!ATTENTION!
Please visit my profile page and follow a link to my tumblr dedicated to bringing you
fanart/visual work to go along with this fanfiction. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
Thank you.
Chapter 1: Rain
Claire MacLiam watched from behind glass windowpanes, wondering what it would be like to run, hurdle, and skip. Everyday had been this way, a silent yearning hidden beneath a forlorn acceptance. On some days, ones that were especially brighter than the rest, the subdued emotions would stir quietly in her chest. Claire had to remind herself on occasion that it could always be worse. For now, she would sooth herself by acknowledging that she was able to be active in her own special way.
"Claire," the school nurse called to her, beckoning her attention away from the window. "I have to step out for a moment. Would you help by reorganizing the aid care supplies in the cabinets for me? I feel as if someone has been placing them anywhere, when I have perfectly printed out labels."
"Of course, Ms. Moreau," the young student smiled with reassurance. "Please, leave it to me."
The nurse simply nodded before exiting the office. Claire had only taken one more glance at the cloudless sky before attending to her duties. As she began to organize the materials, there was a simple knock at the door. Without time to properly answer, the presence behind the door entered. Claire had to withhold a gasp upon the entrance of Adriene Agreste; one of her classmates and one of the highest rated teen magazine models in the industry.
"Sorry if I startled you. Is the school nurse here?" Adrien asked, with a palm placed firmly against a bleeding forehead. "Kind of had an accident."
"Oh—" Claire had almost dropped the gauze packages in her grasp. Straightening out, she tucked a shy strand of caramel hair behind her ear. "She's not here at the moment. Ms. Moreau said she would come back soon."
Claire noted her classmate's features had fallen, and without her intent, she spoke; "I could take care of you, if you don't want to wait."
"That would be a relief," Adrien rose with elation at the offer. "You see, I have fencing practice in a few minutes; I'd hate to be late."
"I understand. Please, have a seat on the bed," Claire tried to speak without breaking into fluster. She had never been good with talking to boys her own age; especially ones that were plastered on billboard signs around Paris. Claire watched in anxious silence as Adrein did what he was instructed. Blowing out an anxious puff of air, she quickly washed her hands and gathered her care supplies.
With the snap of her clean gloves, she pulled the privacy curtains around them and positioned herself in front of her 'patient'.
"May I see?" she asked so quietly, she wondered if he even heard her request.
Luckily, Adrien moving his hand away from his forehead answered her question. Claire examined it, noting the optimal bright red exudate and un-concerning amount.
"Is it bad, nurse?" He posed an innocent joke towards her, yet it made her heart clench and skip an entire beat without her consent.
"No, it's…perfectly fine," she answered as best as she could. Her hands shook while tearing open the alcohol swab. She swallowed hard, trying not to look directly into his emerald hues watching her so meticulously. "How did this happen to you, if you don't mind me asking. You don't have to tell me if you don't want to. You have a right to privacy."
"Well, I…" Claire listened to Adrien fumbled on his own words, wondering if he was actually searching for a correct response. He exhaled on a nervous chuckle, "I was just at P.E when, uh, Nino threw a football at me so fast that I couldn't intercept it in time."
"Please be more careful next time," came Claire's sincere remark, which made Adrien sit up a tad bit straighter as she applied the finishing bandaid. She couldn't help the honesty in her tone, "Many athletes' suffer from unknown concussions, you know. I'd hate to see you back here anytime soon."
"You seem to know a lot about this stuff," he inquired. "It's pretty impressive."
Claire flushed pink at her direct remarks, waving her hands in front of her dismissively, "M-My mother's a nurse at the hospital. She teaches me everything and I do my best to remember."
Clearing her throat, Claire removed her gloves and placed it inside the biohazard bin. She reached for a piece of parchment and pen inside the nurse's desk and handed it Adrien.
"Please fill out this incident report. None of it will be discussed with any other student or faculty member; only immediate family members will be contacted—"
"No—!" Claire blinked wildly at the sudden outburst and change in Adrien's demeanor. As instantaneous as it was, it simmered with a forced laugh from his lips, "No can do, is what I meant to say. My father is away on a business trip and doesn't usually answer his phone since he's always busy."
"In that case, you'll need to put a phone number of a close relative at least," Claire responded with a curious glint in her golden eyes. "And just sign your name below."
With a scratch of the pen, Adrien finished the form and extended into Claire's possession.
"Thanks for all your help," Adrien revealed a heart-warming smile; one that Claire knew was worth millions if a camera had captured it. "I'll see you in class…Sorry, I don't think we've talked much since the beginning of the school year. It's Claire, right?"
"Mhm, that's right," she responded bashfully at the sound of her name spoken in his pitch. Somehow, it oddly reminded her of someone whom she was most certainly fond of. The familiarity unnerved her. It took a moment for her golden sight to meet his gaze, "Take care and try not to get hit by any footballs on your way home."
Adrien took a moment to affirm that she was returning a joke, and once it clicked, an amused laugh erupted from the pit of his stomach. "I'll try to keep an eye out, but if I don't, I'll know who to call."
