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Paris was a snow globe.
The streets were dusted in white, the rooftops blanketed, and everywhere you looked lights sparkled and danced against the windows.
Ladybug stood overlooking a nearby park, hands tucked into her armpits for warmth, puffs of breath clouding the air in front of her. Below, children squealed and laughed, threw snowballs, made snow angels—simply enjoying the rare Parisian snowfall. They got snow, just not quite this much and it was a joy to witness.
She lingered there, breathing it in. It was the first time all day she’d stopped moving.
The bakery had been particularly busy with the New Year’s rush—King’s Galette Day always was.
***
The bakery was already buzzing before the sun fully rose.
The bell over the door barely had time to stop ringing before it chimed again, and again. Customers bundled in scarves and hats stomped snow from their boots, breath fogging the glass as they crowded the counter. The air was thick with warmth, sugar and almonds. Everyone wanted a Galette to take home.
Marinette moved on instinct. This was one of the biggest bakery days of the year and her parents expected her to be active and helpful.
She slid trays into the display, wiped flour from the counter with her elbow and tied her hair back again, and again when it slipped loose. Her arms ached, her shoulders burned, and she’d lost track of how many galettes they’d already sold, but every time she thought they might finally be caught up, someone new stepped through the door. In short, she was tired.
“Two galettes, please! One traditional, one chocolate.” A man in a blue suit called.
Smiling, Marinette moved out of the way as her mother helped him.
An older woman shouted from the back, “Do you still have crowns? We need crowns!”
Marinette snorted as she added a new tray, overhearing another woman, toting two young kids with her, talking to another woman. “My kids absolutely must have the fève.”
Marinette grinned as she heard her father calling orders from the back, while her mother laughed patiently on the register. Marinette carefully darted between them, a familiar whirlwind of motion and focus. Exhaustion buzzed under her fingers, but there was something comforting too. This was hers. This was home.
The bell rang again and Marinette looked up automatically then froze.
Adrien Agreste stood just inside the doorway, dusted with snow like he’d stepped out of a holiday photoshoot. He wore a dark coat with green accents, and a scarf pulled up around his neck. His blond hair slightly tussled from the weather. He looked a little lost, like he wasn’t quite sure what he was doing there.
There was hesitancy when his emerald eyes met hers.
“Um, hi,” Marinette said, almost breathless as she approached him.
“Hi,” Adrien replied, smiling gently. “Um… I hope it’s okay I stopped by. “I, uh, saw the crowd and Nathalie…um, she’s my father’s assistant…said it was an important day. I don’t…”
Marinette frowned, then laughed quietly, gestured around them. “It’s King’s Galette Day,” she murmured. “You picked the busiest possible moment.”
“I noticed,” he chuckled, glancing at the line with wide eyes. “I can come back if—”
“No!” She shook her head quickly. “I mean, no, it’s fine. Really. What can I get you?”
He stepped closer to her, lowering his voice, “What do you recommend?”
Marinette grinned, then pointed behind the counter. “Traditional, definitely. Almond cream. No contest.”
“Perfect. Then I’ll take one,” he said before winking. “Especially if you suggest it.”
Marinette nodded, already moving, heart doing something that annoyingly felt like butterflies in her chest. She sighed at herself, putting her mind away from the tempting model and back on the infuriatingly adorable black cat.
As she boxed the galette, Adrien watched her. How focused she was, how practiced and how naturally she moved through the chaos as if she were born into it. He was mesmerized by the way everyone seemed to orbit her without even realizing it.
As she stepped back up to him, box in her hand, he laughed softly, “You’re… really impressive.”
She flushed, cheeks pink. “It’s just… a lot of practice. When you grow up in a bakery, it comes second nature.”
“Well,” he replied, taking the box from her, “it shows.”
The bell rang again, signaling another customer and Adrien stepped aside letting them through. He lingered watching her for just a moment before whispering, “Happy King’s Day, Marinette. I’ll see you later.”
Marinette smiled and nodded, holding her hand up to wave as he left.
The cold air rushed briefly into the bakery before the door swung shut again, bell chiming, sealing the warmth back inside.
Marinette watched him through the window as he slid into a car before she shook her head and turned back to the counter, face a little warmer as her heart and head played tug of war.
***
“Thinking very hard up there, my Lady?”
Ladybug stumbled as she turned, just in time to see Chat Noir land on the opposite side of the rooftop, boots skidding slightly as he caught his balance.
“Not very graceful, kitty,” she said, grinning at him.
“I was plenty graceful.” Chat laughed as he stepped closer.
Ladybug snorted, shaking her head. “You nearly wiped out.”
“Nearly is the word there. I saved it.” Chat smirked as he leaned against a nearby chimney. Snow dusted his hair and shoulders, his cheeks pink from the cold air.
She moved to step closer to him when he raised a hand stopping her. She blinked in confusion. “Kitty?”
“So, my Lady, when was the last time you had a snow day?”
“A snow day? I don’t—”
Before she could move, a snowball sailed past her ear and exploded against the side of a vent behind her. Her eyes went wide as he laughed, already bending to grab another bout of snow.
