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Shadybug and Claw Noir were perched on a rooftop, silently basking in the light of the moon, neither one really willing to start up any lame small-talk.
It hadn’t been long since their worlds had been upended, and everything had changed for them. To be fair, they had done a lot of the up-ending themselves, forcing their way into someone else’s dimension to wreak absolute havoc. And Claw Noir had to admit, he loved that kind of chaos. It was the kind of thing that made him feel alive, made him feel… anything. But they’d been shown a whole world of possibilities on the other side. Things he couldn’t even begin to imagine he might be able to achieve himself. As corny as it sounded, it gave him hope. Hope that he could do something about his shitty life. Hope that he could do better. Be better.
He eyed the masked villain-turned-vigilante across from him. She looked so… different. Not that different, really. But enough for him that it was a stark contrast to her former self. A different hairstyle, with blue instead of black hair. A slightly different suit. And no more red lipstick. (Which he kind of missed, if he was being honest.) He was still getting used to it. His own changes were also pretty strange to see looking back at him in the mirror.
Though they had both donned a new look for the better part of a week now, it wasn’t as if suddenly everything were perfect and peachy-keen. There were a lot of adjustments to be made in their lives, to be sure. Joining the Resistance, defying the Supreme. Trying to mend relationships with people you had wronged when you were an asshole, realizing that you’re still an asshole and no one will want to be your friend until you learn how to not be an asshole anymore.
It was hard.
Trying to mend your strained relationship with your Father… Whom you were definitely the biggest asshole to, who still doesn’t seem to have time for you, even with the changes you’re trying to make? Well that’s a different story for another day. Starting a new relationship with your… your… what? What was she? Partner? Enemy? Hmm.
“Hey, Shady—“
The seemingly sweeter-looking girl shot him a dangerous glare filled with metaphorical daggers.
"Uhh, ‘Lady’..Bug?…” He corrected. “Ugh, that feels so weird in my mouth." He stuck his tongue out, as if tasting something awful.
She raised an eyebrow, he would dare say suggestively, and he quickly glanced away, a slight blush on his cheeks.
"I mean, it's going to take some getting used to." He mumbled.
"And what about you, ‘Wonder Whiskers’?” She chuckled teasingly.
He frowned. “Yeah, I don't think I like that one after all." Shadybug grinned, pretending to examine her manicure that she obviously couldn’t see through her gloves.
"Oh good. Because that's what I've decided to call you. Even better if you hate it."
He rolled his eyes at her, but then a shit-eating grin spread across his face. "Well if we're picking out nicknames, Princess…”
Shadybug quickly stood up and grabbed his bell, roughly hauling him down to face level.
"Don't you EVER—" She shouted.
Claw Noir raised his hands in feigned innocence. "Hey, hey, careful with the new duds. I was only teasing."
She grudgingly released his bell and sank back down with a grumble onto the ledge she had been leaning on.
"Why use her name anyway? Why not pick something... more you?" He shrugged offhandedly. She glared at him from beneath her lashes. "I mean— Ladybug is a perfectly fine name and you'll rock it." He said, reconsidering his approach.
She sighed. "I want to be her."
“Phsshtt—You're better than her." He said, emphasizing his words with a downward flick of his hand. She paused for a moment, caught off guard by what seemed like an actual compliment. He continued. "Pick whatever name you want, it's your choice. But you don't have to be her to be good. You can be good in your own way."
"I am her though. Aren't I? We're the same. Isn't that how it works?"
Claw Noir gave a thoughtful look. Which didn’t happen often, as he never seemed to put his puny flea-ridden brain to much use.
”I don't think so. Good or evil, I think we're both pretty far removed from our alternate dimension counterparts."
"Ooh, big words for you Kitty. That must have hurt." She mocked.
"Ah, Fuck off." He said, flipping her the bird.
Shadybug ignored him and continued. "I want her life. I want her confidence. Her friends. Parents who love me..."
