#lindsey chat

[joel--montgomery]

"Really, you're the best Gallagher, but I think it's too soon for us to start arguing about politics," Joel grinned. Technically, they knew just about everything there was to know about one another by now. Their values, their political beliefs, their pasts -- none of it was off the table. He was just looking forward to something for once, something new, something good. The two of them being more than friends? Taking the leap? That was more than something good. He held out his hand for Lindsey to take.

"I was thinking, maybe, we go for a drive out to Tucson. Look for something open late in the city that we can't get from here; just explore for a bit without it being for work," Joel smiled. They'd look out of place in their clothes wandering around streets in the dead-of-night, but they looked out of place in Paxton most days anyways. "I'm thinking maybe an Italian bakery or something like that."

[END]

"Fair," Lindsey agreed. He was right -- if it had only been about sex, they would have crossed that line years ago. The fact that they hadn't was shocking to her, but maybe she'd simply refused to recognize this for what it was. It wasn't lost on Lindsey that they were treating this like some sort of negotiation, that she'd offered a trial run of sorts as if she was product testing, but business was what she knew. Having feelings for someone? That was arena where she'd never succeeded. "I know." A smile played on Lindsey's lips. He'd never really hidden the fact that he found her impressive. It would be an ego boost if Lindsey hadn't already been aware of her own worth. "I've always been the better Gallagher sibling," she joked. With a nod, Lindsey continued, a playfully challenging edge to her voice. "Tomorrow morning works for me, but what exactly do you suggest we do with the rest of this evening?"

[joel--montgomery]

Starter for @lindseyxgallagher

When: Present

Where: Joel's House

After months worth of back-and-forth, Joel managed to sell his San Diego penthouse and purchase a Spanish bungalow in Paxton's Eastmark neighborhood. It was a coincidence that his house was only a few blocks away from Obsidian's La Hacienda Hotel. As much as Joel wished to put distance between himself and his work, it seemed next to impossible. Then, he remembered that some parts of Obsidian weren't that bad -- like being near Lindsey again. Childhood friends turned college classmates, and now workmates. Amidst Joel's skyscraper of moving boxes, Lindsey sat on his couch like queen of their own little city.

Joel took an experimental bite from a slice of Prairie Pies white pizza and shook his head. "Call me plain, but I don't think white pizzas are for me," he said, sitting the half eaten slice back into the box to pick from a different option. They had the white pizza, a pepperoni, and a vegetable -- Lindsey told him he had to try them. "All I can say is, I hope one of these is fine, or else I'm jumping ship and moving to Phoenix or Tuscon," Joel said, scooping up a slice of pepperoni, "So, outside of pizza, what other places have earned a five-star approval from Lindsey Gallagher?"

[julie-hollis]

Starter for @lindseyxgallagher

Where: The Pink Lady

When: Present

Julie could have agreed to have this meeting at the salon, but ultimately decided against it. The salon was an almost sacred place in her life. It was the place that started her career and one of the few places where a teacher believed in her and thought she could be something. Julie wanted the salon to feel like that for the girls; with the tensions rising in town, and the air of distrust, neutral territory seemed best for this meeting. She hadn’t ordered yet, instead she waited at one of the empty tables, and rose at the sight of Lindsey Gallagher. CMO of Obsidian Holdings. It felt almost like a compliment being asked to meet, but Julie wasn’t quite taken by the allure of it all. If anything she felt wary. “Miss Gallagher, glad to take the conversation away from the screen,” she said, hand held out. “Have you had a chance to come here, yet?”

[thekittyokat]

it's november first which means i get to be self indulgent and say that i think perez invites strahm to the family día de muertos festivities and he gets the experience of being the white friend who is accepted right in and knows all her family and awkwardly tries to get by on extremely limited spanish. el gringito

[tenebraevesper]

Up Ladybug, Entry 27: If You're Here (Part 2)

''Morning will definitely come, there is no rain that won't stop, so believe in yourself. If I have to choose between the moon and the sun, I'll be the moon. When I'm with you I am shining! Don't bear your burdens alone, do notice that I'm here! Soon in that heart, a beautiful rainbow will appear! Soon in that heart, a beautiful rainbow will appear!''

– Kimi ga Ireba by Detective Conan

xXxXxXx

Chat Noir leapt from one building to another, trying to find a good spot for his little concert. He actually felt somewhat excited about it, as this would be the first time in a long time he played music because he wanted to. It was special to him and he wanted to make sure no one would interrupt him. He eventually managed to find a good spot on a rooftop where he was feeling safe and secluded. Hoping that his curse wouldn't hinder him, he took out the violin and placed it on his shoulder, putting the bow over the strings.

However, there was no music.

''What's wrong, Kid?'' Plagg asked, his voice coming from the ring.

''I… I don't know what to play…'' Chat Noir admitted. ''I mean, I've been always playing what other people wanted to hear. It was rare for me to pick anything I liked.''

''Okay, how about this? You take a moment to think and pick whatever suits your current mood,'' Plagg suggested.

''Good idea.'' Chat Noir nodded and took a deep breath. This would be just for him and him alone, and he wanted to make it special. He closed his eyes, his black cat ears twitching as a cold breeze blew. He could hear the usual noise that was typical for Paris during the night, but tried to ignore it.

What should I play? Chat Noir looked up at the night sky. The stars twinkled like fireflies, but gave no answer to his troubled heart. He knew how to play many classical and modern pieces, but no melody came to his mind. He closed his eyes, allowing himself to calm down and place the violin and bow in position. I should let my emotions loose through the music.

Chat Noir started to play, at first not even recognizing the melody himself. It felt nostalgic, as if he was standing on a field of grass or in the mountains or beneath a waterfall, somewhere far away. It was soothing, but there was an energetic spring to it, like the calmness of an autumn forest with a light breeze and sunshine. It was as if nature itself was guiding him as the bow glided across the strings. Then, he remembered, his green eyes lit with awe. Lindsey Stirling's ''Guardian''… It never fails to astound me.

His cat ears perking up, Chat Noir closed his eyes once more, putting more emotion and energy into his play, even swaying along with the melody, his tail flicking as the tension lessened, replaced by a sense of elation. How long had it been since he actually felt joy in playing the violin?

''Please, keep playing for me. It makes me feel better.''

''Yes, Mother!''

Chat Noir's eyes suddenly snapped open for a moment when the memory intruded his mind, but after a moment of contemplation, he allowed it in. He needed this more than anything. As he kept playing, he recalled how his music brought not only joy to him but also to someone else – his mother, who had been lying sick in the hospital for many months. He would visit her as often as possible, bringing along his violin and playing for her just to see her smile a little more. She was always so pale, her eyes sunken and dark rings forming underneath them, but they would always light up when he played. He wasn't as good back then as he was now, and he knew that he made mistakes, but that didn't matter to his mother. She could've had a professional orchestra playing for her and she couldn't care less as she preferred her son playing for her, regardless of the mistakes he made. Unfortunately, her brother didn't share the same opinion.

''You gave an amazing performance, Félix,'' Michelle told him, clasping her hands as she gave her son a proud look, despite her weak voice. Félix smiled, but his smile faded when he saw the disappointed look on Gabriel's expression. He simply shook his head.

''I have counted at least a dozen of mistakes in that performance. Instead of getting better, he's getting worse,'' Gabriel grumbled, with Félix lowering his head in shame.

