Chat Noir

Chat Noir stood in front of Ladybug, in front of their friends, hands trembling just slightly as he placed his glass down on the table.

'M'Lady...' he said, voice soft and steady but full of emotion, like every word carried the weight of years. He coughed, pulling himself together and focusing on the face of his wife. The face which brightened his darkest and filled his empty days.

'You once told me that being a hero means putting others first, even when it hurts. That real courage is giving your heart to a world that might never know how much you sacrifice for it.'

Her eyes softened, the black pools surrounded by a sparkling blue.

'And today, standing here, I finally get to tell you what I never could before: You saved me. There was a time when I felt invisible. Surrounded by people, but still unseen.

I wore a smile like armour. I made jokes so no one would see how much I ached to be known, to be wanted, to be loved...And then I met you.'

He took a deep breath, picking up his glass and taking a sip of water. Wetting the sudden dryness. His Lady smiled urging him on the way she always did.

'You looked at me — really looked at me — and somehow, even with all my broken pieces, you made me feel whole. You gave me hope when I thought I didn't deserve it. You gave me a home when I didn't even know I was lost. You gave me your heart and trusted me with it. And even after all this time, there's so much I still don't know about you.'

Chat took her hand in his, pressing a delicate kiss to her knuckles before clutching her hand to his heart.

'I don't know your name. Your world beyond the mask. And that used to terrify me. But those parts of you I do know? I love them so deeply, so completely, they feel like an ocean I might drown in. So, yeah, I realised I don't need to know everything. Because I know you. Your heart. Your courage. Your goodness. And that is more real, more true, than any name or face could ever be.'

A single line of silver trailed down her face, glistening under the moonlight, the meteors continuing to light up the night sky like Bastille's Day.

'I don't love a name,' he whispered. 'I don't love a mask. I love you, M'Lady — exactly as you are, exactly as you choose to show yourself to me. And I promise you: I will never stop choosing you. I will never stop believing in you. Whether the world knows your name or not, whether you're shining bright or falling apart, I will be the hand that never lets go.'

Ladybug moved, burying her head into his chest as he continued.

'I vow to be your shelter when the weight is too much. Your champion when you doubt yourself. Your safe place when you need to simply be." You once asked me if I would still love you even if everything changed. And the truth is... everything has. The world. My heart. Me. Because loving you has changed me — and it's the best thing that's ever happened to me. So wherever you go, whoever you become — know that you will always, always have a place inside my heart. A place no one else will ever touch. I love you, Ladybug. With everything I am, and everything I ever will be. I always have. I always will.'

He wrapped his arms around her, cuddling her as tight as he could, his eyes swinging with unshed tears—and smiled, the purest he's ever smiled. The sound of applause over the rooftop amplified his feeling, as he pressed his lips into her hair.

'I love you too.' Her hands cupped his face gently, tilting it down so she could align his lips with hers. Stretching up onto her toes, he steadied her, hands at her waist, as he kissed her. Slow and meaningful, filling it with every inch of desire he felt.

A slight salty taste came from her lips, and he pulled back, using his hands to wipe her tears away. 'Why can you still do this to me? You're like a talking PR stunt.'

Chat laughed, pulling her back to kiss her again. Harder. Tilting his head to get her exactly where he wanted. He gripped at her back, pulling her up, her hands moving from his face onto his shoulders, before looping around his neck.

She pulled him down. Fingers grabbing his hand, tight and unhinged. And if they weren't careful, he'd be trying the power down activation right here and finishing their wedding night on this rooftop in front of the other heroes.

After the ceremony, they headed towards the Eiffel Tower. They'd been granted the entire monument for the evening's celebrations, and as Paris partied below them, confetti, buffets and music, they had no idea what was going on in the high rise of the Iron Lady.

Finally breaking the kiss, Ladybug laughed, wiping her thumb under her lower lip.

'No need to worry about possible smudges, M'Lady. I've kissed it all off.'

To prove a point, he kissed her lower lip again—exactly where her thumb had just been.

Chat draped an arm over her shoulders as they both watched the room come alive again—like someone had hit 'play' on a very chaotic, very glittery superhero documentary.

Heroes were scattered across the venue, already mixing drinks like it was the next Olympic sport. It was a sight. An experience. A fever dream with capes and questionable decision-making.

Queen Bee was dramatically chugging straight from a bottle of champagne — Chat was 95% sure she brought it herself and 100% sure she was not planning to share.

