Disclaimer: I do not own Miraculous Ladybug or it's characters.
Chapter 49,
The following day, after school, Marinette sent Nathalie and Armand to pick up Madame Trotter and the children. Today the teenagers were practicing in the schoolyard to make it easier to practice for the show and set up for the dance later tonight.
"I'm excited and a little nervous too." Marinette said tp Adrien; having the widest smile on her face as she paced back and forth.
"I'm sure the kids will have lots of fun helping us out." Adrien said.
"I know, I know, but what if this fails? What if we spend so much on the event itself that we don't make enough to save the orphanage? If we fail, and they tried their best, then not only will we fail them, but the kids will become depressed because they couldn't save their home. And who knows how many years that will effect them and that's not even including-"
"Marinette." Adrien said, reaching out and holding her hand. She stopped and stared at him, so he gave her a gentle hug.
"I promise things will be ok. Even if we gotta build them a new place. The children will be ok." Adrien said. Being in Adrien's embrace made her heart race, but she somehow settled down and hugged him back.
"Ok, I believe you." Marinette said. She looked over at the school's enterance and she saw the Agreste limo pull up.
"Oh my god, they're here, come on." Marinette said and She grabbed Adrien's hand and dragged him like a well-loved rag doll, and Adrien chuckled at her cute enthusiasm
"Good morning Marinette." Madame Trotter said when she stepped out of the limo.
"Oh madame, I am so glad you and the kids could be here." Marinette said and she beamed when the children stepped out as well.
"Hi guys." Marinette said.
"Hi Marinette." A bunch of them said together, and Marinette chuckled at them.
"Come on guys I'll show you what we've been setting up." Adrien said, leading the little group inside.
"Oh, they are so cute." Marinette said.
"I don't see Kyra." Trotter said as she looked at her children.
"There's a little one up here with Nathalie and I." Armand said, and Trotter put a hand on her chest when she saw the child.
"Thank goodness." Trotter said. Marinette went over to the passenger seat, and opened the door.
"Under the Bercy Bridge, A philosopher sits. Two musicians, a few onlookers, then people by the thousands, the Parisian sky, Dawn is singing, A eternal love song, about this old town." The child, Kyra, and Nathalie sang together.
"Hey little one. What are you listening to?" Marinette asked. The girl was sitting on Nathalie's lap and they were watching this music video on a phone.
"It's a fun song called 'Under the Parisian Sky' by my favorite singer, Zaz." Kyra said and Nathalie nodded.
"I enjoyed the music Zaz produced. It's been a couple of years since I heard her music, but I always liked this song. 'Under the Parisian Sky, The good Lord's birds, Are coming from the entire world, In order to chat with each other'. I mean who thinks of something so poetic?" Nathalie asked. She glanced at Armand who smiled sweetly at her and she blushed slightly.
"You like music? Well you can help Nino with the song selections. He's creating a playlist now." Marinette suggested and young Kyra smiled.
"Wow, I can help with that?" Kyra asked and Marinette nodded.
"If you'd like. Nino's on the stage, in the DJ booth. I'm sure you can talk him into playing some music by Zaz." Marinette said and Kyra got excited.
"Yay!" She exclaimed and she hopped off Nathalie's lap and ran inside the school.
"My she is an energetic one." Nathalie said as she stepped out of the car.
"It's surprising. Kyra is no stranger to surly behavior. You two must be excellent parents." Madame Trotter said and Nathalie blushed.
"I appreciate the compliment, but we don't have children/" Nathalie said and Armand smiled.
"And we're not married." He added, and Nathalie rubbed the back of her neck as her blush got deeper.
"Yes, that too." She said, a touch bashfully.
"Pardon, I meant no disrespect." Trotter said and Armand chuckled softly.
"We need to go inside." He said, changing the subject. They entered the school and looked around. It was similar to yesterday's practice, except half of the children were setting up party supplies. Armand looked over at Nathalie. She seemed rather content with all this madness. Or perhaps, she was simply happy being around so many adorable children.
"What do you mean, you won't do the number with me?" Chloe angrily asked her best friend Sabrina.
"Well, i-it's not like I DON'T want to dance a 'Operatic Number' with you." Sabrina said, nervously.
"Then what is the problem?" Chloe asked and Sabrina hesitated.
"I-I wouldn't say 'problems', I'd say 'thoughts'. My first thought is that I don't really know any ballet. My second thought is that ballet's purpose is to use dancing to express music and human emotion that you are trying to convey, instead of words; that also means it would probably be better if you did a more romantic ballet number, if you were to do one. However, I don't think there are many boys who'd be willing to dance ballet live on TV; and I think ballet would possibly be excessively different then everything else in the show. It might be so different that people won't like it." Sabrina explained and Chloe scoffed.
"How ridiculous. Ballet is a very strict form that expresses the discipline one controls over themselves. It is beautiful; and beautiful outfits and beautiful music deserve beautiful dancing too." Chloe said and Nathalie walked up to them.
"But don't you think opera is a bit different then the rest of the fashion show music?" Sabrina asked.
"Girls, girls, I'm sure we can come to some sort of compromise." Nathalie said and they turned to her.
