Hi! Thank you so much for your reviews. I really appreciate any and all feedback. This chapter was by far the most difficult one to write and come up with ideas for. Why are there so many birds in the Twelve Days of Christmas song? Someone needs to re-write it and be more creative. Anyway, I hope you all enjoy this next installment.
Four Calling Birds
Adrien sulkily walked down the street with his hands in his jean pockets and his head bowed. He had once again been up all night, cooped up in his room, unable to think of any other ideas for a gift for Ladybug. So far, all of his attempts had ended in disaster to a point where Adrien was now beginning to wonder if he was cursed. What else would explain three attempts in a row failing?
Unable to handle Plagg's teasing any longer, Adrien knew he had to get out of the house and get some fresh air. Luckily, his father didn't seem to have much planned for him lately, which gave Adrien plenty of free time to ponder his situation.
The cold, wintery air did feel nice against his skin and helped keep him awake after his two sleepless nights in a row. He made sure to keep the scarf his father had given him tightly wrapped around his neck and face. For some reason, the scarf always seemed to carry with it the faint fragrance of freshly baked bread. Adrien was unsure why, but it was a nice, comforting smell, and at the same time, it was oddly familiar.
Feeling down, Adrien made sure to keep the scarf pressed against his mouth just under his nose, so that he could inhale the warm, comforting scent as he walked around the streets of Paris. However, this time, it did little to lift his spirits. He was still gift-less and unable to impress his lady. He had embarrassed himself in front of her twice now. What must she think of him?
Adrien sighed to himself as he began to walk down the quieter, more narrow streets of the city, wishing to be on his own and not have to avoid all of the Christmas shoppers who barged past him with bags full of presents as if they were trying to mock him.
Why was it so hard to come up with a gift for Ladybug?
The streets grew darker, but Adrien wasn't really paying much attention to where he was going. He just simply stared down at the ground beneath him, watching as his feet continuously stepped forward, his heart sinking lower and lower into his chest the more he thought about his situation.
Adrien needed a miracle.
"Hey, you look like a kid who has a special someone in your life."
A strange, gruff voice snapped Adrien out of his thoughts. He looked around rapidly for the sudden voice that had filled the narrow street he had been walking in. Adrien turned back around to gaze back in the direction he had come, only to see a small man he hadn't noticed before leaning against one of the streetlights. He was dressed in a long, brown trench coat, and his hair was black and greasy. He wore a matching brown bowler hat and had dark stubble on his chin. Behind him was large cage the contained four blackbirds who were happily sat on their perches, minding their own business.
Adrien looked around again, however, he was unable to see anyone else on the street, so it must have been this man who had been speaking.
"Me?" Adrien pointed to himself.
"Why of course!" The man cheerfully confirmed. "A handsome young man like you is bound to have a special someone in their life."
Adrien blushed and rubbed the back of his head shyly. "Well…there is this one girl…"
"And I'm sure she's quite the beauty as well. A beautiful girl for a handsome young man such as yourself. You need to make sure you get her an extra special gift for Christmas this year. You can't be taking beautiful girls for granted, take it from me." The man wheezed out a chuckle.
Adrien glanced down sadly. "I…I don't have a gift for her yet."
"Well then you're in luck, boy!" The man yelled excitedly, causing Adrien to immediately perk up slightly, interested in what this strange man had to say.
"You know what I could get her?"
"Aye son, and they're right here." The man gestured to the caged blackbirds behind him.
Adrien sneezed. "I think I've dealt with enough birds to last me a lifetime at this point. But thanks anyway."
Adrien was about to walk away when the man tightly clasped his arm to prevent him from leaving. Startled, Adrien stared down at the man's dirty hand before looking back up in alarm and confusion. The man quickly let go of him before gesturing to the birds again.
"Ah, but these aren't just any old birds. These birds are special."
Frowning at them, Adrien noted, "they look just like regular old blackbirds to me." He then sneezed again.
"But don't you know the amazing talents that blackbirds possess?" The man explained. "Blackbirds are almost like parrots you see, able to mimic and copy almost any sound, including human speech."
"Huh, I didn't know they could do that." Adrien stared at them in shock.
"I had these birds perched outside an opera house for days. They can now sing beautifully and I guarantee you that they'll impress your dear lady. These birds singing her a song will create the most beautiful romantic moment you could ever ask for!"
"Really?" Adrien placed a hand on his chin in thought.
Maybe this was the perfect gift? Adrien had asked for a miracle, and it seemed he had gotten one. Surely, Ladybug wouldn't be able to help being in awe at the sound of beautiful singing coming from the blackbirds? Surely this would impress her? It would certainly be an unusual and unique gift unlike any other; it would create a moment to remember forever. Maybe the song the birds would sing would be so romantic that Ladybug would fall for him right there and then.
The idea was sounding more and more appealing by the second.
"All you have to do is snap your fingers and the birds will start singing," the man continued to explain.
"Could you show me?" Adrien asked excitedly.
"I – ummm – well…" the man suddenly stuttered, "how about you keep it a surprise? That way you and your girlfriend can be amazed at the same time?"
"Hmmm…I guess…"
"Great! Then they're all yours son – errr – for a suitable price of course."
Adrien smiled, pulling out his wallet. "Do you take cash?" Adrien asked as he pulled a large wad out from his wallet, only to have the euro notes immediately snatched off him by the man.
