Their final shift had come and gone as good things so often did—all too quickly. It was far sooner than either of them would ever be ready for.
It was the day before Christmas Eve, and the last day they were appearing within the store, since Santa would need to pack up his sleigh and deliver gifts. He would make a grand exit tonight, waving to the crowd of families who had gathered on the square before leaving by carriage in the Grand Christmas Parade.
Ladybug sighed, gently fussing with her mask. This close to the holidays, the crowds inside had dwindled. Most of the families planning to get photos or talk to Santa had long since come and gone.
So now, there was more time to chat with Chat Noir…
She smirked softly, half tempted to share the little pun he was sure to appreciate.
Or at least for right now... for him to stare awkwardly between them.
Chat Noir fidgeted, shoulders slumping before he turning away from her. He was pointedly looking down at the ground, unwilling - or unable - to meet her eyes.
Ladybug's brows drew together. That was weird.
As another family wandered up, she plastered on a smile, fulfilling her promised duties.
Just like always…
The joyous child was there - excited and free and positively photogenic - and gone, all in the space of a few minutes.
But even the girl's abundant energy couldn't keep Ladybug's eyes from anxiously darting over and worrying over her uncharacteristically silent partner.
Maybe Chat Noir had come to regret some part of the party after all… Or if maybe it was just her suit that had gotten him all riled up.
It wasn't all that long ago that he'd tried to let Marinette down gently after she'd confessed to "feelings for him" without the suit. Though, then, those feelings had mostly been her fervent desire to keep him from finding out just who was hiding behind her mask.
Her eyes slid shut behind the replica mask as her shoulders slumped. It would just figure that she'd be regretting that now…
Ladybug sighed, watching as Chat Noir darted around.
Even as he pointedly gave her a little extra space, Chat Noir was still being helpful, moving the leftover bags into the back as the few remaining families headed out towards the parade.
The jolly old elf himself carefully watched the pair of children dance around one another.
Santa frowned, knowing he would have to head off soon. Another set of actors masquerading as the heroes would accompany him up on the carriage as they wound through the streets of Paris.
Chat's eyes seemed to look anywhere but at Ladybug...at least until Ladybug looked away from him. She obviously wasn't happy with Chat Noir's sudden withdrawal.
Of course, the poor boy was absolutely smitten, even if he hadn't realized it yet.
This elf didn't have any real magic of his own, but with a little push? Maybe those two could make a little of their own.
As the last few minutes of their shift wound down to a close, Santa was surprised to find himself embraced by the tiny super heroine.
"The both of you have been more than kind." He smiled, eyes a bit misty. "I know it isn't much of my business, but I did get to watch the pairs and pairs of actors filling in the roles. It's clear you all had watched the heroes and done your homework...but you two always came off as the most real."
Ladybug blushed at that, nibbling at her lip. "Well...thank you."
Santa smiled. Perhaps she wasn't quite as immune to her partner as he'd thought, even if she was certainly more hesitant than Chat Noir for some reason. "I hope it isn't too presumptuous of me to say...but there might be something to it. The others...were ...polite, certainly. But they didn't feel like a solid pair."
She was quiet, though her bright smile had finally reached her eyes behind the mask.
"You two, though…" He trailed off. He couldn't quite quash the hope that one or both would be brave enough to try to reconnect outside of their masks. "I feel like it would be a mistake for today to be the last day you see each other. A year is a very long time. Especially for someone so young…"
He watched her smile slowly fall. There was no doubt in his mind, she was gearing up to try and diffuse whatever well-meaning advice he was about to lay out…
He knew… he'd been there himself…
Humor slipped into his smile, as Santa felt around for something in his pocket…
His face went slack and ashen as his hands came up empty.
"What is it?" Ladybug whispered. Santa needed to head out. The crowds near the cash registers were growing restless.
"My timepiece..." Stunned, he pulled his pocket inside out, shocked eyes staring in fascinated horror at the hole in the well-worn fabric.
"What did it look like?"
He frowned, lines etching more deeply into his aged face. "Silver...a bit tarnished with a bit of scroll work etched along the edges. And... it had a picture inside…"
"Did you have another copy?"
He shook his head. "This was the one she'd given me when we'd gotten married."
To her endless credit, she didn't hesitate. She was bouncing back on her heels, before she'd had a moment to think of it again.
