"Chat Noir!" Ladybug screamed as she witnessed the death of Timetagger.

Chat Noir's hand was firmly around Timetagger's neck as he summoned his cataclysm. Her armored suit disintegrated away, leaving room for her flesh and skin to peel and shrink away, releasing blood from all her veins as she quickly became a husk of a corpse, blackened by the hand of destruction.

"Chat Noir! What have you done?!" Ladybug wailed.

"Oh my god," said Queen Bee as she'd just arrived on scene to witness the death of the akuma.

"Oh shit, this wasn't supposed to happen!" said the mysterious Mr. Lapin as he jogged up through the rubble. Ladybug didn't even have time to process who Mr. Lapin was, and the fact that she had never seen him before until now.

"Chat Noir!" Ladybug suddenly came stumbling over the rubble to Chat Noir, forcefully pulling him away from Timetagger's dark corpse. Even the bleeding of her body had stopped as each and every blood cell itself had disintegrated and burned away upon her fleshless body. "Chat Noir what-"

"I- I- I don't know what I-" Chat Noir nearly tripped as he stepped away with Ladybug. "I wasn't even thinking I- Fuck! Fuck!" He frantically put his hands on his head, ripping at his blond hair so intensely that Ladybug had to stop him for fear he'd rip off his own scalp.

"Chat Noir, you're going to hurt your-"

"I just killed- she- WHY DID I DO THAT?!" Chat Noir said, tears flooding from his face.

"Hey, hey, hey! It's ok... I..." Ladybug was lying right through her teeth.

"She was from the future, so she's not actually dead," Mr. Lapin said with confidence.

"How can you be so sure?!" Chat Noir jerked his head around. "Who even are you?!"

"I'm Mr. Lapin, wielder of the rabbit-"

"And I killed her future self then! Right?! So the Timetagger of this timeline, wherever she is, is going to die! Because of me!" Chat Noir exclaimed in panic.

"You can go ahead and try!" said the voice of Timetagger, newly akumatized from the current timeline as she soared overhead, managing to tap Ladybug on the head as she went, freezing the hero and destining her to disappear. Forever.

"She's alive," Mr. Lapin said, "and as long as she doesn't go into the same future the other one did... as in like... follow the steps that one took to get to the point she was in going back in time and taking herself here and dying-"

"That makes no sense," Queen Bee scorned.

"Fucking hell," Chat Noir shook his head, standing defensively over Ladybug now to keep her away from the new Timetagger., "I'm gonna kill her again."

"Wait-" Mr. Lapin tried to say something before Chat Noir foolishly charged after Timetagger. Timetagger got herself on the smooth, undamaged roads, around the street corner with Chat Noir lunging himself at her. Mr. Lapin and Queen Bee raced around to follow them, watching the terror unfold.

"You don't have a cataclysm anymore! How are you gonna kill her ya dum dum?!" Queen Bee called out.

"Cataclysm!" Chat Noir said, and somehow, his cataclysm formed around his left hand.

"That shouldn't be possible..." Queen Bee said, her face paling. Chat Noir was somehow able to evade being touched by Timetagger, all the while pursuing to kill her.

"It is possible..." Mr. Lapin said. "It's possible if his kwami gave him the access to that ability. Eventually, you'll all be able to use your powers multiple times in one transformation when your kwamis deem you ready but... why would Plagg do that now?"

"OMG! I've got it!" Queen Bee said. "Both Chat Noir and uh... Plagg was his name, right? Yeah- Ladybug has now been drastically affected by Timetagger TWICE. Plagg is probably pissed-"

"That's stupid. And kwami's are more rational than that," Mr. Lapin said. "But we don't have time for this. We need to stop him before he really kills her this time."

"But you can time travel! You can fix it!"

"How many times will I have to keep fixing it then? We can't let him do this!" Mr. Lapin said, pulling out a metallic umbrella. "I'm going to open the time burrow and you'll have to get him to run through it without noticing it."

"How do I-"

"You'll figure it out!"

"Ok- Uh," Queen Bee tossed her top in the air, twirling it around. "It should be easy, right?"

She charged forward to where Chat Noir was murderously pursuing Timetagger, trying to gain either one of them's attention but failing. She glanced at where Mr. Lapin had been standing, only to discover he had disappeared. Her confidence dropped.

She took a sharp inhale before muttering, "venom," to summon her power into her top. She raced to where Timetagger was currently skating backwards, almost as elegantly as a figure-skater.

"Behind you," Chat Noir sneered, gaining up on Timetagger. Timetagger swerved around just in time to see Queen Bee prick her on the hip, instantly freezing her into place.

