A/N: Okay, so a big thanks to NitenGale, who gave me a quick rundown of the fricken insane number of shorthand's this one pairing has, I can safely say it will be all of them, all the time, because I plan to cover all the eps, that also ties into the whole theme of the story, but I won't spoil that cause well, then you wouldn't have to read it!
Side note, glad you're enjoying this story so far, I kind of realized partway through the last chapter that I had misspelled 'Adrien's' name and it was, 1:30 in the morning and I was tired and so I was like nope, I've written too much, I'm committing, but as of this chapter it will be correctly spelled I'll probably edit the first chapter after work later today, so I hope you enjoy the chapter!
Adrien awoke to the smell of three day old cheese and the blaring of his alarm, unfortunately in that order, he sat up abruptly knocking Plagg and the Kwami's supply of cheese across the room and onto the floor, Plagg didn't seem to mind much as he gathered the scattered pieces.
Adrien ran a hand through his hair and over his face as he yawned and stretched up, his back giving off a few relieving pops as his eyes trailed over his room, the only new addition being the pin board on the door, a picture of Ladybug, that he'd snapped one day when she wasn't looking and one of Marinette, putting them side by side only confused him further.
There was just no way, Marinette could be Ladybug or Ladybug could be Marinette, it just didn't make sense.
The issue was it was making more sense the more he thought about it, he kicked off his bed and moved to his closet quickly dressing himself and glancing at the mirror in the door of his wardrobe, his hair was doing it's thing, sticking up in every direction at once and he frowned at it, contemplating leaving it that way but quickly deciding against it and flattening it with his hand.
His phone buzzed and he walked over to his desk and picked it up, his schedule for the day and a happy birthday message from Nino, Adrien chuckled to himself.
"Right it's that day of the year again, yay age!" He exclaimed sort of sarcastically as he shouldered his bag and gestured for Plagg to take up residence in his shirt pocket, the Kwami complied with little protest as Adrien exited his room.
Marinette's wake up was much more violent, due to the fact that in one of her crazed dreams she managed to fall out of her bed with a loud thud, she just stayed on the ground peering at her ceiling and considered contemplating life's mysteries.
Was school really that important? Was there really any 'have to's' in life? Her computer flicked on and she craned her neck slightly to look at it, her mind quickly rocketed to the present.
"Aha! It's Adrien's birthday! Now I have something to think about other than that stupid Cat," She was on her feet, wide smile on her face as she darted around, gathering clothes, putting the present she had made in her school bag, giving Tikki an extra cookie, she dressed quickly and looked in the mirror, she froze.
It looked like someone had taken an eggbeater to her hair, she didn't even want to think about the work it would take to get it into her usual pig tails, she grabbed her hair brush with a resolute nod as she raked it through her hair and winced, why did hair find it necessary to do this in her sleep, how much could she possibly move?
A quick glance at her bed quickly answered the question, the blanket thrown halfway across the room at some point and she sighed "Aren't I supposed to be good luck?"
"Well, Cat Noir is also bad luck, so you could look at it like he takes your good luck and you take his bad and it all balances out." Tikki offered as she landed atop Marinette's shoulder.
"Oh, more reasons to avoid the Cat." Marinette quipped with a quick laugh.
"What is Cat Noir really is Adrien? You still want to avoid him?" Tikki asked lifting an eyebrow.
"No, I don't actually want to avoid Cat Noir, we are partners, as annoying as he is," Marinette amended as she slumped, her hair finally sitting straight down her back, it was deceptively long, her usual style brought it back further than most expected, she gathered it up quickly and bundled it into a hurried pony tail, she inspected it quickly with a quick shake of her head and was satisfied it wouldn't get in her way "And stop doing, that Adrien couldn't be Cat Noir, it just…doesn't make any sense."
"Oh, how's that? They both call you Milady?" Tikki asked as Marinette shoulder her bag.
"Cat Noir only says it as a joke, he enjoys teasing," Marinette countered "I don't know why Adrien said it yesterday, maybe he just felt like it, I mean he might say it all the time for all I know, I don't hold many extended conversations with him you know."
"So, more observation is necessary!" Tikki exclaimed excitedly throwing a tiny fist into the air in excitement as she deposited herself in Marinette's purse.