“Oh, you want to do this?” Ladybug called.
Chat’s grin turned feral. “This is a need, Bug.”
Ladybug was already scooping up snow as she hide behind the nearest vent, narrowly missed being hit by one of Chats.
After that, the rooftop erupted into chaos.
Snowballs flew in wild arcs, splattering against vents, chimneys and neighboring rooftops. Ladybug darted, laughing as she slid across slick tiles, retaliating with sharp, well-aimed throws that sent Chat scrambling for cover. All that time throwing her yo-yo now came in handy.
Chat glared as one ball clipped his ear. “You have an unfair advantage, Ladybug!”
Ladybug laughed loud and joyous. “Ah kitty, jealous of my skills?”
“Not in the slightest!” Chat yelled as he vaulted over a vent, launching a snowball that collided with her chest before disappearing again.
“You fight like a menace!” She yelled as he popped up again, launching one, she dodged.
“It’s creative tactics, Bugaboo,” he shot back, “You should try it sometime.”
He popped up over a skylight just as Ladybug threw another mound of snow, missing him by inches. His chuckle echoed through the Parisian night air as he disappeared again from view.
She stalked forward, turning a corner to scoop up fresh snow and suddenly he was there.
Chat smirked for only a moment before he lunged, tackling her into a drift behind a chimney. They went down in a burst of powder and laughter, limbs tangled, his weight settling over her just enough to pin her under him without hurting.
She blinked up at him, breathless as he waggled his eyebrows at her.
“Well,” he murmured, his snow-damp hair now clinging to his forehead, “looks like this cat caught a bug.”
She huffed, trying to hide the giggles she desperately wanted to contain, cheeks aching from how hard she was fighting her smile. His grin softened as he looked down at her—less teasing now, more open, almost hopeful, like he was bracing for something without daring to expect it.
For a single moment, neither of them moved.
Snow drifted lazily past them, settling into his hair, her mask, the space between their breaths.
Ladybug exhaled, the sound quiet but decisive, and reached up. Her fingers curled around his bell, cool metal warming quickly beneath her touch, and she tugged him down.
The kiss came easily.
Unrushed. Familiar. Warm in a way that had nothing to do with the snow or the cold night air. His surprise lasted all of half a second before his hand found the edge of her shoulder, steady and sure, like this was what he had planned for all along.
When they finally pulled apart, his forehead rested briefly against hers.
“I’m starting to think,” she said softly, breath fogging between them, “that I don’t mind getting caught.”
He grinned, eyes darting down to her lips one more time. “Good,” he murmured. “Because you’re terrible at avoiding it.”
She scoffed quietly and before he could say anything else, she leaned in again.
This one was quicker. Lighter. A soft press of lips that lingered just long enough to make his breath hitch, just long enough to feel like a promise rather than a challenge.
Then she slipped out from beneath him, nimble even in the snow, brushing past with a laugh as she sat up. “Alright,” she said, tugging at his arm. “If you’re going to tackle me, the least you can do is sit with me after.”
He blinked once, then laughed, letting her pull him beside her. Snow crunched beneath them as they settled near the chimney, shoulders brushing, warmth slowly seeping back in.
Chat glanced at her sideways, still smiling like he hadn’t quite recovered. “You know,” he said, “I’m beginning to suspect you enjoy losing.”
She tilted her head, eyes bright. “Only when I don’t really lose.”
Chat snorted but didn’t say anything as she leaned against him, pulling out her yo-yo.
“Since we survived,” she said casually, “I brought something.” She opened her yo-yo and reached into the void pulling out a small paper bag, neatly folded at the top.
Chat’s eyes lit up. “Ooo, mystery bag.”
Ladybug huffed out a laugh before opening it, the scent of almonds and butter rose faintly from the bag, revealing a slice of galette. Golden, flaky, and fresh.
“Galette,” she said, grinning at him. “Seemed appropriate for King’s Day.”
“I like the way you think, my Lady.” He murmured as she took it out of the bag. She held it up before breaking it in half, handing him a piece.
Chat took one bite and immediately froze.
“Oh…”
Ladybug glanced at him, eyebrows furrowed, “What’s wrong?”
He took another bite, slower now, brows pinched together before meeting her gaze. “This tastes really familiar.”
Her fingers gripped the bag slightly, before she tilted her head. “Yeah?”
“Yeah,” he said nodding. “Did you get this from the Dupain-Cheng bakery? Because I swear it tastes exactly like the one I had earlier.”
Ladybug blinked, frozen for just a moment.
“Um, yeah, made a quick stop before I came,” she murmured, a little too quiet, “You, uh, went to the bakery today?”
Chat shrugged, plopping his last bite of galette in his mouth before nodding, “Yeah. It was a quick stop. Place was packed. Worth it, though. That galette is amazing.” He smiled at her. “I’m glad you were able to get some, it was really busy today.”
She forced a smile back, heart thudding just a little faster. “Yeah, um, me too. They were really busy.”
Chat glanced at her again, his eyes soft as Ladybug stared out at the snow-covered Paris wondering just how many coincidences one city could hold before they stopped feeling accidental at all.