ok guys sorry last edit I just think that that first chapter desperately needed to be broken up into two just because of the sheer amount of stuff going on. Anyway, let me know if you think this works better?

'If you insist, my lady,' came through the door, 'close your eyes so that I may go through to the bathroom unsuited.'

'Fair enough. Are you going to be in there a while?' Ladybug closed her eyes, and she heard the door open.

'There is a bath-bomb in that basket with Chat Noir written all over it. Try not to miss me.'

'Alright. Knock when you come out again when you're finished, I might just relax out here.'

The bathroom door opened and shut again. Her money was on that he had smiled at her for a long moment beforehand.

She waited until the she heard the bath tap running until releasing her transformation.

Tikki landed on her lap gently, before disappearing into the opened welcome basket.

'Well, that turned out well,' came from within. 'It's going to be hard to manoeuvre not finding out each others identities with you two sharing a room.'

'You're right, Tikki. There's almost no privacy.' She paused. 'Now that I think about it; of course the organisers thought we knew each others secret identity, so of course they wouldn't have a problem giving us the same room.'

'Absolutely.' Carefully, she extracted a box of cookies. 'I mean, they're not going to be as good as the ones that you brought from home, but I'll have to make them stretch somehow!'

'Do you want me to open them for you?'

'Yes please!'

Just as Marinette had slid her fingers under the opening tabs of the box, there was movement through the door. 'Tikki?'

'Plagg?' Tikki looked up.

'Long time no see!' Plagg zoomed over. 'Is there any cheese in that basket?'

Tikki rolled her eyes. 'There's plenty. Even your stinky camembert.'

'So you're plagg? Chat Noir's kwami?'

'That's me!' Plagg said proudly, before disappearing into the basket. 'So you're this time's Ladybug?'

She laughed nervously. 'I suppose?'

He stuck his head out to look at her closely, before shrugging. 'I have no idea who you are. That fool's around so many people all the time I hardly pay attention anymore.'

She let out a sigh of relief, and Tikki looked between the two.

'Oh well. Cookies please, Ladybug?' Tikki gazed at Marinette imploringly.

Marinette laughed. 'Sure, Tikki.' She quickly had the box open, and Tikki dived inside.

Plagg accidentally knocked the basket over in order to get to the cheese packets, and eventually emerged, clearing a small wheel of camembert from the debris.

'There looks like a lot of stuff in there,' Marinette pulled some more things free, including more bath bombs and shower gels, as well as cured meats in the area of where the cheeses had once been. 'I think there's more things in here than my pantry at home! Or my bathroom cupboard, for that matter...' She picked up an apple and bit into it pensively.

'Didn't that butler say that there was a gaming suite here?' Tikki said questioningly, looking at the massive television. 'We could put something on or play something while we wait for Chat Noir?'

'That pretty-boy's not going to be out until dinner time.' Plagg rolled his eyes. 'Luckily it's not far away, he'll be hungry sooner.'

Marinette looked at her watch. 'What time would that be happening?'

'I don't know,' Plagg shook his head, 'and I don't care.' He took a massive bite of cheese. 'I'm happy here. I've been stuck playing superhero all day, and nothing exciting happened at all.'

'Oh stop being so dramatic Plagg,' Tikki said. 'It's not like it's hugely strenuous to maintain things if there's nothing going on.' She looked at Marinette. 'Like I said, we should be okay for a few hours, but you know how it goes with Lucky Charm and Cataclysm.'

'That's fine, I'm just grateful that you're doing as much as you are.' Marinette smiled, then stood to go and look at the consoles under the tv. 'Hey, they have Mecha Strike IV! Wait,' she snatched up the cover, 'and five? I didn't even know that had been released yet?'

Tikki piped up. 'Do you remember the Gamer, who fought us with that big robot at the stadium a while back?'

'I remember, my skills actually improved a lot from that.' Marinette laughed, running her finger along the other covers. 'I haven't seen some of these before, I wonder how much gaming I'll be able to fit in before we have to go?'

'Oh it was terrible,' Plagg complained, 'we got thrown around a lot during that battle, but who'd've thought all that gaming would've been helpful?'

'I agree,' Marinette said, pulling out more games and looking at them, before sighing. 'I'm compiling my Christmas wish-list as we speak...'

The phone rang suddenly, and she looked up to try to source it.

She put the games carefully onto the coffee table, before striding over to the phone in the kitchenette, mentally practising how to answer the phone in her head.

'Hellyes, this is Ladybug?'

She mentally slapped herself.

'Ah, Ladybug. Just the woman I was after.' Came a voice, and it took her a second to place it, before realising.

