⭐️ we now interrupt your regularly scheduled ship

[catpunned]

[ “Your demons might not look like ours”?

Cat Noir snorts quietly to himself as he retraces his steps back to Rapunzel’s house. The air is calm; the akuma dealt with, but thinking back on it, he wonders what he even meant when he said that.

Even though he doesn’t know, now he can’t help but think about the demons Rapunzel might be facing, and he finds himself trying to hold her to her promise, despite the fact that it means going out of his way to do so. He’s not supposed to give any one particular civilian special attention, sure, but... he did tell her he would come back.

He would hate to disappoint a new fan.

When he arrives, he can see the moonlight catch on her hair, which is still as ridiculous in length as it had been before. Distantly, he wonders what she might be staring at—but heck with it, he’s just going to pole himself upwards and find out. ]

Hey! You’re still up.

Comments

[catpunned]

[ Cat can feel the strain his excess weight is taking as they fly across. It is a feeling he is all too familiar with, but it is different to experience it with someone else, especially in such a unique way—with magic hair!

Speaking of which, he is surprised at how nice it smells, considering how long it is and how much of a pain it must be to take care of it. He wonders if it’s magic enough to take care of itself, but before he can think too deeply on the subject, they stumble into a landing.

They separate, which is hardly surprising. What is, though, is the way she barely slows down, challenging him as he’s left staring.

Not for long, though. His competitive spirit rises and he reverts back to his extendable metal pole, which he pulls from his back immediately to assist him before taking off after her. Eventually he catches up, and slowly takes the lead.

Sorry, sunshine, you’re gonna have to do more than surprise him a little if you want to win! ]

[worthit]

[ Even in the middle of initiating a race Rapunzel can't help but laugh at his surprise. Afterwards her attention goes into finding her next anchor, though. She isn't surprised at all when he catches up, or takes the lead, but her expression shifts into one of playful focus all the same. OH NO. She's not going down without a fight!

As they ease into a race across the rooftops his lead grows. He has the years of experience, the practice, the familiarity with their terrain. Naturally he's more at ease while Rapunzel is left improvising on the fly. She's also slowed down a little by having to climb at points, but gradually they reach more open area and the Eiffel tower comes into view. By the time they reach some unofficial stopping point her chest is rising and falling heavily with exhilaration, and she lets out a breathless laugh as she jogs to a stop beside him and doubles over with her hands braced against her knees. ]

Wow...! That... was... AMAZING!!!

[ Gradually she catches her breath as she speaks, so that on "AMAZING!!!" she's standing bolt up right, pumping both fists into the air. AHHHH WHAT A FREEING FEELING!? ]

I've never been able to do that before! Just... run, and run...!

[ Compared to being cooped up in a tower or room all day it's an incredible rush, and she's all but bouncing on her heels when she turns to Cat Noir. ]

You're so good at this! And you get to do this every night??

[catpunned]

[ His stamina is pretty darn good, and it takes a lot to wear him out. His breathing is still fairly even, but even so, he finds himself leaning on his pole for support.

Of course, he does it in a way that looks totally nonchalant and purposeful, grinning as he watches her geek out. ]

Not every night, but—close enough. I do get plenty of practice.

Still, those were some amazing tricks you did with your hair. The fact that you even kept up with me is super impressive! Especially for your first time.

[worthit]

Yeah? I bet. Being a super hero must keep you on your toes.

[ Punctuated with a chuckle.

One of her hands rests on the railing, turning around to face him. Pulling herself up, she sits on the ledge and crosses her ankles. Her grin turns a little sheepish. ]

You really think so? You're not just saying that...?

[ She'd never think it, to hear her mother tell it. The idea that anything she did was impressive was... hard to wrap her head around, but exciting. ]

I mean... I didn't keep up that well. [ Though she's attempting a smile as she says it. ]

[catpunned]

Did so. [ Cat Noir teases, nudging her gently as he takes in the view, swinging his feet.

He definitely looks comfortable, even though they have so much more of the city to see. ]

I wouldn’t just say that. What kind of cat do you think I am?

