Luck of the Draw

*ahem*

I DO NOT AND WILL NEVER OWN(...I mean maybe) MIRACULOUS LADYBUG.

There.

A/N: Hey guys! Whether you're new to the mixed up, grammatically incorrect world of shadydemigirl, or you suffered through Mixed Signals (read if you want an interesting concept executed very poorly, it doesn't get even a bit good until halfway through), welcome! This is endgame Felinette. Also, Adrien x Bridgette.(Bridrien? Haha I literally have seen no other fics/fanarts shipping them, probably because the sheer amount of sunshine combined would murder us all. This should be fun... anyways) Deal with it. But not canon Félix because canon Félix SUCKS(in my personal opinion; no hate if you like him). Bridgette is indeed Marinette's cousin and Félix is Adrien's twin. This is planned to be short & sweet, probably around 30k words and ten chapters, maybe less, I only have like four written already. Good thing that this is an AU, so I can age them up a smidge. Without further ado, Luck of the Draw.

Satisfied

In perspective, Marinette really should have seen this coming. Despite her best efforts, it appeared that true love did indeed win out. Her vision tunneled, past Alya and Nino, past Lila and Chloé's shocked faces, straight to Bridgette and Adrien, passionately kissing as if no one else was in the room. She should be happy for her cousin, who took on too much and still skipped through life with a sunny smile. She should be sorry for Kagami. She should be sorry for Luka. She should feel anything but this red-hot jealousy and sense of defeat.

Marinette loved her cousin like a sister, ever since second grade, when Marinette's Uncle Antoine Cheng and Aunt Denise Cheng, Bridgette's parents, died in a fire in southern France. Bridgette had come to live with them, with only her stuffed ladybug for comfort. Marinette's parents had installed another loft bed in Marinette's bedroom, another desk, another seat at their table. Bridgette was accepted as one of their own, loved equally to Marinette. Sometimes, in moments of great joy and sadness, Bridgette even called Tom and Sabine 'mom and dad'. Marinette was fine with that. She didn't see the point in tormenting Bridgette, seeing as she wasn't going away. And Marinette had always wanted a sister. They'd been mistaken for twins their whole life, with almost the exact same features. Bridgette's bangs were choppier, her blue eyes brighter, her lips pinker, her hair bouncier. She was taller, prettier, kinder, less clumsy, and more popular than Marinette, which was fine with her too. It wasn't like Marinette didn't have any friends- Bridgette's friends were hers as well. It bothered Marinette just a little that Bridgette seemed to be the better version of her, but she brushed it off. After all, Bridgette couldn't design as Marinette could. She had tried, but they both laughed at her attempts. Marinette and Bridgette lived in harmony, with few disagreements, until the day the Agreste twins walked into their freshman classroom. Really, one Agreste twin in particular. Adrien Agreste.

He was perfect. Gorgeous, smart, kind, and adorably nervous about everything. Marinette had fallen, hard. And as she looked over at her cousin, it seemed that Bridgette had fallen hard, too. At first, Marinette thought it was for Félix Agreste. He was attractive enough, both of them modeling for Gabriel. He was a bit taller than Adrien, and he had a cold expression permanently stuck on his features. He was polite, sure, calling everyone 'Miss' or 'Mister'. He didn't have the same charm as Adrien, but Marinette could see why the bubbly, peppy Bridgette had fallen for him. The only downside to Adrien? He tried to put gum on the seat Chloé pushed Marinette into, disregarding the fact that she and Bridgette had sat where Chloé was now sitting for ages. They spent all day staring at the back of Adrien's head, as he and Félix sat right in front of them and the cousins' new friend, Alya, sat behind, all the girls very confused and on Marinette and Alya's part, a little more than annoyed. The day started out bad and got significantly worse as what appeared to be a supervillain attacked, sending Marinette and Bridgette home for the day. Bridgette had dumped her bag on her bed, Marinette sitting across from her and scrolling through Jagged Stone's Instagram. A small box with odd inscriptions toppled into Bridgette's lap and she picked it up, frowning.