'What can I do for you, Mayor Bougoir?'

Plagg and Tikki looked up at her questioningly, but Plagg disappeared back into his cheese again.

'I was wondering if both Chat Noir and yourself would care to join us for dinner at the High Plaza tonight?'

'That would be wonderful.' Marinette smiled, looking around at the kitchenette distractedly. 'What time would you like?'

'Is seven o'clock good for you?'

'Seven is fine. We shall see you there.'

'Thank you, we will indeed see you there.'

She hung up the phone delicately, before checking her watch, which read as half four.

Two and a half hours to kill, that was heaps of time for a movie. But she wanted Tikki and Plagg to rest enough as it was.

So she crossed the room to the bathroom, and tapped on the door.

'Yes?' Came from within.

'Chat, I'm just letting you know we've been invited to dine with the mayor and company at seven tonight.' She said.

'Alright. Do you mind if I stay in here a bit longer?'

'Take all the time that you want.' She turned to the bedroom, leaving the two kwami's to their pillaging.

Inside, she jumped slightly.

Chat had left a huge backpack next to his bed, more akin to a hiking bag than a backpack itself.

She was almost tempted to go through it, not for personal reasons but just to see what on earth he could have packed to take up so much space, especially considering that he was really only going to be seen in one outfit anyway.

Plagg appeared on her shoulder, bringing with her a chunk of ripe cheese. 'I told him not to bring so much, but this is quite small in comparison to usual.'

Subtly, Marinette tried to wave the smell away. 'To each their own I guess,' Tikki appeared on her other shoulder, a cookie in hand.

'Ooh, I'm glad we got the one next to the window, it will be nice to see all the light spilling in in the morning.' The little kwami said, and Marinette patted her.

Marinette moved over to her own luggage and pulled out her new sketchbook, before moving over to the sliding door and pulling it open.

She sat right on the door frame in the sunlight and crossed her legs, unfolding the sketchbook to a fresh page.

The smell of the ocean and the floral lavender scents from the window behind her mixed delicately, whilst the kwamis moved a little further onto the balcony, overlooking the ocean.

Next to her, Adrien Agreste was staring.

As soon as he had checked the coast was clear he had opened the window, and now was staring at the back of Ladybug's head.

He could see the two kwami, Plagg and Ladybug's own Kwami, so he knew that she was not in her suit, but he had already noticed that by way of being able to see her bare hands and her shoulder being clothed in an elbow-length navy shirt instead of red with black spots.

Presently, she was sketching the two kwamis deftly, but with obvious great ease.

She had great talent, that much was clear to see.

And she was close enough that if he stretched a bit, he could ruffle her hair.

He looked at the curve of her neck, her shoulder, the edge of her back.

The way she effortlessly held a pen, the cutest smile she drew Plagg wearing.

The little flyaway strands at the nape of her neck.

He wanted to absorb all of it, down to the tiniest details, down to the shell of her ear, the set of her shoulder.

She was so,

Breathtaking...

Straightening slightly, she lifted the page that she had filled with the two kwami.

Then she tore the page out, crushed it into a ball, and tossed it over her shoulder, over Adrien's head, and down, down, into the ocean without a second thought.

And she started again, this time working on ideas for Ladybug and Chat Noir's outfits, and amazing, comic-book style scenes.

With practised ease, Chat Noir appeared on the page going high, and Ladybug going low, with a scene of the Eiffel Tower in the background.

Adrien could have watched her for hours, until he did.

Ladybug saw who was sitting at the table, and adjusted herself accordingly.

The mayor was seated with two other delegates, and his daughter, who fluttered her fingers and eyelashes at the two of them.

There were two seats available, and Ladybug chose the one farthest from Chloé.

'How wonderful of you to join us!' The mayor said, half standing as if unsure. 'We've only just sat down ourselves.'

Ladybug smiled warmly, seating herself. 'It was very kind of you to invite us.'

Chat sat on the chair next to Chloé, and she immediately almost flung herself on him. 'I can't believe you two agreed to join us on Daddy's little trip!' She giggled. 'I mean, this is nothing compared to what he normally does for our Christmas adventures, and then there's my birthday, but never mind! I'll be glad to get out of Paris for a while, it gets to be so dreary sometimes...'

Chat carefully extracted himself. 'Oh?' He feigned innocence. 'But isn't Paris your home? The city of lights,' he glanced sideways, 'the city of love?'

'I agree entirely,' the mayor nodded, as did the delegates. 'Which I'm glad that we have the two of you wonders protecting us, as well as increasing our publicity and tourism.

