Catphone
[1h15 Today]
Chat_Noir999: Oh, but I'm not assuming anything. I know that you, whoever you are, can't be worse than Léi.
She stared at the phone, frozen. Her brain started working fast, trying to track a moment in her career when she disappointed her fans. There was that scandal surrounding her name because of her double snogging and making out with different guys every day, but that had been cleared up, thank goodness.
Plus, that had been a piece of disappointing news for all her fans... not something personal.
What exactly did she do to this guy to make him think she was the worse person on earth?
Did she really wanted to know, though?
He'd implied that there was no one worse than her...
Her heart started beating faster. What do you answer to something like that?
[1h26 Today]
Chat_Noir999: I'm sorry, again. I really don't mean to offend you. You're obviously a fan, but be careful with Léi.
"Be careful—? BE CAREFUL?" She busted out, "What the hell does he think I am?!" She yelled at the phone. "The Boogie Man?"
Feeling exceptionally angry, Zhi typed back what was the start of an extended lecture about how people just talk about what they don't know. But she stopped in the middle of it. If she was to find out what she'd done to this guy, or if he was just a weirdo and there was nothing to do about it, she had to do it more cautiously.
Breathing in and exhaling out to calm herself down, she deleted everything she'd written and typed something else:
[1h28 Today]
Buggzhinette: You need to learn not to say things that require an apology right after, mister.
Yes, that was a good answer.
[1h29 Today]
Chat_Noir999: It's better to ask for forgiveness than permission.
Seriously?
Zhi let out a low groan.
[1h29 Today]
Buggzhinette: But it's not very polite, is it?
This guy...
Honestly. What an idiot.
[1h31 Today]
Chat_Noir999: Can you tell me your name?
Zhi blinked at the phone, not believing this person's guts.
He really didn't believe she was Zhi Ruo Léi.
But to be fair, if someone told her one month ago that she'd open an account on a dating app, she wouldn't believe it either.
What to answer though? She couldn't just pretend to be someone else just to please this guy.
Knowing that he wouldn't believe her anyway, she typed the truth.
[1h34 Today]
Buggzhinette: Zhi Ruo Léi. What about yours?
She waited eagerly, knowing that he might lie because he thought that she was lying too.
[1h35 Today]
Chat_Noir999: Adrien Devereaux
Her stomach jumped to her throat when she saw that name. Memories flooded her mind.
And then, a loud snort came out of Zhi Ruo's mouth.
Adrien Devereaux was the last person, in the world, that would join a dating app.
Covering her mouth, she rolled with laughter in her bed.
This person might be an idiot, but he did have a sense of humor. Also, his imagination sucked: If she was Zhi Ruo Léi, he had to be... Adrien Devereaux! The perfect match for a fan's eyes.
She didn't remember a time where she laughed alone for so long.
[1h40 Today]
Buggzhinette: Right here, this is exactly how I always thought the reveal of Ladybug and Chat Noir should go! It would save them so many headaches!
She did know that there wouldn't be not much of a story to tell if it just happened like that, but as a fan of Miraculous Ladybug, she was just desperate to see Adrien and Marinette together. Although she wasn't really desperate to play Marinette's part on that part...
[1h42 Today]
Chat_Noir999: I guess this is the beginning of a new story, M'Lady.
Zhi smirked at the phone. She knew what he meant. He wasn't telling her his identity because he thought she wasn't telling him hers, so this was the beginning of a Ladybug and Chat Noir's dance.
[1h43 Today]
Buggzhinette: Why not save us the trouble and tell me who you really are?
[1h44 Today]
Chat_Noir999: I just did. I'm Adrien Devereaux. You're the one with the spots still on.
Zhi sighed at the screen. It was no use. She could easily end this... She could ask for his number and video call him, just like she'd done with the other two guys Alice had picked for her to date. But something in her gut told her not to. Plus, she was enjoying this new pen-pal conversation more than she cared to admit. This guy didn't believe she was Zhi, therefore he wasn't treating her differently. It was nice to chat with someone new who wasn't talking to her just because she was famous or rich.
Anyway, she could sleep on it, and decide what to do in the morning.
