Yay Adrien finally got assigned somewhere. I wonder how much mischief he can get up to surrounded by paper...
Dragon Lord Draco... technically Ladybug doesn't exist yet, there fore no kwami exists yet either. The how will be explained as the story goes on.
Marinette is a detective who can't keep a partner while hunting down the notorious Hawkmoth gang. Chat is the new cat burglar on the streets who never gets caught. After Marinette gets handed his case it's it won't be long before their fates collide especially when monsters start roaming the streets
(Nap Time)
Paperwork Marinette decided was overrated and she was heartily sick of sitting at her desk all day. She didn't understand how other people did it, especially people like Gabriel who used to be a street detective himself. With an annoyed sigh Marinette glanced at her phone noting the time and stood. She was done with her paperwork today now she just had to deliver each piece to its final resting place and then she could go home herself. If she hurried she could even catch a quick nap before heading off to parkour for the evening. Dropping off the last of her papers Marinette headed down to records to return a file she had borrowed to cross reference her Chat Noir case. She had noticed by following the trail of bodies that Chat had only come to Paris recently. It had made her curious of the cause and had started looking through recent burglaries and killings tied to Chat or with his MO in search of possible clues. The files hadn't helped but now she didn't even need to look since she wasn't planning on arresting the silly cat.
If she wanted to know something about him now she could probably just ask within reason and everything she wrote down would only be recorded in her personal written files at home. Although now she was going to have to monitor his police file at work and place false trails to ensure his safety if he ever slipped up. That was part of her deal for being part of the whispers and really she didn't mind as long as there were no moral codes breached. Marinette when she first joined had laid out her moral codes very clearly and the whispers promised to never make her cross those lines. They never had and Marinette often covered for them on the minor stuff like getting them off the hook for minor infractions or making sure paperwork was lost when descriptions were taken for any crimes that they stopped. Marinette knew that many whispers committed their own crimes but lucky for them she had never run across them in the act. Master Fu and Gran made sure that any wrongdoing done by the whispers were done far outside Marinette's district and so far she had never been handed a case that had to do with them. Chat Noirs case was the first and she wasn't completely positive on how to balance it although so far she felt like she was doing a good job. She had already claimed the file of the killed guard that had been an akuma, although the officer in charge had demanded how in the hell she already knew of it. Marinette hadn't been in the mood to answer but really the man had been asking an almost rhetorical question in the first place. Marinette would have to make sure to talk to Chat about these akuma and different methods of disposing of the bodies if more started cropping up. It was a terrible way to be but it Chat started leaving bodies everywhere he went there would be trouble no matter what she did. She would also have to discuss how stalking people wasn't a polite past time no matter how he looked.
With a sigh and a shake of her head Marinette decided not to get ahead of herself. She didn't know how these akuma were made and she hoped that they weren't very common. For now she just had to focus on what she had already done and uncovered. At the moment that simply meant returning the file she had borrowed and covering her tracks so people wouldn't look too closely at what she had been searching for. Waving a hand at Jukia as she headed to the back she almost slammed into Rose.
"Hi Marinette! Did you ever find what you were looking for?!" Rose asked enthusiastically
Marinette gave her a genuine smile "Not in this file but I'm sure I'll find what I want eventually."
Rose nodded beaming, while neglecting to ask about what she was searching for. "Well you know where it goes! Try not to trip over our newest addition back there. I think he wants to impress his father a little too much."
"His name is Adrien Rosie and he is looking into your old files by the way." Jukia murmured making Marinette turn to look at her.
If Rose was an enthusiastic sunshine child then Jukia was her shadow. They both worked records together and the rumor mill said that they were more than partners at work. Marinette knew they were a couple since she had caught them kissing once, but since both girls liked their privacy Marinette never spoke of it. She also strongly discouraged others from talking about it since you were not really allowed to date within the same department, male or female. In turn they rarely pried into what she looked for in the old records and warned her if anyone was snooping after her. It was a good deal for all of them and Marinette made sure to even bring them cookies sometimes.
"Ah so Gabriel finally assigned him somewhere." Marinette muttered wondering why he was looking at her old files.