"Huh," she said, opening it. A flash of light permeated the room and Marinette squeaked, dropping her phone and throwing up her hands. When it cleared, a floating red thing greeted them.

"Ah! Bug mouse!" Marinette had shouted, scrambling away from it. But Bridgette smiled curiously, leaning over to pick it up.

"Hello," she said.

"Hello! Oh, I didn't expect there to be two of you," the creature said. Bridgette shrugged.

"That's my cousin, Marinette, and I'm Bridgette. I live with them." Marinette found her voice and slapped Bridgette's wrist, sending the thing up into the air.

"Bridgette," she hissed, "what are you doing?!" Bridgette smiled gently.

"It's okay, Marinette. I don't think it'll hurt us." The creature piped up again, sounding just as cheerful as Bridgette. Ugh.

"That's right! I'm Tikki, and I've come to give you the power to save Paris from the supervillain that must be attacking it."

"Wow," Bridgette had breathed, big eyes going wider. "How?"

It had snowballed from there, with instructions of 'spots on' and 'lucky charm'. Bridgette wasn't to share her identity with anyone('Fu, the idiot, wasn't supposed to give it to someone who shared a room with someone else,' Tikki had groused) and she would have a partner in stopping crime, the holder of the Black Cat Miraculous. Bridgette was ready to transform, but right before she called it, Marinette had stopped her, leveling a firm gaze at Tikki.

"Will she get hurt?"

Tikki frowned. "She may. But as long as Bridgette- and this is very important, I forgot to tell you- catches the akuma, a dark butterfly that will come out of the akumatized item, and purifies it by releasing it from her yoyo, and shouts the words 'Miraculous Ladybug,' everything will go back to normal." Marinette poked Bridgette.

"Remember that. Catch, purify, Miraculous Ladybug." Bridgette nodded, the smile never leaving her face.

"Spots on!" Tikki was sucked into Bridgette's earrings('Never let them fall into enemy hands,' Tikki had warned), and before Marinette sat a superhero. Bridgette had a red and black spotted mask covering the upper half of her face. Tall black boots rose to her knees and a black caplet fell around her shoulders. Black fingerless gloves protected her hands, and the rest of her suit was just a red bodysuit, with large black spots scattered around it. A yoyo hung around her hips, and her usually pink hair ribbons extended out, becoming red and long enough to fall to her shoulders. Marinette gave a begrudging nod.

"Couldn't have designed it better myself. The gloves should help protect your hands. Lemme see that yoyo." Bridgette unhooked it, tossing it to her. Marinette ran her fingers along the string. It seemed very durable. On a hunch, Marinette grabbed her sewing scissors. With some difficulty, she cut the string. Before her eyes, it reformed. Marinette nodded. "Nice. I think it'll work as a grappling hook, sort of." Bridgette stared down at it, looking for the first time apprehensive.

"But I've never used a grappling hook! Or even a yoyo." Marinette hugged her, opening the window to the roof.

"I think superhero instinct will kick in." They climbed out on the roof, standing tall in the sunlight. Marinette gave her a nudge. "Go get 'em, Bri. You're going to be the best superhero ever."

And she was. She had a bit of a mess-up with Stoneheart, forgetting the Miraculous Ladybug bit. Her partner was a flirtatious goofball, with his suit unzipped a little too far and his hair a little too long. After Bri had purified her first akuma, revealing herself to Paris as Ladybug, Marinette stood in the rain, sheltered a bit by the school building. Bridgette stood in front of her, surveying the city. A cough sounded from behind them, and Marinette whirled around, tripping a bit and falling on Félix Agreste. He grabbed her arms, setting her back on her feet and handing her his umbrella.

"Miss Dupain-Cheng. I hope that you don't look too harshly on Adrien. He means well." Marinette took the umbrella without comment, staring out at Adrien as Félix hurried past him into a black limo. Adrien had handed Bridgette his own umbrella. She was peering at him shyly and he glanced away from her for a moment to look up at Marinette, smiling lopsidedly. And that was the moment Marinette fell deeply, madly, and irrevocably in love with Adrien Agreste.