''Don't tell me that you suddenly switched jobs from a fashion designer to a music critic,'' Michelle scoffed, then turned to her son as he sat next to her on the bed. She placed her hand on her son's hand, and Félix could feel just how cold and clammy it was, but when he looked into his mother's eyes, he saw nothing but warmth and love. ''You're doing great sweetheart. I would've listened to you even if you played the kazoo as obnoxiously as possible.''

Félix couldn't help but chuckle at Michelle's comment. She was always there for him, encouraging him to follow his dreams and to indulge into his hobbies, no matter what other people, his uncle in particular, said. He then stood up and started to play again, just for her. Michelle closed her eyes and leaned against the pillow, a content smile on her lips. Even if she looked like she was asleep, Félix knew that she was listening. She promised that she would always listen to his performances.

Until one day, she fell asleep forever.

She is gone, and there is nothing I could do about it. Her illness may have destroyed her body from the inside, but wherever she is now, I hope she still listens. Chat Noir felt a stinging pain piercing his chest, but he continued to play. He allowed the pain wash over him, but he didn't push it away anymore. He was allowed to feel pain without the need to hide it. He was allowed to grieve his past and his loss. He was allowed to process the present. He was allowed to hope for a better future. I am free.

With a sudden flourish he ended his performance, lowering the violin and bow, and looking up at the moon illuminating him, the weight he felt now gone. From now on, he would be playing for himself.

''That was beautiful.'' Chat Noir suddenly turned around, surprised to see Ladybug sitting on the roof above him. She hopped down, landing in front of him and giving him a sheepish smile. ''I didn't want to interrupt you. I'm sorry, I guess this was supposed to be a private moment.''

''I don't mind having an audience,'' Chat Noir replied with a smile as Ladybug gave him a curious look.

''That's great, but would it be okay for me to sit here and sketch while I'm listening to you?'' she asked.

''I wouldn't mind that either, but I didn't know that you draw,'' Chat Noir said, giving Ladybug a look of intrigue. His partner reached for her compact, opening it and taking out a notepad and a pencil.

''It's a hobby of mine. It takes my mind off things, but lately, I've been having a bit of a block,'' Ladybug responded.

''I would love to see one of your drawings,'' Chat Noir told her, with Ladybug perking up.

''How about I draw you? You could serve as my muse,'' she suggested.

''Your muse? I'm honored, Bug,'' Chat Noir replied with a bow, then gave her a mischievous smirk. ''Perhaps you could do a sketch of me? I know that I look good no matter which pose I strike.''

Ladybug rolled her eyes, followed by a giggle. Considering her reaction, Chat Noir figured that he was in the clear, especially when she started to draw instead of scolding him. While she did that, he resumed playing, his heart now light and swelling with a different emotion – one he couldn't quite put a finger on, but nevertheless accepted.

Ladybug lifted her head briefly to glance at Chat Noir before resuming her sketch. She had to admit that there was something mysterious and alluring in seeing him like this. She still remembered how much of an arrogant jerk he used to be when they had first met, but all of that behavior seemed to just be some kind of mask he put on to impress her. Instead, the true Chat Noir was the one who stood before her, his dark suit gleaming under the moonlight, his pose showing nothing but elegance and confidence. There was something that had drawn her to him and she wished to know more about it, to understand what this emotion was.

They didn't know how much time had passed as they stood there on the building, but eventually, Ladybug interrupted Chat Noir, showing him her drawing.

''I hope you like it,'' she said smiling. Chat Noir lowered his violin and examined the drawing, his eyes widening in awe. It was a sketch of him playing in the moonlight, with Ladybug capturing his presence, the sharpness of his features and the softness of the scene perfectly.

''It's amazing!'' he said, giving Ladybug a look of awe, his green eyes gleaming in joy and adoration. ''You're a great artist!''

''Thank you so much,'' Ladybug replied, a bit bashfully as she placed her arms on her back, her cheeks rosy and her dark blue eyes sparking as pride swelled in her chest. She then stood on her toes, leaning in, with Chat Noir feeling her warm breath on his skin as she kissed him on the cheek. ''You can keep it.''

Ladybug then stepped back, turning on her heel and leapt into the night, leaving a baffled Chat Noir. The black cat superhero's jaw dropped as he stared into the night, his cheeks burning red. His ears flicked as he finally processed what happened. ''What the-?! Did she just kiss me?!''

''Woah, you just scored with Ladybug! Congratulations, Kid!'' Plagg whistled, amused by Chat Noir's reaction. ''Too bad it wasn't a kiss on the lips so you could remove the curse, but hey, you're getting there.''

Chat Noir remained speechless. Even though he knew that he and Ladybug were getting close, but he never thought that they would get this far. He didn't even know whether Ladybug would ever fall in love with him, but now that appeared to be a strong possibility. He smiled a little, feeling happy that Ladybug genuinely loved him, or at least, had a lot of affection for him, but the smile vanished when he realized what that meant, as Plagg pointed out. Not to mention, there was another issue he had to deal with.

What about Bridgette?

Chat Noir would be lying to himself if he said that he didn't have any feelings for Bridgette. She was his first friend, aside from Plagg, and she kept pulling him out of his isolation, worried for his wellbeing and did her best to cheer him up when his heart was consumed by bitterness, placing his happiness above her own. He genuinely appreciated her and cared about her, and he knew that it only took him confessing those feelings for them to get together.

But, at the same time, he also had feelings for Ladybug. Despite their rocky start, he loved her for her confidence and selflessness, as well as her caring and warm nature. From what he knew, Ladybug had no reason to take on the burden of becoming a superheroine besides her desire to protect, and he admired that. She was strong, smart and reliable, serving as an inspiration for people like Amber, and never asked for anything in return.

It was no wonder he fell for both of them, but what should he do about this?

xXx

Ladybug hid behind a rooftop, her cheeks bright red and her eyes wide in complete shock as she cried out in panic, ''Why did I do that?! Oh, no, this so bad!''

Ladybug slapped her cheeks, trying to collect herself, but the feeling of embarrassment lingered. She was in complete disbelief of what just happened, of what she had done. In fact, she never intended to kiss Chat Noir, but somehow, she felt compelled to do it. Maybe it was because of the atmosphere, maybe it was to thank him for the compliment… Would he even see it like that? After all, la bise was a cultural thing in France, but that was used as a greeting between friends, and Ladybug was certain that she and Chat Noir were indeed friends…

She felt her heart pound, drowning out all of her thoughts. Who was she kidding – she had a crush on Chat Noir and just moments ago, she acted out on it. She sighed. Frankly, she never expected to even have any romantic feelings for her partner, especially not after their rocky start, but somehow she had developed them and now Chat Noir wouldn't leave her mind.

Ladybug took a deep breath, steadying herself and trying to focus on her feelings for Chat Noir. Despite making a bad first impression, Ladybug had over time gotten to know him better. He could be often cocky and smug, teasing her and flirting with her, but at the same time, he was also fun and lively, with a hidden vulnerable side, having opened up only to her, be it as Ladybug or as Bridgette. There was a depth to him that drew Ladybug in, a sense of sadness he hid under a mask of confidence and it kept her intrigued.

Ladybug shook her head, aware that falling for Chat Noir technically wasn't a bad thing. He was her partner and had worked hard to improve their relationship, and he had a crush on her. If they got together, perhaps their bond would grow and become stronger, but there was one thing that prevented her from accepting it – the fact that she still wasn't over Félix.

