It had to be raining.

Adrien knew it was his luck as Chat Noir that made it rain on the first night that he would be patrolling alone so his Lady could rest.

But thunder and lightning too?

Another flash of lightning lit the sky and the peal of thunder that followed afterwards nearly made him miss his jump, as it was he scrambled to keep ahold of his protruding staff and hang on. He made it upright and looked around, hair falling into his eyes as the rain continued to pour around him.

Looking around, he moved to take partial shelter under a sign, catching his breath.

"Someone would have to be more crazy than I to be out in this weather." He spoke to himself, sighing.

But a promise was a promise and Chat Noir was not going to let his word be empty. If he did not do this now, Ladybug would surely not trust him to continue patrolling alone and all his efforts would be for naught. Closing his eyes for a moment, he pictured her last he saw and his hands curled into fists.

He would continue his patrol, even if there would be nothing out in this weather. As it was, Akuma's very rarely attacked at night, and knowing that they were caused by negative emotions made it easier to predict with weather. Rain was bad, but no one had succumbed to an attack since their days of starting.

Pushing back his hair, he looked out and continued his patrol.

Elsewhere~

Armed crossed over her face, Marinette glanced between them to stare at her ceiling. Upon getting home after her long day designing, she immediately threw herself onto her bed, much to Tikki's sadness.

Sighing, she turned and looked out her window. "Marinette?" Tikki's small voice hovered above her.

"I'm alright Tikki. I'm just bothered by Chat Noir being out there alone."

"He'll be fine."

"He hasn't contacted me yet."

Tikki's face dropped in sadness, her antennas falling flat. She knew it was true. Even for a full patrol, including adding the rain into the equation, he hadn't contacted her and not for a lack of transforming. "Have faith Marinette, he is just taking it slow because of the weather, I'm sure of it." She rested to land on her partners arm, patting gently.

Marinette turned her eyes to Tikki and let a ghost of a smile cross her face at the thought. Chat Noir was probably taking his time, she knew he wanted her to rest and would make sure he did a perfect job. Even so, it was a bit alarming not to hear from him.

Deciding to go down for a snack, Marinette sat up. "Be right back Tikki," she said, making her way downstairs. "Hi Mama, Papa."

As her parents turned to greet her, the door of the shop swung open and framed by the light of the streetlamp behind him, was Chat Noir. Immediately they all stood to attention, Marinette stopping herself from running to his side to find out what was wrong. He looked soaked to the skin and tired.

"Sorry for my appearance, but I was wondering if you had any pain au chocolat left. They are Ladybug's favorite and I want to bring her some." Chat Noir looked to see Marinette and smiled with a wave. He remembered working with her for an attack and found she was quite different around him when he was Chat Noir compared to him as Adrien.

Tom quickly turned to check the stocks, while Sabine welcomed Chat Noir. "Please, come in out of the wet, Chat Noir. Looks like we have some left - but where is Ladybug?"

Looking down and grinding the toe of his foot against the tile, he coughed a bit. "She's uhh, taking rest, so I'm patrolling alone. I thought I'd bring her favorite treat."

Tom packaged up a few croissants into a small container and then put it in a bag. "Oh? The mysterious Ladybug and my own daughter have the same tastes!" He replied, startling Chat Noir to look up suddenly, glancing at Marinette.

Panicking, Marinette raised both hands and waved them frantically. "I'm sure it's just a coincidence, Papa!" She exclaims, then turns to grab some macaroons from the shelf. "I also love anything you make, so there!"

Looking Marinette once over, Tom nods, "This is very true," he says, before turning and putting the bag into Chat Noir's hands. "This is for you for Ladybug, free of charge. You two do so much for us, it's the least we can repay you."

Surprised, Chat Noir smiles. "Thank you sir! I'll be sure to let her know." He exclaims, before turning to leave. "We like protecting Paris and the people. I'm glad to know the people support us too." He says over his shoulder before leaving.

Realizing Chat Noir would be contacting HER soon, Marinette hug and kiss her parents quickly before dashing out of the shop and to her bedroom. Her parents look amused and go back to their jobs with a chuckle.

