Nathanael sat in his pjs, with a steaming cup of tea in front of him. On his computer he was sharing a three way video chat with Rose and Juleka. Rose sat on her bed, her room pink and bright from twinkling Christmas lights, eating popcorn and lounging on stacks of pillows. Juleka was at her desk, most of her dark room obscured by her face and giant headphones.
"A date?!" Cried Rose. "You got a date with Marinette!"
"Not in so many words," said Nathanael hiding behind his large mug. "I'm just going to her house. We're gonna finish our project and then she'll do some modeling for me."
"Doesn't this feel more satisfying than awkwardly asking her to a movie?" Asked Juleka with a self satisfied smile.
"Okay a little," admitted Nathanael. He held the cup with both hands and traces the lip with his thumb, a shy smile spreading on his face. "It'll be really nice."
"Don't worry, Nathanael. If this goes well you really could ask her to the movies!" Said Rose who was attempting to catch popcorn in her mouth.
"Okay but I think we all know the real story is Nathanael and Ladybug," exclaimed Juleka.
"I'm sorry, what?" Asked Nathanael, choking on his tea. "Why does everyone keep asking me about that?"
"So there is something?" Asked Juleka.
"Wait, now I'm confused," cried Nathanael.
"Well we heard some people talking about how you two were on the field," said Rose. "We didn't know for sure."
"But you just confirmed it for us. So you may as well spill the beans," said Juleka with a wink. Nathanael let out a sigh and took a long sip of tea before answering them.
"Well I heard a cry for help and, I dunno, ever since the Akuma thing I've been feeling a little guilty and I know how it feels. So I ran in there, but I got stopped right away. I was up in the vines. When Ladybug got the bad guy I just dropped down on top of her. I made some stupid joke I don't remember and we had a laugh. There, see? Nothing illicit. Exactly what I told Adrien," said Nathanael.
"Adrien?" Asked Rose.
"Yeah," said Juleka. "That boy drools over Ladybug. Not that he'd ever have a chance with her."
"Wait, Adrien likes Ladybug?" Asked Nathanael, his heart plummeting to his feet.
"Yeah that's why he doesn't even look twice at any other girl," said Juleka.
"I thought Ladybug and Chat Noir were a thing," said Rose.
"No no," said Nathanael.
"How do you know?" Asked Juleka.
"OH! Uhm…. Alya? Yeah her blog," bumbled Nathanael.
"Duh, right," said Juleka.
"So… Adrien really has a crush on Ladybug?" Asked Nathanael. This was bad news. Terrible news. If Adrien ever found out that Marinette was Ladybug, or if Marinette ever found out Adrien liked Marinette… he'd lose her forever. Not that she was really his to lose.
"Yeah, that's why we're so certain you have a chance with her," bubbled Rose.
"How do you figure?" Asked Nathanael glumly.
"Well Adrien wouldn't give Marinette the time of day, romantically, because he's too invested in Ladybug. Eventually Marinette is going to get bored of getting ignored and she'll realize how sweet and loving you are," said Juleka.
"I mean I guess you have a point," sighed Nathanael. "I'll guess we'll just have to see how everything unfolds."
"You're the one with the date this weekend," said Rose.
"Well… alright you've got me there," said Nathanael perking up a bit.
"You could even ask her to the big dance!" Said Rose.
"The big dance? God how cliche," said Juleka.
"No it's so romantic," said Rose. "Just look at Nathanael he's all dreamy just thinking about it!"
"Shut up!" Said Nathanael, hiding his tomato red face.
"Rose! Would you come here for a minute?" Called a voice from Rose's house. Rose gave them a gesture that said she'd be right back and pulled out her earbuds and ran out of the room. Nathanael uncovered his face and gave Juleka a questioning look.
"So, I take it you haven't asked her yet?" He said.
"I have no idea what you mean," said Juleka, turning to the side indignantly.
"Oh yeah right. I mean, yeah, the big dance is kind of cliche but it is really romantic. It would be the best place for you to finally tell Rose how you feel."
"I just… I'm not ready," said Juleka deflating.
