"And that's pretty much what happened," explained Alya over a skype call that Adrien partially wished he never listened to. 24 hours after Marinette and Nathanael's break-up; after Marinette, Alya, and Nathanael skipped school, Alya had gotten Marinette to open up about the break up, reporting shortly after to Nino and Adrien when Marinette went to go shower.
"That's rough, how's she feeling now," asked Nino?
"She seemed better after we talked things out, although a little tired. And she does seem a little confidence drained."
"Confidence drained," Adrien lifted his head enough so he could see the screen.
"Yeah, I mean first boyfriend breaks up with her because she's a hero. Can't handle her saving the world and the risks that come with it."
Adrien frowned, placing his head back to its former position. How Alya had explained it, it really felt like it was his fault. If only he hadn't been so clingy when he made her make that promise. If only he kept himself controlled when he turned evil instead of flirting with her. If only he had stood his ground when she flirted with him. If only he had stopped her from kissing him.
"Alya, what are you doing," Marinette opened the door of the bathroom, Adrien looking up to see her dress in oversized pink pajamas, drying her hair with a towel. He would say it was adorable if not for the dark circles under her eyes.
"Hey Marinette, you feeling alright," asked Nino.
Alya scooted to the side of the frame, allowing Marinette into view.
"I'm doing alright, I think I'll go to school tomorrow."
"You sure," Adrien jumped up in his seat, "You don't have to push yourself."
"I'm sure," Marinette offered a small smile.
"So unless any missions come up, I'm planning we all doing something with Marinette this week," stated Alya.
"Alya, you don't have to. Having you guys here is enough."
"Come on girl, let us treat you. Just for this week."
"Yeah it'll be fun. We can go to the arcade like old times," offered Nino.
"And I'm sure father wouldn't mind if you came to one of my photoshoots," added Adrien. He knew Marinette would love to be on set for one of the photoshoots, and would insist the photographer not try to include her like last time.
"I...I'll think about it. That's really sweet you guys."
"No prob LB," responded Nino.
The four teens were left on the skype call, Alya looking at one corner of the screen where Adrien was certain Nino's video feed was, while Marinette avoided eye contact all together.
"Well, I need to go shower. We'll see you boys tomorrow. G'night," Alya waved, lifting one of Marinette's hands to wave.
"Alright, good night you two. Night Adrien," Nino waved before logging off.
"Goodnight," Adrien gave a half hearted smile before hanging up, Buginette immediately jumping on his lap while Plagg decided to occupy the keyboard.
"I bet Marinette would want you right now." Adrien smiled to himself as he scratched Plagg between the ears briefly before petting Buginette. Thinking the idea might cheer Marinette up, Adrien reached for his phone.
"Want me to bring over Plagg for cuddles?"
Her response was almost immediate.
"Sorry, no pets in the bakery."
"You live three stories above a bakery. There is a difference."
"Sorry Chaton, you're the only pet allowed."
Adrien blushed at that, immediately shaking his head. He could not flirt with her. She just had her heart broken and it was his fault.
"I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"Everything. You and Nathanael."
"Don't blame yourself for that. I don't. I should have had a better handle on things."
"And I should have been a better partner. I shouldn't have pressured you with that promise. I shouldn't have gotten in between you and Nathanael."
"And I should have better self control. If I did, I would have never had to make that choice between you two."
Adrien sighed, slumping back in his seat. That had been a terrible move on Nathanael's part, but after what happened it seemed almost justified.
"I'll make this right. You're my best friend, your happiness is most important to me."
"Thanks Adrien. Although I'm not sure Nino would appreciate being demoted."
"I can have more than one best friend. You and Nino are tied."
"Then I am proud to share that honor."
Marinette giggled at the text she sent to Adrien as Alya entered her room.
"Ah a laugh from Marinette. What has brightened my sad little Ladybug," Alya teased as she joined Marinette on the bed, Marinette quickly hiding her phone.
"Nothing. Just a cat video."
"A cat video? Or a cat boyfriend," Alya grabbed Marinette's sides and began to tickle her, Marinette kicking her legs and laughing as she did.
"Stop it Alya! Stop!"
Alya succeeded in turning Marinette over, grabbing the phone to see the text from Adrien.
"Already moving on back to cat boyfriend?"
"NO!" Marinette grabbed her phone. "He's just trying to cheer me up." Marinette read over the texts, smiling as she read his response.
"You should be. It is a rare privilege to be Adrien Agreste's best friend. It sounds like he's ready to fight for your happiness," Alya scooted closer to Marinette, reading over the text with her.
"I know, I just hope he doesn't do anything to crazy."
"Like fight Nathanael?"
"Or worse."
Alya sighed pulled Marinette into her arms.
"You sure you're ok?"
"I'll be fine."
Marinette typed in a response.
Adrien was tucked into bed when his phone dinged with a new message, quickly moving to the side of the bed, disturbing his cats.
"Good Night Adrien. See you at school tomorrow."
"See you tomorrow My Lady."
Adrien was a cat on a mission the next morning. He made sure his driver got him there early to school the next morning, waiting in the courtyard for Nathanael to appear. He had already sent Nino ahead and so far Marinette and Alya had yet to show. If he had a tail, it would be flicking nervously as he waited.
He almost missed the red-head heading towards the locker hall in his nervous pace.
"Nathanael," Adrien raced over, Nathanel turning to him, also with dark circles under his eyes, the rest of him trying to look as composed and put together as possible.
"Hey," he mumbled.
