A/N: hi everyone. this is my first actual ML fic and i've taken some liberties w/ male!ladybug. ladybug is not living in paris, but rather in marseille (this will obv. change) and this fic is post-high school, though it is going to pick up at a university setting. because they are adult characters in this fic, rating will go up from T to M. i've crossposted this fic to AO3 & but its currently in lowercase if you hate that thing. lastly, this is a male!marinette fic. as there will be romance, please understand the implications of that before going further (i understand this to be mostly a het ship fandom). if you have any questions, leave a review and i'll gladly answer. this fic is not beta-read. thank you & enjoy.

::

::

chapter one: prologue

::

The soft humid air didn't cling on him. Instead, it set on him like a descending feather, draping on his already heated skin. He breathed in, his collarbones pronouncing visibly under his red suit. He smelled the sea water, the food truck a few streetlamps down and the light scent of fabric softener coming from a laundromat down right. It was a summer night in Marseille and on an unassuming rooftop, hair ruffling slightly, Ladybug watched the boats in the harbor. Everything was back to normal. No more upturned boats, wreckage and trapped people. Good.

Ladybug felt a trickle of sweat slide down from his forehead and he thinned his lips, clear blue eyes distant to the scenery.

His thoughts were without leash. They went somewhere else, somewhere where his stress grew and stayed until he was restless.

Hawkmoth. He wasn't basing his akuma attacks in Marseille anymore.

::

::

Tonight was unexpected and almost jinxed, with Tikki earlier looking at him worriedly as they watched the news earlier in the evening, headlines reading 'Where is Marseille's Villain 'Hawkmoth'? Rumored sightings of Akumas in Paris'. Marin just gave Tikki an unsure smile then. "It'd be weird if he suddenly moved to Paris. What could even be his motive?"

Tikki had continued looking at him, skepticism in her eyes. "Besides it being the largest and most populated city in France, I see no motive at all."

"Tikki, your sarcasm is showing."

"Well, you're not thinking about this enough. There are many reasons as to why Hawkmoth would move his attacks to Paris, Marin." Marin had winced at Tikki's reproachful tone, but she continued anyway. "There is another miraculous user there, even though you like to pretend he doesn't exist-"

Marin didn't want to hear it. He switched the tab on his browser, effectively cutting the news off and Tikki quickly sighed in her high-pitched way.

"You have to talk to Chat Noir sometime you know. You can't avoid him forever."

Marin rolled away in his desk chair and towards his sewing machine.

Tikki still continued. "You have been Ladybug for three years, and he's been Chat Noir for the same amount of time. He's been wanting to meet you and work side by side-"

"And I was with the whole idea until he started doing that weird PR campaign of pretending to fall in love with me," Marin grabbed a random fabric laying by his side, measuring it with his eyes automatically. It was for show, so that maybe Tikki could drop the topic. "It's been three years and the whole of France loves him because of this weird 'forbidden love' thing he made between us. He wants fame, Tikki. That's all he cares about and he used me and continues to use me to get it. How many times do I have to explain this?"

Tikki looked tired. "Ever considered he actually likes you, Marin?"

Marin jerked his head to her. "And how many times have you asked me this question? Of course he doesn't, Tikki! We never even met!"

"Maybe he's in love with the idea of you. After all, you're the most beloved hero in France. Yes, people love Chat Noir, but it's the Ladybug of Marseille that they always talk about. They see you as mysterious, a loner hero who still shows his heart-"

"Gah!" Marin made an x with his arms, "It's cheesy when you describe me that way."

"It's how they write about you."

Marin shook his head at that, picking up the fabric he unknowingly dropped. He didn't read or watch the news about his ventures in saving the city of Marseille because he always felt that it'd get to his head. Like it did to that certain someone. Marin huffed. You're supposed to save people because it's in your heart and you feel like it's the right thing to do. Not because you want them to fall in love with you.

"Soo…" Tikki floated by his shoulder. "You'll meet with him?"

"...I'll think about it."

"It's only to discuss if Hawkmoth is really in Paris. And, maybe you could also settle on who Chat Noir really is? Maybe he is how you say, maybe he isn't."

Marin breathed through his nose. "He is how I say, Tikki. You'll see. That is, if I do go."

"Well, that's better than a no which is what I've been hearing for a long time." Tikki smiled.

Marin threw a glance at her. "As much as I don't want to admit it, Hawkmoth hasn't attacked the city in two weeks. It's weird. Not like him. But as to him being in Paris, don't you think there would be more concrete info about it? Not just," he air quoted, "rumored sightings of akumas?"

Tikki shrugged at that. "It's just something you have to dig into, Marin."

"Right in the middle of university applications." Marin threw the fabric back to where it once was and swiveled in his chair randomly. "I wish this was just Hawkmoth taking a break so, so bad, Tikki."

