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Ladybug noticed the music change into a soft violin piece; it shifted the overall mood, breaking some of the tension between them.

Ladybug continued, "Chat, I can tell you're not a bad person. You've never actually hurt me in battle; you only ever try to subdue or incapacitate me. Don't think I haven't noticed. In fact, I'm pretty sure you don't have a mean bone in your body. And more than once, you... you've even saved me."

His eyes widened. "Wha-? I did? When was that?"

"It was when I wasn't transformed. One time an akuma was chasing after me and it was so hot on my heels, there was no way to hide. He threw a car at me but at the last second you rescued me. You carried me to a building nearby, and told me to find shelter and to stay safe. I... I would have been killed."

He scrunched his face, coming to a realization. "And then you wouldn't have shown up as Ladybug and we wouldn't have been able to take your miraculous anyway..." He looked away and mused, "I wish I could remember what you looked like outside of the costume."

Ladybug smiled briefly, then became serious. "My point is that I think under different circumstances we could have even been friends. I think that YOU think you guys are doing a good thing. But you're actually not. Hawkmoth is harming people. And you need to realize that. It's not something that can be easily erased with a lucky charm. Things and buildings can be fixed but memories and trauma remain. Is this how you'd like to be remembered?"

"Ladybug... I... What choice do I have?" he looked back at her exasperatedly. "Hawkmoth, he's ruthless and determined. And he's... he's not just my boss." He leaned a bit closer and murmured quietly, "He's family. If I defied him, what would I do? Where would I go? He'd take my miraculous away if I even tried. I don't have a choice."

"You always have a choice, Chat. I can help you. We'd figure something out, we could come up with a plan."

"Ladybug, please. I can't do what you're asking me to do. I can't. Just let me have your miraculous. We could stop fighting and then you'd never have to see me again. I'd be out of your hair and you could live a normal life and be a normal girl who worries about normal things, and not have to worry about-" he motioned his head upwards, referring to the akuma's party, "All of this."

Ladybug fell silent. As alluring as a completely ordinary life sounded, she knew from the moment she accepted her miraculous that she would never have a regular life again, and she had come to terms with that already. That didn't mean she didn't miss it though. Being able to go out with friends or on dates, or even finishing her homework on time instead of having to stay out late patrolling, and being able to sleep soundly without a care in the world... It all sounded so out of reach for her.

The magic compelled Chat to spin her around, the bottom of Ladybug's dress swirling and glimmering radiantly from the remaining light from the darkening sky, then they came back together.

She shrugged. "I don't think I was ever meant to have a normal life anyway." She looked up at him. "The magic chose me, just like it chose you."

"'We were meant to be partners,' I know. You've said so before," he replied as he looked down at the ground. "I don't even know why I'm telling you all this. You're the last person I should be talking to. My father would kill me if he--" he stopped suddenly and his eyes grew wide as saucers.

Ladybug's eyes snapped wide open as well. "Your father? No... Oh no..." she felt a chill creep down her spine like a bucket of ice water. "Your father is Hawkmoth."

Chat bit his lip painfully and squeezed his eyes shut in regret.

For a few moments neither of them spoke.

Then Ladybug did something that took Chat completely by surprise.

Ladybug's natural instinct was always to hug and comfort someone who was hurting. She couldn't stand to see another person in pain. Since her body was only allowed to dance, she did the next best thing. She gently but firmly wrapped her arms around Chat's shoulders and laid her head on him as they swayed to the music.

He flinched slightly, but his hands slowly came to rest on the small of her back, his arms tightly wrapped around her returning the embrace. He let his head rest on hers and they remained like that for a few minutes, neither of them saying a word. If she heard him sniffle quietly, she never said a word.

Chat finally broke the silence, "You look dazzling, by the way. I've never been brave enough to tell you, but... you are so beautiful."

"Chat..." Her face went from feeling warm to suddenly feeling like she'd stepped into an oven. "I--"

His hands unexpectedly slid all the way around her waist to cradle her back and she found herself falling backward as the magic in the music performed a dip. His face was so close and the movement so sudden, Ladybug wrapped around his neck and she squeaked in surprise.

