Staring out at the stage in front of me, Chat Noir at my side, I was brought back to my very first performance.

xxx Flashback xxx

Walking down the street I hummed to myself as I passed the many different shops, I loved to sing but I had terrible stage fright and the one time I tried to sing for an audience in a school singing contest proved that. I froze up and just couldn't move eventually a teacher had to pull me off the stage, Chloe had only recently stopped bringing it up.

The rhythmic thump of music caught my attention and I turned, spotting a small shop that was an odd combination of music store and massage parlour. Mentally shrugging I stepped in and was amazed at the thousands of CD's records and other musical paraphernalia scattered around the shop front. There was nobody at the counter and the music playing over the speakers was infectious, before I knew it I was quietly singing along and bopping my head.

"Oh wow you have an amazing voice."

Shrieking I jumped about a foot in the air, trying to spin around and see who startled me only to trip and crash into a CD display and send hundreds of plastic cases flying in every direction.

"Oh my gosh Im so sorry I didn't mean to startle you. Here let me help you up."

Hands grabbed my arms and hauled me to my feet, peering up I was met with a concerned red head. "I...I...Its...uh...f...f...fi..fine, I...Im s...so..sorry..."

"No don't apologise I shouldn't have scared you like that, but you know you really do have an amazing voice. You could easily go professional with a voice like that."

"I...I...NO!" Flushing I covered my face, god I was making a terrible impression on this girl. "Sorry, I just get very nervous in front of crowds I totally froze up the last time I tried to sing in front of people." I spoke slowly making sure I didn't stutter.

"Oh really well did you ever consider singing in disguise or something?"

"Uh well..."

"Tiki? Who are you talking to?"

"Hey master Fu this is uh... you know I never did catch your name."

"Oh Marrinette."

"Right. This is Marrinette, I might have startled her into knocking over a display."

"Tiki, we have talked about you scaring the customers." The little old man finally entered the room and was busy giving Tiki a very disapproving look. "Im sorry, Marrinette was it? Yes I do apologise for Tiki, she gets a bit excited when people come in, we don't get many customers in here."

"Oh...oh no its fine, really. I'm just very clumsy."

"Why don't you come out back and have some tea, while Tiki fixes the display."

"Fu!"

Biting my lip I had to swallow a giggle, Tiki looked so petulant, like a frustrated child. Following the old man out back, I helped him make the tea and then we sat down and started talking about music. At first I was a bit unsure about the topic of discussion but it was so easy talking to Fu, like taking to an old uncle or something.

Before I knew it it was growing dark outside and I had to say my goodbyes, so I could get home before nightfall.

Needless to say that wasn't the last time I visited the odd little shop, it quickly became a weekly thing until finally it happened.

"You know there is a competition coming up, you should really enter. You have a wonderful voice."

Squeaking I said "no way, I can't sing in front of people. I freeze up remember."

"You sing in front of me and Tiki."

"Yeah but you guys are different and it still took me ages just to do that."

"Well what about wearing a mask?"

"Huh?"

"Well you wouldn't want to share your identity with everyone anyway, because should you become famous it would be very hard to live a normal life. So what if you performed in disguise, that way you could live normally and still sing and you wouldn't need to be frightened because you can hide behind your mask."

"I...well...I guess so?" Swallowing I thought it over a bit more, it really was a brilliant idea. Nodding resolutely I said more firmly this time "I'll do it!"

"Fantastic."

"Oh, but what should my disguise be?"

Smiling the old man stood and walked over to a small black box, lifting it he placed it in my lap before seating himself again. "Open it."

Lifting the lid slowly I stared in awe at the shimmering red mask resting on the black velvet lining the box. The red satin was stunning and sported five black spots on it, just like a Ladybug. "I'm going to be Ladybug."

The day of the contest dawned and I was standing in the dress room, pacing frantically tugging at the neat pigtails Tiki had done my hair in. "What if I embarrass myself? What if I sound terrible? What if..."

Grabbing my shoulders Tiki forcibly turned me to face her and said "spots on Marrinette."

"Huh, what?"

"Put your spots on and get your but out there. As soon as you put that mask on, you are Ladybug and Ladybug is fearless. You go out there and sing your should out and if the worst happens, it falls on Ladybug not Marrinette. So no need to fear, so get going would you."

Lifting the mask I smoothed the fabric over my eyes and smiled at the surge of confidence, "spots on."

Through out the whole performance I was completely calm, Ladybug had no need to fear anything after all and at the end of the night I came away with a win. So even with all the drama it was an absolute success and on that average day in February Ladybug was born. It wasn't long before Fu became my manager and I grew exponentially in popularity, especially after I started writing my own songs. People soon came to adore the name Ladybug and it was with much gratitude that I enjoyed my normal civilian life alongside my celebrity one.

xxx flashback end xxx

xxx (Nino pov- Surprise! Again) xxx

As soon as Ladybug came out on stage the crowd went nuts, I had to admit she did look amazing tonight. The music came on and she started singing, though she wasn't dancing yet, just walking across the stage. Then a second voice joins in, just as a man dressed all in black with little cat ears perched on his head steps onto the stage. The pair meet on the stage and as soon as they touch the chemistry is tangible between the pair, but then what about Adrien didn't Ladybug confirm she was dating him not that long ago? Taking a closer look at the man on the stage I took in his tousled blond hair and the very green eyes hiding behind his mask...Adrien?! Oh my god this cat guy is Adrien, how the hell did he get to perform on stage with Ladybug.

"Hey look at that, that must be Ladybugs new partner, they held auditions this week for the spot and it looks like their following a pattern of masked animal themed performers. Funny right?"

