Little Baby in a Crib

Betas: Agrestebug, Mia Brown, Etoile-Lead-Sama, Rosehealer02, Malauu-Ladynoir, Genxha, Callmedale, Mansi (shamelesslyromantic). Thank you all so much! Also thanks to Khan, who can't take off his beta-reader hat and proceeded to beta read his own gift. You're a great friend, Khan!

Cover art credit: Beebeebombam on Tumblr, used with permission 

Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by (c) Thomas Astruc, TS1 Bouygues, Disney Channel, Zagtoon, Toei Animation. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

This is a gift for my amazing friend and beta, KhanOfAllOrcs, who was a bit down and needed cheering up. Hope this will make you smile ^-^

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"Little kitty on a roof, all alone without his Lady," hummed Chat Noir, sitting at the usual spot where they would start their daily patrol.

"Hey, Chaton," came Ladybug's voice from behind him, causing him to startle slightly. "I didn't make you wait too long, did I?"

He smiled as he looked at her. "Not at all, M'lady, don't worry. You weren't that late this time."

She sat next to him and bummed her way closer. "What about the song you were singing then? I've heard you singing it a couple of times, always when I'm late."

"That song," he said with a little sigh, his gaze getting lost in the emptiness laid out before him, "is very special to me. Not as special as you are, Buginette." He winked flirtatiously and chuckled at her eye-roll reaction. "But still very special."

Ladybug looked at him for a while, noticing how far away his gaze still was and how loudly he had sighed after he spoke. "Care to tell me about it?"

Chat Noir's eyes darted to her face, his previously pensive expression changing to one of pure fondness. "My maman used to sing me this song as a lullaby to help me fall asleep as a baby. It was from a film she ac— I mean, from a film she really liked. I just adapted the words to me and you."

Ladybug smiled. "Your maman sounds like a really nice person, Chat Noir."

"She was," he admitted, "or she is, I don't know. She disappeared a little over a year ago."

Ladybug's smile died on her face, her brows furrowing in a frown, her complexion turning ashen. "Oh God, I'm so sorry Minou, I didn't want to—"

He smiled and looked at her, shaking his head. "Don't worry Buginette, it's okay. You couldn't know." He looked down and was quiet for a long time, letting his feet and legs swing freely from the edge of the rooftop they were sitting on. "I always sing that song when I feel lonely. It makes me feel closer to maman."

Tears filled Ladybug's eyes. How insensitive could she have been? Again she had misjudged him. Again she had let her first impression of him take control. She had thought that the song was just a silly rhyme. She would never have thought that it held such heartfelt meaning to him. To be completely honest, even after Glaciator and even after having known him for all this time, she still couldn't believe that Chat Noir had such a deep and sorrowful side to himself. He always looked so happy, so carefree.

"I'm sorry, Chat Noir. I didn't want you to feel lonely, or sad. I will try to be on time next patrol. Promise."

He glanced at her sheepishly and raised a hand to the nape of his neck. "I'm never sad when I'm with you, M'lady. Shall we start patrol? I can see some people taking pictures of us over there. Wouldn't want them to mistake us for a couple..." He said the past sentence while wiggling his eyebrows, but she could see the way his shoulders tensed and she knew he still wasn't okay.