"The next episode is… Copycat." Marinette said, before remembering what happened that day. She groaned audibly. "This is going to be even more embarrassing than Stormy Weather."
Tikki flew in front of her with a comforting smile. "It's okay Marinette, so you made a mistake, you fixed it didn't you?" A glimmer of humor could be seen in her kwami's eyes, "Besides, it's not like you could be even more embarrassed about your crush on Cat Noir, could you?" Marinette's blush grew to epic levels.
"Tikki!" Marinette shrieked in mortification, her kwami simply giggled and disappeared into Marinette's purse. Adrien, though he really wanted to tease her, realized this episode would be embarrassing for him as well.
With a titanic effort, Marinette pressed play.
Scene: Dupain-Cheng House. Marinette is on her balcony with Tikki.
Tikki: How about inviting him to a movie then?
Marinette: Right, Tikki. Can you imagine that conversation?
Tikki: "Hey Adrien, would you like to gah- wuh, glah."
The class snickered at Tikki's spot on impression of Marinette's interactions with Adrien.
Marinette: Exactly. I can't help it. Every time I see him, (An image of Adrien appears in the clouds) I get all clammy and I feel like fainting.
Alya raised an eyebrow at the screen. "Really Marinette? You've got it that bad?" She asked with a smirk, idly wondering how much someone could blush before their head combusted.
Marinette hid her head in her knees, "Even my daydreams aren't sacred."
Tikki: So... basically the only way you could have a normal conversation with him, is if you're blindfolded.
Marinette: Pretty much.
Tikki: There is a very simple solution Marinette. It's called a cell phone. You just need his number.
Marinette: I know who'll have Adrien's number! (She calls Alya.)
Scene: Park. A crowd is gathered. Théo and Mayor Bourgeois are facing the crowd, with a giant statue covered with a sheet behind them.
André: I'm sure you've outdone yourself, Théo.
Théo: It was my honor. And I can't wait to meet Ladybug, I hope she'll autograph the photo I used as the inspiration for the statue.
André: Oh, it's nearly time. Ladybug and Cat Noir should already be here by now.
Marinette winced audibly, she still felt kinda bad for bailing on the statue reveal, even if it was to delete an embarrassing voicemail.
Scene: Marinette's room. Alya and Marinette are talking.
Alya: Look, we all know improv's not your bag, (gives Marinette a pad) so just stick to this script.
"Considering how she's managed to hide her identity for this long, maybe she's really good at it, but acts like she sucks at it to throw everyone off." Kim said, his arms crossed triumphantly over his chest, as if he'd just solved a particularly hard puzzle. Alya gave him a flat stare.
"Or, she's just insanely lucky, I mean, she's literally a ladybug." Kim's smug posture evaporated.
"I guess you're right…" He mumbled.
Marinette pouted.
Adrien tried not to stare.
Marinette: But all the teachers say I don't sound natural when I read.
"Nobody sounds natural when they read something, especially the first time." Nino said helpfully, "Memorization lets you sound far more natural than reading off a script."
Marinette rolled her eyes, "Thank you, Spielberg."
Alya: Then memorize it. It's pretty simple. You can do this. Just don't improvise. Got it?
Marinette: (looks at the phone and the script and gasps) Forget it! This is never gonna work.
Alya: (taps the call button on Marinette's phone) Too late. It's dialing. (She jumps behind Marinette's couch.)
(Marinette gasps and panics while holding her cell phone in one hand, not knowing what to do.)
Adrien: (recording) Hey, this is Adrien's voicemail. Leave a message.
Marinette: It's come to voicemail!
Alya: Leave a message! Don't improv!
Marinette: (gulp) Uhh, hello. Uh, Adrien's voicemail, uh, this is Marinette, who, uh, has a message for you, of course, cause it's, uh, your phone, so, umm, heh heh heh, call me see you later bye! (throws the phone onto the couch)
(Alya looks at her, exasperated.)
