Time to work on your cat call--

[luckyspots]

Characters: Ladybug and YOU
Date: August 1st
Location: All throughout the city
Situation: Now that she knows Adrien is safe-- the bug is on a hunt for her actual cat friend.
Warnings/Rating: None, G


It was still early in the afternoon when she appeared-- a strange girl clad in a red spandex suit speckled with black spots. Her upper face was hidden by a matching mask; black hair pulled back with trailing red ribbon ties. There's a yo-yo attached at her hip-- a tool that she uses to help her propel between buildings. She's not particularly keeping out of sight. Instead, she seems more concerned with covering more space.

When she stops-- and she's stopped in a number of different places in her search-- she's quick to address anyone who will listen and in fact, her inquiries explain certain aspects of her behavior.

"Excuse me... I'm looking for someone. I was wondering if you might have seen him. He's about this tall, blonde hair-- he's dressed like a black cat..." Trust me. She knows how weird that sounds. But right now she's honestly grateful for how much he'd stand out.

This person is, it would seem, the cause of her concern. She's trying not to seem it, but the truth is she feels anxious to find him. She'd already waited longer than she should have. If something happened then she would feel personally responsible. She never should have abandoned him this long knowing what had been going on the last few days.

Or if she doesn't approach you specifically you might have seen her travelling the rooftops only to land and check her yo-yo... It seems to fip open to something with a strange display, similar to a tracking device. In the process however, it's not entirely unlikely she might bump into you quite literally.

Comments

[purrns]

Chat really thought he'd had this one (ironically) in the bag. He'd called her bluff and he knew she couldn't really rise to it. Victory was in his paws.

But then she went and threw a spanner in the works by popping his personal space bubble and doing that. His eyes widen as he stares at her for a moment, mouth opening and closing like a goldfish as he searches for actual words. Any words.

"Err."

Good start. He manages a laugh which he was aiming for suave but instead landed on 'hysterical and dorky'. Before covering it up with a toothy grin.

"Always?" he'll lean in, still grinning. "Is that so? Well, don't that just make me feel like the cat's meow?"

[luckyspots]

Err, huh? That's a new one. It certainly doesn't fit the playboy image she'd pinned him with. Who would have guessed that their very own Chat Noir was so poorly defended against a bit of innocent sweet talk. Part of her felt like she might just have a soft spot for this side of Chat Noir. She could certainly empathize-- although she wasn't sure she wanted to take pointers from this guy for her own situation.

"Really? For a second I was worried the cat got his own tongue."

But then he covers it up and he gets hard to read again. Maybe because he's suddenly a lot closer and. Huh... she'd never really looked at his eyes that closely-- they were fascinating.

Hold it together, Ladybug.

"Would I ever lie to you, kitty?"

[purrns]

A nervous laugh almost bubbles to the surface, but he manages to keep it down. Nope not now. Now he needs to be suave and brilliant and his usual self so she doesn't suspect anything. Because sure, that's worked so well for him in the past.

"Never, I think the world would be ending it that were the case, Bugaboo."

He takes a moment to seriously think about an answer to that question, even if he knows it in an instant anyway. He makes a great theatrical show of murmuring quietly to himself, tapping his chin thoughtfully, his tail flicking idly.

"Would you ever lie to me? Hmm hmmm, let me think about that..." his lips curl into a smirk. "I guess you really wouldn't, would you?"

[luckyspots]

"I would hate the world to be robbed of your suave pick up lines and witty one-liners."

That pause would be offensive, coming from someone more serious. But she knows all too well how he likes to mess with her. This is no different.

"I assure you-- if that day comes, you'll know. I'll have you know I'm a terrible liar."

[purrns]

"It would be a real tragedy! Crowds would gather and leave me little wreaths. Children would weep, ladies across the universe would be heartbroken. It'd be a sorry sight."

He can't help grin at that, a cheeky, knowing grin. He's amused, as if he hasn't noticed things like this. He knows her better than she realises. Well, except for that thing.

"You do tend to wear your heart on your sleeve. Doesn't make for a good liar."

[luckyspots]

"I think I'd miss them a little myself."

...she said that out loud. That wasn't supposed to be out loud.

Ladybug doesn't make these mistakes. Marinette makes these mistakes. No. calm down. Play it cool. She took them down this road. Besides. She's killing this kitten crush before it gets any worse. See? Dead. Totally dead.

If only it were that easy.

"B-but I don't think I'd go so far as heartbroken..."

[purrns]

It's too late, she can't take it back. His little kitty ears perk up, as a smug grin crosses his face.

"You would?," his grin widens as he leans closer to her, he's never really been that great at respecting her personal space bubble. "I knew you really liked them. Deep down."

Yep. That kitty crush absolutely looks dead from where he's standing. That sure would explain why he's grinning like a demented idiot.

[luckyspots]

"Err--"

This mistake has officially come full circle.

Her face is hot. Is she blushing? No, no, absolutely not. At least, that's what her denial is telling her. Time to try and dig herself out before she says something else foolish.

"Deep, deep... deep down, maybe."

[purrns]

His grin widens to insane lengths, as he reaches out to tap the end of her nose with one clawed index finger. Boop.

"It's okay to admit it, you know, I won't judge you for agreeing my puns and one lines are litter-ally purrfect."

It's much easier to do the shameless flirting thing, than actually swing closer to the real feelings spectrum side of things. He can work with this, and it's delightful to see her blush.

[luckyspots]

"Urk." She's created a monster-- and she has no one to blame but herself. "You know... I'm not in love with the puns though."