"Tell you who I like if you tell me who you like," Bridgette had whispered to Marinette that night. It was a conversation they often had, saying it when they wanted to confess. Marinette smiled in the darkness, thinking of Adrien.

"You go first." Bridgette giggled, probably cuddling her ladybug plush. How appropriate, now that she was the mysterious heroine Ladybug.

"It's…Adrien. From our class. He's really nice, not to mention cute..." Bridgette kept up her whispers, monologuing to herself while Marinette stared into the darkness. Bridgette liked Adrien. Not Félix. Adrien. Marinette's life was changed again, as she thought about what she would do. In the back of her mind, she knew that if it came up to her or Bridgette, Adrien would choose Bridgette every time. And Bridgette had enough on her shoulders, she didn't need to add feeling guilty about loving Adrien to the list. Because while Marinette knew that Adrien would choose Bridgette, she also knew that if Bridgette knew that Marinette liked Adrien, she would step back. Let Marinette have him. She would pretend to be alright, but she wouldn't ever really stop loving Adrien. When Bridgette loved someone, she loved them with her heart and soul, forever. She still cried herself to sleep some nights because of her parents. She defended Marinette, Tom, Sabine , and even Chat fiercely, and Marinette knew that she would do anything for Adrien. Marinette, her face set, smiled.

"That's great, Bri."

Marinette, for all her good intentions, never really stopped liking Adrien, as hard as she tried. So she threw herself headfirst into matchmaking schemes, ignoring her feelings. Alya was the only one who knew, and constantly threw her sympathetic glances she didn't need or want. Marinette tried to help Bridgette as much as possible in juggling her double lives because if anyone deserved a break it was Bridgette. So Marinette did some of Bridgette's homework after hard akuma fights, made cookies for Tikki, and never quite stopped worrying about her safety. Adrien grew closer to them, hanging out with the cousins, Alya, and Alya's boyfriend and Adrien's best friend, Nino. He always dragged Félix along with them. Marinette never quite knew what to make of him, and she didn't think anyone else did either. He didn't seem to have a sense of humor, but Marinette had heard his sarcastic comments. He never smiled, only smirked. And he was still exceedingly polite, on the surface. If you just read what he said, without facial expression or tone of voice, it would seem that he was very well-mannered. Marinette knew better. He was just scoffing at everyone. Marinette saw it in his eye rolls when the girls brought up the nearest 'Bridrien' plans. She saw it in his cringes every time Chloé or Lila started complaining. She saw it in his raised eyebrows every time Alya repeated something Lila claimed. She had no idea what he was thinking and despite everything, she kind of wanted to find out. Mission 'Befriend Félix' got put on the back-burner when Luka came up to her privately after a Kitty Section practice. Having free time, Bridgette decided to join the band, catching Luka Couffaine's eye. He was a few years older than them, Juleka's brother. He played guitar and sang back-up, letting Bridgette and Rose take center stage. Luka had come to her while Bridgette was laughing with the other members, leading her into his room. He sat down on his bed.

"I can't get Bridgette out of my head," he said, point-blank. Marinette had slowly sat down across from Luka, staring at him.

"You do know that's she's crazy for Adrien, right?" she asked. She didn't want anyone to get hurt, but if Bridgette switched her focus…

He had nodded, strumming his guitar. "I know. But he can't reciprocate her feelings, not yet. He may one day, but not any day soon unless something drastically changes. All I want is your help in confessing, and maybe a good word or two." Marinette slowly nodded.

"That, I can do."

He had followed her advice, confessing right before Kitty Section was scheduled for their first performance. Marinette, watching from the shadows, had smiled. Bridgette looked amazed, and maybe there was a bit of a blush on her face as she slipped her mask on before heading out to preform.

"Do you like him?" Marinette whispered to her that night. Bridgette sighed.

"I don't know."

It wasn't a no. Luka and Bridgette grew closer as Bridgette and Adrien grew apart. Marinette's own feelings for Adrien grew as well, watered by hope.