[1h47 Today]
Buggzhinette: Well then, I will just call you Kitty or Chat from now on. Until you come clean. ^^
She didn't wait long for the answer.
[1h48 Today]
Chat_Noir999: Sounds like a plan M'Lady.
Zhi was leaving the house to meet with Thomas Astruc, when her 'Catphone' beeped. She had changed the notification sound to the transformation warning beep from Ladybug's and Chat Noir's suit, and the calls ringtone to the Miraculous theme song — not that she expected to get more calls to that phone, but you never know. She'd also placed a sticker of Chat Noir's paw symbol in the back of the phone. She was only sad that the phone was white, and not red like the Batphone.
[8h08 Today]
Chat_Noir999: Good morning, Bugaboo! Will you tell me your name today?
Chat Noir had been asking her the same question every morning since they'd started texting. Zhi Ruo smirked at her old phone. The new one had arrived a day after her first conversation with Chat Noir, but she couldn't get rid of the old one now... She kept it so she could talk with her new friend slash hater. In very little time, he'd become a great companion, and surprisingly, they'd chatted every day. Pretty much all the time.
Her vacation were over a day earlier than they should: Astruc was a busy man and had made time for her. Together they were going to set up the arrangements to the filming of the new Miraculous, considering the first month of filming was at the same time as the last month of filming the other movie Zhi Ruo was starring.
[8h09 Today]
Buggzhinette: Hello, Kitty! You're up early, today!
In the first days, when he'd asked her name, she'd responded truthfully. But now she just ignored the question. There was no use. Her answer would never change, like he expected it to. Somewhere inside her, she amusedly waited for the day when he realized that she really wasn't lying. His face would be priceless. She was having a hard time imagining his face, though, when Adrien's kept popping up, but she would eventually manage.
[8h11 Today]
Chat_Noir999: Still keeping it a mystery, I see!
[8h11 Today]
Chat_Noir999: Well, you told me yesterday that you had your important meeting at 8h30, so I'm up to give you some friendly support! Also, I have a brief of my own with two friends of mine — Let's call them Tikki and Plagg — so that we can create our own business.
Zhi snorted softly, as she got in the back seat of the car.
"Hi, Zhi!" Said Charlotte, excited, "Are you ready for today?"
"Sure" She answered, with an absent smile as she typed back on her Catphone. The car started driving them to Astruc's office.
[8h13 Today]
Buggzhinette: For a Miraculous fan, you don't seem to know much about the Miraculous World... xD You do know that Adrien Agreste isn't friends with Tikki, right? At least not yet... Can't you find more fitting names for your friends? Also, you're starting a new business? Do tell!
"Zhi-Ruo-to-earth, over?" Asked Charlotte, suspiciously, making Zhi slightly jump.
"Oh, sorry, Lottie! I didn't even greet you properly!" Zhi shook her head and gave Charlotte a small hug.
"That's better!" She laughed, lightly, "What's up with the phone?" She asked, cautiously, "Didn't you buy a new one?"
Zhi Ruo felt a hint of guilt. She had deleted the app, like her manager suggested, but she had reinstalled it again... Charlotte would probably think she shouldn't be talking with Chat... But she just couldn't help herself anymore!
Beep Beep
The Catphone received a new text.
Zhi breathed, "I haven't discarded this phone because I have a friend that I can only contact through it." She said making a suggestive face so that Charlotte understood she was talking about the Red Thread App. She immediately received a not-impressed look from her Manager, and before she could say anything, Zhi added, "I'll tell you all about it later, okay?" She made a signal towards the driver. They weren't alone.
Charlotte sighed, not really having much of a choice but to wait until after the meeting with Astruc.
In the meantime, Zhi Ruo was smirking like a lunatic at her old phone, again.
[8h20 Today]
Chat_Noir999: Oh, I assure you that Tikki and Plagg are as fitting as it gets. Plagg is the skeptical one, so I have to present to him my plan for the long run, so that he will help me out. Tikki will basically do the maths, since she is in the economics college, here in London. And I will do the creativity part. I'm a fashion designer, but you probably already knew that. ;P
Ignoring the fact that she obviously didn't know that he was a fashion designer because he'd never told her, Zhi decided to tease him a little.
