I stared at my phone, the date glaring at me. An irritated sigh left my lungs. My chin sat on the steering wheel as my phone's light slowly dimmed.
I straightened my back, staring into the mirror above my head, readying myself for the drive home.
The blue and white sky quickly blurring into a pale blue as I sped down the road. Coming to a grinding halt as I returned to the Agreste home. Parking the car in the usual spot. I glanced at my phone again as I adjusted my blazer. My hair falling down my back.
I swung open the large door, gazing into the empty hall. The grand stairs staring at me. I looked up to the top of the stairs. The silence echoed through the building.
My feet guiding me up the steep staircase. My hand gliding over the railing. As I reached the top of the stairs A figure stood at the end of the hall to my left. I looked at the dark haired woman, her red turtleneck covered by a long, black coat. Her eyes met mine.
I examined her coat briefly. "Are you sure you're feeling well enough to go out?" Her hair was slipped into her usual, tight bun.
"I'm fine." She looked at my face. "Are you okay? You've been out of it since your conversation with Gabriel."
"I'm fine!" I tilt my head as I give Nathalie a reassuring smile.
"You can talk to me about anything." She insists.
"It's nothing, really. I think I'm still freaked out after being akumatised."
"Do you want to talk about it?"
My fingers slowly turn on my phone, I glance at the glow from my palm. I release another irritated sigh as the date practically mocks me. "It's fine. You shouldn't be so worried." I look back at her, my other hand slipping into my pocket.
Nathalie examines my face closely. I try to keep a deadpan expression as she does so. I notice her mouth open, before she can utter a word I speak again. "I have a feeling you won't drop it." I pause as her mouth slowly shuts. "If it's that important, I'll tell you." I glance at the bottom of the stairs, the empty floor staring at me.
I think, looking back at the red streak in her hair. "I'm just having a bad day."
"Already? It's only 8." Nathalie's shocked tone taking me by surprise.
I let out an awkward chuckle. as I decided on a way to explain it. "I'm just being dramatic, it's only my Birthday."
"Oh! Happy birthday!" She says quickly.
I give her a small smile as I focus on her face. "Thank you.."
"If you don't mind me asking, what's wrong with your birthday?" Her hand gripped mine, giving it a comforting squeeze.
"I've never really had anyone to celebrate with before. Most years I forget it's my birthday. It gets me down sometimes." I admit, trying my best to be vague.
"We could celebrate! Gabriel's busy today, and Adrien has school! So, it's just us." Nathalie gives me a big smile.
"That'd..." I pause, admiring her makeup. "That'd be nice actually." I accept her offer, my heart practically in my throat.
"I was just going to talk to someone about one of Adrien's photoshoots, after that we can do whatever you want!." She grips my hand tightly as we make our way down the stairs. Our footsteps echoing around us.
Nathalie seemed more excited than I was.
I sat in the car, my fingers tightly gripping the black wheel as the sky blurred over our heads. Nathalie sat in the passengers seat, the open window slowly tangling her neatly tied bun. Strands of her hair flicking across her cheek. Her fingers lifted up and as I glanced over, her hair fell like a waterfall before catching the breeze of the open window.
"What do you want to do?" I asked, my fingers pushing the gearstick forward a notch.
"It's your birthday, what do you want to do?" Nathalie looked at me, my eyes focused on the road.
"Honestly I have no idea, what do people normally do?" I ask with an embarrassed giggle. A few strands of my hair caught in the breeze from Nathalie's open window. Her eyes glistened as the lunch time sun reflected against her eyes.
"It doesn't matter what everyone else does. We're going to do what you enjoy." She says, looking back at the road.
"How about we get lunch? I'm starving!" I beam as my fingers adjust the gear again.
The slick, black car pulled up by a silver parking metre. I slid from the car, rushing to help Nathalie. She took my hand and firmly clutched it as I carefully pulled her from her seat. She kept a tight hold of my hand as I carefully slipped some change into the cool, metal metre.
The trees left a speckled shadow across Nathalie's face. I glanced at her lips, something was different.
