You know what? I want this to move forward so bad I'm writing way more than usual.
Gabe should be working on his master instead but here we are!
"Have you ever wondered why the English musical of "Les Miserábles" is more popular when the original is a French work and the French musical of "Romeo and Juliet is also more popular than the original English version?"
Marinette raised her eyebrow, her arms still crossed on her chest while she waited for Adrien to finish eating, although he was more interested in debating than finishing the carrot bits on his plate. Well, that settled it, she was going to strangle that mangy cat.
Adrien offered a smile and plucked one of the carrots in his mouth. He had told a little lie in order to stay around school for lunch just to watch Marinette struggling to not shake him right there in front of everyone. Oh the power to have a secret. Well, another secret. One that he was savoring to keep from Marinette as long as possible.
"Woah, why is Adrien grinning so evil? That's so not like him" Alya joined them on the table, giving Marinette her fruit on the way in exchange for the jello container Marinette had saved.
"Beats me" Nino said, who had been looking at the conversation for a while "he knows something that will happen and won't tell Marinette about it."
"Just that I'll find it interesting" Marinette took a bite out of the apple Alya had given her "and he's gloating on it!"
"How dare you Adrien, making my girl suffer" Alya patted her shoulder "but if it's information you want…"
"You didn't sneak into a locker again, did you? "
"Hey, I learned my lesson from last time" she raised her hands "but I do have some intel that principal Damocles will give an announcement in our class later on, about what? I still need to dig a little more."
"Or you could just wait five more minutes and hear it live," Adrien shrugged "I swear you'll like it."
Marinette squinted at him but gave up on trying to pry it out of Adrien. She knew by now it'd be a lost cause.
"Remind me to never get on your evil side," Nino said once the bell rang, earning another smile from Adrien.
"Oh this is not my evil side,"
"No, that one is way worse" Marinette said and walked ahead of them so the boys couldn't see her face. She had met that side once when an akuma fight happened at 4 in the morning. Adrien was not so happy about losing precious sleep hours.
They went to their seats and Marinette looked almost impatiently at the front for Mme. Bustier to arrive. Adrien did say it was going to be an announcement before class so she had to be here already. She still ignored Adrien's subtle glance at her and amused smile he threw at her.
She didn't get a chance to stare at him as the door opened with the teacher and principal Damocles arriving to the classroom.
"Good afternoon," he addressed them just as Mme. Bustier set up the projector to show a slide that said 'Design Contest', the principal speaking about the increase in school extracurricular activities to promote and incite students to do beyond the academic walls and just like that it was as if many pennies dropped on Marinette's head.
Oh that sly cat.
"You only have one day to work on your fashion piece and it must be your own design," the principal looked at the class "and tomorrow first thing in the morning your finished presentation will be judged by none other than the great fashion designer Gabriel Agreste, the father of our own student Adrien Agreste."
There were many sounds and gasps floating in the classroom, but Marinette's mind was already checking all her ideas and projects. As much as she disliked Adrien's father in how he was with his own son, a part of her was still at guilt in admiring the man as a fashion designer, a leader in the field.
"In fact, Adriel will model the winning design in his next photoshoot!"
Oh, Marinette knew his measurements by heart from countless cosplay requests. Most of them hidden in Marinette's room because if Adrien's father ever found out well, that would be disastrous.
Hm, Marinette had to rethink her perspective on Gabriel Agreste again.
"And now to announce this year's theme: derby hats!"
Adrien tried not to snicker. Why on earth would they choose that to begin with? But he was glad to have kept it a secret. He knew first hand Marinette was more than good when it came to fashion and this contest was like the perfect fit to her. Oh he couldn't wait to see what his father would say about her designs. Not like he could show him beforehand because the possibility of him thinking it to be biased since Marinette was his friend.
He was practically feeling her energy buzzing from behind and he couldn't wait to see what she would come up with, even if it was something like a bowler hat.
At least it's not a fedora.