"A Boyfriend?" Claw added with a sly grin. She shot him a look, but it wasn't angry. It was... Sad. He wasn't used to this look on her, and it was doing things to his chest he didn't quite understand.
"Y-yes." She said quietly. "All of it. I want everything she has."
"In their world, I'm her boyfriend." He said. "Wait no, that sounded weird. Cat boy is her boyfriend, right?"
Shadybug disregarded his first phrasing and shook her head.
"No, I read her diary. She's head over heels for Adrien Agreste. She thinks of Cat Noir as just a friend." Claw Noir stared at her for a moment, waiting for her to realize the absurdity of what she just said.
"Wait." She backed over the sentence again in her head. "You're Adrien Agreste."
"Ding ding." He said with a chuckle.
"So is Cat boy also Adrien Agreste?"
"Give her a prize, she's crossed the finish line."
Shadybug punched his arm, hard.
“I got the vibe that he was lovesick over Ladybug. But... Shady, I don't think they know." He said, nursing his bruised arm.
"You're telling me she's in love with him, and he's in love with her, but neither of them knows it because each is in love with their alter egos?" She said, waving her fingers around in the air to demonstrate the mental math she was calculating.
"I think that's about the gist of it." He said.
I can't believe those two dweebs are us. They're so fucking stupid."
Claw Noir gave her a pointed look.
"What? Just because we're fighting the good fight now doesn't mean I'll suddenly become miss sweet and innocent." He laughed, nodding in agreement. "And for the record, I still hate you." She added.
He frowned. "Hate's such a strong word, My Shady." He dodged another punch. “If their Ladybug can love me, then maybe someday you'll love me too." he said with a teasing chuckle as he ducked under another swing.
But Shadybug stopped in her tracks and lowered her fist. Claw Noir was still crouched down, waiting for her next move, but it never came.
"Would you..." Shadybug turned away from him, showing her back. Which was something she didn't usually do with him, especially when they were fighting. He grinned at the opening, ready to lunge.
"Would you want that?" She finished. Claw Noir lost his balance suddenly and stumbled forward, catching himself just short of crashing into her back. She was holding her right arm with her left in a self-soothing manner. It took him a moment to collect himself behind her, the gears turning in his brain at what she was asking him.
"Would I… want you to love me?" He asked, more to himself than to her.
"Never mind. It was a stupid question. I don't think either one of us is capable of love."
Claw Noir stared at her back, trying to gauge what she was getting at without being able to see her expression.
“I… don't think that's really true. I know I feel love. Or at least, I think it's love. I loved my Mom. —I know that's not the same—" he added, seeing her shoulders slouch when he said it. "But I think you feel love too. You just haven't been given enough opportunities to show it."
"Hah." Shadybug's shoulders rose and fell with her short retort. "When have I ever felt love? Giving or receiving? I don't know that I have."
Claw Noir hesitantly put his hand on her shoulder, and was mildly surprised when she didn't shrug away.
"I know you do. I've seen it. I see it when you bake bread. I see it when you arrange the window displays at the Bakery."
"At the Bakery?" She turned to face him, a confused look on her face. "What the Fuck are you talking about, Claw? When have you ever seen me bake bread?"
Claw Noir's face turned pink, and he quickly took his hand off of her shoulder. "I-uh.." he stammered, looking for some excuse to explain it away. Shadybug rolled her hand in the air, beckoning him to hurry up and spit it out.
"I've been to the Bakery a few times. I've seen you there." He said lamely. But Shadybug raised an eyebrow at him.
"You're Adrien Fucking Agreste. I think I would remember if a douchey Nepo-baby came into to my Bakery." She said, her words coming out harsher than she realized. Claw Noir flinched. Very slightly, but she noticed.
"Wow, you really hate me, huh?" He said bitterly. "That's a lot of hate for someone you've never met."
"Claw... I... I didn't mean it like that." She said. And again he was stunned that she was back-peddling on her words. She didn't take back insults.