Carapace had somehow claimed the DJ booth and was aggressively bobbing his head while spinning a playlist that could only be described as 'battle music meets wedding vibes.' Every beat drop came with more smoke effects than necessary. Possibly also fireworks. Unconfirmed.

Rena Rouge, multitasking as usual, had taken over as the wedding photographer-slash-live musician, capturing candids with one hand while riffing on her flute with the other. She'd also roped in Viperion for backup harmony, and now the slow-mo jazz remix of 'Single Ladies' was confusing everyone.

Argos sulked in the corner like a Shakespearean villain who'd just been denied the lead role, grumbling about 'injustice' and 'the sacred title of Best Man,' while polishing his fan with increasingly dramatic sighs.

King Monkey, of course, had turned the dance floor into a betting arena, gleefully shouting odds on who would cry first during the speeches. (Chat Noir was a 2:1 favorite. Ryuko was inexplicably 15:1).

The woman herself was meditating near the snack table, trying to remain serene while secretly guarding the sushi platter like a dragon protecting its hoard. Pegasus was zipping around refilling drinks at light speed, occasionally teleporting just to show off and spill half of someone's cocktail in the process.

Purple Tigress was leading a conga line with a level of commitment typically reserved for actual battle, while Minotaurox and Pigella argued over whether sparkler fountains were a fire hazard or just 'aesthetic'.

Polymouse had somehow organised a flash mob. Nobody had agreed to it. It was happening anyway.

And somewhere in the chaos, Master Fu was absorbed in the crowd, confused but supportive, sipping punch from a very tiny cup.

It was absolutely, unapologetically a disaster.

Chat grinned. 'Best wedding ever.'

The sudden scratch of discs stopped the chaos and pulled everyone's attention to Carapace, who for some unprofound reason, had found a microphone.

'Right fellow heroes, it's the time you've all been waiting for...'

The faint sounds of 'Carapace' grew to an almighty chant, Argos muttering something in the corner under his breath which sounded suspiciously like a part of the male anatomy as the crowd grew more and more animated.

'The best man is about to entertain, so everyone, please take your seats.'

As though Gabriel had just announced a 99% off sale, a stampede moved around the room, each trying to find the seat closest to Carapace, which only made Chat worry a little more.

He turned to Ladybug, plastering on his best smile. 'What do you say, we go and find out if our power downs work?'

She chuckled, taking her hand in his and leading him to their table, right at the front. 'After this Minou, I promise. I just really want to hear what he says.'

'But...but...'

'Yes,' she laughed, continuing weaving through the crowds. 'I'll see your butt later, and if you're a good boy and listen to this, I'll show you mine.'

Chat Noir stopped, standing rod straight. Now there was something he couldn't argue about. He stepped in front of his chair, sitting down and giving her a wild, obnoxious smile. 'I'll sit, but...'

He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her down on top of him. He lowered his chin onto her neck, his lips brushing against her ear. 'You have to sit with me.'

The shiver that ran down her body, convulsed into his, his hands grasping hold of her tighter, stopping her from wriggling in his lap. If he had to sit here, she did too. Everything in him tensed, his eyes burning into the back of her head.

'Stop,' he whispered, his voice breathy and thick. He buried his nose into her hair, his body igniting from the scent and the feel. He'd never really sworn, but right now, as her superstrength pushed past his grip and she wiggled again, something that rhymes with duck really wanted to escape.

She chuckled, moving her body back into his. 'What's wrong, Big Boy, can't take it?'

He closed his eyes and tried to think of something unsexy.

His father in speedos. His father is speedos. His father...

The sound of interference, snapped him out of his thoughts and, thankfully, stopped Ladybug from teasing him any further. Now if Carapace could just talk in double speed so he could get his Lady back to their hotel room, that would be wonderful.

'Sorry about that,' Carapace said. 'But I needed to get your attention somehow, especially these two love birds at the front.'

A wolf whistle sounded from the back, causing everyone to laugh. Carapace took the opportunity to grab a 'giant folder' labelled 'Exhibit Folder', that just so happened to be, a giant pizza box with a sticky label on the front.

'Alright, everybody, court is now in session! I, Carapace — defender of the truth, protector of love, and occasional DJ at birthdays — am here to deliver my official legal deposition for the case of Chat Noir v. Eternal Monogamy.'

Carapace opened the pizza box, grabbing the remaining slice and taking a decent bite from it. God, Chat hoped that was from earlier in the day.

