Ladybug and Chat Noir come across a street piano while on patrol. Her mind drifts away as she fantasizes about Adrien playing for her. That is until she realizes her partner is playing it and that one realization leads to several more.
(Includes ill...
"I didn't know they were setting up a street piano here." Ladybug gazed down at the instrument from a nearby rooftop where her and Chat Noir had stopped to rest. "It's kind of magical. You never know who might stop to play it."
Adrien. She sighed. Of course her mind wondered to him. They could be walking down the street hand in hand. He'd see the piano and sit down to play for her. They would look into each others eyes as his fingers danced across the keys. It would be so romantic. The perfect date.
Ladybug snapped herself back to reality and realized she'd been staring into space. Her partner wasn't at her side. She could've sworn he was there a second ago. Then she heard the piano being played and looked back down at the street below.
"Chat?"
It was definitely him. Since when did Chat play the piano?
He was playing a familiar melody, that took her just a bit to place. It was an old song that Elvis Presley sang called I Can't Help Falling In Love With You. She let out a small chuckle. Of course. Honestly, she was jealous of how openly he expressed his love for her. She almost wished he could give her pointers on how to express that to the one she loves.
Swinging down off of the roof allowed her to hear the song more clearly. Her eyes followed his hands as they expertly navigated the keys. His playing was beautiful, graceful and elegant. He knew what he was doing.
Ladybug scolded herself internally. Nope. No feelings for Chat Noir. He's your PARTNER that's it. So what if he can play the piano so angelically. You're in love with Adrien remember?
The blush she felt creep onto her cheeks wasn't fair. Why couldn't she control that. Focus. It's just your dorky Kitty.
"Wow. Who knew a cat could play piano." She said. Maybe the best route was going with their usual banter and getting out of her swirling—totally uninvited—thoughts.
"Lots of people on the internet, M'lady." He didn't miss a beat. "If you'd prefer what's expected of a cat on the keys I do happen to know some meme songs."
"Of course you do." She rolled her eyes and walked closer, her nervousness from her earlier thoughts fading.
When he finished the classic song she was ready to be Rick-rolled or something. Which considering the lyrics to that song, she supposed it would absolutely be in line with Chat's feelings. The next song he played caused her blush to return immediately. This song was more familiar and more personal.
It was the song her and Adrien had danced to on more than one occasion. Funny that they had danced more than once, considering they were just friends. Maybe one day they could be more than that. Stop thinking about Adrien and blushing. What if Chat notices?
"I know that song." Ladybug blurted out again trying to talk to distract her thoughts.
"Yeah?" He glanced her way, then back down to the keys. "I learned how to play it recently. I have some good memories with this song."
"Me too." She sighed. Then realized she didn't mean to say that out loud. Crap. She was SO blushing right now.
"Oh?"
"Y-yeah. I mean of course. It's a pretty popular song right? I'm sure a lot of people have made good memories with this song. Not that it makes your memories any less important just because other people have memories with the same song I mean." She realized she was blabbering. "I mean— what kind of memories?"
"Well, I danced to this song with a really good friend of mine. A couple of times actually." He looked wistfully at the keys as he continued to play. "She's an amazing girl. I'm not sure how to understand her. Sometimes she seems really nervous around me. I used to think it was because she hated me, but I'm not sure that's it. Anyway, maybe I'm saying too much."
"Amazing huh?" Ladybug felt just a tiny hint of something she couldn't quite place. "Do you like her?"
"Of course, we're friends."
"Yeah, but you have this look in your eyes."
"You know I only have eyes for you." He smirked at her.
Typical.
"What if there was no me?"
"I'd hate to even think about that!"
"Just hypothetically."
"I shouldn't answer this question you know." He tried to sound bitter but his heart wasn't quite in it. "You never answer it when I asked about me and the mystery boy."
"Okay. Sorry! That's definitely not fair to you. You don't have to answer."
"I would think about it. Definitely. I mean she is really incredible, talented, she goes out of her way to help others. She's pretty too. It's just that she seems so uncomfortable around me sometimes. I'd hate to try to ask her out or something and lose the friendship we have."
"That does sound complicated." Ladybug pondered this for a moment as she enjoyed Chat's piano playing.
"What about you?" Chat asked. "You said you had memories with this song."
"Well, I guess it's not saying too much. My crush and I have danced to this song."
"Really? Your crush? As in the mysterious other boy?"
"Yep."
