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It was gloomy, but the forecast didn’t call for rain, at least not yet. The air was crisp, like it didn’t know if it wanted to rain or snow.
Adrien stood outside the Dupain-Cheng bakery, nerves settling deep in his stomach as he tried to steady himself.
He wasn’t there by accident. He wasn’t there because Nathalie had suggested it. He was there because he woke up with a mission, and it was a mission of most importance.
Surprise his partner-slash-more than friend for Valentine’s Day. Adrien bit his lip knowing that for whatever reason, he and Ladybug still hadn’t defined whatever it was they were.
Taking a deep breath, Adrien stepped forward, entering the bakery, listening to the bell chime as he went.
Warmth wrapped around him immediately—sugar, vanilla and toasted flour in the air. The display cases were full of glossy tarts, chocolate masterpieces and given the day, heart-shaped pastries. Across the top, a handwritten sign read Joyeuse Saint-Valentin in a beautiful print.
Behind the counter, Marinette was carefully arranging macarons in neat colorful rows. She smiled, satisfied before looking up to greet him. And blinked in surprise.
“Adrien?”
He smiled, softer then usual and murmured, “Hi.”
She set the tray in her hands down before rubbing her hands over her apron. “What… what are you doing here?”
“Buying something,” he laughed, gesturing to the counter in between them. “I was hoping you could help me.”
“What? Oh, um, yeah, okay.” She nodded glancing around before smiling at him.
Adrien stepped forward and leaning against the nearby display. “If someone you cared about were to buy you a treat for Valentine’s Day,” he asked casually, “what would you want?”
She blinked at him, opening than closing her mouth before sighing, “For… me?”
“Well, yeah.” He tilted his head. “What would make you happy? I’m looking to surprise her.”
Marinette’s fingers twisted in her apron tie as she glanced around the room. The noise from the kitchen behind her did nothing to hide the thumping in her chest.
“I think…” she began slowly, eyes drifting to one of the nearby displays. “I’d want something simple. Not huge or flashy. Just something… showing they paid attention, something with my favorite flavor.”
He nodded slightly, “like strawberry?”
She opened, then closed her mouth, eyebrows furrowed, “Um, yeah, like strawberry. Probably a strawberry tart. The kind that looks ordinary but is actually really delicate. You have to handle it carefully or it falls apart.” She tilted her head watching him, “Possibly something chocolate. It’s a safe bet, not too sweet… something balanced.”
Adrien’s eyes softened before he chuckled, “Show me?”
“Oh, um, yeah, sure… let me…” she reached into the case and carefully selected a strawberry tart—perfectly glazed, fresh, the crust golden and flaky. She set it on the counter, before grabbing two dark chocolate ganache macarons, their deep red shells smooth and pristine.
She set them on the counter and grinned at him. “Something like this.”
“Excellent.” He nodded, “please give me two sets of those.”
She stepped back slightly, “Two?”
“Please? And bag them separately.”
“Um, yeah, of course.” Marinette murmured as she got to work boxing the treats. Her hands were careful as she tied a ribbon around each one. Adrien watched as she worked, the focus, the concentration and the small crease between her brows that hit him square in the chest.
When she handed him the first box, he took it, tucking it under his arm and as she moved to hand him the second one… he slid it back to her with a smirk. “This one’s for you. Everyone deserves a little surprise on Valentine’s Day.”
The world went very, very quiet in her head.
“Wh-what?”
“Well, you said that’s what you’d want… and you deserve it,” he said with a shrug of his shoulders. “So. Happy Valentine’s Day, Marinette. I hope someone… besides me, makes you smile today.”
“I…you…I thought—”
He laughed softly, “The other one’s for me. It’s… like sharing.”
“But… why?”
He shrugged, almost shy now. “You work really hard and like I said, everyone deserves a little surprise on Valentine’s Day. You… are special, Marinette.”
“I…” her eyes softened in a way he wasn’t prepared for. “Thank you. You didn’t have to.”
“I know. Um, I forgot… can I also get one of your assorted macaron boxes. The biggest one you have. Include more of those dark chocolate ones if possible.”
“Um, yes. Of course.” Marinette nodded again, this time turning to the macaron case. She packed a wide assortment—raspberry, pistachio, passion fruit, vanilla and, of course, the dark chocolate.
When she turned, handing it to him, he carefully took it and balanced it with the other box before grinning, “So, are you busy tonight?"
She eyes went wide as she hesitated. “Um, yes, I am meeting someone.”