Santa would need to make his grand exit. The store would be closing soon for the day, and there was no way he could come back in… not before Christmas… He shook his head, forcing himself to focus. "If it isn't by the seat, it must be back up in the changing room."
Marinette nodded, sprinting away and down the back hallways.
As Chat Noir deposited the big prop bag of Santa's toys in the storage area, he spotted Marinette, running into the back hallway and away from their lockers.
Chat Noir held back, lingering a little longer. He'd wanted to let her say her goodbyes first.
Curious, he ducked out into the main employee hallway to wish Santa well before he'd have to take off.
He hadn't expected to find the old man looking so distraught. He looked stricken.
It was a look far too familiar to him. He'd seen it often enough on his own father's face.
Chat Noir placed his hand on Santa's shoulder. "What's the matter?"
Silently, he held out the empty pocket. "Ladybug ran off to find it."
It? His brows rose in question. But he didn't speak the words aloud. He just ran, not even waiting to hear what was missing. "I'll go help her."
There wasn't a moment to spare. They'd all feel better once whatever was missing was back in the old man's hands.
"Chat…"
He spun on his heel, looking over his shoulder before bounding up the stairs.
"If I don't see you before I leave, good luck."
Chat Noir blinked, fake claws pricking into the wall.
Wearily, Santa smiled. "Since all your shifts are now over, so is your contract. And hers…"
Ladybug scrambled up the steps, determination urging her into an outright sprint.
When she'd seen the wretched expression on Santa's face, Marinette had felt her heart drop.
Of course he'd had a picture of his late wife…he'd kept it as close to him as he could manage, day to day. If only she'd known before, maybe she could have patched the hole...
Crossing her arms over her chest, she shivered a little as the chill of the hallway started to register. So long as she kept moving, though, everything would be fine.
She'd already checked the cushions of Santa's chair downstairs. So, his watch had to be up here somewhere. If she couldn't find it quickly enough to get back to Santa, Marinette knew that all she would have to do is to put it in the manager's mailbox to get it back to him after he left.
The candles were still set up in the window in the hall… and the door of his changing room stood slightly ajar.
The door creaked, as she pressed it open. She flipped the lights on, scanning the whole of the room.
A few plates of half-stale cookies were still tucked away.
Marinette turned the room upside down, searching for something not guaranteed to be there. She was methodical...but panicked. Sensing her growing agitation, Tikki snuck out of her hiding place to help look.
The girl frowned, finding her sweater - and Chat's - were still in the room.
She hadn't really noticed it was missing. They hadn't gone outside again...not until she was bidding a fond farewell to Santa just minutes ago.
Ladybug slipped her eyes shut, willing herself to focus. To summon just to sort of luck she'd usually need in the real suit.
She knew the store would only be open for another hour or two...not enough time to do more than change out of the costume and hand it to the manager offsite. The whole store would be closed for the holiday. If she didn't find it now, she wouldn't have another chance to come back.
She didn't have her phone...and there wasn't one in the room. But she could stay a little later. Her parents and Alya wouldn't be wondering where she was, they just make an assumption she's at the parade already.
Breathless from bounding up the stairs, Chat Noir raced down the hall. He could only hazard a guess what the old man would think was so dear.
But his breath threatened to quit altogether when he spotted costumed Marinette on her hands and knees, frantically scanning around on the floor.
Inhaling sharply, Chat Noir forced air back into his lungs.
"What are you looking for?"
"What?" She gasped, glancing up at him with a mildly horrified expression on her face.
He leaned against the open door to steady himself, gesturing to the flurry of mess scattered upon the ground.
"Oh!" Blinking, she sat back on her heels, her expression rapidly calming. "It's some sort of old style timepiece. He said it was a silver one…" Her head snapped back to the floor, floundering to keep looking. "I guess he'd had it with him every day...but his robe got a hole in the pocket."
"Let me help you," He murmured, transfixed by her softening smile.
"I've already been looking over here," Marinette framed out the section in gestures.
Pulling his weight from the door, Chat Noir stepped into the room, settling himself down on his knees in a spot she hadn't reached yet.
Both were so focused, that neither of them noticed the ominous creak of the door until it had nearly snapped shut.
Not until it was far too late.
Not until the lock loudly slipped into place.
Dumbfounded, Ladybug and Chat Noir both blinked, gazing at at one another.
Gaping with rapidly growing sense of terror.