"No, I get it.” He said sarcastically. “Yeah, my Dad's got money. Yeah, that means I've got it too. But money isn't freedom, Bug. It isn’t love, either.“
Shadybug tilted her head, still ruminating on his previous comment. "You just said I've never met you. But you said you come to the Bakery sometimes. Which is it? I’m still trying to figure out how you know me."
Claw Noir gulped, realizing she was not going to back down from her current line of questioning. And if he knew her, his refusal to answer would likely lead into a violent beat-down. Or would it? Maybe becoming 'good guys' would cause her to ease-up on the fist fights between them? He frowned. He actually didn't know how he felt about that. He... Kinda liked their fist fights? Well, that's not really it. Is it? He liked... something about fighting her. He couldn't put his finger on it. He enjoyed poking the bear and seeing how it would cause her to lash out at him. Especially when she pinned him down and...
Oh.
Claw Noir's face suddenly turned beet red.
"What's wrong with your stupid face?" She said hotly. "Are you even listening to me, Shitty Cat?"
Claw Noir scratched at the back of his head nervously. He couldn't believe he was about to say this but—
"I've never come in." He blurted. "I watch you through the windows." His eyes widened as he realized how that sounded.
"So you're a stalker then?" She said, rounding on him.
"No, I—" He stammered.
"I should have known! Shithead Superstar Adrien Agreste is a creepy fucking stalker. What were you doing? Trying to figure out how to kidnap me? Take me back to your dungeon and hope I'd form Stockholm syndrome for you?" Shadybug advanced on him with her finger raised accusingly at him, the outrage inside of her blinding her to Claw's very un-Claw-like posture as he backed away from her, ears flattened against his head and tail between his legs.
When his back hit the brick wall behind him and he was cornered, his expression quickly changed from kicked kitten to feral cat. He roughly pushed her back with a snarl, surprising her.
"You know what, Shady? Fuck you. Fuck this. I don't need this right now." And with that, he took off. Shadybug had barely realized what had happened, standing, finger still raised in the empty air, as she watched Claw's back swiftly disappear.
Her rage quickly subsided as she realized that she had most definitely gone too far. She sank to the ground and put her head in her hands. "Ugh! What the fuck is wrong with me?" She yelled into the still air. “I guess being good and nice is going to be a lot harder than I thought.”
Her cheek felt hot and she realized she was crying. Why? She was the asshole here. Why was she the one crying? She scrubbed angrily at her cheeks. She was so... weak. She soon realized that she didn't want Claw Noir to go. She was alone. Again. And not that she could ever say that she and Claw were ever friends, but he had been a constant thorn in her side for long enough that she'd grown used to his presence.
Was he her friend? No. Not by a long shot. But... he was... something, right? A partner? Ugh, no. A companion? Ew. Buddy? Definitely not. Her eyebrows furrowed angrily as she sought to label their relationship. She couldn't think of a word that could accurately describe it. She wouldn't exactly consider him her enemy. Though they had only been working together out of necessity and because the Supreme had told them to. But they were certainly not a team. They both had their own motives for doing what they did.
'Frienemies?' she thought. Maybe that. She certainly didn't hate Claw Noir as much as she led on. In fact, she almost... almost enjoyed having him there. At least for someone to bicker and banter with. He may not be a friend, but... It was better than nothing, right?
"Better than nothing." She murmured. Nothing. That amounted to what she always had in life. A whole, heaping, steaming, plate of nothing.
She tried to figure out why it was that she seemed to hate Adrien Agreste so much. He had everything. Looks, fame, fortune, the works. She had nothing. Was it jealousy? She shook her head, trying to shake the thought from her mind. She stared at the rooftops where Claw had made his quick escape.
It was really hard to imagine that Claw Noir and Adrien Agreste were one and the same. As shitty as her tag-along Kitty could be, he didn't come off as a spoiled rich kid to her. She would never have guessed that badass, destructive, daredevil Claw Noir was a prissy rich boy.
