."
He manages a laugh, picking up his staff and collapsing it. "Good one."
Both of them but their weapons away, strolling along the rooftops. Looking down at the lamp-lit streets of Paris, ignoring Ladybug's absence. But it's not really ignorable, is it?
"You really like her, huh? I mean-- I knew you liked her. Everyone knows it, but--"
"Yeah," Chat Noir sighs wistfully. "Yeah, I do. It's the greatest cat-and-mouse chase in the history of chases, and the mouse always wins."
Miss Hound considers him for a long moment, hesitating before reaching over and putting her hand on his arm. "I get that. But let me tell you; there are way worse people to chase after."
"Oh, yeah?"
"Yeah." Miss Hound huffs, and it sounds almost like a sad pant. "there was a girl. I chased after her for years, it's pretty embarrassing in hindsight. I did her homework and I'd get her anything she asked for and I'd let her be terrible to me."
Chat Noir blinks, his green eyes lingering on her. "Oh, Hound..."
"Don't act all sorry about it. You're in the same pining boat, just with someone who treats you better. I'm just saying that I know how it feels, and I know it sucks."
"It does suck." He allows himself a small smile. And then he allows himself the opportunity to indulge in telling her about his love for Ladybug. Which, somehow, slides into muttering about feeling trapped at home. How he got to that point, he has no idea. Why he's telling this to Miss Hound, he has even less of an idea.
But she listens. And she only makes him pause when they have to stop a mugging or soothe someone out of the danger of butterflies. And she keeps listening as he dissolves into vague rants about his dad, and she reconnects with that topic, complaining about her own dad.
Chat Noir is sure it isn't the same, deep down, but who cares? They're making fun of their overprotective dads, and they're sitting on the edge of a rooftop, and for a few moments, he forgets that Ladybug ditched him for the night.
She has to leave, eventually. Usually, he feels sour when whatever holder Ladybug sent to patrol with him leaves, but not tonight. He just smiles, and nods, and offers to walk her home. She declines-- everyone always declines-- and off she goes.
Chat Noir sighs to himself, smiling contently and staring out into this city he protects. He pulls his staff from his back and clips open the communicator, his claws tapping against the screen as he types.
'Hey, bugaboo! You should send Miss Hound again sometime-- she was super cool! Hope you had a good night.'