Marinette: What? What did you expect me to say? "Hey, hot stuff, this is Marinette, I'd ask you on a date to a movie, but I've got such a crazy crush on you that the only way I can talk to you without foaming at the mouth is over this stupid phone." Pretty ridiculous, right?
Automated voice: (from phone) If you wish to hear your message again, press 1. If you wish to erase your message, press 2.
The class guffawed at Marinette's misfortune.
"You just can't get a break, can you Marinette?" Juleka said, snickering into her hand.
"All my luck must be used up while I'm Ladybug, woe is me!" Marinette said dramatically, a hand on her forehead. Alya rolled her eyes and smacked the back of her head.
Marinette stuck her tongue out at Alya before rewinding the episode.
Marinette: (gasps)
Alya: Hit 2! Hit 2!
(Marinette lunges and taps the phone.)
Phone: Message saved. Goodbye.
Adrien raised an eyebrow, his face almost on fire from his blush. How did he never get this message?
Marinette: (screams)
Alya: It's not as bad as you think.
Marinette: Hmm?
Alya: Okay, it's bad. But you are gonna have to tell him one of these days, some way or another. Think of it this way, no more secrets!
Marinette: The voicemail recorded my whole conversation.
Alya: Big deal!
Marinette: I called him "hot stuff". He cannot be allowed to hear that message, Alya! If he does, I'll die of shame!
Alya: Okay, okay. I got an idea. If Adrien's phone went to voicemail, it means the dude's busy. Which also means, you can get to it before he does. Hmm, I wonder where he'd be...
(Marinette pulls down a large copy of Adrien's schedule from the ceiling.)
"HAH! Marinette's just a creepy stalker!" Chloe howled victoriously, her hands raised triumphantly. Alya, being the good friend she was,paused the show, then immediately walked over and grabbed Chloe by the front of her shirt, hissing at her threateningly.
"As if you're much better. At least Marinette doesn't force herself on him at every opportunity." Alya said, a smirk on her face as Chloe sneered at her.
"As if! I don't force myself on anyone, Adrien adores me. He loves me, as if it weren't obvious!" Alya let out a mocking laugh.
"You keep telling yourself that, at least Mari doesn't lie to herself about the status of her relationship with him." With that, Alya threw her back down onto her beanbag and headed back for her seat, only stopping as she saw Adrien looking at Marinette.
Adrien's eyebrows disappeared into his hairline, oblivious to the confrontation going on behind him. That was his entire schedule. How did she have it? He turned to look at Marinette, the question on his lips, and saw her nearly curled up in a ball, shaking slightly, her eyes, barely peeking out over her knees, were looking very red, as though she were about to cry.
Adrien knew he should probably comfort her, but he was really rather curious about how she got his schedule, not to mention slightly creeped out. He put a hand on her shoulder, and squeezed it comfortingly, but was surprised when, in a completely un-Ladybug, or Marinette fashion, she shuddered and almost violently flinched at his touch.
" 'M sorry Adrien…" She mumbled, just barely loud enough to be heard through the crack in her knees. "You probably hate me now…" She mumbled slightly louder, allowing him to hear her more clearly.
Adrien shook his head frantically at her. "No, no My Lady! I could never hate you!" He rubbed the back of his neck nervously at her skeptical look. "I will admit it's a little creepy, but I mean, you never used it for anything bad, right?" He said, causing Marinette to look at him with wide eyes, he supposed that if this were part of the show, she'd be having one of those worst case scenario animations going on behind her.
"N-No!" She stuttered out, obviously trying her best to pick up what she saw as the shambles of their relationship. "I-I mostly had it so I knew when the right time would be to confess to you! I never actually stalked you with it, or anything, I swear!" She sounded as though she was trying her best get him not to hate her.
As if Cat Noir could ever hate his Lady!
Before he could relay this to her in a much more convincing manner though, Plagg decided to make himself known.
