A/N: I'm not gonna lie, this is a pretty random switch in the usual fandom for me, it wasn't really a planned thing either, I got home from work yesterday and my little sisters were all "YOU HAVE TO WATCH THIS WITH US!" And since I didn't have anything else to do (And they can pull off puppy dogs eyes that'd put Manon to shame!) I began my Endeavour into watching the show, I may have liked it a little too much, I won't say something like it's flawless, but it reminds of many shows I enjoyed whilst I was younger and I really liked it.
Of course, that developed into a headcannon for the fic your about to start (and hopefully enjoy.) I can't imagine this ever breaking the T rating I'm gonna slap on it, the romance will be a focal point, but I will sprinkle action through it, just expect it to be a little more…mature? I guess would be the right term! Without further ado, enjoy the sho-literature!
"If we assume that object A, travelling at a velocity of…" The voice trailed into the back of her mind as she tapped her pen against her book, at what point would the velocity and speed of something help her design clothes? She sighed and continued her notes.
The girl flicked her hair behind her ear, the odd colored strands that sat somewhere between blue and a purple, she had gotten incredibly sick of telling people it wasn't dyed, it wasn't! Her light blue eyes trailed over the hunched back of the boy in front of her and a small wistful smile appearing on her face.
The school bell rang loudly, shaking her from her thoughts and drawing her forcibly back to reality "Marinette," The girls head whipped to the girl beside her.
Alya, Marinette's oldest friend, was a girl of average height for her age, her red hair lightened as it moved towards the tips, she shifted the glasses over her eyes quickly and the small mole above her right eye peaked out from behind her bangs.
"Hm?" Marinette hummed questioningly as she moved her books into her schoolbag.
"What are you doing later?" Alya asked simply
Marinette lifted an eyebrow "I have to babysit Manon later, other than that I should be free." Her light blue eyes shifted towards the small purse on her hip, that was assuming there could be a day she didn't have to go out and fight evil.
Alya glanced at the door, the classroom was now devoid of the students apart from them and the girls face split into a grin "Well, let's just say I know about a little photo shoot at a park that I think you'll be interested in."
"Why would I be interested in an, oh," Marinette paused catching her friends glance "Oh!" she exclaimed dumbly.
"Hah, oh? That all you got? No thank you Alya!? You're the greatest!? Please never leave me alone! You'll always be my only friend!" Alya threw her arms around dramatically as she spoke and wiped a faux tear from the corner of her eye as her voice trailed off.
Marinette rolled her eyes and got to her feet "Well, as much as I'd love to say all of that, and believe me I would, it doesn't do me much good, babysitting remember?"
"Just bring the kid, kids love parks." Alya offered simply.
"Oh yeah, my crush, my manipulative best friend and a small child, seems like nothing can go wrong at all!" Marinette let out sarcasm leaking into her tone as she got up.
"Hey, for your information I am wonderful with kids and as your manipulative best friend, I already have it all planned out!" Alya threw her arm into the air with a shout.
Marinette paled slightly and blanked "I'm quite sure I should be worried."
"Oh girl, just relax and leave it to me, let's go!" Alya threw her arm forward as she passed Marinette who fell into step behind her friend.
"Man, there will never be a time you don't confuse me," Nino sighed, running a hand over his cap, spinning it quickly, he was tall, brown skinned, dark brown hair, black rimmed glasses over golden brown eyes "I mean, you're a model, you could have your pick of any girl in school and your all like…this." The boy just gestured to his friend vaguely.
Adrien sighed, this was not the first time he had had this conversation, the blonde ruffled his hair with a hand, his blonde bangs falling around over his bright green eyes that reflected his slight irritation, although a small smile appeared on his face as he spoke "You just gestured to all of me."
"I know, I meant all of you," Nino responded simply "I mean, you aren't closet right? Not that I'd judge if you were, I just mean you know, you don't seem to have any interest."
Adrien's eyes widened at his friend in disbelief "No-what? Of course not, I have an interest, a large interest in girls, there is a girl I like!"
"First calm down dude," Nino counted one finger "Second, spill."
"Huh?" Adrien sounded in confusion.
"Spill as in the beans, who is it, whose mystery girl?" Nino asked excitedly.
A car horn drew Adrien's attention, he took the welcome distraction with a quick smirk "Sorry man, photo shoot I'll talk to you some other time!" He called as he quickly jogged across the street and climbed into the side of the white limousine.
"Dodged again huh?" Nino sighed as he placed his hands in his pockets, his mind wandering, mystery girl? Well, he could rule out Chloe at the very least, the only person who didn't know Adrien didn't like her was her, that left a few female students, but he wouldn't call them mysterious, no the way Adrien said it made him think it was someone way out of the ball park, someone you'd never even consider.