Claw was way cooler than that pinup pinhead. He was loud, obnoxious, and full of the stupidest puns. But he was powerful, reckless, and didn't give a fuck about anything, which was incredibly hot.
Shadybug's back straightened up, her eyes widened. Incredibly... Attractive? She shook her head wildly. Incredibly... Endearing? She groaned at her inability to use her brain's dictionary today.
‘Wow, you really hate me, huh?’
His words echoed through her mind, the hurt in his voice finally clicking in her mind. But she didn't. She didn't hate him. And she didn't realize it until now. She didn't hate him at all. In fact, she thought that maybe...
Oh.
"CLAW!" She called out, though she didn't know why. He was long gone now, and there was no way he'd come back.
“Shitty Bug! Why did I ever think things could be different? She's right. We're not capable of love.” Claw Noir scampered on all fours as far away from that stupid bitch as fast as his legs could carry him. When he felt like he had created enough distance between them, and his chest hurt from much more than just the quick burst of flight, he ducked behind a chimney and sat to catch his breath. He slammed his fist into the bricks, immediately regretting the action, nursing his bruised knuckles and pulling his knees up to his chest. How the hell was he supposed to be good? Who was he fooling? He was always so angry. Good boys don't get angry. Not like this.
"Aaaaauuuuuuggghhhhh!!!!!" He screamed in frustration into the night. He kicked a shingle that was by his foot and it skittered across the rooftop.
He was alone, again. How the hell could Shady and The Bakery girl be the same person? What was her name again? Marinette? He'd admit he really didn't know anything about the Bakery girl at all, so it wasn't that much of a stretch that they could be the same person. But Shady was such a— Well, a fucking bitch, for lack of more eloquent words. And Bakery girl... Marinette...
He had recognized something in her the first time he saw her through the Bakery window. Something he'd seen in his own reflection day after day.
Loneliness.
His stomach felt empty and hollow when he thought about it. She was beautiful. So beautiful. And sad. He could tell that much. He felt like he could relate to her, even if he didn't know her name. The Bakery wasn't far from his house, and they'd often drive by it on the way to lessons or photoshoots. He had convinced his Bodyguard to make regular stops to pick up small sweets for him when they passed, all so he could catch a glimpse of her. He didn't mind packing on a few pounds from the sweets if it meant seeing her one more time. Modelling be damned.
They were always brief, his glimpses of her. Darting around the Bakery, filling orders. Or sighing as she stared longingly out the window. At him. Well, not at him. The tinted windows on the car made sure of that. But he wished it was at him. Boy, did he wish it was at him.
Claw felt the betrayal of his own body as his heart fluttered and a hot tear slipped down his cheek. I guess this was a good example of never meeting your idols. Not that she was his idol or anything. But it hurt to think that the girl he had been fantasizing about really wasn't reality. He knew it wasn't. Well, she was real. But she wasn't what he thought she was. In reality, she was mean. Cruel even.
And yet... Claw Noir rested his head on his knees, tears falling onto his leather pants. She was strong. She was brave. She was a force to be reckoned with. Something he had always secretly admired about Shadybug. It was probably why he had followed her around like a lost kitten for so long, aside from the Supreme's orders. There was something about her... something he couldn't stay away from. In either form, apparently. A powerful draw, one that made his throat close and his heart beat erratically.
But none of that mattered. It didn't matter if he was starting to realize that he may just be in love with Shady. And with Bakery girl. Marinette. It didn't matter if his heart beat faster when he saw her, now that he knew they were one and the same. It didn't fucking matter.
Because she hated him. She fucking hated him, because he was a spoiled, stupid, rich little prick that was untouchable because money, power, and fame stood between him and any kind of meaningful relationship. She hated him for some of the same reasons he hated his life.
