I'm writing this for Ladrien June 2019. I'll be loosely incorporating prompts where they fit, but ultimately this fic is gonna go where it wants!
Chapter 1
With a blanket draped over her shoulders as a shield from the chill of the air conditioning, Marinette sat crosslegged on the couch with a plate of cookies in her lap. The news played quietly on the tv as she nibbled on a chocolate chip cookie. It wasn't the most nutritious breakfast, but she figured she deserved a little treat after the grueling summer tour her record label had booked for her. She had finally arrived back in Paris the night before, and while she was exhausted, she couldn't wait to see the coverage of her concert in London.
She'd pulled out all the stops when designing that particular stage outfit, since that concert would be filmed for her new song's music video. Though she told herself she didn't need validation, she wanted to see what people thought of the ensemble anyhow.
"-In other news, pop sensation Ladybug has once again taken the world by storm. Her second world tour finished with a bang in London. Just look at this outfit!" One of the reporters said as a clip played on the screen.
Just as she hoped, the red fabric of her top flowed beautifully as she moved around on stage. The contrast with the lighter blue of her new wig was stunning.
Marinette squealed in delight and almost dropped her cookies. Seeing her creations on the television screen was always exciting, no matter how many times it happened.
The other reporter responded enthusiastically, "That's right, Jacques! Can you believe she designs her own clothes?"
"That's definitely impressive," Jacques said. "Especially considering that she's only sixteen years old."
The other reporter nodded, "Her new single has been topping the charts for the past three weeks. Ladybug's been on the scene for three years, and she's showing no signs of slowing down."
Marinette bit into another cookie, doing a happy little dance. It seemed like only yesterday that she heard her song on the radio for the first time.
"I'm so proud of you, dear," her mother said, startling her out of her reverie.
"Aw thanks, Maman," she said with a bashful smile.
Sabine took a seat on the couch next to her. "You know, everyone would be wearing Marinette Originals if they knew you were Ladybug," her mother said with a gentle smile.
Marinette rolled her eyes good-naturedly, "Maman. I have enough on my plate as it is."
Sabine chuckled and raised her hands placatingly. "I know, dear," she said.
Marinette grinned, "Between school and Ladybug stuff, I don't have time to design a fashion line."
Sabine hummed as if she were deep in thought.
"You know, I seem to remember you said the same thing about becoming a pop star," her mother teased.
"That was before I had a secret identity ," Marinette said through a mouthful of cookie.
Sabine laughed and headed toward the kitchen.
"How about we get you some real breakfast before your first day back at school?" Her mother suggested.
Marinette frowned at her cookies and took one more bite before dutifully following her mother to the kitchen.
…
Adrien wasn't sure what he had done to deserve being awakened at five in the morning on a Monday, but he was determined to sleep an extra hour regardless of what his schedule looked like. He yanked the plug of his alarm clock out of the wall and rolled over, intent on going back to sleep. For a few blissful minutes, Adrien danced on the border of sleep and wakefulness, but all good things must come to an end.
The door to his room slammed open with a bang and Adrien groaned as the lights flipped on.
"Rise and shine, pretty boy. We've got a full day ahead of us," a very familiar, very annoying voice called.
"Go away," Adrien growled, pulling his pillow up over his head.
"Eh, I don't think I will," the voice replied.
The pillow disappeared from over his head, and the full force of his room's ridiculously bright lights hit his face.
Adrien opened his mouth to complain and found himself tumbling toward the ground. Rage ignited within him, and he was on his feet in a flash, whirling to face his manager with a displeased glare.
"Good. You're up," Plagg remarked, snarky tone grating on Adrien's nerves. His entirely black suit was impeccably pressed despite the air of general disarray that he exuded.
"I hate you," Adrien said.
"Feeling's mutual, kid," his manager replied, before turning on his heel and striding through the door with the attitude of a person who thrived in chaos.
Adrien glared at the door Plagg left wide open for a few seconds before he slammed it shut. Adrien glanced mournfully at his bed, but ultimately headed to the closet to grab his clothes for the day.
He passed over the rows of immaculate business casual attire it seemed his father still hoped he would wear, and picked a black tee and a pair of distressed jeans. Adrien changed, brushed his teeth, deliberately tousled his hair and headed down to the echoing chamber of a dining room to grab his breakfast.
He absently scrolled through his social media as he ate, beating down his wistfulness at seeing his acquaintances smiling and having fun at the movie premiere he was forced to attend last night. He was tagged in a few pictures, and his stomach turned at the image of himself with Chloe Bourgeois.
Of course she'd wanted to seen with him after his music video had been trending last week.
It was so typical of her.
Her gold cocktail dress stood out well next to his leather jacket, her arm was looped through his, and the false smiles they both wore sickened him.
Adrien checked the other photos he was tagged in and, despite the fact that they were all with different people, he found varying shades of fake smiles on his part. He wasn't any better than Chloe, it seemed.