"I'll head home now, I've got to get home before Mrs. Chamack drops of Manon," Marinette gave Alya a small wave and dashed across the street quickly "See you later!" She called before continuing on her way.
Alya waved and heard someone walk up beside her, Nino had a calculating look on his face as he stroked his chin "Hey hot-stuff, what's eating you?"
Nino started, jumping half a foot in the air at the voice beside him, his eyes settled on the familiar wavy hair and a small smile appeared on his face "Oh you know, trying to decipher the mystery girl." He answered vaguely.
"Mystery girl, that a scoop I can use?" Alya asked in excitement
"Well, as great a story Adrien's love life would be, I don't think he'd want that kind of thing publicized," Nino considered "So no, my lips are pretty sealed."
Alya just shrugged "So, what have you got so far?"
"I know this sounds off base, but I have a hunch," Nino smirked as the pair began walking "I think Adrien and Marinette are together."
Alya's eyes might have fallen out of her head had they been able to "Wha?!"
"Let me explain okay," Nino offered quickly and Alya quieted, more than a little intrigued "Okay, so first, Adrien tells me he does have a girl he likes, but we've talked about every girl in school before, the only exception being Marinette."
"You talked about me?" Alya asked a mischievous smirk on her face.
"Well, I talked Adrien just listened for that one," Nino admitted, scratching the back of his neck in slight embarrassment "But anyway just listen."
Alya nodded and Nino continued "So, I got to thinking, we've never talked about her, she's practically always staring at him and he tries really hard to pretend he doesn't notice, but then every time anything happens they both just vanish!"
Alya came to an abrupt halt "You think it's all a big ruse and they are secretly dating?!"
"Yeah, it sounds a little crazy but it's possible right?" Nino's eyebrows raised hopefully as he spoke and Alya frowned as she mulled over the information.
"Well, I mean, it all makes sense, but there's kind of one problem," Alya offered, Nino lifted an eyebrow in askance "Marinette can't even hold a conversation with him for five seconds without turning into a blubbering idiot."
"I sort of noticed, I told you it sounded off base." Nino sighed and spun his cap, Alya smiled and placed her hands on his shoulder, leaning up slightly to peck his cheek.
"Hey, you almost convinced me, if she was better at speaking around him it would be completely possible," Alya smiled "Alright, I've got a meeting to set up and fate to write, I'll call you later, kay?"
Nino nodded "You know it would probably work out better if you just locked them in a room until she could speak to him."
Alya waved to him "I'll keep that in mind!"
Marinette slumped on the couch with a heavy thud, her purse unclipped and a small red and black spotted being floated above her face, looking down at her in concern "I think you should just tell that boy how you feel already." Tikki offered simply.
"Ah yes, I can see it now! Adrien, my love please notice me!" She exclaimed dramatically "I can't even say good morning to him without going all." She locked all her muscles in an awkward position and let out a strangled sound, Tikki just frowned.
"If only Adrien was Cat Noir, you'd have no trouble talking to him then." Tikki chuckled.
Marinette frowned at the small being until her door burst open, Tikki darted back into her purse as the small toddler barreled towards her, flipping over the couch in a way only a toddler could, acquiring the TV remote somewhere during the stunt to turn the TV on and land in a perfect thud.
The TV flickered to life, it was the finalists for some kind of teenage weather girl competition, Marinette watched half heartedly as she thought about what Tikki had said, Adrien and Cat Noir? As if they could be the same person, Adrien was well…wait, how could she be so sure, Cat Noir could literally be anyone, that included Adrien and their hair was so incredibly similar.
No, there are plenty of guys with kinda long blonde hair, it's in fashion these days, again mostly due to Adrien but it was facts, they did both have green eyes, although Cat Noir's eyes were all, well all green, they weren't really human eyes but, Marinette shot a quick glare at her purse, of course the thought had to planted in her head.
But maybe, because they looked so similar she could imagine Adrien as Cat Noir, maybe she'd be able to properly speak to him! That was worth a shot, even if she was blurring the Cat she didn't like and the boy she really liked, that wouldn't be a problem, no way in a hundred years would she fall for Cat Noir. Just the thought almost made her laugh.
"I wanna vote for Mireille!" Manon exclaimed enthusiastically as she dived for Marinette's phone, said girl managed to snag it before the toddler got a hold of it and got to her feet.
"Say, Manon would you like to go to the park with me and a friend?" Marinette asked, hoping to distract the toddler
"Only if you by me fairy floss!" Manon exclaimed in ultimatum, jumping atop the coffee table and placing her hands on her hips and sticking her small chest forward, Marinette let out a low chuckle.