Throwing the remainder of the slice back in the box, he licked his fingers and took out a piece of paper—or as most people know it, a napkin. 'Opening Statement: The defendant, Chat Noir — international heartthrob, pun enthusiast, and part-time housecat — is hereby accused of the following crimes: excessive public flirting. Reckless endangerment of his dignity. Grand theft affection. Wearing leather... in July.'

The room laughed, Ladybug turning a little to toy with his bell. 'What have I told you, Kitty?'

Carapace laughed, before shaking his head. 'Seriously though, dude. July. In Paris. Leather. You're a public safety hazard.'

Chat chuckled, shrugging before heckling his friend. 'Someone has to make this team look good.'

A chorus of boos echoed around the rooftop, punctuated by whistles, jeers, and someone yelling, 'Take it off!' A number of different ideas were shouted his way—including, most notably, a yellow and black bra that sailed through the air like a majestic, lacy boomerang.

Chat turned just in time to see Chloé — Queen Bee herself — blow him a wink and raise her champagne bottle in salute. He blinked, processed, and then slowly turned back to Carapace, casually tossing the bra behind him...where it landed squarely on Viperion's face.

Viperion looked far too pleased about it. He lowered it slowly like it was a priceless artifact. Someone from the crowd yelled, 'Put it on!'

Carapace cleared his throat dramatically, waving his hands. 'Back to me, guys! Ignore the member of the Village People,' he said, gesturing vaguely at Chat. Another round of laughter.

'Anyway. Exhibit A,' he continued, flipping through a very unnecessary stack of cue cards. 'Sources claim this man'—he pointed at Chat like he was doing a dramatic courtroom reveal—'once tried to cook dinner for her...and somehow set a salad on fire.'

Gasps, some mocking horror, and a very loud 'How?!'

'She told me,' Carapace said, ignoring the hecklers, 'and I quote: 'It was supposed to be a romantic dinner. He lit a candle. Then the tablecloth. Then the lettuce. It was like Armageddon.'

Ladybug buried her face in her hands, laughing as Chat gave her a sheepish grin and a shrug like, 'It was artisan lettuce, okay?'

'Exhibit B:' Carapace continued, and Chat Noir was on the edge of his seat. What was he going to bring up next?

'Surveillance footage (that I 100% didn't illegally download) shows Chat Noir trying to bring his fiancée a bouquet of roses and getting into a full fistfight with a bee.'

Rena stood, playing something on her flute and revealing the video of Chat Noir sizing himself up against a bee. Finally, after the most pathetic battle known to man, Chat Noir was jabbed in the nose.

'The bee won.' Carapace exclaimed dryly.

Ladybug turned and placed a gentle kiss on the tip of his nose. 'Is that why it was all swollen?'

He nodded faintly, his cheeks tingling as he kept his lips tightly closed.

'Exhibit C: During one formal event, Chat Noir attempted to toast the love of his life by clinking his champagne glass...and immediately shattered it in his hand.'

Chat Noir lifted his hands in mock surrender. 'Woah! Hold up! We checked the label on the glasses. What else did they expect buying them from IKEA?'

'Are you sure it wasn't just raw emotional strength.' Ladybug dropped him a wink, knowing full well that's what he'd said straight after it had happened. The mortification grew too strong, and he tried to hide in his Lady's hair.

Maybe if they couldn't see him, this would stop.

'Exhibit D:' Nope, it seemed Carapace had more. 'He once tried to impress her with 'the agility of ten panthers'...and fell off a coffee table.'

'I told you that in confidence!' Chat retorted, but nothing could stop Carapace. He was dominating that stage like Christian Grey.

'Twice. Like bro, you have the reflexes of a cat and somehow the survival instincts of a potato.'

Everyone started to laugh again, soliciting another groan from his mouth. Will this shame never end.

'I have a Witness Statement here from...myself. As someone who has personally fought alongside this guy, I can testify under oath that Chat Noir has: Moonwalked across a battlefield. Stopped mid-fight to flirt. Said the words, "I'll handle this," and immediately got hit by a rogue baguette. Which brings me to a Final Deposition: after careful, extremely scientific, and definitely not vibe-based analysis, I conclude: Chat Noir, you are guilty — of being totally whipped, blissfully happy, and an absolute menace to single people everywhere.'

Cheering exploded around the room, Ladybug wiggling on his lap again, as she rotated around to see him.

'Your sentencing: You are hereby sentenced to a lifetime of forehead kisses, emergency chocolate runs at 2am, and slow dancing badly in the kitchen. No right to appeal. No early release for good behavior. You're stuck, Kitty. This sentence is purr-manent.'

