Breaking the Rules:

Kitty Noir was miserable. Sulking on an vacant rooftop, she wiped at her face angrily and unafraid of the sharp claws at the end of her fingertips. It didn't matter anyway, nothing did expect the pain her in her chest.

The latest villain Hawk Moth had sent was ferocious, burning everything in Paris and melting anything he touched. He didn't go after the people of Paris, but went he'd set his sights on the Eiffel Tower Lucky Bug and Kitty Noir had been forced to intervene.

Flame Catcher had been tireless and he'd gotten too close. Her back had been turned to him, staring off as Lucky Bug was using his lucky charm to come up with a plan. He'd seen the villain first and pushed himself in front of her.

Flame Catcher's hand had burnt through the suit along the small of his back and Kitty Noir reacted quickly. She'd latched onto him, and pushed off the beam, allowing them to fall a few feet ahead before she'd extended her baton and balanced them both on top of it.

She thought to how his face had been scrunched in pain and the way his suit sizzled in the air. She smelt his burnt skin with her heightened sense of smell and hated the way he'd had to lean against her for strength. She'd failed to protect him. She'd failed at her job.

Lucky Bug was the only one able to cleanse the akuma and set everything in Paris right. Without his magic everything was hopeless, without her things could still proceed. Her mission was to be his partner and do everything in her power to make sure he was still standing even when everything else was falling apart. And that included her.

Sobbing softly to herself, Kitty Noir curled her body inward, bringing her knees to her chest and wrapping her arms around them.

What kind of hero was she when she couldn't even protect her partner? What would Adrien think of her if he knew? How quickly would he realize she was just another lame girl trying to pretend she could save the world?

Taking a deep breath Kitty Noir raised her head to the street and saw Adrien walking on the road in front of her. He looked as gorgeous as ever, his blonde hair softly swaying in the night air and a blue scarf wrapped around his neck -the scarf she'd made for him.

Kitty Noir craved to go to him -to be comforted by him and even though the more logical part of her was against it, she could hear Plagg's voice in her head. Do what you need to do, Kid. Do what you need to do.

Wiping her eyes she subtly followed him towards his home, waiting until he disappeared inside. She leapt up on the top of metal gates surrounding his house and somersaulted onto a nearby tree, crawling on the branch that led to his window.

She sat on the edge, her legs swinging over the side and watched as he closed his bedroom door. His eyes flitted around the room anxiously and he said something, speaking to himself as he approached the center.

Then he looked out the window and his gaze fell on her.

Kitty Noir froze, unable to move as he strolled towards the window and her. Opening up the class frame, Adrien peered out into the night with his brilliant green eyes narrowed. She waited for the questions to flood her. Why are you here? Where's the akuma? What do you need?

It was no secret that she wasn't as loved as Lucky Bug. He had fans left and right while she was merely the partner every girl wanted to be. It wasn't because she did anything amazing, but rather because she got to spend so much time with Lucky Bug. Everyone thought they knew each other's identity and they probably would if Kitty Noir hadn't decided against it. Surprisingly, Plagg didn't understand why.

But the words that came out his mouth weren't anything she expected. "Are you okay?" he asked, seemingly to peer out as much as possible. It should've been a casual question, but he'd said it with so much sincerity and so much concern that she felt herself break down all over again.

A sob tore through her throat and Adrien's eyes widened. "No," she swallowed, "I'm not okay." Adrien frowned and stepped back from the window, holding it open with his hand.

"Come inside." he said, "It must be freezing out there."

Kitty Noir didn't hesitate. She jumped inside, landing on all floors in his floor in a way that felt natural. Standing to her full height, she felt Adrien approached her from behind. But he didn't touch her.

"What happened?" he asked, standing a respectful distance away. The air in his room felt considerably warmer, melting the ice from her skin.

She shook her head, grimacing and more tears fell from her eyes. "I'm sorry," she rasped, "I shouldn't be here. I should -," She turned around, but when she did her body collided into Adrien's. His arms encased around her and Kitty Noir reluctantly melted in his embrace.

He smelled like the cologne from his advert, rich and soothe. His shirt was soft against her cheek and she couldn't help but cry harder as he held her, gently swaying her in his arms. "It's okay," he murmured, resting his chin on her head, "You don't have to leave."

"I'm a superhero." she whispered, "Superheroes aren't supposed to cry."

"You're still human." he replied, rubbing small circled around her upper back, "There's nothing wrong with feeling sad. Please, tell me why you're like this."

"I failed today." she said, "I failed Lucky Bug."

Adrien laughed then, and Kitty Noir stiffened in his arms, her anger bubbling to the surface. "Sorry," he said quickly, "I didn't mean to upset you. It's just that you...didn't."

"No, I did." she replied, balling his shirt in her clawed hands, "He depended on me and I only got in the way. He was injured because of me."

"Kitty Noir." whispered Adrien, his voice soft and soothing to her synthetic ears, "You don't have worry about him. His lucky charm healed him, he's not in pain."

