Ladybug sat on the roof of one of the buildings downtown, fighting sleep. She'd been waiting on Chat Noir for ages. He wasn't usually late to these little meetings of theirs, and while she was worried, she was also getting pretty sleepy. The cool summer night was reminding her that she had a very comfortable bed back home that she could be nestled in right now. Her concern outweighed the exhaustion, though. She needed to be here if Chat arrived, to know he was safe. But wouldn't he call her if something was going wrong? What if something was keeping him from calling for backup?

There had been no sign of an akuma in the city, though. No evillized victims rampaging and causing havoc. Sometime after the sun set, the city had become still in the night compared to the daytime hubbub, the traffic slowed to more of a murmur and less people speaking to each other on the streets, if there were any out at all. Without the sun, the brightest parts of the city were near its great monuments, where more straggling tourists could be seen than in any other place. Otherwise, lit windows dotted the cityscape at irregular intervals, mimicking the stars in the heavens above.

"Hey there, bugaboo."

Chat Noir's voice nearly made Ladybug jump out of her skin as he spoke in her ear, violently pulling her away from her reflection on the nighttime city. "Chat! What took you so long?" Ladybug took an accusatory tone as she scrambled to get to her feet. "I thought something happened to you!"

There was an unreadable look in those strange green eyes of his as he said, "I just got caught up in traffic, that's all." His signature smirk was back on his face as he put one arm around her shoulders. "Y'know, if you keep being so worried about me, somebody might get the impression that you care."

She ducked down to slip out of his grasp, giving him the exasperated-but-affectionate look he was used to. It used to just be exasperated, really, but sometime over the course of their adventures that had changed.

"If something happens to one of us, that just means that the other is going to be stuck saving the day all on their own. You can't purify akumas," Ladybug added, trying to make up an excuse for her worry, "but at least your destructive tendencies come in handy every now and then."

"Aw, c'mon, my lady. I think you're the cat's meow; can't you throw me a line, or maybe a complete compliment, every once in a while?" Chat Noir pretended to be hurt, putting a hand over his heart. But as their eyes met, both of their faces split into grins, and they began to laugh softly, Ladybug shaking her head as she patting Chat's shoulder and sat back down in her place on the roof.

The black-clad cat joined her, sitting close to her but not touching her. He knew when to respect her boundaries, and that the time they spent together at night was a privilege, not a necessity. They sat in a comfortable silence, just enoying each other's presence without much to talk about.

It always felt like a dream whenever they met up like this. Even after two years, he was as in love with her as he had always been, her ceaseless optimism and feisty spirit reigning him in every time he thought he might be getting over her - but then again, when did he ever think he was getting over her? The thought made him laugh, just a tiny snort, but enough for Ladybug to notice.

"What's so funny?" she asked, seeming more intrigued than offended, though he noticed her tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear self-consciously. Noticing things like that always made him sad, the little moments when she let herself drop her tough super-hero act for a few moments so he could see that she was really just an awkward, self-conscious teenager, just like him. It made him sad because he wanted her to be able to see how great she was, like he did.

"I was just thinking about how amazing I'd look as the Ladybug," Adrien said rather than give away his thoughts.

Ladybug groaned and tilted her head back, though she was grinning, and soon laughing. "See! I'd look great!" Adrien chuckled, knowing that she was imagining it now. He was proud of himself for making her forget her moment of nervousness.

"You would totally wear the Ladybug look well, but I don't think we'll be switching miraculouses any time soon," Ladybug finally said, patting his shoulder as if consoling him.

"Yeah, I mean, it took us a long enough time to get used to the ones we have," Chat chuckled, scratching the back of his neck. He leaned over his knees as he drew them up to his chest, wrapping his arms around them and resting his chin on top.

They sat in silence again, minutes ticking by. Then, somewhere below, a new sound joined the murmuring of the night life. Soft, gentle music drifted up from one of the apartments, and Chat stood suddenly.

"Dance with me," he said, holding out a hand to Ladybug.

Her face immediately reddened, though it was hard to tell in the meager light that the streetlamps below were gracious enough to cast upwards. Still, Chat could see in her expression that she was blushing as her eyes widened, and he could feel his own heartbeat quickening. She wouldn't be so embarrassed if she didn't like me, would she? What if she does love me?

The thought was nearly intoxicating. When Ladybug didn't stand right away, still appearing to be in shock, he grabbed both of her hands in his and pulled her to her feet, giving her a wide grin when she quickly pulled her hands away. "I don't think so, kitty. I'm not falling for that."

"Come on," he pleaded, still beaming as he took one of her hands again. "It's just dancing, bugaboo. If you're really uncomfortable, just tell me so." He didn't want to push her boundaries, but he was also still hopeful as he searched her face.

She didn't pull her hand away again, a good sign. There was a short lull in the conversation before she finally said, "I don't know how to dance that well. I'd probably just embarrass myself so much that you would be embarrassed for me too."

"I would never," Chat said, actually a little amused at her statement. He'd never expected her to not know how to dance, as confident as she almost always portrayed herself to be. If that was the problem, he could remedy it easily. "I'm too enamored to see any flaw, even if you happen to have two left feet! Besides, it's easy. All you have to do is follow my lead. So, may I have this dance, my lady?"