"H-how did that go?" Chat's emotions were torn. He was a bit jealous, but he also wanted his best friend to be happy. He was happy to have the piano to keep his hands moving, instead of just fidgeting with them.
"It went well I guess. He's a good dancer."
"What did he say?"
"What do you mean?"
"Did you tell him how you feel about him?" Chat asked cautiously.
"No."
"Why not?"
"We can't all be like you Chat." She huffed. "I envy you for that. I wish it was that easy for me to tell him how I feel. And I mean the one time was in New York and a bunch of people were around and it was so crazy and there was the moon. Like, you wouldn't even believe how insane it was—"
Ladybug didn't catch Chat hitting the wrong chord on the piano. She didn't catch how his eyes widened in recognition. She didn't catch him drifting back to that memory dancing in the moonlight. Chat Noir felt like he was floating. But she didn't realize. No, she was babbling incoherently. Which only made him more sure of the realization he just had.
Marinette.
All this time, Ladybug sat right behind him in class.
Ladybug was nervous to tell HIM how she felt.
Was he really that intimidating? He certainly didn't think so.
Oh, but she didn't want them to reveal themselves. Right? Or would she be more upset if he knew but didn't tell her? Those thoughts did actually cause him to stop playing. Which also stopped her rambling.
"Why'd you stop?" She asked him. "Sorry, I get kind of crazy when I talk about my crush. You should keep going. You really do play beautifully."
"Thanks. But I uh, I have good news and bad news." He tried to put on a joking tone, but wasn't quite sure how this would go.
"What is it Chat?" She searched his eyes. "Bad news first."
"Well, it's not really bad news to me actually. Unless you kill me for it." He paused. "I just figured out who you are."
"W-What? How? From my rambling? We aren't supposed to know." He put a hand on her shoulder. This was her partner. Maybe it was the right time. Frankly, she'd thought about it and mentally prepared herself at least a little for this happening before she could have everything planned out. Of course, she'd also pictured it in the middle of a battle and how she'd have to try to deal with knowing while in danger. At least, they were safe here. It was a peaceful patrol. She stopped her panic and took a breath. "But I guess it was bound to happen eventually."
He visibly relaxed.
"So, what was the good news?"
"First off, the guy you like is an idiot."
"Why would you say that?"
"Marinette." He whispered her name and her eyes widened. It's one thing for him to say he knows, it's another to hear it. Chat Noir gave her a minute and stood, while grabbing both of her hands.
"I am an idiot, Marinette."
Her instinct was to banter back with him. She wanted to agree playfully. But his eyes were so serious and full of love. She found her mind going into the same state it goes into when she's trying to figure out a Lucky Charm. All this time she had all the pieces. Right in front of her as he spoke she saw a new picture form. He had blonde hair and green eyes. She knew from his time as Mister Bug that his human eyes were strikingly green. He played piano. He preferred to fight with his baton like a fencer. Oh how she'd pushed away the comparisons before! But she'd seen Adrien when he was relaxed, with his guard down. He could be silly, playful, and so witty. Heck, she'd even heard him say puns.
The recognition dawned in her eyes and Chat smiled.
"The good news is the guy you're crushing on is in love with you. I knew I'd love the girl behind the mask. I should have realized it was you sooner." He looked down suddenly feeling a bit shy. "I- I mean I'm not sure if you're still crushing on him since you know that he's actually your partner and——"
"Adrien, my Chaton, I think we've made things complicated enough." She wasn't about to let him think that changes things. It just made a lot more things make sense. "I only tried to suppress my feelings for Chat because of Adrien."
He laughed lightly and she joined in.
"You're not the only idiot here." Ladybug tapped his nose.
"So, what now?" Chat asked, even though he knew what he wanted. In his mind he was already proposing. How could he be so lucky that everything lined up this way? That two of the most amazing girls in the universe were one incredible girl?
"Well, we've kissed twice already." Ladybug knew that she wanted to spend the rest of her life with him. Their kids' names were already picked out, after all. But they should take it one day at a time.
"And I don't remember either one." He pouted.
"We should fix that." She went up on her tiptoes.
"I agree." He leaned down.
Their lips met and it was a happy kiss. A kiss that was a breath of fresh air. A kiss that was a new beginning. A first kiss of many. It wasn't long, because both of them were smiling too much. When the kiss ended they laughed, absolutely giddy knowing they had found each other.
"Now, my prince." She pulled him back towards the piano. "Play our song again."
"It would be a pleasure, M'lady."
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