He found her sitting on a roof, gazing out into the dark Parisian night. Chat didn't join her immediately, hanging back to eye the city night with her. A sight he usually spared as a quick bored glance at his bedroom window. Here, seeing it at night it was... a bit different. He felt, content. Proud. The sight of the peaceful city, the soft glow of it's lights; it felt satisfactory.

He was one of the reasons it was so peaceful and lovely now. That it found security this night.

"I think I could get used to this view," Ladybug called out, her voice jittery and giddy.

"It's a lovely view," he agreed, coming up to her side. He didn't move to sit down beside her, he was fine with standing, his arms crossed as he peered out.

"So," she started, glancing up at him. "Did you also kinda freak out when you found your kwami and miraculous?"

He snorts, "There was no kinda."

She chuckled. "Nice to know I wasn't the only one." She adds lightly, "I called Tikki a bugmouse."

"I called Plagg a rat. He did not like that."

She giggled, Chat's ears twitching at the sound. The air fell quiet between them as they continued to stare out, just soaking in the warm night. Quietly and shyly, Ladybug asked, "Is... is there a reason why you didn't show that first day?"

Surprised, Chat looked down, meeting her nervous, curious stare. He quickly looked away, uncomfortable shame and nervousness fluttering in his chest. Focusing on the city lights, he considered his answer. Ladybug sat patiently beside him, turning her gaze back to Paris. Sighing, he admitted, "When I found the... the ring and Plagg appeared, spewing about what I was going to do, what I had to do I, I rejected it. I didn't want to be take up the mantle of Black Cat."

He dare glance down, daring see her judging expression and the disappointment on her face.

Only she didn't have either.

She looked like she understood.

The shyness melted away as she echoed his sigh. "I can understand," she said. "I didn't really want it at first either." Sparing him a glance, she quickly looked away as she continued. "I was scared. I wasn't sure if I could do it. I didn't think I was the right person for this. But the situation was dire, Tikki wasn't tell me much of anything outside how to be Ladybug, or if there was someone else that could do it. I decided to try and do what I could and..."

"You failed."

"I failed," she echoed. She slumped forward, elbows resting on her knees. "I tried to pass my earrings off to someone else."

"You did?"

"I did."

"...I told Plagg that if there was someone else, he should go to them. I didn't even want to try."

"...So what convinced you to try it?"

"He suggested that I just try. One taste at being Chat Noir. It was... not what I expected."

She hummed at that.

He eyed the small girl. He asked, "What convinced you to keep at it? Did that person reject the earrings?"

"No, she never got a chance to get them. I'm sure she would love to be Ladybug but, the instant I tried to pass the earrings onto her she... she was turned to stone. Into one of those golems, right in front me." She tightened her grip on her elbows, confessing, "That was scary. And, and I knew the only way to save her was to complete Ladybug's job. Fix my mistake. It's actually not that long after that I met you. And that we did it. And..."

He nodded, a little surprised to find that his lips curled up a little.

But it was true.

That day, that was... an exhilarating day.

Glancing down, he asked her, "Was it showier than you expected?"

Laughter exploded out of her, and Ladybug leant back, the smile big on her face. She agreed, "It was showier than I expected!"

His lips curled higher, tail twitching happily behind him.

As her laughter died down, the two settled back in content silence, smiling as they stared out at Paris.

"I think," he voiced, "you make a promising Ladybug."

She turned to him, surprised.

"You do need to work on your confidence, and be more sure of your actions. Out of the two of us, you hesitated a lot. But, you have potential. I do think you will make a good Ladybug."

Her cheeks flared red, and she looked, awkwardly kicking her legs from where she hung over the rim of the roof. "G-good to know," she managed out. To him, she addressed, "I, I think you'd make a good Chat Noir." Flashing him an amused, shy grin, she teased, "Though you could do to be more punctual."

He snorts. "I'll have you know that I can be very punctual when I want to be."

Her smile fell slightly.

Chat blinked at her, head tilting slightly.

"Should... should I expect to meet a different Chat Noir?" She quickly said, "I can understand if so! I, I'm going to keep at this. I'm going to continue being Ladybug. If you don't want to, you don't need to continue as Chat Noir-"

"I'm going to continue on as well."

She blinked at him, looking surprised and relieved.

He kept his gaze away, cheeks a little warm at the statement. "It was... an interesting experience. One I won't mind keeping up with." He spared a glance down at her. "You won't mind having me as your Chat Noir?"

She patted the spot beside her, grinning. "I would be delighted to have you as my Chat. Partner?"

"Partner," he confirms, taking a seat down beside her.

This'll be their city.

A city they'll protect together.

Partner.

The word echoed in Chat's head.

It sounded and felt right.

And with this, Grumpy Cat is officially done. This has been a fun and interesting write, I'm glad I wrote it. Felix has been a fun character to experiment and write out.

Thank you everyone for reading and sticking with it; thank you for trying it and this ship even if you didn't like Felix. I hope to see you guys in other future stories!