A/N: kind of a long chappie...enjoy!

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chapter three: lucky charm(er)

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"Based on your academic achievements, merits and portfolio, to which we have assessed to be high-quality and high-standard, we offer you into our university with a full-ride scholarship. Your living quarters will be speedily accommodated as per your mentioned request and will be ready within the day. As a new student here at Asmod, we expect great things from you and hope you find success here in your creative endeavors. Welcome to the Asmod family, Marin Dupain-Cheng. Signed...Audrey Bourgeois."

Marin finished reading and gave a glance to his apartment key. They had enclosed it in the acceptance letter they sent him, which surprised him as he wasn't used to getting same-day mails. Private universities did this sort of thing, he guessed.

He looked off at the train window, seeing the rolling scenery of the mid-day. It was the day after his meeting with Chat Noir and the university. Seeing that akuma made him get back on the train to Paris, deciding with Tikki it'd be too risky to stay in Marseille until the semester started. He had to chalk it up to his parents that he was just overly eager to start his new life in Paris, to which they gave understanding. Call us when you arrive, his mom said tenderly. Please give your roommates some of these fresh almond macarons, his dad shoved the box of pastries in his hands. Marin felt his eyes itch. He was already being dramatic and missing them.

"You know, Marin," Tikki spoke from his jacket pocket, "I'm excited to see your roommate and how they'll be."

"Apparently I'm living in an off-campus apartment," Marin said after a silence, "And I'm sharing it with four people. So that's four roommates for us, Tikki."

Tikki's blue eyes immediately grew worried. "Are we not having our own room?"

Marin smiled reassuringly at her, "Of course we are. There's four private rooms in the apartment, with one kitchen, two bathrooms…"

Tikki listened to him attentively as he droned on about the living conditions and where the apartment was, his thoughts about his parents and Marseille now distant and far.

Adrien stood in his apartment's balcony, staring off ahead at the city landscape. He'd finally moved from his father's house with university starting in only a couple of weeks. He let out a breath, his green eyes growing soft as he recognized the Montmartre vineyard from where he was. He met Ladybug there just yesterday. It still didn't feel real.

"We'll never be friends," Ladybug's voice replayed in his head, along with his face scrunched in anger. Adrien frowned. Ladybug was confusing. Although Adrien left yesterday in somewhat high spirits, with Ladybug promising him they'll see each other again, he still couldn't get that earlier part of their meeting out of his head.

"What's got you all blue cheese?" Plagg said, drifting behind him, "I hope it's not Ladybug."

"What's red and has black polka dots?" Adrien sighed.

"Ha," Plagg said, eyes with glee, "Ladybug has you speaking in riddles. Boy, you got it bad."

But Adrien wasn't listening to him. He was sighing again, his green eyes chasing clouds. "Did he really mean that me and him would never be friends? I just keep thinking about it, Plagg."

Plagg's smile fell as quick as it came and he squinted to him, "You need to stop thinking and enjoy your new life, Adrien," he floated to the front of his face, adamant to get his attention, "you have your first ever own apartment, though you insisting to share it with a roommate is beyond me, and you're finally away from your dad's clutches! isn't this a time to celebrate with fresh cheese and wine, the good ol' french way?"

Adrien's smile didn't reach his eyes. "You're right, Plagg. But I can't force myself to stop thinking about Ladybug when he's finally here and living in Paris now no less. I dreamed of this, but...just not this way."

"So what's really the problem? He's here now and you're moping because you two have a few knots to work out?"

Adrien sagged his shoulders, not even liking to hear that aloud. but that was Plagg, having a habit to say things to his face with no problem. "When you put it like that, you make it seem like it's not a big deal."

"Because it isn't, casanova," Plagg crossed his arms, "Besides, you saved Ladybug from an akuma so I'm sure he sees you differently now than before he met you. You two even ended on a good note yesterday, or did you forget?"

