Let the Games Begin

by Throwawayladybug

Louis is a student who transferred to Dupont High School a couple of months before Adrien. When Alya seeks his help on Adrien and Marinette's date at the arcade, he finds himself accepting in hopes of finally bringing the love birds together and getting closer to his friends as well. What will happen as an unexpected guest ruins his plans? OCxMarinette and AdrienXMarinette/Kagami

1. Arcade

Are you Here for Me?

From point of view of new student Louis. Shy and quiet but seeks to help others by working behind the scenes. In times of danger, prefers to wait and think before acting. Talented at strategy and puzzle games.

It started off simple enough. I had been asked by Alya to "support" Marinette on her time with Adrian at the arcade. Sounds simple enough, right? A chance to chill at the arcade for the day with some of coolest kids in class. Everyone knew how much Marinette cared/obsessed about Adrien and this was my chance to help. Everyone knew about the crush, except Adrien. I don't understand how he couldn't see it, Marinette, the smartest, kindest most beau- errr brave girl in class is completely swooned by him. Adrien is cool, he is amazing at fencing, piano and is even a model. It's no wonder why everyone always ships them, but dang is he dense.

I arrived at the arcade a bit later than intended, on purpose hoping the love birds had already broken the ice ;). Instead I found something else. I quickly learned the real reason Alya asked me to "help" on this outing. I immediately realized my work was cut out for me as I saw Marinette and Adrien cute on the bench. At least it would be cute if there wasn't someone between them. Kagami, another girl Adrien didn't know was head over heels for him. Adrien is innocently sitting there as Kagami is intruding on his space, trying to make her intentions even more blatantly clear to the poor guy. Beside them was Marinette with her hair down and in a lovely pink dress, obviously not to improve her gaming. I quickly woke up from my train of thought as I realized how sad Marinette was looking with Kagami trying to play love birds with Adrien.

Louis: "Hey guys, hope I didn't make you guys wait long."

Adrien: "Not at all, we just got here, Kagami and I were just discussing some new fencing moves we're learning."

Kagami: "Yes, Adrien has talent, but talent will only take you so far without more practice" she says while booping his nose. This results in a slight blush from Adrien and an even worse saddened expression from Marinette.

Louis: "Well I hope your fencing has improved your gaming because I'm in the mood to win" I try saying to distract from the awkward flirting.

Adrien: "Of course, I just hope for your sake that we play co-op games."

Kagami: "If you and I are on a team Adrien, there is no stopping us."

Kagami immediately follows up this declaration by dragging Adrien into the Arcade. I look over to see Marinette, in an even tighter ball than before. I could hear her muttering to herself, "yeah they really are a perfect team, I don't even know why I came." Dang this girl is good at sinking this ship, I can see why Alya sent help. I just wish she sent someone more adept at these situations like Luka or Max, heck even Chloe might have been better help than me. I looked over again to the remains of Marinette. Maybe I should take her somewhere else… No, I told Alya that I'd help Marinette and I don't break my word with friends. I approached Marinette and quietly sat down next to her and waited until she turned my direction.

Marinette: "I'm sorry you got dragged into this Louis, we haven't even started and its already a disaster."

Louise: "Nonsense Marinette, this battle isn't over yet. Don't give up. Besides I still haven't used my secret weapon." I then grab her hand and lead her inside.

Marinette: "Secret weapon?"

Pretending not to hear I merely lead her inside to the waiting battlefield.

Round 1

In the game of love, most of the time it is a simple scroller game. Chasing your target repeatedly in hopes of spending enough time so that they can get to know you well enough to like you back. Most of the time it works, especially with people as amazing as Marinette. Unfortunately, her target was Adrien Agreste. Instead of a race to clear the game, it is like a hardcore war game, full of people who have superior weapons and those who simply lack the same integrity you do. With Marinette, she is at a huge disadvantage. Not only will she not lie or cheat like Chloe or Lila, but her shyness makes any time with Adrien more difficult than people like Kagami who just act without fear. The question is, how do I overcome the gap between them. I stare into the arcade and observe the games. I weigh my options and try to think of which game could be the catalyst to finally bring the love birds together. Of course, I have to be mindful of which lovebirds…

Kagami: "Look Adrien, this game is two player and we can play against other two player teams. You and I can play against Marinette and Louis."

