"Chat, would you please reign it in a bit?!" Lady hollered into the relatively quiet night at Chats retreating figure, hopping, impressively, from rooftop to rooftop. Easily as good as herself!

All that answered her was his joyous laughter.

With a huge grin splitting her face, Lady just shook her head in mock exasperation, as she flung out her oversize yoyo tool, to follow behind him at a slightly slower pace.

He had pulled his hair back into a short ponytail, and some had fallen out to frame his face. It only added to his handsomenes, in her opinion. She watched his muscles flex in his tight leather pants and jacket, and boy, those sure emphasised all of his masculinity! it was definately distracting!

Chat Noir was definately an amazing male specimen! He was going to draw alot of women's attention, that was for sure!

She could already envision the male eye candy section on Rena's blog that would be devoted to him!! Put up by none other than Rena herself, not a fan based decision. And he definately deserved it!! If Rena ever figured out that was Adrien Agreste, she'd go crazy!

In truth, she was tickled pink that Adrien was loving the experience. She was glad she could help spring him from that prison of his! No matter how gorgeous it was!

Having him with her, when she liked him so much, was an added bonus!

Not that she'd ever take advantage of that fact. No way! He had said that he liked her. Had really meant to say that he loved her. Had definately caught that slip. But honestly, who WOULDN'T love her?!

And no, that wasn't being conceited. She did what half the people in Paris wished they could do! Everyone dreams of being the good guy vigilante. Not many have the skills and the stamina to pull it off.

And not everyone could say they had dated a guy as smart as Max Kante. In fact, she knew only one other girl in existence could have claimed that. And now, nobody could.

Max had been so fucking talented and smart! Well, actually, Adrien was coming pretty close in the smarts department. But nobody knew computers like Max. He could hack his way into anywhere! Get into any system he wanted! And could design and build gadgets like nobody else she had heard about, or known.

Her grappling tool was his work. He'd made it so compact, it was like an oversized yoyo! He had also designed the pole vault Chat was using right now, though it had been intended for her. She just hadn't gotten the hang of it like the yoyo contraption. And so had just always left it at home!

Clearly, it had been destined for better than her, by the way her new partner was flinging himself all over the place like he'd been born with it in his hands!

Max had sure been one of a kind!

He just hadn't been for her.

He had said he understood that. That he loved her anyway. Even though he also said it was probably just hero worship.

Lady had been walking down the street one night, not long before she was widely known as the Lady in Red/Ladybug. She had been in her last year of high school. Only a couple more months before graduating! She had been hurrying home bc it was getting dark out, laden down with 2 shopping bags of fabric. She had tried to be home before it was dark, but it was fall, and the sun set a bit earlier than she had anticipated. Hence the hurrying.

Not 2 blocks from home, and that was when she heard it. A sharp yelp, followed by a low plea for help.

It had reminded her of how a little old man might call for help. So naturally she had investigated. She hadn't expected to round the corner to the alley and see Max, her school mate, pressed up against the side of a brick wall, with some meaty hand crushing his windpipe.

She had seen the terror in his eyes as he spotted her. She heard how he tried to whisper her name. She had heard him tell her to run.

She had ignored him, and had immediately charged the bulky man pressing her friend to the dirty wall. The mugger had quickly turned at the sound of her running feet, dropping Max to the ground in his surprise.

And then he laughed. She wasn't more than 3 feet away from him when he started laughing. And she used that to her advantage.

This guy didn't know she had taken self defense. This guy didn't know she had a black belt in karate.

And so he was completely floored when she pushed the heel of her hand hard against his nose. She heard the crunch of it. Saw the blood immediately start spurting out. And didn't stop there.

She followed it up with a hard knee to the groin, dropping him to his knees instantly. His painful moans filled the alley, but she didn't stop there. No way was she letting this guy get up as soon as they turned their back.

She knew she was little, and it might not be enough to fel him, but she punched him in the side of the head, and watched as he crumpled the rest of the way to the ground.

He must have lost more blood than she thought from his nose, if he went out with just one punch! Or he was faking it. But she wasn't going to stick around to find out!

Grabbing Max by the arm, she helped him stumble his way out of the alley and the 2 blocks to her house. Along the way, she had called the police, and told them she had found a man mugging a teenager. She gave them what block she'd been on. And from there it was up to them.

Then she made Max text his mom, saying it had gotten dark earlier than he anticipated, and he'd need to stay at his friends.

When they finally made it to her house, Max had been so grateful! He wouldnt stop thanking her, and apologizing for being so weak.

