Chapter Text
It had been two and a half years since they had last seen each other. Marinette was twenty-three, Adrien twenty-four. Winter had settled over Paris. January.
In his arms, Cat Noir kissed her neck with aching familiarity, his touch reckless and desperate.
“I missed you so much,” he whispered.
“I missed you too, Chat,” Ladybug breathed, her pulse racing. Then her voice faltered. “But I need to tell you something. We really can’t do this any—”
“Tshh… don’t ruin this moment.” He lifted her effortlessly and pinned her against the wall, silencing her with a kiss that stole the rest of her words.
“No—no, we can’t. I—I’m with someone,” she said, her resolve crumbling even as she tried to hold onto it.
“My Lady,” Cat Noir murmured with a crooked smirk, his lips hovering over hers, “I don’t care. The only thing I care about right now is tasting you again.”
And then he kissed her—hard, urgent, undeniable.
“I don’t think it’s the right thing to do anymore,” Ladybug said quietly. “Things are… different now.”
“My Lady,” he breathed, struggling to steady himself. “Do you really think I ever cared who you dated in real life? You still laughed with me. You still chose me. So what changed?” He bit his lip, eyes searching her face.
“I’m…” Her voice wavered. “I actually got engaged recently.”
He was shocked a little….well not really “a little”, but actually a lot. The words hit him harder than he expected. To be fair he was always hurt whenever his lady had a boyfriend. But usually “they” didn’t last long. He didn’t struggle on his own much ,he had girlfriends too, well just for a night or two . He didn’t tell his lady about them. Well…about most of them.
He’d pretended not to care before, filling the space with distractions, fleeting relationships that meant nothing. They were never about love—only about dulling the ache of knowing she wasn’t truly his. Chat was faithful until Ladybug was the first who got a “guy on a side” . No matter how hard he tried to deny it, his heart had always belonged to her and she will always have the special spot in it. A part of him had always wished—selfishly—that she would be his alone. His Lady. His Chérie. His Amour.
He loosened his hold on her, just for a moment.
Then he caught her again, fingers brushing her jaw as he kissed her once more—slow, hungry, deliberate.
“How sadistic of you,” he murmured against her lips, voice low and strained, “to tell me that now. Do you have any idea how long I’ve waited for this? For you?” He kissed her again before she could answer. ”I actually planned to eat you all tonight. All night, yes” -he nodded while pressing his index finger on her lips.” You can’t just leave while I have this big problem down there.” He pointed down with his look quickly. “I’ve spent enough of lonely nights in thoughts of you. I need you right now. All to myself”. - he said unhesitatingly.
“I’m sorry…” - she can’t find any other words. She is starved too to be fair. She did miss these night with Chat. Reckless nights like these - made her feel alive.
Although she said the truth to him ,she doesn’t resist to whatever he’s doing to her. She never could. He had always known exactly how to draw her in. As if she always has gone under his spell. He’s very charmy after all and knows exactly which buttons to press.
Chat had a scary look as if he was about to devour her. That’s how much he enjoyed kissing her. Oh boy, he hasn’t reached the sweetest spot yet. And he was already full thoughts of it. Just a simple thought of his lady’s honey jar made him so hard, he couldn’t resist to take care of himself in a time he was lonely. That happened on a daily basis. Sometimes even 2-3 times per day when it was very tough days. But past year and a half he did it less. He was more busy studying.
He kept going lower and lower until he was between her thighs . Chat didn’t waste any second and started kissing her legs . The only obstacle was her suit. With a familiar grin, he used his claw, slicing through just enough of the fabric to get what he wanted. He could have removed each part of the suit separately, but what’s fun in that? There was something intoxicating about the recklessness of it.
At the moment he was about to cut her groin area, Ladybug’s phone started to ring. That caught him off guard a little , but he didn’t stop. He cut her sweet area he desperately wanted to see again. He was at his moment of appreciation of his meal. Until they heard the phone rang again. And there was a voice message left.
“Hey, darling… I really need to talk to you right now. Can you pick up? It’s urgent.”
The words lingered in the air, heavy and unavoidable.
Chat froze. He slowly lifted his head, eyes narrowing as the last echo of that voice faded from the phone. The warmth in his expression vanished, replaced by something darker—something wounded.
“So that’s him,” he said quietly.
Ladybug swallowed. “Chat—”
“Engaged,” he cut in, a humorless smile tugging at his lips. “I guess that explains the urgency to pick up that call.” His jaw tightened as he rose to his feet, hands flexing like he was trying to ground himself. “Funny how he gets to call you darling while I’m here pretending not to care.”
“I didn’t plan this,” she said quickly. “I didn’t even know he’d call.”
“But he did.” Chat laughed under his breath, sharp and bitter. “Right when I finally have you again..” He turned away for a moment, running a hand through his hair, tail lashing behind him. “Do you know how hard it is to hear his voice and remember that no matter what happens tonight… you’re still walking back to him?”
She stepped closer, reaching out, but hesitated before touching him. “Chat, please. It’s complicated.”
“It always is with you,” he said, spinning back to face her. His eyes searched hers—desperate, jealous, afraid. “You tell me we can’t do this, yet you don’t stop me. You let me believe, just for a second, that I still matter like I used to.”
“I never said you didn’t matter-” She couldn't finish her words. He scoffed softly. “You don’t have to. Your phone already did.”