Adrien: "Sure looks like fu-"

Louis/Marinette: "ABSOLUTELY NOT!"

We both look at each other for a moment, both embarrassed by our sudden outburst.

Louis: *coughs* "What I mean is that game has a long line, we should try to play the games with no lines first"

Marinette: "Right, we wouldn't want to spend all day waiting for one game. Right? Did I mention the line is long?"

Adrien: "I guess you're right, what do you recommend instead Marinette?"

Marinette begins looking crazy eyed as she is not able to handle Adrien's direct question. "Um, um, how about one I can see you; I mean be you, I mean…"

Louis: "I think what Marinette is saying is that we should play a game that Adrien wants to play since this is his first trip to the arcade with friends."

Adrien: "Really, that's really sweet. I'm glad I have such good friends."

Oh no, he said it, again. I look over at Marinette as she looks defeated at Adrien's loaded words. Darn, how am I supposed to do this?

Adrien: "In all honesty, I've played most of the single player games at home. My father doesn't let me out much, but he makes sure I can play the fun games, the ones you don't need friends for at least."

I could see Adrien's face shift slightly as he said that. Even though he's apart of the most isolated childhood ever, he is almost always smiling. It's strength like that, that made me agree today, I doubt I could smile at all if I hadn't met everyone in class last year or without my family letting me out into the world to explore. I was not the only one to notice the shift in tension, but unfortunately Kagami was the first to act again.

Kagami: "How about we play all the multiplayer games here today, we can check out the single player ones another day if we run out of time."

Adrien smiled as they walked to find the first multiplayer game they could with a reasonable line. Once again, I was left alone with Marinette and her softened expression.

Marinette: "Kagami is right, today should be about Adrien and making him happy and who is better at doing that than her."

There was an awkward silence, the entire arcade became silent to me. What am I supposed to do? How can I help her, just as she has helped so many others, family, friends, strangers, even Chloe at times? She needs a win, she deserves a win, but how? What can I say so that her expression can go back to the usual cheerful smile I'm used to?
I wish I knew.

Adrien: "Marinette, Louis, hurry up, we've found a game we can all play in teams."

Kagami: "It'll be Adrien and I against you two, prepare yourselves."

In this battlefield of love, round 1, goes to Kagami. But…

Louis: "Coming. Let's go Marinette, we've only just begun, there's a long way ahead of us."

Marinette: "You're right Louis, let's give it our all."

That's right, Marinette still hasn't given up on Adrien, so I won't give up on Marinette. I promise, I'll find a way to make it work.

Round 2

The 'game' Kagami and Adrien were referring to was a shooting game, with pretty simple rules. Both teams try to kill as many aliens as possible and the team with the most wins. Thankfully, it wasn't anything dangerous in the romantic department minus Kagami 'needing' a one-on-one lesson from Adrien on how to use the weapon. It was a close game, but Marinette with or without a dress is still better than all the students at our school, maybe even world. We won and Adrien decided to let us pick the next game. Marinette looked around trying to figure out which game would get her closer to Adrien. I glance around myself, Pac-Man, no, skeeball, no, air hockey, still no. Marinette picks a motorbike racing game. I can't say it was a bad move since it was a 4-way free for all, but it doesn't help Marinette at all. I think she just wanted to see Adrien on a motorcycle considering how much she was drooling beside me. Unfortunately, her drooling left the bike beside Adrien open for Kagami resulting in Marinette's stares turning into scowls at Kagami. I awkwardly sat on the end next to Marinette hoping to end the race as quickly as possible. As soon as the game started, I could tell the ladies were not planning on racing but fighting to the death on their bikes. I'd never seen such violence in a racing game as the two seemed determined to crash into each other or run the other off the road. Needless to say, this lead to Adrien and I racing without much concern for the others. I found myself in first as we ended the race. Continuing Adrien's idea of winners picking the game, I looked around and tried to figure out which game would be best. That's when I saw it, an answer to the problems I'd been encountering. I thought the answer to the game would be stop Kagami from getting close to Adrien so that Marinette can try instead. But I forgot, that even without Kagami, Marinette never made any real "moves." She'd always back off or the plan would go astray, however, I figured it out. The answer is not to make a space around Adrien, but to prevent space around Adrien. If Marinette can't force herself to get close to him, the game will do it for her. That way it'll be a fair fight one on one between Kagami and Marinette without any interruption. I'm sure that way Adrien will see Marionette for the person everyone loves.