We walked into a small café, placing a small order. We took a seat by the gaping window. Her chin resting against her hand as she stared into the street. "It's been a little while since I've been out." She says as she watched a small bird peck at the ground. It's wings had a beautiful blue hue. "This is really nice."
Her glasses caught the reflection of passers by. My fingers tapped lightly against the table. "I'm glad you're having fun already!" I give her a soft smile as her eyes leisurely met mine.
Two plates are dropped on our table along with two cups. As we say our thanks I look at the food. Two cakes sit before us.
I gaze at my chocolate slice, raspberries are pushed into the top of the soft desert. A white powder carefully sprinkled on over the crisp outer layer of the slice. Pink jam oozing from the sides of the cake.
I look across to see Nathalie's vanilla slice. Blueberries carelessly strewn across the cake. A blue jam was carefully squeezed through the centre. The crisp outer shell coated in a creamy, white icing that dripped onto her plate. A blue drizzle carefully zig zagged over her slice.
I take my fork from the table and gently push it through the squishy dessert. Flakes of chocolate crumbs fall onto the plate. I look up at Nathalie as I slide the cake from the fork with my lips. Her fingers twisting her fork as she chews.
She swallows tenderly and looks at me. "Yours looks good, can I try some?"
I nod in response, my mouth too full to speak. Nathalie gingerly reaches across the table and drags her fork through the corner of my cake. She smiles brightly as it reaches her lips.
Without asking I dip my fork into her cake, taking a large piece. A blueberry stuck to the prong of the fork, the juices leaked down the vanilla sponge before I put it in my mouth. The sour blueberry flavour bursting in my mouth before the sweet vanilla overpowered the tangy juice of the fruit.
We spoke a lot about work and Adrien whilst we ate. The hour or so we spent flew by, and before we knew it we were back in the car, speeding under the endless sky.
We drove around Paris in search of something to do. Eventually we stopped by the Pont des Arts. The water flowed gently as we made our way over to the large bridge.
Nathalie's fingers intertwined with mine tenderly as we walked down the bridge. I could hardly notice the strangers pass us by as I gazed at Nathalie's face. "Oh! You're wearing different lipstick!" I exclaim, finally pin pointing the difference in her face.
She looks at me, giving a gentle laugh. "It looks really good!" I say, beaming at her. We stop by the railing, her fingers wrapping around it softly.
"Thank you." she says, tucking her read streak from her face.
My heart felt like it was in my throat as we gazed into each other's eyes. I nervously glance around, seeing a cream stand, three dollops of plastic ice ream balancing on top. The red, white and blue balls gradually getting smaller as they travelled up.
A larger man stood in front of the ice cream stand. A blue apron tied around his waist and a jolly look on his face. "Nathalie, let's get some ice cream!" I beamed at her like a giddy child.
She let out a gentle chuckle at my excitement. "Alright." She smiles as I drag her to the stand.
"What can I get for the lovely couple?" the cheerful man asks, practically singing.
"Oh, we're not a couple." Nathalie says quietly. I look at her. Ouch.
"I can see it, the way you look at each other. Andre always knows!" He insists, still tunefully talking. He sounded like he could burst into song.
Nathalie looks at me briefly before Andre continues. The look in her eyes was different. What is she thinking?
"Raspberry and white chocolate. A perfect combination, even if you can't see it at first. The delicate chocolate brings out the sweetness in the tart raspberry!" he beams, scooping the two flavours into a cone. Two tiny spoons poking from the top, a cherry gently sinks into the white ball. His hand reaches out, my fingers gently take the cone from his hands.
"Thank you!" I smile at him. Nathalie looks at the cone then at my beaming face.
"Thank you." She says as I look up at her.
I pinch the tip of one of the spoons taking a small piece of the white chocolate. I bite the end of the spoon and stare up at Nathalie, gently moving the cone to her. The sickly sweet flavour slips down my throat with a tiny gulp.
Her hands carefully take the other spoon, scooping a bite of the white ball into her mouth. "It's amazing." She says, the street lights flickering on as the sky fades to orange. The yellow glow surrounding us.