Did you know we have tours now to some of your more amazing sights, and have the hopes of spotting you?'

Ladybug flushed slightly. 'I'm flattered, but isn't that a little excessive? We're just trying to do our job; protecting the citizens of Paris and beyond...'

'Yes, yes,' Chloé said, 'but why not have a little publicity while doing it?' She raised her phone questioningly.

Ladybug hid behind the menu to get away from her.

'What are you going to order, Chloé? Mayor Bougoir?' Chat questioned.

'The salmon, of course. Nothing but the best.' Chloé butted in first. 'And of course, I have to watch my figure for my fans.'

'I myself was thinking of the fruits de la mer platter, I'm told it's heavenly.' The mayor smiled, and his delegates nodded enthusiastically.

Chat scanned the menu quickly, while a waiter appeared.

'Excuse me, can I get anyone anything to drink?' He questioned.

'Your finest savignon blanc, s'il vous plait,' the mayor ordered. 'And for you, my princess?' He looked at Chloé.

'Iced tea, and be quick about it.'

Chat ordered, and then ordered for Ladybug.

'Thank you very much. I shall return shortly.'

'What did you order for me?' Ladybug hissed at Chat.

'It's a surprise,' he tapped his nose.

It wasn't long before the waiter returned, first with the wine and the glasses, then a tray full of interesting looking drinks.

He set an iced tea down in front of Chloé, a bright honey-orange drink in front of Chat and a deep red drink in front of Ladybug.

'I heard there was a mixologist on board here, and I wanted to test his skills.' Chat said as way of explanation. He picked up the umbrella from his drink and took the cherry off of it with his teeth. 'A Summer Twang is what you see before you, apple vinegar and rockmelon. And here we have a hibiscus, orange and vanilla Agua Fresca.'
Ladybug took a sip from hers, and discovered it to be delicious. She also chuckled inwardly as the realisation crossed Chloé's face; they had fancier drinks than she did.

It was like this the dinner progressed, she talked with the mayor about akumas and protection. She talked with the delegates about policies amongst young people, as much as she could. And she talked with Chloé about whatever Chloé wanted to talk about.

Ladybug ended up ordering a coque au vin, and Chat Noir a delectable-looking fish bake, both of which were delicious.

And Ladybug was struck, once again, by how much she felt out of place amongst these elite, but also how much Chat Noir seemed to fit in, despite his cavalier and casual attitude.

When Chloé started preaching, he was calming her down, and he could talk in the flowery manner that usually accompanied high-politeness levels whilst not saying much at all.

But she also noticed; he was ever so slightly stilted, like he knew what he was doing but was not entirely content. Like a reluctant learner becoming an unwilling expert.

It piqued her curiosity, but she found herself hiding from it.

What sort of hypocrisy would entail asking him about this? The travelling thing was bad enough. She now knew he was well travelled, despite the size of his luggage.

She paused. Had he been lying about that? Someone who brings such unnecessary amounts of luggage whilst throwing unfazed comments about travel into the wind?

A sneaking doubt crept its way into the back of her mind.

This sort of dichotomy unsettled her, particularly about something so small. She couldn't take any sort of knowledge from it about his identity, but it still irked her.

Then a thought came to her. What if he just wasn't used to travelling by himself? What if he usually went with his friends, his family? Then luggage can be spread around, and the responsibility of organisation is also spread.

But here he was, at complete ease being alone besides herself, someone that he's never travelled with before. He was handling himself well, in fact even better than she was.

Of course, she'd never really met the mayor of Paris before becoming Ladybug, nor had she ever been on such a luxurious trip before, with such high-class company no less!

Why had she agreed on coming on this trip?

Undoubtedly, she would trip and fall in front of the press, she would slip with her yo-yo and fall into the ocean, she would somehow be left behind at one of the stops... She shook her head.

It was settled.

After this meal, she was going to go back to the room, lock herself in, and not come out until the end of the cruise.

She would convince Chat Noir to occasionally provide her with sustenance, and then he could swan his way through the society with the ease that he has unhindered.

And from what Chloé had said, Adrien wasn't even on this trip!

According to her, he was staying at home in Paris, due to his classes and some other shoots that he had to do.

Shoot!

That was going to be the highlight of the trip; being able to see Adrien every day for a week!

And he wasn't even here...

Chat Noir chose that moment to look over at her questioningly, and she smiled, shaking her head.

She dove back into her chocolate parfait, but certainly not to hide, she was sure.

And then everyone was standing and shaking hands.