"Stop giving me idea's," Marinette pleaded half jokingly "If Adrien and Cat Noir were the same person, her treatment of Cat Noir has been horrible! If Adrien found out she was Ladybug, or Cat Noir found out she was Marinette…that would be bad?
The identities swirled around in her head and Marinette placed a hand on the wall to quickly steady herself, she took a deep breath, deciding not to think about it, Adrien wasn't Cat Noir, that made everything simple.
Sort of.
"Adrien!" Nino called excitedly as he ran, Adrien gave him a quick wave "So, what'd your dad say? Epic party or what?"
"Oh." Adrien sounded blankly.
"Oh? Did you ask? I swear to all things sacred Adrien Agreste!" Nino shook a fist at him jokingly.
"Look, I have a few hours free later but I'd rather a small party with just close friends you know? I don't want to be swarmed with fans." Adrien explained quickly, while it was true he'd never thrown a huge party, he doubted it would be his scene anyway, besides even if he never threw one, he'd get to go to one eventually, with Nino's penchant for huge parties it was definitely in the cards.
Nino blew a series of bubbles and hummed "Okay, that makes sense, but I still think you should be able to throw one massive party in your life, I mean you got a mansion you have to do a Bruce Wayne at some point right?"
"Bruce Wayne?" Adrien asked in confusion
"Batman?" Nino looked at his friend like he'd grown a second head "You…how do you…what? Where do you even come from?"
"Here…I'm at least ninety nine percent sure I don't come from another planet." Adrien replied
"Batman's this super rich superhero who fights bad guys, his civilian name 'Bruce Wayne', you know what just read this!" Nino rolled his eyes and held out an older issue of a Batman comic, printed boldly on the front with a superhero holding a grappling hook.
Adrien lifted an eyebrow at it "Oh, it's a comic book, okay that makes sense, my dad says 'If you can't learn anything from it it's pointless' so I've never had one." Adrien explained quickly
Nino placed a hand over his heart in mock hurt "Dude, that's just…oppressive!"
"It's not that bad, I don't have a lot of time to sit around and read anyway." Adrien slid the book into his bag quickly as the bell rang.
Marinette slid to a stop outside of the classroom door, she shifted her hair moved stealthily inside while the teacher was busy with the board, she walked backwards towards her seat as the teacher turned around she took a step forward, making it look like she'd just gotten up from her seat.
Ms. Mendeleiev eyed her for a few second before speaking "Sit back down." Marinette nodded her head quickly and sat in her seat, Alya gave her a pat on the shoulder as Marinette fist pumped under the table.
"I can't believe that worked." Alya sounded impressed
Marinette scratched the back of her head with a nervous smile.
"Your hair looks good like that, you should wear it down more often." Alya noted simply.
Marinette smiled and nodded "Well, it's not down down, but it's kinda down and it is nice." She explained gesturing to her ponytail.
"Okay, did you remember what day it is?" Alya asked rhetorically.
"Who do you think I am?" Marinette replied with a chuckle patting her bag slowly, a nervous excitement settling into her stomach.
"Sorry about that miss," Adrien returned to the classroom with a nervous smile as he pocketed his phone "Urgent business."
The teacher raised an unimpressed eyebrow at him and just gestured for him to take his seat, Adrien caught a small wave as he moved up the stairs, his breath caught in his throat, he'd never seen Marinette wear her hair down, well, sort of down, before it was pleasant, a nice change of pace.
"Now if Ladybug turns up in a ponytail that'd just be so awkward." Plagg whispered from his coat, Adrien tilted his head and flashed Marinette a grin as he sat down he crushed his elbow into his side, flattening Plagg stealthily, the Kwami let out a squeak that thankfully went unnoticed.
Marinette sighed, why did she have to see Cat Noir in Adrien's smile, or was it Cat Noirs smile in Adrien? What was the order to these things? That blaringly blank ring drew her attention as well, it was even on the exact same finger Cat Noirs was and if there powers were even a little bit similar that's where his Kwami would go.
Marinette raked her fingers over the side of her head and busied herself with her notes, anything to break the damned cycle in her head.