His lips tugged, as she sentenced him to everything he ever could have wanted.

'I love you.'

It didn't matter how many times he said it, the meaning would continue to be unbelievably true.

'I love you too.'

She kissed him softly on the lips again, the slam of the pizza box overpowering the cheers and chanting.

'Court adjourned!' Carapace said, giving Chat Noir a thumbs up and moving back to his decks.

'It's an open bar everyone! Let's do this!' If anything, Queen Bee didn't need to be at the open bar; she needed to be home. Catching Viperion's eye, they exchanged a nod of understanding, Viperion heading straight to Queen Bee and directing her away from the bar.

A soft breath, and the smell he adored hit his senses with a tingling accuracy. 'Want to get out of here?'

He definitely didn't need to be asked twice.

*****

Ladybug

Ladybug had been on edge all night—and not in a good way. The regret was eating her alive for having this party because all she really wanted to do was get Chat Noir alone and see if the power down worked.

They'd been dating for five years. That was five years of extreme sexual tension at a time in her life where she should have been exploring.

And the fact that Chat Noir was tightly wrapped like a Halloween Dominatrix didn't help things. (That... and Adrien Agreste wasn't knocking down her door to help her scratch an itch). She wanted to be with him, to give herself to him, so fully...so why the hell did she want to make tonight as close to a real wedding as possible?

The time between the ceremony and the end of the speeches had been unbearable. Every time she caught his eye, she just wanted to drag him back to their apartment (yes, theirs), rip his clothes off and see exactly what he had been hiding all this time, because she had no doubt that the outcome would be nothing but exquisite.

They'd run across the rooftops in record time. Landing outside their apartment just as they did the first time she'd arrived here. Before they could move, he wrapped an arm tightly around her waist, pulling her towards him before backing against the alleyway wall. Many merry people walked past them, hooting and hollering after one too many beers and wines.

'Hi, wife! You have no idea how long I've waited to get you to myself. Sharing you, when I don't need to anymore is such a pain in the —'

Before he could start cursing the world, Ladybug pressed a finger to his lips.

'Tonight is ours.'

Chat took her finger from his lips and pressed a soft, gentle kiss to the pad of her index finger. 'Who knew the old terrorist had a heart?'

He yanked her, pulling her body into his, their hips resting against each other. Please could he just take her upstairs and do what he wanted with her, because all this conversation was making her restless. She had an incantation she wanted to try, and underwear she wanted to be seen.

His hands slowly brushed up her back, his knee bending and slotting in between hers. She bent her own, allowing her body to connect with his, her hands pushing up his body, as his pushed down hers, resting on her lower back. She was tingling and pulsing, and a whole load of other interesting stuff-the need for this man was unlike anything she'd ever felt before. Whether it was the possessive streak now that they were married, or an after effect of the ceremony, she really couldn't care less. If he didn't make the move and take her up soon she was literally going to be a puddle of goo on the floor.

Her lower lip curved under her top teeth, her hands resting on his shoulders, fingers digging tightly into him. She stretched up on her toes, kissing his lower lip, before pulling it between her teeth. He groaned, a soft whimper before building up into a purr.

'Stop,' he said weakly, moving his face from her kissing under her ear and trailing tiny pecks down her neck.

'Make me,' she said, challenging him with a sultry smirk, one which had a perfect seduction rate — might she just add.

He groaned, throwing his head back against the wall. 'What do you do to me?'

'Whatever you want, Hot Stuff.'

He groaned again. Her body pressed harder into his. She lifted on her toes again, her mouth barely more than an inch from his ear. 'So what do you want me to do?'

Placing his hands on her shoulders, he pushed her back down onto her feet, running his hands the length of her arms and clasping their hands together. 'I just...I want to check that this is what you want? That you're okay with all of this.'

'Are you seriously asking for permission?'

He stretched up, rubbing a hand over the back of his neck as he studied her. 'Well, yeah. I don't want to overstep my boundaries. If you want to stop, or wait, I know the guardian's said we needed to but —'

Once again, she placed a finger over his lips. 'I married you. I love you. And, I swear on Plagg's mouldy cheese collection, if you don't take me up to the apartment in the next twenty seconds I will Lucky Charm you to Timbuktu.'

His eyes flickered with something fierce, something she hadn't seen before. But he obviously understood the severity of her words, as in less than the allocated twenty seconds, she was in his arms and being vaulted up the side of the wall towards their small balcony.

