Two parts in one day? Holy shishkabob Batman! Don't expect this all the time, because I started chapter 1 yesterday and couldn't publish it until today. I'm open to suggestions, as quite honestly I think chapter 2 is a bit fast-paced. But that could just be me.
"Uh, I'm sorry bro, say that again?" Nino asked into the phone receiver as he turned the speaker on. Alya rose an eyebrow at Nino and he grinned. The two were lazing about on Nino's bed, playing Ultimate Mecha Strike III, away from the harsh summer heat outside.
"I already told you," Adrien's voice emanated from the phone's speaker. "I need you to help me ask Marinette out." Nino turned to Alya, who had paused the game to hear better. Her mouth dropped and she smacked Nino's arm, grabbing it excitedly as she began to silently scream in excitement and shock. Nino fought back his laughter at his lady and replied, "Well, what's all this about anyway? You never seemed too interested before."
Adrien continued, "Well, I've been thinking, and you know I've always had a thing for her, I guess. I just... I dunno, I feel like it's the right time. Just... Should I ask her to the Louvre? She really likes art... Or maybe to a café? Oh, how about La Bossue? Or—" Nino interrupted. "Dude, dude, calm down. Who is Marinette's hero? Who does she admire more than anybody?"
Adrien was silent for a long while.
He finally replied, "Oh, my father."
"Ding ding ding!" Nino chimed. "Take her on a tour of your dad's agency! She would love that, bro." Adrien fell silent once more, but quickly composed himself, "Yeah, I mean... I can ask. He can only say no, right?"
"Right!" Alya exclaimed.
"Alya!?"
"Shit, babe, you were supposed to keep quiet!" Nino quickly covered her mouth.
"Nino, you had me on speaker!?"
"Uuuuh... Sorry, bro. I uh... Was playing Ultimate Mecha Strike III and you were taking up my hand...?"
Marinette sat in her room, jamming out to Jagged Stone's new album as she started a new sketch. She let out a sigh and fell back in her chair. "I can't believe I lost that poem... If Chloe finds it, I'm doomed." She pushed her chair back and buried her face in her hands. Tikki, sitting on the desk table, looked over the artwork. "Well, like you told Alya, you never signed it. Chloe won't know it's you." She looked up at Marinette and smiled bright. "Even if you lost it, it will be okay!"
"Thanks Tikki, but... If Adrien finds it, he's gonna show it off, and—" Marinette's phone started vibrating. She dropped her hands and checked it.
Alya: Girl! U will nvr guess who called Nino for DATING ADVICE!
Marinette rose an eyebrow, but decided to take a guess.
Marinette: Was it Nathaniel? Kim?
A: Adrien.
M: For who? Who does he like?
A: U
Marinette blinked and stared at her phone. "…. What?" Tikki asked as she floated next to Marinette and read the texts. "Or... That could happen."
The television quickly brought up breaking news. Nadja Chamack appeared, "It looks like Hawk Moth strikes again with a new villain named Mr. Sandman! He— Oh god, no!" A loud crash sounded in the studio and the camera tipped over. A tan foot stepped in front of it and a golden sand poured over Nadja, putting her to sleep before everything cut out.
"Oh no!" Marinette stood quickly and turned to her kwami. "Tikki, spots on!"
Chat Noir stood atop the building across from the KIDZ+ studio. "Let me guess..." He wondered to himself and began to sing quietly. "Mr. Sandman, bring me your dreams..." He blinked. "… He... puts people to sleep?"
"Whoa whoa whoa, look out!"
Chat Noir turned too late and Ladybug crashed right into him. The two fell off the building as the yoyo encircled them and tied them together. They hung from a light post, tangled. Chat Noir purred in delight, "Why hello, Milady. Glad to see you drop in." For added effect, he wiggled his eyebrows. Ladybug rolled her eyes and smiled. "Good to see you too, Chat Noir." She called her yoyo back and untangled the two. She quickly dropped to her feet; Chat Noir, not so much. He fell hard to the ground on his back. "Yow!" He exclaimed as the breath was knocked out of him.
Mr. Sandman busted through the studio doors, a maniacal laughter breaking through the peaceful afternoon. Golden sand dripped from his fingers, causing everyone around him to fall asleep. He was tall and lanky, with a bright blue nightcap and a tan supersuit with a big Z on the front. His cape was a blanket, and he wore fuzzy bunny slippers. "Why hello, Ladybug and... Cat... guy." Chat Noir bristled and hissed, "It's Chat Noir, geez!" Mr. Sandman merely rolled his eyes and yawned. "Well, no matter... Give me your Miraculous or..." He yawned again. "Or... face my wrath..." Ladybug looked to Chat Noir and he shrugged. Chat pulled out his staff and extended it before running toward Mr. Sandman. As Mr. Sandman yawned, pure power resonated from his mouth and striked Chat Noir, sending him flying into a building.
Ladybug gasped as she watched her friend fall and darted to him, quickly catching him before he landed on the ground. He held his head and smiled at her lovingly. "Thanks, bugaboo." Ladybug quickly set him down and turned to Mr. Sandman, pulling her yoyo out and swinging it. "Thank me later, we have to catch his akuma!" Chat Noir swiftly jumped to his feet and nodded, "Let's go!"
The two ran toward Mr. Sandman. As he stretched his arms out, sand oozed from his fingers, creeping towards Chat Noir. Ladybug took that chance to fling her yoyo towards him, but as it reached closer to his head, he rapidly dodged, grasping his hat protectively. Ladybug's eyes widened and she turned to Chat Noir. "His akuma is in his hat! Focus on his nightcap!"
"You got it, milady." He purred and ran towards Mr. Sandman. Mr. Sandman reacted too late and was clotheslined by Chat Noir's staff, getting knocked flat on his back as the nightcap flopped off his head. Ladybug leapt over Chat Noir and stood over Mr. Sandman, out cold on the pavement beneath them. She shot her yoyo at the nightcap and ripped it apart, causing the akuma to attempt to frantically fly away. She swiftly caught it and de-evillized it before letting it go.
"Wait," Ladybug frowned, "I... I didn't need my Lucky Charm. How do I use my Miraculous Ladybug?" Chat Noir helped the tired man stand up and looked to her. "I don't know. Try it anyway." Ladybug looked to Chat Noir and nodded, throwing her hand up to the air, "Miraculous Ladybug!"
The Miraculous Ladybug streamed from her hands, flying high into the sky and wrapping around the KIDZ+ studio before sweeping around the areas where the leftover sand remained and disappeared.
As the reporters began to pour out of the building, Chat Noir ran to catch up to Ladybug as she walked away from the scene. "Hey, Ladybug! Let's go on a walk. Neither of us really used our powers, so we have all the time in the world and I really want to talk to you! I mean, I really want to get to know my partner!" Ladybug frowned and looked at him. "Chat Noir, I really don't have time for this. I'm a busy girl. I have a lot to do."
"But... Then what if I were Adrien?"
"What?" Ladybug turned to him and blinked. "I said," Chat Noir repeated as he clenched his fists. "What if I were Adrien? You'd have all the time in the world for me, then."
Ladybug stared at him in disbelief. "Really, Chat Noir? You're going to get fussy because I don't have time?" Her eyes narrowed and her eyebrows dropped angrily. "I'll have you know, in my private life I AM very busy! I'm class representative, I'm an art student, I struggle not to get to school late, and I have to deal with YOU every other day!" She yelled at him and she stepped close, prodding her finger against his chest before stomping off down the street in a huff.
Chat Noir only stared at her as she went further away, a wide grin spreading across his face. "Well, hello Marinette."