No matter how much she had insisted that she and Félix were just friends, for his own comfort, she was still in love with him and she couldn't just abandon those feelings. They were still a part of her and getting rid off them would probably break something inside her. However, she knew that she couldn't just go date both of them for her own comfort, because that was just plain wrong and her own morals definitely didn't agree with any of that. Either she would date one person or no one.

Ladybug shook her head, having to smile a little at the thought of being attracted to two completely opposite people. While Chat Noir was daring and carefree, Félix was mature and had a mysterious aura to him, with a soft side he would keep hidden from everyone but her. She had to wonder how she ended up in this situation, concluding that she probably had a thing for guys who are a complete mystery to her.

''What should I do now? I mean, I didn't really get to see Chat Noir's reaction to this, but I imagine that he was in complete shock over what I did given how I barely tolerated him in the beginning,'' Ladybug muttered.

''I don't know, Ladybug. I still wouldn't trust Chat Noir,'' Tikki told her. Ladybug rose an eyebrow in surprise.

''What do you mean, Tikki? Chat Noir has already proven that he has earned my trust and he was working hard on improving our relationship. I see no reason why I wouldn't trust him,'' Ladybug pointed out. Tikki was quiet, her silence puzzling Ladybug. ''Tikki? Are you okay?''

''I… I was just being worried about you. What if Chat Noir is being manipulative again?'' Tikki said, albeit a bit reluctantly.

''I don't believe that he's manipulating me. Why would he act like that?'' Ladybug asked.

Tikki was silent once more, then responded with, ''I don't really know, but something feels off. Please, be careful around him.''

''If you say so…'' Ladybug muttered. She had to wonder why Tikki was so reluctant to trust Chat Noir, despite everything he had done. Sure, he may have been a lying jerk in the beginning who just got in her way, but he had shown to be brave, trustworthy and caring, and Ladybug loved being in his company. While she probably couldn't understand completely why Chat Noir did things the way he did, she was certain that he was far from the person he used to be. However, that didn't ease the turmoil in her own heart.

Back when Chat Noir kept annoying her, it was easy to ignore his advances and focus on her feelings for Félix. But now that she tried to step away from Félix in spite of her true feelings, Chat Noir had become a person she was romantically attracted to and it left her mind in compete disarray. She took a deep breath, exhaling as she finally calmed down.

''What should I do?'' she muttered. ''If Félix and Chat Noir were the same person, I'd have no problem just confessing, but what are the odds of that happening?'' She let out a sharp giggle. ''They are quite different, aren't they? It would be impossible for them to be the same person…'' Ladybug trailed off, then blinked when a new thought crossed her mind. ''Although, there were a few times when Félix left only for Chat Noir to suddenly appear, like the time when The Mime attacked the charity gala or when Amber caused trouble as Queen Bee. Félix did say he was getting help with the former, but I don't recall seeing him anywhere. Admittedly, things were quite chaotic and I was focused on saving people. Then, there's the thing with Amber, but Félix did mention before that he had a way of contacting Chat Noir…'' Ladybug groaned, clutching her head. ''Ugh, I'm getting a headache!''

Ladybug sighed, not really wanting to think about any of this. She noted that she was tired and that she should just go home and relax, but something told her that her mind would remain swarmed and that he headache wouldn't go away so easily.

xXx

I was right, the headache won't go away. But… it doesn't seem as if Félix minds my current mood, Bridgette thought as she looked across the desk at Félix, who was writting down notes. The two were currently at the library, doing some research for their schoolwork, along with Sophie, Claude, Allegra, Allan and Carmilla, the latter having joined them because she had a project of her own that she needed to research for. Bridgette took note of how her friends seemed to be much more amicable towards Félix in comparison to how they used to be, although Claude remained a bit wary of him, despite currently distracting himself by building a house out of books.

''I don't think the librarian will be happy to see that,'' Allegra said, giving Claude a sharp look. The teenager just smiled playfully as he set another book.

''Don't worry, it's not like I damaging the books,'' Claude responded, carefully placing two books to form a roof.

''You're not, but that's only because you know that you can't play Jenga with them,'' Sophie commented, drawing a chuckle out of Allan and Carmilla. Félix, on the other hand, glared at Claude, his gaze matching Allegra's.

''You still shouldn't be doing that,'' he said, while Claude gave him a slightly annoyed look.

''What are you, the library police?'' Claude asked sarcastically as he leaned back on his chair, only to cry out in pain a moment later when a book from the nearby shelf suddenly fell and hit his head. ''Ouch! What the-?!''

Félix smiled, not saying anything and turning back to his book. No one noticed the faint shimmer of his ring. Claude, on the other hand, rubbed the back of his head, picking up the book that fell down and examining it. ''Hey, that's the one I need for my research!''

''I guess you got both unlucky and lucky,'' Bridgette commented in amusement, her earrings briefly shimmering.

''Yeah,'' Claude nodded, turning his attention back to the book. ''Although, I'd prefer not finding my research material this way.''

''At least it has stopped you from procrastination,'' Carmilla commented. Meanwhile, Bridgette turned towards Félix to see his reaction, only to realize that he was staring at her intensely. Once he realized that she noticed, he quickly turned his attention to the book in front of him, leaving Bridgette wondering why he was staring at her.

She thought back to previous night, when she was wondering about whether Félix was Chat Noir or not. She was certain that he wasn't, but at the same time, she couldn't shake off that weird feeling that she may be wrong. Even if Chat Noir acted completely different from Félix, that meant nothing since it could be just a persona he put up as the black cat superhero. After all, Bridgette herself was much more confident as Ladybug. Nevertheless, she knew that she had no solid evidence for this theory and she was certain that if she confronted Félix about being Chat Noir, she would probably sound like a lunatic. Therefore, it was better not to mention anything.

However, Bridgette did confront Félix later on when they were putting away the books back on the shelves about something else.

''Say, Fé… What would happen if you had two favorite books, but you could only choose one of them to read?'' Bridgette asked, her question catching Félix off guard.

''Well, I would read one book and once I'm finished, I would read the other one,'' Félix replied in a matter-of-fact tone.

That was a bad analogy, Bridgette thought, realizing that she would need to explain herself better. ''Okay, but what if you couldn't read the other book? Even though you really really like it.''

''I suppose that would depend on what kind of book it is. For example, I will always be more drawn to one type of genre. Unless you want to say that the books are of the same genre,'' Félix said.

''Actually, no, they are different. In fact, imagine the books being complete polar opposites from each other, but you still like both of them because of they inspire you in a different way,'' Bridgette explained. Félix rose an eyebrow, arms folded across his chest.

''I see… I guess it would be difficult to make a choice in that case,'' he said, only to give Bridgette a questioning look. ''Of course, if we are still talking about books.''

''Eh? What do you mean?'' Bridgette asked, her ahoge standing up as she got startled by his sudden statement. She held her hands up defensively, sweatdropping as she quickly added, ''Of course we're still talking about books.''

''I understand,'' Félix said in a casual tone, grabbing his backpack and walking past Bridgette, only to lower his head right next to her ear, muttering, ''You don't have to act in a different way to make me like you. I'm already quite fond of you.''

