Authors note: I Love Miraculous Ladybug and Chat Noir, and I also Love the Great Gatsby. So I have combined them. I tried to keep the spirit of the show and character's, but mix them into a modern Great Gatsby tale. This is my first fanfic ever! I would love advice, comments, notes... all that jazz. and I hope you enjoy this first chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it. I'm going to try and go for a 10 chapter thing... but I also now understand that this thing has a mind of it's own and I am jut along for the ride. Thank you and enjoy! Also you may see this story on my Archiveofourown account under the name: Mymindisfloodedwithideas.

Chapter 1

Alya Ceaire sat on the train staring at her phone deep in thought. Her long brown hair swinging with the rails across you red plaid shirt. She was remembering the advice her mother had given her before going off to University.

"Whenever you feel like judging someone," Alya's mother had told her, "remember that not everyone has been lucky enough to have had the experiences you have had."

This advice carried her through a Bachelor's degree in Journalism and a Master's degree in International Media in under four years. Tenacity and passion was what drove her to continue studies all year round at the University of Westminster in London. She did her best to keep in touch with her family and friends, but earning her degree was her greatest goal.

The experience of being the youngest (and most amateur) reporter in Paris had provided Ayla with the unique ability to follow and blog about the two Parisian super heroes'; Ladybug and ChatNoir. Ayla's "Ladyblog" had become filled with a plethora of information regarding the two masked saviors. Starting at the age of 15, the young reported was able to capture live footage of fights with akumas. She had managed interviews with each hero, getting to know the duo by names. She wrote articles and provided news feed to some of the top News station in France. However, her greatest experience was being there and reporting on final battle with Hawkmoth.

The battle had lasted for hours. Chat Noir had used his cataclysm power 3 times. Ladybug had called 2 lucky charms, but it was the third charm that brought the villain down. Ayla had stayed and filmed from the top of the roof. She had been yelled to leave by both Ladybug and Chat Noir, but she did not listen. She was the only reporter to get a clear shot of the man known as Hawkmoth. Gabriel Agreste had been beaten. A purple brooch torn from his chest released his alter ego. She had uploaded his face to her blog, and was the reporter to show the public the unmasked villain. She showed the man being arrested and driven off by police as Ladybug and Chat Noir stood in awe at the end of their four year battle to keep Paris safe.

As far as the rest of the world knew, that was all Ayla had seen. This footage was used in by all News stations in Paris. Ayla Ceaire was accredited with her findings. This provide Ayla with the experience to enter an advanced Journalism program and complete. What the world didn't know is what Ladybug and Cat Noir had said to each other after the police drove off with hawkmoth.

The simple moment where the heroes had embraced each other in a hug. Chat Noir kissed Ladybugs Forehead. He was shaking. Tears could be seen coming from both of them. Their silhouettes remained connected for a while longer. Ladybug had then broken away. Tossed her yoyo out to nearby light post, and left Chat Noir standing in the street. Watching the red bug speed off into the distance before he too decided to leave.

Chat Noir had lingered. And unlike Ladybug he had stayed in the public view of Paris for all these years. Ladybug had vanished with the wind. No one had seen her since Hawkmoths arrest. Why did she have to leave? Where was she now? Would the world ever know her civilian form? This is what Ayla had been hired to find out. She was instructed to help find ladybug, and if she did so she would be greatly rewarded with what eve information she wanted from her client, Chat Noir. Fate had brought her back to reopen the Ladyblog, and she was determined to get an interview about those final moments between the two heroes, and learn what had become of them.

_oOo_

Alya called a Taxi to pick her up from the train station. If it were not for the size of her luggage Ayla would have preferred to walk or even ride her bike. She had never been one for cars, especially those driven by a stranger. Alas, the taxi had arrived and the stranger in the front seat had placed all her bags in the car's trunk as Ayla typed in the address of her dearest friend, Marinette Dupain-Chang, into her GPS to guide the mad to her first destination.

Marinette was waiting outside the apartment building when Ayla arrived. "I'm so glad you came!" Both girls embraced each other.

"Girl, you know I couldn't say know to this opportunity," Ayla laughed.

"You know you can stay with us. I'm sure Nathaniel wouldn't mind to…"

Ayla cut Marinette short. "I'm fine. Remember, my client has paid for me to stay in an apartment for the entire time I'm out here."

"That reminds me," Marineet opened the complex gate and lead Ayla to the apartment. "You will need to tell us who this client of yours is. I don't even know what you are doing."

