CHAPTER 4
Disclaimer: Miraculous - Tales of Ladybug & Chat Noir is own by ZAGTOON. I only own the story and some of the plots.
'words' - thought
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They were discussing the PA plans for Marinette. If she ever needed to get something for Adrien which cause her to move far from him, she would be asking either Alya or Mylène help on it. They also readied tons of excuses for Adrien's absence in times where Marinette had had to go somewhere, like toilet. He absolutely needs to follow her or they might die.
"You guys can wear any outfit you like at the radio show. But I want you all to wear the same outfit as the day of the accident on the autograph session. It will thrill the fans more seeing the outfit of a hero." He winked to Adrien causing him to cringe.
"Yea~ that hoodies is in a different shape from its original in a few places. You do remember I wore it while sliding on the asphalt. It tore a lot on the right sleeves." He explained.
"Ah, you're right. I was supposed to bring it to the tailor for repair but it must have slips my mind. I guess wearing any black cloth will-"
"Wait." Marinette cut Vincent off. They all look at her.
She felt the tension out of sudden from the stares. "I- I can fix it. I'm quite capable in sewing. Not the best seamstress of course but I'll be doing my best. If you don't mind I fix the clothes or is it an expansive one which you won't just have anyone touch it. I think I might sew them wrongly instead. Haha… nevermind." She rambled on and blushed on her own, face turned away from the other.
They all chuckled. "It will help a lot, Mademoiselle Marinette. Thank you for the offer. I'll be getting the clothes from my car." Vincent sighed in relief.
"I'm glad I could help. Maybe I could, if you don't mind, alter the other two clothes. It's gratitude from me for all your hard work in helping us with this situation. I'll design something to suit your taste." She added.
"You'll do that for us?" Nino was touched to hear it.
"Thank you, Marinette. Hope it won't bother you." Ivan looked delighted.
"No, no. Not at all." She beamed.
"It is decided then. I'll bring them in a moment." Vincent walked out of the apartment.
Ivan brought down Marinette's sewing machine from her room at the attic. She settled down her seamstress spot just behind the couch where Adrien would be sleeping. They all stay clear off of her way because Alya adviced all of them to do so. She told them she won't be responding to most of their conversation with her since her focus was solely on her job.
Marinette almost cause another chest pain when she move a little too far from their safe range if not for Adrien's keen observation. She went to the kitchen to get some water and Adrien hurried off towards her in the middle of a conversation which startled her. She blushed and apologized many times for her carelessness. Adrien smiled and shrugged her apology off.
She was told to rest when most of them went to sleep as it was in the middle of the night. She agreed at first but continued her work silently when everyone had sleep soundly. She finished around 4.45 in the morning then cheered to herself for her job well done.
'Hmm… warm. Wait! Warm!' She jolted awake, sitting up.
She looked her surrounding to see herself on a couch. She thought she was still at her seamstress spot. She remembered she soon fell asleep as all the clothes were neatly folded.
"Mm… Marinette? Go back to sleep." A voice came next to her.
She was wide eyes a moment. Marinette turn to the figure next to her. It was Adrien at the edge of the couch who seemed flexible enough to sleep comfortably on the narrow couch.
'How did we end up like this? And how did he do it? We both somehow fit nicely on the couch. Why he didn't sleep at the other side of the couch?' Marinette's thought was jumbled up.
She felt dizzy thinking all of the questions. She opted to move to her supposed-to-be side of the couch at the end of her conclusion.
If she can that is. She hardly could move from her spot without waking Adrien. In the end she continued sleeping next to him with a red face. It didn't stay long though as she soon fell to slumber back for her tiredness.
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"Wake up, Marinette. We have a job to do all day today." Alya's voice seeped into her consciousness.
"Let me sleep some more." She mumbled.
"Sorry Marinette but you have to wake up and get ready or we will be late for the radio show." Mylène coaxed.
"Radio show!" She jolted awake again to the shock face of her friends and Adrien.
"Easy, Marinette. We don't want you to have a headache with that sudden act." Adrien chuckled.
She smiled sheepishly but soon redden when she remember the small incident this morning. She quickly look to the floor and tried to clear the memory from her head.
"Do you have fever, Marinette?" Mylène asked worriedly while Alya touched her forehead.
"No, no. I'm fine. Just feeling a small head rush." She laughed awkwardly.
