Adrien stood at the side and watched as knight after knight became defeated in a battle of respect and honour. One by one, they took to the arena in a competition of strength and determination. There were a lot of talented knights gathered for the Princess' guardianship and they brought with them an array of expertise and skill; each fully committed to the win — himself included.

The surrounding area cheered as, once again, a knight was sent out of the arena and left battered and bruised. It seemed Sir Couffaine could definitely place his skill where his mouth was, taking out the best knights from the surrounding kingdoms with such grace and ease even Adrien had to admit the guy was impressive. So far, he had defeated every knight who had stepped foot in the courtyard, playing a game of defence and wearing his component thin before attacking and making himself the deserved winner.

Slightly unsettled and highly agitated, Adrien turned his head to look where Princess Marinette was seated, only to catch her gaze before she turned away to look elsewhere. It seemed she was seeking him out as much as he was her.

The sun had reached its peak of midday, the glittering rays travelling across the castle and courtyard before falling on the Princess. She shone in the sunlight, a true beauty in all senses of the word. Looking at her now was like angels were calling him to her presence; a torture worse than the whip when he knew quick, fleeting glances were all he could take.

She was a distraction he didn't need and one he certainly couldn't afford. He needed to remind himself as to the reason why he'd come here in the first place; why he was placing himself in such a predicament and playing such a risky game. He wasn't here to get all worked up over some Princess — even if she was the most delightful woman to ever grace his vision. He gave her another quick look, catching her blue eyes and almost falling to one knee and asking for her hand. He needed to stay away from her and stop his mind from running beyond his means.

All of a sudden, he felt a pair of eyes burning into the side of his head. Twisting awkwardly, he came face to face with the rather annoyed looking Lady Kagami. Her eyes narrowed into him as she sat alongside the Princess. Fine. He got the message. Giving her a quick glance, he made sure she understood that her message had been well and truly received before he concentrated back on the arena, and on Sir Couffaine defeating yet another practised knight.

Sir Couffaine had taken the young knight swiftly and skilfully, Adrien clapping along with the others in a sight of appreciation, and Sir Couffaine deserved it. He moved almost effortlessly in his armour and although Adrien knew he could take him down, that wasn't part of the plan.

Adrien went to grab hold of the signet ring sitting heavy on his right hand, a nervous twitch which he'd perfected over the years. The strong silver band was a comfort in his grip. A weight of reassurance; one he'd held close to his heart on the best days along with the worst. Subconsciously taking hold of one finger, he mimicked the twist and turn as though he was rotating the object around his finger.

The next knight was summoned into the arena, his predecessor, and Adrien stepped forward to stand on the outline – close enough to observe the action. He glanced once more towards where the Princess was seated, once again pulled to her like a moth to a flame. Yet, this time, his eyes didn't make it there, instead he once again found Lady Kagami glaring back at him, challenging him to keep doing it. He dropped her a wink and turned back to the tournament, praying no one had spotted the familiarity between the Knight and the Lady.

Sir Couffaine stepped forward and Adrien studied his movements. The knight's first step was always predictable: one step back on the right foot, sword lowered behind him ready to swing, then he'd wait.

Where Adrien's style was more destructive, Sir Couffaine was intuitive to his attackers moves. He put up a line of defence instead of a line of attack unlike Adrien who always stepped forward to strike first. His style had been built through anger and determination or, as his father stated, destruction.

The knight moved forward, Sir Couffaine moving backwards again. He seemed to favour his right arm, rarely using the left to support his attacks or his weapon, a weakness Adrien could play against — one he was almost certain he'd chased from their game of cat and mouse in the marketplace.

One step straight back, one slightly to the right; he repeated the same combination of moves before he was ready to strike, getting his opponent running ragged until he could take them down — not dissimilar to a viper. Adrien watched as the knight was taken out quickly and almost effortlessly. Sir Couffaine remained victorious as he had defeated all but one knight — him.

He removed his helmet and looked towards the Princess with a bow, her eyes glistening in some kind of admiration towards his nemesis. The move caused a tightening in Adrien's chest, a feeling he'd never felt before, one which just spurred him on in anger. He didn't want her to look at someone else like that, he wanted that look to be for him only. Just like it had been back down when they were hidden in the cherry blossom grove.

The knights moved around in a quick break as Adrien fixed his own helmet in place. This was it. It was time for him to take to the arena. Another glance over to the Lady and Princess and his mind grew in confusion — or was it his heart? He needed to focus now, not let this sudden unknown feeling dictate his next actions.