"Us, huh…" Ayla elbowed her friend. "I take it you and Nathaniel are getting quite used to living together?"

"Oh- O-o-our studio is very popular. I get to make whatever avant-garde look I find that works and Nathaniel takes inspiration from that." The stutter didn't pass Ayla.

"You know work is not what I meant. Are you two together?"

"Umm, sort of."

"You are holding out on me."

A look of panic crossed over Marinette's face. "No! Not at all. I um, just am not sure how to describe it. Did I tell you invited Nino? We can talk later. Let's go inside."

"You invited who?!" Ayla blushed as the door opened and Ayla was greeted by Nathaniel and Nino.

"Welcome back to Paris!" Nathaniel waved.

"Hey Ayla, Long time no see." Nino smiled.

"Hey, Nathaniel. Hey, Nino! I didn't expect to come over for a party."

"We just wanted you to feel welcomed," Marinette said walking over to stand in-between Nathaniel and Nino. Ayla couldn't help but notice the slightly uncomfortable none scrunch Marinette made as Nathaniel placed his arm around her shoulder. Ayla glanced over at Nino who also seemed to have noticed Marinette's reactions.

Nino put a hand behind his head. "I just finished the latest tour with the band and got a a call to DJ for a party this week. I called Marinette and told her I was going to be around. She told me you were coming by and I didn't want to miss an opportunity to catch up."

The reporter blushed. "We definitely should make more time to do so." The two laughed awkwardly; Ayla staring at the star DJ in the door way. Feeling the awkward tension, Nathaniel broke the silence.

"Come on in, Ayla! Marinette and I must show you what we are working on for our studio!" Nathaniel waved her in and walked into the apartment. Ayla looked around. It was a decent sized apartment. Dining room and living room connecting to the Kitchenette. To the left there was a narrow hallway that lead to full bathroom, a few closets, two bedrooms, and an office. Nathaniel moved down the hall. "Most of it is in the office."

The three followed Nathaniel down the hall. Marinette stooped at the first door across from the bathroom. "You guys go ahead. I have to get something from my room." Marinette barely cracked the door and slid into her room.

"You can leave the door open!" Ayla called out at her. "No one cares how much fabric you have tossed around on the ground."

"She just doesn't want anyone to see what she is working on," Nathaniel interjected. "Even though everything she makes is wonderful, she won't even show me until she says it's good enough."

"Since when did Marinette get so shy over the cloths she makes? What happened the BFF who would carry her sketch book everywhere in case she had inspiration?"

"Since we moved in together and opened the studio. She became a bit more reserved." Nathaniel was very nonchalant about the girl's strange behavior. "It's one thing to show your friends and family your work, but when you start selling it and

putting it on display it becomes a completely new world. My parents helped me start selling my art in high school, so I am used to this sort of stress that comes with being a successful artist. Not that I don't think Marinette isn't a successful artist. She is smart, pretty, talented, and perfect. She's just reacting to the stress of the art world in her own way."

"I could see that," Nino chimed in. "It must be hard to make someone else's opinion your profession. "

"Exactly, Nino. You have to be really proud of whatever you make to be willing to let the whole world tell you all their opinions." Nathaniel turned to look at Ayla. "You are a reported. I'm sure you understand that not everyone will agree with your opinions when you write or blog about them."

Ayla rolled her eyes as Nathaniel turned away and grabbed the handle to the door that was in front of their group. Ayla and Nino's eyes grew large as they door was pushed open. "Dude." The Dj exclaimed. Sketches, painted canvas, and photos lined the walls eac grouped together to fit a theme. In the center of the room, rolling clothing racks filled with different colored and styled dresses and outfits hung neatly.

Nathaniel walked into the room with his arms up. "This is what we have already produced and shown to in our studio. We both decide on a theme and then create our works together. Our different mediums blend well and have made us a rather big success. I make two or three of each painting so I can sell to those who have an offer and are interested." He pointed to an oil painting of the Eiffle Tower that appeared to be inside the lens of a camera. "This one here is from our 'Tour of France' collection. It was sold for 3,000 euros each. I had to keep one. It's one of my personal favorites."

"Gotta say I'm impressed." Nino held up both his hands. He joined opposite pointer fingers and thumbs together to make a rectangle. He held his fingers up to his face. "Totally looks like I am holding a camera."

"Does Marrinette make multiple dresses than?" Ayla questioned. She stood at the clothing rack admiring her best friends work. Memories flooding into her watching the young designer spend hours stitching and and pinning cloths to perfection.

