A Miraculous Halloween

Chapter 9: The Halloween Party

…

When Adrien saw Ladybug enter the room, he was both mesmerized by her beauty and confused as to why she was here.

Not like he didn't want her company… He just found it strange. His Lady never mentioned anything about the dance to Chat.

Similar thoughts were going through Marinette's head. She wondered why Chat Noir was attending the dance… well, it certainly would explain why Chat was in a rush to leave the akuma as well.

Looking at Alya, Adrien wondered how she was so chill about Ladybug being here. He was expecting her to fangirl right about now.

"Hey Mari!" Alya exclaimed happily. "Look, you and Adrien are matching!" She said, gesturing to the both of them.

Adrien sighed. It was Marinette, after all. She looked really similar… too similar in fact.

If not for the bun Marinette was wearing right now, Ladybug looked exactly the same as before.

'But, before heading to battle,' he recalled in his head. 'I remember Bugaboo wearing a bun…'

Adrien shook his head, reminding himself that this was a break from all the stress he had gotten into, and he didn't want any more stress as of today.

"Hi Marinette!" Adrien gave a friendly wave to the girl. "Great job on the costume! You caught me for a second there, I thought you were Ladybug!"

Marinette, instead of politely taking the compliment as she usually would have, was visibly sweating (probably in anxiousness from if someone would find out her identity), but she just grinned widely instead.

"Thanks Chat- er- I mean Adrien! You really look like Chat Noir too!" Marinette giggled.

Nino stood up. "Come on dudes, we need to have some fun! Let's dance!"

Adrien followed Nino as he worked his way to the center of the dance floor. He passed by Alix, wearing a red vampire costume, Mylene, who was wearing a mummy costume, Ivan, wearing a skeleton costume, Max, wearing a pirate costume, and finally, Kim with his unicorn onesie.

Everyone looked great (except for Kim, obviously) and looked really laid back. He had to relax and let loose, just like they were. He needed a break.

Joining Nino, Alya, and Marinette, he danced and danced.

…

Marinette was really enjoying the party. That is, aside from the peculiarity of Adrien's likeness to Chat.

Of course, she hadn't expected any less, due to his father being the owner of a fashion empire and all, but it still was eerily too much the same.

But she just decided to let it go and enjoy the night.

That is, until the slow song played.

When it started, everyone paired up with their dates for the dance. Marinette quickly looked around for Adrien but he seemed to have disappeared.

Nathanael then approached her, with his prince costume.

"H-Hi Marinette," Nathanael blushed visibly. "May I… um- have this dance?"

Marinette was waiting for Adrien, but she didn't know how to turn Nathanael down without hurting his feelings. "Er- Hi Nathanael!" Marinette gave a small smile to the boy. "Uhm…" Marinette trailed off, not knowing how to reject Nathanael kindly.

"So sorry Nathanael," Marinette heard a firmly familiar voice behind her, and felt a strong hand rest on her shoulder. "But this princess is my date for tonight."

Marinette looked behind her and saw Chat Noir- no- Adrien. Blushing fiercely, she turned her head towards the floor in pleasure and embarrassment.

She then looked up to see a disappointed Nathanael. Marinette had to find something to cheer him up.

"Erm… Nath? Why don't you dance with…" Marinette trailed off, but quickly gained an idea as she heard Chloe's irritating voice come nearer. "Chloe! Chloe could be your partner!"

Chloe just arrived to where they were standing, hugging Adrien's leather-clad back. "Oh ADRIKINSSSS! Wanna dance with me?"

"Not at all Chloe. Sorry to burst your bubble," Adrien smirked. "Why don't you go over to Nathanael instead. He's dressed as the prince for your queenly self, after all."

"Blech!" Chloe spat brattily. "Why would I ever want to dance with a loser like him?"

"Because you don't have any other choice," said Marinette, who was now confronting Chloe directly. "Adrien is mine, and you should know it."

Playfully, Marinette stood on her tiptoes and gave Adrien a peck on the cheek. Adrien's face turned into a tomato.

Chloe looked astonished, staring daggers at Marinette. But she looked defeated.

With a slight 'humph!', Chloe took Nathanael by the wrist and dragged him to a dance place far from the couple that looked totally like the Parisian superhero duo.

Mari grinned wickedly as the spoiled brat stomped off, then looked up at Adrien, whom she saw was still really red.

