Disclaimer: I do not own Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir or Hetalia. All rights go to their creators.

Chapter 5: Arthur The Fragrance

Francis discussed with Ludwig the nature of his plan and Ludwig got to work contacting Alfred. According to his replies on his social media account the teenager was thrilled to be contacted by the fashion designer.

Arrangements were made to have him picked up and dropped off where they were shooting the commercial.

"There's been a change of plans. We're going to shoot an advertisement for the debut of my new cologne. And I've got one of your little classmates to help you." Francis smirked, placing a hand on Alfred's shoulder.

"Yo! Artie that's so cool, you're going to be in a commercial!" Alfred said.

Francis noticed Arthur furrow his eyebrows. Beside Arthur he recognized Yuet Lian and greeted her as such, but he didn't recognize the boy with darker skin. He was surprised that the raven-haired boy wasn't with them.

"And you trust Alfred to have the "artistic vision" to make a good commercial?" Arthur held up quotation marks with his fingers.

"Of course! He is young and he makes those popular video blogs on uh HetaTube. I am sure he knows what would get the most...how you say clicks, non?"

Francis had planned to have the commercial themed around Paris's very own heroes. Whatever Alfred came up with, he would sway him towards that.

"Yeah! I've always wanted to make a commercial! There's always a hero and a villain in every story, right?"

The kid was making it too easy, "So you mean make it about Ladybug and Chat Noir and their main antagonist Papillon?" Francis asked Alfred.

"Yeah! And we can say that the fragrance makes you feel strong so you can fight villains just like Ladybug and Cat Noir!" Alfred turned to him with a smile.

"Would you have the kind of pull to get Ladybug and Chat Noir to appear in the commercial?"

"Nah I wish I did! Those appearances are kind of random on my show, they usually come to me, not the other way around." Alfred lets out a boisterous laugh.

Merde. That would have been too easy, wouldn't it? "Hmm. That is no problem. We could hold auditions."

"And we're going to need a damsel in distress to raise the stakes!"

"If you just need a pretty face then I guess I'll–" Arthur started to say. Francis wondered if he should use Arthur for this arbitrary "damsel in distress" role, but there was something naturally attractive about his darker skinned friend.

"Arthur, who is your friend? I think he would be perfect for the role Alfred here is describing.

"A-Antonio?"

"M-me? Oh no Monsieur Bonnefoy sir! I just modeled for you once, I can't do any acting!" The brunet shook his head.

"Nonsense." Francis brushed him off, "All you have to do is stand in front of the camera and look handsome."

Antonio's cheeks were dusted pink.

"He can't possibly be in the commercial! What role am I going to have then?" Arthur clenched his fists, rage sweeping over him.

Francis tapped his chin; would he dare suggest that Arthur be Chat Noir? They are of a similar height and stature. Could it be…?

"I suppose you could be Chat Noir, if you want another important part."

Arthur frowned, "But I look nothing like him! How about Hawkmoth? No one's ever seen him before."

Francis raised an eyebrow, "You want to portray the villain?"

"Way cool my dude! It'll be totally unexpected! People love a good plot twist!" Alfred smiled.

Francis called over his tailor to have Arthur fitted for something purple, villainous and pertaining to butterflies. When the tailor asked for a reference, he told him to surprise him.

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A week later Francis held auditions for the parts of Ladybug and Chat Noir in the commercial, with 2 others from his casting team, Lina and Julia. The parts called for males who were between the ages of 14 to 21. Ludwig had narrowed down the ages of the heroes to this range upon studying their interactions. These auditions would help narrow down the possible candidates even more.

After listening to about 45 auditions Francis was about to call it a day after these last two. An Oliver Lewis for Chat Noir and a Hiroto Yamamoto for Ladybug. They looked to be about 17 or 18 years old.

"Alright, just read from the script and try to be as authentic as you can." Julia said after sitting back down. She was the one who had handed them the scripts.

"So, what are we looking for exactly?" Oliver asked, his eyebrows furrowed as he turned around with his back facing Hiroto. Hiroto copies the motion with his back facing Oliver.

"I don't know." Hiroto says. Hiroto widened his eyes before he gasped, glancing at the paper, "Invisible person!

Lina reads the stage directions, "Chat Noir and Ladybug blindly attack the air. Ladybug squats down to pick up a bundle of fallen leaves and receives a kick to the back from Chat Noir."

Oliver's facial expression is remorseful as he turns to Hiroto, "Sorry Ladybug, didn't know you were down there." He looks down at the paper and raises his eyebrows, "Ah…I see what you're doing." He gives Hiroto a small smile.

Lina reads the stage directions, "An invisible man grabs Chat Noir, and Ladybug throws leaves on the invisible man before tackling him to the ground."

"Hold on tight Ladybug I'll be right back!" Oliver raises his voice.

Lina reads the stage directions, "Chat Noir exits and returns shortly with a bucket of water. He pours it on Ladybug and the invisible man."

