Chasing The Cat | Chat Noir x Reader / Adrien x Reader

Chapter 11: Cracks in the Mask

Adrien Agreste had been distant for days, a shadow of his usual self. At school, he spoke only when spoken to, his vibrant smiles replaced by faint, polite ones. Even Alya noticed.

"What's up with Adrien?" she asked as we sat in the courtyard, her brow furrowed. "He's usually so... bubbly."

"Maybe he's just tired," I suggested, though I didn't fully believe it. Something about his quietness felt heavier, like he was carrying a weight too big to share.

"Tired or not, something's definitely bothering him," Alya said, leaning back against the bench. "You should talk to him. You two have been hanging out a lot lately, right?"

"Yeah," I admitted, glancing across the courtyard where Adrien sat with Nino. Even from a distance, his slumped shoulders and absent gaze were clear. "I'll check on him."

The opportunity came after class. As the other students filtered out, I found Adrien lingering by his desk, staring out the window.

"Hey," I said softly, approaching him. "Everything okay?"

He startled slightly, turning to face me. His green eyes were as bright as ever, but they lacked their usual warmth. "Oh, hey. Yeah, I'm fine. Just... thinking."

"Thinking about what?" I pressed gently.

He hesitated, running a hand through his hair. "It's... complicated."

"Try me," I said, leaning against the desk beside him. "I'm a good listener."

Adrien's lips twitched into a faint smile. "It's nothing, really. Just... life stuff. Expectations, responsibilities. You know how it is."

I nodded, though his vague answer left me unsatisfied. "Well, if you ever need to talk about it, I'm here."

"Thanks," he said quietly. He glanced at the clock and gathered his things. "I should get going. See you tomorrow."

As he walked away, I couldn't shake the feeling that his burdens ran deeper than he let on.

✲✲✲

That night, the city felt unusually still. Even as I sat by my window, trying to write a blog post about Ladybug and Chat Noir, my thoughts kept circling back to Adrien. His words, his expressions, the way his shoulders seemed to carry an invisible weight—it all gnawed at me.

I was startled out of my thoughts by a soft knock on the glass. My heart leapt as I turned to see Chat Noir crouched on my balcony, his silhouette outlined by the glow of the city lights.

"Evening, ma chère," he said with a grin as I opened the door. "You look like you've seen a ghost."

"You startled me, that's all," I replied, stepping aside to let him in. "What brings you here?"

He shrugged, leaning his staff against the wall. "Patrol's been quiet tonight. Thought I'd drop by and say hi."

"Quiet patrol? That's rare," I said, sitting on the couch. "You okay?"

Chat's grin faltered for a split second before returning. "Me? Always." He flopped onto the armchair across from me, his usual playful demeanor intact, but his eyes betrayed a hint of unease.

"You don't seem like yourself," I said, studying him. "What's going on?"

He sighed dramatically, draping an arm over the back of the chair. "You're too perceptive, you know that?"

"It's kind of my thing," I replied with a small smile. "So? Spill."

Chat hesitated, his gaze drifting to the window. "It's... Ladybug," he admitted finally. "I don't know what to do about her."

"What do you mean?" I asked, leaning forward.

He twirled a clawed finger in the air, his usual playfulness dampened. "I love her. I've loved her for as long as I can remember. But lately..." He trailed off, his voice dropping. "Lately, I feel like I'm chasing a dream that might never come true."

The vulnerability in his voice made my chest ache. "Why do you think that?"

"Because no matter what I do, she'll always see me as just her partner," he said bitterly. "And now... now there's someone else."

My heart skipped a beat. "Someone else?"

He nodded, his gaze meeting mine. "Someone who sees me. Not the mask, not the hero. Just... me."

I swallowed hard, unsure of what to say. "That's not a bad thing, Chat. Maybe it's time to let go of Ladybug and see where this other connection takes you."

He shook his head. "It's not that simple. Ladybug means everything to me. I can't just... give up on her. But I don't know how to move forward, either."

"Then maybe you need to talk to her," I said, my voice firm. "Tell her how you feel. Really tell her. Not with jokes or deflections. Just be honest."

Chat's expression shifted, his usual confidence wavering. "You think that'll change anything?"

"Maybe," I said. "Or maybe it won't. But at least you'll know where you stand. Isn't that better than being stuck in limbo?"

He was silent for a long moment, his gaze fixed on the floor. Finally, he nodded. "You're right. I can't keep running in circles."

I offered him a small smile. "Good. And no matter what happens, you'll figure it out. You're stronger than you think."

He looked up at me, his green eyes softening. "You're something else, you know that?"

"I'll take that as a compliment," I said, earning a quiet laugh from him.

As he stood to leave, I walked him to the balcony. "Good luck," I said, my voice quieter now. "And be careful."

He nodded, his usual grin returning. "Thanks, ma chère. For everything."

I watched as he disappeared into the night, the weight of our conversation lingering in the air. Whatever happened next, I knew things were about to change—for him, for me, and for everything we thought we knew.