Tikki was quiet for a moment and so Marin shut his eyes and leaned back on his chair, trying to mentally quiet away the many stress piles in his head.

"Marin?"

He peaked an eye open. "Mm?"

Tikki wasn't floating by his shoulder anymore but he peripherally caught her by his monitor.

"What about this university?"

Marin turned fully, scooting his seat close but there was no need. He'd already seen it from where he was and Tikki's sheepish face spoke a lot for what was written on his.

"Tikki, are you crazy? Asmod?! One of the best fashion universities in Paris?" he got up from his chair, already reaching for the mouse. Tikki shielded it.

"Marin, if it's true that Hawkmoth moved his operations to Paris, you need to live in Paris! You have to consider any and every option."

"What, and throw away my whole life here, my city? What if he comes back to Marseille?" Marin felt anxious, panicked and looked every right side so. "How will I get back to Marseille quickly enough before he destroys the whole city, Tikki?"

Tikki shook her head. "He won't do that."

"How can you be sure? Hawkmoth is unpredictable. He could even create an akuma tonight-"

"Because he wants both of your miraculouses, Marin." Tikki said, almost sadly. "You and Chat Noir's. Getting them separately hasn't been working for him and I think he's realized that."

Marin stared at Tikki, stilled for a moment. "What."

"He wants you and Chat Noir to work side by side- well, not really- but, that way he has a higher chance of capturing the miraculouses. You know how he would never attack Paris, but sends low-level criminals to do his bidding?" Marin nodded, though still disbelieving. "Chat Noir can't capture akumas, so Hawkmoth leaves akumatized people for you while he sends criminals in Paris to create trouble, bringing out Chat Noir."

"I know all of this Tikki, but I still don't understand-"

"If you two are in Paris together, he could strike two birds with one stone. He knows you don't really like Chat Noir and would refuse to work alongside him. Don't you get it? Hawkmoth sees your lack of teamwork as an advantage and will use that discord between you two, Marin."

Marin's eyes widened a fraction and he sat still. Tikki sighed.

"This is why I want you and Chat Noir to meet as soon as possible."

"You...sound like you wanted to tell me this for a long time, Tikki."

Tikki rolled her eyes, sass spilling. "Well, I have already been telling you. Just in doses."

Marin lowered his eyes, looking down at his pink denim. He just distressed it yesterday, giving it a more worn out, thrifty kind of look. Different from his usual style, but he liked it. Marin stared at it harder. Had liked it.

Everything felt too different all the sudden. Uncomfortable, unfamiliar.

"And I did warn you you'd regret doing that to your pants," Tikki couldn't help to say. Marin slumped over in defeat as response.

"Tikki."

"Yes, Marin?"

"I hate my li—"

"Breaking news here in Marseille this evening." Marin jerked his head up as Tikki was already looking at him in alarm. She quickly floated to switch tabs on the browser as he slid closer in his desk chair. The news channel was reporting live on their website. "Chaos at vieux-port de Marseille where we have live coverage, our akumawatch reporter Caline Bustier is on the scene-"

"Hawkmoth." Marin and Tikki spoke at once. Marin looked at her. "He's back. Did I just jinx-"

"No time, Marin. Let's go!"

::

::

This rooftop was a favorite of his. It was not only one of the tallest buildings in Marseille, but Marin could easily lurk in the shadows of the high chimney, vent pipes and hide about. Long days after battling akumas weren't physically tiring-his Miraculous Ladybug fixed that- it was just the mental drain of it all. He swallowed, knowing he couldn't relax tonight. He wasn't about to detransform or anything. It just felt wrong to take off his suit while Hawkmoth was out there attacking Paris next, as he always did.

It was also because of Tikki's conversation that Marin couldn't allow himself to relax just yet.

So, after a surreptitious look at the streets below, Ladybug steeled himself before swiftly turning around and letting himself fall backwards off the building with much less than a sound.

And then. Rushing breeze. His hair framing his face as the force of gravity pulled him down. Ladybug held his yo-yo tight and then in the next second let it loose, attaching it to a flag post of a hotel. He arched, body bending despite the gravitational force, he was used to this, and his body was now foot down instead of his head.

All of that, just to cool off. Dramatic, but aren't all superheroes?

He swung off the flag post and landed a knee to the pavement below, his hair messily framing his face now.

He needed a haircut.

"Now, what are you doing in Paris, Hawkmoth?" Ladybug muttered as he walked up to a familiar tv shop. Right at the window displays, even with the store closed, stacks of different sized television sets were on, giving a live coverage of Paris' nightly news.

"Will there be a crime tonight Paris?" the news anchor neated her papers. "That's the question we want to know every single night here on France23. Luckily tonight, we have a special guest with our reporter Nadia Schmuck, live at the Louvre. Let's take the camera to her."

