My Kitty

24| Reunions And Prideful Victory

He was escorted away by the police forces, and her lucky charm had fixed all the damages done. Most importantly, resurrected all the people Paris has lost. But only one person clouded her thoughts.

As she raced across the rooftops, her eyes stung with the familiar sensation of upcoming tears. Only this time, the first among many, they were tears of joy. Her legs desperately carried her to where she last remembered leaving him, and hope surged through her. Providing her a state of peace she hasn't been able to feel since a very long while.

At the blurry sight of him, getting up to his feet and dusting himself off, LadyChat's chest heaved with sobs. Her crying came out a blend of sharp breaths and laughter. Relief was an understatement of how she truly felt.

He glanced up in her direction, and suddenly it was them all alone amidst their broken world. They opened their arms wide in sync, a smile gracing both their faces. Awaiting one another's embrace.

She threw herself into him, with a slight force that had him tumble a few steps back. Nonetheless, he held her just as tight. He rested his chin against the top of her head, his eyes fluttering shut. "I knew you'd bring me back, m'lady."

"Chat..." She whimpered, burying her face further into his chest. Having been so close to losing him, multiple times, had messed with her emotions in ways nobody would understand. She took in his scent, relishing his touch and savoring the warmth he radiated. Pulling back a little to meet his gaze, she cupped his cheeks within the palms of her leather-clad hands. She couldn't form any words in front of him, rendered completely speechless by the events, and his indescribable beauty.

"Shame." He scrunched his nose and she gawked at him, confused. After a pause, Adrien stared down at her, mischief glimmering in his beautiful green eyes. He smirked. "I would've looked real good in that suit of yours."

"Ugh, Chat!" She slapped his arm, moving out of the grip he's had around her waist. Something about this reveal puzzled her, but left her with traces of pure confidence. It changed the way she viewed Adrien. She felt comfortable knowing that he, of all people, was the one who'd been fighting by her side all this time. That he was the one who randomly flirted with her every chance he got. That he was the one who managed to make her fall in love twice, with two polar opposite sides of him.

If she herself hadn't seen that he was Chat Noir, she would've apologized to him at school. She would've ended things before they got the chance to begin. Just to be with Chat Noir. The day she confessed was a mistake, and she didn't know what had pushed her to do so. It felt right to rather be with the kitty. And things played out better than she could've ever imagined. Because her kitty was also her one and only love.

It made her smile how stupid their situation was. They've been chasing after each other all this time, only in different versions of themselves. And even in the end, when everything seemed to be crumbling, and their circumstances stood evidence that they weren't a perfect match, they still settled for one another.

He chuckled, "Well, I need to go." A hundred thoughts were roaming his mind, Marinette being ninety-nine of them. He needed to check on her. "You can keep the miraculous, it looks good on you."

She rolled her eyes. "I'll take you home, silly." At the mention of his home, she faltered. Many things have secretly went on behind closed doors, and she didn't know how to break the news to him. Her heart ached for him.

"You sure it's okay with you?" As much as it was a nice gesture on her part he wanted to worm his way out of the situation. His instincts yelled at him to run away and visit Marinette. The urgency consumed him so much he failed to realize that he was in need of his miraculous if he truly wished to meet her.

She gave a soft smile, and firmly nodded once. Stretching out her arm, she offered her hand to him. It took him a while to accept it. He seemed hesitant, and the reason was beyond her knowledge. Nevertheless, it overwhelmed her with self-doubt.

LadyChat vaulted them back to his mansion, and as she landed through his window and into his dimly lit room, she saw him frown. "What's wrong?" She couldn't help but ask.

He remained silent for a moment, mulling over it. This was the first he'd seen the front gates left unclosed. Especially this late at night, while a villain was on the run. He glanced around, his eyes skimming over his shelves, desk, and bed. Though everything seemed normal, his gut told him nothing was. Shaking his head to will the feeling away, he dodged her question. "Does it... does it bother you?"

"What does?"

"You know..." Shrugging, he cupped one of his elbows, half-heartedly holding onto himself. "Me being Chat Noir."

"What? No! What made you think that?" Her widened eyes slowly morphed into a frown, "Is it something I did?"

"It's nothing, it's just— you probably think—"

"Whatever it is you're going to say, I don't want to hear it." The authority her tone held took him by sheer surprise. Her earrings beeped, and her hand instinctively flew up to graze the miraculous. "Don't think so little of yourself." She slid his ring off her finger, her suit returning to how it originally was in a flash of green light, the fusion wearing off. "Nobody can ever be a better Chat Noir than you."

She outstretched his miraculous to him, and he reached for it. Plagg swirled out of the ring, worn out; drooping. But at first glance, when he saw his holder alive and well, he livened and rushed to hug him, his tiny arms open as wide as he possibly could. Adrien responded to his reaction, subconsciously imitating his kwami's expression.

With the scene in front of her bringing a smile to her face, Ladybug turned around. She unhooked her yo-yo from around her hips, only to come to a halt when Adrien called out to her, stopping her before she could leave.

"Will I ever get to know who you are?"