[8h22 Today]
Buggzhinette: Uhh! And is this new business fashion related? Maybe you could make some pieces for me! Unless you have a problem with Zhi Ruo Léi wearing your designed clothes.
[8h22 Today]
Chat_Noir999: Ah! Right... I forgot about that little detail.
[8h23 Today]
Chat_Noir999: I guess I could make you a special price. 50% more expensive? Since you're Zhi Ruo Léi, you obviously can pay!
Zhi giggled to the phone, earning herself a questioning look from Charlotte, that until now had let her be and was busy with her time schedules and post-it's reminders.
[8h23 Today]
Chat_Noir999: On second thought, 60% more expensive sounds better. And no free shipping! Since you're Léi, you live in Paris, and mail is very very expensive.
Zhi kept giggling. She was very curious about his work, now.
The car pulled to a stop and Charlotte got out of the car, followed by Zhi. Two security guards quickly surrounded and accompanied them to the building. People were already making a big commotion just to the sight of them. Once they got into the building, Zhi wrote the last message she would text him for the next hour or so.
[8h24 Today]
Buggzhinette: I really don't care about the price. I would love to wear something that was designed by my Kitty just for me. I have to go now. Good Luck impressing Plagg, that's known to be a hard thing to do. Maybe try to give him some cheese? Kisses*
She sighed, turned off the Catphone and changed to her professional mode. Astruc as almost family, but business was business.
They were called to this office the minute his secretary saw them. Smiling gently they followed her and she let them in, to meet with Thomas Astruc.
"Zhi Ruo Léi" He said smiling dearly, "Long time no see!" He got up from his luxurious chair and gave them a handshake each, "Hello, Charlotte" He added.
"Hello, Mr. Astruc." Charlotte answered as she shook his hand.
"Thomas, how have you been?" Zhi asked, respectfully.
"Great, great!" He said, inviting them to sit on the armchairs in front of his desk with a movement of his hand, "I can't tell you how crazy excited this New Miraculous comeback is making me!"
They laughed politely, and Zhi Ruo added, "Oh, I can imagine."
"You're excited too, ahm?" He said rubbing his hands against each other.
"You could say that." She smiled and received a warning look from Charlotte that escaped the director.
"Well then," He rejoiced getting up from the chair and went through his bookshelf, "I shouldn't be doing this, but your a special case and I'm very impressed that you'll be filming two movies in which you play the starring role at the same time!" He finally found what he was looking for and sat back on his chair, facing them and looking directly at Zhi, "This is the finished script for the movie. We managed to end it yesterday. We are only supposed to give this to the actors in two weeks, but... Here." He offered her the screenplay. She took it, bewildered. "Like this, you have more time to study your part." He winked at her.
"Thank you, Thomas." She said, holding the book with both her hands, "This will definitely help!"
"Good, good! Now, as for your filming schedule, we are trying to book everyone else's scenes in the first month, but Marinette and Ladybug take part in more than 70 percent of the scenes in this movie, so let's look at your schedule in 'Where the flowers grow' and see what we can do to make your life easier." He said smiling confidently as Charlotte searched on her briefcase for Zhi's schedule.
When she finally found it, they went on a thirty-minute-long conversation from which Zhi eventually spaced out. She flipped the screen script in her hands and opened it up on a random page. She looked at the right page and started reading:
(...)
Chat Noir covers Marinette's eyes with a band.
MARINETTE
(murmurs)
Are you sure you want to do this, Kitty?
CHAT NOIR
I am.
Even if you end up seeing who I am,
(pause)
(low voice)
I trust you.
(turns her around to face him and whispers)
Plagg, Claws Out.
Green-light spreads through the screen.
They kiss.
Kiss gets more intense. Clothes are taken.
(...)
"What's this?" Zhi abruptly interrupted Thomas, turning the opened book to him. She was more flushed than she had ever been in her entire life, "Are there sex scenes in this Miraculous movie?" She asked absolutely mortified. If so, that was way further than she was willing to go.
"No!" Thomas laughed it off, "There's nothing that explicit!" He said, pointing at the end of the page where it said 'Fade Out. In the next morning (...)'.
Zhi let herself breathe and felt Charlotte relax. She had jumped into conclusions. Still, she wasn't fond of the idea of having to be so intimate with Adrien Devereaux.