Swallowing I choked out "yeah, funny."

Mentally deciding I was going to ignore the cat guys identity for now, I cheered and whooped with the rest of the crowd between the songs and as the pair danced and sung their way through the two sets and went through a costume change it was clear these two just fit together. Despite apparently only working together for less than a week, they just seemed to mesh really well. The vocals harmonised really well and their dancing was so in synch, it must have taken all their spare time to rehears the steps. I thought it was funny though, how I hadn't noticed Adrien being more absent than normal. Oh well.

Bobbing my head the beat, I started making planes on how to get Adrien to admit to being the guy dressed like a cat and currently dancing with Ladybug.

xxx (time skip- Monday morning) xxx

"You were amazing last night bro, you really rocked out."

"Yeah, I know it was so much fun...Wha...What did you just say?"

"That your performance last night with Ladybug was awesome."

"Wha...but how?!"

"Dude, you guys had so much chemistry even I noticed! Besides how many blonde haired, green eyed guys do you know, that have that much chemistry with Ladybug?"

"I uh...fine, you got me. But you can't tell anyone!"

"Duh bro, I got ya back. My lips are sealed."

"Thank you I don't think even Ladybug knows."

"Dude! She knows, for sure. Know way she would have been that nosey with you otherwise."

"Oh. You really think?"

"Yeah!" We had to cut our conversation short then as the teacher walked in, shortly followed by a disheveled Marrinette. Who sprinted to her seat, flopping down with as much grace as a sack of potatoes.

"Girl!"

"I know Alya, I know! But I was up late last night watching my recording of Ladybug's concert."

"Okay well I suppose I can let you off for that."

"I know, now what was it like? Was it good? Did you have fun?"

"Amazing, yes, and yes."

Marrinette took a second to process and then grinned "oh thats great Alya, I'm so happy you had a good time."

Everyone grew quiet as the teacher started her lecture, although I did occasionally pass notes to Adrien. Only when the teacher wasn't looking tho, I didn't have a death wish after all.

When class ended for lunch I made sure to grab Alya and Marrinette so they could join us for lunch. I loved it when Marrinette joined us for lunch, she was a really sweet girl and she alway shared the pastries her parents packed for her lunch. Smiling she pulled out her lunch bag and out came a small box with the bakeries logo on it, lifting the lid she revealed tiny red macarons with black polkadots on them.

"AAAAHHHHHHHH they are so adorable, they're Ladybug themed. That is so awesome Marrinette."

"I kinda came up with the idea by accident and then my mom thought they would see really well, so we are going to start selling them soon, this is just a test batch to see how the colours bake."

"Well they look awesome! Can we try some?"

"Of course."

I was smiling so wide it could have split my face as I quickly reached for two of the little macarons, all of Marrinette's sweets were amazing. So it was always an honour to test them. Releasing a sigh of containment as I savoured the first bite I said "Marrinette your pastries are always so amazing! Will you marry me and make me pastries everyday?"

I had to grin when she laughed, it was infection like that. It was easy to see why I had crushed on her so bad before, but now I was able to admire as just a friend and if Adrien hadn't already got together with Ladybug, I would have totally pushed for them to get together. Besides if my bro married her, I would still have near unlimited access to the baked goods. Oh well such a shame, although you never know, he could still break up with Ladybug. Ah who am I kidding that was very unlikely to happen, Adrien was so in love with the pop star it was sickening.

Quickly stuffing the other macaron into my mouth I was still chewing as I reached for a third treat, when Alya smacked the back of my hand. Quite hard as well, I might add. "Hey! What was that for?"

"Let other people get some you garbage disposal unit on two legs."

"Well sooooorrrrryyyyy miss slow poke, I love Marrinette's treats, no way am missing out!"

Turning back to the box, we were both startled to find only two left and Adrien was studiously trying to look innocent. Which wasn't really working, what with his bulging cheeks and all.

"Adrien! How could you?"

Swallowing he said "you know I don't get treats often, I can't help it. They were so gooooood and you were busy arguing. So I'm sorry but I do not regret anything."

"Oh you're going to regret it in a minute Agrest."

"I don't...AHHHHHH! ALYA NOOOOO! I'M SORRY PLEASE NO, REALLY I AM SORRY. JUST DON'T N...NOOOOOO. ALYA!"

Blinking down at the pair wrestling on the floor I turned to Marrinette and said "I don't suppose you have more of those do you?"

Snorting she said "I totally foresaw this. I've got you covered Nino. Here its all yours, I've got ones for Alya and Adrien as well."

"When are you going to tell them that?"

"Eh I don't know, I might let them go at it for a few minutes. Adrien did eat all mine after all."

Snorting a laugh I said "damn girl you're brutal."

Smiling serenely at me she said "I know."

I was surprised by her casual answer but when I saw the hint of a grin at the corners of her mouth I realised she was joking. "Damn! You really are vicious."

Smiling at each other we couldn't hold in our mirth and hit the deck laughing. When Alya and Adrien finally came up for air after there fight, they both looked so perplexed by our laughter that it only set us off again. Laughing harder if possible.

AN: Okay and here is the next chapter, hope you guys liked it. There is my Ladybug origin, it might get expanded on with some more flashbacks but so far that covers the main basics of how Marrinette became Ladybug and met Tiki. It was kinda hard actually, it went in a slightly different direction than I intended but that little bit at the end I though perfectly outlined the fights that happen amongst some of my friends, that was a lot of fun to write actually. So yeah, enjoy and please review, it makes my day. Thank you :)

-SL xxx