Hard time conceptualizing? Check out the inspirational art for this one at starrycove on tumblr. It's good stuff and Marinette and Chat were looking exceptionally tantalizing and I couldn't resist alright. On another note, to make this easier on myself, Marinette casually wears a bun in this AU. You know that shit was awesome. You may have read this on my one-shots drabble thingy, but hey, it needed it's own story.

Chapter 1: Freedom

It took a while, but after sneaking out enough times and training in private and watching, Marinette nearly, nearly had the confidence to just get up and go for it. It was right in front of her. Alya had, months ago, tried to push her into it, and it took a lot of pushing to make it seem like she wasn't interested. It was a lie, but kind of necessary. It was simply too embarrassing, and she knew Adrien, fashion model extraordinaire, knew how to break-dance. He'd even made a few guest appearances at different shows to showcase the next line of product of his fathers, who owned the gig. But what if he saw her? What if he was there? She couldn't do it, couldn't stand to face failure in front of the boy she'd gone to school with and pined over for the last year. She was a wreck around him, same as she was a wreck when others watched her dance.

Alya, her old instructor Mr. Fu, and her parents were the only people she could ever execute even the most simple of maneuvers around. She couldn't dance for real.

That is, not with anyone knowing it was her. If, say, perhaps, possibly, she had put in some twin-tails, covered her face in red makeup across half the face, wore a polka-dot shirt that Marinette would never wear because it was skin for miles, and call herself Ladybug...

Well, Marinette would never.

Ladybug would definitely.

It was an idea she had tossed around for a while, and she realized if it worked, it would be perfect. She could fail terribly and there would be none the wiser. She shows up with her bun up and normal make-up and in her reserved, shy fashion sense, which was as cute as a button, darn rights. You don't need to flash skin to look good, later on and she would be safe. Adrien would be clueless, Chloe wouldn't drag her name through the mud, any further that is. Not that it mattered anyway, done deal.

How could I resist.

At least, that's what she told herself as she smeared red across her face. She had to try, if nothing else. She had something to prove, something to show Paris, something other than being a simple, but talented, seamstress and daughter of a baker.

Marinette was pleasantly and equally terrifyingly surprised at the confidence she felt when she put on the final steps of her 'disguise.' The sly look she gave herself in the mirror, how powerful, yet elegant she felt with her midriff and slender, but hardened muscles exposed to the cold air. She walked down the alleys at night with no fear, no regard for safety. She felt like a hero. Like nothing could stop Ladybug.

The lights, the crowd, the heat and volume of the stadium, reverberating with the every boom from the bass, left her intoxicated in a way she was never sure she even could have felt before as she walked through the double-doors proudly. She was thrilled and exhilarated, her breath hitched in excitement as she handed her name in to Nino. The DJ who may or may not have been dating Alya, and if he knew who she was? He stayed oblivious, giving her a strange eye at her get-up, looking her up and down with no betrayal of recognition, before giving her the go-ahead to dance.

"Alright, uh, Ladybug, you're a bit late, but hey, it's cool! There's a slot right after Illustrator and before my buddy Adrien comes down to make some sales or something stupid like that," he leaned forward and whispered quickly, "I know his dad runs the place but damn, it's nearly midnight. Same for you and me, man, it ain't for another hour til you're up. You've probably got school tomorrow, so don't feel bad if you wanna drop out. If I wasn't getting paid so much, I wouldn't even be here!" He handed her a ticket with a number on it.

She took it quickly, tearing it out of his hands to ensure she couldn't even bring herself to consider to say no. Now, her name would be called, and she'd just invented it for real now. She couldn't tarnish it the moment she'd practically birthed it into reality, now could she? What did she have to worry about anyhow. She was Ladybug. She was invincible, incorruptible, and Adrien wouldn't see a thing. He didn't come until after. "Adrien huh?" she piped up quickly, the confidence in her voice surprising even herself, "how often is he around?"

"Not more than once every week or two, sometimes only three. He once told me he'd love to come more, but his dad wouldn't allow it. He's more of a mascot to help keep people coming and sales moving." There was a bitterness to his voice that Marinette didn't know quite what to make of, but she'd worry about it later.

"That's a shame, I heard he's hot stuff, I'd love to see him dance!" With that, Marinette turned around and marched away hastily, her secret desire slipping out in a haze of bravado, her face and 'mask' matching in colour. She knew he could dance, and everyone else said he was so good he was 'hot,' but the combination of the two things came out wrong. Yes, of course. It just came out wrong.

She made her way to the back, made sure her stride was long and empowered, feeling the embarrassment slip away quickly. She walked clean past people she knew ought to recognize her, people she'd met here before and knew her name. They never said a word to her, other than a few polite nods or quirked brows. This was going to work. She inhaled deeply before joining some of the other competitors behind the curtains, soaked in the sounds of the crowd cheering as someone finished their performance. It must have gone well, because as the music faded out the cheers kept coming.

As she slid into the room, she saw a large man she swore she recognized shaking his shoulders before running out with a cheer of his own. Some of the others looked her way, giving her a nod. One in particular, Kim, from school, waved and walked over. A cocky, but decent guy.

"What's with the get-up kid?" She smirked and squinted at him, a retort at her tongueimmediately.

"What's with yours? You from the sixties?"

He snorted, eyes rising grinning surprisingly softly. "Oh, I like you. You're going to do just fine up there. Never seen you around before, so you must be new. Kim," he stuck out his hand.

Marinette took it in a heartbeat and squeezed roughly, more than prepared for the grip she knew he would bring with the greeting, "Call me Ladybug." His grin only magnified and he squeezed back.

