Chapter 2
"Sure sit down"
Marinette said shyly while patting the concrete next to her.
Her mind was racing.
How does he know what a kwami is? And why did Tikki get so nervous when she described him?
The mystery man picked up Marinette's hand and kissed it.
He'll be the millionth one tonight.
"The name's Chat Noir, my lady, I've had my eyes on you this whole evening"
He looked up at her with a smirk.
"That's a tad creepy don't you think?"
The words flew out of her mouth before she could go over them in her head.
"I'm so sorry"
She sputtered.
Why the hell did you say that?
He was chuckling. He didn't seem to be offended at all.
She didn't know what it was but, the entire night she felt that she had to be this perfect princess. This fantastic role model superhero who acted like a lady. But around him, this man she's never met, she felt she could be herself. Marinette. The girl behind the mask.
"No it's okay. I realize I can be a little much sometimes"
Her hand was still in his, she liked it. A golden glint caught her eye, she turned over his wrist to see tiny kitten cuff links.
"Nice touch"
She giggled
"My father is very prominent in the fashion industry".
She nodded.
"So, joking aside. What's your real name?"
"I'm afraid I can't tell you that."
"Why not?"
"Why can't you tell me your real name?"
He questioned back
She was stumped at that one. She looked down at the ground, defeated. He smirked. She tried to compose a lie so it didn't seem like she was hiding something bigger.
Me
Tikki whispered, hearing Marinette's thoughts
"Because I-I its to protect my mom! Not that she cares if I'm gone anyway"
She blurted out.
That last part wasn't a lie. She hasn't heard from her mother in a month. Not a call, a letter, nothing. Jesus Christ she was just a blubbering truth machine tonight.
He frowned at that response. He turned away from her.
"You shouldn't say that about your mother Ladybug. It's not right"
Then she frowned.
He has no idea. None.
The once warm feelings she had a second ago were gone.
"You have no idea what it's like"
She mumbled angrily under her breath
"Excuse me?"
"The only person I have left is my mom and she hasn't talked to me in a month. The only reason why I'm here is to lead the people and protect them, you wouldn't have the slightest idea of how hard my daily life is"
They both stood up at the same time, staring into each other's eyes, ready for a fight.
"Oh I have an idea princess. And it's that you're the brattiest most selfish girl I've ever met! Do you know how many people would kill to be you? To have your so called hard life? Geez I don't even know why I came tonight!"
He screamed.
"I don't even know why you're here! I dont remember inviting a douchebag to my party!"
She screamed back
He stormed off not even looking back at her.
"If you ever step foot in this garden ever again I will have you beheaded!"
"You're not queen yet sweetheart, and this isn't the 1700s anymore!"
He yelled back at her
Tikki flew out from Marinette's dress.
"Who does he think he is?!"
She shrieked
"Hesactuallyprettyimportant"
Tikki mumbled
"How?"
"Chat Noir is actually th-"
"Hey Ladybug!"
Alya was hanging out of one of the windows of the palace.
"You're wanted back inside"
She yelled pointing a thumb over to King Fu who was shooting her a nasty glare.
"Oh no"
"Marinette, I need to speak to you"
Marinette was finishing putting on her jewelry in the mirror, Tikki ready to transform her.
"What is it?"
"How was the party last night? Meet any men that seemed suitable?"
He wiggled his eyebrows
"Well there was one boy I met and he seemed very nice"
He raised one brow, indicating that he wanted to know who this very nice boy was.
"His name is Nathaniel, he seems very qualified"
She smiled to herself
"Ah yes Nathaniel Kurtzberg, he's a very good option"
King Fu smiled at her. She offered one back, trying to mask the distaste she had for the marriage. His smile fell and he quickly folded his hands in front of him.
"I have some bad news for you"
He took her hand and led her out of her room and into the front lounge.
"Here sit down"
"What is it?"
Marinette said through gritted teeth.
"There is someone else in line for the throne"
He swallowed
This. Cannot. Be. Happening.
"Who?!"
She shouted
"His name is Chat Noir, son of a very famous fashion desig-"
"I don't care who he i- wait. Did you just say Chat Noir?"
She growled
"Yes?"
Marinette felt a sudden urge to punch something. Preferably that appalling tom cat who insulted her at her own party last night.
"How is he next in line?"
"He holds the other half of your miraculous Marinette, and since he's a man he doesn't have to marry in order to obtain the crown, you unfortunately have to."
She was pacing now, running her hands through her short hair trying to decipher a reason why this was all happening.
"And why are you telling me this now?"
"Because I have invited him to stay in the palace with us until you marry. If you don't marry within the 30 day time period, he'll take over immediately"
"YOU WHAT?!"