Adrien felt insecure, feeling the good note wouldn't last. The knots him and Ladybug had to work out weren't simple to unravel- based on what Ladybug had told him, Adrien knew he had to do what he could as Chat Noir to not mess this up. He'd do whatever Ladybug asked, just to make him feel comfortable, safe, protected, whatever it was. What Adrien desired was for the both of them to be a team, to work well together and have a good time around each other. It's what he always wanted- for them to be friends...it was possible.

"Plagg," Adrien met his eyes, smiling, "I think I'm going to work hard on making sure Ladybug falls in love with me."

Plagg stared at him for a moment. "Adrien Agreste, you are an idiot."

Adrien shrugged at him, already having decided. "We're going to be friends, Plagg. You'll see. And it was even meant for us to be so, you heard what Ladybug's kwami said."

"Okay, but friends or are you going to make Ladybug fall in love with you?" Plagg emphasized the last bit for clarification, "Because friends don't fall in love with each other, Adrien."

"They could platonically." Adrien offered. Plagg facepalmed without hesitation.

"Okay, loverboy. Hear me on this: the way you feel for Kagami, right? Do you feel it for Ladybug?"

"Plagg!" Adrien shot him a scandalized look, body standing upright and his cheeks slightly puffed pink. Plagg narrowed his eyes at that but looked to reserve the comment.

"Are you okay? How could you even think- Plagg, I don't love Ladybug like that," Adrien then put a hand over his mouth, feeling embarrassed. He leaned his other hand on the railing, almost as if to steady himself, "There's no one like Kagami for me, you know that." he muttered.

"Not even Ladybug? and Adrien, you barely even see that girl," Plagg exasperated, "she lives in Japan, for the love of cheese-!"

"So what? My love for her isn't any less because of it."

Plagg gave a weary sigh at that and Adrien looked off to the side, somewhat disturbed that Plagg would even consider that he liked Ladybug in that way. Of course he flirted with him through the news and now even in person, but that was just his personality as Chat Noir. How could he help being like he was?

"Well," Plagg said, "All this denial made me hungry."

Adrien shot him a look but Plagg was already whizzing away, off to his new cheese cabinet. Adrien puffed his cheeks, suddenly annoyed and ready to throw some threats about hiding his camembert when distantly, he heard the doorbell ring. That could be only one person.

Plagg poked out his head from the cabinet, "Is that-"

"Nino!" Adrien grinned, already making to the door.

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Marin was currently the happiest person in the world. because really, who could've guessed his luck? Who could've seen this coming?

"I can't believe we're reuniting like this! What were the odds?" Alya was hugging him tightly and Marin doing much the same, both of them swaying in the foyer of their apartment, "I haven't seen you in forever, love! like, in forever!"

"You moved three years ago and didn't even come to visit or text," Marin hugged her even tighter, unable to hide his smile despite how disappointed he was, "not even an email? jeez, Alya. What best friend you are, huh?"

Alya pulled him back, a smirk on her face, "First of, mister 'I stopped using social media and changed my number'-"

"You could've called the bakery!" Marin pulled her in close, not wanting to stop hugging her, his best friend, ever since they were in diapers- "You could've called mom, or dad, even!"

"You fail to realize I thought you hated me," he felt her smile into her shoulder and Marin knew Alya well enough to know it was one of her sad smiles, "you suddenly stopped posting on social media and wouldn't answer my texts. I did call the bakery too, y'know?"

Marin sighed, "You know it gets so busy that we barely pick up the phone."

"I was thinking that," Alya said, giving him another squeeze, "But still. My thoughts ate me up."

"You're silly," Marin said, smiling, "But typical Alya."

Alya grinned, stepping away. "Well, this typical Alya is going to make sure to give you a haircut as she's always done," Marin looked up towards his hair, suddenly self-conscious, "Marin, since when you'd let your hair grow this long?"

Marin scratched his head, suddenly sheepish, "I don't really cut it that often since I'm used to you handling it."

"What about mom?" Alya was already snickering, knowing better.

"You know she'll just give me dad's hairstyle," Marin said, aghast, "she's been cutting his hair for years; it's literally the only haircut she knows."