Those words sent a wave of heat through Bridgette's body, turning her face completely red as she placed her hands over her cheeks, feeling the warmth. She was completely frozen, while Félix just walked past her, trying to remain calm despite the voice in his head chiding him for turning to his Chat Noir persona and flirt with Bridgette. This left her in a stunned state, with Félix already fearing that he may have actually caused some damage to their relationship, especially since she was constantly insisting on them being friends. It was obvious that she wouldn't expect him to turn things around.

''That was a smooth move, Romeo.''

Félix stopped in his tracks, turning to Carmilla as she put away her own books. She gave him a mischievous grin. ''I never expected that a stuck-up like you would even be able to talk so smoothly.''

''I was simply stating the obvious. Bridgette and I may not have started out as friends, but I have warmed up to her,'' Félix replied, his eyes narrowing. Carmilla shrugged.

''If you say so, Romeo. I just never thought you'd have anything interesting to say,'' she replied, with Félix just walking past her.

''I guess that's because you don't know me at all,'' Félix told her, stopping with his back turned towards Carmilla. ''Also, I prefer to be called Ice Prince. Keep that in mind next time you try calling me 'stuck-up'.''

Carmilla narrowed her eyes, watching Félix as he left. Frankly, she always thought of him as someone not worth her time since he wasn't that interesting of a person, but this little exchange did make her wonder if there was really more to him than this rich boy with a famous uncle. She smirked slyly.

Maybe I should keep an eye on you in the future.

xXx

Gabriel observed the line of trees and bushes in his private greenhouse, his attention drawn to the rows of lavender chrysalis hanging on the thin branches. It was a personal project of his, one he had started a few weeks ago after that disaster with the charity gala. He had decided to go ahead with this project a bit earlier, noting how it took time to take care of the chrysalis, especially in such large numbers. He needed as much as possible of them for his grand plan of finally finding the magical artifacts that would grant him any wish he had. He already had one magical artifact, but his brooch could only do so much for him. He needed more.

''They're almost ready,'' Gabriel muttered as he held up his hand, reaching for the chrysalis and observing it. Those chrysalis were quite special. Instead of hiding a future butterfly, they were filled with a strange energy that reacted to people's emotions, the negative ones especially, and if that energy was released, it could have devastating consequences for all of Paris.

Gabriel smirked. He had told the Mime and Monsieur Pigeon to leave Ladybug and Chat Noir alone until he was done with his project, well aware that the lack of activity on his part would lull the superheroes into a false sense of security. Then, he would strike, catching them both off guard. He knew that both of them had most likely access to magical artifacts that allowed them to fight like this and he had studied all of the previous encounters his minions had with them. All that was necessary now was to take their magical artifacts for himself to see whether they were what he was searching for.

Sure, that also meant that he would be endangering Paris and its civilians, but that was a price he was willing to pay for the ultimate power and create a world that would fit his vision.

''Sir, I apologize for interrupting you.'' Gabriel turned around, noticing his asisstant, Adeline, approaching him while she was holding a tablet. ''I must remind you that you have a meeting in 20 minutes for the upcoming winter fashion show.''

''I know,'' Gabriel replied coldly, turning his attention back to the chrysalis as he sensed weird energy coming from one of them. He reached out for it, plucking the chrysalis and examing it, noting how it was as hard as a crystal. He then tossed the chrysalis to Adeline, who caught it. ''This one has finished maturing. I will need your assistance in the future, so be ready for when I call you.''

''Yes, Sir,'' Adeline responded, nodding. As Gabriel left, she followed him outside the greenhouse, staring at the chrysalis. She knew well what her boss was up to and being a loyal employee of the Agreste household, she was going to follow his orders no matter what happened. Of course, she couldn't guarantee for any satisfactory results, but she would do her best.

xXx

Chat Noir sighed, leaning against a steel beam as he stared at the dark sky. He and Ladybug were hanging out on the Eiffel Tower, with Chat Noir having brought his violin while Ladybug had her notepad and was currently sketching something. He stopped playing for a moment, with Ladybug lifting her head.

''What's wrong?'' she asked.

''It's just… It's been really quiet for the past few weeks, don't you think so?'' Chat Noir pointed out.

''Yeah, I have noticed,'' Ladybug replied. ''Maybe Papillon just gave up?''

''I doubt it. I'm sure he is up to something,'' Chat Noir replied, only for Ladybug to burst into a fit of giggles, leaving the black cat superhero surprised. ''What's wrong?''

''Usually, I'm the one worrying about Papillon sending the Mime or Monsieur Pigeon to attack Paris, but it seems that we have switched roles,'' Ladybug pointed out.

''You're right. But, I don't mind spending time with you without having to worry that we'll get interrupted, Bug,'' Chat Noir replied.

''Honestly, I agree with the sentiment,'' Ladybug replied with a smile. She had to admit that the past few weeks of them just hanging out together did wonders to their relationship. She felt quite relaxed in Chat Noir's presence, especially when he didn't bring up that kiss on the cheek. Surprisingly, Chat Noir actually kept the flirting and teasing at a minimum, to the point that Ladybug couldn't even recall the last time she felt annoyed about it. That left her with other thoughts, though. ''I wonder how long we'll be fighting Papillon.''

''I don't know what to tell you. He hasn't shown himself at all, so this could go on for a while,'' Chat Noir replied with a shrug. ''Why are you bringing that up?''

''Well, it just came to my mind that if things are going to last for much longer than either of us thought, maybe we will end up in situations where we will have to rely on each other as civilians,'' Ladybug pointed out, much to Chat Noir's surprise.

''Wait, what do you mean by that?'' he asked, already having an idea what Ladybug was thinking, but he still wanted to hear it from her.

''I mean that we will have to eventually learn about each other's civilian identities,'' Ladybug stated bluntly, taking note of Chat Noir's shocked expression. ''I know, you probably didn't expect me ask for this, especially since I was the one insisting on the whole secret identity deal.''

''That's right,'' Chat Noir said, his heart pounding. The idea of Ladybug finally revealing her identity to him was both tempting and frightening, as it would either confirm or debunk many of his theories, but at the same time, he feared what the reaction would be when she learned who he really was. ''I suppose knowing each other's civilian identity would allow us to communicate easier if we try to come up with a plan to take down Papillon, but at the same time, if someone else learned about our civilian identities, it would put both of us into danger.''

''I agree, but are you going to tell anyone else?'' Ladybug asked.

''Of course not! I'm not that stupid to just reveal my identity to some random person,'' Chat Noir huffed.

''I know, and that's why I trust you. However, I guess we can leave that for later,'' Ladybug replied, looking up at the moon. ''Once we're both ready, I'm certain that the desire to reveal ourselves will come to us naturally.''

''I hope that it will,'' Chat Noir replied, following her gaze. He genuinely wished that he could agree with Ladybug, but the doubt lingering in the back of his mind kept feeding his fears.

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#Up Ladybug (Masterlist)

[i-am-confusion-03]

Well another wrapped has come to pass. Let's see how normal my rankings are.

God fucking damnit AGAIN??? TWO YEARS IN A ROW??

BUT OH NO IT GETS WORSE!

WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS

[kazieka]

unpopular opinion down there 👇🏼 in the tags

[council-of-colors]

just read the kelly x lindsey fic. this is peak fiction i give it a million i give this whole account a million - ] / bracket anon

YEAHHHH! Glad you liked it! I plan on writing more that are longer and better written but y’know sometimes just a short little 1k is nice

[gachadarklightoficial]

Just like Lanny, I'll choose an oc. The chosen one is Lindsey.

