It doesn't matter how many times I promise you and everyone else that I'll finish my other stories before embarking on new ones… I will always end up doing the complete opposite.

In other news (well, related news) I've just finished watching Miraculous! Well, at least what's been released in the English dub. And I frikkin' love it. Mostly for the romance/slice of life stuff, I admit. (The superhero bits don't really do it for me.) But nonetheless I'm really enjoying it. So I decided to try my hand at romance :) I hope you enjoy the story!

"Bye bye, little butterfly," Ladybug said softly, releasing the newly purified akuma back into the air. It fluttered away like petals caught in the breeze and disappeared into the star-scattered sky. Then, with a cry of "Miraculous Ladybug!" she flung her lucky charm – a half-pipe – above her head and watched as it dissolved into red and black magic which whooshed around and cleansed the area.

The de-akumatised victim, a local shop assistant over-stressed from work, mumbled a disorientated thanks and shuffled away, too embarrassed by the ordeal to face the superheroes. Ladybug didn't mind, however. Her earrings beeped; the third spot vanished – she only had two minutes left until she changed back, and she was all the way across Paris from her home… So distracted was she that she didn't notice Chat Noir's fist pointed towards her, primed for their ritual fist-bump, until she knocked into it.

"Ow." She frowned at him, and he grinned bashfully back.

"Whoops. Sorry. But you gotta admit you really walked into that one."

Ladybug rolled her eyes. "No time for your lame jokes, Chat Noir. I gotta go before I change back."

"Aw, so soon?" The bashful grin melted into a pout: most likely a playful, perhaps even flirtatious expression, but the glint of sincerity in his eyes didn't go unoticed.

"I had to use my lucky charm pretty early on, remember. I really have to go. See you next time!" With a quick wave, Ladybug unhooked her yo-yo and cast it up then swung silently away.

She knew she wasn't going to make it. There was no way she could get home in two minutes – one and a half now – before transforming back. The most she could hope for was getting over the Seine, otherwise she'd most likely double the travelling time of walking by trying to find a bridge. And at this time of night she did not want to be walking too far home.

Soon, the glittering river slithered into view, illuminated by the moon. Her earrings beeped. Just a little further. With a grunt, she flung her yo-yo out across the water, hooked onto something, and swung. Cold air whipped past her face, freezing her skin. At least the costume had some sort of heat-regulator system as her body was still relatively warm.

Half way across the water now. The opposite bank was coming to meet her… then suddenly it stopped and rose sharply upwards. Marinette wasn't sure what had happened until she felt the icy chill of the Seine enclose her head. She gasped then choked on water as she kicked herself back up to the surface.

The relief of her head breaking through was short lived as the water made the night air ten-times colder to the point where Marinette was sure her skin would turn to ice.

Tikki appeared at her shoulder. "I'm sorry, Marinette," the kwami squeaked. "I tried to hold on as long as I could..."

"I-i-i-it'sss ok-k-kay, T-t-tik-ki..." Marinette shivered, her legs kicking frantically in effort to keep her chest above the water. "N-not your f-f-fault… I ssshhould h-have b-brought ssomething for y-you to eat."

"Come on, we need to get to shore," said Tikki. She flew around and began nudging against the back of Marinette's head. "Otherwise you'll get sick."

Marinette dredged up the memories of swimming lessons she used to take and lunged forward, hating the feeling of her wet-sleeved arms coming into contact with the chilly air. She was three-quarters of the way across the Seine. Only a few more strokes… but already her fingers were retreating into fists and shivering against her palms, and her knees were quaking so much she could barely swim.

Would this be the end of Ladybug? Drowned in a muddy river after a miss-timed transformation?

If only she still had her costume. She wouldn't be so cold, and her muscles wouldn't ache so bad, and she wouldn't be so out of breath…

Her head felt heavy, like river water was pouring in through her ears and filling her skull. Her brain pounded, her eyes grew heavy.

Rivers have beds right? Maybe she could lie down and take a nap…

"Hey, princess. Need a paw?"

A peaceful night turned dramatic, turned melancholy. Although he had been enjoying a late-night stroll through the Parisian streets, Chat Noir was always glad to have a little action defeating Hawkmoth's latest villain, and even more so to see Ladybug. He had hoped to persuade her to stay a little longer than usual, maybe walk a little with him before heading home. It would be nice to have a chat with her when not being attacked by some monster.

But then, of course, without even indulging him in their usual victory catchphrase, she had fled. Yes, she had activated her lucky charm a little earlier than usual, and yes it had taken a while to use it, but was it really necessary to zip off like that?

With no Ladybug, and no more monsters to fight, continuing the peaceful stroll seemed a depressing concept and so he made a move to head back home. However, as he was pole-vaulting across the river he spotted a figure in the Seine. Upon closer inspection, he realised it was the pretty girl from his class: Marinette.

Chat Noir glanced at his ring; his cataclysm hadn't come into play until the end of the battle, and he still had a few minutes. Enough time to help a damsel in distress. So he thrust his baton into the water, slid down it until his feet were just above the surface, and extended a paw toward the girl. "Hey, princess. Need a paw?"

Marinette tilted her head towards him. The silver moonlight picked out the icy whiteness of her skin and glinted off her wet hair. There was a dazed look in her half-lidded eyes.

"Ch-Ch-Chat N-Noir?"

When she didn't grasp his hand, he reached down and pulled her up by the arm. She was freezing cold and soaked to the bone. He held her flush against his body, ignoring the uncomfortable sensation of her sodden clothes against his skin-tight suit. "Come on, princess. I'll take you home. Don't want you catching a cold."

