A/N: hello! i want to heavily emphasize this fic is pure self-indulgence at its finest. i don't know what pairing is endgame, but i think i'm going to give two different endings for readers to choose from (eg. adrien ending/luka ending). also this is a rockband au, there are no powers here- just unbridled romance, angst and instruments. rating may change. i will occasionally plug in some songs this fic features.
fic title is based on the song slowly but surely by dream, ivory. this song is right here in the first chapter. please give it a listen when you reach that moment. happy reading!
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chapter 1: welcome 2 music forecast
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Marinette lives a normal life.
Day after day, she attends university, procrastinating on doing homework and showing up to her classes maybe five minutes late because she needs a coffee. She lives with her parents, though her mother and father both being nurses and working odd shifts makes her see them less, but it's not that bad though, because Marinette is fresh into her twenties, a sparkling twenty-two, so having the house to herself most of the time isn't on her list of complaints.
It's this dull bookseller job.
Marinette drags her eyes tiredly to the empty line across from her. It's another slow day at the bookstore. In front of her, her register makes a popping noise before ejecting the till totally unprompted. Marinette sighs, already having herself stand inches away. She's been gutted far too many times to count, and at least this time this register gave a warning. Other times, Marinette hadn't been so lucky.
She pushes the till back in, slamming it shut. For a moment, it stays in and Marinette watches it, her blue eyes suspicious. A minute passes where it seems like it wouldn't pop back out, so carefully, Marinette inches close, pressing the touchscreen to reset the machine-
Marinette felt the till hit her square in her stomach before she could blink.
"Marinette?" her manager calls out from somewhere in the bookstore, behind the low sounds of smooth jazz playing, "did it happen again?"
"I'm okay!" Marinette says, her voice cheery. Her face, however, is anything but. Taking on the advice her manager gave her some time ago, Marinette closes the till, moving to another one. It is safer, as it's properly functioning, but the downside is that it was in the customer service booth, not the cashier area.
"Another slow day, another slow dollar," she mutters, "hopefully I get to go home early-"
Her phone buzzes in her back pocket and Marinette nearly jumps in fright, her expression frazzled. She is either tired or extremely done, because she pulls out her phone like she doesn't recognize it or maybe doesn't want to. Still, she casts a surreptitious glance around, making sure there were no customers or her manager in sight. She picks up the call.
"Girl, you have got to come to this gig I'm at," It's Alya, sounding every bit excited, "Remember Nino? The guy I hooked up with two weeks ago?"
"I'm at work," Marinette whispered, "I can't come. Tell me about this later?"
But Alya tutted, "How many times I told you to quit that job? You hate working there-"
"Alya."
"Fine, fine," Alya gave a sigh, making Marinette wince at how ear-scratchy it sounded over the phone, "but I'm texting you where the spot's at anyways."
"Alya." Marinette repeated.
"Just in case you change your mind girl, don't make a fuss. I love ya, byeee."
Marinette pulls the phone away to see Alya was true to her word. In seconds, she already sent her the location of the place and even instructions of which train to take. Did Alya forget where she worked? Marinette bites her lip, seeing it was a walking distance. Tearing her eyes away from her phone, and looking out the display windows, she could see the sky turning dark soon, with her shift ending in three hours.
"Marinette," her manager calls over the store's speakers, "you can go home for today. It's too slow. I'm closing shop."
The sound of the mic turning off followed, as well as the fluorescent backlights overhead flickering off. Marinette blinked, her blue eyes small in muted surprise.
Well. There's that.
The place is a small venue next to a grocery store.
At first, Marinette felt she got the address wrong because from the outside, it looks like a moderately sized coffee shop. However, after taking a few steps, Marinette spots it. Right next to its entrance, there's a bright blue door with the words 'MUSIC FORECAST' written in rainbow spray paint. The words are surrounded by a square wreath of LED fairy lights, making any onlooker that's passing by attract their attention. Marinette, standing in front of the door in trepidation, gives a nervous gulp.
