Adrien Agreste rested his head on his arm. It was late and he hadn't practiced. All he needed was two hours but the last time he practiced those few hours felt like centuries. His father gave him all the pieces he would need to practice and specific instructions for the original piece. Every time his pencil made contact with the empty sheet music he couldn't do anything. The lines seemed endless and the spaces vast. He would panic and forget how to breathe. The only thing that would end up on the paper were his tears that fell from the sadness and frustration welling up inside of him.

Chloe Bourgeois, the woman he was engaged to, was Ladybug and he had wished that his father would reconsider. The ballet belly dancer, Marinette Dupain-Cheng, ended up as the understudy when she clearly deserved the lead role. He wasn't sure what happened. Adrien wasn't allowed at the auditions but he watched from the last row without his father's knowledge.

Marinette seemed off. She was frustrated and by the end of the dance, she seemed close to tears. He wasn't sure why. He could tell she was trying her best. Her motions seemed pained though. He sat at the edge of his chair while she danced. Every so often when there was a break in the music he wondered what happened to her. She had to be the best dancer in the room. After her audition she seemed quiet, she looked at Chloe once before her gaze locked to the floor. She seemed so sad.

Adrien tapped his fingers against the familiar dark wood of his piano. The small melody was off and the beats never seemed to match up. He laughed at the thought that Chloe made his music disappear. He lost his music. He had to face the facts. Adrien wondered if that's what his mother felt before she left. That being with his father was making her lose her music in both piano and ballet. Adrien wanted to run away too.

He sighed before he opened his piano. The keys didn't feel used and they didn't feel like they were a part of his piano. He cleared his throat and looked at the sheet music. He paid close attention to the way the first piece was written. This would be the scene that Ladybug would be introduced. Her dancing would be precise and careful. Throughout the rest of the ballet her partner, Chat Noir, would teach her to loosen up and feel the music. Which was exactly what he needed. He played it note by note first, not worrying about the melody as much as just finishing the piece. His fingers felt cramped so he massaged them. The stiff movement of his new style of playing was affecting him not only emotionally but physically as well.

He played the piece over and over, relying more on muscle memory than his ears. He played until he could basically play the first few measures without looking at the music. Though it didn't sound like a song or how he imagined the song would sound he still played for those few hours. Everything had to be perfect for this ballet. It was way past midnight, most of the light came from the city buildings and shone through his windows. He closed his piano and sighed. He noticed he was doing that a lot lately.

He checked his phone which he had left on his mostly empty counter. He dulled the light in the kitchen and didn't bother to sit down.

Nino: Marinette didn't get the lead, she's an understudy though.

He let out a breath when he read the text. He already knew that. He wished Chloe would quit. It was horrible of him to wish it but he still did.

Adrien: How is she?

Adrien knew the answer, she was obviously sad. Who wouldn't want the lead in the Agreste production? He turned out all of his lights. The other buildings whose lights shone in created shadows on Adrien's walls. He didn't mind. He made his way through his dark apartment. He got comfortable before checking his phone again.

Nino: She was upset.

Nino: Alya got her to confess that Chloe did something to her shoes.

Nino: She won't tell your dad because Chloe said she already had the part and the auditions were just a formality like Alya had suspected.

Adrien felt himself tense up. The texts were like a slap to his face. Gabriel was abusing his power and not only he knew but three other people.

Adrien: Oh. Tell her I'm sorry.

Nino: She's drunk.

Nino: Really drunk. It's kinda funny actually.

Nino: If I tell her she might not remember and I don't think she would want you to know she's drunk.

Adrien: Then I guess I can talk to her at the next practice.

Adrien: But you're telling me she's drunk right now??

After a few minutes, he didn't get a reply so he went to brush his teeth. He wondered what she looked like drunk. He wondered if her cheeks were rosy and her eyes glossy. He wondered about a lot of things, like what words would fall from her tongue and past her alcohol stained lips.

Nino: Ask it.

Adrien: Ask what?

Nino: What kind of drunk she is.

Adrien: What kind of drunk is Marinette?

Nino: A happy one.

He imagined her dancing or at least trying to. A smile captured at every angle and happiness bubbling from within. He wanted to see her smile. He put his phone on his nightstand and closed his eyes letting the silence surround him. He had hoped that this silence would bring the yearning for music back. As he tossed and turned, he didn't want music but Marinette.