Naturally, she had cut off that ridiculousness, telling him it wasn't even remotely his fault that he couldn't defend himself against a guy 3 times his size crushing his windpipe! She couldn't even have done that, had she been in his shoes!

But he would hear none of it.

He had pulled her into a hug, buried his nose in her shoulder and started bawling.

She understood! Life threatening experiences definately changed a person!

And this was Max! Sweet, nerdy, adorable Max! Without a deceptive bone in his thin, wirey body!

So she just let him cry on her shoulder, while she rubbed small circles on his back, whispering how he was safe. Then his breathing started to even out. He must have been exhausted, and could definately use the rest!

She was startled when he suddenly lifted his head and stared into her eyes so intently. Like he could see into her very soul if he searched hard enough.

She kept her gaze on him. What else was she to do?! Max had probably thought he would die. There was no guarantee anyone would have come by! He probably just needed to reassure himself that he was safe. That she was there.

So she said nothing.

Not even when he tenderly held both of her cheeks between his hands, and continued gazing into her eyes.

To say she was shocked when he placed his lips against hers would have been an understatement! She was so shocked, she did nothing for a full 10 seconds.

But then, neither did Max. He just left his lips connected to hers. Not moving away. Not taking it deeper.

Until she lifted her hands to lightly grasp the wrists that were still holding her face.

That seemed to wake him up. He drew back and stared. Then shook his head at her, and pressed his lips more urgently against her own.

This time, he did not sit still. His lips moved against hers urgently. Like he was searching for something that he thought she could give him.

And what was she to do?! She couldn't push him away and make him feel embarrassed. Or rejected.

So even though she didn't feel anything fluttery in her belly. Even though she wasnt overridden with passion, she did the only thing she could.

She opened her mouth and kissed him back. And when he slid his tongue into her mouth, she still said nothing. And didn't pull away.

His hands slid from her face, explored her neck and throat. Then drifted down her shoulders, and slid around her back as he pulled her to straddle his lap.

And she let him.

Max needed this.

She would never go so far as to have sex with him. But she could give him this. And hey, she was almost an adult. She wasn't naive! While she knew it wasn't a burning passion to be with him, on her side, it was still enjoyable! And there was no harm in it!

They had probably made out for a good 20 minutes before he pulled back for good, just resting his forehead against hers. He was breathing hard, and his eyes were closed. But the small smile on his face warmed her heart.

Max was so sweet! He hadn't deserved any of this! And he would make Some woman out there a very happy woman!

It just wouldn't be her.

She had shifted herself to be beside him on her chaise, and slowly leaned back, pulling him with her. And he didn't resist.

She pulled a blanket out from under her, draping it over them, and then wrapped her arms around him, tucking his head under her chin. There was no way she could let him walk home at this time of night! So she might as well comfort him some more!

He had fallen asleep within minutes, and she had continued to rub his back soothingly until she herself dozed off.

They had woken in the morning to her parents staring down at them questioningly. As soon as Max had scrambled up and away from her, and they had seen his bruised neck, all questions had flown out the window as they nursed and fussed over him.

Her Chinese mother had some herbal balms that she applied around his neck, which seemed to take away alot of the redness within minutes! But it still looked ugly as hell.

Her dad had driven them to Max's house for a change of clothes. It was lucky it was fall, so the turtle neck he doned wasn't out of place. Then they were dropped off at school, where Max kept to her side like white on rice!

She really didn't mind.

And when people Had started to look at him funny for following her around like a puppy, she had seen the hurt look in his eyes. He had never been on the receiving end of gossip or the butt of jokes before!

So naturally, it was up to her to fix it. She had stopped suddenly in the hall, making Max run into her. Turning to him, she reached to twine her fingers with his. And then, with a smirk and a wink, she had pulled him by the front of his shirt towards her, and planted a very convincing kiss on his startled lips.

When she had pulled away, there was laughter in her eyes, and she was pleased to see the same thing mirrored in his.

She had turned to return to heading to class, meaning to pull him with her. But he had laughed. Out loud! And whirled her back with a tsk, saying he wasn't ready. And sliding a hand to the back of her head, he twinned his fingers in her hair, and kissed her again.

Loud wolf whistles and clapping are what broke them apart.

And they had dated until the end of school.

She didn't make it a secret to Max that she felt no great passion with him. To which he responded that he didn't either. But love wasnt about great passions. It was about trust, dependability and respect. He hadn't thought he would ever find that anywhere. Max was very analytical. So It was no surprise that those were what he wanted.

