Song of Our Lives

Chapter 4: Chocolate Messes With Your Vocal Chords!

A/N: The chapter after this will be the singing reveal! Yay! Also, I put a pic up of what I drew last night- Adrien and Marinette. I based it off of a speed draw I saw on YouTube. I think it's okay, better than most of my other drawings. What do you guys think?

"Are you ready, Marinette?" Sabine called from the bakery below. "We're leaving now!"

Marinette took one last look at her reflection. If her parents knew she would be up on stage, they probably would have caused quite a fuss over what she was wearing. But she couldn't dress fancy- not if she wanted to keep her secret for these last few hours.

"I'm coming!" she called, smoothing down her cardigan. She turned to Tikki on her dresser. "How do I look?"

Tikki smiled, flying up to the girl and staring at her reflection in the mirror. Her deep red shirt was paired with a flowery black cardigan and ankle-cuffed jeans. "You look beautiful, Marinette!"

Marinette tugged at the end of her cardigan. "Thanks, Tikki. This is it, huh?"

"On the bright side, you'll know Chat Noir's identity too!" Tikki pointed out. She giggled slightly.

"Do you know something about him, Tikki?" Marinette asked with a raised eyebrow.

Tikki quickly shook her head and tried to fly out of Marinette's reach. But Marinette's stern glare made her feel guilty. "I can sense his kwami's presence in your class every day," she admitted. "But I'm not telling you who he is."

Marinette's eyes widened. "He's in my class? Oh that means I've talked to him before and-" She shook her head. "I'll find out soon anyway."

"You most certainly will."

*~*~*~*

"Girl you're finally here!" Alya called, waving at Marinette. "I thought you wouldn't come."

Marinette laughed. "I wouldn't bail on you like that." But how would she make it backstage?

"Thanks," Alya said with a smile. She beckoned for Marinette to follow her. "Our whole class is here... Except for Adrien. He said his dad wouldn't let him come."

"Our whole class?" Marinette smiled. Whoever wasn't there was Chat Noir. Except Adrien, of course. But she had to get up onstage... "I'll meet you there in a few minutes!" she told Alya. "I have to use the restroom. Go on without me."

Alya nodded and waved, disappearing into the crowd.

Sighing, Marinette dashed out of the auditorium and hid behind a pillar. "Tikki, transforme moi!" she commanded, transforming into Ladybug. She peeked out from the pillar and did a somersault, landing in the middle of the hallway.

"Can't find backstage either?" a familiar voice from behind her asked. She whipped around to face Chat Noir.

"The directions are pretty confusing here," Ladybug admitted. "How long have you been here?"

"Only a few minutes," Chat told her. "But if you're worried about me finding out your identity, my lady, I suggest you tuck that fear away. It won't be long before all of Paris knows."

Ladybug twisted her fingers. "I can't believe it. It's all happening so fast."

"Yeah," Chat agreed. "What if it turns out to be a catastrophe?"

Ladybug laughed. "Okay enough with the puns, kitty. Can we ask someone where the stage is?"

"Down the hall, make a left, first door on your right," instructed a passing guy who looked around 20. He winked at Ladybug. "Looking forward to knowing your true identity."

Chat clenched his fist. "We'll see how much you're looking forward to things after my fist is-"

Ladybug grabbed his arm to prevent him from lashing out. "Thank you," she told the guy through clenched teeth. He seemed to get the hint because he was soon running down the other end of the hallway. After he was out of sight, she let go of Chat's arm.

Chat rubbed his arm. "I swear, if I see that guy again, I'm going to pulverize him."

Ladybug raised an eyebrow.

"He was making a move on you! And he's pretty much an adult!"

"I can take care of myself, thanks," Ladybug told him. "Who's the one who saves our hinds in every fight?"

Chat laughed. "It's not that I doubt your abilities to pulverize him," he told her, swinging an arm around her shoulder. "It's that nobody else is allowed to flirt with my lady but me."

Ladybug smiled. "Okay let's get going. Do you remember the directions?"

"Nope," Chat shook his head. "I was too busy thinking of the million ways I was going to make that guy pay."

"Something about making a left?"

"Yeah something like that."

*~*~*~*

Once they found the stage, they were ushered towards an empty room with a plush couch and bowls of candy. Looking at the candy, Chat's face immediately lit up.

Even before the attendant could leave the room, Chat was rushing towards the bowls and swallowing handfuls of chocolate after chocolate. Ladybug couldn't help but giggle.

"You're acting like you've never seen candy in your life before," she teased.

Chat looked up, his mouth full of chocolate and another handful raised to his lips. "Ay haya suic waya ah howe."

He closed his mouth and repeated a moment later. "I have a strict diet at home."

"Oh," Ladybug realized. "Well you may want to sneak some into your pockets for later. Chocolate messes with your vocal cords."

Chat shrugged. "It's worth it." He swallowed another few chocolates.

"Chat Noir!" Ladybug chastised. "Put that chocolate down right now! I will not have us making fools of ourselves in front of all of Paris."

Chat laughed. "You sound like a mother." Nonetheless, he dropped the rest of the chocolates into the bowl and wiped his hands on a napkin. "I don't think I've ever eaten that much chocolate in one sitting before."

Ladybug shook her head with an amused smile. "Try singing," she commanded.

"They look at me-" Chat's voice cracked and he cleared his throat. "They look-"

Ladybug's eyes widened. "Oh my goodness... You can't sing!" She wrung her hands and looked around the room. "We need water," she muttered running over to one of the cabinets and pulling out a bottle. "Good- it isn't cold."

"I'm guessing that messes with vocal cords too?" Chat asked, accepting the water. He gulped down a few mouthfuls and cleared his throat. "They look at me and think I'm cool," he sang. "I'm Chat Noir and at night I rule."

Ladybug sighed. His voice was back to normal, sounding as perfect as before. "That's much better."

Suddenly, a woman with a notepad and a tight bun walked into the room. "I need... Ladybug and Chat Noir?" She looked up from the notepad. "You two are needed backstage. And without another word, she walked out of the room, leaving them to follow.