Miracle Queen was freaking terrifying. Marinette thanked her lucky stars that Bridgette had never given her a Miraculous, opting to protect her. At the time, Marinette had been annoyed. Now, as she comforted a shaking Bri, cursing Hawkmoth, Mayura, Chloé, and Master Fu, she fully realized for the first time what it took to be a superhero. She could only hope Chat Noir, that ridiculous cat, had someone to help him as well. Master Fu…if he wasn't a defenseless old man, she would strangle him now. What was he thinking, naming Bridgette guardian of the Miraculous?

"It's ok, Bri," she had whispered, stroking Bridgette's hair. Bridgette kept sobbing.

"And now he can't remember anything! I can't believe I did that! It's just like Stoneheart. Oh, Mari, if I have to give it up, I'll forget you, and Adrien, and Chat-" her wails reached a new volume. Marinette winced, shushing her.

"That's not true. You'll remember me and Adrien. Yo've been friends with Adrien before you ever got the Miraculous and we'll always be cousins." Bridgette sat up, still sniffling.

"You're right."

Marinette smirked. "I usually am. Now, here's what we're going to do: we're going to hide the Miraculous Box, you're going to feed all the kwamis, and then we're going to meet our friends near the Seine because school's out and damnit, we deserve a break." Bridgette smiled, wiping away her tears.

"Yeah!" Marinette helped Bridgette feed the kwamis, each of them requesting a different food. Later in the evening, Bridgette loaned Marinette some of her trademark pink shorts, custom made for her by Marinette, said goodbye to Tom and Sabine, and the pair headed off to meet their friends.

And it was nice.

It was cool.

Marinette's heart definitely didn't break as she saw Adrien kissing Kagami gently by the river. Marinette was happy for them. She was truly happy for Bridgette, who must have seen Adrien and Kagami. What else could be the reason she grabbed Luka's collar, pulling his surprised face down and smashing her lips against his? She had cheered along with Kitty Section as Bridgette's arms wrapped around his neck and he scooped her up, unexpectedly jumping into the river with her to the whoops of their friends and classmates.

Their summer love had soured, very, very quickly.

"Omigodomigodomigod," Ladybug squealed, jumping down onto the floor and de-transforming. Marinette had jerked up, reflexively shoving the Miraculous Box along with Trixx under her covers. She pulled it out again once she realized who it was.

"What's up?" Marinette asked, lounging in her bed. Bridgette burrowed under her own covers.

"Adriawmetranfor," she mumbled.

Marinette threw a shoe at her. "Speak French like a normal person." Bridgette huffed.

"Adrien saw me transform," she said slowly.

"Shit," Marinette said, staring at Bridgette as she threw Marinette's shoe at her back for cursing. "That is...that is not good." Bridgette had groaned.

"I know! And the worst part is he looked so happy...Mari, what if he's Hawkmoth?" Bridgette went pale and Marinette rolled her eyes.

"I find that highly unlikely. Listen, here's what you'll do. Text Adrien, ask him to get to school early. It's only one more week so I guess just ignore him until then? We don't want Félix finding out so I'll be in a better position to distract him. I can lead him off somewhere, you guys talk and we'll come back in before class starts. Deal?" Bridgette expelled a long breath.

"Deal."

Sometimes, Marinette couldn't help but wonder what would happen if she were Ladybug. If she would have slipped up and revealed her identity, twice. She didn't think so, but who was she to judge? She had a pretty good idea of what Bridgette's life was like, but she still didn't see anything really know Bridgette's thoughts. Her struggles, her victories. She could make a good guess, but at the end of the day, only Bri knew Bri.

Marinette took a deep breath, watching from a window as the Agreste twins got out of their car, heading into the school. She shook Bridgette's shoulder, alerting her to the Agreste twins entrance. "Phase one," she had muttered. Bridgette bit her lip, nodding. Marinette had grabbed her bag, taking off for the stairs. She rushed down them, stopping right in front of the twins and collecting herself.