In order:

The Owl House;

Miraculous: Dragon (LAW);

Miraculous Swap: Snake;

Inside Out: Fear;

Gender Swap: Luke;

Pony Town.

First | Previous | Next

[flawedxshatteredxsouls]

Happy Saturday!! Sorry, I have been MIA. I went on a vacation out of the country, so I didn't have time to be here. But I am back now and working through my drafts. I am open to plotting; just send me a message, and we can get something started :)

[asterias-corner]

FOAMING AT THE MOUTH, SCREAMING CRYING GHROWING UP AND SHAKING

IM SCREAMING I NEED IT YOU DONT UNDERSTAND

[7-wonders]

I’ve discovered that I really like kickboxing

[joel--montgomery]

Starter for @lindseyxgallagher

Where: Joel's Home

When: Present

Things were going well between them. He hadn't really expected anything less. It was now, about a month after they started going on dates, that Joel came back to reality. Lindsey, as far as he knew, had no idea how deep the rot within Obsidian went. He did, though. If they were going to last, and God knew he wanted them to, he'd need to pull the curtain.

He still found himself fidgeting that evening, though. It started with him preparing dinner and refusing to sit until everything was cleaned up. Now, he could feel the tension buzzing underneath his skin. Lindsey must have sensed it, too.

"Everything right now is fine," Joel said before she asked. For all of Lindsey's confidence, he knew she'd wonder if he was fidgeting because of her. "I have something to tell you about work -- I know we try to keep those things separate but I might wound up stepping in things that I can't get out of. I need you to know now rather than later."

[softforallofit]

today was so nice! it was sunny and warm (felt like spring) and I reconnected with a old childhood friend :) maybe Sundays aren’t so bad after all.

[julie-hollis]

Starter for @lindseyxgallagher

Where: Lindsey Gallagher's Home

When: Present

“Well, it’s not exactly what we planned, but I promised you a haircut. So, I’m keeping it,” Julie said on Lindsey Gallagher’s front doorstep. She had two rolling suitcases and a backpack. The SUV was a bit like a traveling circus these days.

"Your painting did survive the fire, though. I still had it at my house, so it'll have an official home soon," Julie added. The painting Lindsey purchased back in late December almost taunted her from its place in the living room. Maybe, had she not been so stubborn, and considered those early business partnerships the salon would be standing. Lord knew they'd have updated the damn sprinkler system at least.

[tenebraevesper]

Up Ladybug, Entry 26: If You’re Here (Part 1)

''Through that slumped back rain pierces painfully, I remembered having prayed. Even if in this world there is only one umbrella, I will find you and give it to you. Even though I'm unable to do anything I'll at least get drenched in your place, for some reason. Please, tell me, what is bothering you?''

– Kimi ga Ireba by Detective Conan

xXxXxXx

''Hey, hey, do you think Amber is really telling the truth in regards to her encounter with Ladybug and Chat Noir?'' Sophie asked, with her, Claude, Allegra, Allan and Bridgette being gathered around her and Bridgette's desk. They all glanced towards Amber, who was surrounded by several of their other classmates who wanted to know the full details and clearly enjoying the attention she got.

''I have no doubts about that,'' Bridgette said, leaning against her seat, arms folded across her chest and a slight smirk on her lips.

''She was walking around pretending to be a superhero,'' Félix said, not even lifting his gaze from the book he was reading while listening to the conversation happening one row behind him. ''Would it be surprising for her to draw Ladybug and Chat Noir's attention this way?''

''I suppose it wouldn't,'' Allegra said, leaning against the wall behind them. ''Not to sound cynical, but I doubt you can be a superhero without some kind of superpower.''

''What about Batman? He's a superhero and he doesn't have any superpowers,'' Allan said.

''Actually, he does. His superpower is being a billionaire,'' Sophie said, with her friends bursting out laughing. Even Félix snorted, hiding his smile under the book. She then glanced at Bridgette and Félix, a slight smirk on her expression. ''So, are you two planning to have another lunch together, or…?''

Both Bridgette and Félix froze at the question. It wasn't really about the implications of them being alone together, but a reminder of what happened a day ago and both of them just disappearing and Ladybug and Chat Noir appearing and somehow knowing about what had happened. Neither of them had talked about it since that.

''Uh, um,… How about going to lunch as a whole group?'' Bridgette suddenly suggested, laughing nervously and a sweatdrop forming as she saw her friends giving her a weird look. She knew that they were all wondering why she didn't want to spend more time with Félix. After all, he was her crush, even if they still had their doubts about him. Sophie rose an eyebrow, then smiled innocently.

''Oh, I just remembered that me and Allan wanted to check out that café down the street,'' she suddenly said, looking at a confused Allan. However, he quickly picked up on her intentions and agreed, nodding.

''I was actually planning on going to lunch with Carmilla,'' Allegra said.

Claude shoot Félix a scrutinizing look, then said, ''I wanted to meet up with a few people from the theatre group. They're working on a mime and pantomime-type of performance and I wanted to ask them a few questions.''

''O-Oh…'' Bridgette was panicking internally. The school bell rung for the end of the recess and everyone went back to their seat, with Sophie sitting next to Bridgette.

Sophie then leaned over, placing her hand on her mouth and whispering to Bridgette, ''I know how hard you have worked to get Félix's attention. It is nice that you're worried about spending time with us, but trust me, it's okay. You can go to lunch with him, none of us will be mad about this.''

To seal the deal, she winked at her in confidence. Bridgette just smiled back, but at the same time, she had to wonder whether Félix would bring up what happened a day ago. She was worried that he might figure out that she was Ladybug, since it was too much of a coincidence for her to just appear at the same time she made that flimsy excuse.

Félix, who tried to ignore the sense of anxiety, had the same thoughts. He knew that his excuse to deal with Amber/Queen Bee was absolutely laughable and that anyone would be quite suspicious of him disappearing, only for Chat Noir to suddenly appear with all the knowledge about what had happened.

However, even though they were concerned in regards to their own secret identities, they were even more worried about something else – for Bridgette, it was the possibility that Félix was Chat Noir, while for Félix, it was the possibility that Bridgette was Ladybug. Neither of them was ready to face this situation.

xXx

Lunch was… rather awkward. Both were sitting outside under a tree, eating their bought lunch together in silence. Both already had the feeling that they should bring up what had happened the day before, but neither of them was willing to make the first move. They both knew that if they started even implying that they were assuming that the other might be a superhero, they probably wouldn't know how to handle the truth.

For Bridgette, she simply couldn't believe that the distant and aloof Félix could be flirty and playful Chat Noir. Or perhaps, she didn't want to believe it. After all, her feelings towards both were rather complicated and she wanted nothing more but to keep things as they were. She didn't want to even think that this all might just be an illusion.

For Félix, he knew that he was risking everything with his actions. Despite having grown quite fond of Ladybug, he was still focused on removing his cursed ring, remembering the day before when he attempted to place another book on a bookshelf, only for the wooden panel to break and all of the books to fall off the shelf. He knew that this was just another instance of his bad luck acting up, another reminder that, even if he was happy in life, misery would always follow. Therefore, he needed to steal that kiss from Ladybug, but if she was also Bridgette and if she learned that he was Chat Noir, he knew he would lose her. She had put so much faith into him and if she knew what he was up to, she would never trust him again. He even entertained the idea of telling her the truth, but he felt that he was in too deep to dig himself out of this charade.