"Tikki, transform me!" Marinette says in the safety of her room, and quickly gets to the little balcony to await Chat Noir's call.

It wasn't too long in coming, and she answered it promptly. "Ah, my lady! I hope you rested well!" He says, sheltered nearby from the rain.

Smiling, she nods. "I have. I presume your patrol went smoothly?"

"More like slippery, but yes. It was a bit claw-ful to deal with the rain, but I will bear it for you." He says with a smirk. "I've got some treats for you, if you're up for a small meeting."

Marinette had the decency to pretend to be surprised. "Why thank you Chat Noir, that is kind of you. You didn't have to go out of your way to do that on such a day."

Doing the best he could to mock bow and show it to her, he grinned. "Just tell me when and where, my lady, and I shall meet you there."

Thinking for a moment, she gave him directions before closing her compact and taking her Yo-yo and swinging to the location.

She mentioned a spot not too far from her own place, that had a space for them to rest under from the rain. Being as she was able to move faster without a burden, she was not at all surprised to see he was not there yet. Deciding to get comfy so Chat Noir would not admonish her for not resting, she sat down and leaned her back up against a wall, the overhang far enough out that she could stretch out her legs.

She heard him before she saw him in the downpour, and she looked up as he crossed under the sheet of water pouring from the overhang to see her already waiting. His smile was contagious and she found herself smiling back at him. She could see he held the bag with the croissants behind his back, but didn't let on that she noticed.

"You're soaked, and most likely to the bone!" She chided him, concerned.

Waving his free hand, she sat beside her, then put the box of treats on her lap. "I'm wet, but it's nothing I can't handle. If you were in this weather patrolling, you'd undoubtedly catch a cold and I could not have that." He held his hand over his heart. "I'd never fur-get it, nor fur-give myself if anything un-fur-tunate happened to you." He faced her with a more serious face. "You're both the lady of my heart and the only one who can truly cleanse the Akuma. Without you, I'm nothing. I can't handle it, knowing you're tackling so much."

Marinette had to look away from Chat Noir's pleading eyes. "I know, kitty-cat." She spoke softly, the box of treats lying forgotten on her lap. She knew he tried to stick puns in there to lighten the mood, but his concern for her took over. "I appreciate what you're doing for me. You are my partner in crime fighting, however I also can't handle it, having you take over all the patrolling. You must have many things to juggle as well!" She looked up then, to watch his face.

Chat Noir shook his head. "When we first met, yeah, there was a lot of things going on. But now, years later, it's not so busy. What I do have is so easy to do, I can escape and become Chat Noir easily, and patrol more often. It's not like the transformation would fade easily; after all, I'm not using my power." He smirked and grabbed one of her hands to hold between both of his own.

"Patrolling as Chat Noir brings me closer to you, even when you're not with me. I get to be free and myself, and now I've got more reason to be running around. Sure I'm not running around with you, but I can also be more relaxed knowing you are resting and you are able to come when I call."

He lifted a hand from hers to brush some of her hair away. He wished he could touch it without the gloves, because with the way it moved, he imagined it felt like silk. "I appreciate you and what you do so much that I got you your favorite treat. Now come on, eat up." He gestured to the box.

She opened it and smiled at within, grabbing one for herself and one for him. "You didn't have to, these don't come cheaply."

He took her offering and bit into it, hungry after his day and not having had dinner yet. He shook his head again at her remark, quickly swallowing the morsel. "You would be surprised! The owner gave them to me. Said he was glad to treat the superheroes of Paris."

Knowing that was not exactly what her father said, she smirked at his change of phrase, but muttered an "ah, is that so?" Before taking a bite. She actually left the macarons under wrap in her bedroom, since he was going to contact her so soon. She figured Tikki could enjoy them later, and got a feeling that the kwami agreed with her.

Finishing her croissant and licking the crumbs off her fingers, she saw Chat Noir looking particularly close at her. Blinking, she then wiped around her face, afraid some of the chocolate filling may of gotten on her cheeks or chin. "Is there something on my face?"

