The night was especially humid, Marinette eating her favourite Magnum on her balcony whilst trying to regain her breath in the heat. There hadn't been much going in terms of social life, Alya had been holidaying in French Guiana, and Nino off doing his dj-ing every other day and Adrien, well he'd been busy with photo-shoots for most of the holidays. She'd managed to learn to speak to him proficiently in the few years that they'd known each other and had become close with him, bonding over their mutual dislike for Chloe and her selfish antics. However in these dark hours it wasn't her friends she'd found herself missing recently. After spending many nights on patrol with Chat, she found she missed the puns, the laidback picnics and perhaps even the flirting. Not that she ever did it back. But he was so easy to talk to she felt like she was having withdrawals. I just miss his company, she told herself. She collapsed back into the chair on the rooftop and pressed a cold hand to her face. She was flushed and really should go back inside, but that meant looking at the pile of homework due back at school in two weeks. The hot weather fried her brain, and above all gave her a combination of sleepiness and a lack of motivation. The flowers on her little rose bush overhanging the balcony were wilting and she felt a pang of guilt. She'd neglected them, too.
Getting up slowly, she put her ice-cream stick and wrapper down on the wooden table and found the watering can, filling it up and giving her flowers a generous spread. A dull thud on the railing next her turned her attention from the flowers.
"Good evening, Princess," said Chat Noir, cheeky smile on his face.
"Good evening, Chat Noir, what brings you here on this horrible evening?" she said, turning her attention back to the flowers, hiding the smile on her face.
"Horrible?" he asked, eyebrow cocked, avoiding the question.
"It's humid, and you're out here wearing black spandex, what on earth compelled you to think that was a good idea?"
"I needed to get out the house, I find it rather stifling in there compared to out here, and I thought I hadn't seen you in a while, so here I am," he said honestly.
Marinette blinked. Another house call. As far as she knew, nobody else had had house calls from Chat. "Surely the house of Chat Noir wouldn't be so bad?"
"You'd be surprised," he said flatly. She'd hit a sore note.
Adrien wasn't willing to divulge any more than that, it was unnecessary of him to put that on Marinette's shoulders, especially as a superhero. But what else was there to say? She was observant in her own right and Adrien knew that she watched other people's emotions very closely.
"Perhaps you'd like an ice-cream, then?" she said, giving him a gentle smile.
Adrien grinned. Of course he would. The fact that he'd seen her walking in the park with the little girl she babysat just hours before inspired him to drop in. He'd been busy most of the summer, what with all the fashion shows, fencing tournaments and piano recitals there'd been little time left for him, let alone seeing friends. He missed Marinette, Plagg told him, and advised him to do something about it. She dropped downstairs momentarily as he took in the surroundings. She was right, it was horrible out here. Adrien himself liked summer, but when it was this muggy, being outside was preferable. There was a tap on his shoulder and she'd returned with a Magnum, one with the same packaging as the one she'd finished previously. "Why thank you Marinette," he said, struggling to open to packet. She giggled and took it back from him, opening it for him. "Bloody claws."
It was different being on her balcony just her and him. He liked it. There was much to be said for her company, entertaining, fulfilling and not a dull moment. He wasn't sure if she could say the same for him but it was so easy being around her. She put on some quiet music and laid back on the seat.
"Not too many akuma attacks recently, huh, Chat?"
There hadn't been. He'd been looking forward to seeing his Lady over the summer, but found himself thoroughly disappointed when the most they did was patrol. There hadn't been much action over the past two weeks, so patrol would have to do. Having said that, she at least lingered a little longer when they went to leave, and even let a couple of laughs go at the puns. "No, not busy by any means," he said, licking the ice cream.
"Gives you time to, you know, be yourself?" she asked.
"Sometimes I prefer being Chat," he said, looking at her bluebell eyes. "It's freeing to jump over the rooftops and run away from responsibility."
"I suppose," she said. "If I was a superhero, I'd still like time to be able to… I don't know, listen to music, and design some new clothes, though."
"I've seen a couple of your designs," he said, almost slapping himself. "They're good."
"How have you seen my designs?" she asked incredulously.
"I have my ways," he said suspiciously. He tried desperately to turn the topic of discussion away, talking about the music instead of fashion. "What sort of music do you listen to?"
"Jagged Stone, Queen, some classical, sometimes a little bit of Broadway," she replied, looking at the horizon.