"Can we talk?"
Nathanael slightly hesitated before nodding, Adrien leading him towards a vacant classroom. Nathanael leaned on a desk, not meeting Adrien's eye as Adrien turned to face him.
"You can be Marinette's partner."
Nathanael's head shot up, eyes confused as he blinked a couple times.
"What?"
"You can be Marinette's partner. Saving the world."
"But you're her partner?"
Adrien sighed, scratching the back of his neck, "I promised Marinette I would be her partner for as long as I wanted to be. And seeing you with Marinette made her really happy. If you being her partner would make her happy again, I don't want to stand in the way."
Nathanael's eyes went wide, gripping the art book he held tight to his chest.
"Why are you doing this?"
"Because it's my fault you guys fought. If I could, I would let you punch me in the face, but my dad's assistant told me it is insured. So this was the next best thing I could think of."
Nathanael frowned.
"It's not your fault. I will admit you were a catalyst, but I choose how to react to the situation as did Marinette. I could have handled it better I admit, but I honestly don't think it's going to work between her and me. I don't think I can handle her saving the world and I don't want to make her give up that."
Adrien nodded. If he was ever lucky enough to someday date Marinette, he wouldn't want to hold her back. If it was possible. She may have flirted and kissed him, but how much did she mean it? And with the break up, now wouldn't be a good time to find out.
"Thank you for the offer, but I don't think I'm the best person to be her partner. Dating or hero wise," concluded Nathanael.
Adrien nodded as Nathanael left the room, sitting alongside a student desk. He had hoped to make everything right. He didn't care if he had to take a step back for awhile, he just wanted Marinette happy.
He was disturbed from his brooding by the door opening, lifting his head to see Alya.
"We saw Nathanael leave, figured he wouldn't come to freshman history without a good reason."
Adrien smirked as Alya sat beside him.
"Where's Marinette," he asked.
"With Nathanael."
Adrien turned to look at her.
"Marinette asked him to talk now that it's been a few days. She said to clear any bad air between them."
Adrien nodded.
"What did you talk to him about?"
Adrien sighed, wishing he had a photoshoot rather than face Alya's questioning.
"I tried to give my partnership with Marinette to him. I hoped it would fix things."
Alya groaned as she face palmed, "This is what Marinette meant by you doing something crazy."
Adrien chuckled, "She knows me too well."
"You have no idea," Alya mumbled.
"What?"
"Nothing!"
Adrien looked at Alya who looked ready to burst with information, before taking a deep breath.
"As Marinette's other best friend and female confident, I obliged to keep some secrets. But I can tell you that Marinette never once regretted you being her partner. She had difficulties coming to terms with Adrien and Chat being the same person, but never wanted to change you for someone else. Even after Nathanael."
"Really?"
"Positive. You definitely do a better job than me when I am called in."
Adrien laughed at that, Alya chuckling as well.
"As her best friend, and partner, she needs you with her, not backing off thinking it will make her happy. Marinette knows how to speak her mind and will tell you if its too much."
"Would it then be too much to sneak Plagg into her room then?"
Alya smirked at the idea as she stood up, "I think that's the best idea yet."
She extended a hand, which Adrien accepted as help to stand up. Adrien raced to the door ahead of her and opened it.
"As Marinette's confident, could you possibly tell me what she thought of the...kiss?" Adrien didn't know why he thought that was a good idea to ask as Alya's smirk grew into devilish smile.
"What was that?"
"Did Marinette mention anything about the ...kiss?"
"Sorry, validates best friend code."
Adrien figured that would probably be her response.
"You'd have to try it again though to find out her actual response though," Alya teased as she skipped ahead to where Marinette was waiting at the bottom of the stairs. Adrien felt really hot, despite the cold April weather and lack of sweater.
"What were you two talking about," asked Marinette as they approached.
"Adrien loaning you Plagg for the week," answered Alya as she led the trio upstairs.
"No cats," Marinette insisted.
"But you've had Plagg over before," insisted Adrien, trying to shake off what Alya said to him.
"But if I accept Plagg, I may accept Buginette as well, then I'll just start adopting cats and turn into a cat lady."
"I'd stop you from taking Buginette, besides she seemed indifferent to you," offered Adrien.
"Fine, you can bring Plagg over," relented Marinette as they entered the classroom.
"Oh so you actually decided to show up today," taunted Chloe, who was sitting on her desk, admiring her nails.
"What's that supposed to mean Chloe," snarled Alya.
"Isn't it obs? Marinette totally got dumped," announced Chloe, the other students turning their heads to Marinette, who shrunk next to Alya. Adrien placed a reassuring hand on Marinette's shoulder, feeling her straighten a little at his touch.
"But not like anyone didn't see it coming, especially after you nearly turned into a cat. You could totally tell he was just with her out of pity."
"It was not out of pity!" Everyone in the classroom turned to see Nathanael who had somehow appeared at his seat.
"Marinette is an amazing person, not just as a hero but as a girlfriend."
"Then please tell us Nathanael, why did you dump Marinette," Chloe hopped off her seat, stalking towards Nathanael, "If she's so amazing why did you end it?"
Nathanael paled, visibly uncomfortable with Chloe being in his face.
"It's none of your business Chloe," growled Adrien.
Chloe turned away, visibly shocked by Adrien responding.
"If they wanted you to know, they would have told you. But since they haven't, then its obs none of your business."
Chloe looked like she was coming up with a retort when the bell rang, Chloe stomping off to her seat.
