The first two days he spent outside the hospital, he actually tried to patronize everyone on their orders. Despite having an unknown amount of time outside of ballet school and not knowing when it would end, he slept the entire night for the first time in months instead of going to the Underground. It made him feel guilty and the ache to be there was apparent, but he begrudgingly admitted that he felt loads better after sleeping at night instead of during the day. Those acknowledgments caused him to question his addiction to that place for the first time ever, but he always ignored these new, possibly rational thoughts for the huge need to eat that was returning with a vengeance.
The chef couldn't cook enough food to satisfy the appetite he had ignored and shunted for weeks. Natalie was ordered by his father to wait on him so he would remain in his bed to keep most exertion down, and she was constantly heading in and out of his room for snacks. He feared he was annoying her by being too much of a pest, but she always left after confirming his orders and dutifully returned with whatever he asked for.
When afternoon three was coming upon him, so did the guilt. He had caused this due to his own selfish desires and no one even knew the real reason why he was taking up residence in his bed for practically twenty-four hours at a time! He had barely gotten out of it, save to use the bathroom, but it felt great! He was like a newborn baby who had no ability to move and though he should be fully ashamed of his idiocy, he was relishing in this way more than he should be. That alone made him want to cringe at his own actions, but he could only smile instead.
The afternoon of that third day of rest wound down and Natalie reported that she would get him some snacks in case he got hungry overnight so he didn't have to go traipsing all over the house for something. The chef would be leaving soon, as would everyone else. He knew this well because he knew what time it was. Natalie would leave soon, their chef and other miscellaneous workers would leave soon, and his father would stay in his room like he usually did. Gabriel hadn't come to see him once, but he knew Natalie was keeping his father up-to-date on his condition.
He was actually banking on that distance. He needed it tonight. He felt back to his old self after almost a week of being absent from the night life and he was ready to get back to it. There were many hours over that week of nothing to think and ponder and plan. He ran all the possibilities through his head and it was time to carry them out.
He wanted to know. It was time and he wouldn't get another chance. This was the opportunity he had been looking, hoping, for and he wasn't going to rest tonight until he found out.
So many hours he spent in bed thinking of her, fantasizing what she would say when he stood in front of her and asked. He ran through so many scenarios and tried to counter all of them with possible words he might say. He had to know now; his heart demanded it of him. Whenever he tried to reason with it, his feelings attempted to crush him under the weight of this need.
Ladybug...god how he missed her! Thinking of those eyes of hers, that smile, those moves, that lithe body on the dance floor...he almost wanted to cry from the sheer want to see her. He was more than lost to her; she had put a collar on him and was towing him around the streets of Paris overnight. He was her loyal cat, blinded to everything but his feelings to follow her and be with her. He needed to, had to. Nothing else made sense in his life and he cared for nothing else.
Eleven-thirty rolled around and no one had come to see him in almost three hours. It was time.
He hopped out of bed and carefully stretched, but found nothing wrong with his muscles except that they were weak. He smirked as he headed to his closet; that would easily get fixed tonight. He threw the doors opened and stared at the black and green jacket like an old friend. He lovingly smiled at it, lightly fingering the cat ears for all of a second before a sense of exhilaration went through him and he all but ripped it from the hanger. He dressed in record time and yanked the sheet from its hiding spot in his closet.
Hopping down felt like an old habit he was revisiting. He looked around the warm nights, vague recollection of how horribly he landed his very first time sneaking out and looked to his window. Tonight was going to be different and that knowledge went through him like lightening. His eyes hardened, stubborn hope wrapping around his heart. Without wasting another second, he whipped around and took off in a light jog.
He was thankful in his short absence that nothing had happened to the location. He remembered hearing about how the place would change due to a rat and he was happy it hadn't happened when he was unaware. He knew his heart would be crushed if such a thing occurred because he had been away from school for a week and wouldn't know if another invite got snuck into his locker.
He pulled the outside door open with more force than he needed and almost skipped steps on his way down. The music blasted his ears the second that final door was inched open and made his heart skip a beat. A blinding smile split his face wide as he hurried inside to the confined space, smelling paint already. Nostalgia ran through him so much and it felt like years since he had been here last. He didn't realize how much he had missed it!