Another buzz echoed between them. He glanced at it, then back at her, irritation burning hot beneath the hurt.
“Answer it,” he said, though every word clearly went against his own heart. “Go on. I won’t stop you.”
But he didn’t move away. And neither did she. Ladybug hesitated only a second before picking up the phone.
“H-hello?”
“Finally,” her fiancée’s voice came through, tight with worry. “I’ve been calling you nonstop. Where are you? I was starting to think something happened.”
“I’m fine,” she said quickly, forcing steadiness into her voice. “I just… didn’t hear my phone at first.”
There was a pause. “You don’t sound fine.”
She closed her eyes. Chat was still there—silent now, arms crossed, green eyes locked on her with a mix of irritation and barely contained jealousy. She turned slightly away from him, as if distance could make this easier.
“It’s been a long night,” she said.
“I needed to tell you something important,” he continued. “My parents moved the dinner with the planner to tomorrow morning. They want you there too. I know it’s last minute, but—” His voice softened. “I miss you.”
Her grip tightened around the phone.
“I can’t. I have classes tomorrow. Maybe next time. And I miss you too,” she replied, and the words tasted strange—true, yet incomplete. Another pause. A sharper one this time. “Are you alone right now?” The question landed like a strike.
She glanced at Chat again. His jaw clenched, irritation flaring openly now, as if every syllable from the other man’s mouth scraped against his nerves. “Yes,” she lied.
Chat’s eyes flickered. Hurt, then anger. He looked away, jaw set, clearly fighting the urge to walk out—or explode.
“Okay,” her fiancée said slowly. “Good. Because I really need you focused right now. This engagement… it’s real. I don’t want any secrets between us.”
Her heart thudded painfully.
“No secrets,” she echoed, voice barely above a whisper.
“Promise me something,” he said. “No matter how busy things get—no matter who from your past shows up—you’ll choose us.”
Ladybug didn’t answer right away. Behind her, Chat let out a quiet, bitter laugh.
She swallowed. “I… I have to go. We’ll talk tomorrow, okay?” “Wait—” But the word came too late.
She ended the call.
Ladybug spun on him, anger flaring. “Are you crazy?” she snapped. “Now he’s going to get suspicious.” Her eyes burned as she glared at him, fists clenched at her sides.
Chat finally spoke, his voice low and edged with irritation. “So,” he said, turning fully toward her, jealousy no longer hidden. “You promised him.”
She scoffed, rolling her eyes as she crossed her arms. “Oh, right. And since when did I forget that you can’t help but eavesdrop on my phone calls?”
“Chérie,” he replied with a crooked grin, though his eyes were anything but playful, “I’m a cat. Don’t forget that.”
She didn’t laugh. “That wasn’t funny,” she said. “You had no right to interrupt like that.”
“No?” He stepped closer, grin fading. “Because it sounded a lot like he was asking you to erase me. Sort of.”
“That’s not what he meant.”
“That’s exactly what he meant,” Chat shot back. “And you let him think he already won.” His voice dropped. “Engaged. Promises. Plans. While you’re standing here with me.”
Her resolve wavered. “You don’t understand—”
“Then explain it to me,” he said, frustration breaking through the jealousy now. “Because from where I’m standing, it looks like you want two lives. And I’m only allowed to exist in the shadows of one of them.”
Silence stretched between them, heavy and fragile.
Ladybug looked away first.
She sighed, lips parting as if to speak—then closing again. When she finally tried a second time, she breathed out slowly, steadying herself.
“You know we can never know each other’s civilian identities,” she said quietly. “We’ve talked about this so many times. I have to live my life—build a future, have a family.” Her voice trembled just slightly. “You’ll have one too, someday. And I don’t know if… whatever this is between us can last forever…”
Before she could finish, Chat stepped closer and caught her hands, pressing them gently against her chest. His touch was firm, grounding.
“Listen to me,” he said, voice intense, eyes locked onto hers. “I don’t need anyone else in real life. I never did.” His grip tightened just a little. “I just need you. Even if I never get to know who you are beneath the mask—I’d stay single for the rest of my life if it meant keeping this.”
She shook her head faintly. “Chat—”
“And don’t tell me you love him,” he continued, softer now but no less certain. “Because you don’t.” His thumb brushed over her knuckles. “You’re doing this because your parents want it. Because it’s safe. Expected.”
Her breath caught.
“That’s not fair,” she whispered.
“Isn’t it?” he asked. “Chérie, you’re standing here with me, struggling to walk away. If he was really the one… would this hurt so much?”
Silence followed, heavy and fragile.
Ladybug didn’t pull her hands away.
“That’s what I thought,” he said softly, a crooked grin tugging at his lips before he leaned in and kissed her once more—brief, lingering, dangerous.
Ladybug pulled back, breath unsteady. “Chat… I—I have to go. It’s late. The mission’s over, and I should’ve been home at least thirty minutes ago.”
For a moment, he didn’t move. His expression flickered—conflict, frustration, something close to pain. Then, reluctantly, he released her hands.
“Fine,” he said, stepping back. “Go home to your 'amour'.” He hissed quietly. “I’m sure you’ll have a very… fun night.”- He gave her a sarcastic wink, the familiar charm twisted into something crueler than usual, and before she could respond, he melted into the shadows—gone as suddenly as he’d reappeared.
Ladybug stood there alone, the echo of his words heavier than the silence he left behind.