"Aw, c'mon," Alya said, "I think you looked really cute that one time she did it-"

Marin stilled, looking off behind Alya as he caught some movement behind her. Right in the living room area, he could see someone dragging some of their luggage slowly, almost as if it was too heavy. It took Marin a second to realize this someone was not only brightly red-headed but also a roommate.

"Love?" Alya brought him back.

Marin looked at her, visibly excited. "Did you meet our other roommates yet?"

"Yes, she did," Nathaniel's voice answered him from the living room. Marin grew pink from embarrassment and Alya giggled, hooking her arm around his and walking them into a living room. Marin threw a look back at all their luggage clogging up the entrance of the door, but Alya waved a hand at it. "But it's a bad idea to leave it there," he said.

"We'll take care of unpacking later," she said, "It's roommate introduction time."

Marin gulped, now a little intimidated and nervous...he hated first time meetings, especially when he got put on the spot. They left the foyer and he gave the living room a look around, surprised to see how spacious it was despite the furnishing. His roommate was already looking at him once they walked up to him.

"Oh," Marin said, "hi there."

Nathaniel's surprised teal eyes greeted him with maybe, if Marin wasn't imagining it, a dust of pink on his cheeks. His shocking orange-crimson hair did its best to mute all other colors in his person though, so Marin wasn't sure, but Nathaniel's momentary silence had him looking to the side, unconsciously crossing his legs in nervousness.

Alya cleared her throat.

"I'm Nathaniel," Nathaniel said timidly, "you're Marin, right? Nice to meet you."

Marin nodded, but then felt Alya's elbow dig at him. "Oh, uh, nice to meet you too."

"Marin's not from Paris," Alya cut in, easing the awkwardness, "He's just moved from Marseille, so everything is kind of intimidating right now."

"You're from Marseille too." Marin pouted at her.

"Yeah, but I've been here already for three years, cutie," Alya winked, "I'm pretty much a Parisian through and through."

Marin mock gasped, "No love for Marseille anymore? What a traitor."

Nathaniel smiled at their exchange, finding it comforting and Marin found comfort that he did so, "I've been to Marseille a couple of times," he said with thought, "Mostly for school trips, but still. It's absolutely beautiful."

"Bleh," Marin immediately said, his nervousness all forgotten, "All we have are ports and old churches. Not that beautiful if you ask me."

"Wow," Alya said, "you sound more of a traitor than I do."

Marin lidded his eyes, smirking, "What I can say? Where you go, I follow."

Alya laughed at that, saying 'Literally!' while Nathaniel shook his head with a smile, obviously loving the friendship between the two. Unbeknownst to the him and Alya, Marin sensed there was someone outside of the apartment door trying to push it open. At first, he hadn't been sure if the noise was coming from next door but now he was completely positive this might be their last roommate.

"I think our other roommate is trying to come in and all our stuff is blocking the door," Marin readjusted his arm around Alya's, making sure the both of them would go and remove it. Alya stuck out her tongue at him while Nathaniel also walked back to the foyer with them. "C'mon Alya, you can't walk your way out of this one."

"Marin did say it was a bad idea to leave it there." Nathaniel said and Alya now directed her tongue at him, both him and Marin giving laughs.

With Marin telling the roommate to hold on a second, he and Alya shuffled most of their luggage in the living room, right with him deciding to already make moves to slide his, Alya's and Nathaniel's to the doors of their respective rooms. Nathaniel watched him for a moment, visibly struck by the kindness and then began to thank him shyly. Marin smiled, taking another luggage with Alya's name on it and making a move to slide it. It didn't budge however, and Marin was a hundred percent sure there were books upon books in that one. Nathaniel crossed over then, surprising him as he pulled it from the front while Marin took the cue to push it forward. Finally and successfully bringing it inside Alya's room, Marin thanked him, smiling easy with his face pink from exertion. Nathaniel muttered a it's nothing, and ducked his head, hiding another blush. Marin smiled wider at him, giving him a fake punch on his shoulder so they could get going to finish the rest.

After a good five minutes, with the foyer free and open, Alya headed to the door with a sweaty Marin and Nathaniel walking up behind her.