Alya escorted Marinette to their seat, while Adrien took his own. He glanced over at Chloe, who pulled out her homework, noticing for once Sabrina was no longer beside her. He looked around the class to see Sabrina behind Marinette, next to Ivan. And surprisingly enough, offering encouraging words to Marinette.
Adrien glanced between Chloe and Sabrina several times before the teacher came in, neither girl acknowledging the other's presence.
Other than Chloe's outburst that morning, everyone else had been considerate of the situation. Classmates didn't bring up the subject, with the exception of Sabrina who actually wished Marinette the best. Alya, Nino, and Adrien always made sure one of them was by her side. Nino would show off some stuff he was working on. Alya always managed to steer Marinette away from the signs for prom. Adrien always made sure to have his hand on her shoulder, talking only when Marinette wanted to, but always smiling.
"So how do you plan to bring Plagg over," asked Marinette at the end of the school day, Adrien sitting on the bench behind her locker.
"I asked my driver to bring Plagg with him earlier. They should be here soon."
"Nino had an amazing idea," Alya and Nino came around the corner, Nino carrying some of Alya's books she would need for the make up homework.
"Why don't we do a study session at Marinette's place? Since you girls need to catch up on yesterday's homework," Nino offered.
"Isn't that perfect," asked Alya.
"It's fine you guys, I don't want to inconvenience you."
"No inconvenience at all, beside Nino probably wants help with today's homework too," teased Adrien. Nino glared at his friend, neither confirming or denying the accusation.
"So study group at Marinette's is a go," announced Alya pulling Marinette out of the locker hall with Adrien shutting her locker as they left.
As Adrien had said, his driver was outside with Plagg, Adrien taking the cat and apologizing for the change of plans. Instead grimly insisting Adrien get back in the car, the driver nodded, enter the car, and drove away. Only when the four teens had crossed the street to Marinette's house did they find the driver had gone inside to purchase some baked goods from Tom and Sabine.
After being sent up with some baked goods from Marinette's parent's, the four teens crashed in Marinette's room.
"I thought school was never going to end," Alya groaned as she crashed on the chaise with Nino. Adrien plopped himself on the rug, patting the side next to him for Marinette, which she took.
"It hasn't yet, we still have homework," insisted Marinette, pulling out one of her make-up assignments.
"Give me five minutes," Alya turned in her position so she was cuddling Nino's side, while Nino was checking his phone.
"How you feeling," whispered Adrien as he set Plagg in Marinette's lap before taking out his homework.
"Alright, emotionally not all there, but I'm working through it," Marinette pet Plagg between his ears, the kitten rubbing himself against her.
"Plagg, stop being so touchy," mockingly scolded Adrien.
"It's fine, kittens are for cuddling," Marinette pulled Plagg up close, smothering her face in his fur. Totally missing Adrien's blush. What she did notice was Adrien was closer than before.
"Chatons are good for cuddling too," he whispered.
Now it was Marinette's turn to blush as she felt the warmth rising to her cheeks.
"I'm sorry! I didn't mean! Especially after! Nevermind," Adrien spluttered as he turned in his seat and quickly opened his book upside down to do homework.
"Sorry to make this more awkward, but you got a hit on the website," mentioned Nino, passing his phone over to Marinette.
"There's more than one hit on the site Nino," Marinette scolded.
"Police are handling the conveyor belt heist from yesterday. There's a world-wide shortage on Clara Nightingale dolls."
"What? My mom ordered two for my sisters' birthday," Alya rolled over in her seat.
"Guess who put in the request then."
"We're on it."
"We want Clara! We want Clara! We want Clara!"
Marinette and Adrien meandered through the crowd of little girls protesting outside a toy store, the manager visibly upset from the window.
"Where are these girl's parents," asked Marinette, hoping Manon was not among the group.
"These girls are probably like Chloe, busy parents and limited on caretaker supervision." Adrien pointed to where off to the side waited a row of limousines, with the drivers all occupied on their phones.
"Figures," grumbled Marinette as they made it to the front door. She waved at the manager, who quickly opened the door to let them in.
"Ladybug and Chat Noir, thank heavens you are here," the older man breathed, quickly shutting the glass door.
"I think you missed one." Marinette pointed down to the small girl with blond hair and bright blue eyes scowling at the manager while holding onto his leg.
"You're holding out," she accused. With a startled yelp, the manager grabbed the girl by the collar, and sent her outside with the other protesters.
"How long has this been going on," asked Marinette as she briefly glanced to Adrien, who turned to keep an eye on the protestors.
"Since someone stole the assembly line. They shut down the factory." The old man burst into tears, probably from lack of sleep by guarding the store from his meter high protestors.
"Um, is that your car out there?" Adrien looked back at Marinette and the manager, pointing outside the window.
Marinette frowned as she dialed Nino on her watch, "Nino, about the Clara dolls, there was…"
"Engine theft at the factory. I see. Hmmm, it gets weird."
"Lovely," responded Marinette sarcastically, Nino ignoring the sarcasm.
"The thieves literally disappeared from the factory with the engine."
"They're writing something in finger paint. Is that how that's spelled?" Adrien made a disgusted face at the window, then turned to scowl at the drivers who were still oblivious to the destruction caused by their charges.
"Even weirder is that this is exactly like yesterday's conveyor belt heist."
"Could be somebody's building their own assembly line," guessed Marinette.
Adrien, Marinette, Nino, and Alya sat in the cafeteria, Marinette and Adrien both reading on Nino's laptop the details between the conveyor belt heist and the assembly line heist.