They all looked weirdly at her but shrugged it off as she usually acted like that sometimes. Alya and Mylène walked off to the kitchen to continue making the breakfast. The boys were cleaning the mess from yesterday event.
"You won't let me go." Adrien spoke lowly.
"What?" Marinette asked confusedly, face still red.
"I noticed that you weren't sleeping on the couch. So I brought you to my side of the couch since it is closer. Then you wouldn't let my shirt go when I lay you down. It took me half an hour of trying but it didn't work. It's the reason we slept side by side this morning." Marinette blushed to hear she was the cause of it.
"Don't worry. I woke up before any of them to sit on the other side of the couch. They didn't see us like that. Alya did ask why you sleep on the different side than last night. I told her I switched place with you in your sleep because your side was too cool for you last night till you shiver a bit." Adrien finished.
"Thanks for the cover story. Alya will kill me if she knows I stay up all night. I- I'm sorry for the shirt. I didn't ruin it, did I?" Marinette shyly stared at Adrien. Adrien only waved her off.
"And can you continue keeping it secret about the sleep? I don't want to give Alya more reasons to tease me about." She frowned as she thought about all the possibilities Alya would do if she knows.
"Don't worry. It will be our little secret." Adrien winked. Marinette smile to it.
They all move fast around the apartment to get ready. Vincent called Nino when he was already waiting downstairs for them with Adrien's bodyguard as the driver.
Along the way, they informed their PAs of their act when in public. The one who changed 180 was Adrien. He wore a black eye mask to keep his identity and his personality would change along.
Noir is famous of his small prank to almost everyone. It was something Adrien made up for himself to avoid people from noticing that he is Adrien Agreste by acting all jolly and naughty. The usual Adrien Agreste is seen as elegant and moderate but friendly, not as hyperactive as Noir.
Noir planned to prank Marinette first, as she was the closest to him, then the other two. It was a part of his act. He already told them about it to remind them that he wasn't Adrien but Noir all day. He didn't elaborate on how he would do it to catch them off guard but he assured them it won't harm them or anyone.
They reached the radio station 15 minutes before their appointed time. As they reached the broadcast floor, fans swooned over them. The fans were the ones who work there.
"Welcome, dearest The Chat. We are honor to have you here to do the morning show with us." One of the ladies said.
She and her gang of three stood proudly, carrying themselves with an aura of authority from the rest of the ladies. She looked like their leader. They showed them to the lounge for some light snack before their time shows up. The gang stayed with them, annoyingly close like gum, and chat leisurely.
'They seems to handle them well.' Marinette, Alya and Mylène thought as they sat near their charges.
"Say, Noir. Is it true you save a girl's life?" The leader asked awfully sweet.
"If you want to know the story then listens to it in a moment, beautiful." Noir winked.
Marinette cringed to see Adrien had to act flirtatious as a part of Noir's personality. She wasn't used to see Adrien act too differently even if they just met a few days ago.
"Hmm… If you say so then I'll wait. Hey, can you show me your face without the mask? I bet you look stunning." She beamed.
"That is a secret I like to keep to myself. The mysterious the man the more it excite the ladies after all." Noir smoothly replied.
"Aww... Just a peak. I bet your friends know you too. So why keep it from me?" She batted her eyelashes and brought her hand closer to Noir's face.
The other felt annoyed with her except her group of course. They couldn't really help to avoid any trouble and cause the band's name, more importantly the company's name, to be tarnished. Bob Roth 'specifically and personally' told them to carry the company's name like it was made of glass. If not then they will be sue for breaking the contract. It's not what a teenager like them wanted to deal with. Honestly, no one wanted to be sue.
Noir backed away from her quickly, fear of breaking his deal with his father. The leader managed to hold his arm and grabbed the mask. Noir panicked since this is the first time it happened and he was suddenly lost on how to save himself. The others were ready to interfere even if it means breaking the contract. This was the time were friend's safety was more important than anything else.
A hand grabbed the leader's hand and tore it gently from the mask. Marinette glared angrily to her while slipped in between them. The occupant of the room stared at the incident. The leader retrieved her hand from Marinette's hold viciously. They both glared to each other heatedly.
"What do you think you're doing?" She shouted.
Marinette calmed her features, "Doing my job as his PA." She replied in monotone voice.
"PA should just stay as on their side and act when they are asked to. Not come barging on someone's conversation."
"I did stand on my side and the situation before is in my contract to come and help my charges. He has an injured ankle and with the stun you pull just now could strain his injury."