"Okay, fairy floss it is." Marinette held out her hand and the toddler took it quickly, jumping from the table and excited by the prospect of treats, began to excitedly pull Marinette forward.
Adrien sat on a small green park bench sipping at a bottle of water with a sigh, a small black cat floated from his pocket and hovered there as he peered around "Why are you all down?"
"Well, I sort of told Nino I like someone, but I mean, I can't really go oh, I'm in love with this superhero who nobody knows because I work together with her and I'm actually Cat Noir so I kind of know her, well the superhero her anyway." Adrien rambled quickly, throwing his hand around in front of him in irritation.
"Well, why not just lie to him? Or better yet, confess to Ladybug and maybe she'll tell you who she is, either that or do some good old fashioned police work and figure it yourself." Plagg replied boredly, as if these options were painfully obvious.
"You're beautifully blunt answers are always helpful," Adrien blanked at the cat as he spoke with sarcasm "Whenever I try to talk to Ladybug about anything serious, the stupid you side of me kicks in and I act like some kind of big shot lady killer."
"Hey, I don't control anything that's your own protective instinct." Plagg shot at him in retort.
"It's still unhelpful, can't you just like magic it away?" Adrien asked, knowing the question was pointless before he asked, it was worth a shot though right?
"No, why don't you try some normal human fixes first, like visualization or something." Plagg offered.
"What do you suggest?" Adrien asked, slightly intrigued.
"Well, if you could pick one girl on the planet you think you could tell anything too in confidence who would it be?" Plagg asked
Adrien's face contorted as he thought "I don't know, Marinette probably? She doesn't talk much around me, but she's honest, kind of clumsy, she's pretty in a 'looks a lot like my crush kinda way'."
"Well, try picturing Ladybug as her, see if that works." Plagg offered simply
"I'll test that out." Adrien chuckled as he downed the rest of his water and walked towards the camera man, who began snapping picture after picture at him, Adrien just went through the poses he was asked to do automatically while he thought.
Looks a lot like my crush kinda way huh? Well, I mean they do both have that hair and the eyes are the same, but I mean, no way anyone as clumsy as Marinette would be Ladybug, I mean the city would be doomed if that were the case. He chuckled and the photographer shot him a look, Adrien quickly apologized and returned to doing what he was asked.
A strange gust of wind pulled at Marinette's clothes as she entered in the park, Alya waved her over and Manon looked around curiously, trying to determine where the candy was and how long it would take before Marinette bought it for her.
"Manon, this is my best friend, Alya, Alya, Manon." Marinette introduced quickly.
Alya crouched and smiled warmly "I can't believe you think looking after this little angel would be difficult."
"She's only cute now cause I promised sugar," Marinette responded jokingly "So, did I miss anything important?"
"No, the photographers getting irritated something is apparently 'missing' from the pictures," Alya dismissed quickly, looking over a the fountain, the photographer looked over towards them and Marinette sent Adrien a quick wave, the blonde smirked and waved back, the photographer watched the exchange and it seemed like a light bulb went off in his head, he dashed over to the group quickly.
"You!" He pointed at Marinette, who's eyes widened in surprise.
"I want you to model with him, it will complete this perfectly!" The photographer put an arm around Marinette's shoulder and created a square with his fingers around Adrien's head.
Marinette's eyes darted from Manon to Alya to Adrien to the photographer and back in rapid succession as her cheeks colored.
"Ohh, is that the boy?" Manon whispered to Alya quietly, Alya nodded her head quickly.
"You should go Mari, I can stay with your friend, I better get ice cream later for this though!" Manon exclaimed happily.
Marinette took a long breath, he's Cat Noir, annoying, flirty, irritating Cat Noir, the one you would never in a million years fall for at all.
"Okay, fairy floss and ice cream, that's going to a combination of killer sugar levels," Marinette chuckled "But I think it's a fair trade."
She handed some money to Alya who took it with a quick smile as the photographer practically dragged Marinette towards Adrien.
"Hey." Adrien said simply
"Hey," Marinette gave him another small wave, her cheeks colored darkly and her head yelled at her, she took another deep breath, Cat Noir, she repeated the name in her head like a mantra as she turned to the camera "Is he always like this?"
"Pretty much, you should have seen when he tried to pick Chloe as his 'muse' though," Adrien paled and his face blanked "I wanted to crawl into a hole."
"I can imagine," Marinette replied, it was working, her nervousness was slowly starting to fade! She had actually made a complete sentence without stuttering or looking like a fool! She was holding an actual conversation "So what do we do now?"