Lady Kagami caught his eye through his helmet, her face expressionless and warning. She could read him so well. He had to stay focused — get into the order of the chivalry, but not in a protective capacity to the Princess. He needed to perform just right to show his skill, but not to the point he would become restricted in his search.

Pushing down the visor, Adrien took a deep breath and held tightly on the grip of his sword. It was time to face his foe face to face. Cautiously, he made his way into the arena, Sir Couffaine watching every step he took as he made it to the start line, before placing on his own helmet and positioning the visor.

Adrien wasn't sure how long he would be able to fight at only a mere percentage of his skill; however, he couldn't help but want to give his rival a run for his money. Sir Couffaine hadn't broken a sweat yet so Adrien was determined to at least exhaust the guy by having some fun first.

"Start!" The call was announced and Adrien held his first move back, watching to check his rival was still as predictable as expected.

One step back, sword lowered behind — full weight in the right arm.

A smile graced Adrien's lips behind the mask. Just as predictable as always. Taking a step forward he watched for the next move.

One step straight back, one slightly to the right.

Bingo!

Taking his opponent's lead, Adrien moved forward again, but instead of swinging his sword he turned his back and swung round to the opposite side. The change of direction, plus being attacked from the same side as his sword, took his opponent off guard forcing Sir Couffaine to change his usual attack and swing early. He heard a loud grunt from the knight before the clang of metal versus metal.

Let the game begin!

Adrien continued to move quickly and almost silently around his foe as he pushed the top knight to his limits. He could hear the heavy breathing and impact groans as they continued to push against one another. Obviously, the knight hadn't improved his stamina much from their almost weekly chases through the marketed streets of Paris. He'd have to work the knight harder in the future. His focus was swiped for a couple of seconds allowing Sir Couffaine to push him back a little.

Glancing up, Adrien looked towards the Princess, noting how she had one hand over her mouth, her eyes hardly blinking as the two men in front of her fought for her honour — one he would unfortunately had to dismiss. She looked impressed and a thrill ran down his spine. Adrien pulled his sword back in both hands and prepared to push forward once more, when he caught Lady Kagami's face. She was pale and shocked. Almost as though he had never seen him do this before.

He needed to stop, to cool it down. Moving to the left, he made a fake swing and missed allowing Luka to take him down to the floor with a strong hit to the shoulder. Falling as dramatically as he could, Adrien dropped to his knees before falling backwards, making sure his head was tilted to where the Princess was sitting. She looked panicked, suddenly pushing up onto her feet and looking directly at him as Lady Kagami placed a hand to her head — clear exasperation of his acting skills. Maybe he'd taken it a little too far.

Sitting up, Adrien ripped the helmet from his head and took a few deep breaths.

He watched as Sir Couffaine made his way to stand over where he sat on the floor, his helmet ripped from his own sweat laced head and breathing deeply, and throwing his sword beside the blond, Adrien couldn't help but notice there was something different about his face. Something he'd never seen before. Was he impressed?

"Men," Sir Couffaine shouted. "Please welcome the newest member of the Princess' Guard."

Placing his gauntlet hand into Sir Couffaine's, Adrien was pulled to his feet and placed on display to the others. Looking around, he noticed cheering from the men and a satisfied face from his friend. However, as his attention turned to the Princess his stomach dropped, she didn't seem happy — at all.

*****

Adrien's first night on guard and he'd been put on patrol. He faked being disappointed for not receiving a more lucrative role, however, he was glad for the freedom to roam the outskirts of the castle so quickly after his arrival.

This time outside, alone in the dark, would give him opportunities to size up the towers and figure out how he was going to break in and steal the jewels. He knew where he needed to go, they had always been in the same place. However, if his last attempt was anything to go by, this could end up with quite the unfortunate consequence.

Adrien had been walking for an hour, noting how the Prince's room was in darkness obviously indicating wherever the Lord was, the Prince was too. There was no way he'd be left to roam the castle alone.

The area was as beautiful as always, the trees and shrubbery all pruned to perfection, with the small lamps lighting the pathways to help find his way. With no imminent threat, he'd left his helmet back in the knight's quarters, bringing only his trusty sword as a line of defence.

After completing the circuit of the main areas of the castle, Adrien headed down towards the path he'd walked with the Princess earlier that day. As he moved deeper and deeper into the thickening forest, Adrien noticed not only were the shadows becoming less pronounced, but the sounds circulating him were getting louder and more atmospheric. The hoots of the owls. The gushing of a nearby stream — and a shuffling, which sounded bizarrely like feet.