But It wasn't him. He wasn't that guy. He didn't want to be. He didn't give a shit about money, fame or power. He wanted freedom. He wanted love. Goddamn sappy-crappy, disgustingly sickening love.
He laughed at the thought. What a loser he turned out to be. Boasting the tough Alley-cat exterior he wore like a shield, to keep the soft kitten he really was hidden beneath.
He missed love. He could barely remember what it felt like. It faded away like his Mother's face seemed to be slipping from his memory. His Father was always too busy for him. Designing clothes or costumes or whatever else it was he did. If there was love there, he kept it close to the vest. Not that Adrien had made it easy on him, he realized. He had been a real dick to his Father since Mom died. He could see that now.
Claw Noir's ears pricked up when he heard a very faint, very far away cry. He couldn't make it out, so he shrugged it off. It did however, pull him out of his deep thoughts. He wiped his face off on his knees. Better get out of here before someone saw him and his pathetic display of weakness. He ran his fingers through his hair and stood up, dusting off his new, much less spiked suit. It was obvious that looking nicer wasn't all that was needed to become nicer. He had a lot of work to do on himself.
His ears pricked again as he heard a shuffling, a movement in the distance across who knows how many rooftops. He slinked backwards into the shadows, pressing himself against a side wall. Something was coming his way.
"Claw!"
Shadybug had shifted into view, hopping and swinging between rooftops, calling his name. She ran right by him, on a roof next to his with a slightly lower height. He watched with curiosity as she blazed past him, but he didn't say a thing. He didn't want to talk to her right now. He didn't feel like being yelled at again.
Still, he couldn't help but wonder what she could possibly want from him after that exchange. Had she come back to call him more nasty names? To get the last word in? He knew her to be someone who didn't give up easily. So it was quite possible she'd been cheezed she didn't get the final word.
He watched her disappear over the rooftops, content to let her just slip away, to piss off completely and let him be alone.
His foot moved out on it's own.
But...
His other foot followed, his body yet again betraying him.
He didn't want to be alone.
What was he doing? There was a thrill in his chest as he quickly and quietly sauntered after her. Thankful for his night vision and sneaky tendencies, he followed her, keeping one or two rooftops behind to avoid being detected. Eventually she stopped, throwing herself against a brick chimney and sliding down in frustration, heaving to catch her breath. He stopped too, and cautiously closed the gap of rooftops between them so that he could get a better view of her.
"Come on Fleabag. Where are you?" He heard her say.
'Staying far the hell away from you, bug breath.’ He answered in his head. Though it obviously wasn't true, considering his risky proximity to her now.
"God! Why am I such a Bitch?" She groaned.
'Good question' He thought. 'One I'd really love the answer to.' He frowned at his own thought. He knew why. For the same reasons he was such an Asshole.
Shadybug's breathing was still heaving. How long had she been searching for him? Seems like an awful lot of effort just to win an argument. Shadybug moved in the darkness, pressing the palm of her hand to her forehead and leaning her head back until it met the wall with a dull thunk.
He watched her intently from his position in the darkness, vaguely aware that he was living up to her previous accusations of being a stalker. He pushed the thought to the back of his mind though, when he heard what sounded like a sob. Was she… crying?
His stomach dropped and he felt an icy feeling in the pit of it. He’d only seen her cry once before. When they were in the other world. And it had made him feel like shit then too. He was sure she would see it as a moment of weakness. But to him… it was a stark moment of humanity.
Very relatable humanity.
“I’m trying, Claw!” She said to no one in particular. “It’s not easy being good! I can’t just flip it on like a switch!” She sobbed. “I’m broken. I’m damaged goods. It’s going to take more than a new outfit and Miraculous Shadybug to fix me.”
Claw Noir tried to stay silent, but he could feel a tightening in his throat that he desperately wanted to clear away. He knew if he did, she would undoubtedly hear him.
“I’m… sorry.” She murmured with a soft sigh.
“You're what?” Claw Noir was taken aback by his own words ringing in his throat. So much for staying silent. He shifted out of his hiding spot.