She shivered and, to his surprise, burrowed her head into his chest. Within seconds, they were leaping across rooftops, leaving glittering trails of water where they went. Chat Noir knew exactly where she lived without having to ask, which was a good thing as she had begun babbling senselessly. It reminded him of how she spoke to him as Adrien, only slightly madder and with chattering teeth.

"Oh, y-you're s-so warm. Like f-fresh croissants. Or pain au ch-chocolat. Heehee, you're my freshly-baked p-pain au ch-chat..."

Chat Noir felt his face heat up a little. Her pain au chat, huh? Did Marinette have a thing for him as Chat Noir? Ironic, considering her inability to talk to him as Adrien.

"Your t-tail is too long," she mumbled, leaning around to fidget with the leather belt flying out behind him. He readjusted his grip so he didn't drop her squirming body. "C-cat's tails aren't that long. Or f-flat. Can you feel it when I d-do this?"

She yanked on it. Hard. Fortunately, they had just touched down on her balcony, so he was able to pry her away from him before she pulled the belt off altogether.

"Alright, princess. Enough of that. Bed for you, I think. Before you catch a-"

"AaaaTCHOOO!"

"-cold."

Marinette sniffed and swayed on the spot. "Mmm, where am I? Is this your house? Can I have a nap? My eyes hurt and my head is sleepy… or my head is eyes and my sleepy hurts..."

Chuckling, he eased the latch leading to her bedroom open, thanking the stars it was unlocked. He scooped her up again, this time folding her body tight to his so she wouldn't go yanking on his tail again, and awkwardly dropped down onto her bed. He tried to deposit her under her blanket, but this was easier thought that done as she had instead taken to fiddling with his ears. What on earth had gotten into her?

When Chat Noir had finally detached her, he checked his ring. Barely a minute left until he transformed back – but could he really leave her in this state? She wasn't going to get any better if she stayed in those damp clothes. Maybe he could get her parents and they could help her change?

He stealthily ran down the narrow staircase and creaked open her bedroom door, hoping he wouldn't have to go too far to find her parents' room. A loud, deep snore reverberated through the walls and floor.

Brilliant. Just brilliant. They were asleep. Maybe he could wake them up? Or…

Marinette was still babbling, now also rolling around on her bed and cooing softly. At the very least he could get that jacket off and put her purse away. Again, a sentiment easier thought than done, because as soon as he approached, she became even more restless.

"Hey, come on, hold still," he grunted, trying and failing to worm the soaking jacket off of her. His ring beeped. Only seconds left… "Sorry, princess, I have to go. Get under the covers before you freeze." He pulled the bed duvet up over her body and hastily tucked her in. She smiled and snuggled into them, shutting her eyes.

Damn, does she look cute… Chat Noir shook his head. Where had that come from? Since when had he found Marinette cute? She was sweet and lovely, yeah. And a great friend. But cute? He shook his head again, insistent, and turned to leave, but Marinette grabbed his wrist.

"M'cold," Marinette mumbled. "You're so warm, mon petit chaton. My pain au chat. My croissant..." She sneezed again; a high-pitched squeak accompanying it. It made Chat Noir's heart melt.

He really had to go… but then she shivered under the blankets and he saw her skin flushed white and red, gleaming under a thin layer of sweat. She was already ill… maybe he could stay until she fell asleep. Keep her warm… On top of the blanket, obviously; nothing indecent.

Giving into temptation, Chat Noir nimbly climbed over her body and sat on her bed, his back pressed against the wall. He slid his legs out to lie down beside her and draped one arm over her body. He could feel her coldness through the blanket against his thumping chest.

Marinette sighed happily and curled her body into his.

Chat Noir blushed again and brushed a lock of wet hair away from her face. Why was his heart thundering like that? Why had he suddenly forgotten how to breathe?

With a flash of light, his costume fizzled away revealing Adrien Agreste. Plagg barrel-rolled through the room, dazed. "What are you doing, Adr-"

"Ssshhh!" Adrien mashed his finger to his lips and glared at the kwami. "You'll wake her up and she'll see me!"

Plagg floated over to him and frowned. "What are you doing here?" he hissed. "We need to leave before she does see you. Why'd you stay here this long?"

"I… don't know. She was wet and ill and I didn't want to just leave her. She is my friend, whether she realises it or not." Adrien looked sadly down at her. "I had to make sure she got home safe and then..."

"And then you wanted a snuggle with your girlfriend, I get it." Plagg yawned. "Humans..."

"She's not my girlfriend. She's just my friend."

"Mmhm, sure. Then why are you so red?"

"Because," Adrien choked. "Because… look at her. She's all… on me and…"

"Well, she's asleep now. So let's go!"

"Alright, alright." Adrien shuffled away from her, but Marinette sensed his movement and rolled closer until he was pinned against the wall with her fast asleep on his arm. "I'm stuck."

"Ah, kid." Plagg sighed. "You're really in it this time..."

Adrien shot the kwami another glower. "Shut up."

Plagg huffed, insulted, and floated away to explore. After a few minutes his scratchy voice drifted up. "Didn't she used to have pictures on the wall?"

"Huh?"

"Pictures of you?"

"Oh, yeah." Adrien craned his neck to scan the walls beneath them. Once covered in photographs of himself, as he'd seen on that television program when Jagged Stone visited the bakery, the walls were now blanket pink. Only the squares of discolouration and dried circles of blue-tac evidenced that there had been any pictures at all. He remembered how embarrassed she had been the next day at school. She had no reason to be, however; he knew she was a big fan of fashion design and he believed what she'd said about the pictures being of clothes instead of him. So why take them down?

Adrien looked back at Marinette, who had stopped shivering and was now smiling in her sleep. She was, however, still on his arm and he wasn't sure he would be able to disentangle himself without waking her up. And it was very late. And he was pretty tired. Maybe if he just shut his eyes for a bit…