'Is the door even open?' she asked, as he lowered her down onto the patio ground.

'Yes! Why else would I bring you this way?'

She shrugged. 'Well, let's hope no one snuck up and stole all your belongings.'

'Our belongings, ma cherie. And the only thing in there worth stealing is your cafetière.'

Ladybug gasped dramatically, placing a hand over her chest. 'You know the deal, Chaton, no cafetière, no me.'

'Purr-lease. You know as well as I do, there's no turning back now. You want me too much to say no.'

'Unfortunately, that is the truth.'

With all the grace of a cat, he moved, swooping her into his arms and holding her close. She settled herself against him, her hand placed delicately on his chest. His heart was beating so hard. The pounding was a wonderful feel beneath her palm. This was life. This was proof that everything was real, that she was real.

Chat Noir stepped in, holding her effortlessly in his arms, as he carried her over the threshold. Using his foot, he hooked it around the door before kicking it closed with a definite thud. They were alone, closed in their apartment and ready to start the next part of their life. They were locked in. Just the two of them in their half unpacked new home. But amongst the boxes, and the hopes and dreams there was true, pure love.

Placing her down gently, they stood staring at each other. Frozen in a moment of time that both would want to remember.

'Are you ready?' Ladybug asked, taking Chat Noir's hands in her own. He was trembling slightly, her hands feeling the vibrations as she tried to control her own.

His thumb ran soft, circular movements over her knuckles, each one sending a rush of anxiousness down her spine. 'Do you think it'll work?'

'Let's find out on the count of three.'

They grasped onto each other tighter. Chat Noir let out a slow, deep breath. His hands calming slightly, as he eyes locked on hers. She didn't want to blink. She didn't want to miss this moment. She didn't want to miss seeing him for the first time. Would he be wearing a tuxedo under the suit? Would he be wearing anything under the suit? The sudden thought of him being naked was almost too much to handle, her cheeks burning with the thought.

'Okay. Let's say each other's phrases. On three.'

Pouting her lips, she let out a slow controlling breath. This was it. 'Okay.'

Their eyes remained locked as they started to count down, once again in the most perfect synchronisation. '1, 2, 3...'

'Spots down,'; 'Claws down.'

They spoke at the same time, the blinding green and red light mixed together, running down their bodies and taking away their suits, leaving their outfits underneath. Her wedding dress, white when dressed earlier, was now the same design but all in red. Chat looking dashing in his full black suit and gold tie.

'Holy cheese crackers!' He laughed, wrapping his arms around her and lifting her from the ground. He squeezed her until she was almost breathless, the feeling one of the best in the world.

'Oh my word! We're married,' she said in disbelief. This had worked! Everything they had been promised worked.

'We're married,' he echoed, placing her back down on her feet. He placed his hands on her shoulders before dragging them down her bare skin. The feel of skin to skin left a tingling sensation across her flesh, one which passed through her body and made her need more!

As his hands continued to connect with her skin, she used the opportunity to explore for herself, her hands coming up to trace his jaw, his cheeks, his eyebrows...his lips.

She touched everywhere on his face that she could, memorising the feeling in a way she never had the opportunity to have before. His skin was smooth, flawless. His cheeks pronounced with a tiny dimple on the one side that she adored so much. His jawline was rough, stubble growing in after a long day of celebrating. Stretching up onto her tiptoes, she kissed along his jaw, moving down and nipping at his neck, sucking in slowly before kissing a gentle kiss over the darkening bruise.

'I love you,' Ladybug whispered, her lips moving to speak against his lips. They chased after hers, a small just missed kiss brushing her lips.

'I love you so much. I can't believe this is real.'

'It's real, Kitty. I'm your wife.'

His smile widened even more. 'You married me in front of people.'

'I did. I was there.' She chuckled, stepping back away from him, and taking his hand in hers again. She began to walk backwards, pulling him out the room and towards the bedroom.

'I think we've waited long enough, Noir Bond.'

'Noir Bond?' Chat threw his head back in a deep, throaty laugh and she wasn't sure if they'd make it to the bedroom at this rate. 'Is that something you like?'

She dropped him a wink, dropping his hands and stalking towards the bedroom, an extra sashay in her step. She stopped in the doorway, one hand stretching up and reaching over her head in the doorframe. 'That depends, hot stuff. Do you have a license to thrill?'

One hour later, she had her answer. He didn't just have a license; he was the top of the class.