Quietly, Adrien moved forwards, careful not to startle whoever was walking amongst the cherry blossoms as he wandered closer to the noise. The sound wasn't heavy enough to be a knight's armour, meaning whoever was out here probably shouldn't be.

With a hand on his trusty sword, he walked forward a couple more steps, just about making out a shadow pacing along the path. The body type was feminine and, from what he could tell, was dressed far too sparsely for this time in the evening. Her hair was wild, bouncing around her shoulders finally released from its tight grip of a Princess' updo; the waves cascading in the moonlight sending ripples of midnight blue through her silken strands.

There was no doubt in his mind that he was looking at Princess Marinette.

Seeing her out of her dress, Adrien couldn't help but be mesmerised by the outstanding beauty of her as she paced along the pathway with her hands clutched into her chest. She was stunning! More beautiful than the Paris gardens and a sight for his broken soul. When was the last time he had looked at someone and been so taken by them? A sudden shuddering alerting him to a change in his breathing, his chest vibrating as his eyes focused purely on her. She looked so free out of her dress, her hair showing the real her as though her days were spent behind a mask. He knew exactly how that felt.

Stepping forward again, he headed in the direction of the Princess, his stomach whirling wildly as he grew closer, and closer.

"I'm quite sure you shouldn't be out here."

His voice startled her. Her feet getting twisted and tangled in the bottom of her expensive silk gown, and sending her spiralling on a one way trip to the floor.

Adrien's adrenaline spiked as he moved forward to catch her. His arms, once again, wrapped around her securely as he pulled her into his armour clad body. Her breath struck the slither of bare neck between his armour and chin and sent a rather unusual shiver down his body, one which was far too pleasant for his liking.

"You're saving me a lot today," she whispered.

"Well, I am your knight in shining armour."

They both remained still. Their arms wrapped tightly around each other as they looked at the other's face. Time stilled and the evening sounds became a backdrop to a moment he never wanted to forget. Being this close felt natural. To natural. Too right. And that, in itself, made it all the more wrong.

With a quick change of weight, he had Princess Marinette back securely on her feet; her centre of gravity realigned as he took a step backwards and away from this magnetised force, back to normality and away from her. Looking around, he searched to see if anyone else was near, the last thing he needed was Sir Couffaine, or Sir Luka as he could now call him, to find him gallivanting in the darkest of night with the Princess in her nightgown.

Relief struck, when he realised they were alone. A soft giggling noise sounded in his ear and his heartbeat increased dramatically. He glanced towards her precious, porcelain face. This obstacle was going to be deadly if he wasn't careful. He was becoming far too engrossed in her, absorbed by this comfortable companionship which he didn't ask for and certainly didn't need.

"I like that phrase!" she said, brushing her gown back down and straight over her legs. "I think it'll catch on. My knight in shining armour."

He wanted to smile with her, to bask in the joy she radiated, but he couldn't. He needed to break whatever this was between them; this magnetised pull which encouraged him to seek her out — even without the intent to do so.

"Goodnight, Princess." Bowing his head, Adrien swiftly turned, his plan to walk away and not look back. Low and behold, one word from her had him stalling in his tracks.

"Wait!"

Abruptly, he stopped. His head dropped as he knew he could not disobey orders from the Princess, not if he wanted to remain at the castle for the foreseeable future. He turned around, lifting his eyes to meet hers.

"Yes, Princess."

"I need to know," she said, stepping forward and staring at him. Her eyes were gently demanding an explanation, he just didn't know of what. Was this to do with the look she'd given him at the end of the tournament?

"What is it you're asking me, Princess?" He bowed his head once again, an acknowledgment of the hierarchy.

She moved forward, her hands cupped together over her chest and a slight shiver on her arms. She must be cold, the breeze tunnelling through the trees chilling the night air in the orchard. He watched intently as her fingers wound around each other, sending her knuckles white. He wanted to reach out and stop her, yet he knew his position — and he had no right to keep touching her. Even if she was seconds away from catching pneumonia.

"M-May you walk me back to my chambers? I forgot a shawl and it suddenly turned ever so cold out here."

Adrien looked into her eyes and was quite sure that was not the question she wanted to ask. The glistening curiosity shining through told him that. But if this was how it was going to be then so be it.

"As you wish, your highness."

Placing a fisted guanlet to his chest, Adrien lowered onto one knee and bowed his head. He'd had to stake out the rest of the castle another day. He had managed to get around most of the building and one night shortened wouldn't hurt, not when he knew it would be a while until the Lord's return.

