Guys, only a little reminder that, so far, I'm only reposting this story. Up until the 15th chapter, I already have all of it written (and posted on AO3, where I originally posted all of my fanfics up to this point).
[On Marinette's balcony, the girl and her kwami seem to be having a conversation.]
Tikki: How about asking him out to the cinema?
Marinette: Yeah right, Tikki, I can already picture the conversation.
Tikki: "Hello, Adrien. Would you like to go to th– bluh buh buh!" [makes ridiculous faces to mimic her holder.]
A few snickers were heard across the room, Alya's being the loudest.
"I knew I liked this cutie for a reason!" She said, petting a giggling Tikki on her head.
Marinette: That's right! I can't help it, every time I see him… [smiles dreamily] It gives me shivers all over…
"Oh my God." Alya laughed again, followed by her friends. "Holy fuck, you got it too bad!"
Marinette felt her cheeks burn, and was about to say something when she heard Adrien's voice a little too close to her ear.
"I make you shiver, my Lady?" His tone was teasing and smug, and the poor hero had to hold back before she could slap his cute face.
She was still not happy about the next two episodes on the list, and the fact that his proximity ironically made her shiver again did not help her mood.
She pushed him away, lacking her usual playfulness.
"Not now."
Tikki: So, actually, the only way for you to have a normal conversation with him would be to not see him.
Marinette: For example!
Tikki: A solution exists for speaking to him without seeing him. It's called a phone! You just need his number.
Marinette: [immediately calling Alya] I know who will have Adrien's number!
[Meanwhile, on the park next to her home, there's a crowd gathered to see the inauguration of a statue made for the heroes.]
M. Bourgeois: I'm sure you have outdone yourself, Théo.
Théo: It's an honor. I can't wait to meet Ladybug. I hope she'll agree to sign the picture that brought me inspiration for this sculpture.
M. Bourgeois: Okay, it'll be time. Ladybug and Chat Noir should already be here…
[Back in Marinette's room, Alya's already there to help her.]
Alya: Okay. We know improv isn't your strong point so just read this paper.
Marinette: But, teachers always say I'm not natural when I'm reading.
Alya: Learn the script then! It's not hard! You can do it. But don't improvise!
"Was it really that bad to hold a conversation with me?" Adrien asked, amusement present in his tone.
"You find it funny, but you're not the one looking at your pretty face when we talk." Marinette huffed.
"Well no, but I'm looking at your gorgeous face, so I think that's close enough." He winked, and her face grew a darker shade of pink.
She was pretty sure that he just was trying to lift her mood somehow. It wasn't working – well, much –, but she appreciated it.
[Alya hands Marinette the phone and the script. The heroine stares at them for a moment before slumping.]
Marinette: Forget it, it'll never work!
Alya: [hits the call button for her] Too late! It's calling. [hides behind her chaise.]
A few more snickers were heard at the sight of Marinette freaking out.
"How do you jump like that?!" Alix mocked, making the girl sigh. Whoever made this series really liked to embarrass her.
Voice mail: Hi, you've reached Adrien's answering machine, please leave a message!
Marinette: [whispers to Alya] It's his answering machine!
Alya: Leave a message, no improv!
Marinette: [clears her throat] Hi, er– Adrien's answering machine… Um, it's Marinette who, er… Has a message for you! Of course, since it's your phone! So, um… [laughs awkwardly] CALLMEBACKSEEYOULATER! [throws her phone away.]
The laughter had completely filled the room by that point, making it nearly impossible to listen anymore.
Sighing, Marinette extended her hand past Adrien to Juleka, asking for the remote. Once it was back in her hands, she paused the episode and rewound, waiting to make sure that everyone had stopped.
"You guys done?" She asked, clearly not amused. A few more snickers were heard, earning an eyeroll from her.
"Sorry, Marinette," Adrien chuckled. "Go on."
She huffed, pressing play.
[Marinette rolled on her chair over to Alya, who was staring at her unimpressed.]
Marinette: What? I wasn't going to leave a message like, "Hey, handsome dude, it's Marinette, I'd like to invite you to the cinema! But I'm so in love with you… that the only way I have to talk to you without my mouth… starting to flehfleh is through this darn phone!"
Phone: If you want to listen to your message again, press 1. If you want to delete your message, press 2.
Marinette: [gasps.]
Alya: Press 2! Press 2!
Marinette: [jumps onto the phone to press it.]
Phone: Message saved. You can hang up.
Marinette: [shrieks, falling onto her chaise in defeat.]
"You have no luck at all, do you?" Alix snickered.
"Ironic, right?" Alya chuckled, petting Marinette's back.
Meanwhile, Adrien stared at the screen in confusion. He didn't receive that message, he'd definitely remember something like that.
What happened?
Alya: It's not that catastrophic…
Marinette: [looks at her.]
Alya: Okay, yeah, it's a disaster, but you'll have to tell him one day, one way or another. At least now, no more secrets!
"Except for, you know," Nino spoke sarcastically, "the whole secret identity thing."
Marinette: The answering machine recorded everything I said…
Alya: So what?
Marinette I called him "handsome dude".
"That's not so bad." Adrien gave her a smile, looking almost shy. "I've been called… less tame things in my career."
"Still embarrassing!" Marinette protested.
Marinette: He absolutely must not listen to this message, Alya! Otherwise, I'll die of shame!
Alya: Okay, okay, I have an idea! If Adrien didn't answer, it's because he must be busy at the moment. And so, you can grab his phone before him!
"You call me a thief but you started this trend!" Marinette turned to her best friend. "You cannot blame me anymore, it was your idea!"
"My idea was to delete the message without him noticing, not to steal his phone for a whole day!" Alya defended.
"Wait, what?" Adrien stared at them. "So that's how I never heard that message?!"
The girls looked at him, seeming to only now remember that he – as well as the whole class – was there. Marinette quickly got a cushion from the floor, hugging it to her chest and hiding her face.
"Like Americans tend to say… 'I plead the fifth'…" she spoke, her voice muffled against the pillow.
Adrien sighed, rewinding the episode for her. "Honestly… only you, Princesse."
Alya: Hm, I wonder where he might be…
Marinette: [runs closer to her computer, pulling a chart from the ceiling] Of course, he has fencing after classes, that's why he didn't answer! It finishes in 22 and a half minutes exactly!
Alya Seriously? Marinette. You're too much, you know that?
Adrien gaped at the screen. What?