He immediately stopped in the room to find The Illustrator painting Lady Wifi's face. He happily greeted the pair and waited at the corner of the poorly lit room while The Illustrator worked his magic. It was hard to not tap his feet on the floor or fidget in his impatience. The music was calling him from the other room, but he obediently stayed put...as hard as that was.
A hand patted his shoulder and he whipped to it, eyes jolting from one of The Illustrator's paintings hanging on the wall drying. Lady Wifi was smiling at him and he nodded to her. "Hey Wifi. Long time no see."
"We thought you might have decided enough was enough."
He laughed a little at such an absurd thought. His arms spread wide to the room. "As if I could ever give all this up!"
Her smile widened. "See you on the floor. Want me to tell Ladybug you're here?"
She was here already? His heart somersaulted and it was hard to breathe suddenly... "No. I'd like to surprise her after my time off." He didn't know how, but something would come to him the second he saw her.
She nodded and then she was gone. She had left for the beat and the heat trapped in that room. He quickly plopped down on the chair and looked up, eyes closing seconds later as a brush touched his temple. A hand rose not even a minute later, not needing prodding this time, as he held his bangs out of the way for The Illustrator to get to his forehead.
"I didn't think you'd be back."
His eyes popped open around the brush going down his nose. He blinked at the somewhat subdued look on The Illustrator's face. He was a little confused at the sudden smile that popped up and seemed somewhat fake. He wondered at it, but disregarded it. He was too happy to be here with these people he barely knew, sharing this one huge thing in their lives, to care much about what was going on with The Illustrator. He smiled once his face was done and stood. "I wouldn't miss this place for the world." He landed a hand on The Illustrator's shoulder for a second. "See you in there man."
He bounded away without worrying about an answer, about the things he had seen from the painter. A new song had sprung up and he wasn't even past the open doorway before his step changed to a playful, dancing one(1). He really wanted to find out whoever kept finding these songs with lyrics that no one understood! He looked for the projector to find the lyrics because the melody seemed too lighthearted for the dance floor and his eyes widened.
Yo, Yo girl, I wanna, I wanna tell you this
That you're my Miss Right
He wasted maybe thirty more seconds on the words before the urge to laugh overcame him. He could only shake his head, heart flipping around. This was fate, that was it. Fate was trying to say something to him and he decided to listen.
Yes, you're my only girl
His eyes whipped to the floor and found a sudden jump that he knew so well. He made a beeline for it, finding her mostly exposed back to him. She wasn't wearing anything different than usual. His heart warmed and he felt himself lose his cool for all of a second before she did a quick turn. He doubted she saw him, knew he was here, and he recalled Wifi's words. An evil smile overtook him as he caught her step and sidled up behind her.
Yo, I told you many qualifications about why you're my Miss Right
But why you're my Miss Right is... You are... Just you
Her hand went up and a hip popped out. His fingers snaked out and grasped her fingers lightly before she could get into another pose (2). His hand slid down her arm, his other around to her hip to push her a little closer to him. She didn't stop moving, didn't even alter her step except to make room for him. She didn't stop to see who was suddenly dancing with her, but a hand reached up, up, up to his head. She grasped at the ears on his head as if already knowing he was here, at knowing who would start dancing with her so brazenly, and only wanted to confirm it (3). He could somewhat see the smile on her head at the slight tilt his way and grinned in response.
Before he could say a word or think of how she wanted to dance, her hand slid to his shoulder and somewhat spun him away from her. Her shoulder stopped against his, giving him a playful wink when the song suddenly stopped and another one took its spot (4). His adrenaline spiked, grin forming with hers. In her own way, she was not only greeting him, she was telling him it was time to dance...together.
After a week away, she still made room for him on the dance floor. A sense of relief flooded him, more than he thought he would have felt, as his look turned sly and inquisitive. He sent that silent question to his lady and she turned to him, in time with the new song, and started in without waiting for him to catch up.
He refused to leave her side for many songs. He lost track of all that flowed from one into the other. There was barely a second to stop before the beat changed and began anew. Ladybug didn't stop except when there was that brief pause and then started up again. She wasn't about to leave so long as there was music to move to.
