Nathanael scrambled out from under his sheets and sat on the edge of his bed, staring down at his phone. Four small words that held so much potential. What could she possibly need from him? She was Ladybug after all, and he was just Nathanael. If he had his drawing tablet and pen... Yeah he could help her then, but he had nothing now. He stared at the phone, contemplating what he should respond with. "Where are you?" he quickly sent.
He stared at the cold screen waiting for her response. After a minute or two he heard a knocking on his window. He ignored it, getting out of bed and pulling on an tanktop. He was searching for pants to pull on over his boxers when the knocking became louder, more on purpose. Curiously, he walked over to the window. An upside down face greeted him and he stumbled back, knocking against his art desk.
He fumbled with the lamp until the face in the window revealed itself to be a smiling Ladybug. Nathanael let out a long breath and glanced at it's phone. A message read "Outside. :)))" Ladybug smiled and motioned him to open the window, which he complied to without hesitation. She climbed in through the window, and retracted her yo-yo.
Her eyes traced up and down his body, taking in the slim form and Nathanael realized his nakedness. Blushing he dashed into the closet and shut the door, searching with his phone light to find a pair of pants. He settled on a pair of green skinny pants and clumsily pulled them on and exited, all the while Ladybug laughed. He took a seat at his chair, still burning.
"Why are you here, are you okay? What's wrong," he asked, his nerves starting to pour out again. Ladybug winked at him. She really did act with more confidence when she had her spots on.
"Okay I know this is last minute and I'm so sorry, but could you please do me a favor?" She asked, pressing her hands together and giving him her best puppydog eyes. Nathanael felt himself begin to melt in his chair.
"Of course, Marinette," he sighed happily. "What do you need?"
"Gotta get used to having someone know who I am," she said, having recoiled at the mention of her name. "Gosh it is useful. Okay, so Alya and I made plans to go see a movie tonight, but a new Akuma got loose and I have to go take care of it. Could you maybe facetime with her and pretend we're working together? Then maybe you could, like, I dunno go to wherever I end up with her? Get some new stuff for her blog. I promise I'll make it up to you!" She said quickly, glancing at the window.
Nathanael was floored. The greatest hero in Paris and the help she wanted from him was to lie to her best friend? Although he had to admit that he probably couldn't offer much else. Still Marinette needed help, and more importantly she needed him. That was, at the very least, flattering. Also it wasn't too difficult to do and she would owe him a favor. Maybe she would do some modeling for him? It really wasn't too bad.
"Okay, Marinette. I can do that. Give me your phone. It will be more convincing, and I don't have Alya's number anyway. Then I'll give it back to you later," he said. Ladybug searched for her phone.
"Nathanael that's such a great idea! You're so smart," she bubbled. He straightened at the compliment a bit. She handed him the phone but recoiled.
"What's wrong?" He asked.
"You're not gonna, like, go through my phone are you?" She asked in a small voice. Nathanael blinked at her, stunned.
"Why would I do that? The only thing I'll do is accept a call from Alya. I promise," he said. He shyly held out an extended pinky finger. Ladybug smiled and wrapped hers around his, tightening for a moment, then releasing and handing over her phone.
"Oh, Nathanael, thank you so much. I owe you big time," she said as she started to exit the room. He stood to shut the door when she left. She was halfway out the window when she reached around and gave him a sudden, tight hug. He was too stunned to hold her back and just mumbled something about "no problem, M-marinette."
She sat in the window and held up her yo-yo. "I can communicate to my phone with this. I'll send a message when you and Alya need to be wherever we are. Thanks a million!" On that she leaped from the window. Nathanael, in slight panic, rushed to the window and watched her form swing away from the building. He smiled after her.
"She saw me in my underwear," he said to the quiet night. Silence for a moment. Stars were beginning to bloom in the night. He slammed the window shut and a blush crossed his face. Oh god she really, 100% saw him in his underwear. As he panicked from this interaction he heard a small chime in his hand he didn't recognize. Oh no it was Alya! He swiped the lock open and accepted the call and Alya's bright face popped up on the screen.
"Hellooooo Marinette!" She said, not paying attention.
"Uhm," said Nathanael, searching for words.
"So tonight I heard from the source himself he plans on being at the movie, just thought you might want to know. Be sure to wear something extra cute."
"Alya-"
"Oh but it's supposed to be a little cold. Keep it classy, girl. Maybe that sweater you added the buttons to?"
"Uhm, Alya."
"Yes?"
"Hi."
"Oh," said Alya finally looking at the phone. "Oh! Uhm, am I interrupting something?" Her eyes looked him up and down, much the same as Marinette had done. Nathanael tried to force his blush back, realizing that he was still in just a tank top.
"This? My shirt, oh no I was just changing!" He struggled for an answer.
"Actually, Nathanael I'm more concerned as to why you have Marinette's phone and where she is?"
"Oh! Uhm she came over to do some work on our project. She is in... The bathroom! Yeah. She told me I could answer her phone?"
"Oh, yeah that makes more sense. Okay, well tell her to call me back. I know she doesn't like to be interrupted when she is, uhm, studying."
"Actually she said she would meet you there? Since, you know, my place is closer to the theater."
"Okay, well still tell her to call me. Thanks a million. Bye!" Alya hung up flashing him a peace sign. When the phone turned black, he collapsed against the wall. That was incredibly stressful. He glanced down to Marinette's phone, for just a moment contemplating what it would be like to go through it. His pinky finger hurt and he laughed.