"Um, wait, excuse me," he spoke, taking the remote again and pausing. He went back a few seconds and stopped, zooming in on the chart.
That was his schedule. Every detail. His fencing lessons, Chinese, basketball, even his photoshoots and hang outs with his friends.
Marinette had his schedule hanging on her ceiling.
Ladybug had his schedule hanging on her ceiling.
He had no idea what to do with that information.
"I– um–" he tried to find something to say. Turning to his right, Marinette still had her face hidden – or half hidden, she had been peeking to see his reaction, but hid again when their eyes met.
"Well," he heard Chloé snicker, "someone is obsessed."
"Like you're one to speak," Marinette muttered under her breath, looking over the cushion to glare at the blonde.
Adrien could distinctly see the red on her cheeks despite them being still covered. Damn, why was she so cute?
"Well, I'm… flattered?" He finally managed, cringing at how it sounded more like a question than anything.
That didn't go unnoticed to her partner. "You sound unsure."
"W-Well, I just found out the girl I like has my detailed schedule in her room. My Lady, should I be worried for stalkerish behavior?"
"Stal– I'm not a stalker!" She shrieked, earning a disbelieving look from him. "I-I don't follow you places and watch your every movement! I just– I need to know your free days if I want to ask you out!"
"Which you never did," he pointed amusedly. "By the way, having my schedule in your room is still a form of stalking."
Marinette glared at him, failing to find a way to defend herself.
Great. Now Adrien would think that she was nothing but a really weird, stalkerish fan that had no real feelings for him whatsoever–
Wait.
He was also a fan of hers.
Possibly the greatest of all Ladybug fans.
Marinette grinned so hard, it felt like her face would split in half at some point.
Meanwhile, the amused look on Adrien's face was replaced by horror. He knew that expression.
He was screwed.
"Well, but what was that that Plagg said a few episodes ago?" She tapped her chin, as if trying to remember. As if she could ever forget. "Oh, right… Something about… Ladybug boxer briefs?"
"M-My Lady–"
"Something about action figures too. And pillows! Oh, now I do wonder if they're normal or body pillows."
"Both," Plagg snickered, and Marinette's grin grew wider. "He cuddles those things like there's no tomorrow. Pretty sure I've heard him whispering and kissi–"
"THAT'S ENOUGH, PLAGG!" Adrien squeaked, covering the little fairy's mouth. His face would combust anytime now, he could feel it.
It didn't help that Marinette – as well as most of the class – was practically roaring with laughter.
Mimicking her earlier actions, he took a cushion from the floor – making sure that it was not Ladybug themed – and buried his face in it, hoping that somehow that would make him disappear. How did they go from his schedule in her room to that?
"See, chaton? At least I do not have Adrien Agreste body pillows all over my room," she singsonged victoriously.
"T-They're not all over my room! I just have one… O-Or two… And they are usually hidden but STILL!"
He heard Alya snicker from Marinette's right.
"Let's not forget the amount of times we've seen him on the Ladyblog ever since the series started. I'm pretty sure he would have your schedule in his room if he ever found your identity."
"I can't believe I'm going to say this," he heard Chloé speak again, "but that's true."
"Traitor," Adrien murmured under his breath, causing Marinette to chuckle.
Despite that, he knew better than to try protesting against them. He knew it was true. He was just as obsessed with Marinette as she was with him – and he didn't think that was ever really going to stop, even if he they got together. Just, instead of body pillows, he would be a needy cat and cuddle with her whenever he had the chance.
Marinette pat his shoulder. "I guess we're even, hm? Two ridiculous teenagers obsessed with one another."
He nodded with a grunt, earning another chuckle. Her fingers left his shoulder and pulled on his cushion.
It wasn't a hard pull, she didn't seem to be trying to take it away from him. It stayed pressed against his face, with the exception of the little space she was trying to uncover, for some reason.
Before he could ask her what she was doing, he felt something soft and warm press against his temple, and took a sharp intake of breath.
It was almost too fast for him to register, but Alya's and Nino's squeals and the way the feeling lingered on his skin were too real for him to ignore.
Adrien moved back from his cushion, whipping his head towards a quite pink Marinette.
Did she just kiss him?!
Upon seeing his confused face, his partner winked, and Adrien was sure he had just turned into mush.
Fuck, how could she turn the tables on him so fast? He was the one usually flirting the hell out of her, he shouldn't be this flustered when she flirted back!
Yet there he was, nearly touching heaven because she had kissed his temple.
He was hopeless.
Making a strangled, yet definitely happy sound, he dove his face back into the cushion, earning a few snickers.
"Would you look at that," Alya spoke, "the cat can dish but can't take."
"I think Marinette killed him," Juleka chuckled while Rose and Mylène cooed.
"Adrien, my man, it was nice knowing you," Nino joked.
"Now that we know that your ridiculous obsession for one another is mutual," Alix spoke, hardly even trying to hide her amusement, "can we continue?"
Marinette hummed, talking the remote from Adrien's lap and resuming the episode.
[Inside the school, Plagg is eating in Adrien's bag while his holder is fencing. The blonde stops after winning a match.]
Adrien: I need a glass of water. I'll be right back! [runs into the locker room, finding Plagg sleeping where there should have been a camembert instead] Plagg, you filthy glutton!
Plagg: You have one new message! [burps.]
Adrien: Can you move so I could listen to my answering machine?! [grabs his phone, looking at his mails] But I don't know this number... [looks at the time] Oh no! We're already late! Ready to transform me, Plagg?
"Well, that was a really close call," Alya noted, and Marinette nodded.
"Guess luck was on my side, after all."
[Meanwhile, Marinette and Alya are almost at school when they hear Chat jumping down to the still covered statue, greeting his fans.]
Alya: It's today they inaugurate the statue of Ladybug and Chat Noir! I completely forgot!
Marinette: Me too…
Alya: Huh? But you never talked about going to the inauguration?
Marinette: I'm not going! I mean, I am! I mean… I forgot.
"Now it finally makes so much sense why you wanted to go." Alya shook her head. "You were never that big of a fan of the heroes."
"Now you know why," Marinette responded. Though the blogger's statement was not exactly true.
She was a fan of Chat Noir. She was just too busy thinking about Adrien to talk about him instead.
Oh, the irony.
Alya: Look, for Adrien's phone, maybe we could take care of it after?
Marinette: If we wait for the end of the ceremony, the training will be over and Adrien will have gotten his phone!