He was thankful that the Bubbler was so good at his job.
It wasn't until they were both sweaty and partially exhausted that Ladybug stopped amongst the music. He took that second to catch his breath, wondering if he had pushed it too much during his recoup time, and found someone weaving through the crowds. Someone who wasn't dancing their way through. His eyes landed on someone looking directly at him, a flirty smile on her face. He had seen her before. She approached him a few times last month and he obliged her a few songs, but always returned to his lady, whom he only wanted to dance with.
She stopped directly in front of him and put a hand on his chest. "Mind if I steal you away for a bit, you adorable kitty?"
He couldn't remember her name if he tried. He honestly didn't care to. He only needed to remember his lady's name. Speaking of... He looked to her as if in question and she waved a hand toward their third wheel.
"Go dance with Volpina. I'm going to go get some water."
He watched her slide through the crowd, dancing her way off the floor. He couldn't help the longing that escaped his eyes as he watched her, feeling somewhat hurt at her response. He could've used some water too! He was thirsty after however many songs!
He wanted to go with her, to continue to be at her side. Did she suggest this new pairing because she wanted a break from him? He felt a sharp piercing of sadness hit him at such a thought.
A hand touched his arm and brought him from his self-destruction. "Shall we then kitty?"
He looked to her. Volpina. That's right. He didn't know what her name meant, but he didn't really care either. She started moving to the music and he felt he would be too outwardly rude if he just walked away to his lady right now. He found the rhythm of this new dancer with trained ease, feeling outside of himself with his usual partner absent.
What would she say if he just walked off the floor after her and asked what the big idea was? Would she order him to find Volpina again and not be mean? Did she really just need a few moments to rest? Was she using this interruption to refresh herself and then she would come back and steal him away from this person he didn't care to dance with? He wanted to hope that was the case, but he realized he didn't know Ladybug outside of her dance moves. Those were instinctual; her actual personality wasn't. He didn't know if she would be happy that he wanted to chase after her before she was even out of eyesight. He didn't know if this sudden change was a challenge to his loyalty to her or not.
He wasn't in any of the songs he danced to with Volpina. He barely heard her pretty words to his abilities and how she had been watching him lately. He gave fake smile and polite nods for her praise and how much she had wanted to take Ladybug's place on the dance floor with him. He tried not to grit his teeth at the way she was practically draping herself over him at certain moves. They weren't bad, but they were awkward and they weren't his lady.
His partner who teased him with flirty looks and amazing dance moves that came and went next to him. Like the ocean moving with a rhythm of her own. He missed it and he was still in the same room with her.
He heard Volpina's queries to his absence and why he hadn't been around the Underground for a week. Also, how much she missed seeing him dance. His ears violently tried to ignore her, wanting those words to come from Ladybug. Why was he hearing this come from Volpina when he wanted to hear it from his partner? It wasn't fair and it made him upset to get such tender concern from a girl he didn't give a care in the world for.
He couldn't take it anymore. When the third song came on, he quickly excused himself for water and headed for where Ladybug had gone. He hoped she would still be there resting and a smile graced him when he spotted her red, polka-dotted sports top. He grabbed a water bottle from the cooler and inhaled the contents in one go. He crushed the empty container as he tried to catch his breath. He found his lady watching him in amusement and openly pouted at her when he returned to normal.
"Having fun?"
He almost glared at her, knowing she wasn't serious. That smile on her face, in her eyes, on her lips as she tried to hide it with that plastic bottle told him she wasn't. Not really. That glint softened his resentment of her leaving him with anyone else, but he still let her know it. She only giggled at his look and went for the rest of her water.
"Are you done kitty? Care to dance again?"
He cringed behind the safety of his hood from Volpina, but not from his lady. Her sly grin said she had seen his reaction to this person who he didn't want to bother with and was amused by it. He looked to his partner for help, begging her with his eyes to save him from this girl who was flaunting herself in attempt to catch him when he didn't want her.
She offered him no help other than to be highly entertained at this scenario.