We slowly make our way to a bench not far from the bridge. My fingers turning pink from the cold cone. We watch the orange slowly become a starry sky as we share the ice cream. The street lights shine through the trees, a speckled shadow of the leaves hangs over us as the ice cream slowly disappears.
I stare up at the stars through the leaves. "Thank you."
Nathalie looks at me as I tuck my scraggly hair behind my ear. My face glowing pink. "This has been the best birthday I've ever had... I really appreciate it." I stare at the purple sky, my fingers tangled together as they sat on my lap.
"You're welcome..." She says, still looking at my face, I could see her rosy cheeks from the corner of my eye.
I chuckled. "I think today wouldn't have been so amazing if you weren't here." My thumbs push together as I look at my lap. My hair sweeping over my forehead.
Nathalie's hand reaches to mine, gently taking our hands to the centre of the bench. She carefully moved closer to me. I looked at her. "I still need to give you a gift, don't I?"
I gazed into her eyes. Her hair falling from behind her ear. "What? Don't be silly! Today was your gift!" I smile at her.
"But I want to give you something more special." She's practically whispering.
"What could be more special than today?" I tilt my head, giving Nathalie a gentle giggle.
"I have a couple ideas." She leans close to me, our lips inches apart. I felt my face burn as her deep eyes gazed into mine.
Our other hands gently clasping together. "May I," she whispers, "give you a real gift?"
"If you really want to." I respond with an embarrassed whisper.
Her warm lips suddenly pressed against mine. Her hands squeezing mine tightly. I closed my eyes as my stomach filled with butterflies. It felt like time had stopped. My heart felt like it was about to explode, I could hardly breathe as nerves took over my body.
My cold fingers embraced the warmth of her hands. Her lips pressed harder against mine, deepening the kiss. One of her hands released from mine, her fingers gently slipped under my hair. Her nails tangled in my white locks as she scooted closer.
My hand gently planted itself on her shoulder and gripped her coat, pulling it taught. I tugged gently to pull her even closer, ending up in a gentle embrace in the cold, night air. The stairs shimmering brightly. The glow of the street lights lighting up the magical moment.
After what felt like hours passed by she pulled her head from mine. Her eyes half open as they gazed at my pink face. A warm tingle lingers on my lips as the cool night air brushed against us.
Nathalie examined my face and let out a small chuckle. I look at her smile, her lipstick smudged slightly. Her glasses hung on her nose loosely. The golden glow of the street lamps shimmering in her eyes. "We should get going, you might catch a cold." She smiles.
We stood in the empty hall, facing the stairs. In front of us stood a thoroughly pissed off Gabriel Agreste. His hands planted firmly on his hips as he began his lecture. "Do you have any idea how upset I am!? You left Adrien home alone! It's 8PM! It's too late for a boy like him to be alone!"
"It won't happen again, sir." Nathalie says calmly.
"It better not. Now wipe that lipstick from your face, you look like a clown." He looks at me as he speaks. He storms off and I look at Nathalie, slowly realising her lipstick is smudged on my face.
I let out a relieved sigh. "Let's get you to bed, you must be exhausted!" I look at her tired eyes.
She releases a long yawn as we make our way to the stairs. "I would be this tired everyday if it meant I could spend time with you." she mumbles as we reach the top of the large stairs. I felt my chest tighten as the pink in her cheeks deepened.
Her weight pushing into my arms as she struggled to make it to her room. She practically threw herself into bed, her hair coating her pillow like a thin sheet.
"Let me get you some pyjamas, you can't sleep in your coat." I say, carefully heading to the wardrobe. As I swing open the door my fingers tap my lips. The day felt like a warm, fuzzy dream.
Rummaging around I found a beautiful set of black, satin pyjamas. I tenderly folded them over my arm, turning to Nathalie. She was lay on her side, watching me as I walked to the bed, her hands resting by her cheek. What is she thinking?
I planted the neatly folded pyjamas on the bed. Her tired eyes gazed at my face. "Do you want me to leave whilst you change?" I ask gently as my fingers brush the hair from her lip.
She thought for a moment, glancing at the pyjamas on the bed. "Could you stay this time? I'm feeling quite exhausted."
