Work Text:
Marinette's phone buzzed. And buzzed. And buzzed again.
Frowning, she set aside her sketchbook and searched through the clutter covering her desk, various half-finished projects scattered on every available surface. “Tikki,” she called as she ducked down. Maybe it had fallen on the floor. “Have you seen my phone?”
“Right here,” came the response from above her.
Marinette rose, but miscalculated and bumped her head on the underside of her desk. “Ouch,” she muttered, rubbing one hand over the tender spot. Hopefully, that wouldn't leave a bruise.
“You okay?” Tikki asked with familiar concern, dropping Marinette's phone into her outstretched hand.
“Yeah. Thanks.” Her screen lit up with another text.
From Alya, Bestie!!!:
have u checked the ladyblog tday?
apparently CN is out and about. in the snow??
has been all day
no sign of an akuma or LB
marinette?
u lose ur phone again?
if u dont answer in five minutes im assuming HM got to you
marinette?
Marinette typed out a quick answer.
To Alya, Bestie!!!:
not dead!!
my phone was buried :(
Alya's response was immediate. As if she'd been holding her phone, the chat open and waiting for a reply. Which, knowing her, was likely true.
From Alya, Bestie!!!:
that wouldnt happen if ud clean ur desk every now and then
To Alya, Bestie!!!:
it's a process!
you cannot control where the creative drive takes you at any moment
From Alya, Bestie!!!:
its chaos
To Alya, Bestie!!!:
i know where everything is
From Alya, Bestie!!!:
except ur phone apparently ;)
To Alya, Bestie!!!:
:p
From Alya, Bestie!!!:
very mature
anyway
have you checked the ladyblog today
To Alya, Bestie!!!:
no
been working on presents
From Alya, Bestie!!!:
i thought u finished those like… 3 mths ago??
To Alya, Bestie!!!:
i thoufht i did too! but now i don't like them
so i'm making new
From Alya, Bestie!!!:
aww :(
im sure they were great <3
To Alya, Bestie!!!:
thanks <3
From Alya, Bestie!!!:
just dont stress urself out
also “thoufht”
To Alya, Bestie!!!:
vErY mAtUrE
Marinette rolled her eyes and moved over to her computer, pulling up her friend's blog right as her phone buzzed again.
From Alya, Bestie!!!:
wow u actually typed that out
To Alya, Bestie!!!:
like it was hard??
i'm on the ladyblog now btw
what am i looking for
To Alya, Bestie!!!:
u dont see all the pics?
people have been sending them in all day
Marinette tore herself away from her phone, navigating over to the tab where people could send in pictures and videos. Most of the time, it was filled with photos Ladybug and Chat Noir stopping to pose with some civilians while on patrol with the occasional candid shot of the heroes.
Today, it was filled with pictures of Chat Noir. Running over the rooftops. Getting in snowball fights with kids. Posing with people out doing some Christmas shopping.
By the time stamps, he'd been perched on the Eiffel Tower for over an hour now.
From Alya, Bestie!!!:
ik its prob none of my business
but Christmas is in 3 days??
and hes sitting alone on the tower :(
Marinette sat back in her chair, a frown tugging at her lips.
To Alya, Bestie!!!:
hmm you're right
that's strange
From Alya, Bestie!!!:
right??
like
its cold out there and hes been out for hours
To Alya, Bestie!!!:
don't the suits provide like… protection from the elements or smth?
From Alya, Bestie!!!:
well yeah
but still
smth about this seems…. off
like its nice hes playing with kids and taking pics and stuff
but…
idk
To Alya, Bestie!!!:
i get it
he's out in the cold instead of being with his family
Marinette looked out her window, at the darkening sky and snowflakes falling outside. Even in the suit, she would be shivering.
There'd been moments, few and fleeting since they couldn't share too much of themselves with each other. But there had been moments. Moments when Marinette got the distinct feeling that Chat Noir's home life was. . . lonely.
Seeing him alone, three days before Christmas, tugged at her heart until it ached.
From Alya, Bestie!!!:
i just wish we could do smth noce for him
*nice
To Alya, Bestie!!!:
me too :(
And she did. Chat Noir, who managed to smile so bright despite the sense of sad yearning inside him, who always had her back, who always made her feel like she could do anything as long as she had him by her side, deserved something nice. Something to make him feel as treasured as he made her feel.
From Alya, Bestie!!!:
mybe LB will show up
To Alya, Bestie!!!:
maybe
Marinette looked out her window once more. Even in a few short minutes, the sun had fully set. The streetlights glowed, highlighting the still-falling snow.
Maybe Ladybug would show up and put a smile on her partner's face. It'd be nice to return the favour.
The chilly wind bit at Ladybug's cheeks, amplified by the way she swung through the air. The snow had stopped for the moment, leaving blankets of undisturbed white covering the rooftops, in contrast to the mushy tracks on the streets and sidewalks below.
She'd checked her yo-yo's tracker before taking off, confirming that Chat was still at the Eiffel Tower. And sure enough, she could spot a black silhouette standing out against the glowing structure, on a level far higher than any civilian could safely reach.
Making sure the bag slung over her shoulder was still fastened shut, Ladybug launched her yo-yo one last time. It wrapped around a rung of the Tower, firmly pulling her along until she touched down, a few feet away from Chat.