"Félix! Just the guy I need," she said brightly. Félix rose his eyebrows. Adrien blew past him. She gave him a slight kick and a warning glare, letting him pass up the stairs. Turning back to Félix, Marinette opened her bag, lifting out a variety of ties. "Seeing as I don't know how to tie a tie, I need someone to teach me. Namely, you." Félix took a wary step back.

"Miss Dupain-Cheng, I don't see why you're singling me out," he said. Marinette gave a pointed look to the tie hanging around his neck.

"You wear a tie every single day. Most of the guys in our class can't even tie their shoes. Please?" Félix sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose briefly.

"Alright. Make it quick." Marinette beamed, pulling out a red and black tie she designed with Ladybug in mind.

"Do it on yourself, and then I'll try it on me. I even wore a button-down shirt!" she said, gesturing to a white shirt with rolled-up sleeves. It did indeed have small red buttons going down her front. Instead of her pink jeans, she wore red with black sneakers. Félix snorted.

"Mild Ladybug cosplay, huh?" Marinette rolled her eyes.

"Just tie it." He took it from her hands, taking his black one off and slowly tying hers around his collar. It looked odd on him, being designed with Marinette's measurements, but she watched him carefully and took it back eagerly. She tried to copy his movements, winding the tie around her collar. It wouldn't tie properly, no matter how hard she tried, and eventually, she just gave up, looping it around her neck in frustration. Félix smirked.

"Having difficulties, Miss Dupain-Cheng? Here." Without warning, he stepped forward, concentrating on his movements as he tied it. Marinette had flushed, wanting to pull away but restraining herself as she wasn't particularly inclined to be strangled. She shoved her hands in her pockets and looked over Félix's shoulder quickly. She caught a quick glimpse of his eyes, a stroking mix of blue and grey almost exactly like his father's. Marinette tensed, breathing a sigh of relief as he stepped back.

"Thanks," she mumbled, adjusting it self-consciously. He had nodded.

"No problem, Miss Dupain-Cheng." He started up the stairs and she thought about blocking him. But some of their other classmates were starting to arrive, so Bridgette and Adrien just better be finishing up quickly. Marinette tugged at her tie nervously, letting it hang loose. She started up the stairs after Félix, heading into the classroom. Adrien and Bridgette were still talking in hushed tones while their classmates got ready for the day around them. Marinette slid into her usual seat, turning to talk to Alya. She grinned, gesturing at Marinette's tie.

"Ooh, fancy, I like it. When did you-HOLY SHIT!" Alya shouted, startling Marinette into slipping off her seat. She turned around and there they were. Bridgette and Adrien. Adrien and Bridgette. Kissing.

And that's why she should have seen it coming. That's why she wasn't exactly surprised because, despite Marinette's best efforts, she could never stop something that seemed meant to be. No matter how much Marinette and Kagami loved Adrien and no matter how much Luka and Chat Noir loved Bridgette, Adrien and Bridgette would still end up together. Marinette glanced at Félix. He didn't seem surprised, looking up briefly, making a face, and looking right back down. Marinette clutched her desk. This hurt. What kind of a person was she, to feel hurt when her orphaned cousin overwhelmed with many duties found love? She could have loved Luka instead, a small voice whispered. Marinette raked her hand through her hair, looking anywhere but at them. The window, the sunlight, the Eiffel Tower, that akuma-wait. Marinette leaped up, pulling Alya over her desk and crashing into Félix as she jumped over her own desk.

"Miss Dupain-Cheng!" Félix began. Marinette swiped her hand.

"Akuma! Get out!" The class began moving, everyone flooding out the doors but Bridgette and Adrien, both looking very confused. Marinette pushed off of Félix tugging them both out the door and looking around the room before heading out. Damnit. Félix was moving quickly past her, but Rose was talking quietly to a shaking Juleka, her face white. It happened as if in slow motion, Marinette moving for the girls and the akuma hitting a small choker Juleka was wearing('It was from Luka,' she said to a gushing Rose). Marinette lunged for Rose, picking her up and racing out just in time to dodge a beam of light shooting from Juleka's hand. She expected it to be Reflekata, but no.