He chuckled lightly and quipped, "Don't fall for me now, Ladybug." Before she could reply, she could feel his arms flex and tighten around her, bringing her closer as he brought her back up from the dip.

He wasn't sure if he wanted to know how she would react to his abrupt confession from before, so he spoke again, "I won't be trying to steal your miraculous tonight, I promise. I just want to go home," he said spiritless.

She hugged him tight for a moment to show her approval. "I understand. I... I wish I knew what else to say."

He shook his head. "You don't have to say anything. Tonight made me realize that even though I've heard you say it many times before, you really aren't my enemy, and that you don't want to be. That you aren't trying to switch me to 'your' side; you just want us to be on the same side."

Ladybug looked up at him, felt his soft gaze on her. He had never looked at her this way before. She smiled at him, and felt herself almost wishing they could keep on dancing for hours, feeling more strongly than ever a desire to become close to him.

Chat suddenly stepped back and spun her around into a cuddle step, so that her back was flat against his chest and her arms were crossed in front of her. He held her close, his hands still holding onto hers. His head dipped down, close enough to her ear that she could feel his breath on her neck and hastily whispered, "The akuma is in Terpsichore's clutch purse. I think the magic will allow me to choose a dance move. I'll perform a lift so you can summon and catch your Lucky Charm. Okay?"

Ladybug shook off the initial bewilderment she felt at his words and agreed.

They returned to the original position and Chat nodded at her to confirm what he was about to do. She nodded in return. He counted to three, grabbed her by the waist, and lifted her over his head gracefully and easily, as if they had performed this move many times before. She stretched out her body so she was parallel to the ground. Since it was still technically a dance move it was permitted, and Ladybug's arms were finally free, at least momentarily. She called for a Lucky Charm and caught it as it appeared from thin air. Chat gently lowered her back to the ground.

Chat's eyes popped and he raised an eyebrow. "A stick of gum?! Are you serious? What are we supposed to do, blow bubbles at her? Stick it in her hair?" He looked back at Ladybug for input. Instead of confusion and puzzlement on her face, there was a brilliant smile etched on her delicate features.

"What's got you looking so pleased? You look like the cat that swallowed the canary."

She blushed. "I- um... You said 'we'."

His face softened and he gave her a lopsided smile as his own face reddened. He cleared his throat and remarked, "Don't get too excited, now. You still have to save the day with chewing gum."

She smirked cheekily. "I think I can handle that. Just follow my lead."

He nodded his head. "At your service, My Lady."

——

"Now that was something I never thought I'd see! You're like a French MacGyver! That was amazing!" Chat laughed enthused.

Ladybug giggled airily. "It definitely was something." For a long moment, their silly grins at each other was the only thing that mattered, but it was broken as her earrings began to beep.

Chat's ears drooped and his countenance fell. "I'd better get out of here; I'm sure my father knows what I've done."

"Chat Noir, wait!" she blurted as her miraculous continued to beep urgently.

He eyed her earrings. "Ladybug, you're about to detransform."

"Please, just hear me out, it'll only take a moment," she implored. He nodded faintly. She continued, "Meet me at midnight on the western side of Notre Dame. I'll understand if you won't, but... please think about it."

"I..." Chat rubbed his neck nervously. "I'll think about it."

She gave him a soft smile and turned around to leave.

"Ladybug!" he cried as she was about to pull her arm back to throw her yo-yo.

She looked back at him quizzically. He walked up to her, stopping when he was close enough that she could feel the heat radiating from his body and notice the slight flush on his face. He took her hand and slowly brought it to his lips as he bowed down slightly, then softly kissed her knuckles. "Thank you. Really."

Ladybug's cheeks burned furiously and she felt a powerful swell of affection and sympathy for him. "A-Anytime."

Marinette wasn't sure if she would actually see Chat later that night at Notre Dame. But she couldn't help but feel hopeful and optimistic regardless as she zipped from building to building with a broad smile on her face.

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Author's notes:

I hope you guys liked my story! Eventually I'd like to add some art for the story too, like what their outfits looked like, etc. but I haven't had time to work on it yet. Hopefully in the near future I'll post some art as an extra chapter!