"You know," a voice that unmistakably belonged to Alya called out, a teasing lilt in her voice, "you've never once talked about ice skating. Never ever, not even in passing like 'Oh it's a little chilly out Alya by the way I'm like a professional ice skater!'"

Marinette sighed heavily for the hundredth time that morning alone and straightened up from her hunched position over her desk to turn towards her best friend, who was sat cross legged on her lounge.

"It never came up," she defended weakly, shrugging her shoulders and containing a slight smile at Alya's irritated huff.

"You never brought it up! Being super bizarrely talented at something is kinda the sort of thing you bring up!"

"I just never brought it up! And I have never described my skill level as 'bizarrely talented', you made that up."

Marinette turned back to working on her contest outfit, which lay spread out in shimmering folds on her workspace. She continued to clean up any small mistakes she could spot, resigning herself to Alya's good-tempered outrage that had slowly built up over the course of the month.

"All the names of those insane maneuvers you've been telling me about!? I count that as bizarrely talented, especially since the first I ever heard of it was when you randomly entered a competition." Alya raised her hands to start ticking things off, staring into space as she counted. "Cantilever, catch-foot, camel spin, bracket turns, fan spirals, flip jumps, something insane called hydroblading which is where..." she pulled out her phone for reference, "a skater glides on a deep edge with the body stretched in a very low position, almost horizontal to the ice." She blinked once, still staring at her phone like it had to be wrong. "Are you going to do that at all? I can't even picture that."

Marinette peaked over her shoulder, raising an eyebrow as she was admittedly impressed. "Not in this routine. I'm surprised Alya, I thought ice-skating wasn't your thing."

Alya didn't even look up from her phone, flipping through dozens of tabs she had open on a daily basis, saying, "You find out your friend is a closet pro at something you take notes, if you're into this I'm into this especially if it's my girls competition day. I need to know enough to be able to tell why you're the best when you win this thing."

At the mention of the contest that would be happening in just five hours Marinette groaned, sinking low to the ground and thumping her head against the desk. Alya glanced up from her phone at the sound and rolled her eyes, moving to pull Marinette back into a standing position.

"Come on didn't you say you blew the other girls out of the water at tryouts? I haven't even seen it yet and I know you're going to be amazing so try and relax!"

Marinette looked like she was going to sink again so Alya grabbed her firmly by the shoulders, soon becoming Marinette's comforting shoulder as she cried, "What am I even thinking!? Adrien is going to be there, watching me!"

Alya patted her friend on the back, rolling her eyes again and chuckling. "Well you really don't have anyone but yourself to blame for that."

"Not helping..." she mumbled, letting Alya support her weight as she mourned the loss of her self-confidence.

As Alya pet her hair she glared sullenly at her contest wear, extremely proud of it in design but seeing it as the symbol of her impending doom.

It had delicate spiraling black floral like designs stretched across it, sleeveless with a simple neckline and an elegant black lace skirt. She might have taken the 'Ice Flower' idea and run a little far with it... but she looked forward to wearing it. That is except for the skating part.

She groaned again and Alya sighed, pushing Mari a little to hold her at arm's length and fix her with a patented Alya stare.

"Listen girl, you're going to look super cute in that outfit and you're going to skate your heart out. People are going to cry, men are going to propose, and Adrien is going to shove them all aside and pull you into his arms telling you how beautiful you are okay? You know you can do this."

Alya dropped one hand, reaching into her pocket and pulling out three little golden bells that chimed softly in her palm. "I got them like you asked, so finish up your outfit and put it out of your mind okay?"

Marinette's eyes fixed on the three golden bells, her face feeling slightly hot as her heart skipped unevenly. It had been stupid, but she had a sudden whim the night before. She knew he was going to be there... without the mask, somewhere in the building. She couldn't say he had helped her... she couldn't dance to the song he had composed. She wanted some silent protest that said 'I owe this all to Cat Noir,'... well, maybe not silent... maybe something with a quiet chime. She wanted him to know she was grateful, in a way that didn't work with words.

