"Marinette! You're going to be late!"
The shrill chime of the alarm clock and her mother's voice echoing up the stairs signaled to her sleep-addled mind that this would be a day like any other.
Tikki was tugging at her pigtails, doing her own part at helping her young charge up out of bed. "C'mon, Marinette. You wanted to get up early today."
Marinette's nose scrunched up, her eyes widening just enough to peer at the clock over on her bedside table. She threw her arm up over her eyes to block out the light, whining. "But it's Saturday."
"Right," Tikki assured musically, before her voice dropped to a tone of censure. "But today is the city's official celebration for Ladybug and Chat Noir. I think they might notice if Ladybug is missing."
"Oh no!" Marinette shot up in bed, her eyes wide as she tore of the few covers that still lingered on her overnight. She darted over to her dresser, peeling out of her pajamas and digging her outfit for the day out of the drawer, as Tikki dutifully opened her purse to help her get ready for the day.
"Marinette?"
"I'm up, Mom!" Marinette tugged her new shirt over her head, smoothing the wrinkles away as she set the cloth neatly in place.
"Your friend Alya is here."
Marinette and Tikki stared at each other for a moment, before Tikki ducked back into the purse with a sigh.
Marinette snagged her pants, balancing on one foot as she simultaneously tugged on the first leg and shouted. "I'll be down in one minute."
In the intervening silence, Marinette could practically hear her Mother and Alya shake their heads in unison from up here.
True to her word, Marinette was down the stairs in under a few minutes. Alya had her bag ready to go and Sabine had even gotten a croissant ready for them to both take along with them while they walked to the bus stop that would take them both over to the steps of City Hall.
Adrien leaned against the car window, glancing out the window in a daze as the familiar swath of buildings rushes by. The view is always more impressive from the skyline anymore, excepting the rare occasion that they managed to come upon Ladybug already at the scene dealing with an Akuma.
He sighed. At least he'd managed to re-arrange the photo shoot time earlier so he could go and celebrate at the ceremony - with both Nathalie and his chauffeur as escort of course.
Nathalie had been vague, but his Father must have been occupied with meetings for the whole day. At least he'd only need to figure out a way to sneak out from his two guard's occasionally less than watchful eye to attend as Chat Noir. His chauffeur might stay in the car, but Nathalie was less likely to be so deterred.
This all would be so much easier if he could also pick Ladybug's brain. She was far quicker on her feet in the planning department.
"...And, when you figure that most of the supervillians have power and agility limitations based upon the age of their host, you have to wonder if Ladybug and Chat Noir must work the same way."
Marinette was trying to listen intently with appearing to do so. Alya kept her theorizing going the whole of the bus ride, doggedly persistent. She glanced down to the purse at her side, making a mental note that she had to talk to Tikki at the earliest opportunity. It was becoming more and more important that she understood more clearly about how her powers worked, maybe even how Hawkmoth seemed to be using his powers - just to throw Alya off her scent. At least, she didn't know who Chat Noir was, so she could not inadvertently blow his cover.
Marinette frowned. "But what about our trip to the museum? Wasn't Ladybug really old? How is it that she is able to move so fast if that is the case?"
Alya's eyes narrowed as she tapped the edge of her pen against her lip. "Maybe there is something about the nature of her powers?"
"Or possibly even Chat Noir's powers?" Marinette half-nodded conspiratorially.
Alya bit her lip, considering that thought.
Luckily, she didn't have long to ponder. Marinette breathed a sigh of relief as their bus slowed to the stop near city hall. Alya was getting harder and hard to dodge by the day.
Of course, no sooner had Marinette gotten off the bus that she realized she had breathed all too soon. Alya's grin was nearly predatory. It didn't take Marinette long to figure out why.
Hefting her backpack onto her other shoulder, Marinette shuffled off the final step and onto the sidewalk as Nino waved them both over to join him and Adrien.
It was weird. Nino and Alya were definitely in cahoots, and Nino - despite all his protesting to the contrary - definitely knew who it was that Marinette had a crush on. Marinette sighed. Considering how much of the school had managed to get Akumatized, she was lucky that no one had already managed to reveal that secret to Adrien, even if they had ever intended to keep it.
Equally as weird, the more exposure she got to Adrien, the more easy it became to at least talk to him. In some ways.
