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Adrien cracked his fingers and let them gracefully run on the piano keyboard. He felt quite frustrated not to be able to be there as Chat Noir tonight, by his Lady's side. At least Adrien's presence was required at the charity event—that's why Chat couldn't make it—so he would see Ladybug anyway.
Sooner than expected.
The door to the suite he was in suddenly opened. "Er, sorry, I'm searching for the—" she paused, her eyes widening on him. "Uh, h-hi A-Adrien Agreste."
He waved at her, a slight blush blossoming on his cheekbones. "Hey, Ladybug. Can I help you?" he asked as he quickly stood up.
"I...uh...I…" she sighed, stepping inside the room and shutting the door close behind her. "In fact, I'm trying to avoid the crowd and journalists," she replied, folding her arms over her chest, hugging her own body. "I'm not feeling very comfortable with all… this," she added, gesturing at the beautiful, huge suite of the Grand Paris she had stepped in.
"And so am I…" Adrien echoed her feeling of discomfort.
She raised an eyebrow, staring at him questioningly.
"It's my father's world. Not mine. I don't like being here just for show, just to entertain some rich Parisians that Gabriel Agreste wants eating out of his hand. Those people only think about money or their pathetic selves."
"Don't tell me about it. Some journalists asked me to use my Lucky Ch— well you know.” She motioned at her yo-yo.
"Lucky Charm," he finished for her, smiling.
"Yes,” she breathed. “They wanted me to use it. Like I don't know...like if it was a firework for the party! Can you believe this?" She sounded exasperated, her mouth dropping in a little heart shape as she pouted.
Adrien chuckled, finding her absolutely lovable—kissable.
"If mon Chaton would have been here, he'd have been pleased to use his cataclysm to surprise them and make them shut up about their stupid selfish idea. It'd have been quite diverting."
Oh yes. It would have been. Showing people that Miraculous powers are not something to play with, making them squeak and startle in fear.
Entertaining indeed.
Maybe a bit mean.
Nevermind.
"I'd have liked it if Chat could have made it tonight. It's not fun to be here without him. It's long, less enjoyable and…utterly boring. I miss him."
He looked at her with disbelief, trying to hide his awe. She really missed him tonight. She missed the bubbly, goofy Chat Noir. His heart couldn't take it. He smiled fondly, swooning with love for her.
"So, are you hiding too?" she eventually asked when a silence fell between them because his brain was busy melting into some strawberry ice cream with black chocolate chips.
"I'd like to," he admitted, his shoulders slumping. "I’ve never played piano in front of so many people, so since I knew there was also a piano in this suite, I came to play some songs I like to let my anxiety calm down before I perform in the dancing room," he explained, sitting down again, ready to show her his skilled fingers running on the black and white keyboard.
He'd never miss a chance to impress her and reveal a side of him she couldn't know from Chat Noir.
"Can I play for you, Ladybug?" he inquired, and he knew his eyes were shining like a child’s on a Christmas morning, but he couldn't help it. He had always dreamed of being able to do so.
She nodded shyly. Oh. Was that a blush spreading beneath her mask?
Her elbows came to rest on the piano, and she settled her chin on her palms, having eyes only for him. It made him feel hot under the collar, and his heart thumping against his chest didn't help at all with the way her presence made him feel dizzy and overwhelmed.
Adrien closed his eyes, and his mind wandered to a song he really liked to hum while thinking about his partner. He let the impulse drive him, the beat took hold of his lips, fingertips brushing the piano. His eyes snapped open and he started to cheerfully play and...sing.
"I took an arrow to the heart
I never kissed a mouth that tastes like yours
Strawberries and somethin' more
Ooh yeah, I want it all."
She would totally taste like strawberries, and cherries, and sweetness, and warmth… And the way her mouth dropped open when she heard him start to sing just made him want to taste her soft lips even more.
"Lipstick on my guitar (ooh)
Fill up the engine, we can drive real far
Go dancin' underneath the stars
Ooh yeah, I want it all
Mm, you got me feelin' like
I wanna be that guy, I wanna kiss your eyes
I wanna drink that smile, I wanna feel like I'm
Like my soul's on fire, I wanna stay up all day and all night
Yeah, you got me singin' like"
It was his favorite part, the one which reminded him of her. Those gorgeous bluebell eyes make his own shine brighter with admiration. That bright, mind-blowing smile, short circuiting his brain every time. The way his whole being felt, burning and exploding like a firework, lightning even in the cloudiest sky of his darkest days.
His eyes searched for hers, and when they eventually met, the rest of the world faded away. He didn't even need to look at his hands. He had played this one so many times, just to bring the image of her to his lovesick mind. But it was nothing compared to the vision she was offering him now. She completely drank in his words, lost in what for him felt like a heartfelt declaration.
His fingers sped on the keyboard, a wide smile curling his lips as he stared at her fascinated expression. He leaned a little over the piano, attracted like a magnet, unable to resist the pull that drew him to her.
“Ooh, I love it when you do it like that
And when you're close up, give me the shivers
Oh baby, you wanna dance 'til the sunlight cracks
And when they say the party's over, then we'll bring it right back”
Adrien almost played standing, his gorgeous derriere wiggling to the rhythm. His enthusiasm seemed contagious as Ladybug giggled, her cheeks taking a cute pink hue. He redoubled his energy, shaking his shoulders, singing louder. Not wanting the moment to ever end.
Until a second shrill voice joined the chorus. And it wasn't Ladybug’s.
“And we'll say, meow , I love it when you do it like that
And when you're close up, Ladybug give me the shivers
Oh Bugaboo , you wanna dance 'til the sunlight cracks
And when they say the party's over, then your kitty cat will bring it right back”
A black furry ball jumped on the keyboard, screaming his lungs out like a soprano, changing the lyrics in order to taunt and annoy his holder as he played four-hands with him—well, rather two hands plus an Almighty God of Destruction's butt.