"Queen has brilliant piano music," he said, slipping into Adrien once more. It was just the way she made him feel. And since he'd actually grown to appreciate the stuff he could play, this conversation was more than welcome.
Marinette looked at him. She was surprised. She'd never pegged Chat as a musical type person. But then again, she was a superhero, not a detective. "Piano, huh?"
"Yeah, I've played it for a while now," he said, suddenly looking more alive.
"I always wanted to learn as a little girl, but money and stuff… And I guess I'm too old to learn now," she said, watching him.
"You're never too young to learn," he said quickly. Inwardly he frowned. What was he going to do, offer her lessons? In his head it seemed like a good idea. "You should take it up if you want to play."
"But what if I'm no good at it?"
He scoffed. "Marinette Dupain-Cheng, bad at piano my ass."
Her face went slightly pink. And not because of the heat. She was sure Chat hadn't meant it like that, but she couldn't help but feel a little happier after hearing it. "I don't know Chat Noir, it… I don't know. Where would I find someone to teach me?"
"In the papers, on the internet, anywhere, if you know where to look," he said, shrugging as if it was as easy as the click of his fingers. She fought back the urge to roll her eyes. He'd always been like that. Of course he thinks it's easy.
"Oh yeah, and what grade are you playing?"
"That doesn't matter," he said, not falling for her trick as instantly as she wanted. "Marinette if you want to play, just play. There's heaps of stuff online to help you anyway."
"Chat I don't even have a piano, what am I supposed to practise on?" she whined, losing the 'Noir' of his name unconsciously.
"You don't think there aren't a thousand pianos around town that you can't play on?"
"Chat…"
"Tell you what, I'll show you a place, free of charge my-my princess," he said, standing abruptly and pulling her gently from the seat. She fought back a smile and paused the music on her phone, slipping it into her pocket. Lifting her up, he took her a few blocks away to an abandoned hall, with a lone piano hidden in top floor. The architecture of the room made her swoon, and she began to believe it was built solely for the purpose of a piano concert. There was enough room for a small orchestra, but as Chat told her, not too much reverb in the room, which bode well for the piano sound. The only thing he couldn't promise was whether it was in tune or not. As Chat fiddled with the keys, she admired the crown moulding and brilliant ceiling roses, all positioned around the lights in the room. The baby blue paint was a little dusty, but she could tell it had been a place that held extravagant galas aplenty.
"It's beautiful Chat," she said. Then she looked at the piano. It too was dusty, but the mahogany finish intrigued her. She wondered how many people had played piano affectionately.
"It's also in tune," he said, patting the dusty seat he was sitting, motioning for her to join him. She sat tentatively as he motioned to one of the many white keys on the piano, pressing it for good measure. "This is middle C. Now the piano goes from A to G, but a common misconception is that it starts at A. Which is wrong, some grand pianos start at A, but most pianos I've seen start with C. And C is also the only major chord you can play with all white notes, but we'll get to that."
She laughed. "Well where does this start then?"
"At A," he said, stretching his fingers out to two C's. "This is called an octave, which is two C's just an octave apart, if you get that. Now with your hands, you will probably only ever reach an octave, because they're small, just a warning for you now. You can still play amazing music, even if you can only reach an octave, though."
"So this," she said, struggling to fit the distance, "is an octave?"
"Of E, correct."
"So… C," she said, pointing at his leather clad fingers, still on the keys, "is always in that place?"
"Ding, ding, ding, give the girl a cookie!" he said, grinning. "Maybe I'm not a shit teacher after all."
Silence. Marinette paused upon this thought and sat there for a moment. She looked hopefully up at Chat. "Will you teach me?"
Adrien blinked. He did say he wasn't a shit teacher. He could practically hear Plagg screaming at him. Where in the hell would he fit that into his timetable? "I suppose I could," he grinned.
"Thank you Chat!" she exclaimed, jumping up and down in her seat. Her smile made his heart flutter.
"But before we go, I need you to know where all of the keys are," he said, returning his focus back to the piano. He hadn't seen that piano in years. He was sure they would have disposed of it. "So the piano starts at A," he said, thunking the key at the end of the piano. "So the next key along would be -,"
"B?" she said, smiling a little. He nodded, waiting for her to continue. "C, D, E, F, G, A."