“Don't make me say it again, Kitty Cattie.” She laughed through her tears.
“No, I heard you. I just... didn't think sorry was something you were capable of being.” He cautiously joined her on the rooftop, crossing his legs and leaning into her, bumping her intentionally with his shoulder.
“I am.” She said, not looking at him. “I want to be better. It’s going to take work. It’s not going to happen overnight.” She said, almost bitterly.
“Me too.” He said quietly. “Sorry, that is.” He leaned back against the chimney beside her. “I’m broken too, Bug. Damaged goods, like you said. Ready to be thrown out with the day-olds.” He grinned at his not-so-subtle Bakery reference. He continued when she made no sign of noticing. “There are so many pieces of me, I don’t know if I can ever be put back together again. I’d need some kind of… super-sticky glue, or magical double-sided tape or something.”
Shadybug giggled. Well, that was a new sound from her.
“Maybe your Lucky Charm can turn into a hot glue gun and you can take a crack at it.”
She giggled again. Oh. He liked that. He wanted her to do that more. She didn’t usually laugh at his dumb jokes and puns. He could get used to that.
He stared at her hand resting on her knee, and he suddenly felt the urge to hold it. His own hand darted out with hesitation, but she pulled hers away before he could reach it, turning away from him. His shoulders sunk and his hand dropped back into his lap.
“I can understand why you hate me so much. I hate me too.” He said, unable to conceal the melancholy tone in his voice.
“I don’t hate you, Wonder Whiskers.” She said softly.
“Sure coulda fooled me.” He didn’t mean it to sound as bitter as he was sure it came out. Bitter enough, it seemed, that it caused her eyes to snap up to meet his for the first time since their conversation began. Blue Eyes. Shockingly so. He was so used to the blood-red glow of her Toxinelle eyes, that he had forgotten her eyes were blue now. The same blue eyes as his Bakery girl.
“I don’t.” She almost whispered.
Claw was so entirely fixated on her bluebell eyes that he’d completely forgotten the context of her words.
“Don’t what?” He asked in a low, dazed voice. She was staring at him, her own face slack-jawed and cheeks tear-stained. What was she looking at?
“Hate you…” She answered. She was taken aback when their eyes met. Why did she look? Now she couldn’t seem to bring herself to look away. His eyes were green. They used to be violet, Which she always secretly thought were kinda pretty. But these new ones… Though they were feline in appearance, she’d seen enough billboards and magazine covers of Adrien Agreste’s face to know… They were his eyes. Even if she couldn’t see it before, she could see it now.
“My Shady…” He murmured. His face was drawing disturbingly close to hers.
“Lady.” She corrected, still unable to break eye contact.
“My Lady.” He re-phrased, smiling just a little. Just enough that Shadybug finally broke eye contact. In one fleeting second, her eyes drawn to his lips. His lips that no longer donned the jet-black lipstick he usually wore. Lips that without it, looked awfully soft.
He didn’t finish his sentence. He had forgotten what he was going to say. What was he going to say? Why was she staring at him like that? Their faces were… uncomfortably close. He knew if she got any closer to him that he would do something stupid. Something he’d regret. Or would he? Maybe it would be worth the smackdown he’d inevitably get. Maybe he’d like the smackdown he got. His lips twitched as his smile spread.
Oh, fuck it.
He screwed his eyes shut and went for it. He kissed her. He braced for impact. Closing his eyes was probably stupid, because now he wouldn’t see which side her fist would come from.
One second, two seconds, three seconds.
Maybe he had really shocked her. Maybe her brain was taking a minute to realize that he was kissing her. Because he’d been kissing her for long enough now that the lack of fist in his face was almost worrying. Should he stop? He didn’t think he could if he’d wanted to. Her lips moved against him, pressing further into his.
Wait. Was she kissing him too?
“Mm”
One sound. One tiny little sound escaped her lips as they smashed against his.
