M'lady's Birthday
Summary: Chat and Ladybug bond over birthdays.
Ladybug finished waving as the last of clapping died down from a crowd of Parisians gathered to celebrate the Miraculous pair getting a key to the city from Mayor Bourgeois. The mayor himself began giving a flourishing speech honoring the crime-fighting duo. As he did, a slightly bored Chat partook in one of his favorite pastimes: looking at his Lady.
As he did, he noticed something slightly different about her, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. She still had the hair so dark it looked blue, wide, sky-blue eyes, and a cute button nose. But her lips… He smiled widely, suddenly realizing what it was.
He subtly scooted his chair over towards her, attracting no suspicion from the crowd but very clearly annoying her as she gave him a threatening look. "Would you try to look professional? This ceremony is in our honor."
"M'lady, are you wearing lipstick?" he asked cheekily, propping his head on his hand.
Still looking forward, she blushed. "W-what? Where did you get that crazy idea from?"
"You are," he said more confidently. There was a slight pink sheen over her lips. It was very subtle, but it was there. Not everyone would be able to see it, but he was used to every state of makeup on his model coworkers' faces.
"And so what?" she asked, crossing her arms.
"Nothing, m'lady. On the contrary, I think that it's the cat's meow," he said, wiggling his eyebrows at her.
She rolled her eyes. "Oh please. I just got it from my mother for my birthday, and she's been begging me to wear it so I finally did."
Chat's eyes went wide. "You had a birthday? And you didn't tell me?"
"I don't tell you a lot of things, Kitty," she pointed out, still watching the mayor. "But also, no, I didn't. We have to keep our identities secret, remember? And birthdays are a part of that."
"But did you get a lot of presents? And birthday wishes? Did you get a cake?"
She almost giggled, thinking of the huge cake her parents made for her every year, but she held it in. "Shh, Chaton," she said a little sternly, pointing towards the ceremony as the mayor motioned them forward for applause again.
"Hey, M'lady," Chat said conversationally one day when they were on patrol, waiting for an Akuma to surface. "Do you not like birthdays?"
"What?" she asked, turning to him. "Why do you think that?"
"You seemed upset when I mentioned it the other day. I wasn't sure," he replied, leaning against his pole as they paused on a rooftop.
"I like them as much as the next person, but…"
"But?"
"They're not so special, are they? I mean, I'm only getting a year older. The rest of it - the celebration, the gifts, the cake - that's just what people do. I'm grateful for what people do for me, I just don't see much… Chaton?" she paused, looking at her partner. His eyes were downcast, his shoulders hunched.
"You don't think so?"
"I… did I say something?" she asked, unaccustomed to a downtrodden Chat.
"My birthdays used to be really happy, and then after… well, after something happened, it was like nobody wanted to remember that it was my birthday. I'm sorry, M'lady, but with everything you say your family does for you, how can you not think birthdays are special?"
"Chat…"
"Forget it," he said, putting on a falsely bright face. "I'm just feline a little crazy today. Now, where were we?" He planted his pole on the sidewalk, pushing himself forward and onto the next rooftop.
The wheels in Marinette's head started to turn.
"Good evening, M'lady," a friendly voice said at Ladybug's ear. "Ready for another evening of keeping Paris safe?"
"Good evening, Chaton," she said, spinning around but keeping her hands behind her back.
He cocked his head. "Whatcha got there?" he asked.
She took a deep breath before presenting the wrapped package to him. "Happy birthday, Chat."
His eyes went wide. "I… what?"
She almost giggled. He was funny when he was speechless. "I was thinking about it, and I know I must have missed your birthday, too, by now… so here. From me to you."
He held the small package reverently before looking at her with a smile. "I have something for you, too. I wasn't sure still that birthdays were your thing, but…" he held out his hand, dropping something in hers.
She looked to see a tube of lipstick. When she opened it, she could see even in the dim light that it was bright red. She looked back at him.
"You know, red," he shrugged. "Goes better with the suit." She could almost swear he was blushing.
She smiled. "Your turn, Chaton."
He didn't need a second invitation. He quickly tore into the package, opening the small box and stopping when he saw what was inside. Ladybug blushed. "I know it isn't much… it's sort of like a lucky bracelet. Um… you know, to help maybe keep you safe."
He held it like she had given him the answer to life before he slipped it on his wrist. He looked back at her. "Purr-fect fit."
She rolled her eyes. "Again with the puns, Chat? Why do you-?"
She was cut off as he trapped her in a hug, squeezing her tightly. She was stiff at first, but with a small smile she drew her arms around him, squeezing just as tightly. She laughed after a moment.
"I take it you liked your present then, Chaton?" she teased.
He drew back, something strange in his eyes before he leaned forward and gave her a soft kiss on the cheek. "Happy birthday, M'lady."
Her face went scarlet red as he drew back once more, a small smirk on his face. He lunged forward with his pole, running along the roofs of Paris again. Marinette allowed herself a smile before she did the same.