As if he was reading her mind, Thomas Astruc said, with a cunning tone, as if he was daring her, "If you're not comfortable with some things on the script, we can make your double do it instead of you."
"If I see something I find absolutely inappropriate for me to do, I will let you know." She said, recomposing herself. Inside her heart was smashing against her ribs.
He nodded, mockingly. Zhi Ruo's pride was a great thing for him as a director, but one day it would ruin the girl. She was the kind of actress that plays every part of her role, unless she physically can't do it. She'd learned how to fight and how to parkour for her character! She was one of a kind. There weren't many like her out there.
The meeting ended without further notice, as Zhi tried her hardest not to scream by the constant replay of that scene in her head.
When the girls were outside, Zhi rushed to the car, that was already waiting and waited to get home so that she could explode away from curious eyes. She turned on the phone and saw she had a message from Chat Noir.
[8h26 Today]
Chat_Noir999: Your wish is my command, M'Lady. Good Luck with your meeting. Let me know how it goes! xoxo
Zhi let herself smile at her Catphone when all she wanted was to cry. She couldn't have such moments with the person that recked her heart. It was way too much for her... How would she get through with it?
Charlotte gave her a worried look as the car took them to Zhi's place.
"Are you okay?" She asked, softly.
No.
She felt weak.
She couldn't even find the strength to let Chat Noir know how bad it'd been.
But she was a great actress, and this driver was a new employee, so she let out an overly confident, "Yes, of course."
Understanding the message, Charlotte stayed quite for the rest of the journey.
Once they were on Zhi's safe haven, she let herself fall to her couch and tried very hard not to look as miserable as she felt.
They had to kiss.
Several times.
And not just sweet kisses, like in the last Miraculous movies.
Making-out kisses.
Could she kiss him like that and make it look real?
"Zhi, if you don't want to be that close to Adrien, there are scenes where you don't have to. That's why you have a double, to do what you don't feel comfortable doing." Charlotte said, sitting beside her on the couch.
"You know that's not how I work." She exhaled, suddenly feeling very tired.
"Maybe you should consider changing the way you work?" Charlotte asked. Zhi looked at her with her brows raised. She wasn't going to change and they both knew it. "Well, then you have to prepare yourself for it."
"This will be my hardest part so far." She said, nodding, agreeing with Alice.
Beep Beep
Zhi took her Catphone off her pocket jeans and read Chat's new text.
[10h37 Today]
Chat_Noir999: How was it, Bugaboo?
Beep Beep
[10h37 Today]
Chat_Noir999: I bet it wasn't better than mine, because mine was awesome! I have so much to tell you!
Zhi Ruo's lip trembled. Of course, his had been better than hers... Hers had been a complete disaster.
"Zhi, why do you still have that phone? And why is it opened on the dating app?" Charlotte let out resigned. She really didn't want to reprimand her friend when she looked so fragile, but she had to look for Zhi's future best interests.
"I met this guy," Zhi started, looking as if she was about to burst into tears, "He calls me Ladybug and I call him Chat Noir," she looked down at her Catphone fondly, "He doesn't know who I am and I don't know who he is. And that's okay." She looked up, determination shining on her eyes, "I don't know, and I don't care. He is my friend! He makes me laugh and he understands me!" She looked again at the Cat Phone and then at Charlotte, "I eagerly wait for his text every day! So I'm not giving him up. He is good for me. He makes me feel like I'm not alone."
Charlotte gaped at Zhi for a moment, and then she shrugged, "You can keep your friend, Zhi. I can't control your life, but please promise me you'll be careful." She said.
"I promise." Zhi said, unknowingly hugging the Catphone close to her chest.
Charlotte nodded and then added, "And you are not alone."
Zhi smiled gratefully, "I know."
Hope you are enjoying it so far!
I have many, MANY surprises and Twists and Turns prepared, so hold on tight! ^^
This story isn't getting as much attention as I thought it would (as Spots Off, Claws Out did) but, to everyone that's been reading it,: Thank you for all your support! Your reviews make my day brighter and I'm so glad that at least some people are enjoying this weird fiction with me! Seriously, THANK YOU.
Bug Out,
AuriMoon