"You have been not ready for a really time."
"Oh you're one to talk!"
"Okay fair enough, but Marinette is a different story than Rose," said Nathanael. "She's your best friend."
"Exactly! I don't even know if she likes girls. What if this ruins that friendship?"
"But what if she also really likes you, and is just too nervous to say it. If you keep this quiet you could end up torturing yourselves. That's not fair to either of you."
"Okay, I'll make you a deal," said Juleka.
"Hit me."
"If you get Marinette to go to the dance with you, I'll ask Rose."
"Oh god," said Nathanael, putting his head on his desk. "That's the most unfair option."
"I think I'd call it a 'win win.'"
"Or a 'lose lose.'"
"Well that's the deal, take it or leave it," said Juleka. Rose started to make noises of entering the room.
"Okay, okay fine. You have a deal," said Nathanael quickly.
The night was warm and bright, the moon nearly full and cast a glow across the rooftops of Paris. Ladybug leaned against a stone chimney, twirling her yo-yo in circles as she surveyed the city below her. It was a peaceful night. She hadn't really needed to dawn the costume at all, but it wouldn't be like her to just skip the nightly patrols she took.
Across the street was Nathanael's apartment. She knew which room was his and saw his light bring a warm glow into the room. Although she couldn't see him, she knew he was safe. His home had become part of her nightly stops, along with Adrien's house, Alya's and a few other places. Nothing much ever happened, thank goodness, but it was important to her to make sure the people closest to her were safe. Especially if they had her secret.
"Fancy meeting you here, my lady," came a sultry purr from behind her. Ladybug rolled her eyes and smiled. Chat Noir came up behind her, hoping up the short distance and sitting atop the chimney. Her head was at the same level as his stomach and she cast her eyes up at him.
"Fancy meeting you at all today," she said with a hint of bitterness. Chat let out a mockingly hurt laugh.
"Ouch, my lady. What is that supposed to mean?" He asked.
"Oh, nothing. I just had to take care of an Akuma earlier. By myself."
"Now that's not fair. You know I can't be everywhere you are. As much as I would love to," he said gazing out over the night. Truthfully he had known about the Akuma but he hadn't been in the best place to take care of it.
He and Alya had been on the roof of the school to run an experiment for their project together. She was the one to notice the jungle growing in the middle of the soccer field. Right away Adrien tried to find a way to sneak away, but when he tried to slip away he found Chloe waiting in the stairs, talking with Sabrina, and he knew there was no way to slip past her.
He and Alya eventually abandoned the project to watch the jungle. Ladybug fled into the plants fearlessly, which was no surprise. Both Alya and Adrien fawned over her bravery as Alya recorded what she could on her phone. However another person ran into the jungle a little hesitantly, and the duo couldn't figure that one out.
"From what I heard," said Chat. "You had a little help."
"Help?" Scoffed Ladybug, but just a little too defensively. "From who?"
"Oh, I mean my sources could be wrong, but I thought you had a little help from the 'fearless' Nathanael."
"If you mean I used him as live bait, then yes I suppose he helped me."
"And you cuddled on the field?"
"He fell on top of me, yes. Are you jealous, pretty kitty?" Asked Ladybug with a smug grin.
"No!" Said Chat, standing up quickly. "I just… I thought I was your partner."
"Oh Chat Noir," said Ladybug turning to him. She patted his shoulder. "You are my partner. No one is replacing you. A little outside help is… not the same as you."
"Do you mean that, my lady?"
"There is only one Chat Noir, thank goodness."
"So perhaps you should kiss me," said Chat Noir leaning closer to her.
"Oh stuff it. Why would I do that?"
"I'm irreplaceable so you should just accept I'm yours."
"Nice try," said Ladybug with a laugh. She pushed away from the chimney and started to walk across the roof. She cast one last glance toward Nathanael's room. He was Marinette's partner, and Ladybug's sidekick. Chat Noir could learn to deal with that even with his jealousy.
"Do you like him, then?" Asked Chat, running behind her.
"Who?" Asked Ladybug, watching the streets and ignoring him.
"Nathanael."
