Taking a second look was even better than the first. It was like watching a movie you really liked and getting to take in even more details. He stood in the doorway, watching the ever-present, full dance floor with L.B. still doing some pretty awesome moves from what he could see. She was still surrounded by so many people doing their own thing and looking on top of their own little worlds. The dj in the corner seemed to be enjoying himself despite the song's lyrics not being understood in the slightest.
He finally noted that there was a projector giving a translation to whatever the singers were going on about for those that didn't speak that language. He thought it was pretty cool and read some of the words. The song was pretty interesting, but it ended and another of the same band replaced it (1).
He found a few people loitering near the corner just chatting and bobbing their heads to the new song that immediately sprang up. A brow went up, but he figured they came to be free, just like The Illustrator said. That didn't mean they were forced to dance if they didn't want to.
Speaking of the painter, he moved out of the way when there was a tap on his shoulder and found The Illustrator behind him. He watched The Illustrator tote quite a large, blank canvas to the other side of the room and set it on the floor. His confusion and curiosity started to grow as The Illustrator left and immediately came back with a handful of paints. He opened all the cans and set everything to the edge of the canvas...and then proceeded to do something Adrien had never witnessed.
The Illustrator was a painter. Adrien could grasp that much given the way this guy held a palette. But, to see someone dance and use such moves to draw on canvas... He watched utterly transfixed as The Illustrator would bend and twist in time to the music in his own way, deftly sticking his fingers in various colors and slapping them on the board as he moved (2). It was amazing and Adrien wondered if there were any other artists out there who could mix two such types of creation together. He wondered at how such a thing was ever created and figured that the ability of any artist was to make things others never considered possible because their gift was creativity.
It took the end of another song and a rhythm twist to jog him away from The Illustrator's work. The choppiness of it...the total rap feel...(3) A smile broke through as he practically bounded to the edge of the floor and started in. He let the music dictate the movements for his limbs. A few times he managed to twist in the direction of the lyrics on the screen so he could figure out what else was going on with the song.
The feel of the beat and the melody drove him on and he lost himself in it. He felt the world upstairs disappear for the song he danced to. He showed off to his first time, hopping around and doing a few handstands around the edge of the crowd.
The high running through him was amazing! He forgot who he was, the time, the world, his family, his life, and his responsibilities. All that mattered were the kindred souls surrounding the overly warm room, the loud beat in his ears, the need to move, and the colored lights. His natural ballet abilities served him well, but they soon twisted, tainted, into something that was more from his soul...from who he could actually be with the face paint on and the cat ears above his head.
He danced and danced, not wanting to get off the floor and quit the emotions running through him. He didn't feel embarrassed for the way he moved and he didn't care if anyone was even watching him. He came to dance, to be free...just like The Illustrator said.
He stopped when the song finished and took a second to catch his breath, trying not to wipe the sweat from his forehead. He could feel the paint sliding off his face with the beads falling and took the room in again for a second.
He had never been more grateful than in this second for that invite mysteriously appearing in his locker and he silently thanked whoever put it there. The info from this afternoon, a lifetime away, ran through his head. Whoever decided to make him part of the club had his eternal thanks and he wished he could find this person and shake his or her hand!
The music didn't start up after a few more seconds and he looked around as the crowd quieted down. They were looking to the corner of the room as the dj picked up a mic. "Hey, hey all! We have a newb in the house tonight and from where I can see, he's looking pretty good! No complaints from this side of the room! Anyone want to break him in properly and give him a good Miraculous Underground welcome? What...no? No takers?"
He wanted to feel embarrassed for having done as much as he did, but the point was to dance as he wanted and if he wanted to show off, he would show off. He had danced for so many years and even if it was ballet, he did know other things. If he was sure of anything, it was his talent.
He couldn't help the smile that crept up to his face when people merely stared at him and denied wanting to take him on. He listened to a few claim it unfair on his first day and others saying they didn't want to lose. It was an ego stroke and he let it get to his head. "It's okay." He piped up, hands going up in the air with a shrug. "I know, I know. I'm good. What can I say? It's just talent."
"Let's see how talented you are against me then."
He had seen her when she walked past him earlier to go dance. She had been on the floor since he walked back in and from the way the crowd parted, she had been dancing the whole time. He met piercing blue eyes and tried not to eye the fully exposed stomach, arms, and most of her upper chest. She stood before him in a polka-dotted sports top, baggy black sweats, tennis shoes, and confidence that knocked him down a few points.
She was short, skinny, toned, and had one hell of a smug smile.
He mentally shook himself when she stopped in front of him and looked up, hands on her hips. She blatantly looked him up and down before meeting his eyes. "What's it going to be kitty? You're not scared of a little Ladybug, are you?"
Was that her name? That's what L.B. stood for? He felt himself smile as he looked down on this spitfire of a girl who didn't look older than him. She made his blood boil as she stood there, shoulders squared back in obvious challenge. "I like bugs."
As he stared at her, he heard the murmurs of others claim that he was going to lose and his pride bristled a little. No way he could just let his budding reputation go just like that...
