"He rejected me." she repeated, her voice softer. She lowered her arms to her sides and shrugged, "What is it you want me to do? Do you want me to spend the rest of my life crying my heart out because I wasn't good enough? Or maybe get akumatised to prove how gutted I really am?"

She walked forward and Chat Noir scrambled back, narrowly moving his tail out from beneath her shoe. "I loved him, Chat. I wanted to be with him, but not because of what he had. I didn't care about the money or the fame, Chat. I cared about him. I still do."

Her shoulders shook and Chat's attention was enraptured by her words. His own died on his tongue and all he could do was stare. Like the idiot he felt he was.

"He's kind, considerate and so forgiving." she wrapped her arms around herself and sat down on the chaise. "All those things you think I loved about him were the same reasons I hated him in the beginning. I thought he was just like Chloe."

Chat slowly stood up, afraid that if he moved too quickly she'd throw him out before she was finished. He wanted to hear this. He had to hear this.

"But then he apologized. He understood why I treated him the way I did and he even gave me his umbrella so I wouldn't get wet from the rain."

A small smile decorated her soft lips and she wiped a tear from her eyes. "He took me completely off guard and when I heard him laugh –that honest, dazzling kid of laugh," her own grin grew and her eyes sparkled. "That was the first time I realized I really liked him. Everything else after that just made me fall harder."

She sobbed harder and Chat inched closer to her, but he didn't touch her. He didn't have the right to. "I did everything I could to make him smile. That's all I ever wanted to do. I even made him a scarf for his birthday that year, but he never knew."

Chat swallowed his courage and asked, his voice barely a whisper. "Why didn't you tell him?"

"Because he was happy." she replied, "And I couldn't ruin that for him. The world just lit up whenever he came in the room and whenever he was around I couldn't help but smile. He's just so charming, so handsome and endearing. But he's more than that. He's selfless and everyday I'm glad I met someone like him."

Chat clenched his eyes shut and inwardly growled. The more she spoke about his alter ego, the more he realized exactly what he missed out on. He didn't deserve her. She was worth so much more than he was. Because she'd actually loved him, and all he'd done was hurt her.

He knelt down in front of her, gently placing his clawed hands on her knees and stared up at her earnestly. "Marinette?" he whispered. She glanced down at him and the hollowness inside her nearly killed him.

"I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. I didn't know...I shouldn't have said –I shouldn't have done that." Warnings went off in his head and Chat sighed. How could he explain without revealing his identity? He shook his head and rested his forehead against her kneecap.

A slight pressure on his head urged his eyes up at her and he found her gently ruffling his hair with her hand. Chat pushed down his ego. Pride be damned. There was only one way to fix this and he couldn't be a part of it.

Chat reached up to her and gently brought her head down to his. "What time does this date of yours start?" he asked.

Marinette inhaled a shaky breath and frowned. "I'm supposed to meet him beside the Eiffel Tower in half an hour. Why?"

Chat nodded and picked up a jacket off the floor. It was made of red leather, the same shade of red as her shoes and the ribbon around her waist. He slung it over her shoulders and Marinette slipped her arms through the sleeves.

He took a step back and smiled sadly at her, wiping the tears from her eyes. "Go wash your face," he said, "and I'll wait for you up here. I was to show you something before I let you go."

"Chat, you –,"

"Please," he rasped. He didn't have it in him to beg. Any more time and he'd be fighting for her to spend the night with him instead of Nathaniel. But Adrien didn't deserve her. And neither did Chat Noir.

She walked down the trapdoor without another word and Chat glanced at her desk. He slowly walked towards it and lifted the familiar umbrella in his arms. It felt so worn in his hands, but it still looked as new as the day he got it.

He couldn't believe how low he stooped; to call his princess shallow and compare her to all his other meaningless fans. It wasn't fair. It wasn't right.

The worst part of it all, Chat felt starting at the handle of the umbrella, remembering the day he gave it to her. It had been cold and wet, so unexpected by her. It was the perfect opportunity to apologize her and he'd taken full advantage of it.

She'd felt something that day, before their hands brushed while they stared at each other. That was the moment she fell in love with him. And he knew for sure.

Because in that moment, he'd felt something too.

Chat's words stung her, deeper than anything she'd ever heard or felt before. The burning rage and pain in his eyes were frightening, but she couldn't understand what prompted him to say those awful things to her. He was there when she was rejected. Shouldn't he of all people understood?

He vaulted them over the street and onto the roof of a nearby art museum. Chat gently set her down, unhooking his arm from beneath her knees and she watched as he walked towards the edge. He slung his legs over the side and patted the spot beside him.

Marinette hesitated, fearful without her suit and yo-yo but Chat had a confidence to him. It made things easier. "Don't worry. I won't let you fall, Mari." She stepped forward and stopped beside him, slowly slipping her legs over the edge.

Her stomach lurched uneasily as she peered over the edge and movement behind her startled her. Chat's arm circled around her waist and he pulled her into him. "There." he breathed, "Now you don't have to worry so much."

"Why would that bother you?" she asked.

He frowned at her, "Because you're beautiful and I don't want you to worry about anything when I'm around."

"Then why say those things." she replied. He didn't reply and Marinette lowered her head as she snuggled into him. The silence was enjoyable, helping her think of all the things she wanted to say and all the things she didn't.

The crescent moon hung high above them, flanked by countless stars. Through their light she could faintly see the love lock bridge and the river she traveled on during her date with Evillustrator; her first mission relying solely on Chat Noir.

"Marinette, I didn't mean to hurt you. I never wanted to. I was just afraid." he mumbled.