"I am Soulbinder!" she bellowed. "You will all find your true love- no cheating skanks involved!" Marinette cursed and began running, skidding around the corner and bumping into Ladybug, who tossed her a necklace. The Fox Miraculous.

"If I get hit, I'm gonna need you to cover me." Marinette looped it around her neck, putting her hair up into a ponytail.

"What does she do? Trixx, let's pounce!" she added, transforming into a suit that looked uncannily close to Lila's but a deeper orange, almost red. Long ears sprung out of her head and the flute hung at her waist. Her hair was tipped in a white-orange peach color, orange ribbons hanging down. Ladybug gestured at Ivan and Mylene, who were hiding. A gold band circled both of their wrists, connecting them with a golden rope.

"Connected indefinitely. If I get hit, I can still fight, but I'm gonna need you to disguise my soulmate." Marinette nodded, peering around the corner. Soulbinder was heading right for them. She opened her mouth to tell Ladybug when a gloved hand grabbed her wrist. She whipped back around to see Soulbinder leering at her. A blood-red mask covered her face, matching the rest of her suit, and purple wings sprouted from her back. Glowing circles were on her palms, accented by black gloves and boots. Black streaks shot from her boots and gloves to circle over her heart. Juleka's purple tips were turned to red that hung in front of her face as she winked.

"Don't worry- you'll thank me later." Raising her hand, she shot a beam of light, hitting Marinette right over her heart. White light filled her vision as her body jerked backward, slamming into another. Black gloved hands steadied her and she looked up, biting back a curse. Chat Noir.

"What the hell is going on?" he asked, gesturing to her wrist and his. Marinette flushed. Chat Noir, her soulmate? The same Chat Noir who followed her cousin around with heart eyes?

"The akuma binds you to your soulmate with these bands," she muttered. Chat Noir's face whitened as he realized what this meant.

"Ladybug?"

"I'm not Ladybug, I'm-" she hesitated. Names, names, names, what to call herself? "Corsac," she blurted out. She coughed. "My name is Corsac. And I am not Ladybug. Ladybug gave me the Fox Miraculous to help her out. Speaking of-" She drew her flute, creating a screen and calling Ladybug's number, angling the phone so Chat Noir could see for himself. Ladybug picked up, and he reeled, stumbling away. She felt for the guy, but they need to save the world right now, not agonize over mysterious fox girls who Are Not Ladybug.

"M- uh-" Ladybug stammered.

"Corsac."

"Corsac, get to the locker rooms immediately. Is Chat Noir with you? And your soulmate?" Marinette flushed.

"They're actually-"

"It doesn't matter, I need you to make my soulmate invisible. Don't let Chat or your soulmate see who it is. We'll talk later." She hung up and Marinette tugged on the rope, making Chat fall into step beside her.

"So who are you?" he asked as they walked quickly towards the locker rooms, staying in the shadows. Marinette rolled her eyes.

"Corsac, I told you." Chat huffed.

"I mean as a civilian." Marinette poked him.

"You know perfectly well that we're not supposed to reveal, Noir. I don't care if I'm temporary, it's not happening in case Ladybug needs me again." She looked over at Chat and startled a little. His bright green eyes were fixed on her's, swelling with emotion.

"Damnit, fox, I need to know who you are so I can have a shot at a happy life! If Ladybug and I aren't meant to be together then I can't just let my soulmate go without knowing if I'll ever see her again!" Marinette quickened her pace.

"Whoa, slow down. Just because we're soulmates doesn't mean we have to run away and get married instantly. There are different types of soulmates, y'know." Chat snorted.

"That's the stuff they tell single people on Valentine's Day."

"No, it's true! Friends can be soulmates, and so can siblings. You just need to love someone, not necessarily romantically. I mean, we don't really know, but I do know that I am not on track to couple up with you, Noir," Marinette said vehemently. She refused to believe that she was meant to end up with a boy in a quarter-zipped leather catsuit who had an unnatural obsession with puns. Chat smirked, stopping at the railing. She stopped next to him, standing close. The golden rope didn't give a whole lot of wiggle room.

