1- When Eyes First Meet

Ladybug's POV

The wind smacks my face as I swing across Paris on my yo-yo. I jump and fly and leap and smile. It's been over a week since Hawkmoth has terrorized the city and I'm grateful for this temporary peace, as long as it'll last. I land on the edge of a tall building and stare across the city. It's night, and the Eiffel Tower shines bright, brighter if possible. I close my eyes and take in a deep breath. The city's asleep. For the first time in a long time, there isn't a heavy burden weighing hard on my shoulders. Hawkmoth must have taken a vacation. With no recent akumatizations, patrol has been a breeze, but it has been a bit lonely without Cat Noir. I guess when Paris doesn't need protecting, he's probably off brushing his hair or practicing lame pickup lines in the mirror. I do miss him, though, and his stupid jokes, I have to admit. I turn to head home and the Agreste mansion enters my view.

Oh, Adrien... he's been gone, too. His father took him to Tokyo to promote his brand.

A silver car pulls up to the front gates, and I squint to get a closer look. I make out the blurry shadows and instantly recognize that blonde hair.

Ah! It's Adrien! He's home! Butterflies knot in my stomach as a blush burns my cold cheeks. I smile with a heavy sigh. Oh, if only that sunshine boy knew how he made me feel.

My gaze drifts off and I watch a man in a dark trench coat charge across the street to the mansion.

"This doesn't look good," I whisper to myself as I place a hand on the yo-yo attached to my waist.

"Hey!" He shouts and reveals a gun from inside his coat. Adrien, Mr. Agreste, Natalie, and his bodyguard, nicknamed Gorilla, turn to look at the crazy man. "Nobody moves and nobody gets hurt! Now, give me all the cash you got on you."

Natalie grabs Adrien and shoves him back in the car. "Stay here, Adrien." Gorilla blocks the door.

I throw my yo-yo and swing into action.

Mr. Agreste steps forward. "Who are you to try and rob me? Do you know who I am, you fool?"

"Duh, pinhead! You're Gabriel Agreste. I've been following ya for weeks now." He aims the gun at Mr. Agreste. "I knew exactly when you would be home. Now give me all you got before I blow your head off."

Almost there. Swing faster!

Mr. Agreste chuckles. "You underestimate me, sir." He touches the collar of his shirt.

"Argh!" I come swinging down and use both legs to kick the man back. His gun drops and I kick it away from us. I dodge a punch and elbow his side, shoving him against the gate as I tie his arms together. "Leave them alone!"

Adrien and his father's eyes widen. "Ladybug?!" They shout at the same time.

Adrien's out of the car now and running over to me. "Mi-Ladybug! What are you doing here?"

His eyes meet mine and my heart melts and I smile big. "A-Adrien! I was... I was just patrolling around the cutie, I-I mean city, and I saw this man was about to hurt you and your family." I glare at the man as I tighten the yo-yo. "Are you insane?"

"I need the money and I'd do anything to get it!" The man spits and he forms his hands into fists. "I ain't gonna let a stupid, little bug get in my way." He swings his head back and headbutts me and I lose my grip on the yo-yo as I fall to the ground. My ears ring. The man jumps for his gun and in a second I'm back on my feet, the cool barrel of the gun pressed into the side of my head. "Now, I'm not gonna ask again. Give me everything you got or this little bug's brains are gonna blow everywhere."

"No! Ladybug!" Adrien shouts, eyes wide. "Take me, not her!"

"What?" The man and I ask at the same time.

Natalie grabs his arm. "Adrien, go inside!" He shakes his arm green and steps forward. "Adrien!"

"I'm a better hostage than she is," Adrien starts, and I wonder how crazy he actually is. "My father would give everything to make sure his son is safe."

The man stares Adrien down and thinks. I glance down at my yo-yo on the ground. I could kick it up and call for my lucky charm, but I'm not faster than a bullet. He'd kill me. Still, I have to do something.

"Let Ladybug go." We make eye contact again. I gesture to my yo-yo on the ground and he slightly nods. "And take me instead."

I inch my foot forward and hold my breath as my toes touch the yo-yo and I carefully scoot it closer. I need to buy some time, so I start an argument. "That's crazy, Adrien! I would never ask you to switch places with me!"

"You don't have to, Ladybug," Adrien whispers.

I bend my foot under the yo-yo and wait for an opening. Come on, come on, come on...

"Fine. Deal." The man grabs the back of my neck and turns the gun on Adrien. "Any funny business and I'll kill you both."

"Adrien, get away from him!" Mr. Agreste shouts. "Now! This is ridiculous!"

"Lucky charm!" I kick my foot in the air and my yo-yo flies and bursts into a light of red and pink ladybugs. I elbow the man's side and shove him.

