FRANCE, PARIS 2023.
━ chap 8. partners or more !

As the sun drips below the horizon, Paris undergoes a transformation revealing a whole new facet of its enchanting allure. The night air, cool and crisp, carries with it a symphony of sounds and a medley of scents, that paint the canvas of the city's nocturnal environment. The twinkling lights of the city create a mesmerizing mosaic, that stretches out towards the horizon.

Sitting up on top of the edge of a roof inside the city, gazing over the magnificent scenery in front of them Ladybug and Cat Noir sat next to each other, both holding ice-creams that were giving to them, a reward for saving Paris again.

"Paris is safe, and we did that." Cat Noir was the first one to speak which broke their comfortable silence, and turned his head towards his partner, who had the same ice-cream as he did in hand.

She chuckles softly to herself in still disbelief at how she was a hero, and her lips twitched upwards while looking at him, and ate some of the treat, "It's hard to believe."

"You know what, watermelon?" He suddenly question in a humours tone, his fluffy hair blowing with the wind when it picked up, as a few strands were falling over his masked eyes.

She hummed a little in acknowledgement hearing his words, already feeling he was about to tease her about something, and momentarily stopped eating the ice-cream snarking back, "I'm all ears, fleabag."

He gave a sly smirk followed by a hair brush off his forehead with his free hand, "Don't take it personally princess, you've got a great style, but I believe you could, uh..." He trailed off for a second shyly, and glanced away from her awaiting gaze, before giving her a playful gleam, "punch a little faster."

"Really?" She fake gasped offended through a scoff, and finished off the rest of her ice-cream as she flicked his bell, causing him to flush red in the cheeks, "Interesting observation, kitty."

She then balled her left fist up that had her lucky bracelet under her suit, and went to aim it at him when he wasn't looking at her. Though without even turning his head, he caught her fist inside his palm, and slowly turned his gaze to her with a smug smirk.

"Slow, but pretty strong for a watermelon." He complimented teasingly, as he want to bring her suited knuckle up to his lips, but she giggled watching this happen, and pushed her finger up against his nose instead.

He chuckled lowly through a nose scrunch and let go of her hand trapped in his, both of them feeling so comfortable around each other it was unreal. Yet their minds were buzzing about someone else back at school also, not knowing they were thinking about each other under the mask.

Cat Noir then went to aim a kick at Ladybug's face, that she easily blocked with her forearm as the impact made a thumping sound, "You call that a kick?" She goes to coo with a fake pout over her lips, "Aw, what a cute kitten you are."

Embarrassment was clearly shown over his face hearing her words, ears flat against his head as he narrows his cat like gaze on her, and releases a low growl through a huff. He then swiftly jumps up to stand, and she follows his lead by throwing a punch at his arm with her leg, that he blocked quickly.

In the process of doing so he ended up slipping a little down the roof, and he hit something off the roof with his boot, as it now fell off the roof with a thump. The two crowd around where it disappeared off to, as Ladybug stands behind the crouched Cat, one hand placed behind his back.

There was a loud clatter below from the object that hit the ground, and a angry male's voice yelling followed behind the noise, "Hey! Watch with all the noise!"

The duo flinched back with winces hearing the complaining that they caused, as Cat Noir turned his head back to Ladybug with a smile. Her expression matched his, as they broke into a fit of laughter between them.

"Do you wanna fight?" He playfully purred with a determined look in his green gaze, lips shifting into a charming smirk that has her now growing even more confident, despite the nagging feeling growing in the pit of her stomach.

She grunted in answer to his question, running a finger up his back in a flirtatious way that caused him to gulp nervously, and shiver in occupation, heart starting to pound faster then it already was around her.

"Let's see if you can stop this!" He declared in a teasing rumble, as he jumped up to pounce on her that she easily dodged with a side step, and now began to defend herself from his hits, and sometimes would hit back.

She caught his fist against her forearm again cackling in asmuent, as she pushed his arm away from her, and was now making him walk backwards through their playful banter, "You call that a punch, kitty?"