"That's not the point!" she hissed, pulling away from him and walking to the other side of his room. Adrien sat down on his large bed and watched her patiently. "I'm supposed to protect him! I'm the one who's supposed to get hurt and make the sacrifices! He's the one who cleanses the akuma, the one who sets things right in Paris. He's important, but me? I don't matter!"

Adrien scowled then, looking angrier than she'd ever seen him. His emerald eyes flashed darkly and he stormed towards her, his hands clenched at his sides. "Don't you ever say that!" he growled, grabbing her arm harshly, "Don't you ever say that about yourself!"

"It's true!" she replied, staring back at him with narrowed eyes. "It's my job to protect him, to ensure he's safe no matter what and I failed. He...he got hurt because I was careless -because I wasn't doing my job."

Kitty Noir brought her hands to her face and sobbed into them. Adrien's grip on her arm slackened and he pulled her into him, stroking her hair softly and mindful of her ears. "Lucky Bug won't hold it against you. He didn't want you to get hurt. He chose to put you first."

"He's such a fool." she mumbled.

Adrien chuckled, "People do stupid things when they're in love. I should know."

Kitty Noir could hear her heart break under the weight of his words. "Y -You're in love?" she asked. She pulled away from Adrien, acutely aware that this may be the only time she's welcomed so tenderly in his arms and searched his eyes for the answer.

"Yes," he replied softly, "but I don't think she feels the same way."

"Why wouldn't she?" The words were out of her mouth before she could stop them and Adrien smiled sadly. This wasn't any of her business and trying to figure out whether he loved her as Marinette or not wouldn't do any good. What she was doing was wrong and yet -

"Because she doesn't know I'm in love with her."

"Tell her then." she replied, staring up at him, "Tell her how much you love her and maybe -maybe she'll feel the same." Her heart was racing, beating a million times per second just by watching him. Every sense of her was overly aware of everything about him. The way his eyes softened at her words, the way his heart sped beneath her gloved palm as the way his lips parted as she looked up at him.

"I have a better idea. I'll show her." he replied, moving his hands up her body. Adrien's touch was warm and sure, his entire demeanor as confident as Lucky Bug's. Her brain hurt as she made the connection and she remembered the magical block from their masks.

His hand touched her cheek and then his head moved towards her. Kitty Noir was stunned with the realization as his nose brushed against hers and she felt his soft lips against her own. The kiss was tender and sweet, something simple and yet so utterly loving.

Her eyes closed as his lips stayed on her own and Kitty Noir was too dazed to care anymore. Urgently she kissed him back, moving her hands around his neck and throwing her body towards him. Her chest was tightly pressed against his and Adrien gasped, allowing her to deepen the kiss.

She was all too aware that she was crossing a boundary. As Marinette her behavior was fine and acceptable, but as Kitty Noir this was wrong and dangerous. But somehow that made everything more exciting. This was the first and probably the last time she'd ever feel him against her, be able to love him the way she was and to cling to him the way she was now. And that made her desperate.

Responding eagerly, Adrien's grip around her tightened and he tugged at the ribbons in her hair, allowing the soft fabric of them to run through his fingers. It was sinful, his lips devouring hers, and yet it felt so perfectly right.

Breaking away from the kiss, Adrien stared down at her with a fire in his eyes and she returned it, equally as powerful and hungry. "Kitty," he whispered, "I love you. I've always loved you and I don't think I could stand it if you stepped out here and I never saw you again."

"Adrien," she sighed, cupping his face in her hands and nuzzling his neck, "I have to. Hawk Moth..."

"It's me," he whispered, kissing her hair and sighing against her skin. Every nerve in her body was alight, charged with every move of his body against her. He smirked, "It's your Lucky Bugger."

The thought was insane. There wasn't any way the boy she'd loved since the beginning of the year was the same arrogant flirt she'd been working with since then. They were words apart. And the desperation she felt hoping it was true hurt more than anything she'd felt that day.

"Adrien," she rasped, gasping when his lips found their way beneath his chin, "Stop." He stilled, but he didn't remove his lips from her skin.

"You don't believe me." he concluded, bringing his face to stare down at her, "Tikki, Spots on." And in a flash of red light the boy she'd been in love with became clad in red and black polka dots. The suit was tight, showing off his defined abs in the way he'd wanted them to and Kitty Noir could only gape at him.

"Lucky Bug?" she asked.

"Hi Kitty." And then he kissed her again, claiming her lips more confidently than he had before, sending sparks all the way down to her metal clad toes. "You could never fail me."

"Plagg, Claws in!" And in a flash of green light she was back in her civilian form, bare of her tail, claws and cat ears. Lucky Bug stared down at her, mirroring the shocked expression she wore a few seconds ago.

Then she stood on her toes and ran her fingers over his red suit all the way to his blonde hair, her nails scraping against his scalp. "I love you, Adrien."

"I love you too, Marinette."

Seeing Adrien was by far the best rule she'd ever broken.