Chat Noir X Reader: The Muse

Chapter 22: Twilight Moon

The mix of colored lights entering the building through stained glass windows danced around the couple a few meters ahead of you.

Your eyes focused on their intertwined fingers. They were whispering to each other, like the church around them didn't matter, and they were in their own world.

"Hey, you ready to go?"

You blinked, startled out of your reverie, and looked at Louise by your side. It was obvious on her face that she was glad to be leaving. She had made a comment a few hours ago about how staring at architecture and stained glass windows in the cold with tourists in every corner wasn't her idea of fun.

"Sure." You looked around one last time, taking in the beauty of the lights in the Sagrada Familia. It wasn't a place to have fun, although some running children could disagree with you. The colored lights and high ceilings made the place seem unreal and brought you a sense of melancholy and peace.

Said peace vanished the minute you tried to get out of the church. There were people everywhere, and you got lost for a moment in the middle of a huge Chinese tourist group.

After throwing many 'excuse me's here and there as you squeezed past, you got to the streets and could finally breathe. Following your group along, soon the horde of tourists began to give way to locals. You watched some teenagers laugh and talk in loud voices as they went in the direction of a McDonald's. It was weird being surrounded by Spanish everywhere after hearing and speaking mainly French for half a year.

You took a few more steps before glancing over your shoulder. No one seemed to be following you. You smiled a bit to yourself in relief. One week in Barcelona and nobody had recognized you yet. However, a part of you wondered if it'd remain like that.

"Alright, so where are we going?" Zoe's distinct accent made you snap your eyes to her. She was turning and turning her map around, trying to find the way. You resisted the urge to sigh. So you had been walking around for no reason?

With your hands inside your coat, you followed the group along the cold streets as they decided where to go, but your steps weren't as energetic as theirs. Not anymore anyway.

The first week you had tried your best to be excited about the trip, giving your opinion, searching for places to visit, doing everything to keep your mind occupied. You had, quite literally, run away from your problems, and at first it seemed to be working. Your days were simple. You walked all day, arrived exhausted at the hostel and slept right away. No thinking, no complicated feelings. Simple.

However, as the days passed and it seemed like you had been away from Paris for a month, you couldn't keep up the pace anymore. Your body could be getting better and your feet were healing, but your mind wasn't. Too many 'what ifs', too many unanswered questions – besides the new ones regarding your future. It was wearing you down.

You began to miss out on the group conversations, as your mind was elsewhere. The others got worried, but you kept telling them you were fine, until the questions stopped. They didn't try to pry or ask about your relation to Chat, which you were grateful for.

You blamed everything on the tiredness of the trip and stress of the last week, but it was different, like something was missing.

You walked by some bars as you went to the gothic part of the town. A Korean couple passed by and you smiled as you were reminded of Marinette. She loved Korean couples' matching outfits.

Your eyes kept travelling around until they landed on a blonde girl wearing a hat and sunglasses looking at a menu. She stared in your direction for a brief moment, before looking down again. Your heart sped up, wondering if she had somehow recognized you, but she didn't show any signs of it.