But she wanted it all. All that he wanted. And the passion.

He said he understood. That he'd take what he could get from her, and be happy he had gotten that at all.

He had been the best friend that she could have ever asked for!

When she confessed to wanting to save Paris, he had been right there with her! Not to physically help her. He was more a behind the scenes kinda guy. But he agreed she'd be brilliant at it!

She had designed her outfit while she was still in school. And he had designed her almost a dozen different tools to use. Then made and set up her coms system for her. They didn't chat the way her and Rena do now. Mostly, when she had kicked some guys ass, she would just let him know via text, or a quick call. He'd find her on the gps, and notify the police of where to find the unconscious badies.

They had been dating for 8 months when his plane had crashed while it was taking off at the runway. Max had been debating going to some fancy tech school in another country, and was flying to check it out.

He hadn't died, but with the coma he'd been in for 2 years after, and the almost vegetative state he was in now, he might as well have. Drs had tried to get his mom to pull the plug long before he'd woken up. But she just couldn't! Then he had started to respond, and she had had hope!

But when he woke up, almost like a 2 year old child, his mother had cried and cried for weeks!

And so had she. Because even though she hadn't had any romantic love for Max, she had still loved him! And she mourned all that he used to be.

Pulling herself out of her own thoughts, she went back to watching, and following, Chat Noir across the rooftops of Paris.

While she had saved Max in that alley, she hadn't been able to Save him when it really counted. Maybe she was putting that misplaced need onto Adrien, and that was why she was so set on doing this for him. But either way, it didn't matter why she was doing it. She just was.

And Rena could go shove it!

Rena didn't KNOW it was Adrien Agreste as Chat Noir. But she was Computer whiz, who could look up an address like most normal people, to know where she had sent Lady all those weeks ago. But the mansion, as Adrien dubbed it, had 6 staff members that didn't go home at the end of each day, and called the rooms downstairs home.

The cook, a housekeeper, a nurse- just in case something ever happened with Adrien, two bodyguards, and Gabriel Agreste's personal assistant.

She still couldn't believe how isolated Gabriel had made his so! And there was no doubt in her mind that Adrien NEEDED this!

Lady watched Chat leap towards the Eiffel Tower, and decided to show him an extra thing or two about running around the city. So, putting a little more effort into it, she flung her "yoyo" a little farther and harder than she had been all night. She watched Chat do a barrel roll off the side of one of the taller buildings in his path, and took the opportunity to veer onto a different course than him.

Swinging between some tall buildings a couple blocks away from Chat, Lady managed to get in front of him, so she could now hear his joyous laughter behind her. She smiled, finding happiness from his. But she was determined to beat him to the Tower. And that meant, not being distracted by funny feelings. So she set those aside and set her mind to what she should be doing.

She landed a good minute before her new "partner", and leaned causally up against a beam, in the shadows, so when Chat finally landed, he didn't see her.

She watched him land, and spin a happy circle, with his arms spread wide and his face lifted to the sky.

She loved watching him enjoy the simple things. Things she had taken for granted. Like freedom. And being under the moon and the stars.

She watched as, after about a minute passed, he started to look out towards the building of Paris. Probably looking for her.

Silly kitty.

She watched him shade his eyes with a hand and keep looking, as if that'd help him see her better in the darkness.

Adorable silly kitty.

That only helped with the sun.

"Huh," she heard him mumble. "I didn't think she was that far behind me."

With a smirk, she stepped out. "I wasn't."

She watched the surprise pass over his face as he Whipped around to stare at her. Then watched the pleasure and happiness take over and spread across his face.

He had such an expressive face!

She imagined wiping away the happiness and replacing it with stunned surprise if she were so bold as to march up to him and plant the hottest kiss he'd ever had on his oh so kiss-able lips. But that was probably going too far... At the moment.

Someday though, she'd know how it felt to have his lips pressing against hers.

"Getting better with the baton, I see! Way better than I ever was with it!" she gave a laugh, remembering how she had fumbled and fell almost every time she had tried! Nothing like the gracefulness Chat seemed to have!

"Ya, it's awesome! I still can't believe it when I'm jumping over the rooves!"

"That feeling doesnt ever really go away. I still feel it!" she admitted with a small laugh.

"Yo, Red, how's the flirting coming?" came abruptly though her earpiece.

Lady almost choked! She hadn't been expecting to hear from Rena! She had expressly said she was going to train Chat some more!

And her and her damn teasing.