The metal thumped lightly underneath her steps, the wind drowning out the faint echoing taps of her soles against metal. His ears twitched in her direction moments before he turned to her, watching as she approached.
“This seat taken?” she asked, gesturing to the bare stretch of metal next to him.
A faint smile teased his lips. “You know I'll always save a spot for you, M'Lady.”
“Good.” Ladybug sat, letting one leg dangle off the ledge as she tucked the other one beneath her.
“What's in the bag?” Chat asked, leaning over to catch sight of her bag, resting on the opposite side of her.
“Well,” she started, lifting the strap over her head and opening the flap. “I thought you'd be cold out here, so. . .” She turned back to him, holding out two thermoses. “I made us some hot cocoa.”
He accepted the proffered thermos, popping the lid and taking a hesitant sip. His ears perked up and he took another. “Mm, that's not bad, actually.”
Ladybug scoffed. “I'll have you know I make the best hot cocoa you'll ever have in your life.”
He tilted his head, one finger coming up to coyly tap against his chin. “That's a bit arrogant, isn't it?”
“It's not arrogance if I'm right.” She fought back a smile so she could take a sip of her own cocoa.
He barked out a laugh. “This is some good cocoa.”
“Told you.” She set aside her thermos, reaching back into her bag and carefully pulling out a blanket. Soft and warm and plenty large for two people to share, she pulled it across her shoulders and took a deep breath.
“You cold?” she asked.
He held up his thermos. “How could I be, with the best cocoa I'll apparently have, ever, to warm me up?” His tease was immediately undermined when a sharp gust of chilly wind interrupted, drawing a shiver out of him.
“Yeah, okay,” she said, holding out an arm. “Get under here before you freeze.”
Chat quickly obeyed, snuggling close to her and gripping the blanket to help tuck it more securely over them. “You wouldn't be trying to take advantage of me are you?” he said, breath forming a visible cloud in the air.
“In your dreams,” she deadpanned.
He took another sip of cocoa and fell silent.
Ladybug relaxed into the warmth of the blanket and the familiar feeling of her partner beside her. She leaned into him, resting her head on his shoulder, smiling when she felt the pressure of his cheek against her hair as he leaned in, too.
For a while, they sat in comfortable silence. People below continued with their shopping. Children laughed and screamed and ran around, chasing each other and playing in the snow and disrupting everyone around them. Couples walked hand in hand, bundled up and sharing each other's space in their own private cocoons, their love shielding them against the cold as surely as their jackets and scarves and mittens.
Bells rang, carolers sang. Even in the chaos, there was beauty.
“You're wondering what I'm doing out here,” Chat finally said, voice soft.
“I was a little curious, yeah. I mean, it's cold out here.”
He hesitated, long enough the Ladybug thought he might drop it. “Not much colder than my house.” His tone was still soft, but there was a bitterness to it. Resentment.
His house, he'd said. Not home.
Ladybug's heart twisted in her chest. “Your family?”
He shrugged. Her head bobbed with it. “Not much to say. Not there like they should be.”
She scooted as close to him as she could, trying to make up for the hurt and loneliness behind those words with her touch and presence. “I'm sorry,” she whispered.
“Not your fault.” He sighed against her, something deep and slow and sleepy. “Besides,” he mumbled into her hair, “I'm plenty warm right here. And I wouldn't have been able to spend time with the most beautiful girl in the world if I'd stayed home.”
She laughed. “Flirt.”
“I mean it.”
Something rose from deep in her chest to clog her throat. Something warm and terrifying and comforting and exciting and calming. “I know,” she said around it, voice thick with it. She took a swig of her cocoa, trying to wash it down before she said or did anything stupid.
Taking a moment to consider the idea that popped into her head (and to lick the chocolate from her lips), Ladybug made an impulsive decision. But one she knew she wouldn't regret.
“Chat?”
He shifted minutely beside her. “Yeah?”
“Keep the blanket.”
He started. “I thought we weren't exchanging gifts until Christmas.”
“We're not.” She pulled away, just enough to be able to look at him. His green, cat-like eyes were wide and confused. “But I want you to have it.”
She hesitated, the second half of the impulsive idea rapidly approaching, fueled by that something. Slowly, she leaned forward, brushing her lips against his cheek, much like he'd done, all those months ago when he'd given her a rose on a candlelit rooftop. “Maybe it can keep you warm in that cold house,” she whispered against his skin, feeling it heat up, feeling her own face flush to match.
Feeling suddenly bashful, the something growing stronger but no longer granting her courage, she ducked back down, tucking herself beneath Chat's chin.
His hand shifted under the blanket, finding her own and lacing their fingers together. “You know,” he said, his voice rough with emotion he quickly cleared away, “it just might.”
The snow began to fall once more, a single flake landing on Ladybug's nose. She shivered and snuggled closer into the blanket, into Chat's warmth, his heat lingering on her lips from her kiss. The thermos was warm in her hands, the chocolate rich on her tongue. Her eyes slipped shut, her lungs filling with crisp air. “This is nice,” she sighed.
“Yeah.”
Ladybug shifted until she could hook one of her ankles around his, connecting them together from head to toe. She opened her eyes.
And together, they watched the falling snow.