Press. Good Lord did the heroine of Paris love the press. She couldn't comprehend how he did it so smoothly, hitting every single point without stuttering all while knowing he has five minutes to spare, what was he a celebrity in his free time?

In all honesty, when it came to interviews she let Chat run the show, charisma was his specialty, of course, the press was always after her though much to her dispute. After all, her partner does just as much as she does and he deserved just as much attention, and besides interviews stressed her out. She wasn't necessarily a fan of all that attention, she didn't mind but just wasn't too keen on it. At least she didn't take completely after her father and his fear of the cameras.

“So M'lady how are we handling the press today? Normal routine or are we switching it up?” Chat questioned while ruffling his hand through his blonde locks in an attempt to straighten them out, today's Akuma had not been kind nor sparing to his hair today.

“As per usual. Don't forget we have Nadia's segment on tomorrow evening, shall we meet up there or beforehand?” She secretly loved their little structured down packed  routine, no matter how much it may seem to ‘annoy’ her at the moment, she loved it, it made her feel important that she had a responsibility for her self that she was confident in and him, his and she'd never had a doubt in her mind that he wouldn't complete his fair share.

Strange isn't it? Out of all the added bonuses of being a superhero, the freedom, the 'fame', the fans this was the one that excited her most.

He smirked, “Are you asking me to pick you up, M'lady? Maybe we'll go out to eat afterward? Dine over our non-alcoholic beverages and afterward hold hands as we walk down the Champs-Élysées?” He chuckled but his smile faded away after she shot a glare at him. “I kid, I kid, But yeah let's meet up beforehand we don't want you to be nearly late again and cause an Akuma, but in all seriousness, I really need to teach you some interview etiquette for future reference and we don't want a repeat of last time. Anyways Eiffel Tower as usual? or Ponts des Arts?"

What does he mean I need interview etiquette, I think I do perfectly fine! Okay, there was that one time- but still!

“What- because you're a celebrity in your free time right? You're totally an interview guests etiquette genius and you are going to pass down your knowledge to, me a common girl, how considerate” She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms as she turned her head away from him.

She hated to be rude, especially since she knew he was only trying to help and he had the best interest at heart. She also knew he had a point. She did need serious help and he was really good at it, she just didn't want to have to be taught something by him because she knew he'd get a big head about it.

“There's a lot you don't know about me, but if you must know I do happen to be how do I say- 'Particularly Popular' in my civilian life which requires me to take such etiquette classes, don't worry I was horrible at first too that is despite growing up in it- but you'll get better, after all, you have the best teacher in the biz!”

'Particularly Popular' you say, so he's a celebrity in civilian form yeah right what is he some sort of model? Singer?

“Okay, fine I'll play along with it, let's see let me give you a story to play along with, you're a singer- no pianist, who is a singer-songwriter for his music and who has world tours, was born in America but moved to Paris because he liked the scenery. Oh! And you have a monkey as a pet named Abu. Am I right?”

He laughed at her statement and shook his head “No-No actually I'm a model for my dad's company, I'd say which one but that would put my identity at stake and I know you don't want that. But nope Paris born and raised, I do play the piano and I speak fluently in French and I guess you could say I dabble in Chinese.” He corrected.

He was counting his fingers as if we're counting off all the things he said only to receive a deadpan stare from Ladybug.

Why does that sound familiar?

“You're serious?” - “Mm-hm. I told you there's a lot of things you don't know about me” He chuckled “So whaddya say? Let me coach you! Right after we talk to the press c'mon you won't regret it!” He pleaded, giving her his kitten eyes, knowing it was one of her weakness.

Dang, it Chat. Well played.

“Ugh okay fine!” She said throwing up her hands, which she got a few giggles in response to from her partner.

He high-fived himself and jumped up in the air like a little girl excited over ice cream, only to be shot an annoyed glance from his partner. “Yes! Now shall we begin M'lady? The press is waiting, ” He said taking her hand to kiss it, doing his signature Chat Noir bow.

“Yeah. Let's go kitty.” She swung he yo-yo to the next building to approach the swarming group of newscasters, gossip blogs, fans and the one and only Ladyblog. She did her best politely answering their questions while her partner stood behind and watched. Today he wanted to observe her and how she handled the press just get the before and after, much to Ladybug's dispute.

What happened to ‘As per usual!?’

“Ladybug!” “Ladybug over here!” countless calls of her names and questions being asked and microphones in her face but one stood out over the rest. For what reason? She didn't know.  A question she had to think long and hard about.