Gathering himself, Adrien made his way to the infirmary exit, giving one final wave before closing the door behind him. Claire released a pent up bubble of air in her chest, and wiped a drop of sweat from her temple produced by sheer nervousness. She recoiled as she heard collective squeals and screams from outside the nurse's office. Claire speculated it was a body of student females fawning and taking notice of Adrien's new forehead piece.
With a shake of her head, Claire gathered her wits and continued her previous job of medical supply organizer.
A drizzle of rain pelted all of Paris, forming glistening puddles all over the cobble stone streets and side walks. Claire tip toed around the edges of water while balancing her umbrella, hoping water wouldn't catch her shoes and drench the inside of her soles. Passing an electronic store, various size screens flashed the current broadcast. A news anchor spoke feverishly, drawing in the attention of other passerby's.
"This just in: Paris is under an immediate flood warning caused by a newly announced villain under the name of Hydroplane. Lady Bug and Chat Noir are on high pursuit along with Paris police force. Citizens are advised to relocate to high ground immediately for their own safety."
A gust of high-speed wind and rain smacked against Claire's body, forcing the umbrella out of hold. She gasped, along with the surrounding Paris citizens, staring uneasily at the many televisions turning into nothing more than grey static. Claire's ears perked, sending her blurred sight down the street. Her golden eyes widened at the distant image; a rush of tidal water a few meters high swirled and splashed as it sped down the entire road. The panicked crowd erupted in screams, running away from the impending wave.
Frozen, Claire watched as the surreal waters devoured cars and trees; anything that it swept over vanished from her vision. A small cry brought her back to her senses. A few feet ahead of her was an insignificant black kitten, splashing in a confused stupor and mewling insistently for its mother. Fear gripping hesitation spellbound her; tortured her. Time was not in her favor. Without any mind at all, Claire raced towards the kitten and grabbed it. Practically slipping on her heels, she rushed into the nearby alleyway.
Immediately, waves like rolling thunder coursed by the alleyway, while a surge of water flooded rapidly into the alleyway. Claire couldn't outrun it; the overpowering water forced her against a wire fence. With the kitten in her possession she raised her hands high, pathetically trying to keep it out of the furious waters. The waves felt like crushing cinderblocks beating against her body, and small bouts of water overlapped her face, forcing her to swallow. She coughed sporadically, extending her neck as much as she could, so that her nose and mouth may remain open to air.
Water felt like a filter that covered her plane of vision; yet she also knew her own tears added to this. Watching the kitten through the blinding curtain gave her some form of moral relief; if anything, at least she tried.
A pair of hands grappled her forearms, and Claire felt her entire body pulled from the relentless clutch of the waters. She pressed the kitten protectively close to her chest, and with limited awareness, made out the black figure cradling her.
"Chat Noir…" she coughed up a pool of water, shaking at the bursting feeling in her throat.
"I'm going to get you to higher ground. Hold on," he spoke loud over the roaring rain.
Without a moment's loss, Chat Noir jumped from his balanced spot on the fence onto the roof of a building. With haste, Chat Noir placed Claire on her side, allowing gravity to assist her in expelling any excess water still trapped inside her.
"Wait, something's not right…" he whispered hoarsely, witnessing her coughing escalating into heavy wheezes. With widened iridescent eyes, he watched Claire struggle to point an index finger at her pants pocket. Chat Noir took the hint and reached inside to pull out an inhaler.
"You're…asthmatic," he made the connection. Hurriedly, he crouched to her side, propping her upwards and assisting the inhaler to her mouth. Her hand shook to take control. Gradually, her wheezes decreased in magnitude and duration, until she was able to form proper words.
"Thank…you," Claire spoke between labored breaths.
"Will you be alright?" Chat Noir touched her shoulder out of concern, inspecting her drenched form.
"Yes," she nodded weakly, holding the mewling kitten closer to her pounding chest. "Find Ladybug…save Paris again….like you always do."
"I will. You have my word," her superhero nodded affirming, standing tall and whisking out his extending baton. "There's a door that leads from the roof into the main building. Go inside and stay dry."
A gloved claw extended out to take her hand. Her face flushed a deeper red than any apple she had ever eaten. Taking it, he hoisted her onto her feet. Droplets of water dripped from his lashes as he gave her a sly wink, "Take care of that stray kitten. With out his mama, he's going to need lots of affection from you. Can you do that for me?"
She nodded feverishly, feeling strands of damp caramel hair stick to her cheeks, "I can do it."
"That's my girl," he spoke coolly before running off towards the edge of the roof and taking a leap to the next building.
Claire waited, watching as his figure turned into nothing more than a speck of rain. After the moment had passed on, Claire directed herself towards the door that would lead her and her new friend to dry safety.
AN: Hey you guys, hope this chapter was a good taster of things to come. Please leave a critique/review if you can. Also, don't forget to check out my tumblr blog dedicated to this fanfiction! Once again, thank you for taking your time to read this. Hope to see you for the next chapter.