"Kuro Neko!" Hiroto raises his voice, bawls up his fists and turns to narrow his eyes at Oliver.

Oliver's eyes widened. "What? I couldn't see him!" He smirked, "But l'll warm you up Lovebug, if you want."

Hiroto rolls his eyes.

This was the best reading he'd heard so far. The two had the same chemistry that he'd seen in the two heroes. It was unmistakable.

Francis stood up palms flat on the table, "You two have got the parts!"

"Really?" Oliver's blue eyes widened before he smiled.

"Oui! It is like you play the part every day." Francis gave the two a small smile.

Oliver let out a giggle, "Oh my. I can't believe it." He placed the script right under his nose.

"I have practiced and studied for the part. This is a high honor." Hiroto said, giving Francis a nod.

It was almost uncanny how they were similar heights and builds to the two heroes. Oliver had blue eyes, ginger hair, bushy eyebrows, an upturned nose and freckles across his face.

Hiroto's hair was crimson red, he had brown eyes, a small button nose, and looked to be of East Asian descent.

Julia took down their contact information and Linda took their measurements to begin modifying their costumes, redesigned by Francis himself.

Later when Francis met with Ludwig in the basement he could barely hold in his excitement.

"Ludwig, I think I found them! These two young men who auditioned for the part were absolutely perfect!"

Ludwig raised an eyebrow, "Do you think the real Ladybug and Cat Noir would risk exposing their secret identities by auditioning for a commercial?"

"It's about integrity, Ludwig. No one can be a better Ladybug and Chat Noir, than Ladybug and Chat Noir, non?"

Ludwig shook his head, "I don't think they would put themselves in such a compromising position."

Francis pouted, "Akumatize someone during the shoot and we'll see what happens. I'm sure they'll find an excuse to get away and spring into action."

"Alright, we can test your theory." Ludwig gives him a nod.

0000000

Arthur was given an eggplant-colored top hat with a lavender ribbon around it. He was also given an eggplant-colored cape and a silver mask for around his eyes. Francis's tailor said that he was inspired by the Phantom of the Opera so a three-piece black suit with an eggplant-colored bowtie.

Going along with the Phantom of the Opera theme, Antonio was fitted for a white button up shirt, pants and shoes.

Francis redesigned Ladybug and Chat Noir's costumes himself and the tailor fit them to the two actors.

Francis was surprised at how well the shoot was going. It consists of Hawkmoth keeping Antonio hostage because he wants the miraculouses. Antonio struggles at first but then uses the perfume to blind Hawkmoth. It provides a brief distraction so that Ladybug can tie hawkmoth up with his grappling clip. Chat Noir unmasks him. It cuts to Antonio, Chat Noir and Ladybug saying, "Anyone can be a hero with Bonnefoy: Resilience."

Francis was wondering when the akumatized person would show up. Ludwig had excused himself, claiming to have other matters to attend to almost 20 minutes ago.

And just then a man burst through the door wearing a black motorcycle helmet and shades. A full body silver suit and white boots.

"You two wanna play hero so much, own up and take down a real villain."

One of Francis's makeup artists approached the man, "I'm sorry sir but we're wrapping up production. The "villain" role has already been filmed; you'll have to–"

And just then the man raised his arm, which was attached to a cannon-like device that shot out nails, pinning the make-up artist to the adjacent wall. He was otherwise unharmed.

"I wasn't talking to you. I'm talking to the two clowns who think they're Ladybug and Cat Noir. If you're the real deal, show me and give me your miraculouses!"

"Al?" Francis looked back to see the shocked expression of Oliver who was in his Chat Noir costume.

Al? Francis furrowed his eyebrows and looked around for Alfred.

"That's not me dudes! But this is wicked sick content for the blog." Alfred said before pulling out his phone to record.

"I'm not Allen anymore! The name's Bitter Snipe."

Bitter Snipe pointed his arm cannon right in Oliver's face, "Show me what you can do, hero."

Francis saw the rest of his team scrambling towards the door and then felt a tug on his arm.

"Monsieur Bonnefoy, we have to get out of here. We do not want you harmed." Lina said.

Francis was going to turn around and leave with her when the sound of Bitter Snipe's cannon went off. Francis stopped, horrified that if he looked, the young man's face would be struck with nails.

"Hmm, capes are pretty useful." Francis looked to see Arthur in between Oliver and Bitter Snipe. His cape had been punctured with nails; he was still in his Hawkmoth costume.

"How about we hold off until the real heroes get here?" He said to Bitter Snipe.

"I don't know who you think you are, but this is between me and them, not you!"

Oliver didn't waste any time running in the opposite direction after Arthur stepped in front of him.

"Monsieur Bonnefoy?" Lina asked upon seeing that he did not follow her.

"I'm going to find a place to hide Lina. Do not worry about me." After a moment of hesitation, she ran out of the studio.