Plagg just had to say it didn't he? He swore his Kwami was doing it just to torture him, he had a hard enough time trying to not notice the things Marinette and Ladybug had in common, he was almost hoping for an Akuma today, just to see if Ladybug really did turn up in a ponytail.
The image certainly quickened his heartbeat and brought a slight coloring to his cheeks, Nino glanced at him out of the corner of his eyes and a small smirk appeared on his face, he nudged Adrien with his arm "So, Marinette huh?"
"She changed her hair, I noticed, nothing big." Adrien replied curtly, clearly trying to end the conversation before it started.
Nino pushed on determinedly "Well, she is the only girl we have never talked about and it would make sense if she was mystery girl sense you guys always disappear together whenever anything happens."
Adrien's interest was piqued "She always disappears as well?"
Didn't he just decide to stop doing this to himself, Marinette wasn't Ladybug, there was no way his love life would be that lucky, he was literally bad luck in a superhero, well Plagg was bad luck…He was just, well average luck, but average luck wasn't like this!
"Yeah, whenever anything evil like happens, you guys both run off and reappear after everything's all good, I mean it's almost like you guys are Ladybug and Cat Noir." Nino stroked at his chin thoughtfully and leaned back.
Adrien paled slightly and chuckled "Oh yeah, I'm a slayer of evil beings and wooer of maidens hearts when I'm not doing fashion shoots."
"Hey, I'm just stating facts, I don't think your Cat Noir, your terrible with secrets." Nino responded simply
"I'm not terrible with secrets," Adrien countered "I still want to know how you think Marinette is Ladybug, I mean, clumsy, quiet, honest, cute Marinette, of all people." Cute?! Honest?! I've spoken to her one time am I trying to do this to myself?!
"Oh, cute huh? Where's the lack of interest?" Nino sat forward a large grin on his face.
"I'm just stating facts." Adrien replied nervously.
Nino just gave him a blank look "Fine, if you don't want to admit it to me your best friend, I'll just have to make you want to!"
Adrien blanked "I'm very worried now."
"I'm gonna talk to your dad." Nino announced boldly.
"No, please don't." Adrien almost begged, almost.
"Don't worry, he'll love me!" Nino proclaimed happily.
"No, I'm really very extra sure that he won't." Adrien countered
"Hah, there's no way he'll be able to resist all this," Nino gestured to himself vaguely "I got the quick words, the sick beats and…bubbles."
"Oh, yes, my father can be won over by bubbles how come I never thought of that?" Adrien announced sarcastically, head thumping against the desk with a thud.
"Don't worry about it, just leave it to me!" Nino smirked.
"Don't say I didn't warn you." Adrien called after the boy as he bolted out the door the moment the bell rang.
"I feel kind of obligated to go after him," Alya sighed as she got to her feet "You should take this chance to give Adrien his gift."
Marinette nodded her head dumbly, unable to make words correctly form, she hadn't meant to eavesdrop per say, she couldn't just turn her ears off, Nino and Adrien weren't exactly talking quietly.
Adrien disappeared at the same time as her all the time, he called her cute, her mind was more focused on the latter of the two things, but both were filed away for later use, she got to her feet, now it was just a simple give Adrien the gift. She rose to her feet and her bag caught the edge of the desk as she moved to stand up, the jarring catch sent her forward, she braced and waited to slam into the hardwood floors, only she hit something soft, quite warm and heard and loud quick thumping in her ear.
Her head lifted slowly, eyes trailing over the familiar undershirt and settling on even more familiar bright green eyes, her own eyes widened and she let out an unintelligible squeak.
Adrien was in much the same position, the who had been relentlessly plaguing his thoughts was inches from his face, this time registering shock more than the glint of the day before. She was soft and warm and she hadn't actually taken her weight off of him yet so he was hyper aware of everything under her shirt, he stiffened rigidly trying to force his mind somewhere else, that didn't help, especially with her sweet smelling shampoo wafting into his nose every time he tried to breath, he could smell vanilla and something else, like freshly baked bread, well she did live over a bakery.
His mind wondered if she tasted as good as she smelled before she pushed back, finally climbing off him and releasing him from the torturous images as his heartbeat calmed, his face remained died red as much as hers.