Marin raised a brow. Special guest?

"Good evening everyone," the reporter spoke formally, "As you know in recent weeks, the villain Hawkmoth has taken an unexpected hiatus from his crimes, prompting everyone in France to ask where did he go? What happened? Those questions were answered tonight when Ladybug fought an akuma and restored Marseille's old port back to how it once was. Hawkmoth is back. However, we don't know if Paris will be struck by his attacks just the same tonight."

"He will attack," Ladybug murmured, unaware that he was stepping closer to the window, "and he better already be ready-"

"There is one person that does know, at least here in Paris," the reporter Nadia continued, "and he's here with me right now, Paris' Chat Noir."

Ladybug blinked hard in disbelief. Now? He's with a reporter right now-?

The camera zoomed out of Nadia Schmuck, widening and panning its frame to include an abashed, waving Chat Noir.

"Uh, hey everyone. How's Paris doing tonight?"

Ladybug was sure now that what he was feeling was an emerging headache.

"Well Chat Noir, Paris is scared tonight. Many have decided to stay in their homes, just as you advised them if Hawkmoth resurfaced in Marseille. What will you do tonight, to ensure the safety of our Parisians?"

Chat Noir's green eyes looked at the camera and smiled. "I will stay and patrol Paris all night. Hawkmoth won't hurt anyone or send any of his goons here, not on my watch. He stopped, right? I'll make sure it stays that way."

Ladybug was speechless. Patrolling the entire night?

"You sound really sure of yourself." the reporter and Ladybug said at the same time.

"Because I am sure," Chat said, though warmly, "Ladybug didn't fail tonight in keeping Marseille safe, even with such an unexpected attack as that was. He was sure and confident that he would save his city and so, I am too."

Ladybug parted his lips, not sure what he was hearing. No declarations of love at the mention of him? Maybe Tikki was right?

"Ladybug inspires you, doesn't he?"

Chat Noir blinked and then gave a cheshire grin. "Of course he does. I love him."

Ladybug rolled his eyes, more disappointed than disgusted.

"You love him or are you in love with him?" Nadia pressed.

"Hmm," Chat feigned thought before he shrugged, palms up, "What's the difference again?"

"Oh my." The anchor's voice spoke over.

"Well, gotta get started on that patrolling," Chat Noir gave a two-fingered salute. "Thank you for having me, Ms. Reporter."

"Oh, uh, but we have a few more questions-"

"See ya!" with a simple unsheathing of his baton, Chat Noir pressed his finger on an unseen button and then up he went, up and gone and away from the camera's sight. Ladybug stared at the screen, watching the reporter fumble over her words before collecting herself.

Typical Chat fucking Noir.

Buzz, buzz.

Marin instinctively raised a hand to his ear, realizing he was a couple of minutes from transforming. Not thinking about what he just watched for a second more, he threw his yoyo high above, focusing instead on getting home.

::

::

Hawkmoth didn't try anything that night in Paris, surprisingly. He made sure he patrolled most of what he could of the city, specifically in hotspots Hawkmoth liked for his goons to show up. And true to his promise, Chat Noir didn't get home until six in the morning, Plagg having gone through five camemberts with the transforming and detransforming. Both of them simply threw themselves on his bed (Plagg, on his pillow) and Adrien slept for only three hours until Nathalie was at his door, telling him to wake.

He went to his modeling gig that day with under eyes and a tall thermos of strong coffee. His father wasn't there, through a tablet screen of course, to see how he fared through the day (let's just say they had to do reshoots more than once) and for that, Adrien was grateful. When the day was over he flopped right back to bed, right after passing by many of his belongings in boxes.

"You're not going to ask why all your stuff is in boxes?" Plagg looked around.

"Asmod." Adrien mumbled sleepily.

"Yeah, isn't that like until a month?"

"Plagg, let m'sleep, please."

Plagg zoomed right above Adrien's face with a camembert seemingly out of nowhere and it took a second. Adrien's eyes snapped open, lips in a disgusted frown. "Plagg! It reeks, c'mon!"

"You're going to tell me why we're moving from your father's place weeks early." Plagg stuffed the cheese in his mouth a moment after. "Becashe yuh shaid-"

"I know what I said, Plagg, but can't we talk about this later? I'm exhausted." Adrien threw his head back on the pillow, eyes closed. "I'm meeting Kagami tomorrow and I don't want to look dead, y'know?"

"Oh, so we're not patrolling tonight?"

"If Hawkmoth doesn't attack Marseille and Ladybug, then no. We never do. " Adrien sighed. "But...maybe I should do it."

Plagg floated over to him, calm. "You and Ladybug, by the way."

"Yeah?"

"Uh. Nevermind. I'm never good at explaining these things anyway."

