Red Strings And Markers

t w e n t y

Adrien remained quiet. He had to think his words carefully, without letting Alya know that Marinette was Ladybug.

"London."

"That's right, Ladybug and Chat Noir were there too. Did she tell you why she was in London?" She asked.

"She told me a family vacation."

Alya nodded, impressed. "Who knew we were so close to Ladybug this whole time. What if we were on the same train?" Alya began to recount the moments on the train, Adrien letting out a silent sigh as he was able to distract her for the moment.

Alya continued thinking for the moment, until she focused back on the topic at hand. "Okay, forget about Ladybug at the moment. You're visiting Marinette as Chat and you're dating her as Adrien. Do you know what type of internal turmoil she may be going through?"

"You don't think I know that?" Adrien sighed, laying his head on the table. "I'm having my own inner turmoil too. Not to mention outer." He glanced over at the cat sunbathing in the middle of the table.

"Why don't you just tell her? I'll help you out-"

"No." Adrien rose his voice the slightest bit, startling not only the cat but Alya as well. "It's not that easy and I'm trying to do this on my own."

"Good luck trying to convince him otherwise." Plagg drawled from middle.

"But Alya, I'm begging you." Adrien reached around Plagg and asked for Alya's hands. Alya put her hands in Adrien's, looking up at him confusingly as he gave her hands a gentle squeeze. "I beg of you. Please... Do not tell anyone. Not Marinette, not the Ladyblog, not even Nino. No one."

"No one?"

Adrien shook his head. "No one."

It was Ladybug's turn to patrol for the night and whenever she stood towards the top of the Eiffel Tower, she wasn't surprised by the footsteps that joined her shortly after.

"Good evening Bugaboo." An arm slithered around her waist and pulled her close, a kiss being pressed to her temple.

"Hello mon minou."

Chat Noir blushed by the new address, stammering for words.

She was pleased by his stunned silence, looking up at him with a smirk. "What? You are my kitty right?" She flicked the bell at his collar, the chime echoing around them.

"Of course." He smiled, pressing another kiss into her temple.

The night was a calm and quieter one compared to their past couple of days, a soft rain covering the sleepy Parisian city. Although their suits made it nearly impossible to get wet besides their hair, they were quick to find shelter in Notre Dame, nestling close together and watching the umbrellas bloom down below.

"You were on patrol last night Chat and now you're joining me for mine? You aren't pushing yourself too hard, are you?"

Chat was resting up against the wall and had pulled Ladybug between his legs, hugging her waist and leaning her back against him. Chat smiled and nestled himself into Ladybug's neck, taking in her grapefruit scent he loved.

"Of course not. I just couldn't miss seeing my Bugaboo."

Ladybug let out a small sigh and brought her hand to his head, ruffling his hair lovingly, eliciting a purr from him.

"Oh really? Rumor has it you visited a girl last night." She pinched his cheek gently. "Seeing someone behind my back are you?" Her tone was teasing and playful, in hopes that Chat would notice. Ladybug was sure that Chat would probably evade the subject, but she wanted to see how he would reply.