"Of course, I promise not to look." I smile as she pushes herself up from her pillow, giggling slightly at my comment. She slides herself to the edge of the bed, my head darted away as her coat fell from her arms.
I felt my face turn beat red as I stood, facing away from Nathalie. I listened to the soft sounds of the fabric rustling around as she changed. My heart felt like it was in my throat.
I coughed gently into my curled up fingers as I waited for Nathalie. My hot breath tingling against my fingertips
A sudden weight hit my back and warmth spread down my spine. Two delicate hands flopped around my waist. "Is everything okay?" I asked, gingerly putting my hands on hers. My cold fingers practically burning from her warmth.
Her forehead pressed into my back, my hair gently tugging as her head pushed into me. A small gasp escaped my lips as she did so. "I'm fine, just another dizzy spell." she whispers.
I feel my body melt as her warmth spreads to my cool hands. Her breath became heavy as more of her weight pushed against my back. She took a long, deep breath in before she choked suddenly. Her head pushing hard against my back at the sudden bark.
I felt my body spin around upon instinct. My hands holding her softly as she used me for balance. Her lungs forcing up a painful choke. Her hair fell over her shoulders as her shirt hung loosely like a jacket, the black satin swaying with each sharp cough.
All her weight fell into my arms as she cupped her hands to her mouth. My fingers tightly holding her as tears formed in her eyes. I carefully nudged her to the bed, she sat down carefully as the coughing subsided, her hair hanging loosely around her neck. A thin string of red hair stuck to her lips.
My fingertips gently pushed the red from her face, her sad eyes looking down at me. "I's going to be okay." I said, looking up at her. Her hand gently gripping mine as her breathing evened out.
TW~❀What have I gotten myself into?❀~TWQuick TW for this chapter! There will be mentions of blood, death and references to Hanahaki disease. Please consider this warning before reading!
Author's note (Spoiler for the chapter): I have made a miraculous for Ellis to help Hawk Moth in this chapter. At the end will be some info on how I decided the abilities/the research I put into making it for those who are curious! Also sorry for the slight spoiler :)
My eyes flickered open. A warmth surrounding my body. A yellow hue filled the room as the morning sky shone through the window. As I began to fidget an arm pulled against my shirt, tightly holding me.
I gazed around the room, red and black furniture covered the floor. Eventually the deep navy blur caught my attention. Focusing on the red streak I soon realised what... No. Who it was.
I looked down as Nathalie's eyes creaked open, her tired face gently looking up to see me. "Good morning." I said with a soft smile.
Her fingers scrunched up the fabric of my shirt as she came to. "Morning.." she mumbled as she tenderly began to sit up. A cool draft hit my side as her warmth left me.
I looked at her hair falling down her back as she sat up right. Her head twisting to look at me as I lay on my back, looking at her pretty blue eyes. Is this real?
Her hand gently flicked her hair from her face, her satin pyjamas loosely hung from her shoulders. "Nathalie..." I whispered carefully.
"Yes?" She slid her body from the edge of the bed and stood.
My fingers curled into a tight fist. "Thank you... For yesterday..." I tilted my head to the ceiling, staring at the speckled texture.
Nathalie looks at me, her hands deep inside her wardrobe. "You should get dressed, you cant work in the clothes you wore last night." She gives me a gentle smile before returning to her rummaging.
"Do you think it'd be appropriate to wear a dress?" My body slowly rolled from the bed as my hands flicked my hair behind me.
"It should be fine."
I nod as I quietly exit the room, making my way to my bedroom.
My furniture finally neatly organised. My walls full of photos and my bed tucked in the corner, surrounded by windows. A blue net tenderly draping over the bed a d fairy lights scattered around the ceiling.
My shoulder brushed passed one of my many vases of blue flowers as I made my way to the white wardrobe. Swinging the door open, I pulled out a beautiful black dress.
Slipping it over my head I adjusted the Peter pan collar. The long sleeves pinched at my wrists. The skirt waved loosely around my legs, it was very different to my usual tight skirt. The back tied with a ribbon. White lace was scattered about the dress and black stars lined the collar. The bow in the back had two large, white stars on the tips of the ribbon, lace lining the edges of the silky bow.