"Weird," mumbled Marinette as they watched the clips, the difference between frames was the item in question was there, and the next gone.
"Hey, Marinette?"
The group all turned to see Sabrina holding a lunch tray.
"Is it alright if I sit with you guys?"
"Sure," responded Marinette, Sabrina sitting across from them.
Looks were exchanged between the four, Adrien speaking up, "Sabrina?"
Sabrina paused before she took a bite of her sandwich.
"I noticed yesterday you weren't hanging out with Chloe, is everything ok between you two?"
Sabrina's eyes welled up until she burst into tears, Marinette jumping from her seat with some napkins to sit by the girl's side.
"It's ok Sabrina," Marinette put a comforting arm around the girl, Sabrina eagerly taking the tissues offered to wipe her eyes and blow her nose.
"Chloe and I had a fight. We are on the prom committee as the Junior representatives, and Chloe offered to get them Jagged Stone for the dance since he's still staying at her hotel. We tried to ask, but he said no. Then Chloe got mad at me, and said I...I…" at this point Sabrina erupted into a new round of tears, Marinette quickly drying them for her.
"She said, when I went to talk to her about it the next day, that didn't know me."
"That is absolutely terrible." Marinette pulled Sabrina closer, handing her another tissue to wipe her nose.
"Chloe hasn't been talking to me since, and I don't know what to do."
"Well, why don't you try getting another singer for the prom? Maybe try talking to Jagged again and see if he can recommend someone," offered Marinette.
"Or find a small band in the school," added Alya.
"I could even DJ if you are running out of options," mentioned Nino, receiving a curious eye from Alya.
"Or not, because I might have a date. But I can set you up with someone else."
"Thank you so much Marinette! You guys!"
Sabrina hurriedly stuffed the rest of her sandwich into her mouth as she pulled out her phone. "I'll try to make an appointment with Mr. Stone and see if he can recommend someone."
Content things looked to be going alright, Adrien slid Marinette's tray over to her so she could continue sitting next to Sabrina.
"Marinette Dupain-Cheng!"
Four people groaned at the nasally voice, Sabrina focused on her writing to even notice.
"Yes Chloe?" Marinette turned to face the blond, who briefly scowled at Sabrina before turning back to Marinette.
"I need you to get Jagged Stone for the prom. Maybe even bring him as your date since Nathanael dumped you."
"Sorry Chloe, but I think Sabrina has a handle on the prom night performer," argued Adrien.
"And dates aren't required to go to prom thank you," added Marinette.
"Besides, do you even have a date for the prom yet," teased Alya.
Chloe looked at the group flabbergasted, "I'll have you know I have men lining up to ask me to prom."
"Have fun with that," commented Nino as he brought his laptop back over to him now that Marinette and Adrien were no longer using it.
Chloe scowled, then opened her mouth about to say something, briefly glancing down at Sabrina, before walking away in a huff.
"Alright, I sent an email to his manager. I'll wait a few minutes before calling to see if I can meet him after school." Sabrina smiled to herself before putting her phone away, going back to eating her lunch.
"Nice!" "Good Luck!" Adrien and Marinette wished as they both stood up to throw away their lunches.
"It's weird seeing Sabrina act independently of Chloe," commented Adrien as he trashed his lunch, taking Marinette's tray to do the same.
"She just needs a little push, but she's a pretty nice person on her own." Adrien nodded, as they both received a call on their watches.
"Nino, we are like meters away," commented Marinette, both her and Adrien looking over to Nino.
"Too far, you got a hit from a brand new mannequin factory in Sweden. It boasts a state of the art central control unit that can process a dummy a minute."
"Sounds like a sweet target for the disappearing thieves." Marinette looked over to Adrien and smiled.
"Chloe is the bossiest person on the planet," Marinette grumbled as she and Adrien walked through the factory. Since leaving the school, Marinette had been stewing over Sabrina and Chloe's situation, appalled that Chloe would have the nerve to make Marinette her lackey after what happened.
"Bold statement, Bugaboo. It's a big planet."
"And I've been all around it, but I've never found a more controlling, devious, bossy…"
"Ladybug, thank you for coming so quickly," a foreman approached, halting Marinette's rant.
"No big." Marinette took a moment to look around the factory, noticing a few mannequins, "Is it just me or are these mannequins good-looking?"
"Definitely something my father would want," Adrien stepped closer to the mannequin, admiring the quality.
"With all of these mysterious thefts, we cannot afford to take chances with the central control unit. It runs the entire factory." The foreman gestured to the central control, leading them away from the mannequins.
"Don't worry, sir. If the thieves show, we'll get 'em."
"I'll take look out and you take point," offered Adrien.
Marinette nodded, moving closer to the central control unit with the foreman while Adrien left to scope out the area.
But he was soon back by Marinette's side.
"I thought you said you would take look out," asked Marinette.
"I thought I did too." They both looked down to find they were tied up by Marinette's grabbing yoyo, the foreman stuck with them.
They both looked where the central control unit should have been to find it gone.
"Did I miss something," asked Adrien, blinking several times as he looked where the central control once stood.
"I think we all missed something."
Marinette frowned. Who were these thieves, and how could they move so fast.
Adrien sighed, "Foiled in a dummy factory. This doesn't look good."
Adrien was distracted throughout the photo shoot. He had offered for Marinette to accompany him since Nino was researching footage of the recent robbery. But Marinette wasn't into it. Rather than have her sketch book out and within reasonable distance to admire to designs, she was sporadically doing homework, occasionally staring off into space.