He closed the app.
…
Marinette headed to class with her black hair tied up into what she hoped was a decent looking bun. A little under-eye concealer and mascara disguised the fact that she was still very much jet lagged, and her mother had been kind enough to iron the wrinkles out of her simple pink outfit.
The classroom was already full of friendly greetings as her classmates welcomed everyone who had missed the summer term. Their particular class was special, because everyone in it was placed there because extenuating circumstances often caused them to miss large chunks of class at a time.
Circumstances that merited placement in the class included various advanced internships, training regimens, and touring schedules. Alya interned at a popular teen magazine, and Nino's internship was in movie production. The attendance policy was lax, but each person worked with Ms. Bustier to ensure that they received the best education possible.
"Marinette! Welcome back!" Nino called from his place next to Nathanael, who was sketching quietly.
Marinette approached them with a smile, and Nathanael glanced up from his graphics tablet long enough to wave. He was always hard at work on his webcomic, but he looked especially stressed today.
Marinette turned to Nino for an explanation. Nino shrugged helplessly.
"He's gotta finish before the comic expo," Nino explained.
Marinette furrowed her brow.
"But don't you have until next Tuesday to submit it to your editor?" She asked.
Nathanael nodded, eyes still trained on his tablet.
"Yes, but the expo is going to take away three workdays and this installment is really plot heavy," he explained.
"Oh. Let me know if there's any way I can help," Marinette offered.
Nathanael smiled gratefully, "Thanks. You could help with line art once I get the sketches down, if you want."
Marinette grinned, "Just send the files my way and I'll get it done!"
"Ah, Marinette: the line art wizard," Alya said, popping into the conversation with a laugh.
Nathanael chuckled, "She's really great at it."
Marinette shrugged, "It's not that hard to trace over Nath's sketches. I bet even Alya could do it."
Alya gave Marinette a playful shove, and the two girls devolved into giggles.
"Alright class, settle down," Ms. Bustier called.
Everyone quickly made their way to their seats and faced the front. Marinette could tell that a sizable chunk of their class was missing.
"As I'm sure you've all noticed, Kitty Section is still on tour, so we have a lot of empty seats today. Make sure to congratulate your classmates on a job well done when they return on Wednesday. Now, let's get started!"
Marinette fought hard to stay awake in the first half of class, but she was feeling a bit more lively by the time lunch break came around.
Alya and Nino made small talk on the way to her house, but as soon as they passed through her doorway, Alya whirled around with excitement shining in her eyes.
"So? How was the world tour?" Alya demanded.
Marinette beamed and bounced in place.
"Oh it was so fun, but very tiring," she admitted.
Nino nodded understandingly as he took a seat at the table, "I bet."
Alya leaned forward in her chair eagerly, "Was that a new wig I saw in the photos?"
Marinette nodded enthusiastically, "Yeah, do you like it?"
Alya gave her two thumbs up.
"It's great! If I didn't know any better, I'd think it was real," her best friend said.
Nino was already eating, and he didn't seem particularly interested in the current conversation. The girls settled down a bit to eat, and Marinette peppered their time together with stories about her adventures in the cities she visited.
The door to the house creaked open and Marinette's manager entered with an easygoing smile. Her red hair and blue eyes matched her cheerful personality perfectly.
"Good afternoon!" Tikki called, placing her briefcase by the door and making her way toward the gathered teens.
Though she was small, she still commanded attention wherever she went. The teenagers gave her various greetings, and she took a seat at the table with a strained smile.
"Is something wrong, Tikki?" Marinette asked.
Tikki blinked innocently and smoothed her blazer.
"Why do you assume something is wrong?" She asked.
"You're wearing the bad news blazer," Marinette deadpanned.
Tikki scowled, her freckled nose wrinkled in distaste. "Bad news blazer? This the one I use for important meetings, Marinette."
Marinette quirked an eyebrow at her. "Important meetings with Mr. Agreste."
"Those are never good," Alya said.
"Bad news blazer," Nino repeated.
Tikki huffed, "Fine, you're right. It is bad news."
Marinette straightened up and mentally prepared herself for whatever Tikki had to say.
"Mr. Agreste feels that your proposed album is lacking substance. He wants you to rework a few songs before it can be released," Tikki said with a heavy sigh.
"Lacking substance? How? Why?" Marinette asked, burying her face in her hands.
Tikki grimaced apologetically, "He says they're uninspired."
All three teens gasped.
"Uninspired!?" Marinette squeaked.
Alya patted her friend's shoulder in a comforting gesture.
"Don't sweat it, Marinette. That guy doesn't know what he's talking about," Nino said.
"Yeah, he wouldn't know uninspired if it hit him in the face," Alya said with a roll of her eyes.
Tikki giggled and shook her head. "We still have time, but that deadline is going to be here fast. I want to get a head start on studio sessions, so I need you to come in this weekend."