Adrien cracked an eye open and saw Plagg holding a nervous expression. Now that got him nervous.

"What? What is it?" he sat up on his elbows. "What about me and Ladybug?"

Plagg jumped, almost as if Adrien's words were a jumpscare. "Uh, nothing! Oh look, I think the camembert I've been fermenting is ready to eat, see ya!"

"Plagg! Hey!" Adrien could only watch as Plagg zoomed up to the bookcases and out of his sight. He sighed and threw himself back, his arms outstretched at either side of him. "I'll stop giving you camembert and replace it with fromage blanc." He called out, almost in a song.

Plagg never zoomed back down so fast and was right in his face like he never left. "You are a horrible person, Adrien Agreste."

"C'mon, Plagg, you know I would never," Adrien gave a little laugh, "unless you really do intend to keep in whatever you brought up."

"I didn't bring up anything." Plagg crossed his arms.

"Fromage blanc."

"Ay-drieeeen," Plagg whined at Adrien's satisfied face, "don't make me."

"I think the head chef would have some fromage blanc in the kitchen, don't you-?"

"Ladybug hates you, okay?" Plagg then groaned exasperatedly, "I never wanted to tell you but, because of circumstances I had to tell you sooner or later until I realized you could just find out yourself, and I realized that just now by the way, and- see! I wouldn't be going through the face you're making at me right now!"

Adrien stared and then after a quiet moment, blinked. "Ladybug hates me?"

Plagg's ears drooped and Adrien didn't realize how detached his voice sounded from his body until a second later; the words didn't feel right coming out of his mouth.

"Well, Ladybug doesn't hate Adrien Agreste. He doesn't know you exist, or maybe he does because you are the son of a world famous fashion designer-but uh, anyways, a plus, amirite?"

"He hates me. Ladybug hates me." Adrien repeated, looking at nothing.

"Oh boy."

"Why? We haven't met, much less spoken to one another." Adrien said quietly.

"Well, ya see..." Plagg looked around, almost like he was looking for a specific person, or being, to help him explain this part. But he gave up, sighing and resigning himself to his fate. "Adrien...Ladybug's kind of…he's kind of—gah! I don't know. Let him tell you why!"

"But he can't and won't tell me why, Plagg," Adrien drew a breath, "He lives all the way down at Marseille, and now with you telling me he hates me, why would he even talk to me?"

Plagg twidled his hands, nervous. "Adrien."

"What?"

"Now, don't get the way you get at what I'm about to tell you..."

Adrien cocked his head, skeptical and suddenly innocent. "What are you talking about, Plagg?"

"You know exactly what I'm talking about! Think about Kagami for a second." Adrien blinked before shifting his eyes away and ducking his head. "There! You get all blushy and mushy!"

"Well, father and I have a meeting with her and her mother tomorrow, Plagg. I...haven't seen her in awhile."

Plagg blanched, feigning a barf. "Alright, alright, I get it, you found the cheese you think is the one—"

Adrien was still confused, "Plagg, I just don't get what Kagami has to do with Ladybug?"

"She has nothing to do with it, it's just how you get when something extremely good happens to you, you just get all funny and floaty," Plagg crossed his tiny arms again in a nervous habit, "but, whatever, I'm just gonna say it because Ladybug's kwami already told him-"

"Ladybug's kwami?" Adrien echoed. "You know Ladybug's kwami?"

"Adrien, yes, we've known each other for centuries, just—let me just get to it so I can go back to my cheese."

Adrien looked on, quiet and attentive. Plagg sighed and mumbled something under his breath. Adrien raised a brow and sat up a bit straighter.

"What?"

"You heard me."

"You think if I heard you I wouldn't be saying what, Plagg—"

"Ladybugscomihere!" Adrien gave him a long suffering look. Plagg flinched. "Okay, okay, fine...Ladybug. He's...He's coming to Paris."

Adrien stared. Then he shifted his eyes away before ducking his head.

"See!" Plagg nearly screeched. "You're doing it!"

"Well, what do you expect, Plagg?" Adrien sat up fully now, a light blush over his cheeks. "He's my rolemodel, he's—he's Ladybug! And he's coming here, to Paris. I'm going to finally meet him." There were twinkles and stars in Adrien's eyes.

"He hates you." Plagg reminded him.

"Maybe he doesn't watch the news? You told me he doesn't read the papers. I make sure that he knows how much he inspires me though, so anytime there's a camera-"

Plagg shook his head in absolute despair. "But you take it too far, Adrien! Don't you see?"

Adrien sighed, all dreamy. "I can't believe it. Ladybug coming to Paris. Here. Wow…"

"Are we going to ignore what I just said?"

[/]

A/N: leave a comment if you enjoyed. i also appreciate genuine feedback.