"He's just as bad as you, y'know." He said, lounging on his Chosen's head. Adrien immediately blushed and tried to grab his kwami, who simply flew straight up to avoid his hands. "He's got Ladybug posters, action figures, a Ladybug suit, Ladybug underwear and PJ's," He flew forward, leaning in to whisper the last one in a conspiratorial manner. "A Ladybug body pillow." Marinette's entire face was red at this point, Plagg could have sworn he felt the heat from her blush nearly six inches away from her.
"A body pillow?" She whispered, clearly embarrassed. Plagg nodded, a large smile on his face.
Marinette let this sink in, and after a few seconds felt her mortification settle, and a slight surge of Ladybug confidence fill her in its place. She sat up straighter, and Adrien could see that glimmer of mischievousness his Lady usually had right before she would tease him.
This time it was Adrien's turn to feel embarrassed.
"So, you're obsessed with me, huh, minou?" She asked teasingly, and Adrien felt his face heat even more. "Do you cuddle with a body pillow of me at night?" She asked, the only thing giving away her own embarrassment a very light blush that accentuated her freckles. Plagg, through his howling laughter, nodded frantically.
"He does!" Plagg forced through his giggles. "He whispers sweet nothings in its ears as well!" With that, Plagg howled even louder, unable to hear Tikki's scolding words.
As if he would have listened to them anyway.
Adrien pulled at his collar nervously, trying to find a way out of this situation. "W-We're b-bo-both j-j-just h-hope-hopelessly ob-obsessed w-with o-one an-another?" He tried feebly, getting a teasingly thoughtful look from Marinette in return.
She held the pose for a few seconds before giving him a smile. "I suppose you're right, Chaton, we're just hopelessly obsessed with each other." Adrien let out a sigh of relief.
"At least I don't have an Adrien Agreste body pillow." She gave as a parting shot, before leaning away and unpausing the episode, silencing any rebuttal he could have made.
Marinette: Of course! He's got fencing club after school, that's why he didn't pick up! It ends in exactly twenty-two and a half minutes.
Alya: You are seriously insane. You know that, right?
Marinette: (giggles)
Scene: College Francoise Dupont. Adrien is taking fencing classes, while Plagg is in his locker, eating Camembert.
Plagg: (Adrien's phone vibrates.) Ahhhhh!
Automated voice: (from phone) You have 1 new message. (Plagg shuts it off.)
(Back in the gym, Adrien defeats his opponent. He pulls up his mask.) Adrien: Gotta get a drink of water. I'll be right back. (He runs to his locker and opens it. He opens his bag and sees Plagg inside, finishing his cheese.) Plagg, you pig!
Plagg harrumphed and turned away from his Holder, arms crossed stubbornly. "It's not my fault cheese tastes so good, or that there's nothing to do in your bag while you're at school." He said, causing Adrien to roll his eyes and rub the top of his kwami's head.
"Of course it isn't Plagg. Of course it isn't... "
That gave Marinette a thought though.
"Uh Tikki?" Marinette asked, causing her kwami to look at her from her place on Marinette's shoulder. "Do you get bored, just sitting in my bag all the time?" Tikki shrugged lightly.
"I will admit it's a little dull, but Plagg and I are thousands of years old, we're used to being patient." She looked up at the screen, "Well, I'm used to being patient" she corrected with a giggle.
"Hey!" Plagg protested, "I can be patient!" Tikki giggled.
Marinette smiled at the kwamis' antics, but still, she felt kind of bad just leaving Tikki alone in her bag all day with nothing to do. "Still, I think we should try to find a hobby for you or something, maybe teach you how to use my phone or something, so you'll be able to survive through a day of sitting in my bag?" Tikki nodded excitedly.
"Okay Marinette! That sounds like fun!" Marinette smiled at her kwami before resuming the episode.
Plagg: You have 1 new message. (burps)
Adrien: Move, please, so I can check my voicemail. Hmm, don't recognize this number. Oh no, now we're late! Time to transform, Plagg! (His ring flashes.)
Marinette's eyes went wide, that was too close!