But, am I really putting on a charade at this point? Félix gazed ahead, his eyes distant and thoughtful. Bridgette noticed that distant look on his expression, wondering if she should say something.

''Hey, Fé…''

''Bridgette…''

Both immediately shut up after they spoke in unison, looking at each other in confusion. Both were silent for a moment, before speaking again at the same time.

''What did you want to ask me?''

''Please, you go first.''

Silence again as they realized that there was indeed something on each other's mind, followed my a sense of frustration because neither of them wanted to talk, even though they knew they needed to do some proper communication. Félix then cleared his throat, deciding to be the one to break the ice, noting how Bridgette was staring at him in anticipation.

''I was just wondering… what do you think of Chat Noir?'' he asked.

''Eh?'' Bridgette gave him a blank stare, not expecting this question. Still, despite being stunned by it, she was  also glad that he wasn't bringing up what had happened the previous day. Instead, she leaned against the tree, placing a finger on her lips. ''Well, let's see… I have met him a couple of times, and I think he's actually a really sweet person.''

''Really?'' Félix gave her a look of surprise. Sure, he remembered that he as Chat Noir and Bridgette did have a good relationship, even when dealing with their own emotional turmoil, but the last thing he expected was for Bridgette to describe his alter ego as ''sweet''.

''Well, it is more in the sense that he want to be seen as someone who cares a lot, even though he does,'' Bridgette replied, with Félix figuring that she had indeed nailed his personality. He then noticed her giving him a curious look. ''What do you think about Ladybug? You have met her, right?''

''Ladybug…'' Félix trailed off as he thought about her. ''I think that she's very passionate about her goals and determined to keep those she cares about safe. She also has that…'' Félix stopped himself from completing the sentence as he saw Bridgette's warm and kind smile. Why does she resemble Ladybug so much? He lowered his head, feeling something constraining his chest.

''Félix, are you okay?'' Bridgette asked.

''I'm… not sure,'' Félix replied. ''But, I hope I'll figure it out eventually.''

xXx

''What are you searching for, Kid?'' Plagg asked, observing Félix as he rummaged through his closet, eventually taking out a black leather violin case. He stared at it hesitantly as Plagg flew closer, giving him a confused look. ''What's that?''

''It's the violin my mother had gifted to me,'' Félix replied, opening the case and showing Plagg the stringed instrument that was inside. ''It feels like ages since the last time I took it out.'' He walked over to the closet and then took out what appeared to be a box with items necessary for maintaining a violin. ''I did keep it properly stored, but…'' Félix reached for a handkerchief and used it to clean the instrument carefully. ''I'll need to change some of the strings.''

''How come you had never told me that you can play a violin?'' Plagg asked.

''That's because I gave up on it a while ago. I used to love playing the violin, but after what happened… I couldn't do it anymore,'' Félix replied, staring at his violin somberly. Plagg gave him a sympathetic look, with Félix narrowing his eyes. ''However, this is an emergency.''

Plagg rose an eyebrow, being quiet for a moment as he wondered what Félix meant, only for it to dawn on him. ''Wait, is this your plan? You're going to serenade Ladybug with music?''

''I admit, I am running out of ideas…'' Félix said dryly, looking down at the violin.

''What about trying to figure out Ladybug's civilian identity?'' Plagg sat on Félix's shoulder. Félix's eyes narrowed.

''That… I consider that my last resort,'' he said in response. He didn't want to say it, but he wished that it wouldn't come to that.

xXx

Chat Noir spotted Ladybug at their usual meeting spot on the Eiffel Tower, carrying his violin case carefully as he feared that, with his bad luck, something might happen to his precious instrument. Even though he hadn't played the violin in a long time, his skills were all but rusty. Aside from being able to play many classical and modern pieces from memory, he had also practiced playing by ear, that is refining his ability to pick up music notes and play along almost instantly. Of course, he also made sure to actually practice the piece he was going to play to complete perfection. He was certain that he would succeed in his plan.

It is not as if I'm playing for my uncle and… Chat Noir felt a sudden piercing in his chest, shaking his head to get those thoughts out of his mind. No, I can't think about what happened! You're playing this for Ladybug, no one else!

He took out a small loudspeaker and his smartphone out of his pocket, turning the loudspeaker on and selecting the accompaniment. While he had trouble picking what he would play, as he wasn't completely sure what approach he would take, he decided that he would at first try to impress Ladybug and go from there, settling on one by his favorite violinist, Lindsey Stirling, called Master of Tides. He put the bow in proper position and started the music, grinning and showing his fangs.

Let's get this show on the road!

xXx

Ladybug was sitting on the metallic structure of the Eiffel Tower, legs swinging as she observed the city in the nighttime. Despite her intial fear of heights during the very beginning of her adventure, she now felt more confident than ever and was excitedly waiting for Chat Noir to show up so they could start with their nightly patrol.

To her surprise, she heard a sudden whining sound, like a siren, followed by a steady beat. The siren sound continued as Ladybug got up, looking around frantically as she tried to figure out where it was coming from, only for the beat to suddenly drop and Chat Noir to leap right in front of her, playing a violin. Ladybug's jaw dropped as the music picked up with Chat Noir tapping lightly in the rhythm of the instrument, taking steps back and forth as he moved along the beat, as if dancing, but not quite.

Ladybug stared him, completely mesmerized by his masterful playing and elegant yet lively dance, to the point that it took her until half-way of the song to realize that he was playing this for her, if his mischievous cat-like grin and glinting green eyes were any sign of confirmation. He clasped her hands in amazement, her heart-beat picking up as she observed him, enjoying the sound of music and even nodding along with the beat, which switched tempo seamlessly from lively to much slower, almost dreamlike, like a ship on calm waters, only for the tempo to pick up, the ship crashing through waves as it braved the tides. She genuinely wanted to dance to it, to lose herself in the music, but alas, the song eventually came to a sudden end. Nevertheless, Ladybug started clapping, completely delighted by the show.

''Chat, that was amazing! I had no idea you could play the violin!'' she said, absolutely starstruck. Chat Noir smiled, taking a deep bow.

''Thank you. I had figured that I could surprise you with one of my special talents,'' he replied, being a little out of breath. Usually, one would play the violin while standing still, but he decided to put on a show and, given Ladybug's reaction, it was worth it. ''I'm quite happy that you enjoyed my performance, Bug. I played it with you in mind.''

To his joy, his words actually made Ladybug blush, but instead of lightly joking back and trying to downplay the situation or even just put up a clear wall between them, Ladybug smiled back. ''That's really sweet of you.''

Chat Noir's expression showed surprise at first, only to smooth into joy. His tail flicked as he realized that this may have been the breakthrough he needed. If he could keep up the momentum, he would be able to get rid off the curse in no time. He would be finally free from his bad luck, no more tormented by every little thing going wrong in his life. Maybe it could happen tonight, as long as he manages to charm Ladybug into kissing him, be it by using music or words or actions.

Then, Chat Noir would finally be no more.

Chat Noir's green eyes, previously glowing with life and triumph, suddenly turned dull and lost their luster. All the sounds and light around him dimmed, as if being drowned out by the darkness that crept around him and Ladybug, who was still smiling at him, not even aware what was going through Chat Noir's mind. It was just them here, and he could see a huge shadow looming over her, her own future taunting her, one filled with suffering and pain. They were the only beacons of light standing amidst the darkness, but soon, it would only be her standing there, all alone.