She didn't go home to change, so the self-conscious bit is coming in. Wearing a simple floral shirt, and her usual pink pants, she looks down, taking in her flats. Maybe she should just go home.
The blue door opens though, a blast of music echoing out, and spilling into the street. Marinette blinks, face to face with a smirking Alya.
"I was about to go pick you up," she says, laughing, "look at that."
"It was a slow day." Marinette smiles, looking only a little comforted, "Alya, I kind of feel too self-conscious to go inside. Look at my clothes."
"You look fine," Alya takes her hand, pulling her in, and Marinette makes a panicked squeak, "I keep telling you that you could walk around in a hot dog costume and you will still look amazing. That's how hot you are, girl."
"Nah," Marinette blushes under the dim lighting of the hallway, "you're completely exaggerating."
But all she gets is a fake punch to her shoulder and a wink, "don't know when you're going to realize, Marinette. But I promise to be there right with you when you do."
Marinette smiles and Alya beams right back, not letting go of her hand as she leads them into the venue. The hallway is all narrow and blue lights, that by the time they make it to the open area, Marinette exhales an air of freedom. It's kind of short-lived though, because as Marinette looks around, she sees the place is nearly packed, much like the dance floor of a club. And it's loud. Very loud.
"We gotta go up to Nino," Alya yells, "he's up in the front." Marinette shoots her wide eyes to the large crowd of people in front of her and Alya grips her hand tighter in response. "Don't let go of my hand, okay?"
Before she gives a nod, Alya walks in the crowd, pulling her in with her. Immediately, Marinette feels bodies around her, bumping and sliding between them as they get through. All she stares at, not to catch anyone's angry eyes, is the orange of Alya's ends, growing in vibrancy as they get close to the white stage lights in the front. Marinette feels Alya squeeze her hand then, and she smiles, knowing her best friend is saying that they're almost there.
She knows she's free from the masses when a cool rush of air sweeps through her body. Marinette blinks, not realizing how sweaty she had gotten.
"Marinette, this way," Alya pulls her to a empty looking corner right a few feet from the stage. Marinette follows dutifully, careful to avoid the slew of cables all over the blackened gum-speckled floor. Right there, sitting on a metal folding chair among guitar and piano cases, is Nino. His cap is reversed, and he's looking at the crowd with a grin on his face when Marinette and Alya come up to him.
"Hey Marinette! Alya, what," he says, looking back and forth at her and Marinette, "did you take a cab or something?"
"Work let me off early," Marinette says, "I was already kind of outside."
"Standing there like the place was going to eat her up." Alya laughs. Marinette elbows her and she giggles more. Nino shook his head with a smile.
"Well, glad you made it anyways. I don't know if Alya told you, but I'm in a band. We're gonna play soon, like in five minutes."
Alya straightens at that while Marinette's eyes go twinkle mode. "What do you play? Ooh, wait, I'll see it on stage. It could be a surprise?"
"Ha, yeah. I'm down with that."
"So wait," Alya begins, looking at the stage, "you guys are starting in five minutes. Where are they?"
Nino doesn't appear to be worried and Marinette follows Alya's eyes, seeing the stage already ready with instruments in their stands.
"They're in the dressing room. Chloe takes the longest, as always, and I guess Max is helping her. As for ad-er, Chat," Marinette draws her brows at the nickname, "he's finishing putting on his costume. We're always fashionably late, so, it's no big."
"What's the name of your band?" Marinette asks.
"You can save that also as a surprise," Nino offers, smiling.
"It'll build the mood." Alya says, looking excited. "I remember I got so antsy because he barely told me any information either."
Marinette feels Alya's excitement thrum through her, and she beams, looking back to the stage to eagerly wait. Alya uses the moment of her distraction then, to then plant Nino a kiss, wishing him luck and in response, he hugs her, close and tight. Marinette, using that moment, quickly whips out her phone and puts it on camera mode, taking a picture with flash. Alya and Nino break apart, shock and pink cheeks on their faces.
"You better send me that," Alya says, smirking. Nino hugs her again, smiling into her neck.