Scene: Dupain-Cheng House. Marinette and Alya are running down the stairs. They go outside and see Cat Noir.
Cat Noir: (leaping over a building) Woo-hoo! Yeah-ha-ha! Ha! Hahaha! (lands in front of the statue) Hey, everybody!
(Marinette covers her mouth and looks panicked.)
Alya: They're unveiling Ladybug and Cat Noir's sculptures today! I totally spaced!
Marinette: Me too.
Alya: Uh, you never mentioned going to the unveiling before.
Marinette: I'm not, I mean, I am! Uh, I mean, I forgot?
Alya facepalmed so hard that it was more like a face slap than anything else. "How could I be so oblivious?!" She sounded furious with herself.
Marinette giggled.
Alya: Listen. About Adrien's cellphone, what if we go right after?
Marinette: If we wait after the ceremony, Adrien's fencing training will be over, and he'll have his phone back by then.
Alya: Shoot. I gotta cover this event for the Ladyblog... I'm sorry, Marinette!
Marinette: Don't sweat it. I can manage. I think!
Alya: You sure?
Marinette: Yes, yes. I'm sure.
Alya: Cool. Good luck, and stay out of trouble. And don't improv!
Tikki: Isn't Ladybug supposed to be at the unveiling?
Marinette: Yes, but Marinette needs to be at the school first.
Tikki: But it is a ceremony in your honor.
Marinette: And it's my honor that's at stake right now. I'll be in and out of there in five minutes. We can be at the ceremony in no time!
"Really, your honor is at stake for calling a model 'hot stuff'?" Adrien asked humorously. "I've been called far worse, I assure you." Marinette simply sniffed and looked away from him.
"I'm an innocent little angel, thank you very much."
That caused everyone in earshot to snicker.
Scene: Park. The ceremony is about to begin.
Théo: Excuse me, Cat Noir, but Ladybug's not here.
Cat Noir: Don't worry about Ladybug. I'm sure she'll be here any minute. I can handle this situation alone for now. I'm the one in charge anyway, you know.
Marinette turned towards Adrien, who now looked very sheepish. "You're the leader?!" She said incredulously. "Cat! We're a team, equals! I'm not in charge, and you are certainly not in charge! We work together!" Adrien looked more and more remorseful as her tirade went on.
"I'm sorry, Marinette, I got carried away, I should have held myself better than that." What he didn't say was that he was acting as he normally did, but without Ladybug to banter back, he got out of hand. "Besides… I only get worse." He mumbled. Marinette raised an eyebrow at him.
"What was that?" She asked archly, Adrien simply motioned towards the screen.
"Just watch, Marinette." With one last look, Marinette turned and pressed play.
Théo: It's just that, I wanted to ask her to autograph this photo. She's amazing. She's so brave and smart, the way she always saves everyone...
(Cat Noir glares at the photo; Théo doesn't notice.)
Marinette snorted, "Were you jealous, Chaton?" She asked, a smirk playing on her face, Adrien simply looked guilty. The humor fell away, and she placed a hand on his shoulder. "What's wrong Adrien?" Adrien looked away, his eyes downcast.
"I'm not exactly proud of my actions that day." He said simply.
Mayor Bourgeois: Perhaps the ceremony should commence. It might bring her here faster.
Théo: Please, just one minute more, Mayor Bourgeois, she's going to come, I can feel it...
Scene: College Francoise Dupont. Fencing class continues on.
Marinette: ...I'm there! (sees all the lockers)
Tikki: Oh boy.
Marinette: Which one's his?
Tikki: If you call him, you'll make his phone ring.
Marinette: Nice, Tikki! (She calls Adrien, and puts her ear against the locker to figure out where the ringing is coming from.)
Scene: Park. The ceremony is about to begin.
Mayor Bourgeois: It's only proper for Paris to pay hommage to those to protect us from evil. (unveiling the statues) Ladybug and Cat Noir!
Alya: Can I get some photos for the Ladyblog?