Her eyes playfully narrowed, smirk widening. "Try to keep up kitty cat." She looked away to the dj and gave him a head flick. "Gimme 'War of Hormones'."(4)
He blinked, a brow raising. "War of Hormones?"
The song started up the second the dj switched tracks. He had no time to ask questions as she sauntered away from him and immediately started in. She stole his brain away as her hips popped, arms moving around her in a sense of dexterity that had him at a loss. He was supposed to be showing off, but he was too entranced at watching her move to 'fight back'.
I'll be in panic, I'll be a fan
And I'll be a man of you, you, you, babe
The language change snapped his brain to and he jumped in immediately. He only had a few seconds to move before she was right in front of him. She stole his personal space by leaning over on one leg, the other in the air, hands on his chest (5). He leaned back to draw her closer, matching her flirty look with his at the pair of glinting sapphires inches from his eyes. Then she was moving away as quickly as she had draped herself against him. Her hand slid from his shoulder, down his arm, and grasped his hand, making his skin burn. She threw herself back and he mimicked her, their knees keeping them from falling backward entirely (6).
He suddenly felt her grip lax and he let go, somehow not worried that she would fall. She easily caught herself on the hand he held, arching back and throwing one hand in the air. He took up the extra space she gave him by taking doing a one-handed handstand and kicking his legs in the air where her head just was (7). Not to be outdone by him, her legs joined his in the air as she easily copied his one-handed stance. He tried to remain in the air longer by twisting his legs around a few times (8).
The constant movement and her nearness proved to be his downfall. In attempt not to kick her in the head, he angled wrong and rolled onto his back to keep from landing too harshly on his shoulder. As if seeing him fall before he did, she walked to him on her hands, face dangerously close to his face (9). The forward movement had her legs arching over him and she followed them, easily clearing him and landing on a leg. He finished the roll, feeling unable to stop watching her, and followed her face, finding her inches away as he leaned on one arm, legs crossed (10). Their lips nearly met and he felt his heart skip a beat at the fact that if he leaned mere centimeters, he'd be kissing this fireball who he was suddenly synching so well with.
She was only in her backward arch for a moment before her legs kicked again and she was using her head for balance in a few spins (11). When would she cease to do such feats of awesomeness? He couldn't be outdone by her! He rolled from his awkward stance and flipped back onto one hand, legs kicking in the air a few times (12). She copied him again and switched stances, eying him the entire time with that confident smile of hers (13).
This was too much! She moved with him the entire time and while he knew he had lost the second she started moving, she didn't make it look like she was playing with him. She found his rhythm, or he had found hers, and they did their own thing.
He was suddenly aware that they weren't the only two in the room and that others were watching them. That didn't even come into play with the glaring fact that he had barely taken his eyes off her and her skills. She was enchanting and amazing and he drank her in. He tried not to let himself be outdone by her, but it was hard. She was that good!
Whatever the music was, she seemed to know because she chose the song. She had the upper hand here on that, yet she didn't use it all to her advantage.
Her arms and legs found the beat perfectly and he felt like a child compared to her. She skipped around, playfully nearing him and escaping effortlessly, making him chase after her. Her coy smile never left as she hopped around, dodging his arms and subtle movements to pull her close. He found his face split in two in a pure grin at their movements. They were speaking something hidden and only meant for them. He liked it and he lost himself in the playfulness that was overcoming him in the fast beat. The dance off turned to a game and he avidly participated in it with her.
All songs end and this one stopped as suddenly as it started, leaving him wishing it would start over again. He stood there inches away from her, chest heaving, matching hers. He stared at her, trying to catch his breath at such exertion which he had never given in class. His smile inched higher as he stared at amused blue. His ears buzzed from the sudden lack of noise, barely hearing comments from the others and a few clapping at the display.
"Well! That was quite a show for a first time newb! I think we all know who won, but let's give him props for keeping up with Ladybug."
There were a few cheers before a new song popped up and altered the mood a little. It was much slower, but the beat that soon accompanied it wasn't (14). It was from the same band in some language he didn't know, but the melody was good. The feel it gave him after this was different, but he liked it. It felt positive and upbeat and it made him want to start dancing to it immediately.
He didn't register anyone that started moving to the new beat. He didn't try to look up to the screen to bother reading what the lyrics were all about. He kept staring at her, seeing a look of glee overtake her features at the fun they both knew they had.
What did he do now? He didn't know what to feel after having just danced the most provocative, amazing, wild set of moves he had never been allowed to ever do! No ballet duet would ever compare to this. Twice he had almost unknowingly kissed her, but it only set him afire. SHE set him afire. She fit into his dance pattern and made it look good even when he slipped earlier. She had challenged him, but moved with him as if she intended on doing a partner song with him from the start.
He didn't know who moved forward to decimate most of the distance. He bet he did because she looked still as stone despite the attempts to calm her breathing. He looked down into those happy blue eyes of hers(16), words needing to be expressed and not giving form for him to do so. He just...god...he felt so... 'Alive' wasn't a strong enough word to do justice to the feelings coursing through his veins!