Holy Shit.
She was kissing him.
His tenseness dropped like a sack of bricks when he realized she wasn’t hitting him.
Just when he had let down his guard, her hand reached up. But not to hit him. It fell to his shoulder as the kiss deepened. She was gripping his shoulder tightly, probably for leverage, and he put his own hand on the small of her back, if only to stop her from slipping away from him. As if at any moment, she could fall right out of his grasp, and be gone forever.
How long had they been kissing now? He’d lost count of the seconds. But it didn’t matter. He didn’t care. There weren’t enough seconds in a whole day to contain this moment. Timeless. Infinite. And… Over.
Shadybug pulled away. There was space between their lips now. Three or so deliriously long inches of space. He licked his lower lip, subconsciously wanting the taste of her back, searching for it on his lips.
“I—“ She started, barely audible. “Why’d you do that?” She whispered.
“Do what?” He said, equally as quiet.
“Kiss me.” She answered. Claw Noir grinned.
“If you insist, My Lady.”
He kissed her again. This time for sure, she would protest. Right?
His tongue grazed hers as it ventured deeper, searching for that intoxicating flavour that had lingered on his lips for only a moment. Like… Cherry chapstick? Or… Raspberry? He couldn’t tell. Her arms had snaked around his neck. When did they get there? Her fingers were raking through the hair at the back of his head. Oh, his arms were wrapped around her, when had he done that?
He should probably stop. Yes. She was going to be really pissed at him now. He was going to stop. Any second now. Unless… she didn’t want him to.
His heart was beating a mile a minute. He didn’t even know it could race like that. But she was close enough to him, her body pressing against his, that he could feel her heart too. Confirmed, Shadybug does indeed have a heart. And it was beating just as fast as his.
A major downside to being mere mortals is the need for oxygen. Which seemed to be the only force strong enough to pry them apart now. A thirst for air. Which was a shame, because air didn’t taste anywhere as good as she did.
Shadybug gulped and gasped, her kiss swollen lips glistening and oh so inviting. He decided not to try his luck for a third time, as much as he would love nothing more. At least for now, until they had caught their breath.
“Why’d you do that?” She asked when she could breathe again.
Claw noir tilted his head. “Do what?” He asked, genuinely.
“Stop.” She said. He grinned again.
“Fur-give me, Bug. You took the air right out of my lungs. I’m feline fine now though, if you’d like to go again.”
This time, Shady did indeed hit him. But it was soft, playful. And on the shoulder, instead of his face. Which he appreciated.
“Does this mean you want me to be your Boyfriend?” He grinned, pushing his luck.
“Don't get ahead of yourself, Kitten. Let's just start off with... Friends.”
His grin grew wider. “Friends who kiss?” He said wryly. She prodded her index finger to the tip of his nose and pushed him away from her with it.
“Friends who don't need to kiss any more if they don't shut up about it.” She snarked.
Claw Noir reached his arms out, trying to grasp her as she pressed his nose, holding him at a distance.
“Shutting up.” He said, swinging his arms on empty air as he reached for her. But she didn't ease up on his nose, so he quickly ducked away, and nipped at her outstretched finger playfully. She drew her finger back sharply, puffing her cheeks angrily and ready to pull her fist back, but he slipped his arms around her waist, seemingly content just to be touching her again.
Shadybug found that the goofy smile on his face was frustratingly both very punch-able, and very kissable at the same time. She really had to stop and think about which of those two things she’d rather do.
“You can hit me, if you want. I don’t mind.” He said, as if he had read her thoughts.
“What? Why?”
“I think violence is our love language.” He said with a chuckle.
It seems Shadybug had made up her mind at that moment, and much to his relief, she chose kiss.
Claw Noir knew it would take them both a lot of work before they were stable enough to be called Boyfriend or Girlfriend. But he decided that Friends who kiss, was a damn good start.
-Fanart by Beatrice1979a
-Colouring by Kuromori