"What, so this-" he gestured to himself, finger pointing at his exposed collarbone and neck "- doesn't attract you at all?" Marinette got closer to him, peering up at him from under her lashes and standing up on her tiptoes, pressing up against him to whisper in his ear.

"Nope." Without giving either time to think, she twisted them around and half jumped-half fell off the second floor, aiming for the open space below them. He yelped and pulled his baton, extending it. They slid along the length, landing roughly on the floor.

"Fox-"

"C'mon, Noir, your lady needs you," she said snarkily as she tugged them into the locker room. Remembering her instructions from Ladybug, she wiggled out of her tail-sash, wrapping it around his head. He stumbled, clawing out it. She slapped his hand.

"No looking. I'll take it off soon, don't worry. Ladybug?" she called, ignoring Chat's muffled complaints.

"In here!" Ladybug called back. Marinette followed her voice, dragging Chat along with her, ignoring his yelps as he ran into a bench or a wall. Marinette peered around a corner, finding her and-surprise surprise, what a shocker, really wild plot twist- Adrien tucked into an alcove. She propped herself up with her flute.

"Well, well, well. Who do we have here?"

"Marinette, just do it!" Ladybug snapped impatiently. Silence fell in the room and Marinette whipped around to look up at Chat, who finally stopped struggling.

"Looks like I know your name now," he said, shock coloring his tone. He began laughing, a sarcastic unamused laugh. Ladybug covered her mouth.

"Where's your soulmate, Corsac?" she asked quietly. Marinette gestured at Chat with her middle finger. Ladybug's eyes got wider.

"Damn." Marinette sighed.

"Later. We're doing this later. That was an honest mistake, Ladybug, and I am only temporary after all. Mirage!" she shouted, blowing into her flute and whipping the illusion at Adrien, who looked pretty happy to be tucked into Ladybug's side. He shimmered and disappeared. Ladybug crouched and bent under his weight as he climbed onto her back. Marinette glanced up at Chat and he shook his head at her.

"If you can tackle me off of the second floor then you can keep up."

She shrugged."Fair enough. Let's get going, Mirage will only last for a few more minutes." As she said this, her necklace flashed and a stripe on the stylized fox tail went dark. Ladybug nodded, shifting Adrien's weight to her other side as she unhooked her yoyo.

"Lucky charm!" she called. A wire cutter fell into her hands and instantly Marinette got an idea.

"I'll use Mirage to create an image of Bridgette, the girl she's definitely after, lure her under something Chat can Cataclysm or knock over and then Ladybug, you come up from behind and cut her necklace." Ladybug beamed but Chat looked more thoughtful.

"What should I Cataclysm?" he asked. Adrien spoke up.

"That big canvas in the art room should distract her for a while." Marinette nodded in his direction while internally gushing. He had the best ideas, he was so smart and helpful, and- her cousin's soon-to-be boyfriend. Yup.

"Let's roll." Chat pulled Marinette out of the locker room, sprinting up to the second floor.

"Marinette, huh?" he panted out, a strange smile on his face. She glanced at him oddly.

"Do you know me?"

"Nope. I have a friend who goes to this school." She nodded, not prying anymore. She knew how important it was for Ladybug and Chat Noir to maintain their identities. They ducked into a classroom to rest and Marinette called it again.

"Mirage!" she shouted, racing back out the door and lobbing it across the wide-open area that let in the sunlight to the first floor.

"Adrien! Come hide!" the fake Bridgette screeched and from the first floor Soulbinder looked up.

"Well, well, well, looks like we have a little heroine. Did you think about how my brother would feel when you decided to make out with Adrien this morning?! Did you?!" she shrieked. The illusion looked at the akuma, eyes wide, and took off for the art room. Soulbinder snapped open her wings. "Lucky for him, he's with the girl Adrien cheated on. Oh, I remember how jealous you were. Kagami this, Kagami that. Let me hit you and you'll find your soulmate, free of cost. Sure, you'll never be able to leave them, but hey. At least that way your partner will know that you won't cheat on them like you cheated on my brother!" With a shout, Soulbinder flew at Marinette's illusion, hands outstretched and jets of light flying. 'Bridgette' spun into the art room, slamming the door. Chat grabbed a textbook, lobbing it at Soulbinder's wings. She spiraled down and Chat and Marinette darted in.