"You say 'could' doesn't mean it happens."
"I rather not take any chances and do poorly in doing my job. You should understand it too since you work as one of the staff here. You do work, right?" The leader twitched at Marinette's sarcasm.
The other snickered including the leader's group. She glared to her gang who didn't seem to support her by snickering just now, they all quieted.
"I'll make sure you're fired." She challenged her.
"Be my guest. I'll be quitting soon anyway. Dealing with snooty brat definitely not in my line of work." Marinette smirked causing the whole room to laugh.
"YOU! I'll-"
"Excuse me. I'm sorry my PA give you trouble. She was just doing her job. I'll make sure she gets the necessary scolding from our part in causing the face of beauties to have such a frown." Noir coaxed.
The leader blushed, "Oh my. You are such a charm talker. Alright, I'll let her go if she apologizes first."
Noir turned to Marinette who act nonchalantly to the request. He gave pitiful eyes which only Marinette could see. She sighed lowly, yielding.
"I'm sorry for my brute comments before." Marinette gave her a small smile in a sign of peace offering.
"Hmph, very well. I forgive you." She turned her face away from Marinette and crossed her arm.
"And you should apologize to her too." The leader whipped her head, about to protest. "What she said is true and my ankle feels a bit sore now. You wouldn't want it if I couldn't walk, right? A lady of such grace as you usually apologizes to the mistake they make." Noir showed a pleading look.
She gave a sad face to him, "I apologize I hurt you, Noir."
Noir smiled brightly at her making her blushed. He then cocked his head to Marinette as an indication to her.
She turned to Marinette reluctantly, "Sorry to you too."
She said it offhandedly but Marinette accepted it with a wide smile. Then, the lounge was visited by a male staff to call the band to the broadcasting room. Vincent was already waiting in the control room when they arrived. The PAs waited together with Vincent while the female group scattered to do their job.
"Good morning, Paris. Today we have a special guest with us. The one who had been the talking of teenagers about their recent act. Welcome to The Chat." Kim, one of the DJs, welcomed them cheerily.
"It's a pleasure to meet you guys. The band who keep loading our playlists with their incredible songs. How are you guys today?" Max, Kim's partner, said.
"We're good except for our little Noir here." Nino smiled playfully to Noir.
"He had a heck of a life these past few days." Ivan followed suit.
"Now, now guys. I'm not the only one who gets all the fun." Noir smirked. Nino and Ivan laughed to that.
"I see you guys are doing better than I thought after the accident. Let's hear the full story from the band." Kim peered at them with interest along with Max.
"For starters, we were having a small secret concert at La Trabendo a few days ago. It was awesome. Thanks to the great audience we had." Nino happily said.
"After the concert, our leader here wanted to go to the bookstore because his precious film magazine was on sale and he must have them." Ivan continued.
"Hey, this month they're gonna show behind the scene of a horror movie coming soon. It's not something arguable." Nino defended.
"Leave it to him and his horror story. You know Nino, I think I feel the chills last night." Noir said.
"Really! Where? Was I asleep already?" Nino rambled.
"In the living room, of course. You were already asleep. Last night weather report said the temperature would drop a bit." Noir replied.
"It's not about ghost, dude. You're making me hyped with no reason." Nino pouted causing the room to laugh at him.
"Prank ya." Noir smirked.
"So that's the famous prankster we heard about." Max smiled.
"Better watch out. He's good at this." Ivan chuckled.
"He certainly is. Then, what happened next?" Kim pressed.
"Oh, where my manners. We had to tag along for sure. Our manager would kill us if he knows we ventured away without Sarah's permission. She is our temporary manager after all. At least we decided to stay together to make it easy for Sarah to find us without having to give a call to Vincent. We don't want to give him a heart attack." Noir batted his eyelashes playfully to Vincent who just shook his head.
They laughed a bit.
"As we were sneakily got out of the store, Ivan here decided to attract attention by throwing his disguised away. Fans surrounded us in instance." Nino continued.
"I was sweating like in Savannah. Who told you to give me beard to begin with." Ivan cocked an eyebrow.
"He gave me a bald head as a disguise but he wore a short brown wig and got to keep his cap on." Noir glared lightly to Nino.
"We got to try different thing, guys. Don't tell me it doesn't suit them, right?" Nino looked innocently to them.