"I wish," came out of Nathaniel mouth in a haughty tone. "She does custom inf designing for anyone who wants to buy her dresses. If someone makes an offer, she takes them to a fitting room in the studio to take measurements. She even does a fitting with them for each customer and makes the modifications they want. They pay her and change her art. In my opinion she should make her dress and only someone who fits in it should wear it. It takes away from her perfection, and it also puts both of us behind. If she has too many orders she doesn't spend enough time on our new theme 'The light of Paris' and exhibition."

Ayla and Nino glanced at each other, giving the same questionable look. Ayla looked back to Nathaniel. He seemed frustrated, which was fair if he had to wait on Marinette, but it wasn't necessarily her fault. This was part of the industry, no matter how much he disliked it. However she looked passed Nathaniel to see Marinette standing in the doorway, hesitant to enter. Had she heard what Nathaniel said?

"Hey Girl! I was wondering when you would show up!" The designer jumped at the sound of her name.

"You know me; late for everything." She grinned and her friend laughed. "I wanted to make sure I didn't forget to give you the gift I made you."

Marinette held out a small bag. The suprised reporter took the gift. "Awe, you didn't have to do this Mar."

"It's not everyday I get to see my best friend! Especially since she went off to become such a stud reporter." The girls pig tails bounced with happiness as she handed the bag to her friend.

Ayla reached her and into the bag and felt some sort of fabric. It was soft and silky. She pulled out her hand and revealed a lovely white button down shirt with a painted design of Ladybug's yoyo wrapping around Chat Noir's batan. Ayla was speechless. "Marinette, it's beautiful. Thank you!" She wrapped her hands around her best friend, who returned the hug.

"You wasted time to make her a shirt with them on it?" Nathaniel was exasperated.

Ayla was shocked. "What did you say?" She turned to the outspoken artist.

The redhead was baffled. "I just can't believe Marinette would make any kind of memorabilia for the duo that brought so much pain to or city."

The reporter blinked with confusion. "What?"

"Ayla is one of Ladybug and Chat Noir's biggest fans." The pigtailed girl stated. Her voice had been strong but Ayla could see the hint of worry hidden in her friends sapphire eyes.

"Yes, and she has also been out of Paris for the three years. She has no understanding of the social injustices those two super fiends have caused for myself and many others."

Nino scrunched his nose with disapproval. "Nathaniel, it is alright now. They stopped Hawkmoth. They brought peace to Paris."

"They are the ones that brought the trouble here in the first place." Nathaniel ranted. His nostrils fared, and his fist was clenched. "They don't understand how much trouble their presence has caused."

"Nathaniel, please," Marinette sounded distraught. Her eyes filling with guilt that this conversation had gone one as long as it had. "I was just trying to give Ayla a gift I knew she would like. I didn't want mean to get you upset about this. Please I just want us to drop this and eat dinner."

Nathaniel's clenched fist lessoned. "Sorry, Marinette. I know it wasn't your intension to upset me. Perhaps now is a better time for diner." Ayla's eyes narrowed. Her reporter senses at work. There was something off. Nathaniel and Marinette were not on the best of terms. This was more than just a shirt. She knew she would need to do some digging while she was out her.

_oOo_

Dinner was a lovely homemade linguine and freshly made sour dough. The dinner talk was light. Ayla expressed her excitement about being done with University. Nino filled the space with stories about his band and the various places in Europe he had been to while away. All of them laughed. Nathaniel drank espresso, and bantered on about different details about being an entrepreneur while in the art world. Marinette smiled, giggled, and listened intently to everyone's tales, never sharing one herself.

At a quarter past ten Ayla yawned. "It's getting late. I need to check into the apartment I am staying at."

"I can drive you there." Nino offered. "What is the building you are staying at?"

"It is called the Noir de Suit," She said checking her phone for the details.

Nathaniel's smile quickly faded to a frown. "That's Chat Noir's hotel."

Marinette sat up straight. "Chat Noir's…" she whispered. With a dazed look in her eyes she panned over the group. Nino was typing in directions into his phone. Nathaniel was glaring at Ayla's bag which contained the newly made Chat Noir and Ladybug shirt. Ayla who was still looking down at her phone and over to Nino's making sure he was typing in the correct location. Marinette pulled herself out of the daze long enough to ask a question. "Who did you say was your client, Ayla?"