(Théo looks at Ladybug's statue and sighs sadly.)
Marinette winced, she should have listened to Tikki and gone to the ceremony, even if it would have led to her crush being outed in one of the worst possible ways.
Not that this way was any less embarrassing, but at least only Adrien would have known then.
Scene: College. Marinette is still looking for Adrien's cell phone.
Tikki: Hurry, they're finishing up!
Marinette: There it is! (She tries to open the locker, but it's locked.) Gah! It's locked!
Tikki: (She phases through the locker and opens it.) Ta-dah!
Max stared in fascination. "You can phase through solid objects?" Marinette nodded for her kwami. Max tilted his head, undoubtedly trying to find a scientific explanation. "How?"
Tikki turned towards him and smiled enigmatically. "Magic." Max groaned loudly.
"That's going to be the answer to a lot of my questions, isn't it?" He got a cheerful nod in return.
Scene: Park. The ceremony has just ended.
Cat Noir: These statues are amazing. One thing's slightly off though- I'm actually taller than Ladybug.
Théo: Ladybug didn't show up. I just wanted to express my adoration for her. Let her know that everything I had went into her statue. I'm sure if she took a little time to get to know me, she would see how much we have in common. Our devotion to the things we love.
Cat Noir: Hey, don't mean to burst your bubble, but you know, Ladybug and me, we're a thing, you know?
Marinette paused it again, looking at Adrien with a flat expression. Adrien looked remorseful, and adorable, but Marinette forced that traitorous thought to the back of her mind for now. "Adrien. Agreste. Why did you lie about our relationship?" Adrien couldn't bring himself to look at Marinette, his Lady was angry at him, and he deserved it.
"I'm sorry Marinette, I really am, it's just, the thought of you dating anyone just fired up this little bug inside me, and I just lost it." He finally looked up, his eyes begging for forgiveness, but his body language clearly showing he didn't think he deserved it. "I'm sorry Marinette. I'm so, so, sorry." Marinette looked at him for a moment, her face looking as though it was cut from stone.
Finally, after what felt like hours to Adrien, her face softened, and she put a hand on his shoulder. "Adrien, even if Cat Noir wasn't Adrien Agreste, he'd have a hundred times the chance that a random fan, who is clearly a little old for me ever would." She smiled slightly, "I'm not happy about what you did, but I forgive you, so long as you promise to never do it again, okay?" Adrien's face was adorable, and the way he nodded, Marinette almost thought his head would fall off.
"I swear on my Miraculous, I'll never do it again, My Lady." Marinette felt touched just from the promise alone, she nodded, satisfied and pet him on the head, like she would so often do when they were in costume.
"Good Kitty." She said, and with that, unpaused the episode.
Théo: Really?
Cat Noir: Yeah, we're like this. (crosses his fingers)
Théo: (walks away angrily) What does Ladybug see in him?
Adrien winced again, but Marinette politely ignored the chance to tease, or insult him, since it was still clearly a touchy subject for him.
He silently thanked her for that.
Scene: College. Marinette is trying to unlock Adrien's phone.
Tikki: They're coming! Put back the phone!
Marinette: I haven't erased the message yet!
Tikki: We're out of time and we really ought to be getting to that ceremony, come on!
Adrien raised an eyebrow. His Lady stole his phone, so he wouldn't figure out that her civilian identity had a crush on his civilian identity? The only thing that made it worse was that Adrien would have had to turn her down, as he didn't know she was his Lady. He groaned silently.
It was like a love square, and the two of them were oblivious to it!
(Marinette hides behind the door as it opens.)
Student: Whew! That was rough. Ha ha.
(Marinette edges out the door without anyone seeing her. As she leaves the building, Cat Noir lands on the roof. Having changed back, Adrien opens the locker room door and steps in, whistling. He opens his locker and takes his bag.)
Marinette snickered, "Real subtle Adrien, you weren't suspicious at all." Adrien stuck his tongue out at her.