"Yeah? Like what?" Chloe asked. Nathalie thought about this for a moment, and glanced back at Armand for some encouragement. Armand gave her a small smile and she looked at the girls again.
"For starters, it might be possible to incorporate some opera into the show without it sticking out like a sore thumb. It all depends on the type of song you use. I mean take Queen for example. They didn't like to stick to the traditional norms of a rock created an operatic rock album, entitled 'A Night At The Opera', and their song Bohemian Rhapsody is probably still one of their most popular songs of all time. Not to mention later including some country influences in their music, and they even did an entire music video in drag. If Chloe wants opera, I'm sure we can find something that will work. It just may not be as traditional as she was originally expecting." Nathalie said.
"Well... if it's a song I like, then I guess I could still dance to it." Chloe said, and Nathalie nodded.
"Not only that, but it's always possible to take a song you love and change it to fit your needs. There was this band in the 50's or 60's called 'The Teddy Bears'. They wrote this song called 'To Know Him Is To Love Him' and it is a perfectly sweet song. It was loved so much that it was also recorded by Bobby Vinton, then the Beatles, and then even Dolly Parton and some friends of hers. We can always take a classic like The Barber of Seville's Figaro or Die Walkure's Ride of the Valkyries, and make them more modern." Nathalie said.
"I thought Flight of the Valkyries was a song by Burning Witches." Rose said and Nathalie blinked.
"Uh... I don't know who Burning Witches are. But that's precisely my point. This entire world is full of undiscovered music that can help and aid you when you need it. All we need is a couple of people who really love music to help you decide." Nathalie said.
"Music? Say no more. Me and this little dude have got you covered." Nino said, with Kyra sitting on top of his shoulders as he looked at his laptop.
"Well, I guess it's alright is Sabrina doesn't want to dance with me. Perhaps it would be better is this were a solo act." Chloe said, but then a boy walked up to her.
"If you don't want to dance alone, I'd be glad to help you." Luka said, and Chloe blushed when she saw him.
"Luka... hi, when did you get here?" Chloe said and Luka chuckled softly.
"I thought I'd give ,y sister a hand with the decorations." Luka said and Chloe tucked some hair behine her ear. Nathalie smiled at them.
"That makes sense. But I didn't know you like to dance." Chloe said and Luke shrugged.
"Honestly, I can't say that I do. But I'd like to dance with you." Luka said and Chloe chuckled nervously.
"Ok. We'd propably need a good teacher or someone who knows how to dance." Chloe said.
"I know a dancer." Armand stated and he put a hand on Nathalie's shoulder. Nathalie's eyes widened and she grew nervous.
"You know how to dance Ms. Sancoeur?" Sabrina asked, and Nathalie rubbed the back of her neck.
"I danced back in high school. That was years ago, though, and I'm definitely no teacher." Nathalie said.
"I'd really appreciate some pointers." Luka said, but Nathalie still wasn't sure.
"It's be a nice way to get your dancing slippers out of retirement ."Armand said softly.
"Ok, Armand, Can I speak to you privately for a moment." Nathalie said. They walked up a set of stairs and she ran her hands softly, thought her hair.
"What's wrong?" Armand asked and Nathalie scoffed.
"Armand." She whined and she leaned on the guardrail.
"I haven't danced in years. Why would you volunteer me like that?" Nathalie asked and Armand paused.
"First of all, I hoped you'd be flattered that I thought of you. You told me that you loved dancing a lot. Creating your own routines and dancing for your friends and family. And I promised that you would dance again." Armand said and Nathalie sighed.
"Of course, I'm flattered. But I haven't danced in years. I'm not even sure if I can anymore." Nathalie said softly. Armand was silent for a moment. Then he walked in front of Nathalie, gently grasped her hands and lowered his head so he was looking at her at eye level.
"You told me that this was something you loved. Something you were good at. And sure, maybe you would be rusty after all these years, but I'm willing to believe it would still be beautiful." Armand stated Nathalie blinked, then shook her head slightly.
"I don't get you." Nathalie said and Armand was taken back at this comment.
"What do you mean?" Armand asked and Nathalie shrugged.
"You stay silent for so long... We communicated fine regardless, it's almost funny how well we understood each other. And now that you're talking more, I... I don't know, you just keep saying these sweet things to me and being so gentle, and... you have more faith in me then I do... And I don't know why." Nathalie said and Armand smiled sweetly at her.
"Because when I look at you, and I see you smile that small smile of yours, my world gets a little brighter." Armand said. Nathalie simply couldn't believe this answer. In a single moment, Armand made her feel more beautiful more feminine, and more seen then she ever had before. Her heart pumped rapidly and her mind raced as she tried o process exactly what she was feeling. And she has an urge to do something, but she was a little afraid. Afraid of what it will mean; afraid it would change everything; afraid it's everything she's been looking for.
"You alright? Did I say something wrong?" Armand asked. How adorable! With a smile, she leaned forward and gently pressed her lips against Armand's. It was brief and a little timid, but when it was over, the two adults just stared at each other a moment.
"I'm just watching my world get a little brighter." Nathalie said softly. Armand smiled and took a deep breath.
"I'm glad." He said, and he leaned forehead against hers, lovingly.