Wh- What am I doing?

Chat Noir stepped back, his move being rather sudden. Ladybug stepped forward, reaching for Chat Noir's hands and holding them in an assuring manner, her expression showing concern.

''Chat Noir, what's wrong? You look so pale.''

''I-I…'' Chat Noir had no idea how to vocalize his thoughts. He genuinely wanted to move on with his plan and finally earn Ladybug's kiss. However, it felt like he hit an invisible barrier, with Ladybug standing on the other side, confused and perhaps even scared for him, not understanding the inner struggle he was going through.

To kiss Ladybug, it meant to lie to her. It meant to betray her – the one person who put her trust into him despite their rocky start. She had shown him kidness and support, love and friendship. They were partners and Chat Noir knew that Ladybug trusted him with her life, opening up to him and only to him, when things were the hardest. It was natural that she would turn to him for support, as a fellow superhero, but lately, it felt like their relationship meant much more to Ladybug than being a simple partnership… and Chat Noir was on his way to destroy that.

Not even understanding himself why he did this, Chat Noir suddenly moved, wrapping his hands around Ladybug, his actions startling her. His expression was blank as he pulled her into an embrace, whispering, ''You mean the world to me, Ladybug.''

''Chat…'' Ladybug had no idea how to respond. She could hear a hint of sadness in his voice, completely puzzling her. He was so happy a moment ago, and now, it felt like a switch had been flipped, and she wanted to know why. Chat Noir then let go of her, giving her a faint hint of a smile, but Ladybug could see the sorrow in his eyes. However, before she could even ask him anything, they heard the sound of wings flapping. Both turned their heads towards the sound, only to realize that there was a flock of pigeons gathered and flying across the Seine towards a particular direction. Both rose an eyebrow, exchanging glances.

''Are they flying towards Jardins du Trocadéro?'' Ladybug asked. Chat Noir tilted his head as he observed the flock of pigeons abruptly swerving to the side.

''I think they're actually flying towards the Aquarium,'' he said, completely confused.

''Why would Monsieur Pigeon attack the Aquarium?'' Ladybug asked, still baffled.

''Honestly, I don't know. Maybe he hates fish now?'' Chat Noir shrugged. Ladybug took a deep sigh, reaching for her yo-yo.

''Okay, let's chase him off,'' she said in a tone that clearly indicated that she was completely done with the Pigeon Man. Chat Noir couldn't help but chuckle at her reaction.

xXx

''Aaghhrr! You two will pay for this!'' Monsieur Pigeon, dangling upside-down due to being tied up via Ladybug's yo-yo. Ladybug and Chat Noir were standing on top of the Aquarium building, both rolling their eyes. They had to admit that this was probably their easiest fight to date, as while Monsieur Pigeon was terrorizing whoever was close to the Aquarium, they snuck up to him, with Chat Noir blasting the pigeon villain with a Black Storm, knocking him off his pigeons, and Ladybug catching him with her yo-yo.

''I'd say this is a new record for us,'' Chat Noir said, with Ladybug smirking in response.

''Not fair! I haven't even done any gloating!'' Monsieur Pigeon protested.

''Why have you even attacked the Aquarium?'' Ladybug asked, drawing the villain's attention.

''To draw your attention, obviously! Rooo- Roooo!'' Monsieur Pigeon replied.

''Is this another of Papillon's schemes?'' Ladybug asked, noting the look of panic on Monsieur Pigeon's expression.

''I'm not telling!!''

''It totally is,'' both Ladybug and Chat Noir responded in a deadpan tone.

''Aaaghhhr!''

''Hey, how about you tell us what Papillon's plans are?'' Ladybug called out for the pigeon villain, who sneered at her.

''I won't tell you anything! Roooo- Rooooooo!'' he replied.

''Okay, then why are you attacking us?'' Chat Noir asked.

''Because Papillon wants you off the streets so you won't bother while he is-'' Monsieur Pigeon suddenly cut himself off, his bulging eyes widening in horror as he just realized he was about to tell them everything.

Chat Noir smirked mischievously, giving Ladybug a knowing look, ''Too bad he didn't give away everything. But, it was worth a try.'' He glanced over at the villain. ''In any case, we're handing you over to the police.''

''No you won't!'' Monsieur Pigeon made a cooing sound, with Ladybug and Chat Noir being suddenly attacked by a flock of pigeons. Forced to defend herself, Ladybug let go of Monsieur Pigeon, turning her yo-yo into a shield. Once the flock dispersed, they realized that Monsieur Pigeon was also gone.

''Should we go search for him?'' Chat Noir asked.

''We could, but I'm more curious whether there will be another attack,'' Ladybug said.

''I somehow doubt it. When did this guy ever return after being defeated once?'' Chat Noir said.

''You're right, but we still should go on a quick patrol. Afterwards, we could spend some time together,'' Ladybug suggested. Chat Noir was a bit surprised by her suggesting them hanging out so casually. His heart-beat picked up as he realized that this was his chance, but then a chilling feeling pierced his chest.

''I… I can't,'' Chat Noir admitted, his gaze pointed to the side as he avoided eye-contact with Ladybug. ''I think we should split up for the patrol. If you see anything, give me a call.''

To Ladybug's surprise, he turned on his heel and quickly leapt into the night, heading towards the Eiffel Tower. She wondered what was going through his head, as Chat Noir seemed to be a lot less playful lately, even refusing to spend time with her, while before, he'd look forwards to interacting and flirt with her whenever he could.

Did he really lose hope because of my rejection? Ladybug wondered as she leapt towards another building, parkouring across the city. I didn't think things would turn out like this.

She had been thinking a lot about her relationship with Chat Noir. At the very start, she didn't have a high opinion of him, much less when she found out he was lying to her and made her feel like a fool. However, after giving him a chance, she had learned that there was indeed more than he was willing to show. He had a hidden vulnerable and troubled side, and Ladybug could only speculate what kind of life he had. She wished to know him better, having warmed up to him. She was being honest when she described him as sweet, as well as mischievous, sort of like an aloof cat who had a favorite person. I'm Chat's favorite person. Ladybug stopped, feeling a strange sensation piercing her chest, trying to understand it. It was a rather familiar warmth, but this time, she was hesistant to think about it, let alone explore it. Some part of her was aware what it may be, but she didn't want to acknowledge it.

xXx

''Plagg, de-transform me!''

Chat Noir had de-transformed, with Félix walking over to his bed, placing his violin case on it and lying down. He sighed, feeling quite downcast. Plagg hovered above him, noting how they had returned home much earlier than usual, but Félix already looked completely exhausted.

''Something I don't understand…'' Plagg started, hovering next to Félix in a cross-legged position. ''Why didn't you stay longer with Ladybug? She had suggested that you two hang out together. You had the perfect opportunity to convince her to kiss you.''

''I… I don't know,'' Félix responded, frowning and then turned his back to Plagg. ''I don't want to talk about it.''

Plagg tilted his head, aware that, while he wasn't the most compassionate entity in existence, he knew that something was clearly wrong with his friend and flew over to hover in front of Félix's face. ''Kid, do you even want to get rid off your curse?''

''Of course I do!'' Félix grumbled, suddenly getting up and frowning at Plagg. The cat kwami grinned mischievously, happy to get a more emotional reaction from Félix, and then promptly sat on the top of his head, still in a cross-legged position while folding his tiny arms across his chest, putting on a thoughtful look.