"Under the canvas, please," she instructed the illusion, and with a nod, 'Bridgette' was cowering right in front of the canvas. Chat darted behind it, pulling Marinette with him into the tight space. A door slammed and footsteps echoed on the floor. Marinette squeezed her eyes shut, pressed up against Chat's chest. Unconsciously, perhaps, probably, maybe, hopefully, his hand rose to her back.

"Chat? Corsac?" Ladybug called out.

"In here. Hide somewhere," Chat called back. Hopefully, she did, still lugging Adrien, most likely-maybe she let him down- because the door slammed open again, heading straight for the canvas. Marinette gulped, getting closer to Chat as she tried to avoid making a noticeable bump in the canvas.

"Now!" Ladybug called.

"Cataclysm!" Chat yelled. Marinette ducked, sprawling on the ground as Chat's hand, fisted in black energy slammed into the bar holding up the canvas. The canvas crumpled to the ground, destroying 'Bridgette' and incapacitating Soulbinder. Ladybug darted down, reaching around the canvas to snip the necklace. The akuma fluttered out and just as quick as it appeared it disappeared into Ladybug's yoyo. She released it, throwing up the wire cutters.

"Miraculous Ladybug!" she called. Everything swirled back to normal, freeing the couples. It didn't take away the memories. Adrien came into view and Ladybug ran out quickly, kissing Adrien's cheek as she went. Chat gave Marinette and Adrien a two-fingered salute, opting to jump out the open window. Marinette tried her best to ignore Adrien, going over to Juleka and helping her up. She'd been distracted and dazed, peering down at her necklace.

"Sorry," she muttered, avoiding Juleka's eyes. The girl shrugged.

"Wasn't your fault." Rose blew into the room, tackling Juleka to the ground. Marinette hid her smile behind her hand and hurried out of the room, heading back to class. When she got in, Alya immediately grabbed her, pulling her over to her phone and showing Marinette several blurry pictures.

"Look! Chat Noir has a soulmate, and it's not Ladybug!" she said, in a shocked tone. Marinette pretended to be clueless.

"Oh? Who is it then?" Alya's face darkened a bit.

"New fox hero." Marinette patted Alya on the back sympathetically, knowing it was hard on Alya that she probably wouldn't be Rena Rouge again. Miracle Queen wasn't great for anyone.

"Oh. Ladybug still might pick you to replace Carapace, y'know." Alya nodded, still looking a bit sad. "And for what it's worth, I always thought Rena Rouge was a badass." She brightened up, chuckling.

"She was, wasn't she?" Félix slumped into the room and Alya elbowed Marinette. "What's his deal?" Marinette shrugged.

"Dunno."

The ice cream wasn't doing a great job helping her get over Adrien. Damn lying teen movies. Bridgette was somewhere downstairs, playing a board game with Tom and Sabine, so Marinette decided to try and get over Adrien quickly, with ice cream and a blanket, on her balcony. She took another spoonful, letting the day's events catch up to her. Adrien-Bridgette-Adrien-Bridgette-Ladybug-Adrien-Bridgette-Chat. Chat. Her soulmate.

"Evening, princess," said a voice behind her. She whirled around, dropping her spoon. Speak of the devil, and the devil shall appear, in all his black-leather-catsuit-fake-cat-eared glory.

May you always be satisfied.

A/N: Annnnddd that's a wrap! For future notice: updates should be about once a week and this story should cover all of spring. Lol Mixed Signals was fall/winter, this'll be spring, and maybe I'll have a summer story...Sensing a theme!

Updates every week, not necessarily the same day.

IMPORTANT: there will be an f-word in this fic! It IS rated T! If swearing makes you uncomfortable, or you would rather not read fics with it, please don't bother reading more. Thank you!

Thanks for reading!