Louis: "How about instead of a game, we do a panic room instead?"

The others agreed, although a bit reluctantly, and we quickly made our ways inside to begin our game.

Even now, I'm not sure if it was the greatest idea, or the worst…

Panic Room

It'd been forever since I tried one of these. When I first started, they were always so fun to figure out, puzzle rooms I always called them. Puzzles. I may not be as good at video games as Max, or as good at music as Adrien or Luka, but puzzles were my thing. Each piece has a place, a reason, a niche. I'm envious. Panic rooms are a big puzzle if you think about it. Each part of the room is meant to be, each piece of furniture, each prop, everything. Going in, the plan was simple, feign ignorance and let the others do all the work. I know these three and the only one who should be able to figure out this room is Marinette. Sounded simple, right?

We found ourselves in a dark room, tied together by rope by the workers. We were all waiting when I heard Adrien whisper with a shaky voice.

Adrien: "Um guys, I'm not sure if it's the best time to mention this, but I get really claustrophobic."

I could tell by his tone, that I'd made a terrible mistake. A panic room may be the perfect spot for a girl like Marinette, but a guy like Adrien can't last more than a few minutes in one. I quickly realized that my mistake didn't just not help Marinette but was putting Adrien through one of his worst fears.

Kagami: "Adrien, if you get claustrophobic, why didn't you tell us, we could have picked something else."

Adrien: "I know, but Louis seemed so excited to play and I didn't want it to get in the way."

Marinette: "Don't worry Adrien, I'll get us out in a jiffy, and we'll ask the workers to let you out."

Marinette began wiggling desperately to try to get us out of jam we were in. I was still stuck in thought, trying to figure out how I could have made such a mistake.

Marinette: "Louis are you ok?"

Louis: "Yeah, of course, just trying to break these ropes."

Marinette: "It might help if you use your brain instead of those spaghetti arms. Don't forget, you're no Max." She followed up her sly comment with a slight laugh.

Yeah, she's right, time to break these ropes. I looked around the room, even in the darkness, there are still shapes I can make out. A chair, table, lamp, a flowerpot maybe. Then I saw what I was looking for, just in reach I grabbed some scissors and cut off the ropes before turning on the lamp I saw.

Adrien: "Wow Louis, that was pretty impressive. I don't know many people who could handle being tied up in the dark so well."

I sheepishly smiled at the compliment.

Louis: "It's fine, I had to do something. Afterall it was my mistake that caused this mess. Now let's find a worker so that you can get out of here."

I looked around, the room. It was pretty normal, too normal. The panic rooms I did before had so many colors and gimmicks to distract the attention of those stuck inside. Instead, this one was so mundane that nothing stood out as a clue. I was impressed, even I might have trouble at this if I let my guard down, but now was no time to be impressed.

Marinette: "Excuse us, can anyone hear me, my friend here is afraid of close spaces please let him out!"

Kagami: "She's right, please let Adrien out immediately, we'll gladly forfeit to end his suffering."

Still no reply from staff. Adrien meekly replied that he was fine but turning the lights on only showed him how much smaller the room was. It was barely bigger than a normal bedroom. Compared to Adrien's room at home, this seemed like a dog house to a chihuahua.

Suddenly, a small tv turned on in the middle of the room. On the screen was a man in his early thirties wearing green tinted glasses, a fancy green suite, and a flamboyant smile.

?: "Ladies and gentlemen, sorry for the delay, but I am Riddle Master, lord of games and riddles. There is only one way to escape my trap, solve my riddles to find the key out or fail to do so for a whole hour. Now-

Kagami: "Yes, 'Riddle Master' was it? I'm sorry but we quit. Adrien here is not feeling well and needs to rest in a more open spot."

Riddle Master's smile disappeared immediately.