She stomped towards him, blazing hotter than a thousand suns.
"Please don't be upset!"
He said, raising his hands to protect himself.
"Don't be upset? How could I possibly not be up-"
"King Fu, the guests have arrived"
Nino interrupted. Marinette shot him a nasty glare. He mouthed sorry.
King Fu stood up, straightening his jacket and asking for Marinette's hand. She obliged but was still angry. She quickly transformed and linked arms with King Fu.
"Please cooperate, this is very important"
He tapped her hand.
"I understand, but if he tries any funny business I swear-"
"Please"
He cooed.
She smiled at him.
"I will"
They both walked to the front doors and saw Chat Noir and his father step out of their limo. His father was wearing a purple suit which matched his mask.
Does he have something to hide too?
"Welcome, Mr. Hawk, Chat Noir."
Hawk must be their civilian last name
"Pleasure to see you again my lady"
Chat Noir said reaching for her hand.
"Again?"
King Fu questioned
She let him take it, playing in his little game. She offered the most genuine smile she could muster and then swiftly stomped on his right foot.
"Drop the act"
She spat.
Chat Noir winced, straightening his spine. His once warm and welcoming smile faded into a glowering smirk.
"You didn't seem so pleased to see me last night"
She said before storming back into the palace.
"Charming"
Mr. Hawk huffed.
Marinette sat in the large kitchen with a pint of ice cream in her lap, hiding.
"That wasn't very nice Marinette"
Tikki sulked.
"He deserved it! Acting like he's glad to see me just so he can get the crown. It's disgusting!"
"MarinetteIneedtotellyousomething"
Tikki blurted
"Oh my god, is there anything else I don't know?!"
She yelled
"Plagg is Chat Noir's kwami"
She sputtered.
Marinette, who was spooning ice cream into her mouth choked on her untensil.
"Ex-cu-use m-e?"
She said coughing
"Marinette! That was not very Ladybug like!"
King Fu said stomping into the kitchen.
Marinette was still having a coughing fit as he yelled at her. When she stopped listening he sat down next to her and took the pint from her hands.
"You didn't tell me that you've already met Chat Noir"
He sighed
"He wasn't particularly nice to me, that's why I didn't mention him"
She said crossing her arms
"What happened?"
King Fu said with a mouth full of ice cream
"He told me I was the most selfish girl he'd ever met"
"Why?"
"I told him that my mom wouldn't mind that I'm gone and doing this, and he got angry about that, he said I shouldn't say that and people would kill to have my life"
King Fu's mouth hung open. He set the pint down.
"Well as King I say act like a princess, but as your advisor and friend I say right on"
She chuckled.
"Would you like me to arrange a date for you and Nathaniel?"
Marinette had to think about that. He was very nice but, was she really ready for this?
You only have thirty days, make your move
"Yes, I'd like that"
"Adrien you need to keep your eyes on the prize"
"I know father, she's just so-so ignorant"
Adrien was pacing around the room. He couldn't get her stupid face out of his head
"If I can barely stand her when she's in the mask how can I possibly stand her when she's not in it?"
"Think about the power, think of all the people you could control"
He pondered what his father just said. It would be nice to have some recognition. Especially from him. When he found out that Chat Noir was eligible for the throne he hasn't stopped spending time with him, something Adrien isn't used to.
"I have an idea, if you want to be king then marry her"
"What?"
"Woo her, romance her, show her danger and love at its hottest and most intense"
He rolled his eyes at that statement.
"Adrien, you're a model and very charismatic, she won't be able to resist."
Adrien chuckled
"I'll get her, don't you worry"
"Do I look okay?"
"Yes Marinette, Nathaniel will be blown away!"
Tikki chirped
"I'm still shocked about Plagg, have you talked to him yet?"
Tikki looked down at her paws. She seemed upset.
"No, I'm scared to."
"Why? I thought you two would be overjoyed to see each other"
Marinette said, getting ready to transform.
"I haven't seen him in over a decade, I'm afraid his feelings for me are lost"
Marinette shook her head at her silly kwami.
"If you have been together for centuries then why would his feelings change?"
Tikki bowed her head. She looked as if she dismissed an unwanted thought and then smiled at her keeper.
"Don't forget princess it's not about me, it's about you!"
Marinette admired her outfit one last time in the mirror. A 50s style beach outfit with bright red high waisted shorts and a white polo with red polka dots complete with black flats. More than appropriate for her picnic beach date.
"Ready?"