"More like a light scratch, princess." He mused back through a baby voice, and caught her leg mid air when she aimed to hit him, as he twisted her around her back to land against his chest, momentarily trapped inside his strong arms.

She dipped her head back to rest on his chest as she breathed heavily looking up at his face, which had a dangerous glint in his eyes seeing her stuck like this against him. She easily brought her elbow back into his side, causing him to yelp and let go of her, as she now jumps back a few spaces away from him.

"Careful not to break a claw now." Ladybug called out in a sing-song way before running up to his panting figure, and aimed another kick with her foot, that made him now jump back to avoid it.

"Would that bug you?" He sarcastically mocked from her comment, using his own leg to kick away hers when it tried to come swinging at him, and tried to leg sweep her off balance, but she easily jumped over it laughing.

They kept playfully fighting across the roof they were on, both dodging or throwing hits at each other like it was a daily thing they did with each other, which it was just not with high tensions like this.

Mid fight the duo ended up switching positions, which now as Ladybug backing up towards an incoming brick wall, and Cat Noir still trying to aim one punch at her, but was still unsuccessful.

When she balled her fist up to try and punch his shoulder, he caught it inside his closed fist with a squeeze and mocking chuckle, that had her scowling and pulling back away from him.

As she did go to move backwards from her partner, her back ended up slamming into the brick wall, and wasn't prepared for him to also fall into it. His body trapped her against it, chests just grazing each others, as his hands were on either side of her shoulders, and both their eyes go wide at the sudden close proximity between them.

Ladybug released a strangled gasp through her now parted lips, doe eyes glancing up into Cat Noir's dilated ones that had an unreadable look in them, as they flickered all over her masked face frantically.

They were so close that their heavy breathing was hitting each other's skin, as they tried to desperately catch their breath from the physical exercise from before. Her hands were just touching his waist, as she felt his tail briefly graze over in between her legs, making her stomach leap even more.

In that moment the air seemed charged with an invisible current, crackling with unspoken desires and the palpable tension of longing. The environment around them fell away, their surroundings blurring into a haze as their focus zeroes in one another.

"I really should go home now." She was the first one to break the heavy tension between them, whispering the words she didn't want to but had to, as her fingers slightly dig into his waist to keep her grounded.

He swallows the lump in his throat as he licks his bottom lip briefly, and brushes his nose up against hers in a silent plea, "Don't.." He breathes out just as his low, his lidded gaze flicked down to her parted lips, that has her bitting them when she saw where he was staring.

Her eyelashes flutter in an attempt to keep herself from passing out, feeling the overwhelming amount of emotions she was experiencing, as she feels one of his hands coming down from the wall to give her choice, rather then force her to stay against her own will.

"I really do want to stay, kitty..." She lowered her voice into a softer one, as her forehead falls against his that had him closing his own eyes for a second to control himself, and her hands fall back down to her sides, "but I can't, we can't."

His eyes shot open hearing the waver in her voice, as her head was turned away from his hurt expression, and pulled back from her figure a little bit to give her room, realising she just made her choice, but still kept one palm against the wall beside the top of her head.

Ladybug now glanced back to him feeling he moved a bit away, and her eyes didn't move away from Cat Noir's as she grabbed the yo-yo wrapped around her waist. Before she want to swing off, she quickly stepped on her tippy toes to brush her lips up against his cheek, making him flush in the face with a low rumble in his chest.

Without even looking back to see his reaction, she aimed her the end of her yo-yo towards another buildings roof quiet quickly, and was tugged along with it now fleeing away from him.

His green eyes now no longer slits where fully blown, as one of his clawed hand come up to touch the cheek she kissed, all while watching her figure swinging away with a longing expression, "Who are you, Ladybug?"

.....

The next morning now inside the school hallways, the bell rings through the corridors which signaled to all the students that class was starting, as they began to walk away from the wall that had a massive poster reading 'THE GRAND PARIS BALL'.

"Seriously guys, you think Adrien would even say yes?" (Y/N) was talking to the three walking beside her down the hallways, which was Marinette, Alya, and Nino was she glanced down with a sad frown, "I wouldn't blame him if he said no though, I'm literally a klutz."

