Oh, man...when I posted Chance Neutre, I didn't expect that I'd get more than at least one positive comment and a few likes. Well, here you guys go: an actual, multi-chapter story featuring Ladybug and Cat Noir!

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Chapter 1

It was a beautiful day in Paris, a week after Ladybug and Cat Noir had officially become an item. Now Alya occasionally joined them on adventures, and had gotten used to the fact that her two friends were superheroes.

Now, Marinette-Ladybug's alter-ego-and Alya were preparing the Dupain-Cheng bakery for something big. Tomorrow was Marinette's birthday, and her parents were throwing her a party.

"Can you pass me the staple gun?" Alya asked. She was hanging some red-and-black crepe paper over the bakery's doorway.

"Sure," Marinette responded. She handed the gun to her, and went back to inflating some red-and-black balloons.

The door to the bakery opened, and in walked Adrien, Marinette's boyfriend and Cat Noir's alter-ego. He looked around the place. "Nice work."

"Thanks!" Marinette said, blushing. Alya rolled her eyes; even though they were a couple, there were still a few signs that Marinette was shy and awkward around her love, even though they had lessened.

"I still can't believe your parents are throwing you a party. Far cry from what my dad usually does," he added.

Alya cringed a little when she heard that. All of Adrien's friends knew that he and his dad weren't on the best of terms. Adrien had never had a birthday party before-which at one point caused his best friend to turn into a bubble-wielding villain hell-bent on getting rid of adults, but that's another story.

"At least he's letting you come to this one," Marinette said. "Can you help me with these balloons?"

"Sure!"

After that, little work was done. Marinette and Adrien had fun blowing up the balloons, which led to a dare that involved sucking helium, while Alya watched, amused.

She felt a slight tugging on her shirt, and looked down to see Marinette's Kwami, Tikki, pulling on it. "Can I talk to you about something?" she asked.

"Yeah, sure," Alya responded. If there was something Alya hadn't gotten used to over the last week, it was the adorableness of the Kwamis. "What is it?"

"Well...Marinette and I had a talk last night, and...we discussed the possibility of something bad happening to her on the job," she explained.

"Don't worry. She's been at this for awhile now, I'm sure she'll be fine."

"Yeah, but...if anything does happen to her, we decided...you should get the Ladybug Miraculous."

Alya's heart skipped a beat as Tikki pulled out a pair of familiar earrings. "We agreed that you should practice for a bit with these until you're used to it."

"But...why me?" Alya asked. Being a hero was a huge responsibility, and she wasn't sure she was ready to do it.

"Because you're my best friend, and the only person I know who actually has pierced ears," Marinette called. She'd been listening to the entire conversation. "Besides, y'know, Chloe."

"Yeah, I can't imagine Chloe as Ladybug," Alya laughed.

"You did once," Adrien pointed out.

"Oh shut up, cat!"

"Wanna get some practice in?" Marinette asked. "Sure, we don't have any akuma to practice on, but you could still try a few other things."

"Sure, why not?"

"Great!" Marinette dragged her upstairs. "Can you finish with the decorations, Adrien?"

"Sure," he responded. "For once, my schedule is free."

"Thanks!"