"Thanks..." she muttered, her thoughts distant and fixed on the quiet ice she had grown used too. The bright green eyes in a mask that tracked her as she danced... the name that belonged to him that she didn't yet know. The name she would know soon... as soon as the results were in.

Maybe not all of her anxiety came from performing itself then.

Marinette turned and set the bells down with a gentle clatter on her desk, looking at how they caught the light for a second and finding black ribbons to lace them all together. Then she looped the ribbon back on itself and made a hair tie of it before setting it back down.

"Yeah," she agreed, turning and heading towards her stairs that led into the rest of the house, "let's forget about it for now. It's not like I can back out now anyways."

"That's the spirit!"

-

'A- Out front,' was all Adrien's text said as he sent it, the plain message popping up under Nino's contact before he locked his phone, nervously shifting in his seat. He looked out of the car window, the vehicle idling outside of the apartment buildings where Nino lived and waiting for its one additional passenger before it could depart for the competition grounds. Adrien was conflicted, pulling at his jacket's zipper just for anything to distract him but his mind was flooded anyways. He was extremely excited, he couldn't wait to see Marinette's carefully practiced dance performed in front of all those people. To say he was proud of her was an understatement, she was putting aside all fear for this he wanted to make a plaque. So where as part of him was bouncing from anticipation another part was anxious. Not for her performance, he knew she would be flawless, but because he didn't have his mask on. He was attending as himself, but... his eyes dropped to the floor of the car.

She had done this to impress him, why he still had absolutely no idea but so many times when they had been practicing she would say something like, 'Adrien's going to be watching I- I can't mess up!' or 'That's not good enough...' and it drove him insane. He wasn't even sure if it was the crowds at this point that had her worried, part of him thought that it was him that was freaking her out so much. He hated it, he hated her being so frightened of... of somehow disappointing him! HIM, the guy who had watched her practice and practice a hundred times in complete awe. But she didn't know, and how could he tell her? It might have been incentive to tell her before the competition so she wouldn't be so afraid but she had entered for... him. If he revealed himself as Adrien before the contest it might make it even worse. What was going to happen when he did it afterwards well... it somehow just seemed better. He had hope it would go well but, well there was always the chance it didn't but being anxious about revealing himself was a completely different set of anxiety inducing insanity. For now he just wanted to get to the ice rink, and watch her stun hundreds of people. He just didn't want her to be afraid... but he had no idea of how to fix it.

He jumped in surprise when the door opposite him opened and Nino climbed inside, Gorilla swinging the door shut behind him before returning to the driver's seat. Adrien did his best to look normal, but Nino paused, raising an eyebrow.

"Uh... hey?" he asked, already suspicious of why Adrien looked... he didn't even know. Tense? Excited?

"Hey!" Adrien called back, flashing a grin that was super natural but Nino seemed skeptical anyways before shrugging and deciding that whatever could make a smile look that creepy he probably didn't want to stick his nose into.

"Pumped to watch Mari?" Nino said conversationally, looking out at the street as the Gorilla started to head towards its destination. "According to Alya it's gonna be something to see."

"Yeah, I had no idea she even skated," Adrien flat out lied, attempting to forget about his worries.

"Neither did anyone else, I've never even heard her talk about it before. But she must be good, like she made the tryouts and stuff. Even entered the competition, though her reasons were different then wanting to skate probably."

"What?" Adrien asked, but Nino just laughed, shaking his head and rolling his eyes.

"Forget it man you wouldn't get it even if I told you."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Adrien demanded crossly, but Nino just laughed again before starting to hum a song Adrien recognized as being titled 'He Hasn't Got a Clue' under his breath.

They were dropped off in front 'Le Grand Palais de Glaces' and shouted an appreciative thank you to the Gorilla before heading inside, falling in steps with the dozens of people funneling inside.

