Welcome to Casual Villainy!

So I'm pretty sure I'm late for the One Year Miraculous Ladybug Anniversary, and Ladybug and Chat Noir aren't even the main characters in this piece. But this is a story I've been holding off on finishing/posting for awhile now. Mainly because I wrote it around midnight a month ago and wasn't even sure if it was any good. After some minor editing and beta reading, I think it's okay.

Basically this story was inspired by a few simple facts; my favorite ML villain so far is most definitely the Evillustrator. But the Evillustrator episode leaves a lot of time jumps where we don't quite know what happened. Here in Chapter 1, we'll address the time jump that started this idea; what exactly happened with Nathanael between him flying out of Marinette's room and him meeting up with her at sunset?

Paris was really beautiful from up in the air.

That's what was going through the Evillustrator's mind as he soared through the sky on his jet pack. He had finally asked out the girl of his dreams on a date, and she had accepted! He couldn't help but let out a few elated whoops as he did a brief barrel roll over some rooftops, scaring a few people lounging on their patios. Just the thought of Marinette sent a warm tingle through his whole body. Just imagine how amazing their date would be! A boat decorated to look like…

A sudden realization stopped him short in his tracks. He had no idea what to make the boat even look like. Where the hell was he even going to get a boat?! Especially at such short notice…

'Guess I could always draw a boat. I'll just have to find some reference photos so I could draw a decent boat.' he mused, letting himself slowly descend to the ground until he peacefully landed on his feet. He briefly reached for the phone in his pocket before he realized his outfit was skintight, had no pockets, and his phone had disappeared. At that note, everything he owned had disappeared. Hopefully, after his date, he would find them.

He could always draw himself a smartphone, anyways. But first things first, he was pretty hungry. He had missed lunch plotting his revenge on Chloe, and who wanted to go to school anymore? He had purple skin, he wasn't exactly Nathanael anymore. Plus, someone would find a way to get Ladybug and Chat Noir's attention, and then he'd have to fight them, and he might be late to his date then! Plus, if he lost, all hopes of a date with Marinette were lost. She was interested in the Evillustrator, not Nathanael. She hadn't even remembered his birthday. No one had.

Might as well treat himself to a few birthday treats. Looking around briefly, he got his bearings on his surroundings and could then take himself to the nearest sit-in cafe. He could walk, he decided. Why draw another jet pack if it was only a block or two down from here?

People certainly took notice of him now. Some stared, some parents pulled their children into their arms protectively, some people even crossed the street to avoid him. Then again, his entire being just spelled 'akuma'. Purple skin, the skin-tight outfit, the purplish-black butterfly-shaped domino mask… But with this new form, also came a new confidence he never had as a civilian. Normally, he would be embarrassed to wear anything tighter than skinny jeans, let alone walk down the street in something like this. Now, he simply didn't care.

A purple haze took over his vision, making him stop in his tracks as the dark voice entered his head once more.

'Evillustrator, now is your chance. Wreak havoc onto the people of Paris to lure Ladybug and Chat Noir into a trap and steal their Miraculouses!' it ordered.

"Not just yet. I can't think of a trap. And I don't want to be late to my date, or mess myself up. I still need to plan it. Just give me a few hours. Please?" Evillustrator barely realized he was talking aloud.

The dark voice gave an exasperated groan. 'Fine. But in a few hours, I'm expecting results. Don't disappoint me.'

"Of course, Hawkmoth." the purple haze faded away and he kept walking to his destination.

The door to the cafe triggered a bell to ring, drawing the cashier's attention to the door. When she saw the akumatized villain, she began to shake. Especially as he walked over to the front desk. She had seen what these people could do, and her son had told horror stories of what happened when akumas got to their victims at his school. She didn't want to be turned into a… a… whatever this guy would turn her into!

The akuma's eyes just scanned the menu above her head, seeming to contemplate something. Then he lifted his right arm, where he had a drawing tablet strapped to his forearm, and began to draw something. The cashier's knees trembled. What was he going to do-wait.

Did he just draw money?

The akumatized boy looked her in the eye, back again at the menu, back to the money, and then… offered a smile. "H-Hello, madam… may I have a baguette, a cup of coffee with cream, and a slice of carrot cake?"

"U-Uh...I-I-I, uhm…" the cashier could barely find it in her to speak.

"Madam? I won't hurt you. I made a promise to someone that I wouldn't hurt anyone." Evillustrator offered.

"Wh-Who is the order for…?" the cashier asked.

"Natha-um. Evillustrator. I am the Evillustrator."

"The Evillustrator? You… don't seem very evil, if you've promised not to hurt anyone."

"W-Well…" the Evillustrator awkwardly scratched the back of his neck sheepishly. "I really guess I should be, but… I made a promise to my… my crush, that I wouldn't hurt anyone as long as she went on a date with me later…"

"...don't mean to be rude, but, um… are you sure she's not going on the date to keep you from hurting people?"

"I…" that thought had never crossed his mind before. His eyebrows knit together as he began to think through it. Marinette was kind, it wouldn't exactly be unlike her to do such a thing… to lead him on just to keep a bitch like Chloe Bourgeois safe… The thought that she would do such a thing hurt him, honestly.

The purple haze bled into his vision as the dark, intrusive thoughts took over his head again. 'See, look. The girl; is leading you on. Just like Chloe. Why not take revenge? Wreak havoc, make her regret ever lying to you! And while you're at it, why not take Ladybug and Chat Noir's miraculouses, and release your pent-up anger onto them as well!'