"Alright, let's take a break," called out the photographer, everyone dispersing as Adrien ran over to Marinette.
"Hey Marinette, enjoying the shoot," he asked. Marinette looked up at him and forced a smile.
"Sure, you're doing great Adrien."
Adrien raised his eyebrows and proceeded to sit down next to her.
"You sure you're alright?"
Marinette shrugged, closing her textbook. "I just feel weird, the last time I was at a photoshoot, I was all over you, and I'm not exactly sure how to act."
Adrien felt his cheeks warm up, glancing at Marinette as her cheeks turned pink. As nice as it had been, now was not the time to focus on potential romance with Marinette. Especially if her feeling for him were as uncertain as she sounded.
"Just be yourself. Not the cursed to run high on romantic emotions, but the you that normally gawks over outfits and writes notes about them to make your own creation."
Marinette giggled, humming in agreement.
"If you don't think you are up for it though, I understand. I can come by later and we can play some mecha strike."
Marinette pursed her lips, thinking of what to do. As much as Adrien wanted Marinette to stay, he didn't want to force her if this was bringing up unpleasant memories.
"I'll stay, I think I've been cooped up in the house long enough."
"Would you want to come over to my house then? Play Mecha Strike?"
"Maybe." Adrien smiled, noticing Marinette's cheeks turning pink. He didn't have time to question it when their watches beeped.
"Go Nino," said Marinette as their screens revealed Nino in his room.
"LB, those Swedish security tapes were revealing. Take a look."
The screen changed to a playback of the footage from the factory, " See? The thieves appear, seem to vanish, and then the CCU is gone."
"Don't need the instant replay, lived it," Marinette groaned.
"Right, but you lived at normal speed. Watch in extra super slow-mo."
Nino played the video, the video revealing three familiar figures.
"Nino, freeze it there," ordered Marinette, both teens examining their small screen closely.
"Do we know them?"
"It's the Bebe Robots," Marinette gasped.
"They disappeared."
Nino continued playing the slow-mo version.
"It seemed like it. But in fact, they accelerated such incredibly speed they couldn't be seen. In the time it took to blink, they had you wrapped up tight. And not just fast, they're strong, too. That CCU was heavy, but they picked it up and walked off."
"Didn't we kick their cans?" Adrien looked to Marinette who looked just as confused as he felt.
"I thought so…"
Nino switched the screen to his room.
"I got an idea. I've been doing some side work to buy a tux for prom. Oh wait. Not suppose to mention prom."
"You did," commented Marinette.
"Twice," added Adrien.
"Anyway, I've been earning some side-cash by working for this company. Let me know when you can get there."
"Lemme check with the photographer," Adrien quickly jumped up to check on the photographer, hoping whatever Nino was working on would help.
Marinette and Adrien sat in the lobby of some electronics company waiting for Nino, Marinette watching the TV while Adrien petted Buginette.
"Why did you bring Buginette?"
"Because father found her scratching the front door. He said I should take her out more since she use to be an outdoor cat."
Marinette nodded, eyeing the cat. Buginette always seemed to favor Adrien over her, and the reverse with Plagg. Buginette looked back at her before settling her head in Adrien's lap.
"Whatever they're planning, those Bebes got a serious speed upgrade. I hope Nino has what we need," commented Marinette while looking around the room, noticing a small TV elevated in a corner of the room.
"A hive is city for bees. Bees reproduce in the hive.'
"Hey sorry I'm late. Tried to hide all the broccoli mom bought for dinner tonight," Nino ran through the door, panting as he rested his hands on his knees.
"A hive is run by the queen who is selected by the workers," continued the TV, pieces falling together in Marinette's head
"Are you watching this?" Both boys turned their attention to the TV.
Nino shrugged, "The production values are way below Ghost Car."
Adrien's eyes lit up in realization, "The Bebes are building some kind of hive, and they need a queen."
"So next on their shopping list would probably be a queen," concluded Marinette.
"If they don't have one already."
"Then hopefully my project can help us with that," interrupted Nino as he started heading into the building, swiping a keycard. Adrien stuffed Buginette into his bag, following behind Marinette.
"I've been doing some consulting work on movement dynamics," Nino lead them down a hall until they reached a heavily armored door. Swiping his key card, the door opened, revealing a decent sized room with a maze in the middle.
"It's a rat maze," guessed Marinette as Nino pressed a button, a rat running out of his enclosed area.
"A slow rat too," added Adrien as they watched the rat make it all the way to the end. Buginette caught eye of the rat, attempting to leap out of Adrien pouch, but Adrien quickly held onto his cat.
"That was just the control group without the speed enhancement," commented Nino as the rat disappeared into another hole.
"Now for the experimental group," Nino pressed another button, another rat speeding out of another door. Before anyone could blink, the mouse had already made it to the cheese dispenser. Buginette jumped out, chasing after the mouse.
"Buginette!" Adrien chased after Buginette as the mouse continued on its path, making it around the maze several times to grab more cheese while Adrien tried to grab Buginette.
"The Valkyrie 1,000 hyper accelerates the movements of living organisms," explained Nino, gesturing to the chaos before them.
"What's that mean?" Marinette looked to Nino for an answer.
"They make you go fast," answered Adrien for them. Marinette nodded in understanding.
"I don't suppose you have those in a size 37."
Nino smiled as he pressed another button, revealing another pair of shoes.