Being here, dancing by himself, dancing with her, acting like this...it was a gift from heaven.
A burst of laughter shot from him to accompany his smile. Before he could think, he was easily hoisting her up under her arms as if the only way to properly express himself (15). She didn't take offense to the action and merely smiled down on him.
He looked at her and suddenly wondered if words were even needed. She seemed to know and her face showed it. How did she know though? Did she find out as they danced? Was she like him and smiled like this because she understood his plight? Though she was a stranger...though he figured this was the first time they had ever met...
The odds of him knowing her in the 'outside world' felt strange. Their alter egos lived here and this was how they met. He felt like she was the first person he opened up to down here and he wouldn't have it any other way.
She patted a shoulder and he eventually let her back to the ground. She weighed nothing to him and he could have kept her airborne all day. He had wanted to help her fly as high as he suddenly was from their time together. She still looked at him, but her eyes narrowed playfully. Her glee changed and turned to a smirk. She took a small step back, face dripping from her moves and the heat smothering the room.
"Glad you loosened up."
He blinked at her, too stunned to know what she was actually talking about, before a petite hand was patting the unpainted section of his cheek. His mouth opened as if he had questions to ask, but she took another step away and half turned from him. She was leaving for new pastures, for more music. She looked over her shoulder at him, flashing pearly whites in a killer smile.
"Looks like you can land well enough on your feet, kitty. Maybe if you're lucky, I'll challenge you again sometime."
She turned and headed for the crowd, hand flicking a wave as she walked away. He wanted to follow her and demand she give back his ability to think and...maybe a little of his heart in the process...? Breathing suddenly became a chore and he gulped air as he watched the crowd part and swallow her up with the start of another song. He stood there, the only statue among the masses.
The feeling that suddenly shot through him from their time together stole any rational thought and he let it happen. He wished it would increase and invade his every pore, soak through the last ounce of sanity he possessed. He relished this unknown emotion that was throwing shackles around his wrists and trying to yank him after her.
His feet moved on their own in time to the next song that started and brought him closer. It was fast, it was choppy, it felt dangerous (17). He deftly danced around people, searching her out. He found her with a little difficulty, as if the crowd didn't want to give her up. It didn't part for him as it did for her and he had to work his way through them to find her. He wouldn't be denied though and caught her attention when she turned in a spin.
He read into her moves with trained ease and invaded her personal space without hesitation at the first opportunity. She slid back as he slid forward, lips tilting again. One of her brows flicked up, silently asking him why he was back so soon.
God, he felt like begging to dance with her again! It was pitiful really. However short of a time he was here and he was already a fool for her. She was addictive and he knew his time here wouldn't be as fun unless she was by his side all night long. He had to be near her and her skills or this would just be a boring, first experience. She had made such a distinct impression on him.
He waited for the opportunity to lean close enough to be heard and paused long enough to drag his lips to her ear.
"Shall we dance, my lady?"
There was a whisper of a giggle that he heard over the music and it had his veins burning hot. His heart rate increased, his adrenaline spiked. His ears wanted to hear more and he was sad that her laughter ended. There was the lightest touch of a hand on his shoulder before she leaned back to look at him. None of her movements ever ceased. "I thought you'd never ask kitty."
He moved with her only a few times before he found the chance to sneak closer again. "It's Chat...Chat Noir. Thanks for the idea by the way."
She gave a noise of amusement and gave him a head flick in a nod. "Ladybug. Nice to meet you."
(1) Song 1: youtube com/watch?v=r0M108PTxZw
(2) The Illustrator art/dance inspiration: artxauroraxart tumblr com/post/141221960461/based-on-the-break-dancing-au-by-starrycove
(3) 'Rap' song Adrien dances to: youtube com/watch?v=Vm_pzr9O8W4
(4) War of Hormones song: youtube com/watch?v=Bqibl884CUg
(5) Move 1: windlessleaf tumblr com/image/140876612114
(6) Move 2: cheesyemda tumblr com/image/142244102560
(7) Move 3: praydricn tumblr com/image/140836649292
(8) Move 4: toriitorii tumblr com/image/140831103026
(9) Move 5: jen-iii tumblr com/image/141014953176
(10) Move 6: caprette tumblr com/post/141293424648/starrycove-y-lines-by-sora-colors-by-cap
(11) Move 7: jen-iii tumblr com/image/141703780341
(12) Move 8: blueclouds10 tumblr com/image/140846404710
(13) Move 9: bearaiin tumblr com/post/141338573563/starrycoves-miraculous-moves-au-got-to-me-as
(14) Next song: youtube com/watch?v=z75EgK60HZI
(15) Chat Noir holding Ladybug inspiration: starrycove tumblr com (CAN'T FIND THIS)
(16) Smiling Ladybug inspiration: starrycove tumblr com/post/141421350810/yeh-man-ballet-is-very-important-but-you-gotta-be
(17) Last song: youtube com/watch?v=rh7AewvfMOI
