He didn't know how long he'd been staring before he heard Nino's whistle sound next to him.
"Dude, you alright there?" Adrien looked over to see the man trying and failing to hide his smirk. Adrien just looked back to the woman standing at the top of the steps, at a loss for words. He'd hadn't heard her chosen name for the evening over the din of the bar, but noticed when the room quieted. His eyes gravitated towards her automatically and his jaw dropped so fast he wasn't confident it hadn't disconnected from his skull.
She seemed jolted as the first flash went off, clearly not used to the official photographer of his father's parties, but after a few words and quick smile at the photographer, he watched enraptured as she started to unbutton what he thought was her costume but was in fact just an over coat. That in itself was a masterpiece. A luminescent burgundy material was structured into a corseted top that spread up to a high collar and down both her arms, tight to the elbow but ending in a billow of lace. Fabric-covered buttons dotted the way down her chest before ending at a drop waist where the coat ballooned in layers of the same fabric, embroidered meticulously along the edges and allowing a brocade fabric-a rose gold over midnight-to peek through. With ease, she unsnapped the top, twirling it off her in a flutter of fabric and handing it to the attendant with a smile. Always with a smile.
She posed for her photo, more composed now, and Adrien realized the coat was only the beginning. He was mesmerized even more by the design underneath.
It mimicked the Victorian style of the evening, but there was nothing traditional about it. The ruby red neckline scooped lowly over her neck, the clean lines coming to rest just at the point of both her shoulders and hugging her biceps before flaring out in a cloud of black lace. The bodice tapered at her waist, the red fabric coming to a double point with an inlay of white in between. Pewter buttons laid in two rows along her abdomen finishing the illusion of a man's short overcoat from the period. That was where any tradition stopped. Instead of the hoop skirt of every woman around her or coattails that would match then men and the theme of her bodice, her design elected to combine feminine and masculine fashion of the time. The rubescent fabric of her top bustled at the small of her back and giving the illusion of a full skirt before falling to just skim the floor behind her. This mock-skirt only extended to her hipbone on each side, instead leaving the majority of the front open to showcase impeccably tapered tuxedo pants with a slender white stripe along the outer seam and t-strap pointed pumps.
It was a bold twist of the night's theme, and the whole room took notice. Adrien felt like applauding her. It was beautiful and ingenious and the woman wearing it was just as much a work of art as the outfit itself.
He watched her start to descend the stairs and walked away from the bar without a further word to Nino. She held her head high, but her eyes darted around the room and her hand held onto the railing for dear life. She was a masterpiece clearly unused to appreciation, and Adrien was inexplicably drawn to her.
Then she met his gaze, and he was instantly at the bottom of the stairs, mesmerized by the way her eyes seemed to hold the dust of the stars captive in their depths. He could still hear the deafening silence in the room, but couldn't bring himself to care.
"Would you…" he held out his hand when she finally was on the last step, and she placed hers in his immediately.
"Yes," she breathed. He gripped her hand, placing it in the crook of his arm as he escorted her without another word towards the dance floor. He could still feel eyes on them, but the silence had been replaced by a murmur as the orchestra played a new song and he took her into his arms and started twirling.
"I didn't catch your name," he hedged after a moment.
"M-Ladybug," she stumbled over her secret identity for the evening.
"Ah," he reached up and brushed a finger over the small insect on her mask. "Well, enchanté, m'lady."
She smirked up at him then, but he felt her relax into his embrace a bit.
"And you are, kind sir?" She raised an eyebrow at him.
He honestly hadn't given the announcer any name, used to being known regardless of how he tried to hide at these parties, but he couldn't help but smile at her, wanting desperately to indulge in the anonymity she offered if only for a while.
"Chat Noir, at your service." He tipped his head slightly and felt her giggle.
"Of course. How silly of me," she reached up and flicked the whiskers on his mask and he felt his grin grow as he spun her before pulling her back into his arms.
"Thank you," she remarked, her voice scarcely louder than a whisper. "I guess you're my cat in shining armor?"
She looked up at him, only a hint of vulnerability shining in her sapphire eyes and he felt himself melt a bit.
"You were fine," he assured her.
"I know... that doesn't mean I don't appreciate the help. I don't know if you've noticed," she leaned in further to him in a surreptitious manner and Adrien felt his heart beat faster. "But I'm not from around here."
He chuckled then, adjusting his arms to hold her closer.
"Thank god for that," he whispered in her ear and she leaned back with a smirk on her face.
"Oh? Been to one too many fancy parties have we?" Her eyes had a teasing light but Adrien answered seriously.
"Actually, yes. They can be fun with the right guests," he paused to wink at her and thrilled when she rolled her eyes in response. "But honestly, the company does it in excess. It seems wasteful when the money could be going elsewhere. AC could fund its own foundation with the money spent on tonight's gala alone."
"But," she challenged. "Nights like tonight draw in investors. People who are not only investing money in the company, but who are sponsoring young designers whose success the company relies on. So, yes, this is over the top and probably too much, and doing it more than once a year is wasteful, but it has its purpose. Unfortunately, not everyone is like us bleeding hearts. They need a little bedazzling with their charitable giving."
Adrien laughed, relishing in the easy camaraderie she offered.
"I'm just imagining any of them wearing something bedazzled," he grinned down at her and she giggled.
"Okay, okay. Not bedazzled. How about...encrusted in swarovski crystals?"
Adrien nodded seriously.
"Much more believable," he let a smile peek through as he spun them seamlessly into the next dance.
"You seem to care a lot about the company," she remarked after a few moments.
"Well, I should. I'm-"
"No!," she cut him off placing the tips of her fingers against his mouth. They both froze for a moment and Adrien was mesmerized by the contrast of his soft lips against her callused fingers.
"Um, sorry," she squeaked, pulling her hand away suddenly and his lips felt frigid for their absence. "It's just, no details. You know, masquerade ball and all," she laughed nervously and he frowned.
"You'll find out tomorrow in the picture release. In fact, I think you're the only one in this room who no one has already guessed." He glanced around and could name all the couples dancing around them, but looking back at his own partner, he came up blank. As drawn as he was to her, he knew for a fact he'd never seen those eyes before in his life. He'd remember.
"Oh?" she looked up at him, a pleased smile on her face. "You'll all just have to wait and see, then."
"What if I guess?" He played along and a mischievous grin came to her face.
"I'd like to see you try, Kitty."
He felt his smiled widen to match hers.
Challenge accepted.