"We're not flirting Rena!" she grumpily whispered. "What are you even doing up this late?! I thought I said we wouldn't need you!"

"I know," came through laughingly, "But I woke up for a snack, and couldn't fall back asleep. So then I followed your gps, and noticed the love dance you two were doing. When you stopped for too long, I figured I'd get in some ribbing while I was awake!"

Choking back a laugh - they were NOT flirting! - Lady countered with an admonishment instead.

" You should be in bed! Get that husband of your to rub your feet or something. "

"Mmmmm..." came through "I'll take the or something over the foot rub."

She coul almost SEE the eyebrow wiggle Rena probably made with that statement! Which was no Surprise. Rena had said the last stage of her pregnancies always came with an increase in wild jungle sex. Renas words, not her own!

"Well, get to it mama! Stop pissing around with me!" and with that, she clicked off her own earpiece, not waiting for a response.

She turned to see Chat staring at her, a huge grin on his face.

"Rena making fun of you again?"

Giving him an eye roll, "Ya," she admitted. "Freaking annoying."

"Oh, I dunno. Her theory has some merits! I almost always AM flirting with you!"

"Ya, but i dont encourage you!" she sputtered.

That response only made him laugh.

Ridiculously adorable silly kitty.

She perched herself on the edge of the upper deck, and felt him settle beside her, still laughing lightly.

Until he wasn't anymore. He suddenly became quite serious on her, almost out of the blue.

"What's bothering you Chat?"

She must have taken him by surprise, since he jolted a bit. Did he think she couldn't read him like an open book?!

Finally, looking back out at Paris, he spoke quietly. "I might have convinced my father to let me out of the house."

That was... Not what she had been expecting.

"How on earth did you do that?!?!"

With a thoughtful expression on his face, he answered slowly. "I'm not 100% it was me. I think it was my bodyguard, actually."

She just raised a brow, and he blushed.

"He may have... Heard me griping about not being allowed to do normal person stuff. Walk in the sun. Meet people. Fall in love. Next thing i know, I'm being called into my father's office, and he is listing off appropriate venues to his assistant, so she could make me an itinerary. But I'm only allowed out for one hour. And my bodyguard needs to be with me at all times."

She could tell from his sour face that he didn't like the idea.

She threw an arm around his shoulders and gave a squeeze. "Well, just remember, you could not Be allowed out at all. So, pick your battles, kitty."

"I guess," was mumbled petulantly, making her laugh at him.

"So where was acceptable?"

"I don't really know. Some outdoor park that my father used to take my mom too alot. And a bakery she used to love. Almost more than she loved my father, if you go By what he says," he stated with a chuckle.

Thinking about her own love of pasties, Lady knew exactly how that could happen!

" Well, first time out in years, you better take the opportunity and try one of everything they have! You only live once, and your father may only let you out of the house once!" he joined in her laughter, and she had a distinct feeling he hadn't laughed alot before he met her.

"I'll take that under advisement. What's your favorite pastry?"

Lady tapped her bottom lip a few times, while looking out into the distance.

"I'd have to say macarons, though, I love all pastries! But I'm a sucker for these mocha ones with a vanilla bean center I've had! Just the right hint of coffee flavor. And that vanilla bean is to die for!" she closed her eyes, and could picture those exact macarons that her parents made at their bakery. She couldn't resist licking her lips, and wondering if there would be any left from the day when she got home. She would devour those macarons like it was her last 10 minutes to live and that was the last thing she'd ever eat!

She was broken out of her almost erotic thoughts about mere pastries, by Chats awkward cough.

"I'm uh, gonna guess you really like those macarons!" he said with a chuckle.

"Everyone has their guilty pleasure! I could sit and each 3 dozen of those in one shot!"

With one last longing thought about decadent vanilla bean icing, Lady moved to stand.

"We should get you home, hot stuff. It's getting late. Wouldn't want anyone to go looking for you and find you missing."

...

Marinette was placing a dozen croissants in a box for a regular customer, Mr. Ramier when the bell above the shop door jingled. Not moving from her spot behind the display case, she hollered out, " Be right with you! "

Placing the last one in the box, she discarded her plastic glove in the bin, and closed the box gently, so as not to squish anything. To finish, she placed a round Thank You sticker over the opening, before ringing it in.

She felt her mother come out behind her with a new tray of treats and place them in the case. All the new smells were sure making her hungry! Which was no surprise, since she hadn't eaten at all yet today, and it was the middle of the afternoon!

