.
I do not own Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir
Midnight Visits
By Alimackatjac
Chapter 4 Hearts made of paper
.
.
Adrien /Chat's POV
Golden strands fall to one side of my forehead as I rest my head on my propped up arm. Sitting at my large desk with my white socked feet resting on the chair's legs. Mindlessly swaying my legs back side to side, as I intently study the multi screens, with a yellow pencil dangling from my lips. That is until a sudden urge begins to tickle my nose. I quickly scrunch up my nose and hurriedly removed the pencil from my lips. With the tickling of my nose, my body unconsciously pulls in a quick breath, before I release into a tissue, I had waiting. "Achoo!"
.
The sudden sneeze caused my green eyes to blink, forcing me to lose my place in my assigned reading. My watered eyes glance over to a far off couch. Hearing nothing coming from the couch my mouth grows in a firm line, throwing my attention back into my classwork.
Dressed in black sweats and a loose fitting t-shirt I forced the more intriguing thoughts to the far off corners of my mind. So, I can concentrate on what needs to be done. I knew, if I allowed the captivating thoughts to freely creep into the forefront of my mind, they wouldn't allow me to think of anything else, but last night. Once my exhausted head hit the sweet relief of my pillow the intriguing thoughts devoured all others to leave my mind reeling with "what ifs".
.
No, I can't allow myself to think about it. I needed to finish my paper, there was only a few more days till the end of the year. My green eyes scan the stacking lines of text to find the hidden word I had left off at…then, as if on cue, my nose begins to tickle, yet again. I quickly pull another tissue from the box and sure enough. "Achoo!"
My tired eyes snapped up sharply at the couch, as I tossed the tissue away. My lips turned down with the uncharacteristic silence coming from the direction.
With a heavy sigh I twist my chair to point to the couch, and call out with a small sniffle. "Plagg?"
A small Kwami pops his head from the back of the white couch. With his black, pointy ears pressed against his furry head, squinting his offended eyes in my direction. "Hey, it serves you right, you know how much I distaste the rain." The tiny cat shoves the piece of cheese into his mouth, after speaking.
"Listen I apologized, and gave you open access to the refrigerator for the day. Against, my better judgment, I might add. I don't care if you are magical, no one should eat that much cheese."
An offended Kwami with over stuffed cheeks turns his head, ignoring my words.
"What more do you want? It's not like I especially like the rain, myself." Seeing as he's pretty much given me the silent treatment all day, I twisted my chair back in a huff. Allowing my eyes to follow the line of words I left off at. I really should be grateful for the silence, it makes it possible to dive in to my work with no distractions…, but over the years, I've grown attached to the devious black cat. He was the only one that really knew what it was like to be "Adrien Agreste", behind the scenes. So, his silence was gnawing at my nerves.
.
"Oh, so, then why didn't you hit the roof tops when you felt the first drop? Instead of standing there like a drowned cat …..it took us forever to get home." The Kwami snapped.
After hearing from the Kwami I didn't turn my head from my screens, but let out a long depressed sigh. "It just happened…. there wasn't a reason." Sure, I wanted Plagg to knock off the silent treatment, but I didn't want to have this particular conversation with him in, any shape, way, or form.
"Just let me get back to work, I really need to finish this." Giving him a determined look as I motioned sharply to my desk, with both of my hands. Snapping my head back to my monitors to find the last word I had left off at.
"Oh, please, try saying that to someone who doesn't know you, you're easier to read then this comic book, and just as deep…..I'm not buying it." Plagg zips over to me, before tossing one of his comics at my screen. Speaking in a sarcastic tone with his arms crossed at his chest.
Its times like these, I have to wonder why I even bothered to introduce the Kwami to different forms of entertainment….such as comic books and video games. Oh, right, I do it to keep my sanity, well, what's left of it anyway. I swear sometimes it feels like I'm taking care of something between a snarky pet and a 5000 year old toddler, who stuffs his face with cheese, both demanding attention at the worst possible moment.
.
"Fine, then if you know, why I did it, I shouldn't have to explain it to you." Without even turning my head my hand quickly removes the tossed comic, to place it off to the side. Rolling my eyes as I continue to lightly strike the my patients thinning I allow a huff of frustration to blow hard against my lips, waving a hand toward the Kwami dismissively. "Plagg, please just go and entertain yourself with your video games, leave me in peace, to complete my work."
.