"What? Don't be silly."
"You'd be barking up the wrong tree anyway," said Chat with a shrug.
"He's not gay, Chat."
"Hey whoa I didn't say that. He's head over heels for Marinette."
"I'm pretty sure he's over that since the whole… Akuma situation. But she is pretty cute," said Ladybug with a small laugh.
"Maybe I'm barking up the wrong tree," said Chat and ladybug smacked him.
"For your information I do like someone. A boy someone."
"Oh now this is interesting, my lady. Could it be yours truly?"
"In your dreams, kitty."
"So who is it, then?" Asked Chat with worry.
"Every girl has her secrets, partner," said Ladybug with a wink. She tossed her yo-yo into the distance and allowed it to hook against a building and pull her toward it. Chat Noir watched her fly away but didn't chase after her. Their nightly patrols were meant to be done apart, so they could cover more ground. He turned and went the other direction.
He couldn't help but feel like she was hiding something from him, and he didn't like that. Of course they kept their identities secret, that was just the decency of it all. Yet, she liked someone that wasn't him and he felt a pit in his stomach. Who could have captured his attention so thoroughly? Whatever happened he knew he had to find out.
After Nathanael had said goodnight to his friends, he went downstairs to make himself another cup of tea. He knew it would keep him awake until all hours, but it would help him think and calm him down. As he entered his room he decided to open one of the windows and crawl out onto the exposed patch of roof. The night was warm and bright and he stared out over the twinkling city lights as his tea cooled.
"What are you doing awake?" Asked a voice from behind him. The voice startled him and he jumped, turning to see who it was, cradling his mug.
"I could ask you the same thing," he said with a smile. Ladybug stood further back on the roof twirling her yo-yo. She walked over and sat down next to him. He returned to sitting with his knees drawn up close.
"I just finished my nightly patrol and was heading home," she said.
"Your patrol brings you this far out of your way?" He asked.
"It's not really that far," she said vaguely. It would be embarrassing to admit she checked on him. "What are you drinking?"
"Tea. Black tea. With a lot of sugar and milk," he said with a weak laugh. "My mom always makes it like this and it just kind of stuck. Want to try?"
"Why not," she said. He handed her the cup and she took it gingerly. She took a sip and her eyes lit up, the warmth spreading down through her. She forgot how cold her nightly patrols made her, even on warm nights.
"This is amazing," she said. "I really need to drink this after every patrol. This suit does not keep you as warm as you'd think."
"I'm glad you like it," he said proudly as she handed the cup back to him.
"I know I keep saying it, but it's really nice to have someone know about me," she said. "I'm sorry I was so angry at first. I was just scared and I didn't know if I could trust you."
"I understand, Marinette. I'm just glad I can help."
"Me too. It's not going to get any easier, you know that, right?"
"I think I'm ready. Do you think I could list professional sidekick on a resume?"
"Sure, when I can put superheroine," she said with a laugh.
"Come up with any names for me yet?" He asked.
"Ladylad?"
"While I have no problems wearing a dress, I think it might give some people the wrong idea."
"Gonna have to think about it more," she said cheerfully.
"At the rate we're at I might never get a name."
"Oh shut up," she said playfully shoving him. "I'm doing my best. I've never had a sidekick before. I don't know all the protocol."
"I'm just teasing. You're doing great, Marinette. Honestly."
"I'm… I'm trying," she said tiredly. She stood up and brushed off her already immaculate suit. "But if I don't get home soon I won't get enough sleep. I'll see you tomorrow?"
"Of course you will. Goodnight, Marinette," he said smiling at her.
"Goodnight, Nathanael," she said with a wink and shot off into the night.
Nathanael sat on the roof, staring out over the city and night sky, holding his tea with both hands. Small curls of steam curved up into his face and warmed his chin and cheeks. He had some small anxieties creep into his stomach, like Adrien and the weight of Rose and Juleka's possible relationship resting on his shoulders. Still he and Marinette were closer than they had ever been. The worst case scenario, her finding out Adrien loves Ladybug, would still end with them having a close friendship. Something was better than nothing, right?