Riddle Master: "Quit? Quit? There are no quits here. You win or lose, but you can't just 'quit' before the game has even begun."

Marinette: "I'm sorry sir, but like she said, our friend here is- "

Riddle Master: "NO! NO QUITS! Let the games begin. You must answer my riddles to find the clues to your key. It can be anywhere in this room. You cannot receive any outside help, nor can you needlessly destroy the room. Are you ready?"

I began looking around the room and at the other's reactions.

Marinette: "We'll do it, anything to save Adrien."

Adrien: "Marinette?"

Yes! I knew Marinette could do it. When the pressure is on, she sheds her shy exterior to show her amazing confident side. Maybe this wasn't a complete failure.

Riddle Master: "Good, now, let the games begin! You're first riddle refers to an object in the room. 'I have three letters. Cut one off and I become stronger. Cut two off and I become ten. What am I?'"

Kagami was busy helping Adrien remain calm while Marinette began thinking. I looked around the room, the lamp, chairs we were strapped to, some pillows, pocket change, a couch with cushions. All these things were so at place. In all honesty, I wasn't thinking of the riddle, I was thinking about something else. Some panic rooms make it so that the exit needs something obtained from each riddle or clue, like numbers to a combination. For those types, the rules are straightforward on how to get out quickly. The fact that a singular key makes this game different. I was almost done thinking when Marinette pulled me aside.

Marinette: "Louis, I'm sorry but I need your help for this, I think I've almost figured it out, but I need your help. Ten can refer to digits, the word ten but or other words for ten, but with only three letters I think the version they are referring to is the roman numerical, X."

So smart, I'm impressed it took her so little time to figure that out, but now was not time worry about that. Adrien was looking worse and worse even with Kagami trying to keep him calm. There was only a broken clock in the room, so it was probably meant to make us panic and think we had less time. For Adrien, it made it seem like there was no end in sight. It didn't help that the Riddle Master had 'forgotten' to mention how many riddles we needed to solve before leaving. There was only one way to guarantee Adrien's escape before he panicked. Luckily, I had figured it out by then.

Marinette: "Louis, Louis, LOUIS!"

She yelled in my face. Too close.

Louis: "Yes, wait what?"

Marinette: "Louis, please take this seriously, Adrien really needs to get out of here."

I looked down as she told me I wasn't being serious.

Louis: "I know, that's why I figured it out. Let's get out of here."

Marinette became shocked for a second before regaining her composure.

Marinette: "Oh sure you have, what is the answer to the riddle?"

Louis: "The riddle? No, I wasn't listening, I mean I know where the key is."
Again, she looked shocked.

Marinette: "So, you're telling me that you figured out, not the riddle but the location of the key, by only looking at furniture and not even moving anything?"

Louis: "Of course not. Riddle Master already gave us the answer. Here let me show you."

I quickly got to work, and we found ourselves outside. Adrien finally had some color back in his cheeks as Kagami continuously rubbed his back.

Adrien: "That was amazing Louis, how did you do it? I've never someone figure out a puzzle like that before."
Louis: "It was nothing, I've had some practice is all."

Kagami: "I'd thank you but considering it was your fault in the first place that Adrien went through that, let's just call it even."

Adrien: "Hey Kagami, that's not fair, no one made me go in there. It's my own fault for not telling you sooner."

Although her words stung, she was right, it was my fault.

Louis: "No, she's right, I'm sorry Adrien. I do remember you mentioning your claustrophobia during an akuma attack, but I forgot."

Adrien: "Like I said, it's nothing, besides I got to see those sweet skills of yours, I haven't seen skills like that since Ladybug and her lucky charm.

I blushed at the praise. Compared to what Ladybug did with her charms, what I had done was nothing. I looked over to find Marinette trying to say something, only to be interrupted before she began.

Riddle Master: "Where are they?! Where are those kids that cheated!?"
It was the man from the TV in the flesh, and his usual smile was replaced with a fuming frown. He found us and began shouting that we cheated.

Riddle Master: "I don't know how you did it, but you cheated. No one has ever figured out that room, and yet you did it without even answering the first clue, that must mean you cheated."

Kagami: "We would never cheat. I am insulted you'd even consider it. Where is your proof?"