Plagg playfully swings his tiny feet, while sitting on one of my monitors, ignoring my desperate pleads with a teasing voice. "So, are you going back tonight, or are you visiting your brand new friend? " Plagg whizzes directly in my line of sight as he teasingly throws out two arms to squeeze my lips in a pucker. "…..Because you are such a lonely pussycat." Plagg chuckles.
Reaching up to swat the annoying Kwami away, as I speak with irritation. "Oh, shut up! I knew you weren't going to let me forget about last night."
An evil smirk suddenly grew on my lips with a thought. "Besides If I did, it would mean that we both go back."
Plagg made a distasteful face with his little pink tongue sticking out of his mouth. "Ugh ….never mind, now that I think about it."
"Not so funny now, is it?" Picking up my pencil to playfully poke Plagg's bulging belly with my eraser.
Plagg shivered with the thought. "No, that woman was all hands … we barely made it out with our lives."
My face softens a bit to give him a pleading look. "Well, now that you're hopefully done torturing me about last night, I really need to get back to my assignment…" I raise an eyebrow to the fairy. "…..Without any more interruptions."
After seeing my determined look, Plagg rolls his green eyes, before slowly flying back to the couch. "Okay, ok ….I'll just be over here, playing with this infernal contraption." Plagg speaks in a pouting tone.
With Plagg finally distracted I take in a deep calming breath and once again find the last place where my eyes left off. My eyes flew across the page, allowing me to get half way down my screen when my nose tickled, once more. "Achoo...Ah, Damn it! " Wondering if my devious Kwami friend used some kind of fairy magic on me for revenge, or if I'm merely not meant to ever finish my assignment, destined to fail my class, and disappoint my father, yet again. Amongst blazing laser beams and massive explosions, I hear a certain teasing chuckle come from the couch. "Oh, shut up." Causing me snap at the chuckling Kwami.
My eyes went back to my screen after hearing nothing but laser beams and galactic spaceships. Placing the pencil in my mouth to free up my fingers, lightly tapping on the black keys.
Plagg's voice came from the couch. "So, are we visiting your uh …old middle school friend tonight?"
Swiftly removing the pencil from my lips, to answer, as I continue to type without missing a key. "Uh, I wish I could, but I can't, what with all this school work due before the end of the year."
My eyes slide over to a window to see streams of water trickling across my window. "Besides, you wouldn't consider the weather fit for cats." A slight shiver runs down my back with the sight.
Realizing what the sneaky Kwami is doing. "Damn it Plagg, I said I didn't want to talk about it …..Achoo!"
"Sure, blame it on schoolwork, and the awful weather and ….Oh, and the fact that you caught a cold, while being a big, love-struck dummy. That probably has nothing to do with it, either, Right?" Plagg suddenly appears out of nowhere, only to poke at the end of my nose.
"It wasn't anything like that! What happen to the days when I had to bribe you, to even bother answering one of my questions? Now, it seems I can't get you to shut up long enough to study." Swatting towards the teasing kwami.
Plagg shrugged his shoulders as he plopped back down on the top of one of my computer screens. "Fine, what do I care…..it's not like I was the stupid one standing in the rain, being a peeping tomcat.
Letting out a huff of frustration from my lips before snapping at the Kwami. "Plagg for once, and for all, I wasn't being a peeping tom ….I just made sure an old friend made it home safe! That's all."
"Uh, yeah, s-ure you did. Your old friend made it home, before the rain even started." Zipping back to the couch while speaking in a sarcastic tone. Popping his head from the back of the couch with his head resting on his folded arms. His vivid green eyes are overshadowed with concern while speaking with apprehension. "Adrien, how long has it been?"
Seeing the concerned Kwami I stiffen my shoulders and threw myself back into my work. "You know the answer to that, the last day of middle school …. Six years ago." The last three words fell from my lips in almost a whisper, causing a sharp pain to strike at my chest.
"Oh, that lovely day. How can I forget? You were especially miserable that summer." Plagg rolled his vivid green eyes with his sarcastic words. "I'm not sure you really knew what to think, back then." The small Kwami lets out a depressed breath. "Ladybug...Marinette…Ladybug ….Marinette you went back and forth tormenting yourself." The Kwami spoke in a gloomy tone. My typing fingers froze over the keys with Plagg's words. "But in the end, it was Chloe, Chloe and more Chloe. Your bad luck really shined through on that deal ….Besides her Royal Beeness, Why didn't you ever just stop by?" I flopped back in my chair, allowing the pushed off thoughts to slowly creep to the forefront of my head.
"Well, one, my father had me so busy with work all summer, I couldn't even slip away to make a phone call, let alone stop by the local bakery. Can you imagine what he would have said?"