"I… there's no proof that she is lying to me. I trust her. And I already said, a few more hours before I go after the Miraculouses, just buzz off, Hawk Moth." he grit his teeth into a frustrated snarl, not noticing the fear across the cashier's face.

'I wouldn't say that, if I were you. I gave you your powers, I can just as easily take them away. You see to be a bit distracted from the real goal here, why don't I give you a reminder?' Intense pain shot through his arm as it began to cramp and spasm, making the money in his hand clatter to the floor.

"Agh! Okay, okay, I'll get them for you, I promise!" he grunted, clutching his hand in the other to try and alleviate the pain somehow. It subsided to a dull ache. "...eventually," he dropped down to pick up the money as the purple haze went away before giving it to the cashier. "Sorry about that,"

"Are you alright?" the woman asked. Evillustrator laughed bitterly.

"I'm an akuma. Think about that for a second."

"Oh. Well...I'll go fix your coffee, feel free to sit." the woman went to the back of the store to go make the coffee, leaving Evillustrator to look around the cafe. It was empty, other than him. Whether it was empty before he got here, or if it cleared out because of his presence, he wasn't sure. Something inside of him felt bad for scaring everyone, and regretted becoming what he was now, but… no. That boy was dead. Nathanael Kurtzberg was dead and the Evillustrator was all that was left and all that mattered. With that in mind, he took a seat at a tall table by the window, laid his right arm on the table, and began to draw. Every so-often, he'd test out a small detail on a napkin before drawing it on the tablet.

In a few minutes, his coffee was brought to him, along with the other treats he ordered. He thanked the woman with a nod before continuing to draw.

After having drawn a phone to look up photos with, he had already planned out what the boat would look like, and was contemplating what it would be decorated with. He eventually decided on the Jardins du Trocadero, with the Eiffel Tower as the center piece. A few benches would be set up around the boat, so they could sit wherever. He made a tiny model of the boat on the table as he absentmindedly ate a chunk of his baguette. When it was finally finished, he could finally relax and focus on the delicious meal before him.

A few people started coming into the cafe, and noticed him. Some would immediately leave, while others sat and 'oohed' and 'aahed' at how close they dared to get to the akuma. Some people even came up to take selfies with him, which he frankly was not a fan of. He met every phone with a cold, even glare. He was beginning to get irritated. They were mocking him.

"Hey, man, just smile for once." a man said, leaning in for a selfie and nudging him harshly. His straight face curved into a scowl.

"I could literally erase your face off if I wanted to. Wouldn't have to worry about selfies then. You wouldn't like that, would you? Would you?!" he snarled at the man. His jaw dropped in shock and fear.

"Y-Y-You wouldn't!"

"Do you really want to test me right now?!"

"Hey. Sir, you're coming with us!" a few officers stepped into the cafe, one holding handcuffs. He recognized one of them as Sabrina's father, from Parent Day in class. He himself had been akumatized, after Chloe had her father fire him after a bracelet of hers went missing. Chloe was a monster, a real monster. They should be arresting her for fraud and slander!

He felt his blood begin to boil as the purple haze took over his vision again. 'Why not show these fools what you're really made of! Go get your revenge on these imbeciles, on Chloe Bourgeois! Release your inner chaos!' the voice began to say. He felt himself rise to his feet, his hands balled into fists as he thought of all the things he could do to these pests, to Chloe, when he remembered his promise to Marinette. He saw the fear on everyone's faces, especially the cashier who had been nothing but nice to him today. He couldn't do this.

"I'm not hurting anyone." he muttered. The officer in front of him assumed he was talking to the police squad, apparently, even as Hawk Moth rattled off something about taking his powers away and obedience and authority figures.

"Right, and how do we know you won't later. We're taking you in, don't make this hard on yourself. Someone get Ladybug, she'll know how to fix this guy." even as he was handcuffed, Hawk Moth found a way to turn the situation in his favor.

'Actually, this is perfect! Let them take you in, and when Ladybug and Chat Noir come in, defeat them all and steal their miraculouses! As long as you do that for me, I'll let you run along on your little date.'

The Evillustrator hesitated. He didn't want to hurt anyone, but he really needed to get the miraculouses to reach his end of the deal that had gotten him this far in the first place. As they started leading him out of the cafe, he decided he didn't want to get the miraculous like this.

With his enhanced strength, he ripped himself away from the officers and reached with his pen behind his back to his tablet, erasing the handcuffs from existence. As they chased after him, he quickly brought up the file for his jet pack drawing and equipped it, soaring high above their heads where he couldn't reach. Now way could they catch up to him like this, and he could also keep an eye out to see if he could find Ladybug and Chat Noir. While he didn't find them in the air, he decided to go to the Eiffel Tower. They seemed to enjoy hanging out there a lot, so if he stayed on one of the higher levels, he would be able to see them if they met up for a patrol and sneak attack them.

At least, that's how he reasoned his actions to Hawk Moth whenever he would bug him about not destroying half the city by now. He stayed up there until the sky began turning orange, in which he decided to fly on over to the Notre Dame to make the larger version of the boat for the date. Even though Hawk Moth tried taking control of his body again, the waiting was all worth it when Marinette found her way on board.

There's two chapters left of this story. Next chapter we'll address the question of 'what happens with Adrien between him checking up on Marinette and him crashing the date later that night?'

Feel free to favorite, review or follow this story, but it should all be up within a few days.

Also I'll probably be making an Ao3 account, and I already have a tumblr. My tumblr username is also anipwrites, if anyone wants to find me there.

I hope you all have a wonderful day!

~anipwrites