Francis went over to crouch just out of sight behind the cameras, "Hey Monsieur Bonnefoy. You wanna see the fight too?" Alfred whispered; the boy was just behind him.

Francis shushed him.

"Looks like you lost one." Arthur smirked.

Bitter Snipe groaned and aimed his nail cannon at Arthur who managed to just dodge the array of nails.

"Stop wasting my time! I want the miraculouses!" He aimed at Arthur again.

Hiroto managed to use the yo-yo that stood in place of Ladybug's grappling clip to hit the villain in the face. He turned his attention to Hiroto briefly and it gave Arthur just enough time to kick the villain's arm cannon causing an array of nails to shoot upwards into more of Francis's stage lights. Sparks rained down upon them.

Then he roundhouse kicked Bitter Snipe in the stomach. It sent the villain stumbling back and onto the ground.

"Yeah, go Artie!" Alfred whispered.

Did he learn that from fencing?

"I'm getting tired of you! You think you're some kind of hero?"

"No, of course not. I'm just stalling until the real heroes get here." Arthur said, he crossed his arms and frowned.

Just then the doors opened again, and Francis turned to see Ladybug.

Francis heard a loud creak and looked upwards to see a nail had knocked a light loose and it was hanging on by a cord. And then it snapped!

Francis was shoved backwards onto the ground and out of the way by Alfred. Only to see the spotlight fly across the room and smash against the wall from Arthur kicking it off course to not hit Alfred.

"Dude!" Arthur was now right beside Alfred who was awestruck.

"You're the real Ladybug, aren't you?" Bitter Snipe got back up.

"Hai I am."

"Finally! A worthy opponent. Give up your miraculous Ladybug! And tell Cat Noir I want his too!"

"You'll have to fight me for it." Ladybug said.

Bitter Snipe aimed at Ladybug and Ladybug blocked the nails with his grappling clip that turned into a shield when he spun it. The nails bounced off and flew in different directions, a few stuck into the clothes racks and light blockers.

Arthur gripped Francis's arm, "How about we make our exits, yeah?" and Alfred's and pulled them both out of the studio.

Francis was then swarmed with his staff, frantic about the Akumatized man. He quickly lost track of Arthur as he tried to reassure them that Ladybug had arrived, and things would be back to normal soon.

Upon seeing Chat Noir's blinding white light, they knew it was safe to go back inside. Francis lead the way in for the rest of the crew after opening the doors.

Bitter Snipe had turned into a young man who looked similar to Alfred although he had auburn hair and slightly darker skin. He had sunglasses perched on his head and was wearing a plain white t-shirt, sneakers and blue jeans.

"I let Hawkmoth get to me if I'm seeing you two, right?"

"That's typically how it goes." Chat Noir said and Ladybug nodded.

"Damnit. Is Ollie, ok?"

Hiroto, Oliver, and Antonio came back in, still in costume but without the masks. They walked over to the three. Linda and himself were checking the camera footage they'd shot of the commercial. Although, he was paying more attention to the two heroes instead.

"Al!" Oliver said.

"Ollie I'm so sorry! I didn't hurt you, did I?"

"No, I'm ok. Arthur Kirkland the model stepped in and saved me from getting a face full of nails! It was so cool!"

"What? Really?" Antonio said.

"Check it dude, I got it on video." Alfred said, having walked over there at some point.

"I didn't know you liked acting Ollie."

"I know you would say you didn't like theatre. I thought you wouldn't like me anymore if you found out." Oliver avoided his gaze briefly.

"Ollie no! I'm sorry I made you feel like you couldn't tell me. I don't like theatre that much, but I'll watch it for you. I'll always support you, don't you ever think differently, ya hear?"

"Oh Al!" Oliver embraced the other teenager.

Hiroto stuck a finger in his mouth and pretended to throw up. Hiroto and Antonio walked over to the dressing rooms to change out of their attire.

"Isn't that sweet Ladybug? Why don't you ever embrace me like that?" Chat Noir frowned, crossing his arms.

"Because you already know that I'll always support you."

Chat Noir's cheeks were colored pink with blush, "Of course."

"How cute! " Alfred said taking a picture of the two heroes.

"Alfred!" Ladybug gasped.

The two heroes excused themselves and left the studio.

"Monsieur Bonnefoy? Did you hear what I said?" The cameraman asked, getting his attention.

"Ah, non. You'll have to go over it again. My head is in the clouds. Silly me." Francis grinned.

But one thing stuck with him as he later noticed Arthur had rejoined them all in the studio.

There was definitely more to Arthur than Francis knew, and he would find out just what that was.

A/N: Oliver Lewis (2p England), Hiroto Yamamoto (2p Japan). Apparently 2p Japan's first name is Kuro, which I don't think fits for this story, so I changed it.

Is it plagiarism if I take a scene from my own fic and inject it into this one?

Thank you for reading! Criticism welcome.