Ladybug had hers warmly clasped by three people, and Chloé gave her a huge hug, then tried to take a selfie with her, to which Ladybug managed to twist out of the way just in time.

Pleasantries were given, and Chat Noir lead her away from Chloé, who was trying to find somewhere that wasn't Ladybug's face nor her suit to write down her number.

He waved his goodbye, and she did hers, before disappearing into the elevator.

'Hey,' he said, as soon as the doors closed, 'are you alright?'

She jumped slightly, looking at him. 'What do you mean?'

'You were kind of quiet during dinner. Is something the matter?' He was looking at her intently, but only the reflection of her in the golden doors.

'No, I'm fine.' She waved him off, but he persevered staring until she relented. 'I think it's going to be a long week, is all.'

He chuckled slightly. 'Hopefully a fun week, though.'

She found herself staring back at him until the doors opened again two floors down, where a severe-looking figure joined them.

Gabriel Agreste, Ladybug thought. She couldn't help herself; she found herself glancing around in search of his son, but only to find Chat Noir once again.

'Good evening,' he greeted them amicably, and Chat pulled an ever-so-slight face.

'Good evening,' Ladybug smiled at him. 'It's been a while, Monsieur Agreste.'

'It certainly has.' He agreed, noting the movement of Chat, who had sidled over to slouch against the wall next to Ladybug. 'I'm surprised you agreed to come on this trip. It would almost seem to be a little, irresponsible?'

'Well, yes, but I can assure you, everything is under control.' She said firmly.

'I'm surprised myself,' said Chat with a nonchalant air, leaning against the railing casually, 'could the fashion industry of Paris survive without you? I seem to recall reading somewhere that you have a major show coming up? Wouldn't you call that irresponsible?'

'I will still be conducting meetings in Paris,' Agreste said coldly, 'but it is hardly irresponsible. But I don't need to explain myself to you.' His eyes swept over Chat's outfit swiftly, but with disdain.

The elevator dinged, and Ladybug dragged Chat Noir from it. 'This is our floor. It's lovely to see you again, Monsieur Agreste. A bien tot!' She waved as the doors slide shut behind them.

'What was that all about?' She shot at him, striding through the gallery.

'What do you mean?' Chat hurried to catch up to her.

'Do you not like Gabriel Agreste very much or something?'

His eyes narrowed. 'He slighted you.'

She shook her head. 'I can look after myself, Chat.'

'But, what was I supposed to do? Stand there and watch him hurl insults at you?'

'Minou,' she sighed slightly, stopping in front of a secondary set of elevators and pushing the up button.

He shook his head resolutely, as the doors opened for them.

Later, up in their room, Ladybug threw herself onto her bed.

'Tired, my lady?' Chat said, leaning against the door frame.

'A little,' she admitted. 'I might go and have a shower in a minute.'

He shrugged slightly, and moved over to his bag.

She looked at him curiously. 'Why did you bring such a big bag?' She questioned.

He glanced back at her, before glancing down at her own much smaller backpack. 'Why did you bring so little?' He countered.

'Because I won't need very much, we're going to be wearing our suits whenever we are, well, anywhere for the next week so it's not like I hugely needed to pack clothes? After that, the bag's pretty small?'

He shook his head slightly, chuckling.

'Are you laughing at me?' She shot.

'No, no, my lady,' he paused, flapping his hand at her, 'your practicality just stuns me, is all. Pay no mind.' He extracted a tupperware container from his bag, and pulled from it a piece of cheese.

'Plagg sure eats a lot,' Ladybug commented, and Chat rolled his eyes.

'If I even mention the word "diet" he threatens to fake his death and run away.'

Ladybug giggled. 'What a drama queen, I can see where you get it from.'

Chat nodded, before pausing. 'Hey!'

She stuck her tongue out at him.

He stuck his tongue right out back at her, before moving back over to the living room.

Marinette released her transformation long enough to grab her phone from her pocket, then turned back into Ladybug.

Of course, her inbox was filled with photos of herself and Chat Noir, as well as selfies of Alya around her room and the restaurant where she had eaten.

'Mecha Strike V?' She heard from the other room.

She sat up. 'I know, right?' She called back.

He burst back into the room, clutching at the game box. 'Do you want to play!?'

She was on her feet in an instant. 'You think you're worthy enough to challenge me?' She struck a pose.

He struck another, pointing dramatically. 'It's on, my lady. This will be a battle to the death!'

She followed him out to the living room, but when he fell upon the game console, she paused, looking around.

'Try not to be swept off your feet by my ameowzing skills,' Chat grinned.

He offered her a wireless controller. 'Here.'

