Hello dear miraculous friends. I'm back as promised for the May 14 prompt. Tomorrow it will be Malauu-LadyNoir's story. We will meet again on May 18th. I wish you a good reading. Miraculous kisses
PROMPT N°14: DANCING by Etoile-Lead-Sama
MOONLITE DANCE
Marinette looked at her outfit and sighed at least for the hundredth time in an hour. It was perfect, the young woman had indeed put her whole heart into it, but on the contrary, she knew that she wouldn't be perfect... She'd barely a week to learn to dance well enough not to make fools of herself... It wasn't won...
A week later, she would be in the obligation to attend a Gala organized by the Agreste Company for the launch of the new collection. It would be the first evening organized by the company she was going to attend. She'd helped organize the evening and she was also going to be presented as the lead designer on that occasion. Marinette knew perfectly that the theme of the evening was 'Mystery' and, above all, that it was planned that the guests would dance...
But the thing is, she couldn't dance. She couldn't dance anymore. The last time she did it was a few years ago, during her trip to New York, with Adrien Agreste himself...
Time and their schedules had finally separated them and, with time, Marinette had managed to control her feelings for the blonde, even if when she met him on a photo set or at a party organized by Alya and Nino, her heart was always beating a little faster. She knew that part of her heart would be his forever, but she'd made a cross on the hope that one day, he would love her too.
Another blonde had then entered her heart. A blonde in black spandex, with a quirky humor and the most generous heart she has ever known, except for Adrien: Chat Noir.
The feline and the young woman had gradually grown friends. Since they'd defeated Gangs of Secrets, he would stop, on some patrol nights, to greet her and check that everything was fine for her. And then, over time, he would just come to spend time with her. They started talking about everything and nothing. And over time, she'd observed the evolution of his feelings for Ladybug, so mirror to hers with Adrien.
Marinette liked the visits of Chat Noir. She liked their conversations or his mere presence. She loved his humor and his moments of weakness that he showed only to her. Obviously, she fell in love with him. Madly in love with him. How could it be otherwise when she'd finally allowed her heart to beat for someone other than Adrien?
Knock knock.
Marinette suddenly went out of her thoughts and turned her head towards her window. A familiar black shadow stood there. A silhouette that immediately made her heart beat faster. Speaking about the devil… Well… the cat...
The young woman left her gala outfit on her hanger and went to open the hatch to her unexpected guest.
"Good evening, kitty," she greeted him cheerfully.
"Good evening, purrincess," he snorted back before dropping a sweet kiss on her cheek.
In the last few weeks, he'd do this every time he saw her and it was driving her crazy. She didn't know how to interpret it, whether she could hope for something or whether it was just friendly... once again... the irony of her life...
"Wow, that's beautiful, Marinette!" The feline exclaimed, approaching the trouser-dress she had sewn for the Gala, in order to admire it more closely. "You're so talented!"
But the young woman was already not listening to what he said to her: her eyes had fallen on her partner's slender, muscular figure and her mind had died out. The years had been very advantageous for the feline. He'd gained several centimeters and his body had grown larger. His costume molded perfectly each of his muscles and his large and strong shoulders made Marinette want to ask him to take her in his arms. Her mind drifted on its own to other parts of his anatomy which the costume was now highlighting: his arms, his chest, his abs…
"...-Nette?"
The young woman came out of her thoughts when she saw Chat Noir's hand passing before her eyes.
"Marinette, is everything okay?" asked the feline's voice, which had become more sensual and deeper over the years.
She then crossed his piercing green gaze and detected a glimmer of fun. She thought briefly about where her thoughts had stopped and blushed slightly.
"Yes, yes, I was immersed in my thoughts," she mumbled, turning away her gaze.
"I saw that," he teased her, causing the girl to blush even more. "I'm disappointed to discover that you think of something else than me when I'm here," he added in a melodramatic tone.
Marinette almost chokes with her saliva: if he knew... But she preferred to deflect his attention by slyly punching his chest. "Silly cat!"
The feline burst into laughter and the bluenette had no choice but to join him: his laughter was the music she preferred in the whole world...
xXxXxXxXxXxXxXx
Marinette explained to Chat Noir that she'd sewn the trouser-dress for the gala organized by the Agreste company. She'd already told him of her anxieties and fears during the preparation of the event, so he wasn't surprised when she began to panic again.
"And if I wasn't up to it and if…" she cried out for the hundredth time since the word 'gala' was uttered in her room.
The feline put a finger on her lips, suddenly interrupting her.
"You will be perfect, breathtaking, as usual," he whispered tenderly.
At that moment, Marinette was hypnotized by the brightness of his eyes. Did his gaze shine a little brighter than usual? And that little glow that she saw, what was it?