He's Cat Noir, Marinette thought to herself hastily, her mind quickly calmed and formed words, why did he have to smell so good, she could feel everything beneath her when she landed on him, the toned muscles underneath his chest, oh her teenage brain was having a field day, she forced the image of herself running her tongue along his chest to the back of her mind quickly.
"Um," She began slowly reaching into her bag "Happy Birthday." She handed him the present "I made it myself, I hope that'd not weird."
"If you weren't trying to become a designer it might be," Adrien quipped with a laugh as he took the box and opened it, the light blue scarf inside brought him a small smile "Thanks."
He removed it and draped it around his neck, tilting his head back and flashing a grin "How do I look?"
"Puuuuurfect." Marinette drawled hungrily before she could stop herself, she stiffened, Adrien colored, she smiled nervously and darted out of the room quickly.
Adrien hid the smile on his face behind his hand as he moved out of the classroom.
"I think that went well." Tikki sounded from within Marinette's purse.
"What about that went well?!" Marinette demanded flatly
"Well, he didn't throw you off him and call you a freak for sounding like you wanted to eat him, I think those are positives." Tikki responded
"Don't remind me!" Marinette exclaimed throwing her hands into the air.
Nino squared his shoulders as he walked inside the massive manor that was Adrien's home, the assistants heals clacked against the marble and echoed off the walls as they came to a stop.
Adrien's father, Gabriel Agreste stood at the top of the stairs, peering down at Nino inspect-fully, appearing almost displeased "What is it?"
"Sir," Nino inclined his head respectfully "I came here today to ask you about Adrien, well more specifically what you plan to do about Adrien's birthday?"
"What do you mean? 'Plan to do' I'll give him a gift same as every years that's all that is required of me is it not?" Gabriel responded curtly, casting a sideways glare at his assistant.
"Adrien has friends at school, they want to celebrate it with him, I think allowing your son to throw one party a year isn't unreasonable." Nino responded simply "There is much more you should do for your only sons birthday, but a party is a good start."
Gabriel lifted an eyebrow at the boy simply "You say Adrien would like a party?"
"Yes, sir I know he wants to experience it at least once." Nino replied strongly.
"Then why didn't he ask me himself? If it's something he truly wanted he would talk to me about it, not send his…classmate to see me." Gabriel emphasized classmate.
"I'm his best friend!" Nino exclaimed in irritation "He told me he'd rather have a small party, because he doesn't need heaps of people there, but I think he only said that because he knew you wouldn't object if he had a small group with him!"
"Please escort this boy outside, I've wasted enough time on this folly as is." Gabriel waved them away as he ascended the stairs.
Nino's eyes widened as he was deposited on the doorstep "What the hell?! He doesn't even care?!"
He undid the cap on his bubble blower and blew a stream in front of himself in irritation, he missed the small black moth land on the side of it as he got to his feet before someone suddenly spoke in his ear.
"Bubbler, I'll grant you the power to remove the people in your way, but in return you have to help me." The voice was dark and angry sounding, but Nino smiled widely as the gears in his mind turned over.
"Sure, sounds like it'll be a blast." He laughed as he ascended into the sky.
Adrien sat in the back seat of a white limo his dad had sent, twirling the edge of the scarf Marinette had given him on his finger as he finger hovered a few inches above the number he had gotten from Alya he looked down at the phone and saw a reflection of something in it and glanced out the window.
He frowned, there was something familiar about the person flying over them, he couldn't place it from this distance, but he knew an Akuma when he saw one.
"Stop the car." He commanded urgently, his driver slammed on the brakes and Adrien moved outside, darting into a nearby ally as he closed his fist.
"Plagg, let's go." He commanded simply, the cat flew into his ring quickly and Adrien moved his hand over his face, his mask slid over his eyes as his ears popped onto his head, he spun his staff in his fingers as he embedded it into the wall, the rest of his suit enveloping him as he used the staff as a spring board, retracting it as he launched into the sky The boy glanced at him in surprise as Cat Noir hovered a few inches above him, everything seemed to slow down as Adrien brought his staff around and slammed it into the villains back sending him hurtling into the ground with a loud crash.