He chuckled softly before nodding. “Cool… I am too. See you later, Marinette. Thanks for the help.”
Adrien left the bakery, bell chiming softly behind him leaving Marinette frozen behind the counter, staring at the little box in her hand.
“Sorry, Marinette. I didn’t mean to take so long…” Her mother stepped around the counter and studied her. “Is everything alright?”
Marinette glanced toward the door where he’d disappeared, then down at the ribbon tied neatly around the box in her hands.
“Yeah,” she breathed. “Everything’s fine.”
So why did it feel like her heart had followed him out into the street?
***
Paris glittered beneath a fragile sheet of ice as Valentine’s Day drifted into evening.
A late winter storm had rolled in that afternoon, dusting rooftops with light snow and glazing the street below in silver. Ice warnings flickered across shop windows, but that hadn’t stopped the city. This was still the City of Love after all.
Red lanterns still swayed carefully in the cool breeze, café terraces glowed behind fogged glass and couples huddled closer beneath shared scarves, hands clasped together for warmth.
High above it all, Ladybug stood on their favorite rooftop, boots crunching softly in the thin layer of frost. Her own scarf was carefully wrapped around her neck as her breath curled in pale clouds in front of her lips.
She could feel that racing of her heart but told herself it was because of the weather. Just the cold, or maybe the holiday.
It absolutely was not the memory of a small, ribboned box sitting on her desk at home and the boy who gave it to her.
Her traitorous heart thumped loudly as snowflakes drifted around her, catching in her pigtails before melting away. Today felt different, and quieter. It was as if the storm had pressed pause on everything loud and complicated.
She smiled softly at the memory of Chat asking her to meet. His voice soft, almost sky and when she heard a light clink, she turned catching him as he landed, boots sliding slightly on the frost because he caught himself, spinning his staff out of habit before settling it on his back. The light dusting of snow scattered around him in an arc as a bag swung from his arm.
Snow had settled in his hair, turning the blond almost silver at the edges. It was glowing and unfairly perfect.
He shook his head, sending flakes flying before sending her a flashy grin.
“Bonsoir, my Lady,” he said, bowing lightly to her, breath fogging between them. “You’re the most radiant thing in Paris tonight… but I guess I say that every time.”
“Because it’s true every time?” she teased, stepping closer to close the distance.
“Exactly.” He straightened, smile shifting slightly before winking. “Consistency is important, you know.”
He shifted his weight before grabbing something from behind his back.
“I brough you something. It’s not much, but…”
He held out a small box, hand-painted with tiny black paw prints and faint red hearts. The paint wasn’t perfect, the lines wobbled, but it was very clearly made with love… by him.
Ladybug’s eyes went wide, as she covered her mouth. “Did you… did you make this?”
“I tried,” he admitted, scratching lightly at his neck. “I won’t be offended if you only pretend to like it. It was last minute and rushed and…”
“Kitty.” She took the box carefully, brushing his fingers as the contact lingered a little longer than necessary.
She opened it and let out a soft gasp. Inside was a simple red corded bracelet with a tiny bell charm fixed in the middle. It was small, polished, but unmistakable.
“It’s your bell?”
He laughed, slightly uncomfortable. “A copy… obviously. Had to keep mine… you know, it’s part of the brand.”
She rolled her eyes, huffing softly through her nose, eyes shining as she looked up at him.
“I just thought,” he continued, voice rattled, “if you ever felt alone. Or scared… or if the world just seems too big. Maybe school, or life just gets too hard… you could, you know, hear it and know I’m there… always.”
“Chat…”
“I know it’s not chocolates or flowers,” he rushed, cheeks turning crimson. “I mean, I do have chocolates, but that’s separate and less sentimental and—”
She stepped forward and cut him off the only way she knew would stop him from spiraling.
She kissed him. Soft at first. Sweet, gentle, a sort of thank you more than anything else. Her hands found themselves tangled in his hair.
For half a moment, he froze, then melted into it, hands instinctively settling at her waist. Their kiss deepened almost without permission, warmer now, less startled and loving.
When she pulled back, he blinked, as if trying to focus his eyes.
“I… um, forgot my own name for a second,” he breathed.
Ladybug laughed quietly, slipping the bracelet onto her wrist, the tiny bell chimed faintly as she moved.
“You’re ridiculous, kitty.”
“And you’re purrfect,” he replied automatically.
“Careful,” she warned, tapping his nose. “That’s dangerously close to sincerity.”