[worthit]

Hm... [ She half-hums, half-laughs shortly in answer, bashfully diverting her gaze to the rooftop. This is a pretty new feeling, being praised by a dashingly handsome boy her age. Adrien had paid her compliments on her dancing, sure, but this felt different. For one, it made her blood rush and her face feel warm. Strange... ]

The devilishly charming kind.

[ She teases back, reaching out to gently "pinch" his cheek with a playful tweak, letting go quickly after and smirking. ]

But really... thanks, Cat Noir. I guess... I kind of needed this after all.

[catpunned]

[ Cat automatically reaches up to rub at the spot on his cheek where she’d pinched him. He chuckles at the compliment, but also at her admission, because it’s just so true. ]

“Kind of” is putting it mildly—but I’m glad to be of service.

I know how it feels, after all...

[ To be a bird, trapped in a cage.

But he doesn’t elaborate, instead grinning as he shrugs it off. ]

We should keep going!

[worthit]

[ Hey- no fair! And just to make sure he doesn't get any funny ideas Rapunzel takes the chance to snag her fingers in his belt at his waist. ]

Oh~hh no! Absolutely not, kätzchen, not until you tell me what you meant by that.

[ Her tone and expression soften a little, a hopeful smile if a bit unsure. ]

Superheroes are people too... Cat Noir, if you need to talk...? You don't have to tell me anything that'll give you away but...

[catpunned]

Whaaaat? No—

[ She manages to catch Cat off guard. He throws up his hands in playful surrender as her fingers hook onto his belt. ]

You make it sound so serious! I just meant that I know how it feels to, uh, not get out much. You know.

1/2

[worthit]

...

[ Yeah, no, she's not buyin' it kid. ]

[worthit]

Has anyone ever told you that you're a terrible liar?

[catpunned]

[ He’s not even sweating, sorry princess. He just shrugs!

And winks, for good measure. ]

It’s cute that you think I’m lying.

[worthit]

[ She swears that it sounded like there was more to it than just not getting out much, but maybe... maybe she's just projecting. So after holding her look for a few more seconds, she sighs, tucking some hair back behind her ear with a helpless shrug and a sheepish little smile. ]

Right... sorry. That was rude... So... Where to next, I guess...?

1/2

[catpunned]

[ ...............DAMN. Now there’s residual guilt churning in his stomach, as he watches her sheepishly push back that tuft of hair. He keeps smiling to keep it down, though, and he approaches her, letting a hand land gently on her head in a pat. ]

Nah, not rude. I said cute.

But I really wasn’t lying.

[catpunned]

[ This is something he feels the need to explain before he can go on, even if he can’t go into as much detail as he’d like. So he continues, more seriously: ]

Your mom... she thinks you’re sleeping or something right now, doesn’t she? It’s... sort of the same for me.

1/2

[worthit]

[ ALKaklfklasdlklkasdlkaWELKJFLKWf!!!!?!?!? CAT NO DON'T CALL HER CUTE IT'S EMBARRASSING!

He says that and pats her on the head all so casually, and for someone who's never been called "cute" sincerely before, let alone by a cute boy, well it's definitely a thing that just happened. She can feel the heat rushing to her face again for the second time that night, and quickly lowers her gaze to try to hide it, staring at his chest since it's well below his eyes (not that it was hard given there was a height difference between them anyway). ]

2/2

[worthit]

[ But it doesn't take long before big green eyes are seeking his out again, as Cat Noir explains a little despite owing her no such answer. That he does sends it's own little rush through her, more subdued than the last, but still. He's opening up to her even just a little, confiding in her in a way that feels like she's being let in on some kind of secret. But... wow... It's just... too bad that he has to sneak out like this. Coupled with what he said before she gets the feeling he must live a sheltered life, too. ]

Is it because...?

[ For emphasis she gestures vaguely to all of him. The suit, the superhero'ing. Is that why he has to sneak out, or would he have to sneak out regardless, is what she wonders. ]

[catpunned]

[ Cat tilts his head as the question hangs, waiting for a conclusion. She just gestured to all of him, and it takes him an extra second or two to figure out what she’s getting at.

And while seeing her get a little flustered is cute, he will let his hand fall back down to his side, taking a step back to give her space. ]

You mean... the suit, the mask? It definitely makes it a lot easier, that’s for sure.