An arm subtly snaked around his. He tried to keep every muscle from shifting away to hide behind Ladybug to keep this girl away from him. That was a hard battle indeed! He didn't know how uncool it would be to hide behind Ladybug, but he knew she would get him the desired result that he wanted: Volpina away from him forever and no more competition to dance with his lady. It would hurt Volpina's feelings, but he wasn't here to dance exclusively with Volpina.
"What do you say?"
He shook himself and looked to Volpina. "What?"
Volpina hit him with a syrupy look. "I said, do you want to be my partner Chat Noir? We danced pretty well out there I think."
He couldn't hide the slight distaste on his face at those words. He pasted on a quick smile, giving an uncomfortable laugh as he stole his arm away and spun to his lady. His smile turned a tad more genuine when his arm draped over her petite shoulders. He gave her a look that asked for her not to move and she gave him a less than pleased one, knowing she was being used so he could worm his way out of being honest with Volpina. "Sorry, I already have the best partner here." His free hand waved in front of Ladybug. "It's her."(5)
He didn't miss the sigh and roll of the eyes from the one he hoped would be at least a little pleased with those words. He didn't plan on claiming her, but he didn't think speaking what he did would make her that annoyed. He couldn't help the slight hurt that entered, though he knew he should be ashamed for hiding behind her and using her as an excuse to get away from Volpina.
He should have just sucked it up and told her he just wasn't interested.
"She's not so great! I'll show you who can dance better!" Vopina glared and stomped a foot before whirling and stalking off.
He breathed a sigh of relief, finally realizing his arm was still over Ladybug's shoulders when she abruptly shrugged him off. He gave her a sheepish look, hand scratching the back of his head through his hood. "Thanks for the help Ladybug..."
She gave him a dry look and only shook her head. "Let's go dance kitty. We're wasting the music." She grabbed his forearm and ignored anything else on her tongue as she headed for the crowd.
01010
Maybe one song later, there was a sudden voice over the mic that wasn't the Bubbler. The music didn't stop, but the crowd did.
"Ladybug and Chat Noir! You two think you're so much better than any of us in this room? I'll show you who can dance better than anyone else in the entire Underground! We challenge you to a dance off!"
The pair looked to the dj area in the corner where Volpina and some unknown person was before eying each other. He read her expression and it matched his: there was no one better than them in this entire room! His lips curled as he watched her look back for only a second. She grew a little thoughtful, but it seemed mostly for show. His gaze swung to Volpina and her partner as the crowd parted for the new show and gave them space.
"Seems like we've been challenged, kitty cat."
He grinned. "Seems so bugaboo. What's the plan?"
"Hmm, I say we wreck them."
His grin turned positively evil. "Lovely plan as always, my lady. Shall we dance?" (6)
They let Volpina take the first crack at the challenge. It was a defensive move really. Sizing up your opponent before striking was the better of the two attack options. Not like he hadn't already been privy to a bunch of Volpina's moves to know what she was capable of. Fairly impressive.
She wasn't bad, but she was no Ladybug. If Ladybug wanted to crush them, as she usually did, he would need to do a little more with what he knew she had in mind. She never lost a challenge and she always upped her abilities too. He would need to keep up to his partner and not embarrass her tonight.
He stuck his hands in the pockets of his jacket and looked to his partner when Volpina's group finished their last set of moves. You could pick your own song in the challenge as part of the rules. He could see the wheels in her head turn as she tried to find one of the many she probably made the Bubbler play on a regular basis.
After a pause, a wry grin appeared and he looked around for a prop. He needed something new to work with. He found a pole laying against the ground next to the wall and snatched it up. All of the songs he had known her to challenge people with started and ended suddenly.
She gave him a raised brow in question, but said nothing. She stood in front of him at a fairly close distance before looking to the Bubbler. "Gimme 'Fire'." (7)
The song had the barest of pauses before the beat jumped out and loud. It was static, it was fast, the tempo was hardcore and hip hop. He found his turn with his prop a few seconds in. He used it as leverage and hopped in the air for the splits. Ladybug slid under him and rolled onto her shoulders, legs twirling around her. She purposely kicked the pole out from under him just as she made to stand and he was almost waiting for it. He easily landed on one leg, spinning it around their heads as he leaned over her. She arched out of the way with ease and popped up in front of him, almost no air in between them.