The class went on as normal as it could be, with Adrien staying behind to pack his stuff while Marinette nearly ran to the locker room, no doubt to pick her sketchbook.
"So, you going to give it a go?" Adrien asked Nino on his way out, smiling at Nino's face.
"Oh no, fashion design is not my thing" he pointed at where Marinette and Alya were "leave that to Marinette."
Adrien smiled and looked at his friend pacing front and back in front of Alya, babbling something he couldn't quite understand from where he was. Well, time to go do some reassurance.
"Liked the surprise?" Adrien leaned against the wall just as Marinette jumped out of the bench in surprise. For a superhero Adrien enjoyed sneaking up to her like this.
"I'm going to fail so bad" she rubbed her face "and this is how my career ends without even beginning."
"Oh come on" Adrien patted her shoulder "your designs are amazing! You totally have a chance in this."
"You really think so?"
"Cross my heart" he smiled "I can't wait to see what you come up with."
He waved at the girls goodbye and went on his way back home to his piano lessons. Adrien was pleased with how it had gone and he was honest when he said he couldn't wait to see the project Marinette would bring to the table.
He also knew it was best not to bother her until she was done so he just dedicated himself to practice and then work on his assignments, only to find out the latest akuma that was terrorizing the city.
"Pigeons have taken over Paris,"
Say what now?
Adrien looked at the news, baffled at the amount of pigeons that surrounded the buildings, the streets, even on the Eiffel tower.
He looked at the akuma, Mr. Pigeon, calling out the city in name of the blasted birds and Adrien was seriously wondering if Hawkmoth was that desperate or plain bored.
"This is going to be a nightmare" Adrien stood up, already dreading the idea to go after this particular akuma. He transformed and jumped out of the window, making his way to the Eiffel tower across the rooftops when he heard Ladybug's voice.
"Now this is weirder than weird,"
"Birds of a feather flock together," he smiled, only for his nose to itch as a jet pigeon flew above them, sneezing so hard he ended up rolling off the rooftop.
"I'm allergic to feathers" he rubbed his nose, already feeling his eyes watering.
"That's helpful" Ladybug offered him a sympathetic smile.
"Hah, tell me about it" Chat sniffled "so much for surprise attacks this time."
"We could always run to a pharmacy and get you antihistamine- "
"Nah," Chat shook his head "feather allergy isn't that common and we don't want people to put two and two together, I'll be fine, besides, we have more important things to deal with."
He caught up Ladybug with what else was happening, both coming up with a plan to lure Mr. Pigeon –he still was not used to that name- towards them and deal with the akuma.
Which ended in Chat with a police cap at the park.
"An uniform would have been better," Chat glanced at the tree Ladybug was using to hide.
"Just act like a park ranger or something."
"This park is way too small to have a ranger" Chat snickered, soon bored from standing still.
"So," he glanced at Ladybug "how's the project going?"
"I'm missing some parts but I will have it ready" she grinned "but don't think I won't forget you keeping this secret from me."
"You wound me bug" he placed his hands on his chest "and here I was thinking I had done a good de-a-achoo!"
Ladybug turned to see a giant ball made entirely of pigeons surround Chat, the poor cat sneezing as the pigeons lifted him up and away from the park.
"Hey!" she chased after the ball, leading her to the top of the Grand Hotel, where even more pigeons waited on the rails and parasols.
"You know, this is how a horror movie can start,"
"You are not making me watch a horror movie" Ladybug glared at the pigeons, her yo-yo at the ready. The cooing was unnerving and there was no sign of Mr. Pigeon anywhere nearby, she couldn't help but think they had fallen into a trap.
And she hated to be right when a whirlpool of pigeons surrounded them, blocking the sight of the giant cage that fell on top of them, trapping them for good.
"This is just grea-choo!" Chat sniffled "I hate birds."
"Too bad you can't eat them," Ladybug glanced around "look!"
