Adrien focuses on a plan. This has to be fast, or Marinette's friend and charge are in trouble. How to get to the fight quickly?
"… Reel them in," he mutters. "Climatica, set up a recording. Make it seem like it's being broadcast live from the studio, and wait for them to come rushing in. Then jump them and take the stones. Alright?"
"Yes, Papillon," she replies…
…
Gabriel isn't impressed.
"Sure, make a pageant queen a super villain, why not?" he mutters.
"Pageant queen?" Ladybug looks up at him. "What are you talking about?"
He frowns. "The girl is named Aurore Boreale. She lost the 'Miss Weathergirl' competition this morning."
"You… watch teen beauty pageants?"
He gives her a long look. "No, kiddo, but she was a customer of mine. I guess you could say I wanted to see how my work did."
Ladybug rolls her eyes. "Whatever."
"Don't you 'whatever' me, kid!"
"What. Ever. Old man."
"Old-?!"
He's cut off by a broadcast. Climatica takes up the screen.
"People of Paris!"
"That's the Kids+ studio," Gabriel tells Ladybug, who nods.
"Let's go."
…
"C'mon, the video displayed the logo of the studio, why aren't they here yet?" Adrien paces through the studio. Climatica looks annoyed.
"Okay, you're the worst super villain I've ever seen," she mutters. "And I've seen Team Rocket."
"You watched Pokémon?"
"Um, yes? Like you didn't. I had to do something in between dress fittings and pageants," she rolls her eyes. For a moment, she looks almost normal, and so does Adrien, like they're just two kids who were never going to have normal lives, not with their parents, chatting about an anime.
Then Chat Noir breaks down the door below them, and Adrien summons the butterflies to cover him, and runs.
"Where are you, Aurore?" the man calls as Ladybug comes racing behind him.
The door freezes shut behind them without warning.
"It's Climatica, dumbass," she smirks, and with a flick of the parasol, she blasts out the lights, and sends the heroic duo toppling.
…
Marinette stumbles through the dark. "Well this is just great," she groans.
Suddenly, she's being lifted up, and finds herself riding piggyback on Chat Noir.
"Night vision," he says. "Don't worry, little Lady, I've got you."
"Thanks," she says quietly as he starts running up the stairs.
"Of course."
Mr. Noir slams the door open, and lets her off. The akuma has created a cyclone, and seems about to release a hailstorm on Marinette and Mr. Noir, when a dark light envelops her hand, holding it back.
"No… I… Why would he do that?" she complains, shaking her hand free. "I can't hurt you, Missy, but I CAN take those earrings!"
"What the hell?" Marinette mutters.
"Use your Lucky Charm!" Mr. Noir instructs. "Before she gets over whatever's blocking her!"
Marinette nods, and soon a bath towel lands in her hand. "What the…? Oh! Mr. Noir, destroy that sign over there, okay?"
He feels the need to mess her hair up before doing so.
Climatica spins around to see the sign about to crush her, and blasts a hole through it, not noticing the yo-yo circling her leg…
As Marinette opens the towel, yanking her down, her grip on the parasol is lost, and it flies into the waiting claws of Mr. Noir, who is watching Marinette with a proud look.
"You did well, little Lady," he says, tossing her the parasol. She beams, and breaks it over her knee.
"Thanks Mr. Noir!" she purifies the akuma, and watches the little butterfly soar away.
"Do you need me to take you anywhere before the Miraculous wear out?"
"I've got it, thanks," she smiles.
…
After Mr. Noir leaves, she notices a figure watching her. "How do you do that?" he asks.
"What?"
"The plan worked. How did you get her not to attack?" Papillon steps into the light, golden curls and soft violet wings making him look like a fae prince.
Marinette's lips part in shock as he drops down, landing in front of her. "You're…"
"What?"
She shakes her head, snapping out of her reverie. "You're not getting my earrings. I don't know why she didn't attack, some kind of light held her back, looked like it came from you."
"I didn't order her not to attack you," he rolls his eyes. They're a beautiful mix of violet and green, psychedelic almost.
"Yeah. I get that."
"So what did you do?"
She shakes her head. "Look, Papillon, I have to go before I time out, and I'd rather not have to go head to head with another villain in one day. Can we do this another time?"
He looks deep into her eyes, and she nearly loses her breath. He really is beautiful. "Another time then, my Lady." With a bow, white butterflies cover him, and when they clear, he's gone.
…
Adrien sees Marinette dashing into the park, and races up to her. "Are you alright?"
"I… yeah, I'm… I'm fine…" she smiles, and then shakes her head. "Right. Yeah. I'm okay."
"I was worried about you," he tells her, honestly. Sure, he told Climatica not to hurt her, but still, it's Marinette.
She looks up at him. "You don't have to be…"
"I still was."
She laughs, and Adrien feels like he's done something great. "You're kind… and so much better than…" she stops talking and slams a hand over her mouth.
Than Papillon, she's thinking. Because Adrien's eyes might be green, and not psychedelic, but they're filled with kindness, and so much brighter. Because Adrien would never hurt her. Because even if she can't stop thinking about the Prince of the Butterflies, Adrien will always be better than a beautiful psychopath, in her eyes.
"Thank you," he smiles. "Hey, if you still want to meet my Father, he's here."
"I'd love to!" she beams, and lets Adrien pull her towards a group of men.
"Father?" he asks, and a man in a white suit and red tie turns, and starts at the site of Marinette.
"Adrien, who is this?"
"Marinette Dupain-Cheng is a friend of mine from school," Adrien says calmly.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Marinette," Gabriel Agreste offers a hand.
"A-and you, Mr. Agreste," she shakes his hand nervously.
"How would you like to be in the shoot with my son?" the man asks.
Adrien turns to Marinette, eyes hopeful. "Can you?"
She goes slightly red. "I've never… I mean…"
"Adrien can show you the ropes," Gabriel grins. "The shoot was missing something anyway."
…
The next day, a magazine comes out, and in the latest spread, Marinette Dupain-Cheng is kissing Adrien Agreste's cheek.