Marinette narrowed her eyes down on her twin, not liking how she talked down on herself like that, "Listen to me (N/N), there's no reason for him to say no." She reassured as she wrapped an arm around the other girls shoulder, squeezing tightly, "You're prefect, and If he doesn't see that, he's blinder than I first thought. And a total idiot!"

"Yeah girl, exactly what Marinette said." Alya stepped in to add on from beside them, as she pulled Nino along to walk with her who yelped nervously, "I already asked Nino, and we're going together. Right, Nino?"

She looked up at the male who stumbled in his spot, and sweat dropped watching him frantically nod his head in agreement, "Yes! Totally we are-" He stuttered out in a jumble of words, making the three girls giggle in amusement, and shared knowing looks.

"What Nino means (N/N), is that its so obvious Adrien is into you, and you should ask him to the dance." Alya corrected her boyfriend who threw a cheerful thumbs up beside her, and it caused the (H/C) haired girl to smile a little bit in growing confidence.

As they were talking some more about the situation and giving her tips on to how to actually ask him to question, despite Marinette growing protective every time they tried to speak her twin going with Adrien, they didn't see Chloe coming up who heard their entire conversation.

"I think you three should go together," Chloe's rude tone was back in their eyes, as she gestured to the three girls making Marinette, Alya, and Nino glare at her in warning watching Chloe get closer to (Y/N)'s nervous face, smarmy laughing, "'cause Adrien is coming with me, not with some baker girl who only causes disasters."

Marinette's eye twitched hearing the bully's words at her twin, as she gritted her teeth and opened her mouth to snap something rude back at her, but (Y/N) held up her hand for Marinette to stop, taking all her friends by sudden surprise.

She took a deep breath to steady herself, before turning her head to Chloe with a fake smile on her face, "Enough, Chloe. The adults are having a conversation." She fired back in an mocking tone, as her face gets closer to hers which made Chloe flinch back shocked, "Why don't you go fix your so called 'perfect' hair? It looks like a rat's nest."

The three standing around (Y/N) blinked stunned hearing her rude comment, before laugher broke free from their mouths, as Marinette tackles her twins back with a proud cry, and they all watch Chloe running away calling for her dad on the phone, laughing.

"I'm so proud of you! Standing up to that brat like that, you're amazing (Y/N)!" Marinette praised her twin while hugging her back like a koala, causing the girl to hold onto her legs, and chuckled shyly as she didn't know where the rudeness came from.

"That was pretty cool, dudette." Nino tipped his hat at her with a bright grin, and ruffled her hair playfully which caused her to drop Marinette carefully, and shove his hand away with a laugh. 

(Y/N) fixed her hair up from his invasion, as she brushes through the bangs covering her forehead, and glanced down the hallway to spot Adrien entering the library, causing her body to stiffen up badly, "A-alright guys, why don't we go to a park, or something? To talk more?"

They all shared a confused look at her sudden change up, before the three followed where the nervous girl was gazing at, and their lips move upwards into mischievous smirks seeing who she was watching.

"Ah yes, of course (N/N)." Alya starts to speak in a teasing way with that smirk still up, as she takes one of her hands, and Marinette takes the other one beside her, "Let's go before princes charming see's his princess embarrassing herself."

The (H/C) haired girl felt the tips of her ears burn, as a flustered expression takes over her cheeks realising they figured out why she wanted to leave, "C'mon guys, it's not like that-!"

A loud yelp of alarm escaped her lips when her sister, and best friend began to drag her along in a run down the hallways, as Nino went to find Adrien now, and left the three girls in their happy laugher echoing through the school.

.....

It was later that night after an eventual day of talking about plans with the dance, trying on dresses and fits for it, as well as just having fun through the streets of Paris with her sister and best friend. (Y/N) was now up in her room sitting at her desk half tired, and talked to her other familiar red best friend.

"Tikki, I think I'm gonna do it." She tells the creature resting on her shoulder, as the human girl held a blue bow in between her fingers with determination, "I'm gonna ask Adrien to the ball!"