Ayla looked up, noting the slightly panicked look in her best friend's eyes. She was hiding something. "I didn't." she replied coolly. "He likes his privacy." Marinette's eyes glossed over with fear.

"Alright, I got the directions in. It's basically on the other side of the Eiffel Tower from your apartment. Ready to go when you are dude." Nino looked up to Marinette and Nathaniel. "Thanks for inviting me over guys. It was great to see you both doing so well." Ayla smirked. Nino's genuine gratitude broke the tension. The two artists smiled lightly.

"We were so happy to spend time with you," Marinette smiled. "Come by any time."

"And stop by the studio when you get the chance!" Nathaniel added.

"I may stop by tomorrow." Ayla said. "Which reminds me, I forgot what your studio was called. I'm sure Marinette told me in one of our Skype calls while I was at school, but it is slipping mind."

"It's Evillustrator Ink." Nathaniel grimaced.

"Oh, that's…. clever." She smiled sympathetically.

Everyone hugged and waved goodbye. Ayla followed Nino to his car and got into the passenger side. Nino placed her bags in the trunk before entering the driver's side. The two drove off in anticipated silence. Nino concentrating on navigating the dark roads, while listening to his phone's voice shout out directions. Ayla yawned and concentrated on all the events that had happened that day. She thought that she would have been worried or even a bit nervous about working for Chat Noir blindly, but she was not. Instead she saved her worries and nervousness for her best friend.

Marinette was not quite the same fashion loving girl she had left in Paris and talked over the computer with. There was something off about her whole partnership with Nathaniel. Was he being fair? Why did she keep her room so private?

Ayla was only able to stay lost in her thoughts for a moment before Nino interrupted them. "Ayla, check out that bill board!" He pointed straight ahead.

Ayla's mouth dropped and her eyes followed Nino's finger. Straight ahead were a pair of very large, familiar green eyes. Adrien Agreste's face posted on the board ahead. His stared straight at the car as it drove past. The words beside him read He will be lost in your eyes with your… Allure. "Was that Adrien's face on a perfume add?" she finally uttered.

"Yep," Nino confirmed. "A lot of things have changed yet stayed the same out here."

"Do you keep in touch with him?"

"We talk on the phone a bit. He is actually the one who asked me to DJ at the party this week. Some model friend he owed a favor.' He shrugged. "I'm happy to do it if that means I get some time with my best bud."

"Is he… is he doing alright? You know since…"

"He's doing as fine as he can be." Nino cut her off. "It's hard to find out your dad has been causing havoc across Paris. However, I think he's having a harder time adjusting to being the lone heir to the Agreste fortune and the Gabriel fashion line."

The both sighed as Nino pulled up to the hotel. The building was large, but difficult to admire at night. The only thing to enjoy about the apartment building was the cursive lit sign that read Welcome to Noir de Suit that rested on top of the glowing front entrance light.

After pausing for a few moments, Ayla turned to face Nino. "Marinette was strange tonight, right?"

Nino nodded his head. "She's been like that for a while now. Ever since we all graduated and she began study in fashion. It took a while to notice, but she seems to be slowly dwindling away."

"Do you know why?" Ayla Perused.

"I have some ideas, but now is not where we should discuss this. Can we meet tomorrow? I'm staying with my parents so this isn't too far for me."

Ayla nodded. "Let's get coffee tomorrow morning."

"Pick you up at 9?"

"Perfect." Ayla's face warmed with a comforting smile. "Thank you for the ride." The brunette hoped out of the car and waved goodbye to her friend as he drove off after hearing his cue of the closing trunk and Ayla's bags hitting the sidewalk.

She turned to look up at the building. It was certainly one of the largest apartment buildings in Paris. As her eyes scaled the building, a figure caught her eyes. He was so still and stoic on the edge of the building, that to the untrained eye he would appear to be a statue. Ayla knew better. She had observed this figure many times. Chat Noir was perched at the top of the building staring off into the distance. Ayla followed his gaze to see he was staring towards the Eiffel tower, watching the red warning light bling endlessly in the night.

She turned back to him and called out his name. "Chat Noir." She half raised her hand to wave. His head snapped in her direction. Though far from her, she could see and feel the intensity glowing from his acidic green eye. Their eyes met only for a moment, before he leapt away, opposite from where he was looking. She put her hand down. Chat wanted to be alone, and she needed to sleep. She walked into the front of the apartment, gave her name to the attendant, and was handed a key with and enveloped addressed to her, along with instructions to get to her suit.