"Your kisses lift me higher,
Like the sweet song of a choir,
You light my morning sky,
With burning love."
Burning Love ~ Elvis Presley

The Halloween party went off without a hitch. Nino managed to pull through and threw a party that met the girls' standards. They got to watch several American classics, (i.e Friday the 13th, Halloween, etc.) Fortunately, the akuma that Adrien was positive would come, arrived after their party was over. Unfortunately, however, that means that the akuma decided to attack at three in the morning.

Although it was an easy akuma to defeat, neither him nor Ladybug had to use their special power, they were now both wide awake and didn't want to go back home. So they didn't. And now they were sitting on top of the school's roof. If Adrien looked hard enough, he could see the glittering lights that hung above Marinette's balcony. He briefly wondered if she was still up, but his train of thought was quickly broken when his partner spoke up next to him.

"Have you ever wondered what it would be like if we knew each other's identities?" The question came quick, pulled from god knows where, and any thought that Adrien had was instantly dropped. Ladybug, who was always so carefully guarded, was asking him what it would be like if they knew who the other person was behind the mask? He never saw this day coming. He glanced over at her to see if he was just hearing things, but she didn't look at him. Instead she stared at the stars that lit the sky above her. Despite the cold October (technically November now) weather, the sky was clear. With the moonlight shining down on her, the glimmering stars reflecting off her radiant eyes, she looked like the goddess Adrien had made her out to be when they first met.

Adrien cast his eyes back over to Marinette's balcony, his heart thudding painfully in his chest.

Ladybug took his silence as a cue to continue talking. "Sometimes I do. I think about how it could make life easier, how I could always have my best friend there, not just during times when some akuma is rampaging Paris. It makes me happy. It makes me feel not so alone."

Ladybug continued to not look at him. She leaned back onto her hands, kicking her legs carelessly off the ledge of the school as if this were some casual conversation between the two of them. Not for the first time since he's met her, not even for the hundredth, Adrien wondered what could possibly be going on in Ladybug's mind. Over the years, one would expect to know their best friend by a simple look; however, it was the exact opposite for Ladybug. She seemed to become more stoic, more attuned to keeping her emotions and secrets in check. Although, Adrien was pretty much the same. Perhaps it came with the job of being Paris' own superheroes. Perhaps it was because both Ladybug and him were damaged goods, something that no one could truly ever one hundred percent want.

Adrien didn't like that thought, but that's where he always ended up. How could anyone love them one hundred percent if they didn't know about the other half of their life? Maybe that was why Ladybug would dream about knowing each other's identities; maybe that was why he had been so persistent on knowing who the girl behind the mask was when he was still new to the superhero gig.

"Do you ever think that you'll be disappointed about who is behind the mask?"

"No." Adrien finally said, his voice rough as if he hadn't spoken in days, yet poised with certainty. Ladybug sagged further back, as if she had dropped some weight that she had been carrying for a long time. Adrien didn't miss that, he couldn't have. And seeing that, he knew he had to continue, to make sure that she knew that no matter who was behind that mask, he would never be disappointed.

"I don't think about that because I know that regardless of who the girl behind the mask is, she will be just as remarkable as Ladybug, if not more so."

Ladybug didn't say anything after that, so neither did Chat Noir. The two sat in a content silence, the bustling city of Paris finally still. The cool breeze sent shivers down Ladybug's spine, and that was when she decided that it was time for her to go home. Given her track record with sleeping in, she really needed to get home. She had to be up before the bakery opened so she could help her parents clean the kitchen and prep for the busy day ahead of them. The start of November was always so busy for them.

"As much as I enjoy your company, Chat Noir, I need my sleep. I'll see you next time."

Chat Noir smirked, giving her a two-fingered salute. "Absolutely! You'll see me the next time an akuma wants to destroy Paris." He offered her a wink before she leapt off of the roof, swinging away until she was out of sight. Adrien settled back against the roof, curling his arms behind his head for a makeshift pillow. Calling off his transformation, Plagg laid wearily on his chest as Adrien stared at the stars that reminded him of his two favorite girls.

"Can't we go home? I've got a knacking for some cheese." Plagg yawned, curling up on Adrien's left pectoral. Adrien didn't respond, knowing that the kwami was perfectly content with taking a nap before having to transform again to go home.