Scene: Théo's studio.
Théo: A thing, huh? You don't even take love seriously. Calling it a thing... You don't deserve her! I do!
Adrien winced at the sound of the mold of his head breaking, along with the fact this was all his fault.
He'd screwed up big time.
Scene: Hawk Moth's lair.
Hawk Moth: Disappointed by Ladybug, and jealous of Cat Noir. The perfect formula for disaster. (turns a butterfly into an akuma) Fly away, my little akuma, and evilize him!
Scene: Théo's studio. The akuma flies into the crumpled photo in Théo's hands.
Hawk Moth: Hello, Copycat. I am Hawk Moth. Once you get rid of Cat Noir, you can take his place. And Ladybug will be yours forever.
Théo: The very thought of it makes me purr. (Théo turns into Copycat)
Adrien groaned, "From the second he got akumatized his jokes sucked!" Marinette looked at him with a raised eyebrow.
"How was that any worse than your usual jokes, Chaton?" Adrien gave a dramatic gasp.
"My Lady! I'll have you know that my sense of humor is far more developed than that Copycat's!" He paused for a second. Marinette rolled her eyes.
"Whatever you say Kitten, whatever you say."
Scene: Adrien's room. Adrien is looking for his phone.
Adrien: Ugh, where is it? (looks at Plagg)
Plagg: What are you looking at me for? I didn't eat it. I swear!
Alya looked at the tiny kwami, then Adrien, and mentally brought up a picture of his phone.
"I know he can eat things bigger than he is, but that's cheese, could he really eat a cell phone?" She asked confusedly.
Adrien shrugged, "If he put his mind to it, he could probably eat anything." Plagg shook his head adamantly.
"Cheese is my only love, thank you very much! Phones would taste nothing like my precious camembert!" Adrien rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, a phone would probably taste better." Plagg let out an insulted gasp.
"You take that back!"
Scene: Marinette's room.
Marinette: How do you listen to messages on this- (The phone rings.) Home? (Marinette scrambles away from the phone.) It's Adrien! He's looking for his phone! What if he tracks it? (Drawings appear onscreen, depicting what Marinette describes.) He'll figure out I stole it, I'll be arrested for grand theft, I'll spend the rest of my life in jail, and worse, I'll never get to go to the movies with Adrien! (She collapses on the bed.)
Once again the show had to be paused due to the laughter permeating the theater.
"Oh god! The animations in the background!" Nino gasped through his guffaws.
"They're so cuuuuuuuuttteee!" Rose squealed giddily.
"I could make that happen, Adrikins!" Chloe yelled excitedly.
Marinette rolled her eyes and hit play.
Tikki: Oh, Marinette. You really need to get your priorities in order.
Marinette: I know. Some days it feels impossible to balance being Marinette and being Ladybug.
"You've done very well, Bugaboo." Adrien whispered to her, enjoying the slight blush she got whenever he flirted with her as Adrien. "Especially since then, what with you being Class Rep and everything." Marinette smiled bashfully.
"Not as well as you, minou." She complimented back, "School, photoshoots, Chinese lessons, piano lessons, fencing lessons, and being a superhero?" She shook her head impressively. "I wish I could handle my time that well."
Adrien flushed in response.
Scene: Adrien's room.
Adrien: (recording) Hey, this is Adrien's voicemail. Leave a message.
Adrien: Ugh, it must still be at the gym. (He grabs Plagg, who was in the middle of eating, and leaves.)
Scene: The Louvre. Copycat, identical in every way to Cat Noir, strolls down the museum hall.
Copycat: (humming)
(The civilians are surprised. Some hold up their phones to take pictures or videos.)
Copycat: (stepping across the rope to steal the Mona Lisa) Don't mind me. Just stealing this painting. Go about your business.
Civilian: Hey! (A hand is placed on Copycat's shoulder. Copycat trips the civilian.)
Civilian: I gotta get this on camera!