He gave her a deep bow, still holding her hand, and was pleased to hear a soft giggle. Finally, she said, "Oh, alright. I guess you won't stop bothering me until it happens. If I step on your toes, though, it's your fault."

"I'll be fine with that. It sounds like a fitting punishment for dragging you into a dance," Chat chuckled in return, standing up and drawing her close.

She wondered if he could feel how fast her heart was beating even as he wondered the same. He guided her free hand to his shoulder, while his went to her waist, and she resisted the urge to tense. She'd never been this close to someone that wasn't her parents before, let alone Chat, and when she raised her head from looking at his chest to meet his eyes, she felt like she was radiating heat like the sun. Surely he could feel the flush on her face, since his was so close!

She followed his lead as he'd told her to, but at the beginning she did manage to step on his toes quite a few times before she found the rhythm, giving him a nervous laugh each time it happened. He didn't seem to notice, so lost was he in the moment. He wanted to tell her then and there how much he felt for her, how he gravitated to her because of how exceptionally amazing and wonderful she was. But all too soon, the music below stopped, changing to a different song with a much faster pace, and Ladybug and Chat stopped, too.

"I don't know any faster dances," Chat admitted after a moment. He still held her close. He wanted to close the distance between them so she would be even closer.

"I only promised you one in the first place," Ladybug replied, seeming to forget that she was so close. Otherwise she'd surely have let him go by now.

"Ladybug?" Chat whispered softly after a moment.

"Hmm?" She was studying his face as she hummed an absentminded reply.

"Ladybug…. I…." He couldn't find the words he wanted to say, so he instead found himself leaning down towards her, the gap growing smaller and smaller between their faces. She seemed to lean up towards him, holding onto his hands even tighter.

Just as their lips were about to touch, Ladybug seemed to become conscious of what was happening, and she quickly pulled back, prying her hands from his and looking distressed. She had not almost done that! Guilt began to gnaw at her. Sure, she and Adrien weren't dating even after she'd been fawning over him for nearly two years, but it still felt like cheating! She couldn't possibly love someone else, least of all Chat Noir, who was very strictly just her friend!

"I'm sorry, Chat, but you know that I don't date tomcats." It was a pitiful attempt at trying to cover up the sudden guilt and desperation she suddenly felt, and the playfulness she tried to put into her words was very obviously strained.

He felt awful. He could tell she was panicking, and it was his fault. "I'm sorry, I know," he said quickly. "The dance was good, though. Thank you. For letting me dance with you, I mean." He pushed his fingers through his hair, then turned to leave when he realized that the mood wasn't going to be recoverable after a moment or two. "I have to go. I'm really sorry, Ladybug. I'll see you whenever the next akuma turns up. Can't wait till then." He turned to look back at her, giving her a grin and a salute and taking out his staff with his free hand.

"Wait!"

He turned back quickly, looking confused. "Yes, my lady?"

"I'm - I really am sorry. I should've just said no to the dance. Look, I - I really appreciate it, Chat. But I like someone else. This guy in my class…." He felt like the next time they saw each other, he would be the one akumatized with the way his heart ached in his chest at her words. He wanted to ask who, but he wouldn't ever cross that line, and he didn't think he could bear it if he knew. But it turned out that he didn't have to ask, because she continued, saying, "It's just, he's…. Adrien is just so great and I've really, really liked him for a long time and…."

"Did you just say Adrien?" Chat Noir felt his spirit absolutely soaring. "As in, Adrien Agreste, son of Gabriel Agreste, famous model Adrien?" As in, me? he wanted to add, but if it was him - oh, if it was him! He would definitely need some time to soak in the information before making a fool of himself, and he knew that Ladybug didn't want them to know each others' identities yet even though they'd known each other for forever.

"Did I?" Ladybug seemed to be in such a panic over accidentally saying his name that she didn't notice the obvious joy in his tone. "Listen, I didn't mean to, just - don't mention this to anyone, Chat! I didn't mean to, Chat. You're now the keeper of another big secret and if you tell anyone then I'll be very very mad!"

"I won't tell, I won't!" Chat reassured her, holding up his hands and grinning. "I promise. Pinky swear, even. On my miraculous. Not a single soul will know besides me and you, Ladybug." He was still trying to process the fact that she liked him back, and he couldn't even tell her so! He almost felt like it would be worth it if she hated him forever, because she loved him! He knew he had to go or else he would tell her who he was, then and there. "Cats' honor, it doesn't leave this rooftop. But I really do have to get going now, my lady!"

Before she could stop him, he was making his escape into the Paris lights. She sighed, sitting down heavily on the rooftop and putting her face in her hands. "Why do I get the feeling I'm going to regret saying that?"

I'm screaming bc i finally got this done! Anywho, here's part one of what is planned to be a three-part fanfic (maybe two-part? Idk yet because I'm a poor planner, oops.) But it's pretty cute imo and thanks to those of you who've read it! also yes it is (kinda) another reveal fic lmao my first fic for this fandom and its an overdone plot pls end me