"How did those porters carry our stuff like nothing?" Marin fanned himself using his stand collar while Nathaniel watched him with a smile.

"It is what they do for a living."

Alya rolled her eyes, an all knowing glint in her eyes as she gave Nathaniel a look. "Ready to meet our other roommate? It'll only take a second." Nathaniel flushed and nodded at her, looking weirdly caught. Marin glanced at the both of them in confusion, shrugging.

"C'mon Alya, open the door, I bet she's tired of waiting."

Alya grinned, not taking another second longer and swung the door open, "Hey, roomie!"

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Adrien watched as Nino set some of his records in his bookcase, humming to himself.

"I can't believe I'm finally free- we're finally free," Adrien said wistfully, handing him another record, "No more parents telling us what to do or when to be home." Nino chuckled at that, shaking his head.

"Dude, I've been free. my parents weren't anything extreme like your dad," he took Adrien's offered disc, "But yeah, I can't believe it either. Are you sure your dad doesn't have like, hidden bodyguards somewhere in the apartment?"

Adrien thought about it. "Maybe the doorman and the security guard downstairs?"

Nino shook his head, laughing, "Dude, he's hopeless. I'm sure this apartment is bugged or something."

"Please don't put that in the air," Adrien said almost fearfully, though still in jest, "I'm trying to believe my dad's words this time."

He remembered his father's words that day, the acceptance letter from Asmod in his hands. You do well to not ruin the reputation I've built, Adrien. Do not embarrass me and I will not embarrass you. You want to be treated like an adult? That is fine with me as you already are of the age- but, that does not excuse you from the fact that you have a responsibility to the Agreste name. Do you understand?

Adrien bowed his head, letting the reminder of his words resink into him. Nino paused from shelving, sighing a smile at him.

"I don't actually think your dad is doing any of those things, bro," he said, drawing Adrien to look at him, "It's pretty cool of him to finally come around. Shocking though, but cool."

Adrien gave a slow smile. "Yeah, it is pretty cool. I should tell him that sometime."

Nino grinned, "I bet he's just going to stare at you and tell you to go to your room, taking back everything he said."

"Nino!" Adrien admonished with a light smile on his face and Nino laughed, the record in his hand nearly slipping. "Alright— how about we finish helping you unpack before you make me rebuy you records?"

"Dude, I'm not gonna say no if you're offering."

Adrien rolled his eyes, smiling and snatching the record from his hands, shelving it before it somehow landed on the floor on purpose. "Go unpack your clothes and stuff. I got this."

Nino pursed his lips at him but went ahead to his other boxes by his bed anyways, appreciating any help Adrien gave him. It carried like that for a couple of minutes, with Nino putting on a song on his record player as they unpacked and unpacked. It was Plagg, poking his head by Nino's door frame that pulled Adrien in wide eyes in alarm.

"Uh, I'll be back, Nino. Think my dad's calling my phone," Adrien strode out the room, Nino not paying him half attention as he was just nodding to the beats of some American rap. Plagg was there right in the hall, his green eyes wide.

"Adrien, this is bad."

Adrien sighed tiredly, feeling annoyance pick at him, "Plagg, we've already been through this. Nino is my best friend—"

Plagg flew up to his face, eyes that held what Adrien now recognized as fear. "I sense it. I'm sure it's what I think it is." Adrien raised a brow, perplexed and Plagg looked towards the hallway window, "An akuma."

Adrien followed his trail of sight and air caught his throat.

It was snowing outside. In the middle of summer.

"People of Paris!" a voice suddenly boomed, almost as if through a powerful megaphone, "I have Mireille Cauquet! Show yourselves, miraculous holders, and I'll show her mercy!" Adrien shot his eyes to Plagg who was already in a slew of complaints.

"I already remember the good ol' days, when Hawkmoth sent bad guys instead of making them with superpowers—"

"Plagg, we have to transform," Adrien hissed with a whisper.

"Nuh-uh, let Ladybug handle it," Plagg crossed his arms, "this is his terrority. Akumas are his forte."