Marinette sighed at the thought of giving up her weekend plans, but nodded her assent.
"Hey, we'll come with you," Alya offered.
"You don't have to do that! It's gonna be boring," Marinette warned.
Nino laughed, "Are you kidding? I'm never bored in a studio."
Alya gave him a flat look, "What about that time you helped with Chloe's album?"
Nino shuddered. "I thought we agreed to never speak of that again."
Alya laughed at Nino's expense, and though he made a face at first, he eventually laughed too. Marinette joined in, and suddenly the prospect of spending the weekend reworking her songs didn't seem quite so bad anymore.
…
Adrien yawned as he took a seat beside Plagg in the "important meeting" he wasn't allowed to miss. The vaguely familiar faces of talent managers filled the conference room, and Adrien was already looking for a way to escape before his father showed up.
He spotted the restroom across the hall and remembered that there were two entrances.
Jackpot.
Adrien pasted on a smile and rose from his seat. "Excuse me. I'll be right back," he said, turning toward the door.
He half expected Plagg to yank him back by his shirt, but the man sat quietly sipping his coffee instead. Adrien was almost out the door when Plagg spoke.
"If ya run into any trouble in there, just let your bodyguard know," Plagg called after him.
Adrien paused in the doorway and eyed his manager quizzically.
"Yeah, I stationed him right outside the second door for your convenience," Plagg said, grinning like the cat that got the canary.
Adrien shot him a scathing glare and proceeded to the restroom, frustrated by the fact that Plagg had outsmarted him again. Adrien stood before the mirror, seething with anger as he checked his appearance.
Adrien glanced at the door that was supposed to be his escape route and took a few deep breaths to compose himself. His hand lingered on the doorknob for a second before he opened the door.
Sure enough, his bodyguard stood there eyeing him with the distrust of a man who had been duped one too many times.
"Any chance you'll let me go?" Adrien asked, flashing his most convincing smile.
The man frowned and shook his head one decisive time.
"Well, it was worth a shot," Adrien sighed, retreating back into the restroom and toward the dreaded meeting.
His father was already there when he arrived, and Adrien made his way to his seat with an air of nonchalance he didn't really feel.
"Glad you could make it, Adrien," Gabriel said, sounding more patronizing than glad.
Two could play at that game.
"Glad you could make it, Father," Adrien shot back, grinning when his father's expressionless mask momentarily faltered.
Plagg expertly hid his laugh in a cough.
"Let's get started," Nathalie Sancoeur ordered, immediately dispersing the awkwardness and calling the room to order.
Gabriel inclined his head at Nathalie in a signal for her to begin. She cleared her throat and glanced down at her tablet.
"Firstly, we would like to congratulate Ms. Chanceux on a very successful summer tour. The media coverage for Ladybug has been phenomenal. It is good to have you back," Nathalie said dispassionately.
Nevertheless, Ladybug's manager looked thrilled to bits. Adrien always found her mildly annoying, but he suspected it was only because of his general dislike of Ladybug.
"That is not to say that you are exempt from critique," Gabriel said in a frosty tone. "Nathalie will provide you with a list of songs that must be revised."
Ms. Chanceux's face fell in an almost comical manner. "Oh."
Gabriel Agreste gestured vaguely with his hand, "They are uninspired. Dull. Lackluster."
Adrien muffled a snicker. It seemed even Ladybug wasn't beyond his father's reproach. After three years of glowing reviews on her designs, coveted pats on the back, and general special treatment from Gabriel, Adrien was beginning to wonder if she'd ever mess up.
"Adrien," Gabriel said cooly.
The icy indifference of his tone held a threat, and Adrien internally cringed.
"Yes?" Adrien responded, steeling himself for the inevitable insult.
"Your songs are much more problematic. They will be reworked as well," Gabriel said.
Adrien clenched his jaw and glared daggers at his father. Plagg stared back at Gabriel with a bored expression.
"We'll get started on that right away. I'm sure Ms. Sancoeur will send me a list of grievances, as usual," Plagg said, nearly imperceptible venom in his voice. Adrien felt an odd sort of comfort in Plagg's reaction, despite his general distaste for the man.
Gabriel motioned for Nathalie to continue with the meeting, and she revealed that he was planning to revamp everyone's look for the upcoming season. Nathalie urged each talent manager to make an appointment in which they would be going over the changes with their clients.
Adrien glanced around the room at the impassive faces of the talent agents and gauged how quickly he could make his escape.
"Meeting adjourned-"
Adrien was up and out the door before Nathalie was even finished speaking, hands stuffed in his pockets as he took a sharp turn to ditch his bodyguard and then made his way into the service elevator.
The doors opened into the bustling intake area, and Adrien snuck past some particularly blabby security guards, grabbed the nondescript hoodie the bored janitor offered him, fist bumped the delivery truck driver, and slipped out into the open air.
"Freedom," he sighed, pulling the hood up over his head and stepping onto the streets of Paris.