Chat Noir laughed and shook his head again. "No. I'm just enjoying seeing you enjoy your snack. The simple things in life make me paw-stively happy."

Groaning slightly at his pun and flirt, she handed him another one while taking one for herself. "Then perhaps I should get you ice cream for after your next patrol and bring it to you instead."

Taking the food but not taking a bite, he laughed. "No way. It's better off for you to be resting than that. I'll get the ice cream and you can watch me enjoy my favorite food."

"So the cat gets the cream." She snickered, eating slowly. Chat Noir made a face, but refrained from commenting, glad to be in her presence. There had been six pain au chocolat packaged, and so Chat noir made sure to eat his second very slowly since they were meant for her. He was just glad that there was extra packed because he was hungry. He wasn't overly worried about it though, since once he got home he could request anything for food and of course cheese for Plagg.

Adrien watched her finish her second, then start on her third before evening getting through half of his second, and smiled behind nibbling at it. The rain pounding against the rooftop lured him into a calm silence which he was loathe to break, but while he had her there, he really wanted to ask more questions.

"Forgive me for breaking the silence, but I have more questions for you I'm just excited to ask about." Marinette nodded towards him, and he held up a finger, "Okay, question six. How old are you?"

"Chat."

"Oh come on, it's not like I'm asking for your birthday! Just how old you are." He crossed the fingers on one hand in hopes she would answer.

Licking the crumbs of the last chocolate-filled croissant, Marinette pondered his question and his reasoning. Letting out a sigh, she gave in to his request. "I'm seventeen. I'll be eighteen soon…. Ish."

He grinned wide. She was the same age as him! He barely registered that she also added she would be a year older soon, but relished in the delight that was knowing she was his age. When she gave him that expectant look, like, 'I answered your question, you know mine is the same, so answer it,' look, he grinned. "I'm seventeen as well. We're the same age. It does feel weird to have been doing this for four years though. I was thirteen when this,' he gestured to the ring, his outfit, and her in a wide sweep, "fell into my lap, but I'm very glad it did."

When he encompassed himself in 'this,' she took the opportunity given to glance at him and give him a real good look. She never gave it much thought, but as the two of them grew, their outfits changed slightly to reflect that they weren't children anymore. Their years of chasing after bad guys and jumping roof to roof had only toned them further, making them both slim and slender but with considerable muscle mass. It didn't set them apart in their civilian lives, that much she knew. She carried around heavy bolts of fabric, so it was not odd for her to have some strength.

As she studied the lines of his body, she failed to realize he noticed her blatant staring. He took it with glee, keeping himself quiet lest he break her gaze from him. Even though he was tired from his day of extra patrolling on top of school work and of modelling, in this moment he felt it not; the only feeling he had was of happiness, that his Lady was spending time looking at him.

The designer within Marinette thought about how both costumes did morph it seemed as they grew. While someone who only encountered them once and awhile would say nothing had changed, she knew for many times of seeing herself pass a building or look for Chat Noir. While his was less notable - simple bandings of mesh-like material along the seams of his outfit to allow more breathing, her own had them as well, notably strips under the arms to her finger tips, and outside seam of the leggings, but the strips were black, a stark contrast to her red with black dots suit. There was now a band around her waist of black, which hooked her yo-yo, as well as a few things she often carried on her to make jobs easier.

It was then she realized she was staring. Blushing, although her mask covered most of it, she looked away to finish the last of the treat, not realizing he planned it for her to get the most.

"It does.. Feel weird doing this for so long, but honestly, I wouldn't give it up for anything. Even if I'm sitting here, enjoying a treat after getting a day of relaxation because a certain kitty wanted to patrol all of Paris by his own." Marinette chuckled as she unfolded the box deftly and put it back into its bag, and put it to her side.

Glancing back at Chat Noir ,she saw he was getting dry and didn't want him to go back out into the wet so soon while it was still coming down in buckets, so she decided that staying there was not overly problematic and decided to bait him into more questions.

"So what happened to question seven?" She asked, innocence tinting her voice, although even she had to admit the game of twenty questions was proving to be interesting.