She heard her mother ask the newcomer what he'd like as Mari deposited money in the til, and bid Mr. Ramier a good day, with a wave.

As the bell jingled, she turned to look at the new customer, and faltered just a bit.

Bc right there, on the other side of the counter, was Adrien Agreste. Albeit, in disguise. Ish.

He had on well faded jeans, and a black baggy sweater, with green cat eyes on the front, the sleeves pushed up to his elbows. Perched on his head was a black bowler hat covering his blonde hair, and som was sticking out under it. Finished off with dark sunglasses covering his eyes, despite being inside the store.

Not the best disguise, but then, anybody who hadn't seen him in 5 years would never know. Most people couldn't claim to have been jumping over rooves with him just 2 nights ago.

She was a bit surprised actually. Adrien had said almost 2 weeks ago that his dad might let him out. She had started to doubt Gabriel had meant it.

But now, here he stood!

And he seemed so lost! Like he wasn't even sure what he was doing!

So, with the objective of putting him more at ease, she rested her elbows on the counter, and leaned forward.

"Hey handsome, need any help deciding?!"

Startled, the disguised blonde whipped his face to look at her, instead of the display.

It took all she had to not laugh out loud at his shock.

"I uh... I think..."

Adorable kitty.

She couldn't help being slightly protective of her kitty. She knew it was irrational. She had only actually known him for under two Months! But already, he was Important to her, having wormed his way into her heart with his geeky, genuine, adorable self. And he wasn't shy at all about stating how much he liked her. Envied her. Or how much gratitude he felt, that she had given him so much freedom.

Which was why with a brilliant smile, despite it maybe giving herself away, she suggested, tongue in cheek;

"Why not get one of everything? You only live once!"

"What did you say!?" he suddenly sharpened his focus on her.

She knew what he was looking for. Anything to connect her with Paris' vigilante.

Oh kitty, I've been at this far longer than you. Nobody would ever think to connect the leather clad Lady in Red with her pink clad, flower loving, apron wearing alter identity.

"Why not get one of everything?" she repeated, in response to his question. "Unless you had a favorite, and just didn't see it?"

Her mother, who had been observing the exchange with great interest, finally piped up helpfully, "Oh yes! Tom is just finishing off some macarons!" and with a clap of her hands, she hurried Into the back to check on her father's progress.

"So, any favorites??"

Staring at her for only a few seconds more, he turned his attention back to the display.

"No favorites that i know of." he said slowly. "I've never had anything but croissants before."

"Well, you cant go wrong with croissants!" she agreed brightly. "Chocolate or butter?"

"There's a chocolate croissant?!" he was so surprised, he actually drew his sunglasses down his nose and stared at her, incredulous.

"Oh, you poor sheltered kitty!" she was genuinely shocked by his admission. Adrien had the internet. Had he never looked?!

Well, ok, no, he probably hadn't. Not with all of the courses he had filled his time with. Why obsess over what you couldn't have?!

She was immediately filled with so much loathing for the man who made him that way. How did a man justify that kind of isolation?!

She was so lost in her thoughts about her previous idol, that she didn't notice how Adrien was staring at her.

But her preoccupation only lasted seconds. She quickly shook it off, and smiled again at Adrien.

She saw the question in his eyes. And wondered after it. But then she realized his preoccupation.

Kitty.

Lady called him that.

"What uh - why did you call me kitty?!"

She raised a brow, and stared pointedly at his shirt.

Noticing, he suddenly blushed.

"Oh, oh ya."

Seriously adorable kitty.

"Can i uh... Ask you? What's your favorite?"

Should she lie?! Was it too much of a coincidence to like the same thing as the Lady in Red? Was it too calculated a risk to have too many things in common? Would it be aweful if he knew? She didn't think he'd look at her different. Not with how much he liked her alter ego. Or was that her wishes talking??

Oh, this was so hard!!

No!

The Dupain-Cheng bakery made the best pastries in all of Paris! Their macarons were the favorite of thousands of people in the city. Besides, it was her bakery that made them!

"Papa makes a mocha macaron, with vanilla bean frosting. Only bakery in Paris that does. It's mind blowingly good!" she followed that up by closing her eyes briefly and humming delightedly.

When she looked at him again, she saw his wide eyed stare. And knew when he made a connection. The connection she as hoping he would. Lady frequented this bakery.

"I'll take your suggestion then. One of everything." he finally stated.

She grinned knowingly, and set about boxing up his request.

She had a feeling she was going to start seeing alot more of Adrien Agreste.