"Ready as I'll ever be"
She sighed
It was late at night, Marinette seemed to be the only one up in the palace. It was dangerous for her to be outside her room while strangers were there, Chat Noir could see her. The her behind the mask. She couldn't sleep. She kept thinking about the date with Nathaniel, how it went so well, and how perfectly the pieces were falling into place.
You'll be tied down soon Mari, don't get too excited
She told herself
She just needed a snack and then she would scurry back to her room. She was terribly paranoid that someone would come down to the kitchen and see her. Every little movement made her jump. She looked into the large refrigerator and snatched some fruit, and sat down on one of the many bar stools.
"Hungry are we?"
"OH MY GOD!"
Marinette screamed.
A scruffy blonde mess was standing before her, he looked oddly familiar, like she had seen him before, but never in person. It took her a couple of moments to realize who it was, and when she did her cheeks turned a horrible shade of pink.
"A-Adrien Agreste?"
"Shh shh shh shh"
He said stepping forward and putting a hand on her mouth.
"What are you doing here?"
She mumbled under his palm
She really doesn't know?
He thought
He was her favorite model. Her celebrity crush in fact. He was the son of world renowned fashion designer Gabriel Agreste. Her role model since she was old enough to comprehend fashion.
Wait. Fashion designer? Father? The kitty cuff links.
"You're Chat Noi-!"
"Please please please don't speak another word"
He begged
She shoved his hand off of her mouth and crossed her arms.
"If I knew you were such an asshole I wouldn't have cared to buy the magazines you were on"
She bought the magazines I was on?
He looked her over. That hair was unmistakable as to who she was, but he couldn't put a finger on her civilian self. He was going through the faces he knew in his mind, trying to find a match.
Wait. Loves fashion. Dark hair. Blue eyes. He went to school with her.
"Marinette?"
He whispered
She scrambled around the kitchen, putting her fruit away and trying to run away from him, so if he asked the same question again in the morning she could dismiss his accusation as a dream.
"Wait wait, whoa you're not running away just yet" he said grabbing her arm
"First of all, don't say anything to anyone about this, second of all you bought those magazines?"
She wiggled from his grasp. There was no use in running away if he knew.
"Yes I did, I had a huge crush on you in high school"
She mumbled
"Really"
He said, biting his lip
"Stop that! I need to go back to bed I have my first public outing with Nathaniel tomorrow"
"Who?"
He said walking over to her as she reopened the fridge.
"The guy I'm trying to marry so that way you don't get the crown?"
She said while stuffing a strawberry into her mouth.
"Is that right?"
He said stepping closer to her, cornering her.
Marinette's cheeks were getting hot. He took another bite of his lip and she was burning.
"Well I have to go to bed, so goodnight"
She said walking away, cursing under her breath.
"Hey, before you go"
He said
"Let's keep our civilian selves between us okay?"
She nodded, trying to get his face out of her head.
He only wants the crown Mari, remember that.
"I've always loved taking pictures"
Nathaniel said pointing his camera towards the sunset that laid before them.
It was their 6th date. They had become quite comfortable with each other. They were currently sitting under the most beautiful apple tree on the outskirts of the garden.
"I like using the old fashioned cameras, the ones that use film instead of a SIM card"
He smiled at her.
It was calming being with him. Not exactly genuine but, calm.
"The little canisters make me smile"
He fiddled with one in his hands
He handed her the tiny container and she thought the same thing. It was pretty adorable.
"Open it, the film itself is really interesting"
How can film be interesting?
She thought
She popped open the lid and flipped it over onto her hand. A large ring plopped into her grasp.
"I thought this would be the best time to ask you"
He took her hand in his.
"Ladybug, will you-?"
"Yes"
"I'm so proud of you Marinette!"
King Fu said hugging her.
"Oh oh I mean Ladybug"
He snickered
They were on the balcony at the front of palace, getting ready to announce the engagement.
"I know! It's happening!"
She tried to sound excited, for Fu's sake. She didn't exactly want to get married, the whole affair was almost arranged, even though she picked Nathaniel.
You don't love him
The words rung in her head
She could see out of the corner of her eye Chat Noir peeking behind a pillar. She glared at him, only making him chuckle and disappear into a corridor.
"Are you ready princess?"
Nino approached her. He was the one that was announcing them.
"Yes Nino thank you"
Marinette turned to King Fu one last time and squeezed his hand. She walked up to Nathaniel and took his arm. They walked out onto the balcony, hearing the cheers of hundreds standing outside.
"Show time"
Nino mumbled.
Marinette swallowed. She showed her princess smile, acknowledging the people of Paris, the ones she loved and was determined to protect.
You don't love him
"Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in celebrating the royal engagement of Princess Ladybug and Nathaniel Kurtzberg!"
To be continued...? ﾟﾐﾞ