Discordant Sonata

Chapter 23: Crescendo (Part 2 of 2)

(Continued from part 1)

(Mood Music: "Kiss the Rain" - Yiruma)

Ladybug emerged from the balcony hatch, astonished at how dark the sky had become in just a few minutes. It was raining pretty heavily now, so she poked back into her room to fetch an umbrella. Hopping around on rooftops while holding an open umbrella wasn't ideal, not to mention far from aerodynamic; but she didn't want to get soaked while looking for Chat Noir. She opened her yo-yo to find his location on the communicator's GPS, then began her search.

She arrived at the indicated area on her map, and thankfully, since it was raining so hard at this point, there was hardly anyone around, so she didn't have to worry about attracting unwanted attention. She scanned the neighborhood back and forth, but she couldn't see him. The fact that it was pouring pretty hard didn't help visibility at all. She slowed down so she could search more thoroughly, looking in all the nooks and crannies she could find.

Minutes of searching later, she was about to move on from a particular spot when she caught a brief glimpse of two softly glowing, green cat eyes. She saw the rest of him then, taking meager refuge under one of the tall, gothic arches of the nearby basilica. The black of Chat Noir's suit blended in completely with the shadows, so it was no surprise that she hadn't seen him until now.

She gulped nervously, then leaped onto the ledge to join him. He must've seen her approach, since he didn't look alarmed when she sat beside him. She sat close enough so she could cover him with her umbrella and be able to hear him over the rain, but not too close so as to encroach upon his personal space.

"Did Marinette send you?" he asked once she was situated.

Ladybug wasn't sure how to respond. She looked away, unable to hide her guilt.

"Figures," he snorted humorlessly. "I must've looked insane to her. I wouldn't be surprised if she even thought I might get akumatized at this point."

Ladybug suppressed a frown. "She's just worried about you. I am too. I don't know the details but she said you were upset, and I didn't want you to have to be alone."

Chat shrugged. "Sometimes cats need to be alone for a while."

Ladybug studied his face, the damp hood of his cloak darkening his features. Maybe going after him was a mistake after all. An unpleasant twisting feeling settled in her gut.

"Would you like me to leave?" she asked, voice barely above a whisper.

He considered for a moment, then smiled a little. "No. It sounds nicer to be alone with good company," he replied with a small wink.

She gave a small smile back, then scooted closer until their thighs almost touched. They sat in silence for a while, partaking in the sumptuous backdrop of the City of Love engulfed in rain.

When she left the bakery, Ladybug thought she'd had a plan; but she realized now that she hadn't really thought anything through. Even after all these years, she couldn't help but follow her impulses and reckless ideas whenever her emotions were running high. Despite having been so upset with him before, right now she just wanted to be with him. Even though she knew that "Marinette" was probably the last person he'd like to see at this moment. It felt deceitful to use her secret identity to try to talk to him. It left a bitter taste on her tongue.

Chat cleared his throat slightly, breaking the silence, and her attention snapped back to him.

"You know... I used to play the piano whenever it rained," he spoke, his voice soft and contemplative. "I remember one time when I was a kid, I was complaining about not being able to go outside during a rainy day. My mom said to me, 'There is beauty in everything, even if you don't see it at first. And if you don't see it, you can always create it.' Then she walked me up to the piano and asked me to play something for her. I didn't really feel like playing, but I did it anyway. She sang along, smiling the whole time, and by the end, I was smiling too."