They glared at Mr. Pigeon throwing the usual villain monologue of demanding the miraculous from them, only this time they were surrounded by pigeons who were all ready to throw…
"Ew no" Chat's voice sounded stuffy already "no thank you."
"Chat, the bars!"
Chat didn't need to hear it twice as he summoned his Cataclysm to destroy the cage. His eyes were really watery but they barely managed to escape the sudden swarm of pigeons launching at them, the blunt too hard to dent a metal door.
"Is it wrong that I don't feel bad for the blasted birds?" Chat wiped his nose for the umpteenth time "they'll be fine after you cast the cure."
"Don't be mean to the birds" Ladybug helped him up and pointed at the stairs so they could get out of the hotel.
Chat ran behind her, the beeping in his ring growing insistent.
"I have to find a place to hide before my identity is reveal,"
"Yeah" Ladybug couldn't help but to grin "you wouldn't want to let the cat out of the bag."
Chat squinted at her. Oh, he so understood the timing of the situation.
"Ha, ha, very funny."
The lobby was packed with panicked guests and the mayor, but Ladybug could only stare amused at Chat sneaking his way to a suite in order to feed his kwami. She wasn't going to admit it but sometimes the akumas provided funny situations for her to witness.
Even if this one was scaling up the ridiculous list.
"Why are they all flying to the same direction?"
The ding of the elevator made her turn to see Chat ready to continue their fight.
"So we know he's taking all the park keepers somewhere" Ladybug said as they took a lower route.
"Bird food perhaps?"
"That would be too gross," Ladybug looked at the feather trail that led to a big building, both sticking to the wall to observer.
"The Grand Palais?" Chat frowned "I guess if he wanted a big cage this could be i-a-a"
Ladybug plucked his nose before he could let out a sneeze. The last thing they needed was for them to be caught.
"Let's get this over with" Chat stepped forward only to be held up by Ladybug.
"Ah, it's too easy" she squinted at the gate "we don't want to end up caged again, come on" she pointed to the other side "I have a plan."
It was a good plan, Chat never doubted Ladybug's plans, no matter how farfetched and crazy they ended up sometimes, they always seemed to work out. The problem this time, as Chat would later point out, was his damn allergy that blew up the element of surprise.
The fight was pretty much nonsensical for some, for Chat it just felt like a regular Thursday. But oh was he glad when she finally casted the cure above them, sending the blasted pigeons away from him and giving him a chance to breathe.
"Pound it!" they smiled as their fists bumped.
"Ahh!" she suddenly gasped "I have less than twelve hours to finish that hat!"
"Go, go" Chat smiled at her and made his own way back. He made sure to take a long hot shower to clear out his nostrils and waited until it was late to transform again and pay a late night visit to Marinette.
Chat jumped across the rooftops, happy after a well won fight, and not surprised to see lights coming from Marinette's room despite being almost midnight.
He landed without making a sound and gave a few taps on the trapdoor to announce his arrival. Even if he knew Marinette would be in the zone, he had to make sure she was not going to push herself too hard.
"Chat," she blinked surprised to see him "what are you doing up here?"
"Well buginette, it is quite late and you should be sleeping."
Marinette rolled her eyes but went back down to her room, leaving the door open for him to sneak in.
This was something they didn't do that frequently, what with risking too much of their identities if they frequented each other while one was with the mask. But Chat was curious and this was a special occasion. At least that's what he told himself.
He saw pins and cardboard on the floor, pieces of fabric and loose thread in a pile near her sewing machine. And on the desk was the masterpiece, or at least Adrien thought it was.
"I'm having a struggle with it" Marinette slumped on her chair and showed him the original design "if, and this is still a big if, I win and you model this you will be sneezing nonstop and then the shoot will be ruined and they are going to hate me for ruining hours of work and-!"
"Woah, woah" Chat held her shoulders "I think we can agree that when you win we can solve my allergy out, it wouldn't be the first time I had to use a feather somewhere, we can use synthetic ones!"
