A Masked Deal

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"I've had an idea."

"I hope it didn't hurt too much."

Marinette and Adrien were sitting on top of the Eiffel Tower during one of their regular patrols, suited and booted in their full superhero attire. The evening had been calm; no akumas, no trouble, just two almost adults discussing life, love and the future of their partnership. At eighteen years old, their lives as superheroes had overtaken every other aspect.

"Ouch! You do realise I'm actually incredibly smart, right? I'm about to graduate top of my class in pretty much every subject."

"Pretty much?" Ladybug questioned her overly confident friend.

"I may have flunked home economics, but I plan to have a wonderful Lady to take care of all my homely needs." Chat wiggled his eyebrows at Ladybug causing her to burst out laughing.

"You do realise that we don't live in medieval times, mon Chaton? Whoever marries you will be a wife, not a wench." She shoved her shoulder into his as he covered his eyes in mortification.

"That's really not what I meant." He squealed, peering between his fingers at Ladybug. She continued to laugh, prying his fingers and hands away from his eyes.

"Ok, I'm listening. Hit me with your marvellous idea, oh great one." Ladybug held onto his hands and looked into his eyes, her own still dancing with humour.

"Hear me out before you write it off as just another of Chat Noir's crazy ideas."

Her eyebrows raised in question, she wasn't sure if she'd like this, but in respect to her partner she would listen to him anyway.

Over the past few months, she'd found herself more comfortable with her kitty and not just in a purely platonic way. She enjoyed the time she spent with him, and, in honesty, she wouldn't mind if the flirting came back ... if he ever decided to bring it back, that is.

It had been months since he'd properly flirted with her, she'd questioned whether he'd found himself a girlfriend in his civilian life, always to a riddle of an answer. For once, Chat didn't want to reveal too much about his life.

"Here it is. What age did you dream of getting married?"

"Random, but ok. Um ... I always wanted to start a family by the time I was twenty-five. I would like three kids, and not be too old for the sleepless nights." Ladybug answered truthfully, thinking about her possible lifetime of events. "So I'd probably like to be married by the time I'm twenty-three, just so we get time for coupley things before our life is overtaken with children."

Chat nodded in understanding. That sounded reasonable, it followed his life plan as well. More proof that they were made for each other.

"I know we both struggle with holding down a relationship, and obviously if villains are still around we're never going to be able to commit, so how about we commit to each other? If neither of us are in a relationship by the time we're twenty-two we marry each other. What do you think?"

Chat cringed as he waited for Ladybug's answer. He'd thought long and hard about this, it helped him come up with a deadline for exactly how long he'd pursue his Lady. He knew he'd either get closure, or the life he always dreamed of, with the girl he always dreamed of. A winning situation if you asked him. He just needed for her to agree.

Ladybug considered the pros and cons of Chat's request. She knew it would be very unlikely to hold down a relationship, and she loved her partner an insane amount. Perhaps this idea was reasonable, perhaps they could find some kind of happiness with each other.

"Ok." She sighed out.

"Ok? As in?" He questioned, not wanting to get too excited too quickly.

"If we're not in relationships by the time we're twenty-two, I'd be honoured to be your wife, on one condition."