"Get away from her!" Adrien jumps forward and tackles him. I catch the lucky charm- a fishing net- and look around. Adrien and the man are wrestling for the gun. I know what to do. "Adrien, let go of him!" He listens and I throw the fishing net on the man before he can grab the gun. He fights the net as it tangles around him and I pick up the gun and hand it to Natalie. "This will probably be better in your hands."

Mr. Agreste grabs Adrien's shoulder and drags him away, shouting, "What is wrong with you, Adrien? You could've gotten hurt! You can't do reckless things like that!"

"That creep was going to hurt Ladybug!" Adrien defends. He searches for my eyes and gives me a soft smile.

Mr. Agreste straightens his shoulders and stares Adrien down. "We're not even home five minutes and you're already causing a ruckus. Go inside straight to your room and unpack. If you expect to still go to school tomorrow, you'll do as you're told."

"Uh..." Adrien's head hangs low with a sad smile. "Yes, father. Goodbye, Ladybug." He waves before entering his father's fortress.

"Stay down!" Natalie kicks the man in the chest as he tries to stand. "Don't even think about it. The police are already on their way."

"Ladybug..." I turn to Mr. Agreste as he steps forward. "You have my gratitude. My son is the most important thing in my life. I don't ever want anything happening to him."

"I understand, sir." I smile, but it soon fades. Mr. Agreste is harsh with Adrien. I never saw it before, but I do now. "I don't want anything happening to Adrien, either." I glance at the front doors and catch of glimpse of Adrien's blonde hair. The door shuts. "Well, it's getting late. I should be getting home. Goodnight, Mr. Agreste. Bug out!" I throw my yo-yo and pull myself towards the sky, leaping away, but I turn around and detour back to Adrien's room. I tie my yo-yo to a pipe on the roof and gently lower myself down. I hold myself steady as I swing outside his window. I squint and peek in.

Adrien's sitting at his desk, slouching, holding something in his hands. He looks so sad, so heartbroken, all because of his father. I wish there was something I could do to cheer him up.

Without a second thought, I tap on his window and wave as he looks over. "Hi..."

Adrien jumps up, dropping whatever he was holding into a trophy, and runs over. He opens the window and steps back. "Ladybug? What are you doing here?" He whispers and closes the window behind me.

"I wanted to thank you, in person, for what you did." I look around his room, heart racing, and ignore the fact that I'm blushing like crazy. I've been in Adrien's room before, but this is the first time we're alone together. "For stopping that man. Before, you know..."

"Oh." He scratches his neck. "You're welcome."

I turn and face him. "It was incredibly dangerous, though! You could've gotten hurt, or worse."

"I'd do it again," Adrien says, catching me off guard. "In a heartbeat. And I guess I also have you to thank for saving my family from a robbery."

"You're welcome," I tell him with an awkward smile. What is wrong with me? "So, were you getting back from vacation?"

Adrien nods and walks over. He sits on his bed. "Yeah, my father took me to Tokyo to promote the brand. His brand." He frowns. "I would have much rather stayed here. I missed a class field trip. I wanted to go, but my father said this trip was important and insisted I go. Since I'm the face of the brand, you know."

The field trip. I remember. Our class went to the aquarium and Kim got to race a dolphin. It was awesome. I was bummed that Adrien couldn't go, but I did have a good time with all of my friends. "Your dad sounds very protective, and very strict," I admit, scooting beside him on the bed. Adrien looks over. "I don't want to put my nose where it doesn't belong, but I heard how he spoke to you outside. It was a little harsh. Is he like that sometimes?"

Adrien snorts. "Sometimes? Try always. He never lets me do anything. He's too protective. I don't feel protected; I feel imprisoned. I wish my father understood where I was coming from, about wanting to see my friends and going to a movie and wanting a little more freedom to do things."

"I'm sorry," I whisper, shaking my head. "It must be hard living here."

He nods, agreeing. "Yeah, it is. Your life must be pretty freeing, right? Your civilian life, I mean. Not when you're Ladybug."

"A little, yeah." I smile. "My parents are really supportive with what I choose to do and I have the most amazing friends."

"No need to brag," Adrien jokes, laughing, and I chuckle with him.

"No, I mean it. I don't know what I'd do without my parents or my friends." I turn and face him. "I wish I could give you that. I wish I could give you a little freedom."

A smirk crosses Adrien's face, but it fades just as fast as it appeared. He scoots closer and our faces are inches apart. Never more in this moment right now have I ever wanted to kiss someone so bad. I don't know if Adrien feels the same way, though, and I don't want to push any boundaries. He reaches for my hand. My heart starts pounding in my chest. Okay. This is happening. Adrien Agreste is holding my hand. This is real!