"Whatever he tells us really, don't worry I'll lead." Adrien titled his head and smiled cockily, pointing a thumb at himself, Marinette frowned, maybe picturing him too much like Cat Noir had to opposite effect, although seeing Adrien's face say it and not a cat eyed mask made her heart flutter against her chest quickly.
"Okay, happy couple!" The photographer shouted, Adrien inclined his head slight and mouthed sorry as he moved, Marinette stiffened against him as he placed a hand on her waist and pulled her into him, he looked at the camera, his smile flashed and Marinette just stood like a dear in headlights.
Cat Noir, Cat Noir, Cat Noir, nope, the stupid cat was not strong enough for her to shake this reality, as much as she'd like to move her legs felt like lead, the photographer frowned slightly.
"You're way too tense," Adrien whispered "I'll lead so just trust me, okay?"
Marinette nodded her head, the photographer took some kind of cue from Adrien as the blonde boy moved, his hand trailed along her back in a leisurely circle "Deep breaths," He whispered simply, she followed his instructions keeping her eyes glued to the camera, "Now, big smile."
And so she smiled, face splitting into a grin almost ear to ear, not her nervous smile either, a normal smile, she was interacting with Adrien, well, he was leading her in a photo shoot and her entire body lit on fire whenever his hand or arm or leg brushed against her, but she hadn't fainted and hadn't embarrassed herself yet!
The movements became easier, she found herself gained a little bit more confidence with every satisfied face the photographer made, she was the missing puzzle that made Adrien even better on that camera, she was helping him, she was the one standing beside him, feeling all these little touches, hearing the reassuring whispers, the delicious shocks of electrify that raced along her spine every time he spoke and moved caused the smile on her face to grow a little more ecstatic each time.
"Okay, now a command for the muse, a little seduction please!" The photographer exclaimed.
Marinette wasn't exactly sure what possessed her in that moment, maybe it was the high of being so close to him, or the fact that she felt like she had won some kind of battle and was finally getting the reward for beating it, Adrien was about to say something about how that command was a little too difficult for an amateur, even if Marinette was surprisingly good after the first mistake, when he was turned abruptly, his eyes widened as she cocked an eyebrow at him, her arms draped lazily over his neck, one hand gently resting his hair, a small half smile tugging at one side of her mouth.
Adrien stood in mild shock, he most definitely be lying if he said he didn't want to just stay like that, he swore he could put the Ladybug mask on it and it would almost be the look of irritation he got every time he said something cheesy to her, but replace the irritation with an almost hungry glow, his face felt like it was on fire. The snapping of the camera most definitely took too long.
As the photographer bounced on his feet excitedly, Marinette finally spoke "What's the matter Cat got your tongue?" She asked with a chuckle as she stepped away.
"I, uh," Why did Marinette look so much like Ladybug? He almost had to physically restrain himself from leaning forward in that moment, what was wrong with him, his heart was racing against his chest.
Fortunately or unfortunately, depending on your stand point, the powerful gust of wind and the loud cackling laughter that came from above them interrupted the thoughts currently swimming around in Adrien's head.
"I need to go check on Manon!" Marinette exclaimed in a quick excuse darting away, Adrien glanced at her back then up at the figure descending towards them, her light purple grey eyes scanning the park underneath her as she landed softly, her dark purple hair was mixed with a lighter pink, the two colors spiraled on either side of her head in two pigtails and her bangs were the lighter pink, her dark purple parasol was slung over her shoulder, a white gloved hand resting lazily on the handle. Her dark purple dress stopped above at the knee.
Adrien dived behind a nearby tree and peered around, everyone seemed more focused on her at the moment as he clenched his fist his ring glinted slightly "Plagg, Let's go!" The dark cat was pulled into the ring quickly, the small green paw print appeared on the ring and Adrien ran his fingers of his eyes and above his head, his mask settling into place as his ears popped up and twitched slightly, his suit enveloped his body starting at the toes and moving over his form, he darted around the tree and drew his staff in a fluent motion as he planted his foot and spun into a wide strike.
The parasol opened wide and his staff clanked against the top of it loudly, the girl smirked and threw her hand at him, a powerful wall of wind slammed into his chest and sent him backwards he rolled over his head and slid to a stop in a crouch, he straightened to his feet quickly, staff spinning in his hand.
Whilst the villain's eyes were on him he spotted a familiar flash of red, the villain noticed his eyes slide of her and she turned in time to see a quick red coated foot fly towards her face and catch her on the chin, the villain flew backwards.
"Losing your touch Cat?" Ladybug taunted playfully as she slid to a stop next to him.
