Uptown, Downtown (Chat Noir x Reader) - Book 1

31 | To Fall Asleep

With that, John and Lucinda saluted to both you and Chloé, before leaving. “This was fun, we should do it again at some point!” John called out, as he made his way towards the streets.

“You bet!” you replied cheerfully.

“Merci!” Chloé cried out, with a huge smile, waving enthusiastically at your two other friends.

(Lucinda had to turn away to hide her very small blush.)

Chloé turned to you, with a grin, her eyes shining with gratitude; then you came up to you slowly, and hugged you carefully. “I guess… if you’re here… I won’t leave,” she spoke quietly.

“I’m glad,” you confirmed, with a relieved laugh, patting her back. “I wouldn’t be able to stand it if you left.”

Your blonde friend smiled, and then drew away, and turned to Ladybug. “Pollen, buzz off,” she stated, and her disguise fell away, leaving just Chloé, as you knew her. “Here you go, Ladybug,” she handed her Miraculous back to the spotted heroine, and then looked to her parents. “Mum, Daddy, let’s go home,” she remarked tiredly.

Her mother and father glanced at each other, before shrugging, and agreeing wordlessly. Chloé walked over to them, and took both of their hands, in preparation to lead them away; but before she did, she glanced over her shoulder, back to you.

“I’ll see you at school tomorrow, (Y/n),” Chloé mumbled shyly, before hastily striding away, dragging her parents behind her.

You chuckled, before an intense vibration from your pocket startled you, and you winced when you saw it was your dad calling you. You picked up reluctantly, and uttered a meek, “Hello, dear father.”

“(Y/n), where the bloody hell are you?! We’ve tried calling you, and we’ve been searching for ages!” your dad exclaimed, audibly panicked.

“Errr… is saying that I stopped a dictatorship a valid excuse?” you asked weakly.

“What?! Without me?!” you vaguely heard your mother screech in the background.

“Yes and no! Next time tell us before you do anything!” your father scolded, “That way we can not only help, but protect you! I’m pretty sure you’re all bashed up now, aren’t you?!”

“Yeah,” you admitted slowly and awkwardly.

“Christ, you’re a handful,” he muttered. “Now, you listen here! Get home, right now, or you’re going to be in bigger trouble than you already are! As a punishment, you’re going to have to do the cooking for the next week!”

“What?!” you complained, “But—!”

“No excuses! Not one! Just get home right now, we’re going to have a talk about this in the morning!” your dad hung up without another word, and the dial tone rang in your ear depressingly.

“Bugger, now I’ve done it,” you muttered, turning off your phone, and placing it in your pocket.

“Thanks for the help, (Y/n),” Ladybug stepped in front of you. “We couldn’t have done it without you! You’re really willing to go the extra mile for others, huh?” her smile softened, “I’m sure Marinette really appreciates you helping her improve herself.”

You valued the praise, but you wanted to have a little fun with this, since you were 120% sure that Ladybug was indeed your clumsy classmate.

“You know about that?” you questioned innocently.

Ladybug blinked, before laughing nervously, “Uh, yeah! I’m friends with Marinette, so she told me all about it!”

“Huh, that must be nice,” you commented casually. “I can see that you took inspiration from her hairstyle.”

“It is! It is!...” Ladybug trailed off, before waving anxiously, “Bug out!” with that, she was gone.

“Don’t tell me you know who she is as well,” Chat Noir scoffed, now that you were alone.

You glanced from side to side, pursing your lips, and shifting from foot to foot. “If I said that I did, would you be mad?...” you asked, with a feeble grin.

“Mon dieu! (Y/n), you’re too smart for your own good!” Chat Noir exclaimed, pressing a hand to his forehead.

“I’m not smart, you’re just blind! I gave you a fuck ton of clues just in that conversation alone! Can you not pick up on any subtext at all?!” you asked in disbelief, waving your hands around in confusion.

“I am not good with subtext!” Chat Noir retorted, folding his arms and looking away, with a pout. “So, now you know both of our identities, and you’re not going to tell me hers, are you?”

“No, why would I?” you questioned, “You aren’t supposed to know anyway.”

“You’re not supposed to know either!” the blond groaned, and strode over to you, before letting his head flop onto your shoulder in defeat. “You’re too clever, too stubborn, too funny, too…” he let out an amourous sigh, “too complex.”

You paused, and then tentatively stroked his cat ears, with a sad smile. “Oui, mais toi aussi el compliqué,” you retorted gently. “I do wonder, sometimes, if you’re Chat Noir or Adrien.”

“Moi aussi,” Adrien admitted quietly.

The Varsouviana polka became the slightest bit louder, its music rising with sinister rapidity.