Chat Noir did not stop his pursuit.

"Wait! Chat!" Queen Bee exclaimed, jumping between him and Timetagger's body. "You can't do this!"

"I ca-"

The time burrow suddenly appeared and Mr. Lapin yanked Chat Noir inside against his will. Not knowing what to do, Queen Bee jumped in as well, finding herself in a place that could only be described as miraculous.

A white cavern of endless tunnels was spread before her. There was no floor, yet Queen Bee was able to stand firmly on the nothingness of air. Tunnels lead to different points in time which could be manipulated and controlled by Mr. Lapin's liking. She looked behind her, expecting to see the street she'd just been on, only to find the tunnel now leading to a point in history over a hundred years ago. The tunnels were constantly changing where they lead to in time, and only the wielder of the rabbit miraculous could navigate them properly. 

"Why would you do that!?" Chat Noir screamed in emotional agony.

"Why would you do- uh- THAT?!" Queen Bee said, gesturing at nothing.

"Both of you, shut it," Mr. Lapin groaned. "I'm going to the future to have the Ladybug of my time to come back here and fix this, but I don't want EITHER of you looking at her, got it?!"

"Ladybug of the... future?"

"Yeah. I suppose I should explain that I live ten years in the future," Mr. Lapin said casually. "In your present time, I'm only eight or nine years old."

"Huh?!" Chat Noir and Queen Bee said in unison.

"So you know, Ladybug in my time is like... twenty-eight I think? I don't think I've actually ever asked her..."

"What about me?!" Chat Noir said. "I'm still Chat Noir, right?!"

"I can't spoil your future," Mr. Lapin said.

"Am I not Chat Noir anymore?! Am I dead?! Wait-"

"You're not dead! Ok?! Get that thought out, I just... literally can't say anything."

"But you can tell us Ladybug is still Ladybug?!" Chat Noir argued. "Do you know my identity?!"

"I can't tell you that!"

"You do know my identity?! WELL SHIT!"

"No it's not like that-" Mr. Lapin groaned. He tromped over to Queen Bee and Chat Noir and forced them to sit. "Stay! Right here- don't move! And uh- close your eyes!"

"Fine." Chat Noir obnoxiously folded his arms and closed his eyes. Lapin walked away and disappeared into one of his burrows for a moment, returning within a minute or two.

"You know I can't just meddle with the past, right?" a feminine voice said. Chat Noir felt a lump form in his throat. It was definitely the voice of Ladybug. Perhaps more mature, but it was still her. "Wait-"

"Ok, I forgot to tell you he was gonna be here-" Mr. Lapin interjected. Chat Noir kept his eyes sealed shut, despite how much he wanted to peek just a little and see her.

"Lapin..." Ladybug said, her voice now a little frazzled, perhaps frantic. "I-"

"Let's just hurry then!" Lapin said, opening up one of the tunnels and taking her away. There was a long period of waiting and eventually, Queen Bee said something.

"Did you look at her?" Queen Bee asked curiously.

"No."

"She's really pretty."

"You looked?!"

"Well duh!"

"Chl- Queen Bee! You weren't-"

"You actually didn't look?" Queen Bee exclaimed. "I thought it was a given we were both gonna peek."

"Was she afraid of me or something?" Chat Noir asked. "Why would she... react like that...?"

"I don't know. She did look kinda worried... Put a hand over her mouth all shocked and stuff," Queen Bee blabbed.

"Is it because I murdered Timetagger?"

"With how often y'all battle akumas, I wouldn't be surprised if she doesn't even remember fighting Timetagger. You're fine."

"It's weird. I can't think of any other reason-"

"That's happened yet," Queen Bee reminded. "I mean... she is ten years in the future. Anything could have happened."

"Oh."

A portal opened and Chat Noir squeezed his eyes shut again. He heard Lapin and Ladybug step back inside. He stiffened.

"You owe me," he heard Ladybug say with a chuckle.

"Uh huh?" Lapin replied.

"You can take me and Adr- my uh- you know who, to Rome. Ancient Rome. I wanna visit it."

"And that'll make up for this?"

"And other excursions in the future to a point," Ladybug said with a slightly warning tone.

"Alright, alright. Now get outta here before those two decide to open their eyes."

"Right, right," Ladybug agreed.

"Wait!" Chat Noir couldn't help but blurt out. He tucked his chin to his chest, keeping his eyes shut to a point it actually hurt. "Please- Uh-"

"Chat Noir..." Lapin warned.

"Do you hate me?" he asked Ladybug. She practically snorted at the remark, holding back a stifled laugh.

