The night could not last any longer.

Every minute, his skin would find a way to brush again hers and they felt like fire, ready to burn her alive. his hands couldn't leave her body.

Ladybug wanted him to stop.

But she's had this conversation with him enough times to know that he wouldn't listen.

Even when she thought that he was on her side, he never did. Every argument she makes would always fall deaf to his ears. No matter how loud she says it.

It was only recently that she realized how toxic their partnership was.

While akuma battles were hard to handle without Chat Noir, they were a blessing in disguise. If he kept up his cruise, Ladybug would've kept falling for it. And she wasn't confident enough to say that she wouldn't have gotten together with him.

Chat could be very persuasive when he wanted himself to be.

Because as ugly as his personality might be, his looks were the complete opposite. And the cat knew it.

A hand rested around Ladybug's waist as Chat Noir pulled her closer towards him. Her skin was smoking and it took everything in her to stop herself from shivering in disgust. She couldn't stop her stomach from sinking.

He leaned forward and she could hear the thumping of her own heart as he whispered, "I knew that you would make the right decision m'lady." He gave her a thorough once over before smirking, "You always did." Before she could blink, two of his fingers were on her neck. "I can feel how fast your heart is beating for me. I knew that you always loved me. You were just too stubborn to admit it."

Before things could escalate, she gently pushed him off, awkwardly smiling. "Yep," she managed to steadily say. "You know me too well."

He licked his lips, "Of course I do." he said, lowering his voice. "We are soulmates after all."

Ladybug's gaze lowered.

This was a topic that Chat always brought up. The two of them represented creation and destruction. They were good and bad personified. Yin and yang. They meant to be together.

But Ladybug didn't believe it.

She couldn't.

There was no way her soulmate could be someone disgusting. Someone who invaded her personal space and had no value for her feelings. Chat wanted to control her.

Ladybug had to believe that it wasn't true.

Cause even she knew that she deserved better.

After a long minute, Chat Noir leaned back. He pursed his lips before giving her a smile that was probably meant to look sexy. Instead, it did nothing but make her blood freeze cold.

"You know, m'lady" Chat started, his voice sounded way too innocent for her liking. You've obviously changed your mind about our relationship and made the correct decision. So don't you think that we should reveal our identities to each other now?" He lifted her chin and purred when their eyes met. "We wouldn't want to start our relationship off on the wrong foot now, don't we?"

Ladybug shook her head, "No," she said. And even though her words were quiet, she could hear them echoing throughout Paris. "We don't want that to happen."

She tried her hardest to keep her voice from sounding defeated but from the way Chat smirked at her, his eyes glinting with glee, she knew that she failed.

Of course, Chat knew that she wasn't in love with him. She had no choice but to arrive. Not if she wanted to get rid of his ring. She shouldn't be surprised that he was twisting everything around, painting himself as the knight in shining armor.

"But," her voice faltered. "Do you think we can wait until we finish eating? I just- I don't-"

He interrupted her with a brush on her cheek. "Are you nervous, bugaboo?" he teased. "Don't worry, even if your face doesn't live up to my standards, your body does." She felt one of his hands travel down her back and for the millionth time, she wished that her uniform wasn't so skin tight. "And when we decide to fuck, I'm sure that we can hide your face somehow."

Her cheeks flushed and he laughed.

"I won't- I- We're still so young." She tried to defend herself, not knowing why. It's not like he would ever get the chance to do those types of things to her. "I don't want to do that type of thing just yet."

He ignored her protests, his hand stopping at her buttocks. "Would I be your first, m'lady?" he asked, his eyes maliciously staring down at hers, "Were you saving yourself just for me? How sweet." When she doesn't answer he continued. "You have until sunset to reveal your identity to me."

He says it like he's doing her a favor. She hates it.

If her distaste shows on her face, he ignores it. "That should give you enough time to gather up the courage to show your face." he tilts his head as he gives her another once-over that makes her feel absolutely filthy. "Though, I'm sure you aren't that bad looking. You are my soulmate, after all."

She nods. "Thank you," she says, relief plain in her tone as she carefully grabs two macaroons from the display. "Are you still hungry?" she asked, tilting her head in the way she knew he liked.

He took the offered dessert, "What type of boyfriend would I be if I didn't eat all the food my girlfriend gave me."

She carefully ate her macaroon, discreetly watching as Chat ate his.

This moment reminded her of how things were before. After patrol, Ladybug would bring them something to eat and the two of them would sit at the Eiffel tower together, enjoying each other's company as conversation flowed through the air.

She remembered feeling relief. Relief that she had someone to share the burden of saving Paris with. Happy that she wasn't alone. That she had someone that understood her.

Now-

It was the complete opposite.

Now all Ladybug feels is dread as the two of them ate through the assortment of food. She couldn't bring herself to talk, only nodding as Chat listed off everything that he had planned for them.

His hand reached for his beverage and something in her loosened. It was almost over.

Chat opened his mouth but before a word could escape, his body fell on the metallic floor. She waited for a few minutes, her heart gradually beating once again.

What if it was a trick? What if he caught onto her plan and was playing with her head?

She waited for a few minutes before sighing with relief, even though the tightness never fully went away.

Chat Noir was unconscious in front of her and all she had to do was to pull the ring off of his finger.

It was right there, a few steps away. It would be so easy.

So why did she feel like something was about to go wrong?