...oh god, did that make it sound like she was saying she was in love with him?! And why does she care so much if it does? They're just messing around. He's always messing around-- she's just no good at playing this game.

Right....

[purrns]

Not in love with the puns, though. And just like that, it became less of a game. He hesitates, for a moment, not sure how to continue. Zatanna told him to be open about his feelings towards Ladybug. To take that leap and not be afraid.

But he is afraid. Of not being good enough for her. Of taking that leap and her not being there. Of putting all his hopes and dreams into this and being disappointed. He's faced too much of that in his life to go through it again. He's scared.

His laugh is a little softer, a little more forced. If there's one thing he can do, it's faux cheer.

"You never know, they might grow on you, and you won't find them so a-paw-ling."

Yeah, let's just...make stupid cat puns. That's better than dealing with actual feelings right? Right?

[luckyspots]

Good, he doesn't seem to have caught onto her distress. Things are still safe. There's still time. But there are those stupid cat puns. Ladybug is almost-- no, she's relieved, without a doubt. With a playful roll of her eyes she picks her next words... no more carefully than anything else she's thrown out for a while now. It was just too easy to get swept into the banter they shared.

She's already made herself such a mess, what's one or two more regrets? It's fine.

"If I let that happen, then I'd have a much harder time rejecting your purrposals. That would be just terrible."

[purrns]

She's actively trying to kill him. He's decided this now. This is what she's doing. So cruel, so wicked. He stares off in the middle distance for a moment, before realising that's not suave or cool at all and tries to master a causal folding of his arms. Yeah. Casual. He's cool. He's cool because he's a cat.

...Well, not really but having powers from an ancient cat spirit probably counted for that a little.

"Don't you mean un-fur-tunate?"

[luckyspots]

She needs an intervention. Someone needs to extract her from this conversation now. But she's too stubborn to save herself while there's still time.

"Go easy on me-- I'm a bug-giner."

It's official. They're both going to die. She's going to take the path of no return and regret it and it's going to end in what she can only imagine is spontaneous combustion.

[purrns]

His eyes widen for a moment, before a surprised laugh bursts out. It sound an awful lot like someone else's surprised laugh. It's genuine and filled with some real delight.

"Oh my god, you actually made a pun."

If it's possible, he's even more in love with her now.

[luckyspots]

Shouldn't have done that. Shouldn't have done that. Because a voice in the back of her head is saying she loves that laugh and she can't love that laugh-- but she does and she's helpless against it.

"I told you. I can have fun." Right. Fun. That's all. "D-don't get used to it."

[purrns]

"You can have fun."

His smile is absolutely delighted as he leans up in her personal space again.

"But what if I want to get used to it? What'll you do then?"

[luckyspots]

Well at least one of them is having a grand old time. That just makes it more difficult. His enthusiasm is more charming than it should be allowed to be.

Her face feels hot again.

"I might just get used to hoarding all your attention for myself."

[purrns]

He's certainly not letting up. He notices that blushing, mademoiselle. He honestly doesn't care if he's setting himself up for a fall later, he really can't help himself.

"You say that like I'd think it's a bad thing, My Lady," he replies, waggling his eyebrows. "I can't think of anyone's attention I'd want more."

[luckyspots]

She's never felt so thoroughly on the losing side of one of their conversations. He doesn't mean that. She's... 75%-- no maybe 70% sure he doesn't mean that. That's a lot smaller number than she started with.

"I'm sure you say that to every girl you meet."

But what if he proved her wrong?





...no. No that would be bad.

[purrns]

Is that what really thinks? If he were without his mask, he couldn't blame her for it. Not that he ever shows any interest in them, he does amass a lot of fangirls as Adrien. Chloé really doesn't help matters in that regard, either.

But as Chat...

"Have you ever seen me talking to other girls like I do to you?"

His tone is light and airy, but the question is honest. Okay, so he might have flirted with Marinette like...a couple of times. But she was different, right? Just trying to get her out of her shell a little more. He felt she probably needed it.

...Right?

[luckyspots]

She can't say yes, because "she" wasn't supposed to be there when he was flirting with Marinette. She was on a 'secret mission'. So she doesn't have an argument. He's never done that with any of the other girls.

So maybe he was a little pickier than she gave him credit for.

...or his senses were honed in better than even he realized. She wasn't sure which was better. Neither was good. Neither was good at all for her right now.

"...no, I guess I can't say I have."

[purrns]

"There you go, I don't say that to all the girls. Only you."

He realises he's skirting too close to Real Feelings again, and he brought them there. So he clears his throat.

"ANYway. We should check out the rest of the city. I can help you get your bearings."

[luckyspots]

Only her. Only. Her. She can't point out the lie-- technically it doesn't exist. So she's theoretically stuck. Her chest feels tight and it's highly unwelcome.

The subject change, however, is quite welcome. Hopefully this train of events can derail the mess they both made of this conversation.

"That would be fantastic."

[purrns]

He always promised himself he wouldn't lie to her. It was that very fact which let her know the difference between him and Theo, way back when. He doesn't like it, but Marinette is here and he knows how Ladybug can get. He'd rather not have her wrath turned Marinette's way...if his flirting with her could even make such a thing happen.

And...selfishly, he wants her to see how much he cares about her. That she is the one he wants to lay his heart down for.

"Okay, Bugaboo," he flashes her a grin, extending his baton, ready to fling himself across the nearest rooftop. "Shall we?"