The shoes I decided on were a pair of Mary Janes, paired with frilly, white socks. The black shoes clacked as they hit my wooden floor. I made my way down the hall, my long, black dress flowing against my knees.
As I reached the top of the stairs a large, cold hand gripped my shoulder. I looked behind to see Gabriel's scary face. "Good morning." I smiled.
"I want to speak to you later this afternoon." He groans.
"Of course." I nod, the look in his eye similar to when we made our deal. I had a hunch that's what he wanted to discuss.
After the brief encounter this morning I could feel my heart beat fast as I entered Gabriel's study. Walking in, I saw sketchbooks and drawing littering the desk, and a large painting behind Gabriel.
I looked at the man as he stood, arms crossed behind him. His arms lifted, pressing in buttons, hidden in the painting. The painting swung open like a door and Gabriel stepped inside, his hand reaching out to me as he did so.
My fingers pressed against his palm as he assisted me up the step. We walked through a long, dark corridor after passing what looked like a safe. Eventually reaching a set of stairs.
After we marched in spirals for, what felt like, an eternity Gabriel swung open a door. I stepped into a metal dome filled with white butterflies. My fingertips reaching out to them. Their beautiful glowing bodies hovering around.
"Nooroo dark wins open."
I turn as there's a flash of light across the dome. I look to see Gabriel's transformed into Hawk Moth. His head covered by a silver mask that I can't help but giggle at.
"The museum has a new exhibit, during my last meeting with Nathalie we discovered a miraculous. It's clipped onto a sculpture. I want you to get it." He looks at me, his cane tapping the floor.
"But it isn't Chat Noir's or ladybugs?"
"It can help us get their miraculous!" he insists.
"If I do this will you give me the power to help Nathalie?" I ask, my eyebrows furrowing. My face scrunches into a scowl.
"If you get the miraculous I will. That was the deal, wasn't it?" He smirks, the silver mask reflecting the light of the butterflies.
I nod as he makes an akuma. It flies into the ribbon around my waist. "Pivoine, this time I am giving you the power to change people how you see fit." Hawk Moth announces as the black smoke surrounds me.
Vines surround my body, thorns digging into my waist. Blue flowers bloom around my hand and shoulder. The flowers on my hand forming the same lily from the last time I was akumatised. "Thank you, Hawk Moth. I will not disappoint."
I take a running start before flinging myself from small gap in the centre of the crystal clear window. The air blowing my hair behind me as I shot through the air. My body landing with a loud thud.
I ran quickly, my boots clanking against the roof tiles as the sun set overhead.
I swung myself into the museum, blindly hunting for the miraculous. A golden statue stood glistening in the dark. I approached it carefully. A hair pin was clasped against the jewellery of the statue.
The blue, bird pin practically glowing against the golden figure. I grasped the humming bird pin as alarms blared throughout the building. I released an aggravated sigh before beginning my journey to the exit, quickly clipping the miraculous in my hair.
Security stood at the exit, flash lights glaring in my face. My arm extended as I faced them. The lily released a puff of smoke and the two men emerged as women. I stared blankly for a brief moment. "The way Hawky described it made it seem much cooler." I pout as I stride past the confused guards, their hair now tied neatly underneath their caps.
I barely left the museum before Chat Noir blocked my path. "Out of my way, kitty." I grip my lily tightly.
"Not until you return what you stole. Actually what did you take?" He asks, looking around for a big item.
I roll my eyes at the young hero before me, aiming my flower. The smoke cloud barely misses as he swiftly dodged it. I felt a stinging in my throat as he ran to me. His hand out, ready to use his cataclysm.
I felt my feet move quickly, hopping up to the rooftops. I backed myself against a chimney as Chat Noir followed. "Where's Ladybug? Has she abandoned you?" I laugh as I raise my arm. My chest tightening.
"M'lady would never abandon me! She must be busy. But now it's my turn to save Paris!" He puts his hands on his hips like a proud toddler.
"You won't be saving anyone!" I push myself from the rooftop, jumping onto a stranger's balcony.