Adrien’s eyes widened and he gulped, casting a glance to his Lady. She blinked, once, twice, thrice… While Plagg was still performing his show in all his glory, not even noticing that he wasn't alone with the boy.
Adrien tentatively smiled innocently to his partner, like a child caught his hand in the cookie jar, and then...she facepalmed, closing her eyes and sighing.
When she looked at him again, her gaze softened, an approving smile spreading across her lips, and he had to stare into her eyes intently; he needed to make sure he wasn’t getting the wrong signals there.
Plagg continued alone and Adrien shrugged, beaming at his Lady as he resumed his private show for her. If they were going to do this, they might as well go all the way. Besides, he wondered when his Kwami would finally realize that he had just missed a part of the reveal he was looking forward to.
“You know you could tear me apart (ooh)
Put me back together and take my heart
I never thought that I could love this hard
Ooh, I can't get enough”
He smiled fondly, looking at her as if she was holding the moon. He couldn't take his eyes off her, and if he didn't know her so well, he'd say she was flustered.
Wait.
Rewound this statement.
She was flustered.
Her face had turned deep red. Crimson. And if it weren't for the spots, he wouldn’t know where the shape of her mask started and ended.
No doubt he was taken aback by her reaction. He didn't know he had such an effect on her. Oh boy. He was enjoying every single second of that. It made him smirk—worthy of Chat Noir—as he leaned closer over the piano.
“You got me feeling like
I wanna be that guy, I wanna kiss your eyes
I wanna drink that smile, I wanna feel like I'm
Like my soul's on fire, I wanna stay up all day and all night
Yeah, you got me singin' like
Ooh, I love it when you do it like that
And when you're close up, give me the shivers—…"
Almost one more chorus, and Plagg eventually stopped in his tracks, noticing that he had messed up with his kitten's identity. He didn't even look sorry.
Not at all.
"I swear I didn't see she was there. I just woke up and decided to mock you. Besides, it's your fault. You're such a lovesick kitten. Ladybug here, Pigtails there, singing your love everyday with that stupid song until my ears turn into spreadable cheese." He seemed smug as he zipped into Adrien’s bag, taking out a piece of camembert and sitting on the top of the piano to eat it as if it was some popcorn.
“What does Marinette have to do with it?” he inquired, narrowing his eyes.
“Meeep!”
His head turned to the squeak Ladybug had just let escape. She had become as white as a sheet of paper, all the color drained from her face as she glared at the sneaky Kwami.
“Having some trouble with Marinette, m’Lady? Would you be jealous?” he tentatively asked as he leaned closer, wiggling his eyebrows, a smirk curling his lips.
“Meeep!” She jumped back.
It seemed to be the only sound she was able to produce besides her breathing. Although now he was questioning her ability to breathe; she was so pale. Was she still breathing?
“I think you broke her,” Plagg chuckled, taking another piece of Camembert from his holder’s bag. “Not everyone can handle a flirty Adrien Agreste, let alone Pigtails.”
“Plagg!” Ladybug squeaked.
“Is that true, m’Lady? I told you wouldn’t resist once you saw me without the mask,” he grinned.
She waved her hand frantically, mumbling and stuttering unintelligible words under her breath.
At least she was breathing.
Adrien stepped back, leaving her some space. He took her in for the very first time tonight and everything clicked. The way she gestured nervously, the stuttering, the blushing mess, the bluebell eyes he could drown into, the smile that sent his heart into overdrive — way too much for his liking now that he thought about it — and Plagg’s words.
Sneaky Kwami! They would have a little conversation later about privacy.
“Marinette...” he whispered, softly glancing at her, and she sucked her breath in, her eyes widening.
No. Not again!
“I’m sorry for finding out, Marinette. I know you didn’t want to know. I didn’t mean for all of this to happen,” he apologized, glaring sternly at the culprit.
“Hey don’t give me that look! I already told you I didn't see there was someone with you…” the kwami snapped back. “But I don’t regret anything. Now, you smitten kitten, do your thing and—” he pointed at Ladybug, who was still in shock, “—go get your girl.”
Ladybug paced the floor and Adrien approached slowly. He grabbed her shoulders, making her startle as she turned to face him.
"Marinette?"
"Not here, message a leave! Meeep!" she tried helplessly, staring at him like a deer caught in the headlights of a car.
Indeed, he must have broken her.
“Do you want the ring back, Ladybug?”
“NO!” she shouted back.
“WHAT?!” Plagg protested, flying between both of them. “It was an accident!”
Ladybug held his gaze and took a deep—deep—breath.
“Plagg’s right. It’s not your fault. I...I n-need you by my side. We’re gonna deal with this.”
“As always,” he replied softly. A smirk curled the corners of his mouth and he squeezed her shoulders tighter. “Now...you can’t resist me without the mask, huh? And you missed Chat Noir’s presence tonight? Have you got a little crush on me, m’Lady?” he prompted.
She glared at him with an exasperated look and said, “You’re not helping, you dork.”
“But, your dork?” he attempted.
“Of course, mine.”
“Purrfect. May your dork kiss you, then?”
She shyly nodded and raised on her tiptoes. He met her halfway, his hand cradling the back of her head, his arm wrapping around her waist, and his lips finally kissed her, the soft touch sending shivers down his spine. It was more than he had ever dreamed. Strawberries, cherries, sweetness, warmth, love and something more that just felt right. That felt like home .
The event went well. He was there with her, and she was there for him. They were together. And it was all that mattered when their gazes met in the huge dancing room, drowning in each other's presence.
Until the next story, bug out!
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