"Okay, I get your father keeps you busy all summer, what else is new, but there was always after the summer."
Turning my head away to stare up at the celling, forcing myself to calm my glossy filled eyes. A soft lost tone slips from my lips. "After that summer was the incident ….with My Lady."
"Oh." Plagg's voice tuned uncomfortable.
The Kwami cleared his throat before attempting to spin the conversation into brighter territory. "Well, what about now? Go visit her."
"And what would I say? Hey, Marinette it's me, Adrien Agreste, your old classmate. You know the one you barely ever spoke to? Oh, by the way, could you please answer a few questions, I been dying to ask you for the last six years?" A humorless chuckle slips out, "Yeah, like that doesn't have disaster written all over it." Speaking in a depressed tone with my eyes falling towards my hands. Fidgeting with the yellow pencil resting on my lap.
"Ha, so you are curious!" The fairy throws out an arm and points at me.
Shrugging my shoulders before teasing the Kwami. "Of course I'm curious, but you know what they say about curiosity and cats."
Plagg snaps up his head ,off his folded arms, and hisses at me. "Oh shut up, it's not like that particular saying has been beaten to death!" I couldn't help but chuckle at Plagg's reaction.
"Fine, Adrian won't work, but what about Chat?" Plagg's vivid green, cat like eyes shine with mischief.
"Yeah, Chat might work, but I only know where she lives. Just swinging by her balcony out of the blue might be a little stalkerish, besides, it's almost summer."
"It didn't seem to stop you last night." Plagg sarcastically spoke under his breath.
"You can't tell me after standing in the pouring rain, you're not even going to at least stop by, just because of him and his insane schedule." Plagg shakes his head with disapproval. Over the years the Kwami has grown frustrated with the relationship between my father and myself…He isn't the only one.
"By the way, has he called yet?"
"No, not yet, but you know he will soon." I lean back in my chair, crossing my feet on my desk. I watch as the tiny cat dips down behind the couch and pops up with bulging cheeks. Obviously stuffing his face .Letting out a long breath with my hands laced behind my head." As for Marinette, I'm not sure how to approach the situation, after so many years?" …..All I know, is that I really want to.
.
"Plagg, do you have any Ideas? Plagg… Plagg?" with no snarky response coming from the couch I turn to see the black cat Kwami laying flat on his back with an especially bulging belly. A piece of cheese held tightly in his fingers as his plump stomach jiggles, with every wheezing snore. Shaking my head at the Kwami. Speaking softly to myself. "Oh, now, you fall asleep…See, what did I tell you about eating all that cheese."
.
After carefully double checking to see if Plagg moved, my hand slowly reaches for my top desk drawer. Taking a long breath I gradually pull my old Mandarin phrase book from it. Flipping through the pages until two cards come into view.
The first one had the answers to my poem elegantly scrolled out, but not signed. The second is a little crumpled and completely blank, but just as precious to me, if not more. My green eyes burned down at the two cards held in my hand while quiet, honest words fell from my lips. "Now, why is it I can't manage to get her out of my head?"
"Ha…..See, I told you!" Plagg popped up right next to my head with a smug smile on his furry lips.
My head lurched forward, causing the chair to suddenly roll back, "Damn it" quickly loosening balance, and falling back in my chair "Pppplagg!" With my feet in the air, reaching up to rub my tender head I let out a heavy sigh. As thought crosses my mind…
Yep, the universes was undoubtingly against me finishing my assignment.
End of Adrien /Chat's POV
.
The sound of rapidly stroking keys hum throughout the still, sterile office. A stanch woman wearing a tight french twist sits at her desk. Her perfectly kept hands blur across her laptop's keyboard in the most efficient way. Even though her desk surface is wide and extended it's entirely bear, except for her laptop, a tablet, a steaming cup of coffee. Oh, and a small potted plant carefully placed the furthest away from her actual work. Something her boss didn't much care to have around the office, but tolerated over the years.
"Natalie." Her boss's icy voice echoed into her ear.
The woman quickly reached up to touch a small black gadget curved around her ear. "Yes sir."
"Please, bring in the file for this summer's project."
"Of course sir, right away."
Natalie quickly lifted from her desk, leaned over to lace her fingers around her tablet. She swiped her long, graceful fingers across the glossy, black screen, until it reached the file. Natalie knew her boss would be calling for this particular file, soon. For the time of year and the fact he's been working on this project every year for the last four years. She knew as the years went along, the project grew heavier on her bosses shoulders.