I pulled a face at Chat before taking off, my body leaping through the air like a frog. The black blur followed me.
I could hardly catch my breath as we shot across Paris. My mouth held open as I panted my way across the rooftops.
I stumbled over my own feet, toppling down the side of a building, landing outside the Agreste mansion. My lungs gave in and I coughed my guts up, blood and petals dripping from my lips into the bushes outside. My body convulsed as I choked into the plants.
"Hawk Moth, deakumatise me!" I shouted between the bloody coughs of petals. The crimson liquid puddling at my knees as my arm gripped my stomach. The purple glow surrounding my eyes reflected in the red liquid. The thorns of the roses caught my gums.
The akuma flew from my belt as the smoke surrounded me. blood dripped from my lips as a searing pain lingered in my lungs.
I stood slowly. My dress caught on the red puddle, the liquid dripped from my chin onto my white collar. Sneaking into the large building I made my way to Gabriel's study.
He stood in the room, staring at me. "I got it." I smiled weakly. My throat felt like it was about to explode as I spoke.
"Got what?" came a tired voice from the doorway, the stars in the sky lighting the room as I turned. The pale light reflecting from Nathalie's face as she looked at me. Red liquid sitting on my hands.
I coughed uncontrollably, this time the only thing leaving my throat was a crimson sap that stained my dress. The red scattered across my fist as I leant forwards, my hand gripping my stomach. Gabriel gently moved me over to one of the white seats. I looked at the two of them.
My trembling fingers unclipped the miraculous from my hair. The blue bird was left with a red smudge. I held it out to Gabriel, using my cleanest hand. "You made her get that?" Nathalie asks angrily. "Look at the state she's in."
"It's fine... I'm fine..." I insist as my throat burns. It's full of cuts and scratches from the thorns, along with my gums.
Nathalie's eyes meet mine. "You're coughing blood. That's not fine."
"My throats just.." I shoot forwards, retching. "got a bit... scratched..." I mumble out the end of the sentence as I grip my stomach, the pain shooting through my chest. I take a large breath, the cool air barely soothing the agony through my body.
The miraculous held tightly in my fingers as I pushed myself up. "I didn't realise she'd still be coughing like this." Gabriel admits. "I assumed that this would stop after your little date. You remember that conversation, don't you?" He turns to Nathalie. She glared at him.
"Yes, her symptoms are like those of Hanahaki disease. But maybe this is something else." I can hear the anger and worry in Nathalie's voice. "You shouldn't risk her like this again, sir."
"I don't plan to, now that we have the hummingbird miraculous. Once we figure out its power we can use it." He looks at me. "If it doesn't kill her, Ellis can be the one to use it."
I look at Nathalie, slowly realising why I've been coughing roses.
"Let's get you to bed." She says pulling me up, our weak bodies barely able to support each other. I look at her as our arms wrap around the other's back.
We slowly made our way through the black hallway, the humming bird hair pin tightly hugging my fingers. Nathalie pushed open my door and helped me to my bed. Her eyes glancing around the room. She hasn't seen my room decorated yet. was the only thought that crossed my mind.
So here's some info about the humming bird miraculous!
The humming bird's weapon is a spear so that I can use the beak in the design, the tip of the spear is a beak. The beak opens when the power is used. The power is the ability to summon weapons to help others.
The Kawmi design is based off tropical humming birds (as an excuse to have Ellis and Mayura be blue, also to keep the purple theme throughout Mayura and Hawk Moth's designs).
The powers are based on humming birds in mythology. They are most commonly associated with royalty, warriors and the dead. They turn up most in mythology as a manifestation of a deceased person, or a messenger of the dead. They are also seem as healers or a spirit to help those in need (that's why they can only summon weapons to assist others).
I have taken the royal/warrior aspect to Ellis's costume. She will appear similar to a prince (very formal, young boy sort of prince. The kind with frilly collars ands shorts) and has a cloak to simulate wings.
Here's the link to the humming bird fun facts I used! (I did also google humming bird mythology and tropical humming birds, I'd recommend doing that too if you're curious!)
blogs/news/interesting-facts-about-hummingbirds
(You should just need to copy and paste it!)