"I wasn't going to, don't worry," he assured himself, shoving the phone to a corner of the desk. He plopped down in his chair and made room for his sketchbook, flipping it open and grabbing at the utensils he needed. Step one was complete, all that was left was waiting for step two. And putting on a real shirt. Yeah, that too.
He was deeply immersed in his drawing, one he was working on for a class, that he almost didn't notice when the phone lit up again. The chime finally began to ring in his ears and he reached for it, with the number saying "unknown" yet still having a picture of a Ladybug. How impossible to decipher, Marinette. He swiped the lock and answered. This time the smiling face of Ladybug shone up at him.
"I think we've got this in the bag," she said proudly. "And as luck would have it, we're near the theater. Meet us here?"
"Of course! I just need to text Alya," he responded.
"Oh thanks a million. See you soon," she said flashing him a peace sign.
"Who are you talking to, my lady?" Asked a flirtatious voice in the background.
"Oh no on-" Marinette cut out as she hung up.
Nathanael looked at the phone, and instead of letting it lock, he closed the phone app. Her background was her and Alya. She was such an incredible friend. Going out of her way to get her stuff for her blog. He opened the text app and found Alya, the very top of the list, and shot her a quick text.
"Nathanael walked me to the theater and Ladybug is here! Come down right now! :D" He hit send and shut the phone off. Adding that bit about him would certainly make it less suspicious about him being there. Rushing through his closet, he pulled on a maroon sweater and grabbed his phone, and Marinette's and raced downstairs. Peaking behind the wall he saw his parents watching the news. It wasn't really that late, was it? He'd almost gone to bed super early.
"Hey mom, my friend accidentally left her phone in my bag. I'm gonna run down to the movie theater and give it back to her!" He called, walking softly to the door.
"Okay, hun. Just be back before midnight 11, it is a school night. Love you," his mother said turning around to blow him a kiss. He smiled and waved.
"I'll be back soon. Love you too," he said as he opened the door and stepped into the cool night. Sweater was a very good choice, but it wasn't too cold at all. The walk to the theater was uneventful, which for once he was very thankful for. Being a Ladybug ally was exhausting.
"What's the matter," called a voice high above the theater. "Cat got your tongue?"
Nathanael looked up to see Chat Noir and Ladybug atop the theater, standing across from an Akuma'ed person. He wasn't sure entirely, but Chat Noir seemed to be holding their tongue in his paw. It was a pretty fun show to watch, this time from unclouded eyes. Maybe it was exhausting, but it was kind of rewarding too.
"Oh my god," said a voice in his ear. He flinched and jumped to the side. It was Alya.
"Yeah," he said watching the superduo.
"Where is Marinette? Is she really missing this again?" Alya asked, whipping out her phone to record the fight.
"She ran off somewhere," Nathanael offered vaguely.
"Yeah she always does, doesn't she?" Responded Alya. "Glad to see you found a real shirt."
Nathanael could only blush in response. They watched the fight until the duo vanished behind the theater, and blast of energy filled the space. It washed over them, and felt warm. It reminded him of Marinette. Warm and gentle, it was certainly her in energy form. Her Lucky Charm.
Alya and Nathanael talked about the literature project until a breathless Marinette came running toward them. She waved and stood before them panting. Nathanael smothered a laugh at her, she hid her secret pretty well. Ladybug out of breath was a pretty funny idea.
"Did I miss her again?" Said Marinette. Alya shook her head. "Man, I always miss her. I went to go see about tickets and I started talking to someone who comes to the bakery a lot. Did you get anything?"
"Oh yeah! Lots of stuff to put on my blog for sure," said Alya proudly, her eyes glittering behind her big glasses. As she stared transfixed at her screen, Nathanael moved slowly toward Marinette and slid her her phone, whispering he had walked her here.
"Oh thank you so much, Nathanael," she said, casting a glance at Alya. "For walking me here. I would have gotten so lost."
"Yeah no problem," he offered shyly.
"Hey are you guys all here to see the movie too?" Asked a cool, and somehow familiar voice. The group turned to see Adrien standing there smiling at him. Nathanael felt himself shrink into himself and watched as Marinette began to fumble.
"Oh yeah, you know. You're cool. I mean you know this movie is cool, like you are. Cool. Movie," she stammered.
"Yeah we're here to see the movie," said Alya bluntly, with a laugh in her voice.
"How about you, Nathanael?" Asked Adrien.
"Oh no, I didn't plan on staying. Lot of homework," he muttered.
"Oh too bad," said Adrien. "You guys want to go in? It's almost time."
"Yes," said Marinette as she followed Adrien inside. Only Alya turned to him.
"See you tomorrow, Nathanael," she said. He gave a limp wave.
"Goodnight," he wished them before heading home, this time even more tired than before.
He felt a lot of jealousy crawl up his throat like bile. It bit and burned from his stomach to his lips. After what he had just done for her and she would be spending the night drooling over Adrien instead. Just because he knew her secret it didn't mean he had to work with her. Maybe next time he'd be a little less quick to jump into her desires.
Of course she was very thankful before Adrien made her a blushing, stammering mess. She did still owe him for this. Perhaps he could ask her to a movie, just the two of them. He'd buy her chocolate and flowers and dress sharply. She'd forget all about Adrien, and watch a night with him. And when an Akuma came around she'd protect him.
These were the thoughts that occupied his mind as he drifted off to sleep that night, his phone settled right under his pillow, just in case His Ladybug needed him again. Adrien didn't have any powers and he certainly didn't know Marinette's secret, nor did he have his own Ladybug to keep him safe.
He was the one and only Super Nathanael, and when he finally asked Marinette out on a real date tomorrow, she would know that maybe there were a million Adriens, but only one him