Marinette does it before she forgets and gives Alya a wink, seeing how deep Nino is for her. His eyes are closed, almost like he found his happy place, and he's hugging Alya with a little sway. Alya is blushing and mouths to Marinette 'he's the one'.
It's the sound of mic adjustment that causes Marinette, and everyone in the venue, to look onto the stage. There, standing tall and in front of the mic, is a guy in a black leather suit that fits his lean muscular frame too well. His blond hair is well-styled, complimenting him perfectly.
"Mic check, mic check," his voice sings. Squeals of nearly all the women in the large crowd erupt through the venue, following the sound of shouts of some men. Marinette winces at how loud it suddenly got.
But the guy gives a breathy laugh over the mic, nonplussed, and sweeps a look around. Marinette watches him, seeing the mask on his face, and the black cat ears clipped to his hair. This must be Chat, the guy Nino mentioned, she thought. As she's watching him, her blue eyes in wonder, his green eyes slides to Nino, seeing him and Alya. Marinette ducks a bit, to avoid him in a weird moment of shyness.
"Aaand my bandmate is totally over there, in love," Chat says, "oh, to be young-"
Nino laughs, looking at him. "Dude, shut up, we're the same age!"
Chat grins as the crowd laughs, with Alya sticking her tongue out at him for putting them on the spot. Nino gives her a kiss on the cheek and then walks around her, jogging up the stage.
"How's everyone doing tonight?" he says, once in front of the mic. The crowd cheers, a mix of positive energies all through. Nino grins and looks at Chat with a thumbs up.
"I know the last time we performed was only two days ago, but jeez," he continues, "it's been a while."
Marinette couldn't help to laugh along with the crowd at that one, her blue eyes crinkling. Beside her, Alya shifts, popping the buttons of her plaid shirt open.
"It's so hot in here, I don't know how he does it," Alya gives a nod at Chat's direction and Marinette follows, nodding as well.
"I thought I was the only one," she says, and pulls her shirt over her head, revealing a black tank top and sweat glistening on her skin, "they need to install overhead fans or something."
"Or an AC?" Alya offers smugly. Marinette elbows her again, a laugh on her lips.
"This crowd is ridiculous," a new voice says from the stage, "utterly ridiculous. Where did you all come from and why weren't you guys here two days ago?"
Marinette looks over to see a blond haired girl with a well? expression on her face. In her yellow bodycon dress, the girl put her hands on her hips, clearly indicating she is serious for an answer.
"Work!" one lone voice shouts from the crowd. She blinks at that as suddenly the entire crowd erupts with responses.
"Feeding my cat!" "Night class!" "I came too late!" were weirdly consistent responses from everyone.
"Fine," the girl says after the shouting subsides, "I suppose we all have lives, don't we? Ugh."
Another bandmate then comes through at that moment, his hair in white locks. He crosses his arms over his green turtleneck, expression proud under his glasses.
"Chloe, you sound soft...for once. Don't think the crowd is used to it." he says.
"Please Max, guys, don't start," Chat cuts in, and Marinette watches on worriedly, wondering if argument is about to happen on stage. Alya comes to her ear then.
"This is pretty much a skit they do all the time apparently. They did this last time I was here. Chloe, that girl, says something, and Max, that cutie over there, throws in a comment. Chat's the diffuser and Nino, well. You see him."
He was digging his nose, then flicking his find to an unknown place.
Marinette raises a brow and Alya shrugs, eyes back to the stage. Well, it's an opener that grabs attention, no doubt.
After Chat does like Alya said he would do, the crowd cheers when he succeeds. Marinette watches him, somewhat entranced, as he smiles into the mic, the lights overhead dimming suddenly almost like he expected it. She realizes then they're all getting into position to play. With now the lights off, Chat takes the guitar by his side, it a bright neon green in color, and puts the strap over his shoulders. Marinette watches the others follow suit, except for Nino, who is heading to the drums. It's weird seeing them all move in the dark like nothing, but, she thinks as her eyes shine with excitement, this is what you call a band. They know where everything is, how everything should be.