[ A beat, as he thinks, and he adds: ]

That’s not why I became Cat Noir, though.

[worthit]

[ She'd actually meant to ask if becoming Cat Noir was the reason he had to be careful about sneaking out, but at the prospect of learning a little more about him she clammed up on the thought of correcting him.

It's not even that she wants to pry into his identity, she'd respect the mask and the protection it offered, but that didn't mean they couldn't get to know one another and bond a little, right? Superheroes had feelings and needs, too. ]

What made you decide, then...?

[ Because she has no idea that a little old man had made the decision to offer the opportunity. And even if she did, that wouldn't explain what made him decide to say yes. ]

[catpunned]

[ Some days the answer is more obvious than on others. How does he explain it without spoilers?

A feeling kind of haunts him, like he’s already said too much as it is. ]

Don’t know that I did, really. [ It’s a shame, really. She and Plagg would get along so well, but he keeps it all hush. ] After the first time, it just felt right, like I was meant for it.

[ Like it was destiny.

To give her an example of sorts, though... ]

......How did it feel when you sang me your magic song, after I crashed into your garden?

[worthit]

[ Had it been someone else, perhaps... but as he'll no doubt find out in the days to come, Rapunzel has a way of missing what's right in front of her when it comes to the people in her life. Sometimes it's completely accidental, like a subconscious shield against a heartbreaking truth. Other times it's simply that she takes things so much at face value, is so genuinely and naively trusting that there's no room in her mind to look further than what's on the surface.

In Cat Noir's case, it may be a little bit of both, just for his benefit rather than hers. Purposely not thinking too much on who he could be is difficult, but for the MOMENT, at least, she manages to contain her curious nature.

She smiles at his admission, both the idea that he didn't necessarily choose this responsibility, but that he'd accepted it none the less. She smiles a little more wryly at his question, understanding now. ]

Like... I was doing what I should have been doing all along, sharing the gift I was given with someone who needed it.

... Kind of like that...? [ His meaning, she means. ]

[catpunned]

Purr-cisely.

[ Cat winks, giving her another encouraging pat on the head.

Of course, his motivations as Cat Noir are not nearly as selfless as that. There is more to it, like his freedom; and if he denied that getting to know Ladybug was a part of it, he would be lying. Even so, it sounds good the way he left it, so he definitely refrains from clarifying. ]

Hopefully I won’t need it again anytime soon, but—

[ CASUAL SUBJECT CHANGE ]

Let’s see... [ Where to? ] We can go even higher if we climb up the Eiffel Tower.

[worthit]

[ Oh he's giving her ideas. Ideas her mother would most definitely disapprove of, like picking up a secret identity to help people. Those are thoughts to mull over for later, though. Right now she wants to keep things light, or focused on him, not her sheltered life and restrictive mother.

Naturally when Cat Noir mentions the Eiffel tower that's the exact place that Rapunzel's eyes track towards, lit up so gorgeously on the Paris skyline, she can just imagine what the view must be like from the top. ]

You mean all the way up? Can we, really?

[ She looks just a tiny bit skeptical, but it's masked by overwhelming curiosity and excitement. ]

Even the tower wasn't that tall... [ She utters in amazement, then, quickly turns to him again. ]

Let's do it!!!

[catpunned]

[ She’s been positively glowing since they raced, but it’s still nice to see her light up even more. With her approval, then, he stretches and prepares to continue their little adventure.

He teases her, smirking. ]

We’ll see how far up you make it.

[ Yes, that is a challenge.

And yes, he is back on the edge, his pole at the ready. ]

Need a ride?

[ Doesn’t seem like she does, but he will still offer anyway, as gentlemanly as possible, with an outstretched hand. ]

No rush to respond! I know you said you're taking a break. The mood struck, though.

[closecut]

Oh, you are SO on.

[Do you see this smirk? Challenge. Friggin'. ACCEPTED.

You know, once they actually make it to the tower. Because that is a LOT of open space around it, and yes she could use a lift to get there probably.

So, regarding his hand for a second, before finally smiling at the gentlemanly gesture and placing hers in his. She might or might not have colored a bit in the cheeks, freckles becoming more pronounced as she did.

Please don't call her out on it HA HA]