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Ladybug and Chat Noir sat in comfortable silence at the top of the Eiffel Tower.
Well, as comfortable as they can manage to be.
Chat Noir continued to hum, dangling his feet by the tower’s edge, oblivious to Ladybug’s…careful breathing beside him. Though his ears did perk up every time she made even the slightest of movements, which was not much, even quite unusual from their usual hangouts.
Both do make great company with each other, and Chat would sit here idly as Ladybug would stare into their city with such focus if only to let their thoughts wander—hers over the city, and his over her.
And despite the many thoughts that they have shared before them, nothing could have surprised them more than when Ladybug spoke.
“Pink,” Ladybug said abruptly.
And Chat Noir, ever the dense but smart child, stopped humming and sat still confused. Ladybug, looking like a deer caught in headlights, immediately looked away and did not turn back to look at him.
“Uh..Pink. Pink is my favorite color,” said Ladybug, only above a whisper.” And…well, I play Ultimate Mecha Strike, but I think you already knew that. And I also—”
“Wait, wait. What are you doing?” Chat Noir said, with his ears perking up in alarm, with hands on Ladybug’s shoulders to stop whatever this was. And Ladybug turned and blinked her eyes slowly at him.
“I—you asked what my favorite color was last time and I was thinking…we could share a bit. Get to know each other a bit. Then maybe…”
“You can’t just—! You didn’t have to…” Chat Noir then looked at the avoidant expression of Ladybug and sighed. “What are you really thinking, m’lady?”
Ladybug was silent for a long moment before her expression turned a bit annoyed. “I don’t get why you're so carefree about any of this.”
“I’m what?” Chat Noir let go of his hands on Ladybug’s shoulders.
“You died last week.”
“I–”
“And the week before that.”
“I don’t see how—”
“And yesterday you just—poof!” Ladybug said with her hands out wildly. “You were gone, out from literal existence and I could not remember why I was crying or who I was crying for. I just knew that there was someone whom I really cared for that I needed to save for everything to stop hurting.”
Chat Noir is slowly backing out now, but Ladybug held his hand and pulled him closer. “You were bleeding and…why do you always do that? Why can’t you just save yourself for once?”
Chat Noir looked at her hand and smiled. “You know why. You’re more important. Paris needs you, and I–”
“Stop. Don’t. I know what you’re going to say. I know how you’re going to say it. I have it memorized at this point. But you don’t understand, Paris may need me, but I need you too.”
“But…” Chat Noir sighed. “Alright.”
Ladybug held his face and turned it towards her. “No, you still don’t understand. I need you. There can never be Ladybug without Chat Noir, understand?”
Chat Noir leaned into her touch. “Okay.”
They held each other for a long time before Ladybug spoke again. “Yesterday, I could not remember who you were. Your suit, your everything. And right now, because of the glamour, I am not even sure what you truly look like. I’m not sure if your eyes are even truly green and I just…I don’t know anything about you.”
Chat Noir closed his eyes for a moment before speaking. “My eyes…they’re green. In my civilian form too, I mean. And…you don’t need to know how I look like to know me, m’lady. You are the only person who knows everything about who I am.”
“And what is that?”
“Charming,” Chat Noir said, all smirking and winking. And he looked almost back from his…all too charming self as he may call it. “Hot, silly, goofy, you name it! But most of all, I’m someone who’d do anything to protect you.”
“Don’t be silly.”
“And I know,” Chat continued with a kiss of her hand, “that you are beautiful and smart, and witty, and kind. That you’ll always do what’s right to protect the city.”
Ladybug sighed. “You always say that. I know I have always saved the day. I know we have always been able to defeat every villain, and everything has always turned out fine in the end. But what if the day comes when the cure won’t work? If one day, the world ends and no one comes back. What if one day you don’t come back?”
“Then we’ll make sure that does not happen, alright? You make sure that the city is safe, while I make sure that you are . Okay?”
“You,” Ladybug paused, dramatic as she sometimes was, “...are ridiculous.”
Chat Noir laughed. “Yeah, well, don’t be ridiculous with your overthinking.”
“Overthinking is what got us winning every time, chaton. ”
“True, and that’s what’s gonna defeat Papillon. I can’t wait for the day we’d defeat him with a fork.” Chat Noir stood up and made fencing actions and…fencing noises.
“You sure you won’t poke yourself because of your recklessness?”
“Well! Didn’t you just reveal your favorite color to me? Who’s reckless now?”
“That’s just a color!” Ladybug was standing up now too, exasperated.
“Now, you’re getting it. That’s what I said before,” Chat Noir said, hands on hips and smirking.
Ladybug groaned. “Maybe forgetting you was not too bad after all.”
“Nah, you can’t get rid of this charming cat. I’ve got nine lives.”
“Nah, five.”
“What? Why five?”
And then he found himself thrown off the Eiffel Tower.
No one was to be too concerned though when he came back urging Ladybug to do it again. And well, Ladybug was all too happy to comply.
And so, the day went on with them having fun as how kids were supposed to be.