Paris was illuminated in the warm yellow glow of streetlights and filled with the sounds of music. In the park below, a band playing the night away. The people that remained in the warm, spring evening were dancing to the ever-slowing songs while Paris's finest relaxed on top of a nearby building.

A certain spotted heroine lazily watched the band with an easy grin as she imagined herself down there dancing with a certain someone.

"What's got you grinning, bugaboo?"

She sighed. Not quite her prince charming, but not the bumbling jester he was when they had met either. He was more like...a very well-built, dashing knight that no princess would object being stolen away by.

Much to her chagrin.

"Nothing, Minou."

Chat didn't look convinced. "Really?"

"Mm hmm," she hummed affirmatively.

Chat leaned closer, likely trying to keep her attention, stupid cat. "I don't buy it," he purred. "Want to know what I think?"

Ladybug forced on her best straight face. Three years ago, she would have said the most annoying thing about Chat was his puns. Now, her answer was more along the lines of how tall he was, how the features of his face were perfectly defined, and how his voice had grown deeper. Deeper. And smoother. And richer…

And all around unfairly irresistible.

But the most irritating thing about Chat, by far, was when he purred, and his voice was akin to warm honey on a cold day…

She had to take another deep breath before the ladybugs flying around in her stomach made an appearance.

"What do you think, Chat?"

"I think that you are thinking of dancing."

She hated when he was right.

"Are you going to try to deny that smile, too, my lady?"

"Yes," she easily retorted, fully aware of her smile.

He leaned closer, just over her ear. She denied to herself that heat was crawling across her cheeks or that a fire flared in her belly or that her heart skipped a beat. "You're a piece of work, bugaboo," he whispered, his breath rolling across the shell of her ear, causing a hitch in her breath.

When she stole a glance at him, that unfairly roguish smile on his face told her that he caught it. Dang it. She forced herself together before she lost herself. "You want to know a secret, kitty?" That's when she leaned close enough for his wild mane to tickle her nose. "You are, too."

He chuckled as she leaned away and turned back to the band.

The song they had been singing ended, drawing applause from the crowd, including Chat Noir and Ladybug.

"Thank you, all," the singer said. "Our set is coming to an end, but before we go, we'll give you one more song. How does that sound?"

The crowd cheered. The singer pointed at the bass player, making a motion with her hand before tapping out a beat. A few descending notes were played, and the last one was drawn out until it slowly stopped.

That was when Chat held out his hand to Ladybug, drawing a curious look from her.

"Come on, my lady," Chat begged. "One dance."

Then the pianist mimicked the notes, letting the last one linger. Next came the singer. "How 'bout a dance? What do you say?"

Ladybug didn't hear the next words over the roar of her heart pounding in her ears as she impulsively accepted Chat's hand. He pulled her close, guiding her into a ballroom dance hold. One that he seemed confident in.

She just hoped she didn't step on his toes.

"Let's find a spot and dance the night away."

That's when the band fully started up, letting the slow song drift through the Parisian night. It was also when Chat took the first step, leading his lady across the rooftop with practiced ease.

Ladybug hated to admit that it made her even more nervous.

"I didn't know you danced, Chat," she said, trying to make conversation in an attempt to keep her head. "At least, not ballroom."

He smiled. Stop it, idiot, she wanted to yell at him, before you make me swoon. "Five years of lessons, my lady," he said. "And then I attended so many galas and balls, I was never allowed to forget."

She hummed. "Are you a charmer then, kitty?"

"The heartthrob of many an event," he easily retorted. "But there's only one lady who can make my heart throb."

"You look so handsome. How' bout a dance? Let's make a start."

"Trying to woo me, kitty?" Ladybug quipped, trying to keep her head level and heart in check.

His smile wasn't making it easy. "Are we just now beginning to notice?" He let out a growly purr through a smirk. One that wracked havoc on her poor heart. "Then I guess I'll have to step up my game again."

"Who says I'm not taken?" She shrugged, trying to be nonchalant.

Chat stiffened for a step before continuing as fluidly as he could. His face contorted in confusion, and Ladybug got a hint of satisfaction knowing she caused it.

"I suppose I shouldn't be surprised if you were," he relented. "Considering you are the most spectacular woman I've ever met."

She huffed at that.

"What?" he wondered.

"Stop flirting. Because that's not funny."

His mocking expression faded. "Who says I'm flirting to be funny?"

"Because there's no feasible way you would flirt with me lest you were teasing."

There was a sadness in his eyes she couldn't place. "My lady," he said, leaning over her ear. "If you think I'm teasing, then you need to know something very important."

Ladybug fought the increase in her heartrate. "What?"

"I'm sure the crowd will make room on the floor, when they see you, look like you do. So how 'bout a dance?"

"There is no possible way any man could flirt with you to only be a tease."

"Ladybug maybe. Not with me."

"I doubt that."

"Then clearly, you know nothing about me."

"And maybe, you need to look again."

She rolled her eyes. "I'm a girl who can trip over air, Chat. There's no way any guy would fall for me."

"Not unless he's diving to catch you."

Ladybug swallowed, her cheeks growing hotter. "And how many times do you think it would take before he's tired of it?"

"A man could never tire of catching such a lovely lady."

"Beauty can only go so far to cover my flaws."

"Then find a man who knows you have jealous temper and are sometimes too headstrong to listen but adores you anyway."

She didn't know what enraptured her more: the intensity in his voice, or the possessive way his hold tightened on her.

Then his grip loosened, and only then did Ladybug realize they had stopped dancing. She looked up at Chat, only to regret it instantly because the heart that shone in his vivid green eyes was nearly too much for her to bear.

"Honestly, bug, any man who can't look past the bad to see the good in you isn't worth his salt," he said, his voice soft and heart-wrenching. "And I'm not saying I'm the only option, Ladybug. I'm saying that about any man in general."

The music began to slow, the notes softening and fading away. Chat held her hands in his, dipping low in a bow to kiss them. Her traitorous heart fluttered at the feeling.

He stood. "Until next time, My Lady."

With that, he left before the singer could put the last words of the song into the night.

"You'll lose the blues, and you may lose…"

Ladybug shut her eyes against the tears. Don't say it, she internally begged. Please don't say it…

"Your heart."

A/N: Based on the song "How 'Bout a Dance" from the musical "Bonnie and Clyde. Highly recommend listening to it. It's just over two minutes, so not that long. It was about a month ago I went to go see this musical, and I had been wanting to write this since I got hooked on the soundtrack.