But that also confirmed to her over and over again how much Adrien was more than just a pretty face. From the very start, he was opposed to Chloe's awfulness. He had even gone out of his way to clarify his all too kind intentions - despite her own misunderstanding of the situation where they met. That alone had been enough to make her start to fall for him. Now, she knew a bit more of his humor. She watched him be an amazing friend to so many in their class, herself included. She knew how his life at home was fairly lonely. She knew he no doubt received piles of letters from swooning fan girls through the city and abroad. Despite it all, he was still so unfailingly kind to so many.
Alya finally noticed that Marinette was spacing out, and had marched back to tug her along through the growing crowd. "C'mon girl. Ladybug may be here any minute."
"I'm coming." Marinette sighed. Despite her own alter ego and the fact that today's celebration was literally in her own honor - not that she could tell anyone that, of course - Marinette still felt painfully, woefully inadequate. On her best days with Adrien, she felt like she was channeling Ladybug. But without Tikki's luck and voice of experience, she was still just the somewhat shy girl who feared assuming the powers and responsibilities of the superhero on that first mission, until the lives of those she loved were literally in the balance. She was vulnerable, and outside of her family there was only one other person (and one Kwami) that she gave that level of trust to.
But she didn't get to pick any of them. None of them had ever let her down - not really - although she feared that so often that she would be the one to let down her parents, or Tikki, or Chat Noir.
Marinette dared to breathe, nervously smoothing back her hair out of habit. That was part of why dealing with Adrien still continued to freak her out. She had built him up and her mind, and in spite of it all, he continued to be amazing.
"Hi, Alya. Hi, Marinette."
She smiled mutely, except for the slightest squeak that involuntarily slipped past her lips.
Adrien frowned, looking from Marinette to Alya. He still wasn't sure what he had done to offend Marinette. He saw how she acted everyday with every other member of the class. Even how she treated Chat Noir was normal and sweet, if somewhat lacking in appreciation for some the finest puns he had saved up.
It just didn't make sense. Luckily, Alya took pity on him, breaking the awkward silence. "Hey, Adrien."
Nino watched the whole scene with some amusement. "Actually, bro. Could you run and grab us some chow? Alya and I have to get the video equipment set up for her blog, and I promised to get some extra footage on my camera to splice in from another angle."
Adrien nodded, trying to stifle a grin. He pulled out his phone to let Nathalie know where he was supposed to be, as he'd promised. Surely he could sneak away, appear as Chat Noir, wow the crowd with a few of the zingers he'd been saving up, and then pop over to the food market with Nino, Alya, and Marinette none the wiser.
Alya bumped Marinette's shoulder. "Marinette, you should go, too. You've got that extra bag anyways to help hauls stuff back. Besides, if you leave now, you can avoid paying for the rest of the class and grab something before the lines get too long."
Adrien flinched for a moment, chewing on the inside of his lip and silently re-calculating how he might be able to make a quick escape without potentially offending Marinette.
"I-" What must have been shock passed through the girl's all too blue eyes, until she peeked over into his eyes and nodded. He must have made quite a face, because Marinette looked instantly worried, plastering on a wide smile. "O-okay."
Marinette ducked into an alley, transforming quickly before reeling herself up to the roof with her yo-yo to tuck her backpack out of view until it was safe to transform back. She hid the bag and turned around just to catch Chat Noir bounding into view on the next roof over.
The cheers below clearly meant he had been spotted, a series of red and black balloons dotting the skyline. Already, Chat was preening with the attention, turning his Cheshire grin over to her. "Ready to make a grand entrance, my lady?"
She rolled her eyes but couldn't entirely stifle a grin, as she spooled up her yo-yo in preparation to swing down to the crowd dramatically. "Come along, Cat. I suppose we can't keep them waiting."
"Ladies and Gentlemen," Mayor Bourgeois intoned through the loudspeaker, "just one year ago, two heroes descended upon Paris and have spent an amazing amount of time protecting our fair city from an unknown source of evil."
A chorus of cheers rose up from the crowd as Ladybug dropped onto the City Hall steps first.
Chat swooped down onto the platform,as he retracting his staff and assumed his place beside Ladybug. He started waving to the crowd, but frowned as he recognized a familiar face. His ears twitched and his tail stood on end. Théo Barbot hadn't exactly left the best impression on him the last time they met, even before Hawkmoth had granted the man an Akuma that had mimicked his own Chat powers for his own Copycat. Clearly the man was overjoyed at the prospect to be in the presence of Ladybug again.
Ladybug had clearly noticed Chat Noir's dismay. Or perhaps it was the slight growl he just realized was coming from him. Ladybug set her hand atop his right claw. "Settle down, Kitty."