The DJs tried not to laugh at the image of Ivan's beard and Noir's bald head. The occupants of the control room were already laughing to their hearts content when the image flashed through their mind.
"Anyway, we were dealing with the fans when suddenly shouting was faintly heard but we thought it was just another fans' voice. By that time, Noir was already successful in sneaking away from the crowd." Nino gave queue to Noir.
"I saw a girl running towards the road and think weirdly because the crossing light was red. I knew instantly there's something bad was about to happened. I quickly make my way there to see a crazy girl tried to rescue her friend. I heard she was pushed by accident to the middle of the road by one of our fans. It's not anyone's fault but I do suggest to our fans to be more careful with your surroundings." Noir was serious for a moment; the room was tense to sense his heavy stare to nothing specific.
He grinned which lifted the tense and eased the rest of the room.
"It was a sight you could never forget. This meek-looking girl was somehow strong enough to pull her friend off of the danger. But she looks like in trouble out there as she didn't immediately get off from the road. Without thinking, I sprinted to help her out. Good thing the car slowed down as they already saw the girls before. We both got minor injuries from the small accident. Don't worry, nothing serious". He finished with a grin.
Marinette was gaping to the not-so-rude-compliment. They other two and Vincent nudged her playfully.
"You have a sprinted ankle, dude. If you said the girl was crazy, you are insane. You jumped all the way to the side of the road and collided with the lamp post causing your neck injured too. It's a relief it doesn't cracked your neck." Nino retorted.
"It's incredible with the iron neck of yours." Ivan pressed on the words 'iron neck' which eliciting giggling from their PAs in the control room.
Nino snickered to Noir's blank stared.
"What can I say, I'm a tough cat with nine lives. Don't hesitate to let me save your live next, ladies. And you too, Ivan." Noir playfully said.
"I'll put it in my gift lists." Ivan joined along.
The show continued, slipping some songs in between them and Noir's prank too. They receive some fans' call and chatted with them. One of the callers just shrieked for the most of the call because she couldn't believe she was talking to the real Chat. It ended after one hour long of the morning show.
"Morning show with The Chat has comes to its end." Max said.
"Don't forget our autograph session this noon. See you there." The boys cheerily said.
"Thank you for joining us. Let's hear some of their hit songs next." Kim finished it.
"And we're off. Thank you for the awesome show, guys." The person from the control room said through the speaker. People were clapping to their hard work.
"You all really attract all possible persons out there. Good one with the pranks, Noir." Max chuckled along with Kim.
"Pleasure to help." Noir grinned.
They walked out of the broadcast room to the lounge. The PAs started their job by giving the band their drinks. Alya and Mylène stepped out of the lounge to buy some canned juice for their charges.
Noir planned to sneakily tickle Marinette when they all were resting. It's a plan to give some shock to everyone present with the sudden laughter. But another person's act caught him off guard in being sneaky.
"Can I have coffee?" Noir requested. She nodded and about to reach in her bag for the flask of coffee she readied from home.
"Marinette." Vincent called her. She looked up to his face.
Marinette glanced back, "I'll be right back with the coffee." and walked a few steps away for their privacy talk.
As they both were immersed in the discussion, Noir sat calmly until…
"Noir~" The leader from the group before called too sweet for anyone's taste; it may caused diabetes instantly to someone who hear it.
He gave his 'Noir's charming smile', "How can I help you, mademoiselle?"
"Here's the coffee you wanted. The other one is for your PA as an apology from my act before." Noir was given two cups of coffee from her.
"Well thank you, sweet mademoiselle. I'm sure my PA would like it." He was glad they didn't target Marinette for what she said before.
Alas, he didn't notice the hidden purpose behind the kind act.
Marinette was turned away from all of them to talk to Vincent about their next schedule. She didn't notice the small mischievous smile of the woman behind her.
The leader told Adrien to pass the other one to Marinette and he did so. Nino and Ivan saw the soon-to-be catastrophe but wasn't fast enough to stop it.
"Hey, Marinette." Adrien nudged her.
"Yeah, Noir." She turned to suddenly being splashed with coffee on her face.
Adrien was gaping along with his entire band that had come near him the moment the splashing occurred. Vincent also stared incredulously to his act, not expecting it from him. The female group just laughed out loud to the incident. Marinette squint her eyes opened to see Adrien's face and the laughter behind him. She glared daggers towards Adrien and the empty cup in his left hand.
