"the moth's apprentice" chat noir x y/n

The Bird, Bug, Cat Trio

When it rains, it pours, especially in Paris on the top of a sky-scraping building. Choked thunder echoed through my ears, mirroring the pounding in my heart. 

Chat Noir faced me — us — and with hazy uncertainty, he crossed his arms, taking a step closer. "Two Ravens. This...this would make things more fun, now wouldn't it?" 

Despite the gravity of our situation, he smirked. "One in the front..." 

"It's me." Fake Raven crept forward in desperation. The effluvia of her lies poured toxic waste into the air in front of us. "I'm the real Raven. Please, Chat Noir, you have to believe me." She shot a harrowed glance in my direction. 

"Eenie, meenie, mine-ee—" 

"Please, would you cut to the chase, Kitty Cat?" I knew I probably wasn't helping my case, especially seeing as I was meant to be proving to my 'true love' that it was indeed I, not a faux hoe. 

Chat Noir strutted forward, in a slow enough fashion to show that he wasn't in any hurry. He made a dramatic show of scanning both of us. His slicked back, rain-washed hair was tangled in wet knots over his perky cat ears. 

Meanwhile, there was a monumental splash that sprayed water across the perimeter of the building. It splooshed over the edges, causing great torrents to bucket down on unsuspecting citizens. 

Ladybug. Or, Marinette, I should say, had impressively landed on the building. She slid to a stop beside her partner in crime.

"Sorry I'm late," Marinette apologized. "I was watching the Agreste fashion show live. And then it was RUDELY interrupted by this mother-fucking Akuma." She looked up. "What did I miss?" 

"Really? I didn't peg you for an Adrien Agreste fan." Distracted, Chat Noir looked sideways at her. When the Akuma pounced, it was far too late. 

Chat Noir and his now identical twin wrestled on the ground while Ladybug and I stood, watching with dismay. 

"Should we help him?" I asked. 

"No, let's let him fluff his ego a bit." 

"Okay."

Water flew as they tumbled under the stormy sky. It was well past nine now, and stars seemed to mock us with their beauty. There was so much ugly in this world. What appeared in the sky certainly didn't mirror what was happening down on earth. 

"So, you're an Adrien Agreste fan?" I figured I'd acquaint myself with Marinette's alter ego while I had the chance. I wasn't entirely sure if she knew my identity, but she apparently knew that I was on her side, and that was what really mattered. 

"Oh, of course I am!" Ladybug squealed, as the Chat Noirs sunk their claws into each other's backs. "Are you?" 

"Not really. I find he's kinda a pushover. Dating Lila? Pssshhh. He couldn't do any worse than that." 

"A friend I knew hooked up with him once," Ladybug told me. Of course, I knew this. I'd stumbled in on them way back when I first moved to Paris. Or, moved again, I should say. "Let me just say he's got a real big—" 

A loud hiss came from the mouth of one of the Chat Noir's. "Ladybug!" 

"No, help me! I'm the real one!" 

They both chose that moment to tumble at my feet, effectively tripping me. I fell, and before I could catch my balance, I was off the edge of the building. 

Unable to fathom a cold, concrete death, I closed my eyes and prayed for a sudden burst of wings from my back. I hadn't quite gotten used to them again, a thought that was probably unhelpful in that very moment. 

There was a burst of energy as Ladybug yelled her little ditty. "Fuck-off little Akuma!" 

She'd done it then. Too bad I was plummeting faster than she could say - "no more evil doing—" 

Arms wrapped around me and my head jerked suddenly as a metal pole suspended me abruptly in the air. My would-be saviour, if I hadn't sprouted wings at that very moment, gave me an annoyed look. 

"I would have caught you, darling." Chat Noir perched atop his pole in his cat-like position. 

I hovered in the air, relief and adrenaline pounding through my veins. 

"Maybe I don't need you to catch me." 

Chat Noir's eyes crinkled around the edges. Amusement, or annoyance, I couldn't tell you. His ears perked up, and he adjusted his grip on the pole. 

"Will you do something with me?" Chat Noir asked, his green eyes wide. He looked unabashed. "For old times sake." 

"Depends what it is." 

"Come on, Birdy. Would I ever steer you wrong?"