"Yes and he is very sweet! You should talk to him Marinette! I'm sure you two will get along wonderfully!" Rose chirped
"I know him Rose. Matter of fact I need to talk to him so this is perfect. I'll go put this file back and get out of your hair." Marinette said with a smile and Rose nodded eagerly before prancing back to Jukias side. Marinette caught sight of Jukia running a hand through Roses hair before going around the corner and she smiled before disappearing into the back.
It only took a few moments to put her file back in its appropriate place and then she followed the sounds of shuffling papers and slight mumbles to where Adrien sat amongst a slew of papers. Pausing, one eyebrow raised, she realized that Adrien was so engrossed he hadn't heard her approach.
"You do know you are going to have to put all this back where it belongs right?" Marinette asked
Adrien jumped, an odd sound somewhere between a growl and a yip slipping from him. Startled green eyes met her blue ones and confusion took the startled looks place.
"How do you do that?" He demanded for the second time that day and Marinette finally realized she had snuck up on him… again.
A wry grin flickered across her lips "You don't pay attention when you get engrossed in things. Its not that hard really."
"I suppose" Adrien frowned but decided not to say anything more. Truthfully he always paid attention and unless he was completely unconscious, he could always tell when someone was near him. Until Marinette that is. Within just a few days she had somehow managed to slip under his radar which was interesting and annoying. Hiding his confusion behind a pleasant smile he asked. "Can I help you find anything down here? I'm just starting but I'm sure I can fumble my way through."
Marinette chuckled at his offer knowing that she had a better chance of finding something on her own down here than with his help. "No Adrien I don't need anything right now. I was just putting some stuff back I borrowed a few days ago. What are you reading into?" she asked even though she was pretty sure that she recognized part of the file in his hands. In truth Marinette wanted to see what he would do and say.
At her question Adrien flushed a little but held up one of the papers for her to see. Marinette took it from him scanning the sheet and realized she had been right about the file. It was an early case she and Tiki had worked on together before they were official partners.
"Why?" Marinette queried her brow crinkling in confusion but unable to think of a tactful way of asking why he was reading her old files. She really wondered how he had even known about this file since her name and Tikis weren't on it. They had solved the case together but the detective working the case had gotten the credit, not them since they had gone behind his back to bring the bad guy down.
Adrien shrugged shifting the papers into a neater stack and taking the paper back from Marinette. "I was curious and I didn't know where to start down here so I picked someone I already knew. This case was referenced in another of Tikis files and when I read that one I remembered Tiki telling me about this one. I sort of got distracted and just decided to go from there but this detective doesn't work here anymore."
Marinette nodded "He was killed in a gang fight."
Adrien went silent waiting for more information but Marinette remained mute on the details. This mans death had been one of those cases that had tested Marinette since it had been the whispers that had brought about the man's downfall. They had been protecting Tiki and her technically since the detective had been selling police information to the highest gang bidder, including Hawkmoth. No one liked their secrets being sold and really if the whispers hadn't made their move someone else would have eventually. The whispers however were worried that another gang would torture the man in an attempt to extract any other secrets he knew before killing him off. The danger of information falling into the wrong hands had spurred them and the whispers tended to act fast once they had decided someone's fate. Adrien raised an eyebrow at her silence and Marinette decided a subject change was necessary.
"So Gabriel didn't give you any sort of direction? He just assigned you here?" Marinette asked and at her tone Adrien grinned, happy she had spoken without him having to prod her even if she had blatantly changed the subject.
"He told me to familiarize myself with all the open cases and people in the precinct and when he comes back from his trip he might assign me with someone properly. Why did he do this to you too?" Adrien asked.
Marinette nodded pointing at the file in his hands "I was far shyer back then and Tiki found me down here one day looking up connections between two murder cases that no one had noticed before. She took me under her wing and when we solved the crime she asked for me to be her partner. I don't know if Gabriel was pleased or not but considering I hadn't had any luck with anyone else he let it happen. We stepped on a few of the other detectives toes with that case too so I think he just accepted that we were going to be trouble."
Adrien chuckled settling all the papers back in its proper file and laid it on a small stack. "Do you mind me reading Tiki and your case files? I can move on to other things if you do."
Truthfully in a way she did mind but only because in her world knowledge was power. If he truly was a good detective Adrien would be able to get a very good idea of the type of person she was through reading their case files. He wouldn't know every detail because she and Tiki left many out if they weren't pertinent, but he would learn enough. Marinette on the other hand didn't have any kind of files on him, not that it was his fault of course. Feeling resigned Marinette sighed shaking her head. "No go ahead. If you have any questions just ask and don't go snooping for answers that aren't in the files."