Adrien grimaced and took a cautious step back, peering inside of Nino's room. The guy was still oblivious, head nodding to the loud music and folding some of his clothes. Okay, Adrien decided, looking back at Plagg. He had to go.

"You did hear what I said, right?" Plagg floated uneasily back.

Adrien shook his head, a nervous smile tugging his lips. "Plagg, I meant it when I said me and Ladybug are gonna be a team," he raised his hand and Plagg geh'd at the silver ring glinting, "that means I have to be there to help him, no matter what."

"Adrien, wait!" Plagg tried to reason.

"Claws out!"

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Marin watched as Marc jerked backwards, trying to escape Alya's curiosity in his writing notebook. his new roommate was another guy, which, Marin squinted thoughtfully, wasn't a problem...but. he looked to Nathaniel who was by the television, turning it on. It was just…why was Alya the only girl here? Would he have to go super protective best friend mode? Could he trust these guys? Marin scrunched his brows in worry.

"Hey, Alya—"

She was in his face before he could realize, her warm brown eyes knowing what he was thinking. "I already see your thoughts going mile a minute. Don't you dare say what I think you're going to say, Marin Dupain-Cheng."

Marin was frozen for a moment before he sagged his shoulders, admitting defeat. Alya giggled and sat beside him, her head leaning on his shoulder. He could never win against Alya, not even to protect her. Marin glanced at Marc's direction only to see him speedwalking to the direction of his room, the little tufts at the top of his head bouncing with every stride. "You scared him away."

"Well, he's another fashion journalism major," Alya said in duh tone, "there's not many with my major in Asmod. I wanted to see some of his writing."

Marin smiled, "So that's your major. I'm not surprised."

"Why should you be?" Alya smiled widely at him, "I've been giving notes on your fashion designs all these years."

A brief flashback of them as younger teenagers in Alya's room, with Alya commenting on Marin's newly designed clothes for the week. Marin's eyes crinkled at memory. he was sure Alya was already mentally there with him, her laughter a sign of her about to recall something especially cringey-

"Breaking news here in Paris this afternoon. The first akumatized person has been sighted by the concert tower—"

Marin stilled, his smile frozen on his face.

"People of Paris, I have Mireille Caquet! show yourselves, miraculous holders, and I'll show her mercy!"

He distantly felt Alya slowly sitting upright beside him and heard the small gasp Nathaniel let out. Marin refocused his eyes to the television, seeing the live news feed blurrily panning the camera to a figure standing at the top of the building.

She had long black and white pigtails, and a black eye mask that looked burned into her skin. a nasty, vicious grin stretched her face as she pointed her umbrella up at the sky.

"I'm calling out to you especially, Ladybug. Come out here and hand me your miraculous! Chat Noir, I'll take yours with his!"

Marin shot up from the couch, his blue eyes wide. Alya and Nathaniel looked at him, both already nervous and his sudden movement making them jumpy. "Sorry," he breathed, "I just. I think I'm going to throw up."

Alya looked like she was about to say something but Marin quickly made a run to the bathroom, trying desperately to avoid her look of concern.

Tikki was already poking her head out of his jacket pocket as he ran down the hallway.

"Please tell me the bathroom has a window." he whispered rushedly.

She nodded, wiggling out and flying through the door. Marin opened it, not wasting another second to transform.

::

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Ladybug felt the cold breeze of a winter day hit his face as he flew through the many buildings in Paris, heading for the akuma. His yo-yo string snagged on random streetlights, flags and other tall structures almost expertly, like he knew they would be there when he would swing. And he did know, but it was more of a sixth sense than anything else.

He heard a thump land beside him as he landed on a building rooftop and Ladybug's eyes met with snowy steel toed boots in front of him. He looked up.

Chat Noir had his hand outstretched with an unsure smile.

"Hey bugaboo, how do you know how to get around Paris?" Ladybug's right eye twitched and Chat Noir tensed right away, "Uh, erm—Ladybug."

He didn't have time for this. Regardless, Ladybug took his hand with a sigh and Chat Noir raised him with ease, "What are you doing here, Chat Noir?"

