LadyNoir July - Day 5: Milk
Word count: 1137
N/A: I originally wrote this thinking the butler's name was Jean-Paul. But then I saw my mistake in the wiki and I named him just Jean.
"What are you even talking about, Rena?"
"I'm telling you, Chat Noir has a drinking problem"
"Impossible. He is underage."
"Last time, when you sent me on your behalf for patrolling, we split and I ended up finding out that he was on the Hotel Bourgeois' bar"
"In the bar?"
"Yes, in the third floor"
"Did you talk to him?"
"No... I somehow felt out of place. He was talking to the bartender. And I needed to keep patrolling if clearly he was not doing his part. You know him better than I do, that's why I wanted to tell you first."
Ladybug crossed her arms and gave it a long thought. "Thank you for telling me, I'll take it from here."
"Always a pleasure LB, see ya"
======================
'I can't meet today. Please go on solo patrol, Chaton. I'll make it up for you later, thanks!'
Chat heard the audio again, with an empty glass of milk in front of him "Another, please"
"May I suggest some cookies Monsieur Noir?" Jean said filling the glass again.
"Do you have chocolate chips?"
"We have a new variety made with white chocolate"
"Give me two plates. I'll be here for a while"
Ladybug arrived after that, Chat didn't notice her entering through the window. She felt angry and sad at the same time upon finding him. Angry, because Chat was indeed ditching the duty. And sad, because her partner looked absolutely devastated"
"Kitty?"
"Ladybug!" He straightened his back as fast as a blink. "What are you doing here?"
"Rena discovered your little secret a couple days ago. I wanted to see if it was true with my own two eyes. What are you doing in a bar? Isn't that illegal? And aren’t you supposed to be patrolling?"
"I found this place some months ago. I was actually patrolling, keeping an eye on Chloe"
Ok, that made sense to Ladybug.
"And I'm not drinking alcohol. I'm just drinking milk"
"Milk?"
"Yeah, milk. I do like it when I'm in my civilian form, but somehow I prefer it over water when I'm transformed."
"I see. But you didn't look ok a few minutes ago. Did something happen?" She approached the bar, Jean offered her a drink. She accepted a glass of milk as well.
"Do you want the truth?"
"Of course"
"I was missing you. I started to come every time you skip patrol. And somehow I became a regular client. I even have discounts now"
"I'm sorry, Kitty. I —"
"Don't. This is not your fault. I understand, you are the guardian now. You are more busy. I was just here realizing that I love to go on patrols with you because it is usually the best part of my day. I have a... complicated civilian life. But my happiness is not your responsibility, I need to learn to handle my feelings."
Jean served Ladybug her own glass and blushed a little bit, Chat Noir was repeating what he told him last time. He was not just serving milk to the hero every other day, he was trying to help him. It felt nice that some of his words were reaching Chat.
"Woah, that's— That's a real mature thing to say."
"I can be mature too, you know" he took a sip and smiled at her with a milk moustache over the lips.
She laughed and cleaned it with her fingers, the same way she does with Manon when taking care of her. Chat blushed a little. She did too.
"Yeah, I know you can be mature too. But is still not ok to be here while in duty"
"Chloe is in the balcony, if she starts to yell to somebody I'll be the first one to know. I'm keeping an eye on our major akuma trigger. I'd say I'm doing a good job."
Ladybug sighed and took a sip of milk on her own "Oh, this is really good"
"Yeah it is"
Silence.
"What kind of problems do you have in your civilian life?"
"I can't really tell you without giving you major clues about who I am"
"Are you a famous person?"
"I'm Chat Noir"
"Right. Sorry I shouldn't ask personal questions"
"You know I want you to know who I am. But you are right, is too dangerous"
Ladybug drank the whole glass with a long sip. She felt miserable. She hasn't tell him that Rena knows. She would have told him as well if it was not because of Chat Blanc. She hasn't told him about Chat Blanc too. She has so many secrets she can't share with him. But she wants, and it is hard to keep the secret. That is why she was avoiding him more. Which is bad. It is hurting him. But the truth would hurt him more. Ugh. She couldn't stay more or she would tell him all.
"I have to go now"
Chat sighed. "Sorry I overstep it"
"No, no, Kitty. It's not because of you. I remembered something. I need to go now. But same time next Friday? In the same rooftop?"
"Sure, bye my Lady"
"See ya"
Ladybug exited through the window. Leaving Chat with Jean. "See? She kind of avoid me when I'm getting too personal about my feelings"
Jean cleared the bar counter. "Monsieur Noir, would you perhaps have the means to seek for professional help in your civilian form?"
"What do you mean?"
"Initially I suggested to you to talk about your distress with your partner. Because she was the only one in the same position as you. But it seems she has some problems on her own and the conversation makes her uncomfortable. And that is not something wrong, but she is probably going through something as well."
Chat nod, his head low. Hurts that she wouldn't trust him.
"The main problem here is not related to her. It is related to you and the things that happen to you at home that make it so precious for you the time with her."
Chat nod again.
"If money is an issue, I can help you with some. And you can take it to look for somebody in your civilian form. I'm telling you this as a friend"
Chat looked at his eyes for the first time. "Thank you"
"I will investigate what is the price for the average session"
"No, no, thank you for saying that. But money is not a problem." He said, taking out some cash to pay for his and Ladybug's drinks. "I appreciate what you say. I think... you are right. I will look for help in my civilian form. Thank you, friend"
"Anytime"
"I must go now, to keep patrolling. See you next time." Chat exited through the window, leaving Jean alone.
He wished the cat-boy luck in his endeavors.