"Ladybug, can I kiss you?" Adrien asks so quietly I'm not even sure he even said it.

My mouth speaks before my brain catches up and I nod. "Yes."

Adrien reaches out with a gentle hand and cups my face. He leans in. Do I keep my eyes open or close them? Is it weird if they're open? Wait, his eyes are closed. Okay. Eyes closed. I lean in, eyes closed, and kiss him. Adrien tilts my head back, deepening the kiss, and it takes everything in me to not stand up and start cheering and screaming.

Adrien Agreste is kissing me!

He pulls back and my eyes shoot open. Woah. That was intense. He smiles a little before asking, "Was that okay? I-I've never kissed anyone before."

"No. I mean. YES! It was okay. Better than okay." I laugh as Adrien's eyes widen. "Umm, I've never kissed anyone either." Well, not totally true, but I don't count Cat Noir because he doesn't remember. "Was I okay?"

"You were amazing!" Adrien shouts, too excited. He laughs. "Yeah. You were great." He scratches the back of his neck, nervous.

Who would've thought I could make the Adrien Agreste nervous?

Adrien and I lay back on his bed, hands fingertips apart. I take a risk and grab his hand, slowing wrapping mine in his. He closes his hand tight and I smile. I look up. My eyes widen. His ceiling, I never noticed it before. It's a galaxy. Stars and moons and planets moving and glowing, black glitter sparking against the glow from his lamp. It's breathtaking. It's beautiful. I feel like I'm outside in the grass, stargazing at two in the morning, with the love of my life beside me. Well, I wish, anyway. A shooting star passes over our heads. "Woah!" I gasp, trailing the star with my finger. "This is so cool, Adrien! H-How?!"

"You like it, huh? Thanks. A few months ago, I was in America promoting my father's brand... again." He frowns, but continues. "And at the hotel we were staying at had these on the ceilings. I thought it was the coolest thing in the world. I had to beg my father for months just to let me decorate it like that." I glance over at him, pouting. "I don't even have a say in something as simple as decorating my room. Everything I do, my father has to have his say about it. I can't do anything without my father knowing, except..." Adrien trails off and stops talking as he stares at his hand. I don't press further.

"I think it's beautiful. It feels like we're actually outside stargazing." I look back up at the ceiling. My heart starts pounding in my throat as Adrien starts rubbing his thumb across my knuckles. For so long I have waited to hold this boy's hand.

"What I'd do to go anywhere with you," Adrien whispers, before realizing what he said. He clears his throat. "I mean, anywhere. You know, with anyone. Not that I wouldn't wanna go with you. That'd be awesome."

With a sly smile, I ask, "Do I make you nervous, Adrien Agreste?"

He gives me an open-mouthed grin. "Would it be bad if I say yes?"

I shake my head. "No. Because my answer would also be yes." I sneak a peek at him. "You make me nervous, too."

"Great. We make each other nervous." Adrien laughs. "Just great."

"It's a good kind of nervous," I admit, butterflies in my stomach sprouting wings and taking off. I look down at our hands together. Together. "So... what do we do now?"

Adrien turns and lays on his side, and I follow. Our heads lay together, foreheads gently bumping. He shrugs. "I don't know. I've never..."

"Me neither," I tell him, in case he's embarrassed. "This is a first for me, too."

He smiles. "Good. I'm glad I'm not alone in this." He raises his hand and I place mine against it. "My father would lose his head if he found out I was dating a superhero. I'd probably wouldn't be let out of the house for a month."

My heart sinks. There are risks with this kind of relationship. We're both well known throughout Paris. A superhero and famous fashion model. We wouldn't be able to do normal things, like going on walks, or dates, or even just hanging out in public. Not to mention my secret identity. I'm trying not to let it bug me, no pun intended, but I am curious at how Adrien could be affectionate towards someone he doesn't really know.

Then again, I don't know Adrien as well as I thought I did.

"What if we dated in secret?" I whisper, closing my hand around his. "Just for now. Your father would never know. The public would never know. And... if Hawkmoth somehow found out, he could use you against me." I reach out and touch his face. "He could hurt you to hurt me and I could never let that happen."

"You're right, then. Let's keep this a secret." Adrien smiles. "Besides, I don't need my fans going crazy once they find out I finally have a girlfriend."

Eek! Adrien said it! He called me his girlfriend.

"What?" He asks.

I shake my head. "Nothing. It's just a little weird hearing that word. Girlfriend. Boyfriend. Boyfriend and girlfriend."

"I know." Adrien smiles. "But I like it."

I match his grin. "I like it, too."