"Your dad will certainly think less of the hat if I do that."
"But you can keep the original for the showing and then switch it for me to wear" he smiled at her but noticed her eyes still looking at the hat "Mari… do you regret entering the contest?"
"W-what?" Marinette turned her eyes to him "what makes you say that?"
"It's just…" he rubbed the back of his head "I can't help but see you worrying and maybe this was too much pressure?"
He was surprised to feel Marinette holding onto his hand, squeezing it tight as she gave him a small smile.
"Chaton," she looked at their hands "thank you for worrying about me but" she sighed "you know me, I over think almost everything."
"Hm, yeah" he shrugged "but they turn out into great plans, like today."
She giggled.
"I appreciate you worrying over me" Marinette hugged him "and you know what? You're right, I was worrying too much over this detail. If you say it'll be fine for the showing, I can keep the feather on it."
Chat responded to the hug, his stomach suddenly feeling funny inside him. Huh, maybe he shouldn't have had chicken salad for dinner.
"Alright!" Marinette pulled away and smiled "I still need to finish the embroidery so- "
"R-right!" Chat smiled back "do you need me to wake you up?"
"I'd gladly appreciate it just in case" Marinette waved at him as Chat climbed up the ladder to the trap door "but no singing."
"I could start right now, one more day before the storm~"
"See you in the morning Enjolras" Marinette rolled her eyes and swirled back on her chair to work on the hat.
Chat waved and closed the trapdoor to make his way back home. He didn't indulge in why the weather suddenly felt warmer than when he had left.
The next day arrived and he was nervous for the contest, even if he wasn't participating at all. When he reached the courtyard he saw some of his classmates that had decided to join and work on quite interesting designs. He even saw a steampunk one and he was tempted to try it on.
Adrien waited next to the principal while Nathalie arrived to introduce herself, holding the tablet that had the camera showing his father from his office. Part of Adrien was disappointed he wasn't here in person but it was better than nothing. He looked at the end where Alya was trying to call Marinette to not avail but he knew she was on her way.
Him blasting 'Do you hear the people sing' as an alarm was proof enough of that.
In fact, just as they were observing the steampunk hat that Adrien saw her dashing past them towards her stand, holding her precious hat with care. He still let out a sigh of relief.
Too bad it was short lived as he saw Chloe's entry for the contest. An exact replica of the hat Marinette had designed. He looked at Chloe and shook his head. There was no way he was going to let her get away with it, especially when his father noticed the fact they were the same.
"I apologize for the situation Mr. Agreste but I can prove that this derby hat is my original design," Marinette said with a tone of voice that reminded Adrien so much of Ladybug he thought he didn't have to say anything after all.
He smiled in delight as Marinette showed off her work, without stuttering or tumbling in her words, even showing the stitching that he had seen her working on during the night, that revealed nothing else than her name when turned upside down.
Adrien was proud of her.
"Very exquisite creation, you definitely have the laboring hands of a hat maker miss…"
"Marinette" Adrien provided, standing next to her with a smile as he watched her eyes go wide at being announced the winner of the contest.
"What about we celebrate with a crepe" Adrien said once Nathalie and his father left, him and Marinette the only ones left in the courtyard.
"That sounds great, but" she looked at the hat Chloe had brought and picked it up "can't believe she would try to steal my work."
"It wasn't correct," Adrien sighed "but we can also say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery… it's going to take a lot with her, isn't it?"
"Adrien" Marinette looked at him "it's not your job to fix Chloe."
"I know," he frowned "but I guess I can't give up on her yet."
To his surprise Marinette only placed the hat on his head, having removed the feather from it to avoid him sneezing.
"I'll hold your bargain on that crepe after class" she offered a smile "now come on derby boy, you don't want to be late."
Adrien tipped the hat and walked with her to the classroom.
Can I push another chapter before I go back to work on Monday. We shall find out
Thanks for reading!