"I had no idea so many people were in to ice skating," Nino spoke up, holding his hat and headphones protectively as the crowds got thicker and thicker.

"There are competitors from all over, a lot of people take it really seriously. It would draw tourists from all parts of the city, especially since it's free," Adrien theorized, trying to stick close to his friend since the cavernous space of the building looked completely foreign to him. Over-night gigantic viewing stands had been erected, encircling the ice and preparing seats for potentially thousands of people. It was actually a little overwhelming, considering he had only known the place in a very dark and quiet setting.

Adrien and Nino bumped shoulders a little roughly since Nino was staring at his phone now, so Adrien took hold of his shoulder and put himself in charge of navigating as Nino reported, "Alya says she has seats saved for us at center ice. She's been fighting everyone who tries to take them since they are probably the best viewing seats so we should probably hurry."

"Easier said than done," Adrien muttered, his voice lost in the rolling sound of the crowd as he continued to make his way through. Eventually they made it to an unoccupied stretch of ground and made steady time in front of the bleachers, keeping an eye out until they saw a red head girl waving her phone in the air.

"Hey Alya thanks for the seats!" Nino called as they made it up the steps, claiming the spot next to the reporter right away.

"I had to fight a pushy guy and his dumb friends for it but look at that view!" she squealed, throwing her hands wide and presenting the absolutely perfect view of the ice in front of them.

"These really are perfect seats nice job," Adrien praised her, looking out over the huge crowd as people started sitting down. It was like watching hundreds of marbles flow down a ramp, branching out in all different directions and flashing all kinds of colors. He was glad that Marinette was performing on the first day of the event, he was sure it would be the biggest crowd.

Adrien looked down when he heard the rustling of paper and saw Alya leaning across Nino so all three of them could read the directory.

"Okay..." she hummed, "it looks like Marinette is the fifth ice skater, but that's after all the opening stuff. Luckily the solo performers go up first so we won't have to wait too long, could still be an hour or so though."

"Melodia Africana III..." Nino said aloud as he read it, "that's her piece right?"

"Yeah I've never actually heard it before, must be good though."

"It's okay," Adrien couldn't help but add, turning away from his friends as he continued to people watch. That little kid two rows down was leaning reeeaally far bac- yup, there he goes.

As Nino and Alya continued to chat he searched around the ice's edge until he found his piano, or well... the piano he had grown fond of using. It had been elevated even more so and had all sorts of wires and mics attached to it so it could be heard from all over if a piano piece was being played. It was a favorite among ice skaters, especially since the competition boasted a very accomplished pianist. He had heard that they were telling all their skaters that they could have live music if they wanted, which was part of the reason Marinette had stuck with a piano song.

Movement by the piano caught his eye and with a slight jolt even with the distance he recognized his piano teacher. The old dust like man was settling into his seat at the bench with a thick binder in his hands, probably filled with his sheet music. It made sense, his father didn't pay for second best so it was understandable that he would be a notable accompanist for hire. He smiled, at least he knew Marinette's dance wouldn't be compromised by shoddy playing.

"Nino don't listen to music," Alya scolded harshly, and Adrien turned to see Nino with his headphones halfway to his ears.

"I'm here to be supportive for Mari, I don't care about the others!" he said honestly, like it should be obvious but Adrien shook his head, albeit with an entertained smirk.

"That's rude dude you can't just tune everyone out."

"Not everyone," he defended himself, "just whoever isn't Marinette."

Adrien gave up quickly, just chuckling as Alya took over berating him again. His eyes drifted back towards the ice, then towards the exterior walls of the room and he froze, catching sight of a few petite girls in ice skating dresses.

They were crowded by a door he assumed led to some sort of back room, peering out a little nervously at the gigantic crowd. They were incredibly far away but he had exceptional eyesight, especially when he was looking for something.

Adrien leaned forward in his seat, watching the flashes of color at the door until something a little darker and more subdued caught his eye and he gasped.