Fake-ears perking up at her voice, he grinned wide and clasped his hands together with joy. "Ohohoho! Favorite thing to do when not doing your job as Ladybug?"

That was a tricky question, but also an easy one considering. He said favorite thing to do, not what she would normally be doing. "Hanging out with my friends. I've got a nice group that I like to hang with, but one friend in particular who probably is my best friend and helps me out when I need it the most, even if I don't realize I need it." She smiled when she thought of Alya, and in extension Nino and Adrien, and how she had opened out of her shell more ever since becoming Ladybug. "You?"

Adrien nodded in agreement with her. "Hands down, favorite thing to do is chill with my close friends. Like you, I've got one particular friend who I wouldn't trade for the world. I've got others, many others, but my close circle is pretty small, but you know what they say." He looked at her and she knew exactly what he meant

"I'd rather have four quarters than a hundred pennies." They said together, then burst out laughing.

Leaning his back up against the wall, he stared out into the rain, noting it was becoming lighter and that he was getting dry, if not a bit cold. 'I wish this could last forever,' he thought with a sigh, tilting his head back.

"Tired?" Marinette asked, turning to see Chat Noir sigh.

"Not really, just content." He murmured softly, opening his eyes and glancing over at her. "It's not everyday I can just sit beside you and not worry about transformations fading. Sure we'll have to get going eventually.."

Shaking her head ever so slightly, Marinette didn't scold him for his minimalist flirting as it was, and settling back in to relax. Now that she wasn't worried about him, the pit-pat of the rain against the rooftop was really quite restful and alluring. "So am I."

Chat Noir murmured his approval, "Rainy or Sunny?" Even though they were surrounded by rain, he was content to be there in it, although would rather be in the sunlight, basking in the glow of the warmth. Her being a Ladybug meant she could lean towards rain, but it was better to know than to assume.

"Can't say I have a favorite honestly. Both have great things. Rainy is good to be indoors and working on something or reading, but sunlight means going out and seeing the town and friends. My favorite memory is around rain though, so I'll say Rain." Marinette spoke softly, holding her hand out to her side to catch some raindrops and then bringing it under their shelter and glancing down at the shimmering liquid , before letting it go to dribble down the tiling and merge with the rest of the rain.

Adrien liked her answer, because he felt that rain did have its own je ne sais quoi . But then the same could be said of Ladybug, she just had that air about her. "I prefer sunny days myself, but I agree, rainy days have something to also be enjoyed. I too, have a memory with rain that makes me happy." He chuckled. The day he remembered was when he made the classmate back when he first got to go to public school, realize he was not like Chloe.

Her memory was of the same day, when she realized he wasn't like Chloe and actually cared about others. The day he lent her an umbrella was a very noteworthy day that she would not forget.

The rain was slowing tremendously, the weight behind the storm finally passing. It still fell with much vigor, but it kept easing up, minute after minute. That would be the time they would have to part. Sometimes it felt like fate was cursing them. Sad meeting, sadder partings, and the almost breaking of each heart. It could all be fixed by one simple thing from both ends, the discovery of who each other was behind the mask… but there was too much at stake.

It was with that thought that Chat stood, stretching. "Well, my lady, I better get going. It's been a lovely night with you and I am most fur-tunate to have gotten to spend some time with you, while not having to worry about transformations." He turned to Ladybug with a smirk and an outstretched hand. "But alas, I have purr-sonal things to attend to still."

Taking his proffered hand, Marinette stood and took her other free hand to pet Chat Noir affectionately, to which he purred contently. "Well, I would hate to postpone you, so off with you, kitty-cat, and since you just patrolled all night, please also rest."

Bowing mockingly, he kissed her suit-clad hand and smiled. "Meow I will do that, fur-real ." He chuckled, before taking the trash and leaving before she could groan at his puns.

Shaking her head as she watched his figure disappear in the water, she turned to make her way back home.

The heart wants what it wants.

AN: Sorry for the wait, but here is the "two" chapters I promised, merged into one. I'll be adding another shortly. I had a hard time writing this at first, but then it just.. flowed. -cackles- flowed. I'm so punny... I guess this is my life noaw. XD