Realizing what she just did, Marinette blushed so much she felt like she was going to explode. "Erm- there's nothing to justify what I did to you Adrien! I am sooooo sorry! Sorrysorrysorrysorrysorrysorrysorrysorrysorrysorrysorry! I-I was just trying to prove something to Chloe…"

She trailed off as Adrien laid both of his hands on Marinette's.

"Don't worry, Lady-er- Marinette…" Adrien smiled. "It's cool. Besides," Adrien winked. "I kinda liked it."

Marinette burst into a fit of giggles and she blushed profusely as Adrien put both of his hands on her back. Marinette followed by swinging her hands around his neck. The pair swayed to the slow and romantic music.

Alya and Nino were just dancing behind them. Discreetly and trying to act as if it was accidental, Alya bumped into Adrien's back, therefore closing much of the distance between him and Marinette.

"Oops!" Alya faked a guilty look but failed as she smiled mischievously instead. "Sorry lovebirds!"

'Wow, how unintentional,' Marinette rolled her eyes as she thought sarcastically, but couldn't help but smile as her best friend fully supported Adrienette.

"So Mari," said Adrien, trying to make small talk. "Why were you late?"

Marinette froze. She recalled telling Chat Noir as "Ladybug" that Marinette was on her way to the Halloween party around two and a half hours ago. But Adrien wouldn't know that, would he?

"Oh, I left my place a bit late. About half an hour ago… you know how I'm usually tardy at everything. Plus I got held up by the akuma attack," Marinette reasoned nervously.

Adrien nodded, pretending to understand but he was baffled. His Lady told him that Marinette left the bakery around two hours and thirty minutes ago, but according to Mari her statement was wrong!

Something was really fishy here… And Adrien wanted to figure it out soon.

"You look so similar to Chat! I thought you were actually him when I came in!" Marinette smiled, then thought 'Good thing Adrien really isn't Chat… it would be really hard to believe that sweet, innocent Adrien would actually be the carefree, adventurous Chat Noir.'

"Well, you know what my father says…" Adrien chuckled nervously. "I should receive only the best costumes! Plus," Adrien continued, "You look pretty similar to Ladybug too…"

"I just have one of those faces I guess…" Ladybug plastered a fake smile on her face.

Suddenly, Miss Bustier, wearing an adorable bunny costume, stepped onto the podium in front of the ballroom. "Attention students! We have just received a newsflash that there are hundreds of dangerous Bloodbaker akumas on the loose! They could kill! We advise all of you to stay in the hotel's safe room! The guards will guide you there."

Adrien turned pale. "Ladybug didn't de-evilize the akuma…?" He gasped worriedly.

"I didn't de-evilize the akuma… I was in such a rush…" Marinette mumbled softly under her breath. Good thing Adrien was too busy worrying to pay attention.

"Mari! We have to get you to safety!" Adrien said to Marinette, who was shivering. Not from fear, but from a lack of self-confidence.

"How about you?!" Marinette asked, raising her voice over the chaotic sound of scared students.

Adrien gave a thin-lipped smile, as if he was anxious. "I'll be okay. Just get yourself to safety!"

Marinette nodded and ran to an isolated storage closet. Locking the door, she released Tikki from her Ladybug-themed purse she designed to go with her costume.

"Tikki! I can't do this! I failed again!" Marinette shook her head in fear.

Tikki, with her ever-encouraging smile, comforted Marinette. "Oh Marinette, you already have beaten hundreds of akumas! Who says you can't defeat a hundred more?"

"I hope you're right…" Marinette squeaked in anxiety. "Come on Tikki, spots on!"

Not much changed about her appearance except for her hairstyle, and the vanishing of her Ladybug purse.

Carefully, she stepped out of the closet, and looked for the hotel exit.

Strangely, when she got to the doors of the hotel, Chat Noir was there too. For a second she thought he was Adrien.

"Adrien!" Ladybug worriedly said, "Why aren't you hiding?"

Chat Noir seemed shocked, but then quickly recovered himself. "Uh, My Lady? I'm not Adrien… I'm Chat Noir."

"Oh," Ladybug covered her mouth as she realized her mistake. "Sorry, you guys just look so similar…"

"Right," Chat grinned nervously as he put a hand on the hotel door handle. "Are you ready to kick some Bloodbaker butt?"

"I sure am," Ladybug said with confidence, yet she knew she still had some self- doubt in her.

…

HI GUYS! Thanks for your reviews, follows, and favs! I hope you can continue reading this fanfic and I just wanted to thank you all for supporting A Miraculous Halloween all this time! Next chapter will be a heated akuma battle, so get ready!