Cat Noir landed gracefully, staff held in both hands behind his back as he smirked and swayed slightly "I'm pretty sure this is a no fly zone buddy."
"Cat Noir." The villain laughed as he got to his feet, he glanced at his pack, the thing sparked slightly indicating he wouldn't be using it any time soon, the villain let a wide grin fall on his face.
"Nino?" Cat Noir asked in disbelief, of course the conversation with his father, he felt like punching himself, he definitely should have gone.
"Hah! Nino doesn't exist in here," Nino tapped his head with a cackling laugh "It's all the Bubbler now!"
Cat Noir shifted slightly, thumb moving over a button that clicked quietly.
"Cat Noirs fighting an Akuma!" Tikki voiced urgently, Marinette's eyes widened and she jumped to her feet.
"Come on Tikki." The small Kwami slammed into Marinette's earrings quickly, Marinette moved her hand over her eyes as the mask appeared she pushed onto the terrace above her as the rest of her suit appeared over her body and she withdrew her yoyo and wrapped around an opposite building before leaping off the terrace.
Cat Noir rolled his shoulders slowly as he spun his staff in his hands, the opponents eyed each other squarely, neither moving a muscle until the Bubbler shifted, Cat Noir dashed forward as the Bubbler withdrew his weapon and blew into it, a torrent of dark red bubbles flew towards Cat Noir rapidly.
He rolled to the side and brought his staff up, cutting one in half as it exploded his eyes widened as he was surrounded by smoke, he heard something shift behind him and he lifted his staff as the Bubblers weapon came down towards his head, it clanged against the staff.
"You're gonna have to do better than that." Cat Noir taunted as he flipped around and slammed his feet into the Bubblers chest sending the villain back a few steps.
"Hm, looks like you don't my assistance at all kitty." Ladybug sounded from the top of a street lamp with a chuckle.
Cat Noirs eyes trailed up the street post and fell on her face, he uttered a silent prayer that her hair was normal, of course the single pony tail drew around the back of her head "Bad hair day?" He offered with a chuckle
Ladybug flicked the pony tail with a shrug "I needed a change."
The street lamp shook dangerously as a bubble blew the thing apart and Ladybug jumped away from it, landing with a light thud next to Cat Noir.
"I wouldn't want you to forget about me now." The Bubbler laughed loudly.
"And how could we ever do that?" Ladybug quipped with a laugh as she spun her yoyo in front of herself.
"His Akuma's in his bubble blower," Cat Noir whispered quickly as he fell into step beside her "I don't much more than he can create explosives."
Ladybug rolled her neck for a second before planting her front foot and rushing forward, the Bubbler blew a quick torrent at her and she spun her yoyo in front of herself cutting the bubbles around her as she created a wide smoke screen.
Cat Noir jumped into the air and brought his staff down, the Bubbler dodged back as Ladybug slid between Cat Noir's legs the villain smirked "You think I've only got one trick?!" He cackled as a large green circle enveloped them.
Ladybug slid up the side of the bubble and he eyes widened in surprise as she toppled down landing atop Cat Noir heavily, the pair grunted, there was barely enough room to move at all.
Cat Noir stiffened beneath her and she paused, he felt exactly the same as Adrien, but that made sense you don't go around stopping evil and remain unfit, it just didn't make any sense, even she was kinda toned these days.
Vanilla and fresh bread, how and why does Ladybug smell exactly the same as Marinette, the scent wafted off her hair strongly, he struggled with his own head for a few seconds.
"Cat Noir," She said urgently as she looked down, the Bubbler was lining them up "Get us out of this!"
The boy snapped back into the present, "Cataclysm." He whispered quickly a small black orb appeared in his hand and he crushed it, drawing his fist back he slammed it into the side of the bubble which popped quickly, the pair flattened their hands to their sides as the rocketed towards the ground.
"Tikki," Ladybug whispered quickly, he yoyo spun quickly and a small rag, like a dishcloth floated in front of her, she grabbed it in her hand and tied it around her fist as the Bubbler blew a large red bubble and sent it towards them.