The cool breeze that had sent Ladybug home blew once again, ruffling Adrien's blond curls. Truth be told, he hardly ever cared about the cold. Since becoming Chat Noir, one of the few, not annoying, cat-like tendencies he had picked up was an increase in body temperature. And while sure, he'd rather be curled up in his warm bed, the cool night air was nothing compared to the bitter chilliness of his empty apartment. The coolness seemed to follow him wherever he went, Adrien realized.

The content purr from the warm ball on his chest also made Adrien realize that even though that chill followed him, so did his warm companion. And Adrien couldn't help but think that maybe having the small, warm creature made up for the cold.

~~~~~

Marinette made up for the cold, too. She made up for it so much, it was like the budding ember in his chest would suddenly ignite into a blazing bonfire whenever she was near. Especially whenever she kissed him. As she littered tiny kisses from the shell of his ear, to underneath his collarbone, she left behind a burning trail that seemed to heat up the entire room.

Adrien hadn't made that connection until he was in class a few days later.

Marinette had dragged her hand, unnoticed by the raucous crowd of students, along the length of Adrien's forearm as she walked past him to her next class. It was her way of letting him know that she was there, a confirmation that neither one had realized they needed until it happened. The delicate, barely there touch sent shivers down his spine, while simultaneously lighting his entire body in an intense heat.

He didn't get much time to process that thought, however, because Alya pulled him along to their shared class. He vaguely registered that she had been speaking to him the entire time, and tuned in just in time to hear her request.

"As much as I hate asking you this, I have a favor."

Adrien's ears perked at the word "favor". It was extremely unlike Alya to ever ask for help, let alone a favor. She was extremely independent, and she liked to collect her favors, even though she was unlikely to ever cash them in. So of course Adrien's mind was made up the second she asked.

"Of course, anything Alya." He said, no hesitation or question in his mind. He would, without a doubt, agree to anything that she would ask him. She smiled at him gratefully, before a light pink dusted her cheeks as she awkwardly looked down at her hands. He'd never seen her in this state before, and he was uncomfortable just watching her.

"I wouldn't ask this, because I never want you to think that we're friends just because you're rich, you know that right?" She felt the need to preface this before she got to her point. Seeing Adrien nod his head in confusion, she continued. "It's just that, well, money's been tight lately, and I can't really ask my mom because she's so worried on focusing on the girls' education, and Nora's hospital bill just came in from her last fight. I just- my interview is on Thursday."

"Okay?" Adrien wasn't really sure where this was going. Did she want him to help her pay off Nora's bills? He would, easily. Before he could ask, Alya spoke again.

"I need clothes for the interview," She finally confessed as they walked into their classroom. "And the last time I wore formal clothes was when mom opened her restaurant a few years ago and they don't fit anymore. I was hoping that I could maybe borrowing some clothes for Thursday? I swear, I will give them right back, no harm done."

Adrien stared at her for a few seconds as he processed what she asked. During those few seconds, if it were even possible, Alya looked even more awkward. She kind of reminded him of Marinette during the first year he knew her. He almost laughed at the comparison.

"That's all?" Adrien's suppressed snigger was not so suppressed as Alya looked at him in confusion. "You just want me to get you some clothes to borrow from the Agreste brand? Just for you to return them? Alya, I would have bought those for you to keep, happily! Hell, I'd even pay for the hospital bills if you wanted me to."

"I just want to borrow the clothes, Agreste." Ah, there it was. The fiery enigma that was his best friend, Alya Césaire. He laughed again at her narrowed eyes as he sat down in his seat.

"Of course. I'll get the clothes to you tomorrow, Césaire." He teased, relieved when she rolled her eyes but still held a small smile.

As class began, the teacher droning on about the subject, Adrien's subconscious drifted back to his arm, which still felt hot. And the shuffling in his pocket, warm against his chest changed his mind.

Maybe, just maybe, his life wasn't as cold as he thought it to be.

I know, I know. It's been a long time. I'm sorry! But getting ready to graduate has been stressful and extremely busy.

Anyways, as always, enjoy! And I love to read your comments!

Until next time, peace!