Marinette facepalmed. "One of Paris' superheroes, the one that can destroy anything he touches, seemingly goes bad, and that's the first thing that comes to mind?" Adrien nodded in agreement.
"He's not exactly a safe distance away, it's not like Copycat was trying to be a cat burglar or anything." Marinette immediately smacked him on the head.
"No."
Scene: Streets. Adrien is being driven by his chauffeur.
Nadja: (from the radio) And in some astonishing news, there's been a spectacular theft at the Louvre. Amateur video showed without a shadow of a doubt that the thief is none other than the famous hero, Cat Noir.
Copycat: (on video) This painting is the cat's meow. (He runs away with the painting.)
Adrien: (shocked) Cat's meow? (gets out of the car) Not only is that person a fake, he's a terrible fake! (He runs into the school, and jumps off the building moments later as Cat Noir.)
"I don't know…" Nino said teasingly, "He sounded pretty spot on to me, what do you think, babe?" Nino asked teasingly, Alya smirked as she commented.
"Yeah, those jokes were just about what the public expects out of Cat Noir."
Adrien pouted, "I'll have you know I have never used the term 'cat's meow' outside of repeating what Copycat said!" He huffed, "I could have come up with much better puns for the situation thank you very much." Marinette rolled her eyes and patted Adrien's shoulder.
"Of course you could Kitten, of course you could."
Scene: Marinette's room. Marinette is wearing goggles and baking mittens, and operating Adrien's phone with a Q-tip.
The class laughed again, while Marinette looked staunch in her decision.
Adrien raised an eyebrow, "Were all those really necessary Marinette?"
She nodded stubbornly, "Of course they were! I couldn't exactly leave fingerprints just lying around now, could I?" Adrien shook his head amusedly.
Who would have thought that his Lady could panic so much?
Marinette Ugh, of course Adrien would own one of these super-expensive high-tech smartphones. I can't even figure out how to work this thing.
Tikki: Maybe it would help if you took of those silly mittens.
Marinette: And risk leaving fingerprints? No way. (Marinette's phone rings, and she answers; it's Alya.)
Alya: Problem fixed?
Marinette: Almost. I haven't erased the message yet, but I'm working on it as we speak.
Alya: No way. You palmed his phone?
Marinette: Yes? No? Uhh... I mean, I was planning to give it back. Actually, where are you? I can use some help.
Alya: No can do. I'm waiting for additional deats at the Louvre on the Cat Noir robbery.
Marinette: What? Somebody robbed Cat Noir?
Adrien grabbed his chest dramatically, "My Lady!" He cried, as though he were grievously wounded, "The only person who could steal from me is you!" He leaned in closer, his expression replaced with a sincere look that Marinette wasn't used to seeing from Cat. "And the only thing you stole, was my heart."
Marinette looked at him for a moment, her face turning a very pretty shade of pink. It was one thing for Adrien to say something like that with it's usual upbeat jokery, but he sounded so sincere that Marinette had trouble trying to come up with a comeback, and instead ended up turning away from him, taking a large amount of interest in the screen as her cheeks betrayed her true feelings.
Adrien smiled victoriously.
Alya: No, girl. Didn't you hear? Cat Noir came in and stole the Mona Lisa! In broad daylight! Ladybug's gonna turn up for sure, and I do not wanna miss this. Just chill and I'll be over later.
Marinette: 'Kay. (She ends the call.) Cat Noir is a lot of things, but he's no thief. (takes goggles and mittens off) Time to transform!
"My Lady! You do have faith in me!" Adrien called delightedly, Marinette rolled her eyes, forcing her blush down as she put a hand under his chin and scratched it lightly.
"Of course I do, minou, you're my partner. I trust you with my life."
Adrien smiled, a small, sincere one, his Lady knew just how to flatter him, didn't she?
[Transformation Sequence)
Marinette: Tikki, spots on! (Marinette turns into Ladybug)
Scene: Louvre. Cat Noir appears, and the police prepare themselves.