"Cash will be great!" The man cried out as he began counting while walking off. "Enjoy."
Adrien sighed in satisfaction before turning to beam at the birds who were soon about to provide him with the perfect romantic moment. It was almost as if this strange man was a saint sent down from heaven just to help Adrien out in his moment of uncertainty. Adrien was about to turn around and thank him, however when he did so, the man had already vanished.
Beaming in delight, Adrien pulled his coat open slightly to reveal a sleepy Plagg nestled inside.
"I think I've finally found Ladybug the perfect gift!" Adrien announced.
Plagg yawned before rolling his eyes. "I refuse to accept the idea that anything other than camembert is the perfect gift. Claiming anything else to be is just blasphemy…well…unless it's another type of stinky cheese I guess."
Adrien smiled and shook his head. "We better get this gift to Ladybug! Plagg, claws out!"
"Huh, whaaa…? Heeeeey!" Plagg yelled, being drawn into the silver ring against his will.
Soon, Chat Noir stood where Adrien once did. He smiled in determination as he strode towards the birds who were still resting on their perches, seemingly unphased by the bright transformation that had just occurred before them. Wow, these birds really were well trained, Chat Noir thought to himself, certainly better than he had trained those turtle doves. He quickly shook his head at those memories, unwilling to think about how horrible that experience had gone. Hopefully this time, he would have a lot more luck.
After getting a sneezing fit out of the way, Chat Noir grabbed hold of the cage, grunting under the weight slightly, but was still luckily able to easily carry it. Extending his baton, Chat Noir carried himself and the birds to the roof of the building he had been stood next to before making a beeline for the nearest park.
With it being cold and late in the day, the park was pretty much deserted, which was exactly how Chat Noir wanted it. He didn't want anyone interrupting this moment. Tonight was just going to be him and Ladybug, and this time, nothing would go wrong. He would give Ladybug her gift and she would be amazed.
Chat Noir set the bird cage down on the ground before he sneezed and pulled out his baton again. Luckily, it looked like Ladybug was out and about this evening, patrolling the city for another night. So he wasted no time in calling her.
"Chat Noir? What are you doing out and about?" Ladybug asked in shock.
"Good evening, my lady. I have a surprise for you," Chat explained quickly, "I'll send you my location."
"A surprise? What do you mean?"
"You'll see," Chat Noir purred happily before hanging up the call and sending her his location. He then stood as far away from the birdcage as possible to prevent any further sneezing fits, and waited.
The streetlights were beginning to turn on, as were lights in people's houses and apartments. It gave the city a very warm, orange glow as the clouds in the sky began to turn a deep shade of purple. Chat Noir's heart began to flutter in his chest at the thought of Ladybug arriving at any second. No matter how much time went by, his love for her was still as overwhelming as it had been when he had first fallen for her.
However, his heart soon leapt upwards and almost exited his mouth at the sound of Ladybug landing behind him. He turned around and plastered on the warmest smile he could, though he had a feeling that it probably looked really awkward and goofy. Ladybug stared at him in confusion as she slowly and cautiously walked over to him, suspicious over what he had planned.
"Can you tell me what's going on now?" Ladybug asked, beginning to sound a little bit worried.
"Ssssh." Chat Noir gently wrapped his arm around her shoulder and pointed towards the blackbirds. "We'll just let the birds do the talking."
Biting his lip in excitement, Chat Noir snapped his fingers.
SCREEEEEEEEEECCCCCCHHHH!
Both Chat Noir and Ladybug yelped, instantly covering their ears to protect them from the horrific sound escaping from the beaks of the four blackbirds. It sounded a thousand times worse than someone running their nails down a chalkboard. Chat Noir uncovered one of his ears and snapped his finger again, desperate the make the loud and painful noise stop. A few people were beginning to look out of their windows, curious and annoyed over the horrible racket.
But no matter how many times Chat Noir snapped his fingers, the birds just wouldn't stop.
"Is this your surprise?!" Ladybug yelled in confusion over the cringe inducing screeching of the birds.
"Ummm…"
Frowning, Ladybug ran over towards the bird cage and began fiddling with the clasp on the door until she finally figured out how to unhook it.
"No more evil doing for you, little birds," Ladybug said as she opened the cage door and stepped aside.
The birds immediately stopped screeching and burst free from their confinement, soaring into the sky. Ladybug and Chat Noir watched as they disappeared behind some buildings. However, Chat Noir soon looked away and down at the ground, unable to look Ladybug in the eye, his black, leather ears drooping slightly. He had been scammed. He had been scammed and humiliated. How could Chat Noir have been so stupid? Now he had just embarrassed himself once again. He had embarrassed himself, annoyed Ladybug, annoyed half of Paris, and was still without a decent gift for his lady.
"Chat Noir?" Ladybug questioned in concern.
"I…I've gotta go," Chat Noir mumbled pathetically, fighting back tears of frustration and shame before extending his baton, leaving a confused and worried Ladybug behind.
Uhhhh, I know from experience that there's nothing worse than screeching birds. I was cringing just writing about them. Poor, naïve Chat Noir. Here's hoping that he might have some better luck in the next chapter. In the meantime, feel free to let me know your thoughts in a review, as it always helps. See you tomorrow.