Chat's eyes narrowed, but the sting of his irritation was mollified by her touch. "Just hoping we're not about to get a copycat perfurmance here."
Ladybug sighed, lifting her hand from his, and tucking it onto her hip and smiling out to the assembled crowd as the Mayor droned on with their praises.
Chat settled down at her side, his ears still twitching. There was so much noise with the crowd that it was hard for his heightened senses to focus. Something still felt off, even if it was impossible or unlikely for Théo to be Akumatized again, based upon what they had seen from the Akuma before. Plagg had to be feeling this too, if the wave of his tail was any indication.
Before he knew it, the Mayor had grabbed his hand, making a big production of shaking it - and him - for the cameras. Ladybug was shaking Theo's hand in thanks, as a giant sheet was pulled off the newest sculpture installation at the park across the street.
The crowd fell to oohs and ahhs as the sheet was not the only surprise. A few handlers released four strategically placed boxes of butterflies into the air.
Chat frowned, but was pleased to note that Ladybug was also standing a bit straighter herself. The sight was pretty for sure, but butterflies were absolutely no good thing in their world.
They both looked at each other for one fleeting moment before, focusing desperately out at the hundreds of butterflies to see or to sense anything amiss from them.
The Mayor had to wave his hand in front of Chat Noir's face just to get his attention, as an aide handed over a medallion into his hands. He blinked and put it on over his head. Ladybug was already wearing hers, but he could tell from just her eyes that she was already planning.
"Thank you for the medallion. And the statue, of course." Ladybug spoke warmly, but her subtle movements spoke volumes, as her legs primed to make the jump back up to the roof and her hand was already over the yo-yo at her hip.
Chat flashed a cheeky grin to the Mayor. "Sadly, we need to dash. Villains won't pawsfor ceremonies."
The Mayor was largely unfazed by their abrupt exit. "Yes, of course. Thank you again, young heroes."
Ladybug dropped back up to the rooftops, with Chat Noir on her heels.
She had her medallion back in her hands, as Chat prowled up beside her. "I don't like this."
"Like what, my lady?"
She hefted the medal and ribbon. "These medallions. Anyone who could find these in our other lives would rightly assume who we are. It could put too many people we care about at risk."
Chat watched her closely with no small amount of awe. It was amazing how her mind was always several steps ahead. Something still felt off about this whole situation, but they could handle one thing at a time. And he at least needed to get back to the street fair before Marinette really noticed he was missing "So, where should we hide away our rewards?"
Ladybug grinned. "I had an idea about that. Think you could meet me up again a bit later today?"
He bowed, formally. "Always, my lady."
Nathalie knocked on his door for an early wake up call. "Adrien. You need to be down in the car in less than an hour."
His grumble was muffled into the mattress. Today was Sunday, and he had definitely spent longer on patrol in the wake of the celebration after everyone finally headed home. Even Plagg was still softly snoring on the pillow beside him.
Adrien had claimed an impressive stack of homework in the car ride home and retreated from his guards to the kitchen and then to his room, before heading back out onto the rooftops with his medallion.
Ladybug's idea for where to hid their medallions had been clever as always, and it would prevent anyone - particularly Hawkmoth - from actually tracking them down while actually keeping them both safe.
The Chat operated so much on instinct, and the whole celebration still had set his teeth on edge, even after Ladybug seemed to be willing to call it an evening. But the patrol showed no sign of a lingering Akuma (and no Ladybug) from the rooftops of town.
He has his head buried under the pillow for a few moments, before his cell phone alarm chimed and echoed against the walls of his room. Wasn't he supposed to be able to sleep in a bit today?
Adrien grabbed his phone and squinting at his screen, scowling at calendar flashing a reminder for another shoot. He punched his code into his smartphone to review the details.
Blinking, his eyes widened. "What? This is impossible!"
Plagg opened one weary eye in question, lifting his head the barest inch from the pillow. "What is?"
Incredulous, Adrien turned his phone around towards Plagg, tossing it far enough over that his Kwami could see with his own eyes. "It's Saturday. Again."
Author's Notes:This is my first foray into Miraculous Ladybug. I've been doing a fair bit of writing lately, but my beta pool is for a different fandom so this work is currently not beta read until I can find someone to help me out with that, so any errors are my own right now. :)
I have not settled on a posting schedule, so updates will initially be infrequent. Thank you for your patience.