He stood and motioned for her to come and stand beside him, beginning their walk in an eerie silence with only the night sounds of crickets and owls to keep them company. She shivered beside him and his heart ached to reach out towards her, though the cold metal of his suit would do nothing to warm the poor Princess up.

"May I speak freely, Princess?" he asked, walking alongside the Princess with a hand prepared on his sword. His employment was on the basis of protecting her, after all.

"You may, though, if I do not like the question you may need to grace the stocks with your presence. I doubt you want mouldy cabbage in that golden hair of yours, though."

Unsure if she was being serious or not, Adrien turned to look at her. The slight line at the edges of her eyes were the only evidence of humour. She was different to any other royals and he couldn't help but want to know more. She was funny, loving, soft, gentle, everything a crowned Queen shouldn't be, yet it made her all the more perfect for the job. More desirable.

"Why did you not reveal to me who you really were? It's not right for a knight to be conversing so freely with a lady of your stature."

She giggled and he couldn't help but smile in response.

"Have I said something humorous?"

"Not at all, Chaton. In fact, it is myself who I find so humorous. I wasn't meant to be in the gardens when you found me. I have a tendency to end up in situations which cause my guards unease, the exact reason why the tournament had to be announced and security tightened for my stay here. They needed the best to keep me contained, apparently I'm too much of a free spirit, but you didn't hear that from my lips."

That's all he needed. To be directed in the area of her lips. As they continued to walk down the partially lit pathway and back into the courtyard, he couldn't help the smile gracing his own. "I see your guards have fallen down on their job once more. I would have thought Sir Couffaine would have made sure you were exactly where he could see you."

"I have skills, Kitty, and I haven't gotten away with it, you found me."

"Kitty?" Adrien questioned, a twitch pulling at the corners of his lips.

"I think the nickname suits you, Sir Chat Noir." Her eyes danced as she turned to look at him — a twinkling even the stars couldn't compete with.

"I feel it is unfair you call me such a nickname when I don't have one for yourself. I can no longer call you M'Lady, as that would be doing you dishonour."

"I'm sure you can think of another name, I cannot be limited to only one possibility, surely."

Adrien stopped and looked around the part of the garden they were in. What did you call someone more beautiful than the most pure rose? Squinting his eyes, he looked around at the trees and the plants, his eyes suddenly settling on a vibrant shrub sitting on the edge of the grass. As he looked, a small red creature began to move around. Scurrying from to the end of one leaf before flying to the tip of the next — a small but nimble creature.

"M'Ladybug."

"Excuse me?"

He could feel her staring at him as he held out a hand to the leaf and allowed the small insect to make itself at home.

"Ladybug," Adrien repeated. Intently, he studied the red and black insect as it crawled onto his hand and began to make its climb up his arm. "Pretty, protective, good fortune, and grace."

"I like it." She smiled, before starting to walk again in the direction of the castle. "Now you know one of my secrets, can you tell me one of yours?"

"I'm an open book, Ladybug, I don't have any secrets to share." This was territory he didn't want to be dipping his foot into. His secrets could unveil more than just a tiny hidden truth and blow his whole cover apart.

"I might be a Princess, Kitty, but I can tell when someone is being dishonest." So her question was about his display earlier this afternoon.

"I don't know what you mean?"

"I've been around the scene long enough to know when someone surrendered in battle. When I was a mere child, I was enthralled by the younglings and their training regimes. I always begged my mother and father to allow me to train too, however my wish was dismissed and instead I could only watch from my window. So, I know for certain you had high ability in battle. You could have easily defeated Sir Couffaine, but for some reason you decided to yield. I need to ask: was it me?"

Adrien sighed. Was it her? He wanted to say no, that it had nothing to do with her and it was something else. But that would be lying. As much as he wanted it to be the truth, that would have been a rotten lie. But the truth was not something he wanted to disclose. He couldn't stand here and say her enchantress ways were causing him to lose focus — maybe even himself.

They continued to walk in the direction of the castle, Adrien unwilling to answer her question. Princess Marinette silently moved in sync beside him. Her head hung low as a result of his failure to speak.

He shouldn't have conversed with her so freely tonight, he should have just left her well alone and continued on with his patrol of the castle. So now, not only had he lost a night of preparation, he'd also ended up in a situation with the Princess he wasn't entirely sure he understood.

"I don't think it's a good idea to stay so close to you Princess." His heart began to race, a prickle of sweat playing around on the back of his neck as he considered his next words. What should he say? Should he give her the reason why? That she had scrambled his well designed plan.

They continued into the castle in silence. Entering through the main hallway of the castle, Adrien checked no one was around before leading her in. Not only was it not his job to protect the Princess, but he was meant to be out patrolling the grounds – getting caught was not an option, for either of them.

