The Fox and the Ladybug

Part Five: Partners?

🍡Author's Note: Sorry my chapters have been really short. Here's a longer one for you guys!🍡

Marinette's POV

4: 51 pm

"Tikki, spots on!" I said to transform into Ladybug. I unlocked the door of the bathroom and thought I saw a figure dash out of the bathroom. Usually I would've worried about this but I was so exhausted that I just shrugged and walked out, using my yoyo to fling myself on the nearest apartment building. 

It was a clear, sunny day with barely any clouds so it was easy to see the tip of Refleckta's sentimonster next to the Eiffel Tower. I flung myself over to a floor of the tower next to Chat Noir.

"Hey, Bugaboo!" he winked.

"Chat Noir, I told you to not call me that," I said. I was really tired of Chat Noir flirting with me. After a few times, it was flattering, but after I told him multiple times that I was in love with someone else...

He just feels too aggressive in his attempts to flirt with me, like he wouldn't take no for an answer. I liked his company, but when he started to overstep boundaries, I just..

I got the job done fast with my whiteboard marker lucky charm and saved Paris once again. I was relieved to be able to go back to the park and do normal-Marinette school things, but Chat Noir stopped me before I could take off.

"Why don't we get some ice cream from the bridge, m'lady?" he smiled his charming grin that made me feel like I couldn't say no. Not like I felt like this was an offer of a lifetime, but that I literally could not say no. This made me feel uncomfortable, but my mouth had said yes before I even got to think about the offer.

I jumped down to the bridge and spotted Andre's ice cream stand standing on the bridge. The lake was shimmering with the help of light the sun had bestowed upon it. The sun was slowly going down into the river, tempted by its glittering surface. Like the sun, I felt like I didn't have a choice but to give in to the charming shine of the water. Chat Noir had chosen a perfect time to invite me here, but my brain reminded me that I had work to do. It also reminded me that I was in love with Adrien.

Just one ice cream, I reminded myself. Then I'll get back home.

"Hey Andre, one ice cream please," Chat Noir said cheerfully. I flinched at the idea of sharing ice cream with Chat Noir. The gesture was romantic, but when you do a such a gesture, you should make sure the person that's receiving it is okay with it. In this case, I wasn't because I'd told Chat Noir before that I was not in love with him.

Andre scooped up creamy cherry gelato and rich chocolate ice cream and put it into a beautifully decorated waffle cup. He looked at me and then Chat Noir and then back to me before giving me a slightly sympathetic glance.

He handed us our cone and we found a nearby table that was vacant. We sat down and Chat Noir placed a spoon into my mouth. The ice cream was delicious, but there was a knot in my stomach that wouldn't go away.

"Thank you for taking me here, Chat Noir," I said politely.

"It's the least I could do for the most beautiful girl in the world," he replied, grabbing my chin.

I knew I had to get it into Chat Noir's head that it wasn't going to happen, so I took a deep breath and started to speak.

"Look, Chat Noir, this whole arrangement is spectacular, but I've told you before-" I started, but he stopped me with a spoonful of ice cream placed gently into my lips.

"This isn't supposed to be romantic, Bugaboo," he said. "Don't worry, I asked you out not as a date between lovers, but a date between partners. I've decided to stop chasing after you." Even though he said this, I felt uncomfortable with the way he acted around me, the way he talked me, the names he called me...

"Chat Noir, I don't feel comfortable with this," I said. "I'm sorry, I have to go."

"Ladybug, I'm telling you, I'm not in love with you anymore," Chat Noir said.

I'm not sure I believed Chat Noir when he said this, but what I did believe was that I didn't feel like going on a date with Chat Noir, platonic or romantic.

"I'm sorry, Chat Noir. I have to go." I took out my yoyo and flung it onto the Eiffel Tower. As I soared through the air, it was almost impossible to not look back at Chat Noir on the bridge. I felt a twinge of guilt in my gut when I looked at him for a microsecond. He stood there watching me soar away, and the way he just stood there made part of me want to go back. However, I didn't like how he called me pet names even when I told him to stop. 

I jumped from building to building as I looked at the sun which had fully sunk into the shining water. When I saw my hammock and pink potted plants on one particular balcony, I landed and detransformed. Tikki flew up and I fed her a coffee flavored macaroon.

"Wow, Marinette!" she said once she partly finished chewing. "I'm so proud of you for doing what you were comfortable with back there. It can be hard sometimes." 

"Thank you, Tikki," I yawned. I smiled as I glanced at my clock at realized it was not as late as I thought it was. If I put away my phone now, I have a good chance of getting a good sleep. After brushing my teeth and taking a shower, I fell asleep as soon as Tikki and the other kwamis tucked me into bed. Well, almost.

Before I fell asleep, I thought about Chat Noir. I felt bad for leaving him on the bridge, but I also felt like he deserved it for not listening to me. 'I don't feel like worrying about this,' I mumbled before drifting off.