Alya grabs her hand then, running them back into the crowd and Marinette truly can't say she's surprised.
"Why, Alya?" is all she says. They're right in the front, in the middle.
"Because," she says, "being a band member's girlfriend comes with quirks. I intend to use them."
Marinette opens her mouth, about to retort-
The sound of an electric guitar smoothly strums with a reverb that Marinette feels in her bones. She looks onto the stage, seeing the color of blue from the hallway earlier, fade in overhead, and she watches then, as Chat plays on his guitar, his gloved fingers deftly strumming the strings with his head bowed and letting the sounds pour out in his concentration. Only he is playing for a moment, repeating the same rhythm,
and then the bass and drums drop.
Marinette watches as Nino and Max begin to move and sway to their sounds, while Chat still plays his tune. Marinette feels something in the pit of her stomach. She doesn't know what it is or why it's suddenly there, but her palms- they're sweaty. She blinks, trying to will away her nerves.
Max and Nino stop their instruments for a moment, with only Chat playing. She stills, staring at Chat's figure and seeing him raise his head up.
He's smiling almost fondly.
Her heart stops.
And with the snare of the drums, the melodic sounds from a new guitar echo through with now all the instruments playing together. The lights blare on with every bass tremble, and the rainbow brilliance of disco lights blending with it. The large crowd cheers, beginning to jump and sway, but Marinette stands there, the rush of the reverberating sounds coursing through and stilling her, as she sees Chloe, the girl with the attitude earlier, playing the atmospheric melody.
"If this is anyone's first time here," Chat begins to say over the music, his lips pressing to mic, "welcome. We are Le Chat Noir, or The Black Cat. And yes," Nino hits the snares double just in time to his quip, "I am wearing a costume for the part. I look purrfect, don't I?"
Marinette flushes as the crowd goes nuts at his pun. The way she said yes mentally-
Chat Noir begins to sing then, his eyes a longing look in them, passes through the crowd, "and I start wondering, and I don't know what to do," Marinette slowly begins to sway, smiling almost sweetly at the sound of his voice, "is your time and attention worth the pain you put me through?"
Chat looks at the front row, seeing Alya already giving him an excited thumbs up. He smiles to her, sliding his eyes to girl next to her as he sings his next lines, "say that you love me, that I'm the only one for you," his breath hitches, seeing her sway, her eyes closed and almost lost to the music. Her hair is loose, a dark, rich color of blue, and her skin, beautifully contrasting the black of her shirt- "and I can't understand why that changes all soon," he sings, his eyes soft and stuck on her- he's singing to her, even if the words dribbling out his mouth are the farthest from his mind.
He doesn't hesitate then. With a vocal break in place for a moment, he shoots a look at Alya who was already watching him with a knowing smile. He grins at her, all cheshire as she taps Marinette's shoulder and, swooping his guitar around his back and crouching down, he extends out his hand just as Marinette opens her eyes, coming to face with it.
"Take it!" People are already shouting in the crowd.
Marinette blinks and looks up at him, seeing him smile at her, all canine fondness.
"It'll please me, milady," he shouts over the music, "take my hand."
Marinette takes it, nerves frayed and face red as a strawberry as he pulls her up with ease. And suddenly she's on stage, holding and pressing against Chat Noir's frame. He laughs brightly, his face flushing under his mask when she giggles at him, at the situation.
His moment to get back on the mic comes up again, and so after the drum and melody solo, he twirls away from Marinette playfully, motioning for her to dance as she was doing before. And she doesn't hesitate. With a challenging smile, she moves her arms and hips, swaying it to the beat of the snares. Chat sings then, head tilted away from the crowd as he watches her,
"Carry on, carry on, carry on, just find someone that's new. It took me some time to see that our love has yet to grow, 'cause loving someone's not just something said, it must be shown," Marinette nods furiously at this bit, her eyes closed yet determined and Chat laughs, shaking his head as he almost trips over his lines, "and I think it's time to tell you something you should know…"
All instruments pause save for the melody and Chat noir, still singing, looks visibly caught as Marinette pauses right with them, like she knew. And as quick the instruments had paused, they pick up again- with Marinette dancing to the rhythm as the large crowd cheers her on.
