Ladybug and Chat Noir hopped down from the Bourgeois residence's rooftop after defeating the latest akuma. As soon as they landed on the ground, reporters and fans crowded them, calling out Ladybug to answer their questions. Chat snickered as his usually confident and snippy Lady melted under the cameras. It hurt slightly, though, that no one asked him for an interview or even just a photo. Yes, it was a relieving break from the paparazzi that plagued Adrien Agreste, but it felt like he wasn't acknowledged. Ladybug always tried her hardest to remind not only the media, but himself, that they were a team. One was incomplete without the other. If only Paris saw it that way…
A tug on his tail pulled the super boy from his thoughts. Startled, he looked down to see a little girl only about as high as his leg staring brightly up at him. A pair of sequins-covered cat ears was perched in her curly red hair and little drawn-on whiskers covered her freckled cheeks. She beamed at him, a toothy grin stretching her whiskers.
"You're Chat Noir, no?" she asked, practically bouncing out of her shoes in excitement.
Chat smiled and nodded, crouching down to the girl's height. He gave a dramatic nod, "I am!" Then with a poke to her nose, he asked, "And who might you be?"
"My name's Ella," she greeted before blurting, "I think you're really cool!"
The comment caught him by surprise. "Ah, thank you!" he snickered, scratching the back of his head.
Ella pulled a neatly folding paper out of her jacket pocket and handed it to Chat. "I drew this for you!" she explained. Chat took the paper and carefully unfolded it. The picture was of himself, Ella, and Ladybug all holding hands in front of the Eiffel Tower. "My friends think it's dumb I like you best, but it's not! You're the coolest!"
A huge smile broke out across the boy's face. "Thank you, you're a very good artist! But, you should not I'm not the coolest," he said. Ella was about to retort, but he cut her off, "Clearly you're the coolest cat around."
Ella giggled, twisting at her hips, "Silly kitty-cat…" There was a call for her, and they both saw her mother waiting patiently away from the reporters.
"You should go, Ella. Your mommy's waiting," Chat said, ruffling her hair. Ella kissed his cheek before he could get up and took off running.
"Bye-bye, Chat Noir!" she called, waving as she ran. Chat snickered and shook his head, unable to knock his goofy grin off his face. His ring beeped its warning, so he bid goodbye to his Lady and headed home.
Once home, Adrien searched his desk while Plagg scarfed down a wheel of camembert. "Here we go!" he exclaimed happily.
"What're you doing, Adrien?" Plagg asked. Adrien hopped onto his bed, the drawing and four tacks in hand. He stuck the picture onto the wall and sat back proudly, glee bubbling through him.
"Looks like Chat has a fan…" Adrien laughed, laying down on his back. The job wasn't about fans or attention, but it was the little things that made it easier to continue. And he cherished each of those little things for all they were worth. Yes, it was a relieving break from his life as Adrien Agreste, but just a simple drawing could make him feel acknowledged in a way not even Ladybug could manage.
Poor thing is normally ignored, he needs a little validation.
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