Hi guys! This is my newest miraculous work!I usually post , but as it was having issues, it's possible you've seen this one on tumblr or whatnot! I have ideas for this as a longer fic, so let's see how it goes.

How many times now? How many godforsaken times had she ended up in a stupid situation because curiosity and cats didn't mix? She could tell you how many! It was…well, it was too many to count, actually!

She felt her chest heaving in frustration as she and Chat Noir strained against the door, trying their best to get the unyielding metal to give way. However, it seemed super strength was no match for the block of ice that was probably encasing the elevator by this point anyway. She heard Chat snarl beside her in frustration, yowling as he slammed his broad shoulders against the door. She glared at him, up and down. His muscles rippled beneath the dark leather, the sweat glistening on his forehead, the look of determination on his face making her breath hitch – it made her mad enough to spit!

Being Ladybug was no picnic in the park – it was hard, and it was certainly trying, both mentally and physically – and as she had grown from the more innocent age of 14 and into 17 – she had to admit those strains were no longer just tied to the job. They now involved this disgusting habit of appreciating Chat's body.

"If you had just listened to me and saved your cataclysm, we wouldn't be in this mess!" she hissed, dropping to the floor and trying to jam her fingers between the door while he continued to fight the upper half.

"I don't know, having you on your knees seems like a purrfect perk!" He managed a hasty wink down at her before she dealt him a swift blow to his thigh.

"How can you make jokes like that at a time like this?" she snapped, her frantic fight against the door intensifying as a familiar beeping began to emit from her partner.

He shrugged, relenting from his shoulder slamming and taking a step back, sliding down heavily against the back of the elevator. "What better time is there?" he gasped, trying to catch his breath. She couldn't help but notice how his shaggy blond hair was dripping sweat down over his mask and smooth chin. She shook her head, fighting harder against the door. She couldn't look at him, much less want him. What about Adrien? They were starting to be solid friends! She couldn't let this…this cat get in the way of what she was working towards.

"My lady?"

"No, I'm going to get us out!" she shrieked, her fingers starting to rub raw beneath her suit. "I can use lucky charm!"

"I don't think-"

"Hold on, just let me-!"

"Ladybug," his voice was exceedingly gentle as he placed a gloved hand against hers, pausing her in her attempts to release her yo-yo. "Don't. Save it. There's still an Akuma out there."

She felt her eyes start to prickle with tears she refused to let show. "No, we need to get out and let you recharge! I can't do this without you, it's too strong! It'll hurt you!"

He shrugged, another beep emitting from the hand that was on hers. "It was bound to happen eventually. Plus, even if I get hurt, I've got nine lives, remember?" he flashed a cheesy grin, and she felt herself start to shake. If he transformed back, they would cross a threshold they could never go back from. If They were stuck in here, they'd die. If they somehow managed to break free, whoever was beneath this cat would be injured in no time. The persona came with powers they didn't possess without them.

She felt the tears actually start to fall as a pair of sneakers suddenly switched places with what were once boots. A flicker of shock lit up Chat's face, and gave her a pleading look. She immediately squeezed shut her eyes, willing herself to not look as she wheeled around to face the opposite direction.

"Cat's out of the bag, I suppose?" she heard him joke meekly. She shook her head fiercely.

"I didn't look! I promise, I won't!"

"I know this is the worst time to admit this, but I'm actually a little bit of a scaredy cat right now…"

She let out a strangled laugh. "But not scared enough to lay off the puns."

"Do you think we'll make it out of this one?"

She nodded. "Of course, we always do. I'm sure we still will."

"Ladybug?"

"Yeah?"

"Also probably the worst timing in the world, and not the way I ever intended to ask this, but just in case this is the last time we get to be together, can I just….hold you?" his voice was shy, no longer full of the cocky smoothness she had begun to assume was his entire being. She felt her heartbeat flutter, and she managed to breathe out, "Hold me how? I'd see you!"

"It was stupid, I know, I just-"

"Yeah."

"What?"

"Yeah, you can hold me. But I'm not moving from my spot." She gave a swift shake of her head, still planted in her sitting position in front of the door, facing it.

She heart a slight movement behind her, her breath hitching as slender arms – bare arms, she noted with a peek down- wrapped around her waist, pulling her back against a chest that was as solid as it appeared beneath form-fitting leather. His chin soon rested against her hair, and she felt him breathe deeply against her. "You're right, this was my fault. I'm sorry."

"Chat, no, it wasn't," she retorted, picking her hand up to gently place on the ones draped across her. "It was a trap, you didn't know…"

"I don't want to die like this…"

"We won't die."

"But if we do, no one will even know who I was," he muttered, his breath warm against her.

She tried to reign in the feelings swirling in her stomach as she replied, "I know you. Doesn't that count for something?"

"I'm not Chat Noir right now, Ladybug. I'm just…me."

The idea that he was just a normal person right now, someone she might see everyday as she went to class, was unsettling. He was right, then. She didn't know who he was, not when he went home at night when they went their separate ways. Their friendship didn't exist outside of work. It needed to exists outside of this…it had to. A new dedication swept through her as she spun around and buried her face in his soft cotton shirt, careful to avoid his face or any notifying characteristic. She felt his heart beat erratically against her cheek.

"Ladybug-!"

"Lucky Charm!" rang out simultaneously with "Don't!",the two shielding their faces as a large crowbar clattered between them.

She extended her hand, eyes still pressed shut as he pressed it into her hand. "Give me a minute while I've still go strength." She heard him scoot out of the way, and after some struggled the door soon gave way with an icy pop. A cold breeze rushed in, causing the boy behind her to exclaim "It's freezing! Shit!"

She reached out behind her for him to take her hand, her gaze locked forward for any sign of the akuma. Her earrings gave their first warning bling. 60 seconds and counting. They needed cookies.

"We need to find sweets!"

"Sweets? At a time like this!?"

"Tikki needs cookies!"

A 'oooo' of realization. "Plagg needs cheese."

"…But you're a cat."

"Hey, don't give me that tone, I'm not eating it," he defended.

They took the brief silence of the room to dart across the lobby of the building, skidding to a halt outside the door. Ice littered the street. A scream. Another warning beep.

"Go on, Ladybug. We can meet up afterward." She felt him start to pull from her hand, but she tightened her grip.

"No, just…wait."

He didn't say anything as the suit melted away, leaving two teenagers with hands clasped, bodies turned askew so no eye contact was made. Just plain bare hands, touching.

"We're not that different, no matter what version of us we choose to be."

"We don't have to do this right now," he said gently. "Later. When you want to, but not because you feel like we're about to die. When you kiss me, it's going to be because you simply can't resist."

"Who said I was ever gonna kiss you?" she retorted, unable to keep the smile from her voice.

"I'm adorable."

"And annoying."

"But mostly adorable."

"Meet back in a ten?"

He squeezed her hand. "Anytime you want me, I'm there, my lady."