"We have to capture the akuma." Chat said seriously.

Ladybug cocked his head a bit at that. "I take care of that. Your job is low-level criminals, remember?" he looked down at their hands, "Want to let go?"

"Why do I keep doing that-!" Chat Noir began to yell in complete embarrassment, but Ladybug shot his head to the left, sensing something whizzing to their direction. Ladybug couldn't exactly see in the blurry snowfall but, before he could notice the very faint figure of a spear heading right towards him, Chat Noir shoved him out of the way, his hand outstretched to it.

"Cataclysm!" he shouted, the black orb turning the ice spear grey in contact within seconds. Ladybug scrambled upright, snow all over his hair now and a face written with shock.

"Again?!" he said.

Chat Noir jumped, unsure if that was a good or bad thing. "I'm sorry that deja vu seems to have a thing for us, lovebug. I swear I'm not doing this on purpose!"

"Right…" Ladybug knitted his brows, getting up from the snow. "Just try not to do it again- I mean, thank you, really, but I can take care of myself, alright?"

"I know, but," Chat Noir took a step close, eyes stubbornly determined, "I want to do everything in my power to help. Just tell me what to do, Ladybug, and I'll do it."

Ladybug stared at him for a moment, once again now their height difference apparent with how close Chat Noir stood in front of him. Ladybug slid his eyes downward to his ring. "You're going to detransform soon."

Chat Noir immediately tried to hide his ring with his hand and Ladybug shook his head at that. What was even the point? "Chat Noir, this is going to sound rude and I'm sorry for that, but...can you please just be out of my way?"

But Chat Noir just continued to stare at him, eyes unwavering.

"Aw, look at you two," a voice said above them in glee. Ladybug and Chat Noir looked up and saw Stormy Weather descending down to them from a cloud of smoke. She grinned ferally at them, "A lovers quarrel? Already? But you two just got together."

"We aren't fighting!" & "We aren't lovers!" were both Chat Noir and Ladybug simultaneous responses. Ladybug shot him an annoyed look while Chat Noir gave him a sheepish grin. Stormy Weather laughed, her umbrella twirling in her hands in delight.

"You two can't even work together! I guess the rumors are true: the bug does hate the cat!"

Ladybug grimaced, looking behind her to see she had Mireille cowering behind her. He threw a look at Chat Noir who was already watching as well. Not wasting the moment, Ladybug threw his yo-yo up in the air, calling for his lucky charm.

He held out his hands-

And nothing happened. Ladybug stared, not believing it.

"Oh?" Stormy Weather curled a lip. "How unfortunate."

Chat Noir stepped in front of Ladybug, baton raised and eyes protective. Stormy Weather stifled a laugh at his effort.

"What are you going to do, lovebug?" he muttered to him.

Ladybug was still staring at his hands before he shut his eyes, absorbing the moment. He didn't need the lucky charm apparently, but why? He curled his hands into fists, bringing them to his chest. Why didn't he get his lucky charm?

"Is he about to cry?" Stormy Weather taunted, voice shrill, "Is this what the Ladybug of Marseille about? I'm disappointed!"

"Shut up!" Chat Noir said almost fiercely, "Hawkmoth has made you completely sick Aurora Beauréal, and it's making me sick."

She just grinned at him, raising her umbrella and Chat Noir edged the baton higher, widening his stance broadly to protect Ladybug. Ladybug opened his eyes, watching his back for a moment. A realization struck him suddenly.

He didn't get his lucky charm because...he already had it.

"Chat Noir," Ladybug said from behind him, "move to the side."

Chat Noir looked over at him, his eyes afraid, but Ladybug nodded, walking up to his side. Stormy Weather smiled, expression victorious.

"You're going to give up your miraculous-?"

"I'll do it," Ladybug spoke up suddenly, walking forward, "I'll give it up, Aurora. All for you."

Stormy Weather and Chat Noir blinked at the same time, thrown off.

Ladybug continued, a wistful smile coming on his face, "I've been your fan since day one, all the way from Marseille. I voted for you countless times, hoping you'd win. You deserved to."

