It’s still November 8 when I’m posting this, so it still counts. I decided to do a full fic for today after procrastinating on Day 2 for Superheroes (which I am also still working on) @nathmarcnovember

Also, for the sake of context, this is based off of my Horse Miraculous!Nathaniel and Genderfluid Goat Miraculous!Marc AU, which you can read about here. I also changed Marc’s hero name from Silene>Panic, cause one user seemed to really like it. I have mixed feelings about this one, but if you like Love-square identity shenanigans, I hope you all enjoy it!

Nathaniel inhales a deep breath as he gazes outside his apartment window towards the setting sun, as if held in place by the monolith of steel known as the Eiffel Tower.

“This is it. Today’s the day.” In both hands, the redhead clutches the two toned rose of red and white, akin to the perfect dichotomy of colors found on his Little Lady’s costume. The next thing he knows, the bangs obscuring his left eye are brushed to the side by his miniature companion.

“You’ll do fine! Stand up proud and tall!” Kaalki reassures his nervous owner. In response, Nathaniel manages a shy smile that quickly morphs into a confident smirk as he readies himself for the transition into his alter ego.

“Kaalki! Let’s ride!” By his command, the Horse Kwami is pulled into the Miraculous jewelry and a flash of white envelopes his form.

Chevalier gingerly tucks the flower into his pocket and departs his bedroom, beginning a series of bounds from rooftop to rooftop.

Now, Chevalier did consider making his love confession to the alpine super-heroine atop the Eiffel Tower, being the tallest structure in all of Paris. He feels like someone as grandiose as say… Chat Noir, would opt for the illuminated metal beast.

However, Chevalier wants to profess his feelings in a much more intimate place; an often forgotten corner of the Jardin du Luxembourg where the De Medici Fountain resides. Lovebirds sometimes sneak into the wooded alcove to escape the crowds and noisy children at the popular park. Unlike the meticulously groomed greenery of the rest of the gardens, the alcove remains untouched; obscured by dangling foliage, making it a private oasis to share a passionate embrace akin to the lovers of white Carrara marble, Acis and Galatea. After all, the Little Lady isn’t shy about her love for stories of both new and old.

A sudden pang of embarrassment courses through Chevalier as he dashes across the Parisian skyline. The thought of the magnificent pose of the two lovers and the product of his inspiration from them reminded the hero of this morning’s incident in his school’s art room. Marc, his clumsy partner in crime, had accidentally bumped into Nathaniel while the artist held his private sketchbook in his arms. When the book landed onto the floor, of all the pages it could have opened up to, it was his drawing of Panic lazily draping herself atop of Mightyllustrator; right hand resting on his knee while her left fingers brush through the sunset colored hair that Nathaniel knew she adored.

“Sooo..um… y-you like that goat hero?” The blushing writer stammers out. Nathaniel doesn’t look him in the eyes.

“..Well, I, uh… ugh… Y-yeah… don’t tell anyone, please?”

“I won’t! I won’t… I just… I thought… you liked Ladybug. Y’know, we’ve been building up the love triangle since forever.”

Nathaniel can’t help but reach for the back of his head, “I know, that’s not gonna change, I just, kinda changed my mind about Ladybug…?”

He was expecting his friend to either tease him in a good natured manner or nervously brush off the topic. What the artist didn’t expect was the unreadable look Marc gave him when he asked: “Why? What’s so special about her?”

“Huh?” Nathaniel blinks. “Ah, jeez…. Well she’s uh, cute…. Really cute.” And insightful. Funny. Caring. Bold. Not that his civilian self has any right to be aware of those things.

“All the girl heroes are cute.” The writer doesn’t seem convinced. “But to be honest, I don’t think she leaves much of an impression, compared to the others.”

“*Sigh* Look, I just… like her, okay?” Nathaniel huffs out. He trusted his partner, but it’s not like it was any of Marc’s business who he liked. His partner’s forest green eyes widen and dart away from the redhead.

“Ah… sorry, nevermind.”

Why couldn’t the sketchbook have landed on one of the pages of Chevalier and Panic instead? The hero persona Nath decides to draw is dependent on his whims, but at least Nathaniel could’ve just pretended he was an avid shipper. The faint sound of rippling water snaps him out of his thoughts.