“Hey, Ladybug! Can you describe Chat Noir in one word.”

*
Across the park, however, the blogger we all know and love, couldn't seem to grasp the superheroine's attention, she sighed “I get here one minute late... No way I'll get an interview with her now.” She muttered to herself, looking over at the mob of photographers and reporters.

But she did notice the alley cat standing alone outside of the press circle.

Strange.

She decided to give him an unexpected interview, he was just as important anyways and what better than some scoop on Paris's beloved duo's other half. “Yo Chat Noir! You free for an interview?”

His face light up, as he walked over to the blogger he asked “Me? You sure? You do run the Ladyblog.” He laughed a bit at his statement.

“Yes, you, now get over here!” She exclaimed gesturing for him to pick up the pace. She wanted to ask the same question the reporter in the mob asked Ladybug, to see if she could get some extra scoop on her favorite ship; Ladynoir. She wanted to know what they really thought about each other. But he had to 'warm' him up a bit first, get him in the 'feels' about her so she could catch him in the act, swooning over the bug.

“So, Chat Noir, we all know you battle akumas every day with Ladybug but what's she like outside of her superhero persona? What's she really like?” She questioned the superhero as she recorded for her blog, excitement in her hazel eyes.

He sighed. How could he possibly answer this question without sounding like a crazy stalker? Might as well try “She's an amazing partner, she always knows what to do, she's funny, a bit stubborn at times- don't tell her I said that. The list goes on and on.  But in all actuality, I couldn't ask for a better person to work alongside with” He smiled at the camera, the facade smile he usually put up for photographers, doing his best not to blush at the thought of her. He did not need the headlines tomorrow to be “Kitty Has a Crush!?”

Her eyes widened at the cat's response, her mind doing cartwheels for new fan theories for her blog and latest fanfiction. “Seems like you're fond of her,” Alya said somewhat coolly, trying not fangirl even more over his statement. “Well, then I'll ask you this describe Ladybug in one word.”

—

Describe Chat Noir in one word.
Describe Ladybug in one word.

The two dawned on the question because, in all honesty, it was hard. There was so much to be said about one another it was nearly impossible to grasp the entirety of their beings in one word. Ladybug thought about Chat, his ridiculous humor, and puns, his loyalty, his kindness, his bravery,  how he was so selfless and always put others before himself. How he was one of the only people she was comfortable letting her guard down with, and how she trusted him with her life and his her's. Was there one word for that?

And Chat thought about Ladybug, the love of his life, but what made her that? What he had already described to Alya barely touched the surface of what he thought of her, because no matter if she returned his feelings or not he loved her, for so many reasons. She opened up his eyes to see the colors in the world wherever they had left him grey, she taught him to see the positive and not settle for disappointment, she showed him that just because you're a superhero doesn't mean you can't let someone save you. So despite one word not being rocket science it felt like it, and sure there are millions of words in our language but not one could describe the way she made him feel.

Funny how a simple question can make someone's mind go a thousand miles a minute.

Through the group of people separating them, they looked over at each other and smiled unknowingly, as to give a final analysis on each other, before finally responding. As their eyes made contact their minds grazed upon the same thing. The word Ladybug used once to describe him, and the word Chat had always believed about her since day one.

As their gaze broke apart they both looked at the cameras in front of them and breathed in.

“He's Irreplaceable,”
“She's Irreplaceable,”

At the same time. And as the words escaped their lips something felt different between the two, different couldn't even begin to describe it, it was a feeling that was stronger than ever. A feeling that had always been there but never had been addressed. Was it love? Fate? Well love had and always been there even if they didn't know it they loved each other, one way or another they did that was undeniable. Fate? Possibly they were ‘made for each other’ as Master Fu said, but no it was something else. Something indescribable, something simply miraculous. 

From that day forward, platonic or not, everyone including themselves knew they cared about each other on some level and one-word definitely wasn't enough for them. But their choice of word, however, was going to be an interesting topic to discuss this Friday on Nadia’s segment. Let's see how LB handles this one, hopefully, that 'interview etiquette' Chat spoke of pays off.

                           ~•∆•°•∆•~

Hey, whaddya know another chapter! Not the one I was planning on publishing but that should be out before the start of December. I used some pictures in this chapter, I kinda wanted to try something new (not really tho cuz I did it a couple chapters ago 😂) Anyways Happy Thanksgiving weekend! I hoped you liked it and it wasn't too rushed.
Until next time, Chat Nerd 💜

P.S Should I do Marichat or Ladrien after I post next week's chapter?