LadyBugOut AU (Snippets)

Don't Kiss But Tell

Ladybug squinted. She placed a hand to his chest, gently pushing him away. “I’m not lying to the public for some sort of publicity stunt, even if it ‘’made me look good.’’”

Chat crossed his arms, looking troubled. “Bugaboo, I don’t think you understand how fame works. You don’t just tell people negative stuff about you.”

“What would you know about it?” she asked, pulling her legs up and resting her cheek on her knees.

Chat flinched. “Uh–” He rubbed the back of his head. “Well, I’m a hero just like you, m’lady! Just because I’m the playful one doesn’t mean I don’t know my way around fame!”

Ladybug clicked her tongue. “So, how is what I said negative then? I don’t date as a superhero because it makes me look unprofessional.”

“It’s all about our chemistry.”

Ladybug jerked up, dumbfounded. “Wh–Chat–”

“No, really!” Chat turned his whole body to face her, looking serious. “The world already knows that I’m in love with you! It looks bad when you tell people that you can’t return my feelings! They’ll think we don’t have synergy!”

“That’s not my problem!” Ladybug said. “I’m not going to lie–” As Chat tried to interject, she foresaw what he was about to say and stressed, “–or just not tell the truth out of some need to keep people thinking that we’re a perfect team.”

Her fingertips against her forehead, Ladybug sighed. “And I told you that I was in love with someone else. What would they think if I ever confessed, told them I was Ladybug, and they asked about you?”

Chat seemed to bristle at the idea. “You–you said that no one could know our ide–”

“–for now, yes, but I mean after Hawk Moth is defeated,” Ladybug cut in. “It’s dangerous now, but it won’t be once Hawk Moth is gone.”

Chat hunched over, almost pouting. “I-it’s not a big deal. Just tell them we broke up.”

She tensed. “Do you want to be a couple that badly?! I just told you, I’m not going to lie to–”

Chat glared, meeting her gaze. “–But you’re doing it right now!”

Ladybug froze, her mouth half-open from when she’d been talking. Her mind processed what Chat said and what he could be implying.

“You–” She blinked, unable to believe what was happening right now. “You–you seriously–you still think I’m in love with you?! You still think I’m in denial?!”

Chat frowned disapprovingly. “Well, even if you weren’t, you just said you wouldn’t date anyone as Ladybug. It’s no wonder you’d wanna stay friends.”

“That’s not–” Ladybug shook her head in disbelief. “–Why would we be having this conversation right now if I was in love with you?”

“You already said why.”

“I’m not in denial!” Ladybug insisted. “I’m sorry, Chat, but I don’t love you!”

Chat squinted at her, not saying anything for a long moment. For a second, Ladybug thought he might actually think about what she said.

Then, he leaned closer, arms crossed.

“Prove it.”

“Prove–” She raised a brow. “Prove what?”

“Give me a chance,” Chat requested with a straight face. “Kiss me.”

“Wh–kiss you?” Ladybug repeated, flabbergasted.