Ladybug cocked her arm back and slammed it forward, the dishrag cur threw the edge and a large plume of smoke blocked everyone's vision, well everyone accept Cat Noir's, He caught Ladybugs arm and drew her around to him as the landed softly, he let her go when she pushed off of him and they both darted to the right, they were close enough together that she could see him as the circled the Bubbler.
The villain lifted his weapon into the air triumphantly and Cat Noir dashed out of the cloud of smoke, he spun quickly and brought his staff across, taking out the Bubblers ankle while he was still surprised as the yoyo flew from the smoke and yanked the bubble blower from the villains grasp.
Ladybug stomped on the weapon harshly, the small black butterfly escaped it quickly and she drew a quick line over her yoyo, it snapped open with a light purple glow as she spun it and swung it forward, catching the small butterfly in the circle.
"Bye bye little butterfly." She waved simply as the now cleansed Akuma flew away.
The smoke still hung thickly around them as she moved to leave someone grabbed her arm, she turned to see Cat Noir looking at her urgently "Do we really need to keep our identities secret between us?" He asked flatly, the urgency in his tone didn't pass her.
She looked at his arm on her wrist and paused for the briefest of moments "I…think we should for now." She sounded as she pulled her arm away and disappeared.
Cat Noir's suit flickered off of him and he looked at Ladybugs back as she moved over rooftops and away from him, what did he expect? Of course I'll break out original promise and show you who I am?! What would he even do with the information? What if it really was Marinette though?! He could be so painfully close to the girl he loves and he doesn't even know.
He raked a hand through his hair in irritation and sighed "But what if she isn't Marinette?" Plagg asked simply
Adrien paused, what if she wasn't? Would Marinette suddenly stop making him react this way? Was it only the similarities between Ladybug and Marinette that caused his reactions? He wasn't entirely sure he wanted to find that out.
Marinette landed on her terrace deftly as the suit disappeared, Cat Noir had never asked that before, they had a promise, they wouldn't reveal their real identities to each other, it was the best way to ensure each other's safety, but in that moment his voice had sounded so much like Adrien's she had hesitated, what would it be like, if Cat Noir and Adrien really were the same person, who should she behave around Cat? The possibility existed, that Adrien was Cat Noir and the possibility existed that he wasn't.
But the way he react to her touch, the way he smelled, it brought Adrien right to the forefront of her mind she ran a hand through her hair.
"I should be nicer to Cat Noir." She mumbled quietly, mostly to herself.
Tikki just giggled.
A/N: Dun, Dun, Duuuuuuuuuuuuuuun! I know right, JUST KISS ALREADY YOU LITTLE HORNDOGS, well, not quite but you probably want a bit more fluff, maybe, I don't know your fetishes, I don't judge, I want to write more fluff though, so you'll prolly see some in the next chapter, I hope you enjoyed this chapter though, I'll put my replies here!
Princess Crimson: AHHH! (Had no idea how to respond, so figure the same thing a little louder and imagine like a slightly upturned head, like Ah, I see how it is. mmhmm.)
I'm Monster the Girl: Yes, it was a HTTYD reference, I am a HTTYD writer after all, well before I started this and I always felt like the characters would be way more sarcastic if it weren't a kids show, I mean Ladybugs got all the physical traits of sarcasm down, with the eye rolls and gestures, I think it suits, if only the lines reflected it. I put another reference in this chapter, wonder how many people will find it!
ShadowSpirit020: Man, you are on all my stories?! You read way to much fan fiction (Not really, one can never read too much that was a heinous heresy I apologize.)
NitenGale: Again, Thanks for running me over the Shorthand's, it helped, I plan to cover most if not all of the episodes, but I will be changing the order around, but yeah, there will be development of every pairing (Even though they are the same pairing) Is there like a global one, LadyetteNoirien? Yeah, let's go with that.
annabelmolloy: Well, yeah, it's going to be all of them, so it'll have moments between every all of the shorthand's, but I'd say Adrienette would be the primary one sense they spend the most time in my story as their human selves.
Guest 1: Glad your enjoying it!
TVDFan245: I plan to, hopefully life lays off doing life things for a few more days so I can write without worry!
Guest 2: There will be plenty more chapters, so I hope you continue to enjoy them!
Ah, that's everything, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter and I will see you guys next time, peace!