Alya: Dang… I need to be there for the Ladyblog… I'm sorry, Marinette…
Marinette: Don't worry! I'll manage! I hope…!
Alya: You sure?
Marinette: Yeah, yeah, positive!
Alya: Cool! Good luck! And don't do anything stupid! And no improv!
"'Don't do anything stupid,' I said. 'Sure, I'mma just steal his phone,' she said." Alya mocked. "Why do I even try anymore?" She gave her best friend an amused smile, gaining a grunt in response.
Tikki: Isn't Ladybug supposed to go to the inauguration?
Marinette: Yes, but first Marinette has to go to the school!
Tikki: It's still a ceremony in your honor!
Marinette: Exactly! It's my honor that is at stake! It's just for five minutes! We'll be at the ceremony… before you can say "akuma"!
"Yet," Adrien spoke, seeming considerably less red than before, "you never showed up. And Papillon definitely said 'akuma'."
"Sorry if I needed to erase that stupid message!" Marinette defended, pouting.
[At the ceremony.]
Théo: Excuse me, Chat Noir, but Ladybug still hasn't arrived.
Chat: Don't worry about Ladybug, she'll be here any minute now! I can handle this situation by myself, meanwhile! After all, I'm the leader, you know?
"Ah– wha– EXCUSE YOU?" Marinette choked. "What was that exactly?!"
Adrien gave her a sheepish grin. "I can dream…?"
She slapped a cushion across his face. "We are equals, Chat Noir! I may say that I'm not above you, but you are not either!"
"I know, I know!" He stopped her before he could be hit again. "Sorry, I got carried away!"
Marinette huffed, throwing the cushion at him again. "Stupid cat."
Théo: It's just that… I'd have liked to have her sign this picture… She's amazing! She's so brave and smart! This way she has of always saving the world…
M. Bourgeois: Then how about we begin the ceremony, it might get her to come.
Théo: One more minute, please, M. Mayor…! She'll come. I can feel it.
"I… feel kinda bad for not appearing now," Marinette said, feeling a little guilty. Théo was a fan who was counting on her, and she let him down.
"You spoke to him later, Marinette, I'm sure it's alright." Tikki pat her cheek reassuringly, and the hero couldn't help but give her a small smile.
[Back at school, Marinette approaches the students training, sneaking into the locker room unnoticed.]
Marinette: Here. …Uh?
Tikki: Oh-oh…
Marinette: Which one is his locker?!
Tikki: If you call him, his phone will ring!
Marinette: Good point, Tikki!
[She calls him, going through each locker to find his.
Meanwhile, the ceremony is starting.]
M. Bourgeois: Paris ought to thank those who, each day, protect us from forces of evil! Ladybug and Chat Noir!
[The statue is uncovered, and the crowd applauds. Théo, on the other hand, is disappointed not to see his hero there.
Back in the locker room, Marinette's still looking for his phone.]
Tikki: Hurry, the training is about to finish!
Marinette: It's this one! [tries to open it] Ah, it's locked!
Tikki: [phases through the door, unlocking it from the inside] Ta-daa!
"So that's how they phase through stuff!" Alya spoke, leaning forward in her seat.
"That's really cool, actually," Max said, looking interested himself.
Nino nodded in agreement. "Now we all know who to call if we ever forget our keys somewhere."
[Back at the park, the crowd disperses, leaving only Théo and Chat behind.]
Chat: These statues are incredible! Just a tiny mistake: I'm taller than Ladybug!
Yet another cushion met Adrien's face, followed by a glare from Marinette.
"Oh come on, this time it is true!"
"Doesn't mean you can show off."
Théo: Ladybug didn't come… I just wanted to tell her… How much I love her! Tell her that… I gave my very best for this statue. I'm sure that if she took the time to know me, she'd see how much we're alike! How we devote ourselves for the things we love!
"Adrien…" Marinette hissed warningly as she watched her partner on screen. Not that it would change what happened, but he would be so dead if he had done anything.
Chat: Sorry to pop your bubble, but y'know, there's something special between me and Ladybug, see what I'm saying?
Théo: Really?
Chat: Yeah, we're super close!
The room was suddenly filled with a shriek, and while everyone turned to look at its source, Alya fumbled with the remote to pause the episode again.
Turns out, it came from none other than the cat hero himself.
He was curled up on his seat, trying to somehow protect him head from the repeated hits coming from Marinette.
At least her weapon was just another cushion.
"ADRIEN." Hit. "FUCKING." Hit. "AGRESTE!" Another hit. "YOU WERE THE ONE WHO AKUMATIZED HIM, WEREN'T YOU?"
"I– Y-YES!" He tried to move away, only for her to follow. "O-ow, MARINETTE!"
"You don't simply akumatize people out of JEALOUSY! ARE YOU FUCKING SERIOUS, ADRIEN?!"
Finally, he managed dodge, slipping off of his seat and running to the wall opposite to the TV, hoping that the beanbags would somehow shield him from her.
"L-Like you're one to talk!" He quickly cleared his throat, trying to keep his voice from wavering. "You akumatized people too, and Lila was out of jealousy!"
"Was not! She was spreading rumors about me, I had to stop her!" She defended, unaware of the confused looks on her friends' faces while throwing the cushion on him. She missed.
But Adrien did not back down. The more he thought about Ladybug's – Marinette's – behavior back at that time, the clearer it seemed to him. "She was spreading rumors about you to get tome! It was jealousy!" It had to be true.
"Transform me!"
Fuck.
He barely had any chance to move when Ladybug's yoyo flew towards him, wrapping its string around his whole body. In less than a second, he was back at the beanbags, standing in front of a very mad spotted heroine. She stood in front of him, one foot stepping on her seat as her hands pulled the string closer to her body, completely ignoring the way their classmates gaped at her in awe.
"You're missing the point," she hissed.
"Then what is the point?" Adrien asked, pleased to hear himself sound more confident than he felt.
"The point is, while I may have akumatized Lila out of jealousy – partly," Adrien had half a mind to roll his eyes at her stubbornness, "I did so trying to stop her from creating rumors about me. Now you, on the other hand, did the exact opposite!
"You don't mislead people like that, Adrien! I may not like Théo the way he liked me, but that was for me to deal with and not you. Hell, he was just a fan! Adrien or not, Chat Noir had ten times the chance that he ever did!"