She took it, then sat on the soft carpet on the left-hand-side of the couch. 'Thanks.'

'I'm letting you take the couch.'She shrugged as he looked at her questioningly, whilst crossing the room.

He sat himself on the couch, and peered around the edge at her. 'There's plenty of room up here, my lady?'

She shook her head, and he gave her a weird look, but he shrugged and sprawled away.

There was a slight flash red and Ladybug's kwami appeared above where she had been sitting, before it disappeared back down.

'Ah, I get it.' Chat said. 'You don't think you even need Ladybug's abilities to beat me? Pah.' He laughed. 'Then I'd hardly need my own to defeat you,'

'Considering your track record of sparring with me, Chat, I think you'd need all the help you can get.'

Adrien released his transformation, and picked up his controller once again. 'You're on.'

And...

She kicked his ass.

There was no other way to say it.

She handed his ass to him on a silver platter, before beating it again just to spite him.

Ladybug stretched triumphantly, and he saw her bare hands and forearms appear over the edge of the couch. He had the sudden urge to compliment her appearance in elbow-length shirts, but refrained.

However the nerd-fest was unending, they gushed over the newer graphics, the better robots, the newer upgrades.

Ladybug vowed to get a copy of this game no matter what it took, and Chat reminded her that theft was a crime.

Plagg complained about there being a lack of cheese, and spent most of his time sitting on the edge of the couch to talk to the girl.

'I see you two seem to be aquainted,' Adrien glared at Plagg, who stuck his tongue out at him.

'Yes, he can be quite pleasant when you get to know him.' Ladybug replied.

'Exactly!' Plagg agreed.

Her kwami flew up to playfully shove him off the edge, and he toppled onto Ladybug.

Adrien moved slightly closer, to look at the ladybug Kwami, who was herself looking over the edge at Ladybug.

'Tikki,' Ladybug cautioned, before stretching again, and gathering Tikki in her hand this time.

A moment later Ladybug stood, suit and all, and carefully strode over to the bathroom.

She paused however to grab some of the bath products from the coffee table, and was not above showing off slightly by using her yoyo to snag one that was right at Adrien's feet, before moving back over to the bathroom.

She stopped at the door, and chuckled evilly. The image was actually quite sinister, considering her entire face was fixated at the opening of the door. 'If you dare to think that you could ever defeat me in a battle, feel free to challenge me at any time.'

Adrien threw a fist against his chest in challenge. 'Anytime, my lady. You shall be defeated!'

He didn't have to see her face to know that she was grinning, and she disappeared into the bathroom.

Plagg zoomed over to him. 'You know, she's pretty much trounced you every time you've come up against her,' he reminded him, but Adrien had slouched back against the cushions dreamily.

'She was sitting right there,' he murmured.

The sounds of the shower started up, and he could hear her muffled voice and the voice of her kwami.

'She seems nice too,' Plagg said. 'She helped me get into the cheese in the welcome basket.'

'The one that's currently decimated across the living room, Plagg?' Adrien eyebrowed him.

'That's the one!' Plagg said cheerfully. 'Tikki and I found a lot of stuff in there.'

Adrien leaned forward and plucked an apple from the mess. 'So you've seen her? Is she pretty? Well, of course she's pretty, but? Well?'

Plagg shrugged. 'She's human? Beyond that I don't care. She's not cheese.'

He paused, before plowing ahead. 'Do you recognise her?'

'Nope,' Plagg said heartlessly, and Adrien could not help but feel disappointed. 'No clue.'

Adrien shook his head. 'You're so...'

'Amazing? Stunning? Stupendous?' Plagg suggested, 'Miraculous?'

'Miraculous is what this is,' he gestured towards his ring, 'so you only get that one on a technicality.'

Plagg stuck his tongue out at him. 'Without me you're only human,' he pointed out playfully.

'Model?' Adrien suggested, 'rich? Popular?'

'And you hate every minute of it.'

'Touché.'

I mean, I'm really not one of those writers who can stretch moments out into paragraphs (much as I wish that I could sometimes), so I'll usually just fill out my chapters with things that are happening instead. And as you may have noticed, dear reader, that there's a lot of stuff happening each day just as cruises intend. But I really do admire those sorts of authors sometimes.

I'm proud to point out that some of you readers who have been with me for a while might have noticed me improving in this area (in the beginning my stories were far too fast paced and as coloured in as if I were a toddler with crayons), so I'm grateful to all of you for sticking with me throughout all of this.

And even to my new readers, I'm grateful for you reading this, to see the fruits of my labours.

Anyway, let me know what you think!