"It's the only human pair. And we haven't finished testing yet."
"No time. They're my best hope of catching the speedy Bebes." Marinette reached for the shoes, Nino taking them before she could.
"Maybe. But don't wear them any more than necessary. We don't understand all the effects the shoes you have."
"Got it."
Nino handed over the shoes.
"Got her!"
Both teens turned to the destroyed maze to see Adrien clutching onto Buginette, who had the rat's tail sticking out of her mouth.
Adrien looked from Nino's panicked face to Buginette.
"Spit it out!"
"You hear that," Alya came around Marinette the next morning at school as she put away the experimental shoes.
"Hear what?" Marinette listened for whatever Alya heard, only to hear the mumble of students in the locker hall with lockers being shut. She looked over to Alya who was grinning as if she knew a dirty secret, which she probably did.
"What am I supposed to hear?"
"More correctly, what you are not supposed to hear." Marinette gave her friend a strange look, continuing her exchange of school books.
"I'll give you a hint. 'My daddy will hear about this!'"
"Chloe?"
"More like lack of Chloe. I heard she called in sick today."
"Marinette!" Both girls turned to the voice to find Sabrina running towards them.
"Thank you both so much for your ideas! I talked to Jagged Stone and guess who he referred me to! Clara Nightingale. She agreed to play a few songs later in the night, but for opening I found a band here at school that are willing to play so long as they can sell their merchandise."
"Great job Sabrina!" Marinette held up her hand for a high-five, Sabrina grinning madly before returning the gesture.
"Have you seen Chloe today," asked Alya.
Sabrina looked confused for a second, trying to think when she last saw Chloe.
"No, the last time I saw her was when I left the hotel after talking to Mr. Stone. Why?"
"I heard she called in a sick day, was just checking."
"She looked fine to me. She was receiving room service when I saw her."
"Strange, maybe I should go check," offered Marinette.
"You'll never make it back in time for school," commented Sabrina.
"Plus is checking on Chloe even worth it?"
"Just have to make sure. It's regarding a new mission. What's Chloe's room number?" Marinette slung her bag over her shoulders, pulling the shoes out of the locker to exchange them with her flats.
"Room 404."
"I'll be back in a flash." Marinette zoomed out of the school towards the hotel, dashing up the steps only to be stopped by the locked room.
"Locked." She quickly ran up to the pool longue and then ran over to Chloe's balcony to find her nowhere in sight, she quickly dashed around the room, the blond neither throwing up in the toilet or picking out her outfit.
She pulled out her phone and called Adrien.
"Adrien what is the probability the Bebes heard me describe Chloe yesterday?"
"Probable but unlikely. But if they could be there in a moment, why would they be there in advance. And where are you? School's about to start."
"Brief recon. I'll be over there in a sec." Marinette dashed up the wall, back down the stairs, and headed back towards school, making it to her seat as the warning bell rang. With Chloe gone, Sabrina was in her normal seat. Alya, Nino, and Adrien were all staring at her, Adrien with his phone still in hand from their phone call.
"You tried out the shoes," groaned Nino
"Just to see if Chloe was sick or missing."
"The verdict?"
"Missing, she's not at home. My theory is the Bebes may have kidnapped her, but its just a theory."
"Why Chloe," asked Alya
"Marinette was ranting about her yesterday," explained Adrien.
"The Bebes may have overheard. And if they are as obsessed with being as perfect as last time, Chloe would be a good target for them," added Marinette
"Well, we can put that theory of yours to the test." Nino handed his phone to Marinette.
"A satellite scan shows a structure that's suddenly appeared on an island off the Gulf coast."
"Super-speed construction? A hive. Let's jet." Marinette quickly picked up Adrien and sped out of there.
Marinette, Adrien, and Buginette sat in the pit of a helicopter flying over the Gulf of Mexico. Marinette had begun vibrating in place an hour ago.
"Thanks for the lift Joe," commented Marinette.
"It's the least I can do…" Joe's voice grew slower until it stopped all together, the pilot frozen mid sentence.
"Joe? Joe…" Marinette waved her hand in front of Joe, the man not responding. She turned back to Adrien.
"Adrien something's wrong with…" Adrien was staring out the window, his hand frozen as he was about to pet Buginette, who was sleeping on his lap.
"Great, I'm moving at hyper speed," Marinette groaned. She leaned over to untie the shoes, only to find they wouldn't come off.
"Come on," she pulled, but the shoes wouldn't budge. She quickly turned on her watch, sending a message to Nino.
"Stuck in hyper-speed. Shoes won't come off. Please help."
Marinette unbuckled herself to get a better view of where they were, the helicopter, the birds, and the ocean all frozen in place.
"Great, at this rate I could just walk there," she groaned. Which actually didn't sound like a bad idea at this point.
Taking a piece of paper, she quickly wrote a message for Adrien, leaving it on his shirt, before leaving.
"It's the least I can do, Ladybug…"answered the pilot, Adrien looking over to notice Marinette was no longer in her seat.
"Hey, Marinette's gone."
"Gone where? We're in the air over the ocean. What's on your shirt?"
Adrien looked down to see a piece of paper attached to his shirt. He quickly pulled it off and flipped it over to read.
"CN, moving at hyper speed. Went ahead. LB. Huh, must be the shoes." Adrien folded the note and stowed it in his pocket.
Marinette skid to a stop once she reached the island, speedily shifting between trees until she found a hive looking structure.
"This must be the place," she murmured to herself, ducking out of sight as a Bebe came into view.