They stayed this way for a long time, simply drowning in each other's eyes, then Chat Noir removed his finger from her mouth and, embarrassed, suddenly rubbed the back of his neck.
"What I mean is that you always give the best of yourself in everything you do, so don't worry," he explained, avoiding her gaze. "Everything will be fine. Just stay yourself."
Staying yourself... Marinette's bubble burst and she sighed.
"I can't dance," she whispered. "I'll make a fool of myself."
The feline then turned his surprised face towards the young woman.
"You can't dance?" he repeated it, as if to be sure that he'd heard her well.
She lowered her head and her shoulders bent.
"I don't know how to dance anymore. The last one was a long time ago."
The dance she'd had with Adrien, under the light of the full moon, in New York, returned to her thoughts but she quickly drove it away. It was another life.
Once again, it was Chat Noir's hand that took her out of her thoughts: he was just holding it out to her. She lifted her head to look at him, surprised and saw his determined gaze.
"Would you like me to teach you?" he asked her. "Would you be willing to give me that dance?"
Marinette swallows. Dancing. With Chat Noir. It was both a dream and a nightmare. She hesitated, but when she saw his gaze gradually extinguish, she finally accepted: she couldn't bear to see him unhappy. And even less because of her. To hell if after that she was good for psychoanalysis.
She put her hand on his hand and he drew her against him. Oh, yeah, she was screwed. she already felt his spellbinding scent and the firmness of his chest against hers... The dance lesson was going to be a terrible test for her heart. She didn't know if she would ever be able to recover...
xXxXxXxXxXxXxXx
"Sorry" Marinette apologized once again, after having walked for the fifth time on Chat Noir's foot.
He laughed softly. "You're trying too hard to lead the dance," he explained. "It's not up to you to do it, it's up to me. You have to follow my pace."
Marinette knew it but it was stronger than her. She was so tense about standing so close to the feline that her self-protective reflexes came out. She tried to relax a bit, but she walked once or twice on the feline's foot before his baton rang to indicate that it was time for him to leave.
"I'm a disaster, kitty, I'm sorry," she apologized again as she accompanied her partner to her window.
The feline smiled softly at her.
"Not at all, Marinette. Don't worry. I have an idea. I'll be back tomorrow night and we'll start again."
Marinette's heart sank in her chest: she wasn't sure she would survive until the gala at that rate...
The next day, at the same hour, Marinette actually heard discreet knocks on the tile of her window. She moaned in despair, but welcomed the feline with a smile.
He'd brought with him a USB key and when he slid it into her computer, the notes of a waltz rose in the silence of the room. He repeated the same trick as the previous day: he leaned slightly forward and reached out his hand, inviting her to dance.
This time, Marinette didn't hesitate: there was no point in putting off the inevitable, and if she hesitated too much, who knows what the feline would deduce…
Like the day before, she walked a first time on her partner's foot.
"Close your eyes, Marinette" he whispered in her ear, causing her to have goosebumps."Let yourself be carried by the music and the rhythm I give you."
She swallowed again, her heart beating as if it wanted to escape her ribcage. Then finally let herself go.
The young woman could feel the bewitching scent of the feline even more clearly. Did he just tighten his grip on her or did she dream it? She felt every move he made, and in spite of herself, she ended up relaxing. Her body began to follow his movements and her dance became more fluid. They were so synchronized with each other that it was magical.
The magic burst again when Chat Noir's baton rang. Marinette opened her eyes and crossed his gaze. Had his eyes always been so green? She was so close to him that she could feel the gentle caress of his breathing. There were only a few centimeters between their lips, she just had to...
"Marinette, you have a visitor," echoed Alya's voice, her roommate, behind the door.
The feline and the bluenette then moved quickly away from each other. Too quickly for the young woman. She would have stayed there a little longer... In fact, if she was really honest with herself, she would have stayed there all her life...
Chat Noir left quickly and she felt like he was running away. A feeling of intense emptiness invades her. A feeling she couldn't get rid of...
xXxXxXxXxXxXxXx
Marinette had not seen the feline again for the rest of the week. She wondered briefly if it was her fault, but she also knew that, in his civilian life, he couldn't really do what he wanted.
The evening of the gala finally arrived. Marinette got out of the Agreste car, which Gabriel had sent her, exceptionally, for the occasion, and entered the reception room of the Grand Paris with a decided step.
She stopped at the entrance and adjusted her bottle-green jacket. She erased a non-existent crease on her black trouser-dress and finally slid her cat-shaped black velvet mask over her face, while being careful not to undo her elegant bun. She breathed deeply and finally entered the room.
The theme was 'mystery', and that was why she wore a mask, even though her identity would soon be exposed. The room had also been decorated according to the imposed theme. The light was dimmed and large black and purple velvet curtains covered the windows. Small tables lined the walls of the room and were covered with tablecloths in the same tone. More refined dishes than each other were placed on silver trays scattered among vases full of black roses and purple tulips.