"I get it. Some people see it as a burden to be so close to me. Watching over the meek Princess as if she's too weak to defend herself."

"I never said that –"

"You don't have to," she interrupted. "I've had plenty of knights over the years, this job isn't the honour people see it as... it's really just a burden."

"I do not think such things, Ladybug."

"I can take care of myself, you know!" Her defence suddenly strengthened, coming to a standstill in an empty corridor in the castle.

He chuckled. "I never said you couldn't, but I do wonder how you would get on in battle against an enemy when you struggled against a berberis bush."

"I don't know what you mean?" She continued to walk away from him, Adrien chuckling as he attempted to keep up.

"Oh, come back, please, Princess." She continued to walk at speed in the direction of her chambers, ignoring his protests to stop. "Please, Bugaboo."

"Buga–"

Before she could finish her word, the sound of boots echoing around the corridor was accompanied by the voices of men chatting, Adrien's face falling as they stood so openly out in a corridor.

More knights.

Moving forward, he looped an arm around Princess Marinette's waist and pulled her into a dark alcove, absent of light and the perfect hiding place. He pushed himself against her, his hands either side of her head as he tried to make them as small as possible in the tiny area. Not exactly easy for someone on Adrien's height and build.

"What are you –" Placing a metal coated finger over her lips, he quietened her down as the noise of the men grew closer. His body blocked hers easily, but the unexpectant warmth of her breath on his neck almost had him almost passing out. Everything about this woman was mesmerising and dangerous. He shouldn't be here – with her.

For what felt like forever, Adrien stood still, looking into the wide eyes of the Princess, growing more and more mesmerised by their beauty and shine. He couldn't help but want to know every secret they held, to be absorbed in them and feel complete in them. The deep ocean blue made him wish he could dive into the depths and search underneath the surface, to know her.

Neither moved as the voices grew quieter and the pounding of boots faded away into the distance.

"Are they gone?" she asked, her voice slightly breathless as she stared back. Could she be feeling this unpredictable connection between them, too? Was it dual sided?

Adrien couldn't answer, instead he just stood there frozen to the spot pinning her against the wall; his lips tingled from anticipation to move forward and feel exactly how soft they were. She was so small, mild and precious. A primal need to protect her overpowering him and making his mind spin. His focus wavering from being so close to her.

"Kitty?" She spoke his name so softly, he almost dropped to his knees.

One of her hands lifted, gripping a strand of his now sweat laced hair and rolling it between her thumb and fingers. The small pull to the strand caused his eyes to close and head to loosen — rolling over to the right. Her hand moved again; fingers threading into his shortened strands and caressing against his scalp.

Before it could get too much, his hand shot up and wrapped around her wrist, moving her hand down and away from his head. He could have stayed there in her arms forever, but he couldn't. This wasn't about him, it was about his mother, and it would do him well to remember that.

"This is dangerous," he stated quietly. "I shouldn't be here with you."

The soft whimper leaving her mouth had him moving unconsciously forwards, his lips inches away from hers and her warm breath caressing his cheek. She smelt like the cherry blossoms. Like hope on a summer's day.

Gathering his senses, he pushed down the thickness in his throat with the same intensity as he pushed himself from the wall and stepped back, putting some space between them.

"Come on," he said. "Let's get you to your room before someone finds you."

He'd continued on a few paces before realising, she wasn't beside him.

Stopping abruptly, he turned to face her, noticing how she was still positioned flat against the wall, just as he'd left her. She was staring after him, her eyes soft and lips slightly parted. Her chest was rising and falling dramatically as she carefully pushed herself away from the wall, a slight stumble in her step.

Silently, they made their way back to her chambers side by side, the air electrified as they followed the last couple of corridors to her chambers. Beginning to make her way to the door, she stopped and turned back to him.

"Thank you, my knight in shining armour," she whispered. She stepped closer and lifted up onto her toes. Her lips skimmed his neck just below his ear as he heard her voice quietly whisper in his ear. "I'll be by the cherry blossoms again tomorrow night." Her lips pressed a little harder this time, in what he was certain was a kiss to just below his ear.

Moving back down onto the flats of her feet, she gave him a small smile, before turning and making her way into her room.

The place where her lips had touched ached for her to come back and leave another, before imprinting him elsewhere.

The kiss was too quick, too soft, too... wonderful. Adrien stretched a hand to his neck; his lips lifted into a small smile as he continued to look at the closed door.

It seems tomorrow night he would need to be out on patrol... again.