Cat Noir shook his head violently, forcing the image of Marinette to correctly appear as Ladybug before he responded "Of course not Milady, merely allowing you to show up." He quipped in response
Ladybug rolled her eyes simply "Well, let's just say I have a busy day so let's get this one over quick."
"Hm, hot date?" Cat Noir asked as he spun his staff in his palm and darted forward.
Ladybug titled her head to the side "You could say that." She laughed as she moved to the left, the pair effectively circling around the villain before cutting in with a sharp kick.
The girl swung her parasol into the air and slammed it into the ground, lightning slammed around her in a ring and forced the pair of heroes to jump backwards.
Marinette looked around quickly as she spun her yo-yo in her hand, a small smile fell on her face as she threw the weapon into the air, a quick flash of light and a large bucket landed in her hand, she darted towards the fountain and filled it, she threw the water at the lightning, and the girl inside cut off the lightning quickly.
She spun into a quick launch of her yoyo and the wire wrapped around the girls arms as Cat Noir slid forward and took out her legs, the parasol flew into the air as the villain as toppled to her feet and landed with a quiet thud in Ladybugs hand, who dropped it on the ground and stomped harshly.
A small black and purple moth flew from the broken parasol and Ladybug drew a quick line down the centre of her yoyo, the thing opened and glowed a light purple as she spun it and swung it around, trapping the Akuma in the centre.
She waited a moment before she released it "Stay out of trouble from now on." She announced simply.
"Why, our perfect teamwork never fails to amaze does it Milady?" Cat Noir leaned on his staff, a cocky grin on his face that was oh-so painfully familiar as Ladybug turned away.
"Speak for yourself, I did almost all the work." She retorted playfully.
"A gentlemen allows a lady to maintain her fiction," Cat Noir bowed with a flourish, his ring beeped loudly and the two started "On that note, ladies first."
Ladybug placed a hand over her heart mockingly as she threw her yoyo over a building and pulled, flying out of site quickly.
Adrien watched her retreating form with a small smile as he vaulted the buildings near him, landing with a light thud, Plagg returned to the air in front of him and huffed tiredly "Come on, I didn't even use Cataclysm, stop being a baby."
"You haven't fed me in like," Plagg counted a few fingers and looked as if her were in deep thought "Three, no four hours!"
"That's not a long time." Adrien countered blankly as they made their way back to the park, Plagg hid himself within Adrien's shirt.
The blonde looked around the park for a few seconds, Marinette was over with her friend Alya and a small girl, he remembered hearing Marinette saying she had someone to babysit the little girl was waving an ice cream in one hand and a large chunk of fairy floss in the other gleefully.
Marinette noticed him looking and moved over to him "What happened to you?"
"I got blown a few blocks away," Adrien lied quickly "What about you milady?"
Marinette's eyes widened for only a fraction of a second "I ended up getting frozen over by the carousel with Manon and Alya." She lied quickly, pushing Adrien's behavior out of her mind.
A car horn beeped and Adrien spun around, thankful for his drivers apparent percent knowledge of timing "Maybe we can work together again some time?"
Marinette considered for a second before answered "I'm much more at home designing clothes than modeling them, but hey, if you really wanted me as your muse I could probably bring myself to agree."
Adrien laughed "Whatever Milady wishes." He bowed and quickly flourished his wrist, Marinette's eyes were drawn to the blank silver ring on his finger before he darted off, jumping into the back seat of the white limo.
"Who are you and what did you do with the blubbering idiot that was my friend?!" Alya exclaimed excitedly as she jumped on Marinette's back.
Marinette let out a surprised shout and toppled back, landing on the ground with a groan.
There was no way right? Adrien couldn't be Cat Noir, but why did they seem to move the exact same way.
She hastily made an excuse she wasn't sure Alya actually believed and took Manon home, Mrs. Chamack arrived a few moments after they arrived to take Manon home and Marinette quickly moved into her room, her removed and old pin board and placed one of the many pictures of Adrien on it, before pulling a second picture from her drawer, of Cat Noir, he had given her this picture ages ago, she felt like she had tried to throw it away before, he was winking at the camera, his usual cocky cat like self, he pinned the picture beside Adrien's.
There was just no way.
Adrien was Cat Noir? Cat Noir was Adrien?
Maybe she was just too tired.
A/N: So, what'd you think of the Pilot? I plan to leave the romance basically as it is at the moment, the two will continue to investigate each other! But will they ever get proper proof to confirm their hunches?! As I said at the beginning this is primarily a romance story, LAdrien? Ariette? Not sure what the shorthand is, with a side sprinkling of Alya/Nino cause I just like em! I hope you enjoys this chapter though!