He grinned as her fingers glided across the keys naturally, hitting them as she said them. Looking up at him for approval, she did a double take when she saw his face. Chat was smiling his most genuine smile, only shown when he was fully at ease. She gave her best smile back and waited for him to say something. "You're a natural, your fingers are made for the piano," he said, taking her hand softly. "But that is the end of the lesson, so if I may escort the princess home?"
"Can you play me something first?" she asked. He nodded curiously. "This is going to sound cliché, but do you know Fur Elise?"
His lips parted into a smile. "I don't suppose you'd like to learn that?"
"I'd settle for hearing it, if you're as good as I think you are," she whispered, pulling her hand from his and placing his on the piano. He began to play and Marinette watched his fingers grace the keys, gentle, not even a scrape of his claws up against the ivory. She smiled, her head moving to the music unconsciously. The way he played was so entrancing. She could fall asleep to it, the most calming charming playing she'd heard in a while. Her chest felt light, her head suddenly heavy. It was magical. As it came to an end, he looked to her, eager to see her face. "Chat it was beautiful…"
She looked so happy. He'd never realised he could make someone so happy. Trying to distract himself from this thought, he said "But alas, it is over now, and someone looks tired, so I will escort her back to her house."
Pulling her up slowly, he dragged her to the window, and hoisted her up, swinging them from roof to roof until they were safely back on her balcony.
"Thank you, Chat," she whispered as he let her down gently, almost kissing her hand until he remembered she wasn't Ladybug.
"That's ok, Mari," he said softly. "9 next Wednesday?"
She blinked, looking confused for a second. "If you're still serious about teaching me, then yes."
"I am," he said, desperate to get home, out of the sweaty suit that he was suddenly hot under collar in. "I'll bring some of my old books and you can learn to sight read, too."
She nodded, yawning. "Goodnight Chat."
"Night, Mari," he replied, giving her a gentle push towards the hatch to her room. She waved going down, and watched as he disappeared into the night.
As she lay down in bed, she frowned. "Tikki, you don't think I'm getting too close to him, do you?"
"No Marinette, he's your friend you're allowed to be close with him. And what he's offered to do for you is very sweet, straight from his heart, you couldn't turn that down if you tried," she said, flying just above her face.
"He played me Fur Elise, Tikki," she said, "Did you hear it? It was so beautiful, he plays so well."
Tikki smiled and hugged her cheek. "And just think, the first person Chat Noir has played piano for, your own little concert."
"What makes you say that?" Marinette asked curiously.
"I'm not sure, it was just so raw," she said. "It really was beautiful."
"You know who else plays piano, Tikki?" Marinette asked, almost giggling.
"Oh I don't know, maybe a blonde handsome boy that you have a special place in your heart for?" Tikki asked, rolling her eyes. For some reason, Chat's image appeared in her head next to Adrien.
Marinette smiled. "I haven't seen him in ages; maybe I should ask him if he's available tomorrow?"
"Wow, is Marinette in here, or is it someone else?" Tikki said. Marinette grinned sheepishly. "Good on you Marinette, you're getting so good at talking to him now."
"Maybe we should see a movie?" she asked, more to herself than to Tikki.
"Go for it!"
Once home Adrien rid himself of the suit almost immediately and took a deep breath in, consuming all the air conditioner had to offer him. He hadn't played so well in a while. Especially not for someone else. But Marinette lit a spark in him, confidence beyond measure, like Ladybug. They both made him so sure of himself.
"Bloody hell Adrien, take a cold shower if you're that caught up in your head," Plagg said, making his presence known in the room.
"What do you mean; I'm not caught up in my head," Adrien said, looking at his charge, with somewhat of a gleam in his eye.
"Uh huh, yeah sure, I believe that. Better go find those old piano books of yours, lover boy," Plagg said dryly.
"Lover boy?" Adrien asked, touching his cheek. It was definitely warmer than he'd anticipated.
"Yes lover boy. Listen I'm not gonna sugarcoat it for you, you know you get the same way around her as you do around Ladybug, and I'm guessing that before you went there tonight, you had no idea that you'd be giving out lessons, but you are now, and that's what she wants from you. Get your head in the game, man," Plagg said, reaching for the piece of camembert by the bed when he was done with his speech.
"I do have my head in the game, I know I have to teach her Plagg, but I don't see how you think I get the same way with Marinette as I do with Ladybug," Adrien tried to reason with him.