"Just let me go," he sings, eyes warm on her, and she meets his eyes, her cheeks bright and pink. Just as the song draws to a close, and he's singing his last line, he extends his hand out to her for her intertwine.
"Just let me..." he finishes melodically as she takes it, her lips parted.
The song ends and the crowd cheers with heavy applause and yells. Chat Noir smiles at her and Marinette can't help but grin in complete joy.
"You were wonderful, milady." he says, earnest.
Marinette's eyes crinkle at him. "Thank you, kitty cat."
They finish their gig after four songs, one break in between. It was a short one with them re-tuning their guitars, drinking some water and making sure everything was alright for their next set. By the time Chat was done, he couldn't even walk off the stage, not even for a moment, what with Max already rolling timeframes for them to start in five minutes. Chat searched the crowd for that girl, wanting to get her name or at least a goodbye. After she had hopped off the stage, guided by his hand, she turned and gave him a sweet, cherry smile. (Adrien could only blush underneath his mask. She was just so-)
The girl began looking around for who he could assume to be Alya, but her friend wasn't anywhere in sight. Chat watched as the girl's frame squeezed through the crowd, all the while getting claps on her back and cheers. He figured she would return, so he smiled, repositioning his guitar and turning to his band, all ready.
But. By the time their second song came up, she didn't come back. Chat sang, his eyes unable to stop from searching for her. Third song came, nothing. At the end of the fourth song, with some crew helping them to pack it up, he still gave a pasted smile to the large crowd, all the while feeling a weird anxiety plague in his gut. Would he see her again?
He didn't know.
And now. Now he was in the dressing room, absently staring at himself through the mirror.
Adrien blinks, shaking himself out of it and continues carefully removing the adhesive off his upper cheek with a wipe. His black mask is already put away in his bag, along with his costume- he just always took care of the glue before he left a gig.
"Adrikins."
His shoulders jump, the wipe nearly missing his eye, and he, trying his best to hide his discomfort, comes face to face with Chloe standing right behind him.
"Hi Chloe," he winces at her standing awfully close to him, "what's up?"
"What's up?" she mocks him. "What's up? What was that?"
It'd be a lie if he said he didn't already see this coming. Though him and Chloe weren't in a relationship, she was incredibly possessive and protective of him- something to which, he didn't know how to handle.
"What was what?"
She taps her fingers against her arm, unimpressed. Adrien offers her an unsure grin, trying to go for the I don't know what you're talking about route.
"That girl," Chloe says, "I've never seen her before, and I doubt you'd just scoop a random girl and put her on the stage with us, so tell me what's her name."
Adrien looks to the side at that. "Well, Chloe, about that-"
"I knew it!" she stomps her foot. "You don't know her! Do you realize she could've found out who you are with how close she was-"
"She didn't." he quips almost disappointedly, "I'm pretty sure everyone would be posting stuff about 'Adrien Agreste, famous fashion model, wearing a cat costume' by now."
"That is not the point, Adrikins." Chloe draws her brows, looking at him almost pleadingly, "You do know what it means for us if your father finds out."
"The band is done, I know," he says, "he's my father, Chloe. You really don't have to remind me."
She opens her mouth at that, looking a bit guilty now and Adrien looks at her, not liking that he's the cause of it. He tosses a smile at her to lessen the tone of his words. "I just wanted to have a good time on the stage, that's all. You know I barely get to have fun because of father."
She purses her lips for a moment before she nods, sighing. "I get that, but just...be careful?"
Adrien gives her a tight-lipped smile. "Won't do it again. Don't worry about it."
She smiles at him, a smile he knows he's only of the few she allows to share with, and then walks out of the dressing room, taking her leave. Adrien stares after her, his mind overlapping her walking away to that girl looking for her friend in the crowd.
Would he see her again?
...He wants to.
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A/N: leave a comment if you enjoyed or want give feedback/suggestions~