Adrien nodded taking her warning to heart. He had seen the way she was out on the streets as Chat and the last thing he wanted was her after him in a bad way while dressed as Adrien. The fact that she had the support of one of the largest most secret information networks he had ever seen firmly cemented the idea that crossing Marinette was an absolutely awful idea. Deciding not to press for any further information, Adrien climbed to his feet wanting to read the case files somewhere other than the floor. "Don't worry I will probably have several questions soon enough to irritate you with. Are you done for the day?"
Marinette nodded "I was going to head home and catch a nap for about an hour then head out to the parkour site."
"Ok then. I guess I'll wait for you to call then." Adrien said drooping a little making Marinette hide a grin. She didn't know if he did it on purpose or not but Marinette decided to extend a further invitation since he was obviously trying to respect her privacy in every way possible. It was an aspect about him that she truly liked and she found that she didn't mind the thought of having him in her home.
"Or you can come with me. You will need to change anyways and you have your other clothes at my house still." Marinette said
Adrien instantly perked up. "You don't mind?!"
Marinette shook her head. "I wouldn't invite you if I did. We should get moving though. Do you have everything you need?"
"My bag is in my locker. I'll grab it on the way out." Adrien answered following her up the aisle.
As Adrien went to get his bag Marinette grabbed her own things then went outside to wait on him, butterflies swarming her gut. She couldn't believe that Adrien had wanted to go with her to parkour. Hell she couldn't believe he was following her home again! It was odd and if this had happened while she was in collage she probably would have been a stuttering freaking out mess, not that she wasn't freaking out more than a little right now. Before she could get herself too wound up though, Adrien slid out the front doors and came to her side with the biggest grin on his face.
"So we are going to your house first right? Do you still have any cookies?" He asked
Marinette let out a snort of laughter her nervousness evaporating in the face of his innocent child like grin. "Seriously? You still have all the stuff you got leftover in this box!"
Adrien gave her a wide eyed look that had her heart twisting into knots. "But your cookies are the best!"
Marinette couldn't help herself and started to laugh moving down the sidewalk with Adrien following at her heels. "Yes there are cookies still but don't eat all of them. Otherwise you will get cramps when we run tonight."
Adrien wiggled happily beside her and Marinette shook her head chuckling. He was acting like a little kid which was at complete odds dressed the way he was in his suit. "You seem so excited to do this, hasn't Nino invited you out to do stuff?"
Adrien shrugged "His idea of fun and mine are not the same, although I don't mind playing video games or helping him with his music stuff. In America they didn't have anything like Parkour in the area I lived in. Most of the cities are not laid out like Paris is and unless you just want to play on playground equipment it's not the same. You certainly can't run from rooftop to rooftop over there in most cities although they have several parks with really nice trees to climb."
Marinette gave a thoughtful hum "But you can do parkour right because if you can't I can show you the basics."
Adrien patted her shoulder "I promise I can hold my own. We should race tonight and see how well we match up."
"That actually sounds fun." Marinette said with a happy sigh as she started climbing the stairs to her flat. Reaching her door Adrien took several items from her hands making it easier to get the key in. They both slipped inside where Marinette instantly kicked off her shoes and dumped the few items she did have in her hands onto the small futon.
"You can put your stuff down where ever and your clothes from the other day are still on the table. We should be back by ten so if you want to take a nap the guest bed is through the door over there. There is food in the fridge or you can eat the pastries. You can handle a microwave without blowing anything up right? Marinette teased.
Adrien nodded giving a fake yawn as he ignored her cooking jab. "I might just lay down like you."
Marinette echoed his yawn and Adrien noticed that when she did her tongue curled up towards the roof of her mouth. It was adorable and Adrien had to restrain himself by pressing his nails into his palms so he didn't do something stupid.
"Riiight" Marinette sighed with a gentle stretch of her arms. "If you need me just yell my name or knock on my door. We have about an hour and twenty min before we should head out."