"Bebe 16, accessing hive." The doors opened for the Bebe, the Bebe heading inside. Marinette quickly ran inside, making it just as the door closed.
Inside there were three Bebes checking their assembly line with parts from the three heists. Marinette quickly zipped to another location in the hive room to get a better look. In an enclosed hexagon sat Chloe.
"Figures," Marinette grumbled.
A Bebe zipped right in front of her.
"Ladybug, you are so done-for." The two other Bebes zoomed to the robot's side, all three approaching Marinette.
Marinette leapt over them, the Bebe's surrounding as soon as she landed.
"Target, Kim Possible. Level of threat, totally less than minimal."
"Nice Queen by the way," snarked Marinette.
"Thanks to you , Ladybug."
"Really should keep my rants to the privacy of my own home," Marinette grumbled under her breath. They could have chosen worse though. They could have gone with Volpina.
"You identified Chloe as the bossiest on the planet. Perfect for our queen."
"Swell," groaned Marinette. As if Chloe having more lackeys was a good thing.
"The Bebe hive mind is so Chloe," commented one Bebe as they began closing in on her.
"Chloe rules," added another.
"OK, enough." Marinette opened up her watch,, "A hyper-sonic emission got you last time."
The Bebes paused, vibrating rapidly, with the occasional sparks flying.
"I don't think so." One of the Bebes zoomed towards Marinette, swiping at her wrist to cut off the watch.
"Hey!" Marinette ducked out of the way, another Bebe attempting to grab the watch from her. Marinette dodged, another Bebe grabbing her by the wrist, smashing the watch screen as she threw Marinette across the room. Marinette bounced off the wall and landed on the ground, the Bebes quickly surrounding her again.
"So sorry, Ladybug," taunted one of the Bebes
"Fool me twice and all that," said another.
"It's not over yet. I'm shutting you down!"
"I doubt that." One of the Bebes pushed a green button. "Resuming mass production."
The assembly line began rolling out more Bebe's, adding final touches, then installing their systems.
"Bebe 19, Bebe 20, Bebe 21, Bebe 22, Bebe 23…" called out the Bebe that had pushed the button.
As Marinette watched, her wrist was grabbed by one of the Bebes surrounding her, lifting her off the ground. Glancing around at her options, Marinette swung and kicked the Bebe holding onto her before kicking the Bebe next to her, landing safely on the ground. She sped over to the other Bebe still by the on switch, attempting a kick, that the Bebe dodged while swinging a punch Marinette ducked. Marinette attempted throwing a punch, but Bebe caught her hand and swung her around, throwing her across the room to land at the other two Bebe's feet.
"Give it up, Ladybug. Soon there'll be an army of Bebes and your queen, Chloe, will be perfect and take over your species."
"We're coming LB!" Adrien called out as he ran through the foliage of the island, Buginette buried deep in his pocket. He entered through side door, feeling a brief flash of wind as it shut.
Marinette ran over to Adrien when he stepped into the room.
"Adrien!" She waved her hand in front of him, the boy frozen mid run.
"You can't even see me."
Marinette then noticed the Bebes speeding towards, her, Marinette running out of the way.
"Adrikins! You came to save me!"
Adrien looked to the sound of the voice to find Chloe sitting in a chair, trapped in a hexagonal enclosure.
"Huh? So Marinette was right about you being their queen."
Adrien stepped closer to Chloe to examine her containment.
"Of course this would be Marinette's fault. Where is she," Chloe grumbled.
"She's moving at hyper speed just like the Bebes."
"Why does she get to be invisible? Is she gonna lord that over me?"
Adrien rolled his eyes, "Not invisible. Moving too fast to see. She's got new shoes."
"Whatever."
The structure began to shake, both teens looking around for the cause.
"Must be Ladybug," Adrien guessed.
Marinette was running along the walls, trying to keep away from the Bebes chasing after her.
"OK, yes. Defying gravity does rock."
"What are you doing in that thing," asked Adrien, gesturing to the enclosure.
"Hello! I wish I knew. These freaky chicks grabbed me when I order them to put me down they just said, "Chloe rules." Which, you know, I had to agree with."
"Nice going."
"Ugh, Just crack this thing open and get me out."
Adrien nodded, taking a step closer to the hexagon. Only for an electric zap to jump out of the top and strike him, sending him further back than before.
"Yikes!"
"Smooth move."
"Chloe," Adrien growled as he sat up.
"I'm not doing anything. They said the hive mind taps directly into my subconscious. Whatever that means."
Adrien sighed as he stood up, observing the situation. Clearly that thing didn't want to be touched, at least by him. And Marinette was probably too busy with the Bebes to help.
"Mreow."
Adrien looked down at his pocket to see Buginette looking up at him.
"Buginette! Can you help?"
Buginette jumped out of the pocket, revealing a pair of speedy shoes in her mouth.
"You naughty girl." Adrien took the shoes out of her mouth, stretched by how much the cat had been chewing on them. Glancing from the shoes to Buginette's paws, Adrien reasoned they were about the same size.
"Please let this work."
Adrien picked up the cat, and put the shoes on her. It took a little adjusting but they might work.
He hoped.
"Go help Ladybug," Adrien ordered, Buginette taking one step, which sent her dashing off elsewhere into the room.
"Why are you leaving my fate in the hands of a cat," groaned Chloe.
One of the machines began rattling, Adrien hoping it was Buginette.
"First of all, they are paws, not hands. Second, Buginette isn't the lazy cat."