Ladybug glared at him, seeming not as pissed as before, but still quite upset. Adrien stared back, trying not to think of how close they were or how kissable her pink lips seemed – focus, Adrien, you don't need an angrier Ladybug right now.
He wasn't very sure of what to reply.
She was right, he knew she was. Arguments were useless. And it's not like he didn't know his actions were faulty that day.
He knew.
And honestly, he was not very proud of that either, but what could he do?
"I know," he spoke softly, looking down, "I let my emotions control me, and we ended up in that mess. I'm very sorry, my Lady."
The apology seemed to strike Marinette somehow. She glanced at his body, one pull on the string being enough to untangle him. She sighed and shook her head.
"Not like I don't do that all the time too…" She put her weapon away, looking a bit ashamed. "Sorry, mon chaton, did I hurt you?"
"I'm fine," Adrien replied, allowing himself a small smile at the sound of his nickname. That was always a good sign. Then, in an attempt to lift the mood, he looked at her up and down, and grinned. "You know, this is the first time I've seen you transform in flesh. No amount of episodes would be enough to prepare me for such beautiful spectacle, ma Princesse."
Gently, he took her hand in his, brushing his lips against her knuckles. It was a very usual gesture for him to do, of course, but he reveled in the way her face flushed, unlike it used to before.
He didn't think he'd ever have enough of her blushing because of him.
"You're impossible, mon minou." Ladybug managed a smile. "Though I think I might have overdone it…"
"You think?!" She heard a collective cry and turned, seeming to finally remember that they were not alone.
Somehow, her blush got darker, though definitely not because of her partner this time.
"Not that we are complaining," Alya added quickly, moving her phone up closer to the duo. Was she filming? "Don't mind me, I just need to breathe after seeing my best friend become my favorite superhero right in front of me. But you know, I'm going to survive. Barely."
Ladybug ducked her head while Adrien laughed. He took a look around, once again noticing their friends staring at her in amazement.
"Someone is surrounded by her fans, hm?" He teased.
"I will never get used to this…" she murmured. Whether she meant the fame or the class knowing, Adrien was not sure, but soon her transformation was off and in front of him once again stood Marinette.
Just as breathe-takingly gorgeous and powerful as when transformed, despite her vulnerability without the suit.
Fuck, would he ever stop falling for this girl?
He hoped not.
Marinette sat back down and immediately Adrien followed suit. She was about to take the remote when Alya held it back.
"Just so you know," she spoked upon Marinette's confused expression, "I'm making you guys transform again when this episode ends."
The heroine rolled her eyes, while her partner chuckled. Alya handed over the remote.
"And I want to see some awesome moves, you hear?!" Kim yelled, making the superheroes sigh.
"Whatever you guys say," Marinette chuckled, pressing play again.
Théo: [pushes him away, leaving] What does Ladybug see in him?!
"Sometimes I wonder that myself," Marinette teased, grinning when she heard Adrien protest.
[Back at school, Marinette is still trying to unlock Adrien's phone, being unsuccessful.]
Tikki: They're coming! Leave the phone!
Marinette: But I didn't erase the message yet!
Tikki: We don't have time anymore! We really need to go to this ceremony! Come!
[Marinette closes the locker and hides behind the door when it opens. She waits for everyone to get inside before leaving, taking the phone with her. Just a she leaves the school, Chat runs in, detransforming and entering the locker room as inconspicuously as possible.]
"Master of stealth, right there," Nino joked.
"Whistling does not make you any less suspicious, Adrien." Marinette shook her head in amusement.
"Sh. I did it, didn't I?" The blonde crossed his arms, mocking annoyance at his friends.
[Théo is standing in his studio, staring at his photo of Ladybug.]
Théo: "A special thing", huh?! You don't even take love seriously! Calling it "a thing"! You don't deserve her! I do!
Adrien couldn't help a little gulp when Théo threw a prototype of his head to the floor in rage. He'd done much more damage than he had realized.
[Sequence does to Papillon's lair.]
Papillon: Disappointed in Ladybug and jealous of Chat Noir… The perfect candidate to spread chaos! [darkens a butterfly, sending it off] Fly away, little akuma. And darken his heart!
Marinette, paying attention to Papillon's words, sighed.
"I did not help the case, did I?"
Sure, Adrien's words had added salt to the wound, but she was the one who hurt poor Théo in the first place.
Stupid voice mail.
"It's alright, my Lady." Her partner gently squeezed her shoulder. "You were in a bit of a situation, after all."
Understatement of the century, Marinette thought, yet couldn't help but send him a small smile.
Which faltered when Adrien grinned.
"You could even say that we were both in a… phony situation?"
Not even three cushions were enough to stop his snickers.
Papillon: Hello, Imposteur. I am the Papillon. Once ridden of Chat Noir, you'll take his place. And Ladybug will be yours for eternity.
Théo: Just thinking about it, I'm purring already.
The class groaned.
"Why a cat pun? Please, tell me there's not going to be twice the number of cat puns in this episode," Alix begged Marinette.
The hero's pained expression was enough to cause yet another groan.
"Somebody save us…" Ivan sighed.
[In the Agreste's mansion, Adrien is looking for his phone.]
Adrien: Where is it?! [glares at Plagg accusingly.]
Plagg: Why are you looking at me like that? I didn't eat it, I promise!
[Adrien calls it in hopes to find it somewhere. The phone rings in Marinette's hands, who's back at her room and still tempting to unlock his phone.]
Marinette: How do you see the messages with thi– Hm? "Home"? It's Adrien! He's looking for his phone! [lets it fall, moving away like it's been poisoned] And what if he locates his phone?! I'll look like a thief! And the police will arrest me! And I'll spend my life in jail! And the worst is, I'll never be able to go to the cinema with Adrien! [falls onto her bed dramatically.]
The room was once more filled with laughter, and Marinette sighed as she paused the episode to wait for them to calm down again.
"That will never stop being funny!" Alix commented, and it seemed like everyone but the hero agreed with that.
"Love the bit of explanation in manga, by the way," Adrien snickered, gaining a pout from his partner.
Above their heads, Tikki barely managed to cover her own snickers. "Oh, Marinette… please never change."
Tikki: Marinette, you know we're not in a movie here?
Marinette: I know, sometimes it's really hard to be both Marinette… and Ladybug.
[Adrien, meanwhile, just reached his own voice mail.]