"No," she said, regaining composure. "No, never." He sensed her approaching him, and he suddenly realized he was crying. "Things are confusing, and they're going to get more confusing for you. But I promise you, it'll work out."

"Ladybug!" Lapin hissed.

"I've said nothing!" Ladybug exclaimed. Chat Noir could tell she was right in front of him. And very suddenly, he could feel her arms around him, pulling him into a hug. He almost opened his eyes. "I trust you more than anyone, Chaton," she whispered to him before pulling away.

"Ladybug! Tsk tsk tsk, what would your hus- you know who, think? Meddling with time? Hmmm??? Throwing off the kilter of the-"

"So dramatic!" Ladybug said, walking away from Chat. "Alright, take me back to the future!"

And with that, she and Lapin left.

Lapin quickly returned and the two could finally open their eyes.

"And she gets on me about messing with the past. Told me to never allow her to be seen by any of her past selves and then she goes and says that?! Wow."

"Well, I don't know what she meant..." Chat Noir muttered.

"Oh god, I do," Lapin groaned. "It's gonna be so fun for you. That was sarcasm by the way."

"You're making me think I die in the future."

"You don't die.... Ish..."

"Ish?!"

"I will not be explaining this further!" Lapin said.

"Ok... and if you don't mind me asking... who was the bug girl?"

"Aljara," Lapin said. "She's from your timeline but I keep snatching her to go on missions. We're currently trying to find all the remaining jewels of the Egyptian Miracle box, and discover a cure to whatever is happening with Dusuu."

"So... is she gonna be back?"

"Aljara and I will be continuing our work, but yes. You'll be seeing her soon," Lapin stated. "It'll be a sticky situation though, soon. Hopefully, she doesn't frequent you too often. Now! Let's get you two back home!"

***

With the Timetagger issue resolved, all was almost back to normal. Chat Noir discovered it had been Alix that whole time and was more horrified by his actions. Thankfully, she was alive and well. He hadn't killed her. But the memory of it was now lingering in the back of his mind like an itch that wouldn't go away.

It was his turn to go on patrol the day after. It was raining again, unfortunately. But nonetheless, he wandered aimlessly along the rims of rooftops over Paris, lazily looking around to make sure no akumas were spawning.

"Hey!" Ladybug said cheerfully as she spawned next to him.

"Hey," Chat Noir muttered.

"Too bad it's raining, huh?" Ladybug said. "Wanna find a place to stay dry?"

"We still have to patrol."

"What's got you so glum?" Ladybug asked curiously with concern.

"Nothing."

"Sure..." Ladybug's eyes flickered to the street below them. She could see a theater up ahead and her face lit up with an idea. "Wanna go see a movie?!"

"We're on patrol," Chat Noir reminded.

"If an akuma appears, we'll be alerted. And it most likely won't happen!" Ladybug said joyously. "Come on, please?"

"Why?" Chat Noir asked.

"Why not? We don't exactly get to hang out ever, it would be fun," Ladybug said.

"Aren't you upset with me?"

"What? No!" Ladybug said in surprise. "Why would I be?"

"I killed Timetagger... right in front of you."

"And she's alive now. What you did didn't impact her at all."

"It impacted you..." Chat Noir said. "You sounded horrified... I was horrified..."

"Ohh Chaton," Ladybug cooed. Chat Noir stiffened at the nickname. She'd never called him that before. Her future self had referred to him as 'Chaton', but Ladybug had never actually said it. Now his thoughts were conflicting again. He hardly heard her speak. "It was scary, I admit. But it's ok."

"It's not ok," Chat Noir said.

"You were really upset, and you weren't thinking clearly."

"It's no excuse to murder someone."

"Well, in the future, if I see you start reacting like that... I will know to intervene. Will that be ok?"

"I suppose," Chat Noir mumbled.

"Now, do you want to see a movie with me or not?"

"Um-" Chat Noir put his hand on his cheek, "my makeup is running off. The scars are showing. People will see."

"And you're a superhero, so they expect you to have scars," Ladybug said, putting her own hand on his face and gently rubbing at the runny foundation, smearing it away. "I think having scars makes you more human. I mean, my scar from Stormy Weather is cool! It makes me think of you, honestly."

"Why?" Chat Noir asked, unsure of why she was still rubbing his makeup off under the rain but not stopping her.

"That was the akuma we fought together and figured out how to work with one another. We were still learning things, and we both have gotten so much better at this. You were basically a stranger to me then, and here we are now."

"Did you expect us to still be strangers?"

"No," Ladybug said, "but I didn't think we'd be friends. Especially since we can't tell each other anything."