Stormy Weather took a step back as he stepped closer, her eyes disbelieving, "You're a liar. You're just saying that."

Ladybug looked at her, blue eyes soft. "I'll give you my miraculous if you make my dream come true. I...like you, Aurora. Would you please just grant me one wish?"

"What—what is it?"

"Ladybug?" Chat Noir said confusedly from behind him.

Ladybug ignored him and instead just stared as lovingly as he could into Stormy Weather's eyes. He raised his hands to his ear, feigning to take off an earring. "Aurora, before I take this off...would you let me give you a kiss?"

"Ladybug!" Chat Noir shouted this time.

Stormy Weather grew a blush on her features and Ladybug smiled at her, raising a brow for her response. "Make sure you give me your miraculous," she muttered, eyes avoiding his. Ladybug beamed.

"Thank you." he murmured and inched closer, ducking his head carefully to reach her lips. She scrunched her eyes shut, blush blazing and Chat Noir was already moving, about to prevent it—

Ladybug stopped, their lips only inches apart before he expertly reached over and snatched Stormy Weather's umbrella, throwing it to the ground and giving it a firm stomp. Before her akumatized self could process what happened, the akuma flew out from the broken umbrella, fluttering away to escape. Chat Noir was frozen in his tracks, jaw slack in utter surprise.

"I'm sorry, mademoiselle, but I had to," Ladybug bowed before raising his yo-yo in the air, capturing the akuma and releasing it deakumatized. "Be safe, little butterfly," he said cutely with a wink.

Chat Noir's face turned a fiery red as he still stood in shock.

Ladybug called for Miraculous Ladybug, and it was weird to him because there was no lucky charm to throw. nevertheless it still worked, with Paris returning back to a comfortable summer heat and Aurora back to herself, looking at Mireille in complete guilt.

"It's okay," Mireille was already smiling at her, eyes understanding and Aurora teared up, her lips trembling before she threw herself on her, hugging her and wailing loudly.

Ladybug huffed an amused smile, crossing his arms as he felt Chat Noir, finally with all of his bearings, walk up beside him, copying his stance.

"You're amazing, Ladybug," Chat Noir said after a moment, "It's all already over. In just a blink of an eye."

Ladybug shrugged; he was embarrassed because he wasn't used to compliments that weren't from fans or media. Then again, Ladybug looked at him and Chat Noir met his eyes, a boyish smirk on his face, he wasn't used to someone saving his life two times in a row.

"You saved me." he said. "Again."

Chat Noir lidded his eyes, "Anytime, anyday, bugaboo." Ladybug stared at him and Chat Noir stared back evenly. "Bug-a-boo." he enunciated the word, his smirk sliding to a grin.

"You're insufferable," was all Ladybug could say, unable to help the smile tugging at his corner of his lips, "In-suh-fer-ah-ble."

"Then I'll insufferably save and protect you again and again from anything in Paris."

Ladybug couldn't help to laugh then, "You're not using that word like you think you are."

"Potato, tomato," Chat Noir waved a clawed hand before swooping it down and taking Ladybug's hand in his. Ladybug's eyebrows shot up, expression testy, but Chat Noir just grinned cheekily at him. "I realized I like holding your hand for some weird reason. It fits well with mine, don't you think, bugaboo? "

"You're getting too confident," Ladybug swatted his hand away, rolling his eyes and Chat Noir feigned hurt, "C'mon, Chat Noir. Let's get these ladies home before you detransform."

"Your wish is my command."

::

::

When Marin entered the bathroom through the window detransforming, Alya was knocking the door asking if he was alright. Marin shot a look at Tikki who took the cue to zoom back into his jacket pocket.

"Marin, please. I just want to know if you're okay in there?"

"I'm good, Alya!" he checked his hair in the bathroom mirror, putting some of his loose locks behind his ear. He drew back, gave himself a once over and decided he was good to go. Alya's worried brown eyes were on him the second he opened the door.

"Sorry," he said, sheepishly with a scratch of his head, "I had an upset stomach. Had to let it all out y'know?"

