Marinette sat back in the chair as Nathanael drew. Her mind wandered back to the akuma battle, and to Chat Noir.

...

Ladybug's heart pounded painfully in her chest.

The thrill of Nathanael accepting her twisted with terror for his safety. The anger and hurt she felt at Chat Noir tumbled with hope that he would show up to help her. The burning in her muscles reminded her just how long it had been since she had a real fight.

But Ladybug was a pro, so she grit her teeth and prepared for battle, landing on a chimney to survey the damage of the latest villain.

The akuma wore a matte charcoal suit that seemed to absorb light. It played tricks on her eyes, making him seem flat, distorting her depth perception. He floated menacingly, his hand out to envelope citizens in a dark cloud.

"I am Heartless," he announced. "I give the gift of freedom to the citizens of Paris, freedom from the weakness that binds the human heart, freedom from the poison of love. No one shall be betrayed again!"

With a blast, another pedestrian's face went ashen, turning from their companion to wander aimlessly away.

"A little on the nose, don't you think?"

He crouched on a nearby chimney. His ears and tail drooped. The ooze of shame emanating from him had even stripped some of the body from his hair.

She looked between Chat Noir on the ledge and Heartless in the distance and snorted.

"I know we ought not to speak ill of the akumatized," she said, rolling her shoulders and neck, "but this guy is an idiot."

She stepped to the edge of the building, readying her yo-yo.

"Well, chaton? Shall we?"

Chat's eyes snapped up at the sound of his nickname, eyes round with hope that he might be forgiven.

Ladybug gave him an expectant smile, body taut with battle anticipation.

"Let's knock some Hawkmoth out of this guy, and then we'll talk."

With a familiar grin, Ladybug launched herself from the building, trusting Chat Noir to follow.

…

She and Chat Noir had a few near misses as they warmed up, but Heartless turned out to be a bit of a weenie. Maybe Hawkmoth was a little rusty after such a long hiatus.

"Bien Jouer!"

Ladybug's smile was wide with victory, a feeling she hadn't realized she'd missed in the lull of the akuma-free summer. She turned to Chat Noir in their usual fist bump, only to see the smile slide off his face again.

She'd chosen not to be mad at him during the fight, but now all the strange feelings between them came back, heavier than ever as they breathed hard to recover. The sad man who had been akumatized had run off to find his lover and apologize.

Chat met her eyes now, looking over her features as if she was about to leave for a long time. Ladybug's heart twisted.

"I missed you," she said honestly. "I—" She was cut off by the loud beeping of her miraculous, and watched Chat Noir look around instinctively for the best direction to escape.

Her blood boiled with frustration, and she stuck a finger in his face. "You meet me back here in 15 minutes, do you understand me!?"

Chat Noir smiled grimly and nodded.

…..

Plagg didn't say a word to Adrien, but his silence didn't seem quite as cold as he quickly polished off his Camembert. Chat Noir was back on the rooftop in record time.

…..

Marinette paced around her room while Tikki fueled up, whispering to herself as she rehearsed what she needed to say. Just as Ladybug was going to leave, something caught her eye, and she tucked it into her belt before launching herself off the balcony once more.

…..

The two heroes of Paris sat cross-legged on a rooftop, looking at each other as twilight fell around them.

"About the other night —"

"The thing is —"

They both fell silent again.

"You go ahead, chaton," Ladybug said quietly, touching his knee for a moment.

Chat Noir let out a long breath and sagged. "I'm sorry for calling you like that, Ladybug. I know it was super lame. And I —" he grimaced and hid his face in his hands.

"And..?" Ladybug pressed, gently.

"And I'm— I'm in love with you, LB, and I don't know what to do about it." Chat Noir stood up suddenly and marched away, hugging himself, trying hard not to cry.

Ladybug's heart sank. She felt bad for him, but the spark that she felt for Nathanael had just never been there for Chat Noir.

"It's just—!" Chat Noir's struggle was all over his face. "What does this guy have that I don't?!" He knew he was being childish and petulant, but he didn't care.

Ladybug chewed her lip, trying to find the right thing to say. Delicately, she stood and stepped towards him.

Chat Noir flinched as she lifted a hand to his face, running a finger along the edge of his mask.

"It's what he doesn't have, chaton." Her voice was steady, but only just. Ladybug dropped her hand and stepped away again. "He really sees me."

"And I don't?" Chat Noir knew he sounded defensive, but indignation felt better than rejection.

Ladybug shook her head and sighed, the sigh of someone weary beyond her years. "It's not like that, Chat, it's like — I'm Ladybug because I'm the right person to be Ladybug. But Ladybug is just one part of who I am, and there are plenty of things about me that my friends like more than being…I don't know, fit and decisive."

She looked out over Paris. "It took a while to see that I could be Ladybug, you remember," she went on, "and I love it now, I do, but…being Ladybug is my biggest secret, not my favorite one." She turned and looked at him. "Do you know what I mean?"

Chat Noir was looking at her incredulously. His shoulders slumped in defeat. "Being Chat Noir is the best thing that's ever happened to me," he said quietly, looking at his gloved fingers. "It's the only time I get to truly be myself, or…the only time I like myself. And you—" his voice caught in his throat, and he turned away. He took a few deep breaths and when he spoke again his voice was thick with swallowed tears. "You're the only one who knows the real me, Ladybug."

….

Adrien lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling. Plagg was snoring loudly from the neighboring pillow, and Adrien was grateful for the small sign of forgiveness. Ladybug's parting words ran around in his head.

….

There was a long pause, and Chat Noir could feel her gaze on him, solemn and contemplative. He stared out at the city, not seeing, his tail twitching back and forth involuntarily. His cheeks burned at his own honesty, and he felt pathetic finally saying it out loud.

Red and black-spotted arms encircled his waist, as Ladybug hugged him from behind. She lay her head on his back and squeezed, and Chat closed his eyes.

"I love you, Chat Noir. I love you in a way that I can never love anyone else. I hope that can be enough."

Chat Noir's eyes closed against the lump in his throat as she pressed a kiss between his shoulder blades, before stepping away and flying off into the night.

…