Each guest was all dressed up and wore a mask. At first, Marinette didn't recognize anyone. Then, suddenly, she saw Gabriel's familiar figure. The latter was very recognizable: he wore an outfit similar to his usual attire, although black and white with a butterfly mask covering half of his face. She took a deep breath and joined him.
The creator examined her critically and then greeted her, which Marinette took as a sign of approval: he wasn't the type of person to bite his tongue when something displeased him...
xXxXxXxXxXxXxXx
Gabriel had presented her, as expected, and Marinette then had not a minute for herself. People were coming and talking to her without her really knowing who they were.
She choked. She needed to get some air, some fresh air. She took advantage of the first break she found to sneak out onto the balcony of the room.
She leaned against the wall and closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. The orchestra on the balcony played a slow melody that calmed her nerves.
"Good evening, Miss Dupain-Cheng," murmured a voice that was familiar, grave, low and warm.
The young woman then opened her eyes and detailed the young man facing her.
He was tall. She felt that it should be the same size as Chat Noir. He wore an elegant three-piece black suit, highlighted by a bow tie and a bottle-green vest. His face was covered with a simple black mask and his blond hair shone under the moon's light. He was of good stature and seemed to be the same age as her. A feeling of familiarity gripped her heart and she wanted to dive into his gaze but it was immersed in the dark, preventing her from reading his emotions.
"Good evening, sir...?" she tried to find out the identity of her interlocutor.
The man chuckled a little and the young woman felt her heart beating a little harder.
"I will be who you want me to be tonight," he replied humorously.
Marinette rolled her eyes: there was only one person who could answer that. Only one who could make her react like that but it was not possible...Chat Noir had told her that he could not serve her as a partner that evening...
The orchestra began a new tune that Marinette recognized and the stranger leaned in her direction, stretching out his hand. "Would you agree to give me this dance?" he asked her.
Marinette hesitated, recalling the disaster of the first evening she'd danced with Chat Noir. 'I'm not an excellent dancer,' she warned.
She guessed the smile of her interlocutor more than she saw it.
"Trust me," he replied simply in his velvet voice.
Strangely, the young woman felt safe in his presence. After all, she could enjoy a simple dance…
"At your own risk," she said, putting her hand in his.
The man drew her against his chest and slid his other hand in the middle of her back. She put her hand on his shoulder and they began to dance.
He danced really well. But Marinette's thoughts and the beats of her heart were already flying. She knew this perfume, even though it was slightly different from the one she used to. She knew this body that was moving against hers. She'd already touched his shoulders, she recognized this strong torso... she'd already danced with this man...
"Chaton?" did she finally find the courage to ask after a long time.
She felt her dancing partner's chest shake before a burst of joyful laughter came from his lips. She would have recognized this laughter anywhere: she was actually dancing with the feline, but how was that possible?
"It took you a while to realize this, Purrincess," he said in her ear, in an amused tone.
At that moment, Marinette had only one desire: walk on his foot so that he stops making fun of her. But the feline had to feel her intention because he made her spin at that moment, preventing her from making what she planned to.
"What are you doing here?" she asked him. "I thought you couldn't be my partner…"
He brought her back against him and gave her some explanations in the hollow of her ear.
"Chat Noir couldn't be there but it's not the only identity I carry."
Marinette curses her stupidity, obviously, he was there as a civilian... then she took all the implications of what it meant.
"It's dangerous," she protested. "Imagine if I recognized you?"
There was a short silence, and he spoke again, his voice tinged with sadness this time.
"You should have recognized me... But now, after this dance, I should disappear... to protect my identity."
Marinette's heart squeezed into her guilty chest. Her mind was working at full speed trying to find a solution when he added in a soft tone that she'd never heard him.
"But I have no regrets: as I expected, you are absolutely beautiful."
All thought deserted Marinette's mind as she looked up at her partner. The moon's rays made his eyes shine and what she read there overturned her to the depths of her soul. She read love in his eyes. An infinite love.
Without realizing it, their two faces both came closer. She could feel his breath caressing her lips, his heart beating wildly against her chest, and his soft warmth wrapping her in a cocoon. Their lips brushed timidly, as if mere contact would break the magic of the moment. Marinette felt his lips pressing more against her and it was as if she had been struck by lightning, as if this was what she'd been waiting for all her life. She sighed with happiness and wrapped her arms around his neck to deepen the kiss.
"I love you Marinette," he softly breathed against her lips.
"Me too Kitty. Me too…"
Marinette decided at that moment that she would put an end to the secrets between them. It was time for Chat Noir to know the truth. It was time for her to stop being afraid. It was time for her to finally trust her heart...
End
May 15 : A moonlight promise by Malauu-Ladynoir
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