Marinette stepped out cautiously, looking around the other girls to stare wide eyed at everyone who had gathered. Her hair was done up in a high ponytail and he saw something flash like gold but even he couldn't make out what it was. Her dress was... elegant and graceful and beautiful and so very very her. He knew she was making it herself but still. She was so talented, it really blew him away...

But god did she look nervous.

Adrien felt something tighten in his chest as Marinette darted out of sight again, hiding from the crowd while she could. He remembered the first night, way long ago now when he had peaked over the edge of that building and caught sight of a graceful stranger. He remembered seeing her face and breaking the moment with an untimely gasp, and the chase across Paris to find her again. She had told him then that she couldn't skate in front of people, but here she was. About to go out in front of hundreds of people, just cause he had been impulsive enough to show her a flyer.

He wasn't sure if the right words existed to make that better.

"D-do you think she's okay?" he blurted out, turning towards his friends again as they stared at him in confusion. "Marinette. She's always been so shy you don't think she's like... freaking out or anything right? I mean, she's super brave too, and amazing but- do you think she's alright?"

There was a space of time where neither of them answered, just glancing first at each other then back at him before Alya said, "She's get nervous but... she'll be alright. I'm sure once she's actually out there it will be fine, but uh..."

"Marinette's always been good about working herself into a panic," Nino said bluntly, Alya only able to nod in agreement.

Adrien clenched his teeth together, not at all soothed by their addition.

This was his fault.

-

Marinette sat very still on the bench in front of a line of dull shabby lockers as she listened to the muted roll of the piano singing the third piece.

She was alone, holding her old worn faded white skates and their near invisible cherry blossoms protectively against her stomach. When she closed her eyes she could picture how she might dance to this unfamiliar song but the thought soon sputtered and died, twisting back into an anxious mess when the music gave way to thunderous applause.

There were so many people.

But out of all those people, there was Adrien too.

She had to try, for herself for Cat Noir. She wasn't going to back down, she wasn't going to chicken out. Still though...

She held her skates a little tighter.

"Careful," a voice suddenly broke her thoughts and startling her, "don't want to crush the poor things."

Marinette's head snapped up, bells jingling in her hair as she spotted Cat Noir waltzing towards her from the far end of the locker room, and she breathed out a shaky sigh.

"You scared me," she chastised him weakly, already looking down again.

Cat Noir sat down next to her, positioning himself so that she might lay her head against him is she chose to.

"Didn't mean to," he answered, and she looked up again to examine his face, finding it tense.

"I was sort of expecting some lame pun," she chuckled, "you know. Like, 'I didn't take you for a scaredy cat' or something else."

He chuckled, looking down at her and saying with a smirk, "Nah, that's too easy."

She smiled back, finding it easy too even when she was so nervous, but she felt herself heat slightly when his eyes trailed up to her hair, his smirk blossoming into a delighted grin.

"Bells?" he asked, his face easing slightly from its tension as he reached out a gentle claw to make one of them chime.

"Well, I figured I'd say thank you somehow," she defended herself, laughing nervously as he continued to grin.

"There's nothing to thank," he said plainly, "it was a privilege to watch over you."

"Don't say that like it's all over," she surprised herself by saying, his head tilting cutely as he met her gaze. She smiled again, "The ice rinks will close soon but we can find something else to do."

His cat like green eyes blinked once in happy bewilderment before he was nodding, betraying his excitement that their meetups weren't canceled after all.

In the silence that fell over the building Marinette sighed, turning her head to listen to the fourth piano piece start.

"I've gotta survive this first though..." she muttered, cradling her skates again but stopping when she saw that same tenseness from before return to Cat's face.

"I feel like I pressured you into this," he blurted out, looking away from her shocked face as guilt swept over him. "I was so excited about you competing-"

"You supported me!" she countered, trying to look at his face but he refused to lift his gaze from the floor. "Why would you think- that doesn't make sense Cat. I decided this myself."