Adrien: [sighs] I must have forgotten it at the gym…
[He grabs Plagg, leaving his home to retrieve his cellphone, unaware of the fake Chat Noir that had just entered the Louvre.]
"Wait, what?" Nathaniel asked for the whole class, eyeing Adrien in confusion.
"When Papillon said that Théo would be able to replace me," the blonde explained, "he meant it quite literally."
[The Imposteur walks among the crowd, grinning as he goes directly to the Mona Lisa.]
Imposteur: Don't mind me, I'm just stealing this painting. Continue your visit!
[A guard tries to stop him, but he quickly kicks him away while the visitors record everything.
In his car, Adrien's waiting to arrive back at his school, listening to the news.]
Mme. Chamakh: And finally, this incredible news. The Louvre was the stage of a spectacular robbery! Amateurs' videos leave no doubts about the thief's identity. The famous superhero, Chat Noir!
Imposteur: This painting is senchational!
Adrien: "Senchational"?! [gets out of his car as soon as it stops, running into the school to transform] Not only is he an impostor, his jokes are awful!
"I don't know, Adrien," Juleka chuckled, "I think that pun was on par with yours."
"Excuse me?!" Adrien protested. "My puns are ten times better than that!"
"Minou, minou," Marinette grinned, "he was just as awful as you're. A perfect copycat, you know?"
The blonde gaped at her, speechless. Not only had she missed the opportunity for two puns in a row, but she settled with one that he really didn't know what to feel about.
Finally, he found his voice. "I don't know if I should love or hate you right now."
Marinette snickered despite the light blush on her cheeks.
[Back into Marinette's room, she's staring at Adrien's phone, wearing a pair of protection goggles and oven mittens.]
The class snickered.
"Girl," Alya called, "what the fuck were you doing?"
"First rule of every crime: don't leave any fingerprints," Marinette explained, missing how she basically just admitted to stealing.
"Thank Ace Attorney for that." Max smiled as he mentioned the game again. "Best way to practice your deduction skills and learn to never leave home without a pair of gloves."
Marinette and Adrien hummed in response, grinning at what seemed to be an inside joke. The class eyed them nervously.
Marinette: [sighs] Of course, Adrien has one of those high-tech phones that cost a lot. I don't even understand how to make this thing work!
Tikki: Maybe it'll be easier if you took off those mittens?
Marinette: And risk leaving my fingerprints all over? No way!
[Her phone rings and she picks it up, answering with her chin.]
Alya: Problem solved?
Marinette: Almost! I didn't erase the message yet but I'm working on it this very moment!
Alya: No way, you stole his phone?!
Marinette: Yeah! No! Eh… I mean– I planned to give it back to him!
"We have her admission, guys," Alya joked. "We can turn her in."
Marinette made a noise in protest, making her friends chuckle.
Marinette: By the way, where are you? I wouldn't be against a helping hand!
Alya: Not possible. I'm at the Louvre right now. I'm trying to get extra info on Chat Noir's robbery.
Marinette: What?! Someone stole Chat Noir?
Alya: No, duh, you're not aware? Chat Noir stole the Mona Lisa! In broad daylight! Ladybug surely won't be long, and I don't wanna pass this up! Don't touch anything, I'll come right after.
Marinette: Okay! [hangs up] Chat Noir has a lot of flaws, but he's not a thief…
"I don't know if I should feel flattered or insulted," Adrien deadpanned, and Marinette giggled.
"Take it however you want, chaton."
Marinette: It's time! Tikki, transform me!
[Back at the louvre, Chat Noir appears, catching the attention of the police force.]
Chat: Whoa! Easy guys, you've got the wrong person, your thief is an impostor! The real Chat Noir is me!
[Roger asks the force to rest, before going to the hero.]
Chat: If you show me the crime scene, I can surely find some clues. You know, I have claw-sharp eyes!
Roger: Of course, follow me! Thank you for your help, Chat Noir.
"Chaton," Marinette sighed, "you're so naïve."
"Excuse me if I lived my whole life in a mansion!" Adrien defended. "Besides, I bet you would have followed him too!"
"I– Okay, maybe," she conceded. "But I'd keep my guard on!"
He rolled his eyes.
[Inside the Louvre, Chat's taking a quick look around the scene, stopping when he finds a lollipop stick. He takes it, distracted by his own suspicions when Roger closes the bars on him.]
Chat: Hey! I'm the real Chat Noir! I'm way more refined than this guy!
Marinette rolled her eyes, giggling. The action was not lost to Adrien, who huffed.
"But I am…"
Roger: [on his communicator] The cat is behind bars, I repeat, the cat is behind bars.
[Ladybug arrives right as Roger steps out of the museum, running to the mayor.]
Ladybug: M. Mayor! It's impossible! Believe me, there must be another explanation!
Roger: The cat is behind bars, Ladybug.
Ladybug: If you think you're going to hold him lo–
Roger: Leave this to the pros, Ladybug. We have the situation under control.
Alya snorted. "I love how he says that, and yet forgot how Chat's powers work."
"Right?! Nothing can ever hold me for too long! I'll always escape!" Adrien said dramatically, making a ridiculously heroic pose. Then, as if remembering something, he looked at his partner. "Unless it's you, my Lady. I'm yours to hold for as long as you want."
He winked, and Marinette stared at him, not sure if she should laugh or fall for a line as cheesy as that.
Nevertheless, her face had become a little warmer.
"You're ridiculous," she finally replied, fondness slipping out of her mouth along with her words. That caused Adrien to smile, making her positively melt.
[Inside the museum, Chat easily destroys the bars, running away only to find himself facing a bunch of police officers.]
Chat: Thanks for this mro-arm welcome, but I have to split.
The class groaned.
"Oh my GOD!" Alix cried in annoyance.
Chat: So, I'll tell you again just one more time, you're making a big mistake!
[He jumps against them, easily throwing them out of the way.
Outside, Roger is warned of his escape, making both him and Ladybug run inside to see what's going on.]
Roger: Well, if he's as innocent as you say, why is he running away?
Ladybug: If you were imprisoned wrongly, wouldn't you try to run away?
[Chat Noir hides himself on a rooftop outside, calling his partner. Ladybug, receiving the call sneaks away from Roger to pick it up.]
Ladybug: Chat Noir, what's happening?
Chat: You know I'm innocent! Don't you, Buginette?
"Get a room." Nino shook his head. "Where do you get those nicknames?"
"From being a dork, most likely," Marinette chuckled, making said dork pout.