Adrien: "She's right sir, we didn't cheat. Aren't there cameras?"

Riddle Master: Scowled as he confirmed he knew we didn't cheat. "Then it was a fluke, that's the only way. You got lucky."

Marinette: "No, really, Louis here figured out the whole thing by just looking around the room and using what we knew."

Riddle Master: "What you knew, the only thing I gave was the first riddle, how could you have done everything with just that?"

Marinette: "Just ask Louis yourself."

I was thinking about what to do next for the arcade day when I heard my name.

Louis: "What? What's going on?"

Riddle Master: "This? This airhead figured out my masterpiece in mere minutes?"

Marinette: "He's not an airhead. He's actually really smart."

I blushed at the compliment and sought escape.

Louis: "What does it matter, we won, let's just go, I think the air hockey table is open?"

Riddle Master did not like my attempt to flee at all.

Riddle Master: "'What does it matter?!' It completely matters. I spent months on that room, it was supposed to be impossible and you just skipped everything and picked a cheap way to escape. I demand that you tell me."

I saw the passion in his eyes, I knew he was determined to get an answer, so I gave him the truth.

Louis: "You gave us the answer. From the very start, there was dozens of clues to the keys location."

Riddle Master: "What clues? There were no riddles."

Louis: "Everything in the room is a clue. The greatest strength of a panic room is that anything can be a riddle. The greatest weakness is therefore that everything is." Riddle Master's eyes widened at my response. "If you know why something is in the room, there is no reason to expect it, but if the reason is unknown, then that must be important to the game."

Riddle Master: "But that could mean anything, the importance of the room? You're making this up."

Louis: "Just look at the riddle you gave us. Marinette already figured out that the ten referred to X, so the original word refers to something with an X in it. If you think of 3 letter words with different words by removing a let the answer is obvious, especially if you looked at the furniture. Why would there be cushions with designs on them, specifically animals. I noticed that one of the pillows had a fox on it, which forms the word 'ox' if you remove the f, a stronger animal. That is an example of what I was looking for."

Riddle Master: "Even so, how could you have picked from future riddles and the location of the key."

Louis: "That was a bit more difficult. The plainness of the room made things difficult, but there were a couple parts I noticed that didn't seem right. For starters, the pocket change, why would there be money in a room except to appear discarded. Afterall, anyone could leave a quarter, but there was nothing like a vending machine to use loose change on. The TV was the answer. Most of the room was more modern, the furniture, colors, clock, everything. But the TV was older, like in the 60s. Why?"

Riddle Master: "That could still mean anything, from what you did there was no way you could have put so many pieces together like that."

Louis: "The rest came from what you said. Like I said, panic rooms are careful as to what they put and say for the room. You said that we couldn't 'needlessly destroy the room.' Therefore, I knew there was something we needed to destroy. Using that and the age-old trick of the answer being right under your nose the whole time. I realized the purpose of the coins were to twist, not pay. So, I looked around and realized the only reason that the TV was old was so that it would have easily accessible screws. I untwisted the ones on the TV to find a key inside the TV, the key to our escape."

I finished my long-winded explanation to find everyone entranced by the story, except for Riddle Master. Riddle Master was still very angry.

Riddle Master: "Why you? I swear, you cheated, and I refuse to accept this."

Marinette: "Mister, we've already explained ourselves, Louis used logic to overcome your room nothing against the rules."
Kagami: "Marinette is right. Besides, it's not our fault that you gave us the answer so easily. You should just make your riddles harder next time, maybe then they'll be a challenge."

Riddle Master stormed off at Kagami's statement. Adrien was finally back to full strength and was raring to go as well.

Adrien: "Are you guys ready to play some more games?"

Kagami: "Of course, let's race to the air hockey table."

Marinette: "Let's go I call red team."

They all began running off as I was stuck in thought again. I was woken up by Marinette.

Marinette: "Hey Louis, that was really cool what you did. I had never seen anything like that before."

She wanted to say more but was pulled by her lack of Adrien at her side. I caught myself smiling after she left, before realizing I had temporarily forgotten the mission of the day and running off. Little did we know a lone black butterfly had arrived to play some games as well.