.
She however is a master conductor with her bosses every need and demand throughout the years, and without a doubt she made it look effortless. Some of the hardest musical pieces wouldn't stand a chance with her skilled efficiency.
"Click… click…Click "Her heels echoed along the sparse marble floor. Making her way down the extended hallway, until she came upon two towering, double doors.
Paying no mind to the intimidating doors she silently slipped through. Hidden in the shadows she allowed her body to shiver from the chilly room. The shades were drawn tightly. The only light rescuing the room from complete darkness came from a small brass desk lamp positioned to only shine on her boss's sparse desk. She slowly stepped from the shadows to stand next to his desk. Waiting for her boss to extend a ghostly white hand, signaling for her to hand him the tablet. "Your file sir."
.
"Are they all here?" Natalie thought the room grew colder with every word her boss spoke.
She quickly nods her head. "Yes, only what fits your exact specifications remains."
"Excellent." A wicked smile curled at his lips as he began to swipe a boney finger across the screen.
Natalie pulled back her shoulders while speaking precise, and to the point, the way her boss expected. "Sir, most came from France, but there are some overseas, as well."
She watched as her boss swiped his finger across the screen "No."
"No, what was she even thinking." Striking his finger across the tablet with distaste.
"No, absolutely not." Shaking his head.
His cold eyes slowly lift from the tablet. Releasing a heavy sigh of frustration. "Natalie, please tell me they only submitted their most talented." Sharply motioning to the tablet. "Because, I'm not seeing it, quite frankly."
"Yes sir, the top professors from the top fashion programs, secretly submitted only there very brightest. I personally sorted out the ones that only met, with your strict specifications."
"Well then, I weep for the future if this is are best and brightest." Beginning to swipe across the screen with frustration.
"Yes sir."
Natalie's boss flips over the tablet to face her with a cruel smile molded to his lips. "This one shows promise, but of course it should, it was one of my designs, years ago." He arrogantly speaks before flipping the tablet back to face him.
"No." Dramatically swiping the screen only glancing at the various designs.
"No."
Raising an eyebrow with a face, but soon swiping to the next portfolio. "Passable, but not exactly brilliant."
"No."
"No." Natalie was beginning to believe no one would meet her boss's demanding expectations for this particular project…..and her long extended hours of labor would be wasted.
"No."
"Oh, please she should just give up, now." Snidely snickering to himself.
"No."
"Not a snowballs chance in …"
With every "no" the woman's apprehension grew as the room felt like it was close to freezing at this point.
"No." Her boss just began to shake his head.
"No."
"No."
The man was about to strike the screen when his hand halted and hovered over it. "Wait, here's one with some actual original ideas, it's actually, quite good." His eyes studied the designs closer, before flipping the screen to face Natalie.
"Why does this one seem strangely familiar to me?"
The woman reached up to adjust her glasses as she leaned closer to the held out tablet. "Well, it should, she won several of our contests years ago …Remember the bowler hat incident with Miss Bourgeois."
"Ah, yes, anybody can get lucky with a dress design, every once in a while, but it was rather brilliant of me to test them on something they probably have never even thought of. As I recall, she told that spoiled blond off and defended her work with nothing less than sheer brilliance. Why weren't we watching her?"
"She was a classmate of Adrien's …before high school."
"Oh, I see." Letting out a frustrated sigh before sounding a bit tired. "In the end I can't say I didn't try everything ….the move was necessary."
"Yes sir, in fact they were somewhat ….friends. He recommended her for an internship, years ago, but because of her age, at the time, it was quickly dismissed."
"Well, back then I was clinging on every strand of hope, so why wasn't she among the candidates years ago?"
"She's studying at one of the smaller colleges, they never entered until this year."
"No doubt, the smalltime professor is takeing credit for shaping such natural talent." The man snidely speaks.
"Ah, I wouldn't know sir."
Sliding the tablet across his desk as his cold voice creeps throughout the icy room. "Natalie, make the arrangements for Miss Dupain-Cheng, a Miss Marinette… Dupain-Cheng."
Her pointy french tips quickly lace around the tablet. "Don't you want to look at the rest of the candidates?"
"No, that won't be necessary." Waving a dismissive hand towards his assistant. Tenting his fingers in front of an icy grin.
"Apparently, my son knew what he was doing, all along."
End of chapter 4
Hey thanks for the stories amazing new followers, please keep it up. So what do you think? I know it's slow, but its building. Well, thanks for taking a peek Please Follow/review/Favorite /share the story.