Chat scoffed, placing a hand over his chest. “My Lady, I am nothing if not sincere.” \
“Oh really?”
“Absolutely. See watch.” Chat closed the distance between them, as the heart from their breath flowed between them. He brought his lips down to hers once more, sending a shiver down her spine.
As she pulled away again, she giggled, placing a hand on his chest. “Sneaky kitty.”
“Only for you.”
Ladybug rolled her eyes, as he stepped back, slipping the bag from his arm, pulling out a larger box.
“Okay, so, it wouldn’t be Valentine’s Day without treats… so I brought macarons.”
He opened the box to reveal neatly placed rows of raspberry, pistachio, passion fruit, vanilla and dark chocolate circles.
Ladybug blinked, before glancing up at him. “You didn’t have to bring food.”
“Please,” he laughed. “I’m a growing hero.”
She shook her head, laughing. “I can’t believe I….” her eyes went wide as she paused watching him. He grinned before reaching into the box and grabbed a dark chocolate one.
“Apparently, these are the right choice,” he added almost casually. “Balanced… not too sweet. You have the first one.”
Her eyebrows furrowed, before she shook her head and smiled, “Oh really?”
“Oh yeah. Got expert advice.” He held it out toward her. “Taste test… you can tell me?”
She took the macaron from him, slightly hesitant, but she could never deny her kitty.
The first bite nearly betrayed her. Eye wide in recognition, she looked away from him. She knew the texture of that shell. The exact ratio of ganache inside… she had helped piped that filing herself. While she knew Chat apparently frequented her bakery, the idea that he’d been there earlier that day, sent her reeling.
She swallowed carefully as her eyes met his.
“Well?” he asked, there was a playful glint in his eye.
“It’s good,” she said, managing to stay calm. “Very balanced, um…”
He shrugged, “See? I listen,” before popping one into his own mouth.
Ladybug merely nodded as she thought back to all the customers that frequented the bakery today, but the thunder in her chest took her back to one bright eyed, blond haired boy who…
“You okay, Bug? You look a little lost.”
“Wh-what? Um, yeah. I’m fine. Just enjoying being here with you.”
“I’m glad to be here with you too.” Chat murmured as they settled side by side against a chimney, shoulders brushing. The warmth of him seeped through the thin fabric of her suit, but the heat inside of her was doing plenty to keep her warm.
He nudged her gently with his elbow. “So, tell me about your day… anything interesting happen… within reason of course,” he paused tapping his mask.
Her mind flashed again to the green eyes across the counter and shrugged, “maybe. What about you?”
He grinned, tapping his cheek. “Maybe.”
They both laughed as he leaned over brushing a crumb from the corner of her lip without thinking. His thumb rested for too long as she glanced at him.
“Kitty?”
“Mmm?” he smiled at her.
She reached forward, hand slipping up his chest as she grabbed a hold of his bell, pulling him to her. His breath caught as he moved closer, their macarons momentarily forgotten beside them.
She kissed him. Not quick, not playful. Intentional in every way.
The kiss deepened slowly, warmer than before as his hands traced her sides before settling gently at her waist. When she didn’t pull away, his fingers tightened slightly, holding her steady against him.
The bell at her wrist chimed softly between them, forcing a laugh from Ladybug’s lips. They broke apart only slightly, but stayed forehead to forehead, breathing the cool air between them.
“Happy Valentine’s Day, Kitty,” she whispered.
He smiled and nudged her nose with his. “Yeah,” he murmured, “It really is. Happy Valentine’s Day, Bug.”
They stayed like that for a long time, curled together against the chimney under the cold Paris air, fingers entwined, watching the lights shimmer across the city.
Neither wanted to talk about the almosts hanging between them, or the coincidences of the day. Those would come,
But for tonight, they were choosing this moment. Choosing each other.
And they would have stayed like that, but a scream shattered the quiet.
It echoed up from the streets below followed by a distant crash of something heavy and the flicker of violet light against the low clouds.
Ladybug exhaled slowly, resting her forehead against his one last time. “Right on schedule.”
Chat huffed softly, though there was no real annoyance in it. “Never fails,” he muttered, reaching behind his back for his baton. “Always an akuma on Valentine’s Day.”
She laughed before squeezing his hand once then letting go. “Race you?”
His smirk returned instantly. “Loser buys treats for next week.”
“You’re on, Kitty cat!”
And then they were gone… red and black against the winter sky… leaving the rooftop, and their unfinished almosts, behind.