Her (E/C) eyes scan over all the materials on her desk that she made with Marinette, and place the bow against the present she was going to give to him, "I've got everything planned out: my outfit, what I'm gonna say thanks to the girls, a cute bow tie."

Tikki flies off her owners shoulder to float above in the air, as she gives the human girl a knowing look, "Hawkmoth is still on the move." She remined seriously, and flew a bit closer to her face, "We must stay focused, (N/N)."

"I know you're worried Tikki, but relax!" (Y/N) opened her palms for the Kwami to land on as she did so, and the girl brought her up in line with her reassuring eyes, "We kicked every super villain he sent out way." She chuckled a little bit, and ran a finger over Tikki's soft head, which made the creature giggle, "He's probably hiding scared right now."

Tikki's face creased hearing the brush off of her serious words, and flew out of (Y/N)'s hands up to her face again, as she placed he smaller hand against the girls cheek, "Or it's the calm before the storm."

As that comment left Tikki's mouth the earrings inside of (Y/N)'s ears suddenly trill awake, showing a red aura that pulsed up and down in alert, catching her by shock seeing them glowing, "Mmh, see?" Tikki hummed knowingly, and flew up beside her ears to share a look with her owner.

"Alright then.... Tikki spots on!"

.....

Now in her second identity as Ladybug she leapt up onto a oval shaped roof, the place she was sent to by Cat Noir who was already there apparently, according to what he told her.

"All right, kitty. Let's do this quick." She mumbles to herself as she jumped off the railing, rolling one of her shoulders back to warm up, as she gazes around the roofs area, "I've got a big day tomorrow, and I need my beauty sleep."

She expected to hear one of his flirty or witty comebacks, but instead was met with eerie silence, one that made her uncomfortable without him by her side, "Cat Noir? Hello?" She called out as her voice echoed around the risen roof, and span around in her spot to see if he was hiding.

However her (E/C) masked eyes do land on something on one of the cement beams, making her walk cover to it and lift a suited hand to gently touch it. She saw a bunch of cat like claw marks, causing a sudden bad feeling to bubble up in her chest, and glance down seeing a familiar neon glowing light.

A gasped left her lips realising it was Cat Noir's baton on the floor, the glowing coming from the paw print on the top, "Oh, no!" She cries out in horror, quickly picking up the weapon to cradle it against her chest, "I didn't make it in time! They took him! He's gone!"

Her breathing picked up into a short panicked ones, as she felt her eyes sting with emotion, and desperately looked around to find his figure, dearly hoping this was just a prank, "Kitty! Cat Noir-!"

Not even a second later the weapon in her hand was pulled upwards by a sudden force, making her head follow where it was going, and felt utter relief wash over her seeing Cat Noir perched up on top of the roof's beams, the one who made the weapon get tugged up.

"So, you do care about me." He mused without a care in the world knowingly, his bell ringing when he tilted his head sideways to gaze at her, smiling like a love sick puppy. He then made his baton expand downwards into the hole in the roof, as he slide down the weapon to where she was sadly pouting.

Ladybug had her one of her arms crossed over her chest, while the other held onto that one, frowning upset at him as she couldn't believe he joke about his safety like that, "Of course I do! You really scared me there, Cat."

Cat Noir wasn't expecting that response from her, as it made his heart flutter, and heat appear across his cheeks hidden by his mask, "I'm sorry, princess." He cooed gently as he used his free hand not holding onto the baton, and took her knuckle to bring them up to his lips, leaving a warm, tender kiss, "At least I know now how much you care."

The sudden affection from him sent warmth spreading through her body in butterflies, as she squeaks to herself in embarrassment while gazing up at him with wide, doe eyes, not knowing how to react thinking about their last encounter.

He chuckles lowly watching her act because of his touch, it being muffled against her suited knuckles, and eventually let them go, "Follow me!" He threw her a charming wink, before disappearing below the roof through the hole leading inside.

A breathy exhale past her lips hearing this, as she slightly rolled her eyes at his flirting, and followed him inside of the building, landing against the carpet floor with a soft thump.