She fought the urge to roll her eyes and sighed tiredly. "Why?" she asked bitterly, "I'm the one that should be afraid, Chat. I'm the one trying to move on and put my heart back on the line."

Marinette heard Chat's heartbeat speed beside her ear and found herself surprised at how comfortable the sound made her.

"I want to say that I'm afraid for you, but then I'd be lying." he replied, "I've never really had any true friends before the ones I have now. The ones I first met when I was fifteen." His voice dropped lower and Marinette felt her curiosity get the better of her.

"See I meant what I said before. My father was always protective of me, grooming me into the perfect son, but without my mother it was hard. I didn't have anyone to confide in." He cleared his throat and the grip around her waist tightened. "I'm sorry." he rasped.

Marinette instinctively reached down to one of his hands and entwined their fingers, squeezing his hand reassuringly. Chat laughed dryly and it ruffled her hair.

"I was so naive to think they actually cared about me. I was just so easy to use. And...I was worried the girl I'd grown to care for would just be like all the others in my life."

"That's why you were so defensive." she whispered, "Because deep down, that's what you're afraid of."

He mumbled incoherently against her hair and sighed, "But you aren't anything like them. You never will be and I don't deserve to have you here in my arms."

"That's not true." she replied, "You're brave, Chat Noir. You risk your life for Ladybug and the people of Paris whenever you're needed. You never hesitate, you're never...scared." She tightened her grip on his hand and looked down at his ring.

The green pads shone brightly against the dark metal and leather. He a hero of Paris and yet right now, right here, he trusted her with more than he even realized. Because he cared. "Ladybug is lucky to have you for a partner. And I'm lucky to have you as a..."

She shook her head. She didn't even know what they were. His voice came like a whisper in the wind. "Say it." he urged.

She shivered in his grasp and pulled away just enough to give her room to see him. His mesmerizing green eyes stared right through her, making her heart beat painfully in her chest. Her breath caught at the darkening look in his eyes and she was rendered speechless.

His touched burned her skin, igniting it in a way that sent electricity through their touch. "Chat..." she breathed.

"Marinette." he whispered. He tilted his head down to hers and her breath hitched when his lips pressed against her temple. She knew he'd heard it and the thought made her face burn in shame. She expected him to withdraw from her and crack another silly pun.

But he didn't.

And he placed another kiss on her check, near the corner of her lips. Her mind went reeling. "My Mari." he murmured, "My princess." His lips were soft and smooth against her skin, sending waves of pleasure through her body.

It was amazing how one simple touch could render her completely speechless and one kiss could absolve her of all her power. But she understood it.

She was Ladybug and Chat Noir was her equal, which made resisting his advances that much harder. But no matter what he did, Chat was already in love with someone else and she had a date to get to with Nathaniel.

Chat pulled away ever so slightly and it took all Marinette's will power to back away from him. "Thank you for bringing me here." she said. He smiled warmly at her and nodded.

"It was my pleasure." There was a moment of peace between them and Marinette looked over the view again, savoring it as the lights of the city shone with a brightness that rivaled the stars above them.

He wrapped his tail around her and Marinette's eyes landed on her wristwatch. She was meant to meet Nathaniel in eight minutes, but a part of her didn't want to leave just yet. She turned back to him and found him staring absentmindedly over the view.

Chat looked so calm, so confident and strong. His jaw rigid and perfectly sculpted with eyes like shimmering emeralds and an arrogant smile that could make any girl melt –if it was genuine. She had to leave. She had to go now before she did or said something she'd regret.

She cleared her throat and wracked her brain for a reasonable way to tell him she had to leave. "Nathaniel, I need –go to –I mean, go Nathaniel to." He turned towards her, his eyes dancing in amusement and Marinette face palmed. Not again.

Chat burst into a fit on uneven laughter and stood up beside her, keeping his hands firmly set on her shoulders. "You're so cute when you're flustered."

Marinette shut her eyes and groaned. "No, it's ridiculous. I'm –," she looked down at her dress and blushed, "I'm ridiculous." Her hands fell to her sides and she smiled up at Chat. "You don't think I'm trying too hard, do you?"

He wordlessly brought her hand to his lips and kissed it. Her heart hammered in her chest. "I'd prefer if you didn't try at all. Then this would be a lot easier."

"What would be a lot easier?"

Chat stared straight at her, "Winning your heart." He said it so calm and confidently that Marinette almost thought he was serious. She chuckled softly and he helped her stand beside him.

"Not so fast, Kitty. You'll have to buy me dinner first."

He glared at her halfheartedly and spun her around, pulling her until his hip was pressed against hers. "I bought you soup when you were sick. That counts."

"But you didn't pay for it." she teased.

Chat's eyes narrowed and his tail flicked angrily. "Fine," he groaned, "But I could always bake something for you."

Marinette threw her head back and laughed, "Maybe if you could actually bake."

"But I can." he protested, his mask crinkling where his eyebrows furrowed.

She smiled and flicked the bell beneath his chin. "I think Chat Blanc would disagree with you. And we both know I'm right." Chat scooped her up in his arms and Marinette tapped her chin with her forefinger. "Come to think of it, what don't I know about you?"

His smirked. "I speak Mandarin."

I'm sorry for the inconvenience with this chapter guys. I really don't know what's been happening. I've been uploading it, but sometimes it just turns back into a draft. I hope this time it sticks.

Please don't forget to vote or comment if you liked it. ❤️ And thanks to all of you that have. Your support means so much to me and the feedback is really inspiring.