Chapter Text
Ladybug arrived at the top of the Eiffel tower only five minutes late finishing patrol. Chat Noir was, as usual, lounging on the beam, one leg swinging free.
“Hello, m’lady! A wonderful evening, isn’t it? Catch any akumas?”
“No, just some tourist fan who followed me until they got an autograph.” Ladybug looked her partner over. “Well, did you just get into the cream, or what? You look way too pleased with yourself right now.”
“Of course I am. A good friend of mine decided to hatch a plan for this fine first day of May. Which, you may note, is a holiday in certain parts of the world, celebrating spring and flowers and new beginnings.”
“Isn’t that why people give each other lily-of-the-valleys every year? Something about one of the King Charles giving them to his court?”
Chat Noir swung his foot back up to the beam and sat up. “Ah, but my friend wanted to do more than that! And this plan was so grand, that he needed my help to pull it off. Naturally, I did not do so until he told me all about it. And I realize now, I’ve been doing this flower thing all wrong for you!”
“Chat…” Is he going to confess again? “You know-“
But he was shaking his hands wildly. “No, no, no roses. Truth to tell, I’m kind of off roses for a while.” Chat Noir shook his head, like he was shaking off water. “Bad experiences.”
“Oh. Sorry.”
“Anyway, other flowers are much more interesting! My friend is totally into the meaning of flowers right now; he wanted to give all the lovely ladies in his class personalized bouquets for May Day- but alas, he couldn’t come to school today. So, he asked me to deliver, and I obliged- for the price of one bouquet-” Chat Noir ducked around the post, and pulled out a small bouquet. “For you.”
Ladybug grasped the flowers gingerly; she didn’t recognize everything in the bouquet. Something tropical-looking was in the center, surrounded by some fern fronds and some white flowers on long stems. “This- this is lovely, minou. ”
“I hope you like it. The flowers just say Ladybug all over.”
“Do they? What do they mean?”
Chat Noir pointed to the ferns. “Well, ferns mean magic. These white flowers are yarrow, which means healing and inspiration. And the one in the middle is a protea, which means courage, transformation, daring, and resourcefulness. So, like I said, this is a Ladybug bouquet.” He looked up into her eyes with a face full of hope. “Do you like it?”
She smiled, and his answering grin seemed to light up the night. “Of course, minou. Thank you.” She darted in to give him a quick hug, and had the pleasure of watching him flush slightly as she let go. “I’m going straight home to put these in water. Good night, Chat Noir!”
“Good night, Ladybug! And happy May Day!” she heard as she zipped away with her yoyo.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Deep under the Agreste Mansion, a man carried a handful of flowers to a beeping containment pod.
“Emilie,” Gabriel breathed, as he stood before the machine containing his wife. “I know this is one of your favorite days- and I brought these for you.” He opened the lid and laid the blue, white and burgundy flowers and greenery in his wife’s cool hands, then closed the lid again.
Heliotrope; devotion.
Primrose; eternal love.
Burgundy rose; unconscious beauty.
Balsam; ardent love.
“Until I can give you what you deserve in person,” he said as he walked away. “When the Wish brings you back.”