Adrien nodded again not trusting himself to speak and followed her lithe form with his eyes as she disappeared into her room. Her door snicked shut and with his impressive hearing he heard her flop down onto her bed with a grumble. After that it was fairly silent and Adrien was left in a state of nervous energy. For once he actually missed Plaggs presence, since if he were here Adrien would at least have someone to talk to. Instead he was alone and in Marinette's house which was amazing and nerve wracking all at once. Changing out of his suit and rinsing his hair free of gel Adrien moved back into the living room swiftly drying his hair with a towel. Tucking all of his clothes into his bag Adrien wasn't sure what to do next. Prowling into the kitchen Adrien ate one of her amazing cookies and slipped back out into the living room. Glancing up at the loft area he decided not to use the stairs and jumped, easily making a grab at the base of the railing that lined her loft area. Swinging up in silence Adrien made a mental note to keep his feline abilities on the down-low when they went running later. The loft area wasn't covered in papers as it had been last time, the files were neatly stacked on a little lap desk off to the side instead. Part of him wanted to snoop but Adrien realized that Marinette would probably know if he did and he didn't want to break her trust, especially not when things were progressing so well between then.
The other thing that caught his attention was the futon like cushions that were drenched in sunlight. With a gleeful wiggle that spoke of his inner cat he pounced on the cushions. They were soft and warm in equal measure, making a happy sound rumble from his chest. With Marinette snuggled away in her bed and no one else to hear, Adrien allowed the noise into the open air as he collapsed to the embracing warmth. Wiggling to absolute contentment Adrien decided he had to have a set of futon cushions for his own flat. For a brief moment he was tempted to just steal hers since then they would have her scent all over them. It was a fleeting dream though, since he knew she would kick his ever loving ass if he tried, but it was a fun dream he didn't mind indulging in. Breathing deep Adrien sighed hands kneading the fabric while his eyes grew heavy. Slowly they closed against his will and after what only seemed like a couple of seconds he felt something nudge him. A low growl fell from his lips as he took a deep breath, body stretching out from the curled position he had been in.
A snicker answered him. "Don't growl at me mister. It's almost time to go unless you want to sleep here until I get back."
Adrien's eyes fluttered open taking in Marinette who stood before him dressed in a dark tank top and black swirled basketball type pants that fell to mid-calf. Her clothes looked extremely soft and the first instinct he had was to pull her down into his arms so he could check. Managing to strangle that instinct before he got himself into trouble he took note of the amused grin on her face. He didn't know it but Marinette had found him here after coming up to work on the files on her lap desk a bit more before leaving. Instead of a few quiet minutes of work curled up on her comfy cushions she had found Adrien in her spot. He had been utterly relaxed an odd sound close to a purr rumbling from him and Marinette had sat down for a few minutes unable to resist admiring the view. Up until a few seconds ago she had been content to watch, then he had shifted in his sleep and Marinette realized that she was being creepy watching him like she was. Reaching out she resisted the urge to brush her fingers through his hair and nudged his shoulder instead. It took a few seconds and nudges but Adrien finally opened his eyes, the grumble he made causing her to snicker.
"I'm stealing these cushions." Adrien sighed happy to note she didn't seem upset at the fact that he had growled at her.
Marinette rolled her eyes at his comment "If you do I will kick your sorry butt out of my house and I wont share any more cookies with you."
Adrien sat up eyes wide open as he mock pleaded "Please kind lady anything but that!" he even managed to put up his hands in a placating gesture making Marinette laugh.
"Get up you dork. I'm guessing you had a good nap?" she asked unable to resist ruffling his hair before turning away so he couldn't see her blush.
Adrien followed after gathering his wits, since her touch had almost made him pounce on her and beg for pets. "Honestly I hadn't realized that I fell asleep." Adrien answered his voice a little husky.
Marinette grinned up at him watching him smoothly climb down the ladder. "I do that all the time up there. Tiki used to have to wake me up and make me go to bed."
Adrien laughed "As a kid I used to curl up in odd places and fall asleep too. I used to drive Tiki nuts when she couldn't find me."
Marinette chuckled at the story waving for him to follow her. "Well I'll have to keep an eye on you down in the record department then since that place has tons of nooks to hide away in."
Adrien gasped dramatically "You don't trust me? I am offended princess."
Marinette rolled her eyes at the princess comment and slid her shoes on "Come on you sunny dork lets go run."
With a chuckle Adrien followed close behind.
Parkour is up next time! Who's up for crazy obstacles and a game of Tag?