Just keep your cool, the horse themed hero thinks to himself as he arrives at his destination, surprised to see his crush already at their meeting place. Her back is turned towards him as he approaches; he can see her resting her arms on the railings, staring at the scene depicted by the famous Italian mannerist monument.

“You’re early, Little Lady.” Chevalier announces his presence, amused by the soft peep of surprise out of the heroine. She swipes at her face before speaking without looking at him:

“I know you said sunset, Chev, but I doubt security will let us stay here past closing just cause we’re superheroes.”

“I’ve taken care of it,” He rests his hands on the railing beside Panic. The park usually closes an hour before sunset, but Chevalier convinced the workers that the heroes are conducting an ‘investigation’. Don’t judge him. “I wanted to speak with you alone.” He begins to reach towards the rose tucked away in his back pocket.

“What did you need me for?” She says blankly, finally turning towards him.

Chevalier freezes. Her emerald eyes are red and puffy.

“Are you alright?” When the love of his life looks away, his heart dropped. Was she standing here all this time, letting her tears be washed away by the fountain stream?

“It’s nothing. Just something dumb. Don’t worry.”

“Is it really, though?” Sure, he’s seen her get emotional whenever something sad happens to fictional characters, but it’s never brought down her mood like this. Also, it’s never stopped her from gushing about it. “It’s fine if you don’t want to talk, but, you don’t have to hold back around me.”

“Ugh… “ She sighs, brushing her finger across the railing. “I’ll get over it. It’s not the end of the world, it’s just…”

Panic pauses to gather her thoughts. She shuts her eyes as if she’s about to get stabbed with a needle.

“…I just found out the boy I like has a crush on another girl.”

Oh. He bites his tongue, and waits for her to continue.

“It’s no big deal, really. I’ve always known that he’s… I’m not his type. We were never going to be together, anyway.”

“But it still hurts.” Chevalier finishes. Tears begin to form in her eyes once more.

The hero wants to wipe away his Little Lady’s tears and tell her ‘Forget about him, he doesn’t deserve you! I love you more than anything in the world!’ But a surge of jealousy courses through his entire being.

Chevalier doesn’t want to catch her on the rebound, when her feelings are raw and vulnerable. He doesn’t want to be second best. He wants to be her one and only. It wasn’t supposed to be like this. Dammit. Damn this stupid mystery jerk for ruining everything.

The hotheaded hero turns his frowning gaze away from the girl to the bronze cyclops Polyphemus, his towering form shadowing the two stone lovers below him. The giant would crush the young shepherd Acis with a boulder in his spite over his unrequited love for the sea-nymph Galatea.

He wipes away his frown, and reminds himself it’s not about you. And that’s not very heroic either.

“The worst part is that all he said was that he thinks she’s pretty.” Panic chokes out in a slow drawl.

“Well, then he’s a fool.” That come out more aggressively than Chevalier would have liked.

She cringes. “I mean, I doubt he meant it, but…”

“No, what I meant was… that I think you’re a wonderful person. And if he can’t see that, then he’s a fool.” Chevalier huffs.

He earns a coy smile in return. “Thanks, Cowboy.”

They stand there for a moment, listening to the rippling waters in companionable silence, before the heroine breaks it:

“So, what did you want to ask me about?”

Crap. Crapcrapcrap. He can’t just drop a confession on her now. That would not only be inconsiderate of her feelings, but even more awkward if she says no.

“Uhhh…” Chevalier spits out lamely. Think of something!

He yanks out the rose.

“Look at this cool flower I found. Pretty neat right!?” Nailed it.

Panic does a little head tilt and bursts into laughter. Dang it, she’s too cute.

Chapters: 7/? Fandom: Miraculous Ladybug Rating: Not Rated Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Marc Anciel/Nathaniel Kurtzberg Characters: Marc Anciel, Nathaniel Kurtzberg, Alix Kubdel, Rose Lavillant, Juleka Couffaine, Marinette Dupain-Cheng | Ladybug, Probably More Additional Tags: Angst, Fluff, Poetry, Vignette, very poetic, very soft, Happy, it is also happy, artistically depressed Summary:

Did I mention they’re also both hunched over all the time? Why are artists always hunched.