''I have noticed that you're not putting as much effort into your goal as you did before. That is why I had been wondering whether you had second thoughts about everything,'' Plagg said.

''Plagg, have you forgotten what had happened yesterday?'' Félix asked, looking up at the upper level of the room, where his private library was. A bunch of books had been stacked up on each other on the floor, with a broken shelf leaned against the wall. Plagg felt a chill as he remembered the shelf suddenly breaking and some of the heaviest books falling on top of Félix. Félix then added, as if reading his mind, ''If I hadn't been self-taught to always be alert to my surroundings, I would've ended up in the hospital, either to get stitches, or dead because of blood loss and a broken skull. I'm not giving up on my goal.''

''Then what is going on?'' Plagg asked, now in a more aggressive tone as he flew up to him. The two stared at each other, Félix still being silent as he locked eyes with his kwami. To Plagg's surprise, he then faltered.

''Do you know what exactly will happen when I remove the ring?'' Félix asked, gazing at the cat's head on the ring glinting in the dim light.

''Well, if I remember correctly, both the bad luck will be once more contained within the ring until someone else puts it on,'' Plagg explained.

''What about Ladybug?'' Félix asked.

''Obviously, she would also be able to remove her earrings, if she wishes to do so. If she keeps them, she keep access to all of her powers, aside from her good luck,'' Plagg continued.

''So, she will really lose her good luck power?'' Félix asked, feeling a sudden chill spreading through his chest.

''Exactly! It is a quid pro quo deal – you lose your bad luck, she loses her good luck. Of course, the powers could be restored if you, or someone else, put the ring back on,'' Plagg added.

''I see,'' Félix muttered, then looked at Plagg, who appeared to be a little surprised by his next question. ''What about you?''

''I'll be absorbed back into the ring until I get a new holder. It has always been like that,'' Plagg replied. Aside from the chilling sensation, Félix could also feel a sense of guilt washing over him. It appeared that his emotions were reflected on his expression, because Plagg quickly tried to cheer him up, ''Hey, it's okay! I'm used to this. After all, this has been going on for centuries. The most important thing now is that you don't get killed by your own bad luck.''

''Thank you, but… is there anything you'd want to do while you're still here?'' Félix asked, catching Plagg off guard with his question. Plagg wondered what was going through Félix's head at the moment, but decided to take the opportunity.

''Well, aside from eating every kind of cheese that exists in the world, sleeping all day and having fun, as well as seeing you succeed in your plans… I would also like to hear you play again,'' Plagg said, pointing at the violin case. Félix was a bit surprised by his request, but nodded, grabbing the instrument and getting up.

''Do you have any requests?'' he asked, with Plagg humming.

''I don't know. I'm fine with whatever you want to play,'' Plagg suggested. ''Maybe you could play something for both yourself and myself, something that makes you happy because currently, you look like a cat caught in a storm.''

Félix snorted at Plagg's remark, only for his expression to change, looking more solemn. ''It had been a long time since someone had told me to play something that makes me happy.''

''Félix…'' Plagg could see the sadness and grief in Félix's eyes. His gaze was distant, if only for a moment, with the teenager then looking at the kwami.

''I haven't told you why I even stopped playing, right?'' he asked, with Plagg nodding.

''Hey, if you don't feel comfortable sharing something personal, I'm fine with it,'' Plagg responded. Félix shook his head.

''No, I want to share this with you because I you're my friend and I trust you,'' he said. Plagg felt something in his throat, as if choking on a large piece of cheese, and nodded in agreement. Félix then looked down at his beloved violin, taking a deep breath. He could feel a sense of pain and longing constricting his chest, but regardless of his feelings, he wanted to be honest. ''My mother had gifted this violin to me when I was still a young child. I had a phase where I was listening to nothing but classical music and I wanted to learn to play an instrument, and while Uncle Gabriel pushed for me to learn how to play the piano, I insisted on the violin, so that's what Mother got me.''

''Why would your uncle insist on you learning how to play the piano? Both are instruments, so isn't it the same thing?'' Plagg asked.

''Not really, although you need to practice hard for both things. I think it was more an attempt at trying to control my hobbies. He did later on claim that me practicing sounded more like we had a dying animal in the house,'' Félix added the latter part in a deadpan tone, with Plagg laughing. ''Well, what did he expect? I just started playing.''

''You should've told him that he should be happy you didn't try to learn how to play bagpipes,'' Plagg said, with Félix chuckling as he imagined Gabriel's look of horror had he chosen that instrument.

''I think he'd disown me if I suggested that,'' he said, taking a deep breath and continuing the story, ''Nevertheless, Mother wanted to nurture my interest in music, regardless of how bad I was. She would always smile at me and tell me how much she loved my performances, even though I knew that they were awful.'' Félix smiled as he remembered his mother's gentle smile, encouraging him to play to his heart's content. It was her smile that drove him to practice every day, getting better and better at it. ''I made it my goal to master every musical piece successfully, even taking requests and playing my mother's favorite songs. However…'' Félix lowered his gaze, a shadow falling over his expression. ''Mother eventually was diagnosed with her illness and spent a lot of time in the hospital. I would visit her at every chance I got, and I would bring my violin with her to play for her, because I believed that this would somehow help her.'' Félix trembled, not even noticing how blurry his vision was. ''I was so naive, but I insisted. She was always so pale and weak, but she still managed to smile… and then, she was gone…'' Félix was shaking, a tear falling down his cheek, and he quickly wiped it away with the palm of his hand as he tried to continue talking, despite the agony he felt. ''After… after she died… It became too painful for me to even touch the violin again… I just put it in my closet and tried to forget about it… I couldn't relieve those memories again…''

Plagg suddenly flew up to him, hugging him tightly and nuzzling his cheek. Neither said anything, as Plagg knew just how much Félix was suffering. He was still grieving his mother's death, all alone.

''It was sure a big deal for you to play the violin again,'' Plagg said as he then sat on Félix's shoulder.

''It was… but, it wasn't as emotionally painful as I feared it would be,'' Félix said. ''Seeing Ladybug smile and enjoy the music, it made me happy again. It made me feel just like when I play for my mother. I loved seeing her smile and I loved seeing Ladybug smile… and, I guess that's when I realized that I couldn't go through with it.'' Félix said, a wave of guilt crashing into him. ''When I was performing for Mother, I put all of my feelings into it. However, when I was performing for Ladybug, I was lying to her. It was wrong of me to do that.''

''So, you're not going through with your plan to just serenade Ladybug?'' Plagg asked. Félix shook his head.

''No. If I'm going to play again, it'll be just for you and for myself,'' Félix replied, looking around the room. ''Although, I don't feel like playing here. This place just feels… empty.''

''Hollow even,'' Plagg chimed in.

''Desolate,'' Félix added, now with a smirk.

''Dull,'' Plagg added, his smirk matching Félix's.

''Suffocating,'' Félix and Plagg said in unison. Both chuckled, with Plagg hovering next to Félix, a mischievous look on his expression.

''Well, you know the magic words,'' he said, looking excited. Félix nodded, smiling as he brushed with his fingers across the ring.

''Plagg, transform me!''

After being briefly enveloped in a flash of black light, Chat Noir appeared, storing the violin back into its case and going towards the balcony, opening the door and leaping into the night.

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