"Haha… Very funny. You outdid yourself this time, Noir. You and your fans are the spawn of laughter, aren't you? Prank ya, right?" Marinette spoke dangerously low.
"I- I- I didn't mean-"
"Save it. I'm going to wash this off if you don't mind." She walked off without a glance to the truth.
Noir walked awkwardly to chase after her. They soon reached the toilet and Marinette slammed the door to his face. He could only sigh regretfully.
"Dude." Nino and Ivan stopped next to him, "You need to tell her it wasn't your fault. That girl is the one who obviously push your arm to make you spill the coffee on Marinette."
"We saw everything. Sorry we couldn't do anything to help." Ivan looked solemnly to Noir.
"It's fine. I should have predicted it. They did look piss off before and it's weird when they act all nice in the blink of an eye." He sighed again.
"It will be fine. Marinette will understand if you try again. We will be going back to explained everything to the other." Nino patted his shoulder.
Ivan ruffled his hair and gave a supporting smile. They walked away while giving thumbs up to him as a good luck sign. He smiled solemnly to their retreating form.
Noir turned to the door then knocked it, "Marinette, let me explain-"
Marinette suddenly opened the door, "I couldn't go to the sink. There's no one in here, I'm sure of that." She said with still angry face.
Noir looked around him for other people and slipped inside. He walked a distance from her form. The tap runs and they both were silent. Marinette tried finding her handkerchief in the pocket of her pants but remembered she put it in her bag which she left at the lounge.
She mumbled quietly. "Here." A green with black stripes handkerchief showed in the corner of her left eye. She turned to it and Adrien's face.
"Your mask." She said in shock.
"I am sorry. Truly. I didn't plan to prank you like that. I was supposed to tickle you and give a shock to everyone with your sudden laughing. Like I said, harmless. Forgive me." He said with an innocent smile while tried handing the handkerchief to her again.
Marinette stared the handkerchief then straight to his luminescent green eyes, her heart thumped. 'What? I didn't feel anything like this when we were in the hospital.' She thought but her eyes kept staring to those suddenly hypnotic green eyes.
She took the handkerchief hesitantly and Adrien broke the eye contact by turning to the tap. Marinette flustered but tried her best to clean the coffee stain on her clothes with it. Her eyes never leave from that spot, blushing.
"You got some on your hair." Adrien's hand partially came to her view suddenly.
She could feel the soft strokes on her hair. She stood tensely.
"I-I-I- I think we better get out of here before someone come. Don't want them to see us. I mean you. I mean there's nothing wrong with you but this is the girl's toilet. You also need to wear your mask back although I wish you didn't. I mean it must be sweaty for you with the mask on all this while. Haha…" She rambled with awkward giggle.
Adrien looked at her, feeling amused. He backed away and chuckled to her antics. They were in a good mood at the time.
"You always surprise me with that face of yours." He gave a fond smile to her.
"What?" She asked weirdly.
"Nothing. So, will you forgive me?" He looked at her with an apologetic face.
"Yes. I should have realized it sooner that the girls set you up. I'm sorry too." She shyly said.
"No, no. You have every right to act like that. I'm glad you are okay now." Adrien sighed in relief making Marinette giggled.
"Let's go. We don't want to be stuck in the traffic and be late to the autograph session." Marinette acted back like a professional PA.
Adrien put the mask on, "As you wish, my lady." Noir bowed making Marinette shook her head with small smile.
They got back to the lounge with Alya looming over the group like a hawk. Mylène and the other tried calming her down.
"Alya. What happened here?" Marinette hurried off to her side.
"Girl! I'm glad you're okay." She hugged her. "I'll be watching you all. Never underestimate Alya's power." Alya turned to the group with wide scary eyes.
They nodded while apologizing to both Marinette and Noir then fled from there. They both watched the whole situation weirdly.
"I better not make you angry next time, Alya." Noir scooted closer to Marinette.
Alya just stood proudly with her hands on her hips. They all laughed to what just happened before. Vincent patted Noir's back in gesturing he was proud to know he managed to reconcile with Marinette.
'Maybe it was just a shock to see he become that caring in instant.' Marinette thought to herself, ignoring the budding feeling inside her.
They all move to the next location. More fun will be waiting.
To be continue…
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I have no other words to say than thank you to all of you who enjoy reading this. I'll be updating two chapters today for the continuous support.
Thanks again guys. You all are awesome!