She pulled her hand away from him. Chat Noir was shocked by the cold, not realizing how warm her hand had been. She tugged him by the wrist so that they were under the balcony of a hotel, standing on the gravel pit on the lobby's roof. It kept them out of the rain.

"We don't have to go to a movie, I just want out of the rain."

"Y-yeah," Chat Noir said. Ladybug looked at him, almost as if she were inspecting his face.

"Chat Noir?"

"Yeah?"

"You don't have to be ashamed of having those scars."

"What makes you think I'm ashamed?"

"The makeup," Ladybug said. "I know you have to wear it as a civilian to keep your identity protected, but, you're always worried someone will see them as Chat Noir too."

"I guess I've been trained to keep my image perfect," Chat Noir chuckled nervously.

"Really? Why?" Ladybug asked.

"I can't exactly say without accidentally revealing stuff about my civilian life," Chat Noir said.

"Well, find a way around it. And honestly, if I know who you are in real life, I trust the magic of the miraculous to prevent me from piecing it together."

"I'm a model," Chat Noir said as if it were a heavy weight he'd finally been able to drop.

"You're- you're a model?!"

"Yeah..." Chat Noir sighed. "I have been since I was a kid. Well... maybe since I was eightish but you get the point."

"I can see why the scars are so concerning to you then," Ladybug said, quieter than she'd been before. "That's cool though! I don't have a job. Well- I do, but I work for my parents."

"I work for my dad."

"Oh- lucky us then, huh? I don't think I could ever be a model."

"You'd be a perfect model. You have a beautiful face," Chat said without thinking much of it. It sorta just came out.

"Um-" Ladybug's face flushed a light shade of pink, "Th-thanks- I mean- Uh- I meant- Well, I want to be a fashion designer. I don't want to be the one modeling, you know? But hah! Who knows, maybe in the future I'll get you to be a model for my brand!"

"Keep me posted on that," Chat Noir snickered.

"Wow," Ladybug blew a long exhale, "a model, huh?"

"Yeah."

"I wasn't expecting that."

"Am I that ugly?"

"No!" The two began laughing and teasing each other. "No, that's just- wouldn't it be funny if you were secretly famous?"

Chat's face contorted into a weird nervous, gummy smile, with eyes of absolute panic.

"No- NO- You are?!"

"I can't tell you!" Chat Noir said, hiding his face in embarrassment.

"YOU BASICALLY JUST DID!" Ladybug said, jostling him up a bit.

"THAT WAS AN ACCIDENT THOUGH, IT DOESN'T COUNT!"

"Count for what?!" Ladybug said with a stifled laugh.

"I don't know!?"

"So you're a celebrity both as Chat Noir and as a civilian? You're not a civilian then! You liar!" Ladybug giggled, "stupid little celebrity boy! Damn it, now I'm gonna be thinking about it all night."

"You told me to tell you-"

"I wasn't thinking model, I was thinking you had an abusive family that trained you to be constantly perfect!!! BUT THEN IT TURNS OUT YOUR JOB IS LITERALLY TO BE PERFECT!"

"You're a fashion designer though!"

"In the future! I'm a stupid little baker girl right now."

"You're a baker?!"

"Yeah! And I'm not a celebrity baker, just so you know."

"I am going to tease you about this for the rest of your life."

"Ok, model boy," Ladybug snarked.

"Noooooo!!! Don't start calling me that!"

"Alright then. I'm calling you Chaton though, and you can't stop me," Ladybug said. "Kitten."

"Fine then, m'ladybug."

"What a gentleman," Ladybug said sarcastically.

There was a brief passing of silence between them. The rain was getting louder and their clothes were soaked, even though they were under a balcony ledge. The rain made pittering noises against the gravel of the roof, pooling between the rocks and creating a slippery death trap for the two when they would decide to leave shortly. The sky was dark and vacant of stars, but the lights of the city told a million stories, obscured by the rainfall but just as crisp and colorful as a soul beaming in afternoon sunlight. It was cold, but Chat Noir felt warmed by Ladybug who didn't even have to touch him to make him feel summery.

"Do you think we'll ever get to know each other's real name?" Chat Noir asked after the silence had run its course.

"Hm?" Ladybug cocked her head, "I suppose we will. But.. not until after we defeat Hawkmoth. It's too dangerous right now."

"How soon do you think that'll be?"

"Well..." Ladybug paused to think, "I used to think it would only take us a few months. You know, in movies it doesn't take this long to catch the bad guy. But... It's almost December. We've been at it for months, and we have no idea what the guy even looks like. I don't think it'll be soon."

"Yeah," Chat said with disappointment.

"But, Chat Noir?"

"Yeah?"

"I look forward to meeting you for the first time."