"I know how you think, I know you almost called her my lady instead of princess," he snickered, eating away at his foul smelling cheese. In a mocking voice Plagg said, "Marinette Dupain-Cheng, bad at piano my ass."
Adrien could have snarled. There was no point arguing, Plagg would see his way and his way only. He had a point though. Adrien never intended on going to Marinette's to become her piano teacher, but alas here he was. He got up, looking around his too large room and started at the most reasonable spot. He opened the little compartment in his seat at the piano, and rifled through the books for his first grade book. To his disappointment, it was not there, and so heaving a heavy sigh, he climbed up the stairs to his bookshelves and searched from top to bottom. Normally it would have been organised, the bookshelf, but with him reading so much during the holidays in between shoots it was a little disarrayed. Grunting he sat defeated until Plagg rose next to him, struggling immensely with a thin large book.
"Thanks, Plagg," he grinned, taking the book from him. "I'll get you some more camembert for tea."
"Tell you what, that sounds good to me," he said, also grinning. "Just don't mess up with Marinette; she's a good friend to keep around, ok?"
Adrien frowned, but nodded nonetheless. "You know I wouldn't."
"I'm just saying our luck combined isn't the best sometimes, you better keep an eye out for bad things that might happen." Adrien hadn't thought of that. He could get Marinette caught up in akuma attack if he wasn't careful.
"Maybe it's better if I don't teach her," he said, looking at Plagg, trying to mask the twinge of worry that had crept in.
"She can handle herself, I'm saying maybe you just need to be careful going about it, emotions and stuff in mind," Plagg said.
"She's too smart to be akumatised, Plagg, you've seen how good she is with her emotions," Adrien said, for some reason feeling the need to defend his friend.
"I didn't just say she could handle herself did I?" he asked sarcastically. Adrien had no idea what Plagg was talking about now, and he had half a mind to tell him so until his phone buzzed. Speak of the angel herself. Adrien frowned and hit his cheek. Where on earth did that thought come from?
Marinette: Hey Adrien, I know you've been busy, but I'm having withdrawals from seeing no one and I was wondering if you're doing anything tomorrow?
He grinned. He'd been ready to text her something similar when he got home, not fully satiated from seeing her for a short amount of time.
Adrien: Hey Mari, not doing anything tomorrow, was just about to text u the same thing. What did you have in mind?
He waited for a response by cleaning up the books he'd left on the floor in order to search for the book he was going to give her. When he heard the signature buzz he ran down the stairs as fast as possible without his suit and jumped onto his bed. Plagg was already at the phone and grinning at him. He didn't say anything but his eyes were mocking and he could practically hear him say 'lover boy'.
Marinette: I was thinking movies? There's a few good ones coming out, but if you don't want to we could always explore the city
Adrien: Both sound good to me… Which movie did u have in mind?
Marinette: I was thinking The Greatest Showman; I've been into musicals lately
He let out a laugh. She'd said something similar to Chat.
Adrien: I'm down for that, what time?
Marinette: 12:15, is that alright?
Adrien: That's cool, where'd you wanna go for lunch?
Marinette: Not fussed, we can figure that tomorrow can't we?
Adrien: Sure can, now go to bed or u'll be late for the movie tomorrow
Marinette: O: sorry mum!
Adrien laughed and looked at Plagg, who was shaking his head.
"You're one to lecture aren't you? You're both late for everything!" he laughed.
Rubbing the back of his neck Adrien realised he was right.
Adrien: I'll pick u up at 11:45, or I'll pull u out of bed if I have to
He grinned as he waited for a reply, knowing that she wouldn't argue with him. She'd be humble about him picking her up, but would be too nice to turn it down.
Marinette: Adrien, you don't have to pick me up, I can walk
Adrien: I know you can, but I need you to convince my driver to let me go without a bodyguard
Marinette: fineeeeee I suppose I'll just have to get up at 11
He'd won. Not many people had that luxury with her, he'd come to realise as they'd gotten closer. She never let Alya win, or Nino. But something about him must have made it hard to argue and for that he was grateful, for Marinette's determination was as famed as Ladybug. He bid her goodnight and went straight to sleep for fear of not showing up on time.
Sitting awake, Plagg looked out the window as his charge slept, and shook his head. "I can't believe they're that oblivious," he said softly, to himself, hoping it would somehow magically travel to Tikki.