"Wow!" She gasped out in awe at what was in front of her, seeing many red fancy chairs in rows upon rows, followed by a magnificent stage that had red curtains folded to the sides, and many smaller platforms on the sides where the chairs were, with dull lights up on the ceilings.

She let her suited feet take her down the small steps leading to where he was, and felt a sudden soft sensation brush up against her legs. She looked down to find a few cats, that were rubbing themselves up against her, and she giggled quietly watching this happen.

"Let me guess." Ladybug's voice was a bit louder now, turning her head back up to where Cat Noir was sitting on the edge of the stage, and felt a bit of a bitter feeling creeping up on her saying the next words, "This is where you bring all your dates."

"Actually, I've never brought anyone here." He admitted honestly as he gently patted the spot next to him, causing her to sit down right beside him, their shoulders just grazing each others, "After my mom died, I promised myself that I wouldn't get close to anyone anymore."

Her (E/C) eyes go wide hearing this new information, as she feels her heart clench for him, and had a weird feeling that his story was awfully familiar to the guy she was crazy about back at school, "Oh. I'm so sorry, Cat Noir." She reponed back in a sympathetic tone, as she gently placed her hand on top of his resting on his thigh.

"Don't be. I'm not sad anymore..." His tone dropped into a whispered one, his lips breaking into a soft smile seeing her hand on top of his, as he carefully takes them together and intertwined their suited fingers together to rest them on his thigh again, "since I met you, and-"

A barely audible gasp left her lips at this as she heard the pause in his words, and it made her wonder what he was going to say. Though it didn't matter right now, as all she knew was that her heart was fluttering, and gripped his hand tighter inside of hers.

His clawed thumb rubbed over the back of her knuckles, something that triggered her brain to flash a quick image of Adrien in her mind, "I prepared a little something." He shrinks in on himself with self doubt, and sighed heavily, "But I'm not sure. I don't want to mess it up."

"You know, someone once tole me-" She trailed off with a knowing smile thrown at him over her shoulder, and squeezed his hand in hers on his thigh still, that giddy feeling coming back once more as she quotes his word from when they first met, "that failure is not your enemy, your fears are."

"That's right." He breathed out through a tiny giggle, before tilting his back to her in a shoulder shrug, and kept his thumb pressed into her knuckles, being careful not to dig in claws into them, "So, I'm prepared to make a fool of myself."

She snorts with the back of her free hand covering her mouth, and nudged her shoulder into his as she let hers rest on his now grinning brightly, "Like you could ever do that, kitty."

His loving smile grows even wider hearing her truthful comment, as his canines now appear from how big it was. He brings the back of her hand up to his mouth, leaving a final longing kiss on it, all while keeping intense eye contact with her, that had her internally screaming.

He goes to stand up now leaving the flustered girl sitting down, as their fingers slipped from each others slowly, and he walked over towards the white sheet covering something behind the, grabbing it to tug it off, revealing a giant piano that he actually can play.

"And you need a piano for that?" Ladybug questioned a bit confused as she span around to face him now, and was also very interested to see where this was going, not knowing that this thing with him would end up in tears eventually.

Cat Noir sat down on the long chair in front of the piano, preparing himself to show the girl he adored the very song he poured his hole heart, and soul into, "A gift." He whispered loud enough for her ears to hear, as he gazed at her with such a soft, tender look that it took her breath away, "For you, m'lady."

( ᴬᵁᵀᴴᴼᴿˢ ᴺᴼᵀᴱ )

I HAD TO END IT HEREEEE AND I KNOW TERRIBLE RIGHT??  🥲but since the kiss scene is coming up i didn't wanna have it so soon cause im afraid so readers will find it annoying having to so early but it really isn't since weeks, days and a few months have gone by already LMAOAO we see that in the movie as well 😭

im cooking up another mlb fic as i work on this guysss so get ready for that when i finish this fic which i will be soon and im SOBBING i don't want it to end UHHHGGG 👹👹

anywayyysss hope you guys enjoyed this chapter ehhe cat noir getting really bold lately with reader and im lovin ittt, also don't be silent readersss i love reading your comments fr it makes me HAPPY <33