Ladybug: Stop behaving like an idiot and calling me "Buginette"! It's really serious!
Chat: I'll find the real culprit and save my whiskers! I'll keep you posted! [notices that he has been found, running away again.]
[Outside, Ladybug sees him running, two helicopters flying after him.]
Roger: You're not trying to catch him?!
"He is innocent, why would I?!" Marinette huffed. "I have faith in my kitty, as impossible as he may be."
"Would you stop flattering and insulting me at the same time?" Adrien sighed.
Ladybug: Uh, I'm leaving this to the pros! [leaves.]
"BURN!" Alya laughed, and Adrien grinned.
"That's my Buginette." He casually wrapped an arm around her shoulders, earning an eyeroll from his partner.
"You and my dad don't really get along, do you?" Sabrina spoke softly, causing Marinette to look at her.
The heroine shruged. "We're okay, I guess. We just didn't have a very good start, in my opinion."
[Chat ran into a subway to hide, getting out from another entrance as Adrien instead. He hinds behind a post to feed Plagg.]
Plagg: If you want my opinion… It's an akuma who's behind this.
Adrien: I knew that much! Look at this lollipop stick. The sculptor. How did I not notice this jealousy until now?
Plagg: Yours? Or his?
Adrien: Ha ha, very funny.
The class laughed.
"That's it," Marinette giggled, "Plagg has regained his cheese privileges in the bakery."
"YES!" The kwami celebrated with a loop at the same time Adrien groaned.
[Later, Chat Noir runs to Théo's studio, staring down from the roof.]
Chat: I got you, Imposteur.
[He calls Ladybug, who's been searching for him.]
Ladybug: Chat Noir! Where are you?!
Chat: I found his lair!
Ladybug; Whose?
Chat: The Imposteur's!
Ladybug: What are you talking about?!
Chat: If you have gone to the ceremony this morning, you'd know what I'm talking about!
"Or not," Marinette noted. "I would have stopped you from making any stupidities."
Adrien frowned, but refrained from saying anything. He knew she would.
Ladybug: Yeah, okay, but tell me, where are you?
Chat: No. It's something between him and me, I got into this situation by myself, it's up to me to get out of it. [hangs up.]
Well, at least he admitted to his mistakes and tried to correct them, Marinette thought.
Still, his methods were quite questionable.
Ladybug: Hm?! Chat Noir? Chat Noir?!
[She tracks him on her yoyo, going after him.
Meanwhile, Chat is reading a note he found.]
Chat: "The cat's in the bag"?
"You know, I second what Marinette said earlier," Alya spoke. "You're very naïve."
"Excuse me!" Adrien pouted.
"Dude, that was too obvious," Nino agreed with his girlfriend, making the blonde huff.
"Traitors."
[Suddenly, the box in front of him opens, and Chat finds himself cuffed.]
Chat: Cataclysm!
[Suddenly, Imposteur appears, wasting his cataclysm on a piece of wood instead of the chains.]
"Smart," Rose commented, nodding her head somewhat in approval.
Not you too, Rose, Adrien sighed from his seat.
Imposteur: [walks away just enough for Chat not to reach him] I really don't get what Ladybug sees in you. You really got yourself trapped like an idiot.
Chat: [moves to get his staff, only not to find it on his back.]
Imposteur: That's what you're looking for? [shows him the staff] Which one should I choose? Mine? Or mine? [Chat's staff rings, and the akuma picks up] Ladybug, come quickly! I caught the Imposteur at Théo Barbot's workshop!
Ladybug: I'll be there in 30 seconds!
Chat: Don't come, Ladybug! It's a trap!
Imposteur: [hangs up] Too late, Chat Noir, Ladybug is already on her way. Just as I planned from the beginning.
Chat: She won't be fooled, she knows me well!
Imposteur: Me too, I know you well. And from now on, she'll be in love with me, not you! [points at him threateningly.]
Chat: I-I-I-In love with me? O-Of course she loves me! That's why she'll be able to unmask you!
"Chaton…" Marinette sighed.
"I was trying to lessen his confidence!" Adrien explained, signing to the screen as if making a point.
Papillon: Stop talking and give me Chat Noir's Miraculous.
[Imposteur puts Ladybug's photo in his pocket before throwing Chat to the floor and straddling his torso.]
"Hm, KINKY MUCH?" Alix raised her eyebrows.
"WHA– I was a hostage! Don't say it's kinky just because I'm chained and he is on top of me!" Adrien tried to protest, but even he couldn't deny how wrong it sounded when he said that.
His friends snickered, and he would have been annoyed if he was not already worried about Alya suddenly grinning at him.
"I bet you wouldn't be this defensive if it was Ladybug instead of Imposteur."
"ALYA!" Marinette shrieked, and Adrien's face burned enough for him to feel steam coming out of his neck – was that even possible?
He refrained from saying anything, instead hiding his burning face in his hands.
Think of bunnies, he thought. Cute puppies. Kittens. Anything.
He heard Marinette assaulting Alya with a few cushions – which he would do too if he was no trying to keep his mind away from sudden dangerous thoughts –, before telling everyone to stop being indecent and just watch the episode.
He felt grateful for that.
[Imposteur is about to take Chat's ring when Ladybug enters the scene.]
Imposteur: Here you are…!
More snickers could be heard in the room at the way Imposteur saw her.
"He really is a perfect Chat Noir," Mylène giggled.
"Not you too!" Adrien protested again.
Ladybug: [stops in front of them, eyeing one after the other] Wow, it's true that he looks a lot like you…
Chat: Of course, because it's me!
Ladybug: Where is his akuma?
Imposteur: In his ring, of course! The honor is yours.
Ladybug: [crouches down to take his ring.]
Papillon: Ladybug doing all the work for us? What a fine irony.
Ladybug: [notices his ring beep] He also has the same powers as you!
Imposteur: A true copy, isn't he?
Chat: [whispers] If you don't believe I'm the real Chat Noir, ask him to tell you about our love story!
Ladybug: Ah?!
Chat: Have I ever lied to you, Buginette? [winks.]
Ladybug: Hm… [approaches Imposteur, face to face with him] You didn't tell him about us, I hope…
"Okay, no, wait." Nino managed to get the remote, pausing the episode. "Marinette, I know you asked to stop, but this is too good of an opportunity to pass."
The class turned to look at him, confused. Nino chuckled.