"You better be good at dancing. These wimps don't have nothing on your handshake, or the dance floor. Half of them call themselves the Akuma, think they run the place or something. Hope to see you bring something fresh to the crowd. I may be a one man army of bad ass [insert eye roll], but these guys are really wearing me down on morale here. Whatever you do, don't let them recruit you. They practically suck out all talent, rig the dances, rig bets on who gets voted best, try and manipulate the crowd..." he trailed off as his name was called. He only sighed, something looking a little crushed in the next smile he shot her. "My turn. Best of luck, little Ladybug."

"Yeah, whatever Kim."

He chuckled before took a moment to try and pump himself up before running out into the crowd. It seemed a little ridiculous, there was a group of people eyeing her carefully, scrutinizing her every move suddenly, but she couldn't bring herself to care. She could do this, and it would just be for fun any how. Something to make her feel alive, forget about Adrien and boys as a whole and simply let herself go crazy and let loose and be herself. In a new sense, too, someone she hadn't ever been. It would be fun. After all, she had just smack talked Kim like he wasn't six feet tall and weighed three and a half Marinette's.

She spent the rest of her time stretching, preparing for her turn, and ignoring the leers she was getting from the Akuma. Clearly, they weren't a fan of competition, nor wild cards. Yet, they hadn't said a word to her. Marinette wondered what on earth Kim was talking about, they were just a little 'corporate.' Like wrestling or something. No big deal. She'd have nothing to do with them anyway.

"I like the look!" someone said, tapping her shoulder as she sat and reached for a toe, nearly doing the splits. Marinette nearly fucking jumped out of her skin, but she was Ladybug now, so she did her absolute damnedest not to move a muscle. She would not be jumpy, she would not be flinchy or a coward in this 'mask.'

"Get in line, buddy," she smirked, leaning her head back after a moment, only to be met with a sea of green staring gently down at her, twinkling with something she was entirely unfamiliar with. She chocked on her own spit and coughed, flopping back onto the ground. "A-Adrien! You're a b-bit..." Marinette paused and shot up. She was Ladybug. She would not stutter. It would ruin the point of this, of everything.

"Adrien, the super-model! Come to watch me dance?" Much better. Wish I could sink through the floor, but soooo much better.

Then, he blushed, and looked at the ground. "Well, I... I wouldn't mind watching. I-I've never seen you around before, what's with the, the makeup and the, uh, I mean-" he paused, scratching the back of his neck and looking away.

Damnit this boy is too cute for his own good.

"Well, I'll give you a hint. If I didn't have the makeup, you might recognize me. Anyone might, so I thought hey, a disguise and a nickname would be fun." She patted him on the cheek as her name, Ladybug, was called up, "Looks like you can watch me give it a whirl. Never done this in public before, so cheer me on!"

She took off through a curtain, giving a wink as he nodded aggressively, hoping she wasn't screwed now that she knew damn well he was watching. She did her best to march up, through the silent crowd who's eyes were all locked on her, faint whispers of who, what, why echoing around her. She made her way to the dead center of the building, stopping. All lights roamed towards her, while she remained stalk still. Her heart was in her throat as she struggled to inhale for what seemed to be eternity, the whispers growing louder.

"DJ!" she shouted suddenly, will power rising upward like a wave of power and it must have been luck, her finger whipping upwards towards where she knew he was, a devilish grin stretching across her lips, "NUMBER 47!"

It started soft and quick, and she turned slowly, arms snaking down her figure and lidded eyes locking on Adrien in the back, where she had come out. He was wide-eyed and enthralled, and as the volume softly grew, her confidence followed upwards before a crash of thunder boomed the building and she dropped in perfect tempo into a split before she let. Loose.

Spinning, thunderous music pushing her up and down like it were the ocean itself carried her movements, she knew it too well, knew them too well, yet she made it up as she went. Suddenly she was on air as she held a pose on a single hand, so easy it was like she was a cloud itself. She couldn't use this to forget Adrien. She'd use Adrien to propel her forward. More spinning, faster as the beat rose, before stopping suddenly and she froze.

Reset, stand and slam the legs, grab the shirt, lift and pull, tease and play and spin again. The whole time a smile stretched across her face, this time the eyes glued to her had her intoxicated, greedy, alive. She could ignore the strand of hair stuck to her face and in her eyes, the pain in her chest as she moved with a madness that came only with freedom. A freedom that came from this odd power she felt, knowing Adrien was watching, knowing everyone was watching.

Then, it stopped for good, and Marinette realized she was laying on the ground in a pose of all things. She blinked, the high of dancing fading and pain of panting so heavily kicking in. She stood, and a wave of cheers so loud she took a moment to plug her ears, chuckling. She could feel the sweat pouring off her face, and worried her makeup might streak off completely.

"ALL RIIIIIGHT!" Nino thundered over the mic, the violently loud crowd quieting a bit, "What was THAT? Ladybug, that was the best thing I've seen all week. Please, please tell me, and tell these people you plan on coming back?"

It took only a second for her to make a decision. The pain in her chest, exhilaration. The ache in her ears, demand for more. The steady thundering of her heart, well that was either thrill, love, or both, because Adrien was staring right at her with eyes wide and enthralled like no other, and all she could see was green.

"You're damn right, DJ."

A/N READ ME;

Thoughts? Headcanons? DISHEM OUT. I've got plans already, but hey, more is merrier. I can't do everything, but I started building and building in my head, there is so much more to come.

Thanks again starrycove for pseudo permission to do this, and for bringing the AU into existence.