Marinette found herself confronted by the Bebes again, blocking her path. Marinette flipped out of the way, only for the Bebe's to shoot out half their arms to grab her around the waist, their other arm grabbing her at her thighs.
"Give her a ride on the conveyor belt," spoke the three Bebes as they leapt onto the conveyor belt with Marinette. Marinette looked ahead to see they were approaching a box like unit the bebe dolls were going inside, the top opening briefly with every Bebe that passed.
"I would really rather not get Bebefied."
All of a sudden, a flash of white, black and red jumped from one of the machines, bouncing between the Bebes' heads before landing on Marinette's lap.
"Buginette!"
"Bebes, we need to destroy that freak."
Buginette turned and hissed, dodging out of the way as one of the Bebe's went after it. The Bebe uncoiled her arm from around Marinette's thighs, running after Buginette.
"Big mistake ladies," scolded Marinette as she rose to her feet. The remaining Bebes pulled her closer, Marinette dropping back onto the belt in time to kick one off and into the press box, smashing her to pieces.
"Now these odds I like."
Marinette fell on her back again, kicking the other Bebe in the head until it fell off.
Adrien was looking around the hive when something rolled in his direction. He picked it up, and screamed at the sight of the Bebe head, chucking it in Chloe's direction, where the machine zapped it with another jolt of electricity.
Marinette rolled off the conveyor belt at the last second, the other Bebe crushed by the press box. Marinette looked over to see Buginette had been caught by the third Bebe. Quickly making a lasso out of remaining Bebe arms, Marinette tossed the coiled limb around the robot, pulling it towards the press box. Once she had enough coil, Marinette threw it into the press box, pulling the Bebbe inside to meet a smashing end. Buginette ran over to Marinette, rubbing affectionately around her ankles.
"Three up, three down," commented Marinette to herself.
"Wrong, Ladybug." The recently built Bebes came forward, a lot more than three this time, "The hive cannot be defeated. The hive is perfect."
"Not exactly what I would call perfect. Nice working Buginette."
Buginette just meowed, Marinette uncertain if the cat was actually smiling back.
"What are you talking about?"
Marinette picked up a piece of broken glass, showing the Bebes their reflection. During the process, their heads had been screwed on upside down.
"No! Bebes must be perfect! Lik Queen Chloe is perfect."
"Bebes must be perfect," the Bebes began chanting as their circuits began spazzing, all of them collapsing to the ground. Marinette ran over to the central control unit, unplugging it.
"All done." Marinette looked over to Buginette to see the cat trying to take off the shoes to no success.
Disfigured Bebes began collapsing all around Adrien as they reappeared in normal speed.
"Way to go, My Lady!"
"Marinette, this is all your fault," yelled Chloe.
"You're probably talking too slow for her to hear you," Adrien turned back toward Chloe, still imprisoned.
"What about you?"
"Me, too."
"I suppose I have to let her out," Marinette groaned as she set to work disconnecting the prison, freeing Chloe.
Chloe was practically shoved out of her chair in an instant. But Marinette was nowhere in sight
"Marinette must have set you free," commented Adrien as he approached Chloe.
"Finally!"
"And that's it? No thank you?"
"She got me into this. Now how are we gonna get home?"
"Another note. LB's doing something." Adrien pointed at the paper taped to Chloe's chest.
"She is so weird," Chloe pulled off the note to read," 'Hang on, Queenie.' And what is that supposed to mean?"
Marinette put Buginette back in Adrien's pouch, the cat vibrating at she decided to nap.
"Let's go home."
Marinette picked up both Adrien and Chloe under her arms and ran out of the hive.
Sabrina was escorting Jagged Stone out of the building when Chloe and Adrien appeared out front.
"Sorry Mr. Stone. Thank you for visiting our school." Sabrina waved the grumbling musician off, stopping short when she saw Chloe.
"Sabrina," started Chloe.
"Chloe."
Adrien elbowed Chloe closer to Sabrina, Chloe scowling at him while he just gave a smile.
"Adrien told me you got Clara Nightingale for the Prom."
"Yes…"
"Good job."
Sabrina's eyes lit up in excitement.
"But we have to hear a demo of the school band you got. We have to make sure they are perfect for the prom."
"Ok, anything you say Chloe!" The girls went walking off, leaving Adrien alone on the school steps.
He was debating who to call regarding Marinette, when Nino called him.
"Dude, Marinette left us a note on the lab I've been working at. Says she can't stop and you have Buginette. Can you bring her over while we try to catch Marinette.
"Sure, I'll be right over."
Adrien hung up and smiled, feeling something in his pouch but seeing only a blur of what he assumed was Buginette. He held out his fist.
"Pound it," he congratulated the wind as he felt a slight breeze pass him.
Marinette groaned as she made it all the way to the beach again, trying to slow down to make it to Nino and Alya.
She immediately turned back, barely catching a glimpse of Adrien with his fist outstretched.
"Pound it," Marinette briefly tapped his fist as she attempted to slow down, only to find herself again nowhere near Paris.
Slight explanation. I included Clara Nightingale in this with the new episode release and that would be a better doll that the one I was going with. To keep with the accuracy, I already changed "Copying Faces" to include her name in a minor cameo.
Going off the episode Queen Bebe, Bonnie subconsciously summons Smash Mouth for a dance. So I changed it to where she summoned Jagged Stone on accident, which was why he was at the school.
And closure on Marinette and Nathanael.
Two more episodes until the "So the Drama".