"Alright, so, Ladybug is face to face to the akuma now, right?" He gained a collective nod. Rewinding only a few seconds, he paused again, showing the position the three were: Chat on the floor, Imposteur sitting on his stomach while Ladybug is crouched right in front of them. "So if Chat Noir is still lying there the whole time, when Ladybug moves closer…
"What exactly was his view the whole time?"
Nino looked around, and as understanding slowly settled onto his friends' faces, he had to bite his lower lip to hold back a laugh.
It did not help that both Marinette and Adrien resembled two perfect tomatoes at the moment.
Alya burst out laughing, and soon almost everyone had followed. Meanwhile, the heroes tried to protest in vain.
"NINO!" Marinette spluttered.
"WHAT'S WITH YOU GUYS AND BOTHERING ME TODAY?" Adrien threw a cushion at his best friend, and nobody needed to think too much to understand what he really meant by bothering him.
The laughter grew louder.
"Y-You guys are unbelievable…" Marinette grumbled, and her voice betrayed how she, too, was having some inner struggles.
"Really, though," Alya added with a knowing smirk, "from your… reaction… It seems quite obvious that you liked that view, hm?"
Somehow, the blonde managed to snag the remote from Nino – trying his hardest not to think of how he had to press closer to Marinette to do that – and resumed the episode in an attempt to stop them from embarrassing him any further.
But not before holding a cushion to his lap as discreetly as possible.
Imposteur: About?
Ladybug: About… You and me… You know… We had a secret pact… [moves even closer.]
Imposteur: A-Ah, yes, of course!
Ladybug: We never made a pact! [moves away] Imposteur!
Imposteur: [growls] Ladybug, I love you! I'm way better than this filthy alley cat!
Ladybug: I hate lies.
"You can say that again…" Adrien mumbled, and one quick glance at both Lila and Chloé was enough to make them turn their heads back to the screen.
Ladybug: Chat Noir has a ton of flaws but he's never lied to me!
Chat: Thank you for the compliment– I mean, if it is one… [kicks the akuma away, jumping onto his feet.]
Papillon: Now, take her Miraculous!
Imposteur: If I can't have you… then no one will! Cataclysm!
Ladybug: I don't belong to anyone!
Alya coughed something loudly that sounded a little too much like "except Adrien," but Marinette decided to ignore her this time.
Not like she had any good arguments anyway.
Ladybug: Lucky Charm! [catches the item] A spoon? What am I supposed to do with this?!
[Imposteur runs to Chat Noir's direction, ready to hit him with cataclysm, but Ladybug is faster, making him touch the chain of Chat's cuffs instead. Chat takes the chance and instantly hits his double.]
Chat: Good job, Milady!
Ladybug: [winks] Where's his akuma?
Chat: It's the picture in his pocket. [hears his ring beep] We're gonna have to hurry!
Imposteur: You'll be detransformed before me!
[The two cats start fighting, Chat with his bare fists and Imposteur with both staffs. Ladybug steps in, landing a few blows on the akuma before jumping away.]
Ladybug: He's pretty skilled!
Chat: [moves away from him once more] Let's not exaggerate!
Marinette giggled.
"Jealous again, kitten?" Adrien pouted at her, and she once again chuckled. "You're still better."
She scratched behind his ear, smiling when he leaned against her touch.
Imposteur: I told you I was the best!
Ladybug: [takes a staff from him] But me, I'm even way better!
"GO, MARINETTE!" Alya cheered, being followed by many people in the room.
Marinette smiled, flushing lightly.
[She throws the staff to Chat, evening them out.
They cats start fighting again, until both their staffs are thrown of battle.]
"Hm," Max spoke, "just a little note, but staffs shouldn't exactly stick from the hard floor like that. They're not swords."
Alix opened her mouth to protest, but shut it again soon later.
"… Even I can't get annoyed about this one."
"How did that happen?" Kim asked, earning only a shrug from Adrien.
[In the middle of the fight, Ladybug throws her yoyo, wrapping it around one of the cats' arms.]
Chat: Hey, it's me!
Imposteur: He's lying! I'm the real one!
Ladybug: Eh? Argh! [stomps her foot] You're starting to annoy me, both of you! Show me your ring. How many pads do you have left?
Chat: [shows her his ring, down to the last pad.]
Imposteur: [hides his ring, still up to four pads, before hissing.]
Ladybug: [releases her partner] Chat Noir, it's your turn!
"Why do I suddenly feel like a Pokémon?" Adrien raised an eyebrow, only now noticing the resemblance to the anime.
At the mention of the series, his friends started grinning, making him shudder.
That was not a very good sign, was it?
Then, Marinette moved closer, a flirty smile on her face. He stared at her, unsure of what to expect, until…
"Un jour je serai le meilleur dresseur, je me batterai sans répis," she sang in a low tone, her smile becoming a grin like everyone else's.
Alya soon joined, pausing the episode as she made a heroic pose. "Je ferai tout pour être vainqueur et gagner les défis!"
Were… were they really?
Max was next, managing to be even more dramatic than Alya, "Je parcourrai la Terre entière, traquant avec espoir!"
Right now?
Then Nathaniel – usually reserved Nathaniel – stood on his seat and started playing an air guitar, "Les Pokémon et leurs mystères, le secret de leur pouvoir!"
Adrien couldn't hold it back anymore.
His class had just randomly started singing the Pokémon opening, his childhood, in the middle of an episode.
Might as well join!
"POKÉMON!" He shot up on his own seat, moving his fist against his lips like he was holding a microphone. "Attrapez-les tous, c'est notre histoire!"
"Ensemble pour la victoire! POKÉMON!" Along with him, the class joined, each of them making ridiculous poses and trying to be more dramatic and sing louder than the other – like they wanted the whole world to hear them.
They did not stop until the very end of the extended version, Tikki and Plagg watching both in amusement and confusion as they finished the lyrics as loudly as possible and dropped back down to their respective seats, wide grins on their faces.
"Holy crap," Adrien barked out a laugh, feeling light somehow. He had no idea where that all came from, but he was not going to complain. "I freaking love you guys."
Marinette giggled. "Well, dear Torracat, I'm glad you enjoy us so much."
She took the remote back from her best friend, about to press play when Adrien gently gripped on her sleeve, giving her big kitten eyes.
"Can we all do that again sometime?"
She didn't have time to answer before they were showered by many positive responses from their classmates. Marinette chuckled.
"I believe that's a yes."