His hand snaked out for her waist and pulled her to him roughly, the pole in his other arm (8). Her hand wrapped around his shoulder for stability at the way she was arching back against him. He twisted the pole to cradle it behind his back with his other hand (9).
He was mesmerized all over again with her so close...her lips mere inches away from his. Just like the first dance off when they almost kissed twice, it was happening again. He couldn't catch his breath to think, but he didn't want to. The heat, the sweat, the movements, the air between them...it only made him want to know more than ever who she really was. He almost couldn't stand it! He wanted to drop the pole, pull her close, and kiss the daylights out of her. The urge overtook him with such a ferocity and it was a serious struggle to keep their movements going.
The need to know her would happen. He would make it. He didn't know how he was going to keep awake the rest of the night after such extensive, physical activity that he hadn't done in over a week. He knew she stayed late, but he was just going to have to persevere for this. He wasn't going to miss this chance!
They won with ease against Volpina's group. It was no contest really. Volpina and the guy didn't have the chemistry that he had with Ladybug. Ladybug was pop and sex appeal and offense. He easily matched it and his emotions helped him with that too. He followed her because he had no other alternative; no wishes to be away from her. Volpina never had a chance with him and he bet his earlier slip-up with her caused this, but he was fine with that.
Any excuse to dance with his lady and show off.
The song ended abruptly and they righted themselves in front of Volpina's group. He used the pole to lean on, trying to be nonchalant, but he was actually more tired than he thought he would have been. Keeping up with her was no small feat after all.
"It's over Volpina. We won; you lost."
"You cheated! You used an extra item! We didn't get that option!"
Ladybug scoffed and waved a hand. "Chat's quick thinking doesn't change the fact that your skill level is below ours. There are no rules against an extra item in a dance off. Admit it, you're not that good. Accept your defeat."
Volpina glared. "I can easily make trouble for you, you know. I've done so before."
He was somewhat taken aback to see Ladybug actually glare across the way. "You've been kicked out once and caused a move, Volpina. If you intend on being a total idiot, causing another relocation and making it harder for everyone else, I can easily make that happen." A finger pointed through the distance. "You got invited back on a nicety. A courtesy if you will. This is your last chance to behave yourself and don't do anything stupid. Next time you'll come back to a totally abandoned building in every sense of the meaning."
He looked on in a sense of total confusion to the aura of authority Ladybug suddenly radiated as she spoke. She was becoming even more alluring and mysterious while she spoke to Volpina, practically lecturing her as if she were the parent to a sulking child right now. He couldn't steal his brain away amidst all the questions it was making to find words.
What did she mean?! How could she make a relocation happen? He looked around as the debate fizzled to Volpina making empty threats and stalking off the floor. The music started back up again, but he paid it no mind. He looked to the slip of a girl whose head just cleared his shoulder, mind whirling. So many things he wanted to know and know right now, but he had to bide his time. This situation only confirmed his need and his stubbornness to wait out the night soared. He was going to do this and he wasn't going to let her escape him.
(1) Song: youtube com/watch?v=la6MR7QAI-I
(2) Ladybug and Chat Noir pose 1 inspiration: delkas tumblr com/post/141433007604/starrycove-au-stop-me-please
(3) Ladybug and Chat Noir pose 2 inspiration: nashidragfilia tumblr com/post/142239087803/ameleah-miraculous-moves-strike-2-lovely-au
(4) Ladybug and Chat Noir pose 3 inspiration: starrycove tumblr com/post/140874516715/kynero-warmup-with-the-dancey-au-thx-to
(5) Ladybug, Chat Noir, Volpina inspiration: delkas tumblr com/post/141443682649/starrycove-s-au-who-would-have-thought
(6) Ladybug and Chat Noir conversation inspiration: jen-iii tumblr com/post/141355228251/i-just-love-starrycoves-breakdance-au
(7) Fire song: youtube com/watch?v=wigMT0PH4s8
(8) Ladybug and Chat Noir move 1 inspiration: pinterest com/pin/140174607130491717/
(9) Ladybug and Chat Noir move 2 inspiration: taylordraws tumblr com/image/141176465985