Alya shook her at him disbelievingly and Marin's eyes grew wide, "Love, you got to watch you eat," she said seriously, eyes still soft and Marin exhaled a breath of pure relief, "I'm going to make you some soup, okay?"

"It's in the middle of summer, Alya," Marin was already complaining. Worried Alya mode was now back at full force and how did Marin forget she got like this he didn't even know.

"I don't care. You need something light in your stomach now, so-oh. Wait, we don't have any groceries."

Marin shot up at the idea of getting away from her worried mode just for a second, "I'll go get some, it's no problem."

"No, Marin, you need to lay down-"

"Alya, I need the fresh air," he said, voice soft on her, "I could use a walk and a breeze right now. Really."

She gave him an unsure look and Marin pressed on his smile for her, knowing it would work. She sighed, giving in. "Fine. I'll write a list, give me a second."

::

::

Adrien poked his head into Nino's room, blinking as innocently as he could.

Nino was still there, this time with headphones, taking his clothes out of his boxes while doing little dances that had absolutely no sense of rhythm. Adrien couldn't help but stifle a laugh at the sight.

"Never let your best friend change, Adrien." Plagg floated beside him, his green eyes in glee. "Just look at him, oblivious to the world. Oh, how I wish that were me."

"Yeah, yeah, Plagg," Adrien gave him yeah, sure smile and offered the inside of his shirt pocket, "c'mon, hide already."

Plagg easily flew in, a piece of camembert in there waiting for him. Once feeling he was safely hidden inside, Adrien walked up to Nino, tapping his shoulder with a smile.

"Enjoying yourself?"

"Dude, loads!" Nino grinned, "Have you even listened to Clara Nightingale's new album? It's awesome!"

Adrien hadn't. "How about you take a break from this while I'll go get us some beer. I could give it a listen when I get back?" He offered, excited.

"Ch'yeah, I'm with it. Want me to come with?"

"It's alright," Adrien said, "just relax. Put on some tv or take a shower, I'll be back before you know it."

::

::

Paris was truly back to normal.

Adrien smiled a broad grin as he looked around, seeing the streets with no snow in sight, with cars rolling on by like nothing happened and the distant sounds of laughter from some kids playing at a nearby park. Adrien sighed, feeling a sense of ease settle on him unlike anything he ever felt.

Ladybug did this. Ladybug saved the day. Adrien felt his heart pick up in his chest and he shoved his hands to his pockets, suddenly shy for some reason.

"Why is your heart beating so fast?" he heard Plagg muffle in his pocket. "It's so loud."

Almost as if on cue, thunder rumbled loudly in the skies. Adrien looked up, watching some heavy looking clouds head to hide the sun and he frowned, disappointingly unsurprised- well, it wasn't a typical summer without a random thunderstorm not mentioned in a weather forecast. Adrien shot a look at the pocket where Plagg was.

"You didn't hear my heart, Plagg. It was just the thunder, see?" he felt the kwami stiffen at that.

After a short moment of silence, he heard Plagg say: "It's true what Ladybug said. You are insufferable."

Adrien threw a look at his pocket but reserved on not saying anything else, at risk of looking like he was talking to himself. He also began to feel the wet drops of rain hit his head and shirt, and so he picked up his pace to the convenience store, determined to not be caught in the rain.

But of course he was too late.

As quick as the clouds rolled over the sun, the rain began to pour down as if to wash the streets of Paris. His clothes quickly became soaked in a matter of seconds, with the exception of his jacket pocket. Adrien knew Plagg was performing some form of his powers but he kept his comment in, saving the grumbling for later. He was half-jogging now at this point, seeing the dimly lit sign of the convenience store in the sea of pouring grey. Adrien raised a hand over his eyes, his blond hair flat and wet on his head as he tried to get a better look of his surroundings-

He bumped into someone then, hard.

Adrien staggered as the person fell backwards with a startled cry.

[/]

A/N: who? could it possibly be? (lol) also i love how everyone moved into their apartments all on the same day. amazing coincidence, i know jdhfsjfds leave a comment or some feedback!