Adrien beamed.
Chat: With great pleasure, I need to sharpen my claws!
[He charges against Imposteur, leaving Ladybug to figure out what to do. She gathers a few items around, assembling a fishing rod.]
Ladybug: It's time for akuma fishing!
"Is that the Old Rod?" Nino asked jokingly, still in the Pokémon mood.
Marinette clicked her tongue. "Excuse you, that's a Super Rod at its finest!"
[During their fight, Chat manages to suspend Imposteur with his feet, winking up at him with a knowing grin. Ladybug quickly "fishes" him, hanging him by the belt and snatching the photo from his pocket.]
Ladybug: [tears the photo in two and opens her yoyo] No more harm, little akuma. I'm freeing you from evil! [catches the butterfly, releasing it already cleansed] Bye-bye, little butterfly. [throws the spoon upwards] Miraculous Ladybug!
[Théo falls from the trap, but is caught by Chat who carefully puts him down.]
Ladybug: Nice catch!
Chat: Glad you could distinguish the real Chat from the fake.
Ladybug: Once I understood which one was really in love with me, it wasn't hard!
"Hey, but I love you too…" Adrien whined softly, pouting at the screen and missing the way Marinette ducked her head with a blush.
Chat: You better help him. You just broke his heart after all! [flees, briefly stopping once he's far enough from her] Yeah, and not just his, by the way… Come on. [leaves.]
"Aw, chaton," Marinette cooed, despite how her face was still in flames. She pulled Adrien into a side hug, which he accepted without hesitation. "Oh, my poor kitten, I'm so sorry."
She allowed him to rest his head on her chest yet again, her fingers running through his hair slowly as his arms wrapped around her middle.
He seemed so pleased, she could almost hear him purring.
Théo: A-Ah… What am I doing here? [looks up] Ladybug?!
Ladybug: [offers him back the photo] I'm sorry I couldn't make it this morning, Théo.
Théo: [hands her a pen] Can you sign it for me?
Ladybug: Of course I can! You really have a lot of talent, you know? [quickly signs the picture and retrieves it] The sculpture is very well done.
Théo: Thank you, Ladybug… And don't worry! I know about you and Chat Noir. I won't say anything.
Ladybug: Uh?
Adrien felt a light punch against his arm, as well as playful huff coming from above him. He smiled fondly, nudging against his Lady.
[Chat Noir runs into the school, detransforming and looking for his phone everywhere to no avail. He goes back into his car, sighing.]
Adrien: I didn't find it.
"Your driver's been in the same place for that long? Didn't he think it was weird?" Alya raised her eyebrows, surprised.
"I never understood that guy either," Nino spoke, making Adrien chuckle.
"I only wish I knew what he thinks. Gorilla just… barely ever talks."
[In Marinette's room, she and Alya are finally erasing the message.]
Phone: If you want to listen to your message again, press 1. If you want to delete your message, press 2.
[Marinette looks at Alya for confirmation before deleting it.]
Marinette: You know what? I'll tell him I found his phone. It's a good excuse to start a conversation, no? And plus, like that, I can invite him to the cinema.
Alya: I'm proud of you!
"Or not so much, since you didn't do that in the end," Alya teased, and Marinette sighed.
"It is hard, okay?!"
[The next day, Adrien and Nino enter the class, where Marinette and Alya are already waiting for them on their seats.]
Nino: Maybe you dropped it somewhere.
Adrien: In that case, the person who got it must have found it in the boys' locker room. It's where I checked my messages during fencing classes!
[Marinette quickly puts Adrien's phone in his bag, sitting up straight like nothing has happened when his bag falls.]
Adrien: [looks down] It was there! But I looked in there a million times!
"Everything makes so much more sense now," Adrien muttered, quite amused.
Nino: You need to clear your head. Hey, I know, we ca go to the cinema tonight!
Alya: Hey, guys, would it bother you if we came with you?
Nino: No way, it'd be cool!
"Girl, what was that?!" Alya snickered among her friends at the sight of Marinette leaping with joy.
"I didn't do that!" She defended. "You were there, you know!"
"You totally thought of it, though." Adrien grinned from his place on her chest, regretting his actions almost immediately when he suddenly found himself on the floor. "HEY!"
The class laughed, Marinette along with them.
"That's what happens with bad kittens, Adrien. They lose their petting privileges." She grinned down at him, earning a pout in response.
"Well," Alix spoke, "and in this episode, we have just found that our dear class president and super hero is a thief!" She turned to look at said president, smiling playfully.
Marinette grumbled, crossing her arms. "That was one time…"
"Actually, it was not," Alya said, and everyone turned to her.
"It was not?" Adrien asked, stunned.
"Nope. She stole my phone once, because she accidentally erased one of my videos. Still can't wait to see how that happened."
If it ever appears in an episode, which I sure hope not… Marinette sighed. What could she do if she got desperate in situations like that?
"Well, aren't you forgetting her third robbery?"
"THIRD?" Alya seemed to be the one stunned this time, looking at Chloé along with everyone else. The blonde nodded.
"Yes. She stole my phone once too, and a memory card from Adrien's photographer along with it."
"I– What– Marinette, you're a real thief!" Alya turned back to her best friend.
"Am not! I returned all of those! I swear!" The heroine raised her hands up in surrender. "I'm no thief! I just… follow the principle of desperate measures for desperate times?"
Her friends sighed, shaking their heads.
"This is Ladybug, everyone," Adrien deadpanned, now sitting on the floor in front of her. "Superhero at night and thief in plain day."
She glared at him, receiving an innocent grin. "Only the truth, my Buginette."
That earned him an eyeroll.
"Well, I'm sorry to interrupt," Kim got their attention, "but I believe Alya said something about you transforming?"
"Please do!" Juleka spoke. "That would be so awesome!"
Their other classmates shared their agreement as well.
Adrien and Marinette glanced at each other, a small smirk making its way onto their faces.
Together, the two stood up, moving closer to the screen where everyone could see them, their kwamis hovering their shoulders.
They turned to each other once more.
"So," Adrien started, "should I go first, since you've already transformed once? Or should you?"
Marinette seemed to contemplate the idea for a moment, before smiling.
"I say together."
Together.
Adrien smiled back.
"I like the way that sounds."
The heroes looked at their kwamis, receiving quick nods from them before finally facing their classmates.
They took a deep breath.
"Tikki."
"Plagg."
"Transform me!"