Cat Noir: Whoa! Easy, tigers! You've got the wrong cat! That thief's an imposter. I'm the real Cat Noir!
(Agent Roger orders the police to stop)
Cat Noir: Let me check out where the robbery took place. I have a knack for finding clues. You know, animal instincts.
Agent Roger: Of course. Come with me. Thanks for your help, Cat Noir.
"Oh Kitten," Marinette sighed exasperated, but still holding an undertone of amusement. "You're so naive sometimes." She shook her head, amused.
Adrien pouted.
(They enter the museum. Cat Noir finds Théo's lollipop stick on a table. At that moment, Agent Roger presses a button and traps Cat Noir.)
Cat Noir: Hey! I'm the real Cat Noir! I'm way slicker than that guy.
Agent Roger: (speaking into walkie-talkie) Kitty's in the slammer. I repeat, kitty's in the slammer.
(Meanwhile, Ladybug arrives at the museum. She sees Mayor Bourgeois and the police.)
Ladybug: Mr. Mayor, this is ridiculous. I'm sure there's a simple explanation.
Agent Roger: Kitty's in the slammer, Ladybug.
Ladybug: Don't think you're gonna keep him in there-
Agent Roger: Now, now. Leave it to the experts, Ladybug. We've got it under control.
Alya stared at the screen, "You know, for experts, they very quickly forgot that Cat Noir could easily get out of any prison they put him in, y'know Cataclysm and all that." Marinette shook her head.
"If there's one thing I've learned carries over from comic books, it's the ineptitude of the police force when it comes to people with superpowers." Alya snorted and nodded.
"You've got a point there girl."
Ladybug: Hmph!
(Meanwhile, in the museum, Cat Noir uses his Cataclysm power to break the bars and free himself. He is confronted by police officers.)
Cat Noir: Thanks for the warm hospitality, but I gotta split, so... I'll just say this one more time. You've got the wrong cat! (He knocks his way through the police)
Nino chuckled at his friend. "Because if they believed before they locked you into the room that held the Mona Lisa, they'll believe you after you just broke out of the room that held the Mona Lisa."
Adrien shrugged, "So I have faith in humanity, is that such a bad thing?"
Marinette shook her head, "That's not faith, minou, that's naivety."
Officer: (through walkie-talkie to Roger) Cat Noir is getting away!
(Ladybug and Agent Roger run inside, and see the police officers on the floor.)
Agent Roger: Well, if he's so innocent, then why is he running away?
Ladybug: Well, if you were wrongly imprisoned, wouldn't you run?
(Meanwhile, Cat Noir runs away from the police. While hiding, he starts calling Ladybug with his staff. Ladybug's yo-yo receives Cat Noir's call.)
Agent Roger: Requesting assistance, I repeat, requesting assistance. We are in pursuit of the suspect...
Ladybug: Cat Noir, what's going on?
Cat Noir: You know I'm innocent, don't you, Bugaboo?
Ladybug: Stop playing around and calling me Bugaboo. This is really serious!
Alya snickered, "You sure don't seem to mind him calling you Bugaboo now, do you Marinette?" Marinette blushed, and staunchly looked away from her best friend.
"This is different, I was stressed out and worried for my partner then, it wasn't a time for messing around."
Alya, and over half the class gave a disbelieving hum.
"It's true!" She said weakly, before resuming the show.
Cat Noir: I'm gonna find the real culprit and save my tail. I'll get back to-
(The police helicopter arrives)
Cat Noir: Wha!
Ladybug: Huh?
Police: Give yourself up, Cat Noir!
Agent Roger: Aren't you gonna go after him?
Ladybug: Uhh, I'll leave it to the experts. (She swings away.)
"Ooooh! Burn!" Nino called, "It was nice knowing your dad, Sabrina!"
Sabrina gave a weak smile, and an even weaker laugh, turning to look at Marinette for the first time since the show started. "Why does my Dad not like you?" She asked, her tone nervous as Chloe gave her a glare for speaking to Marinette.
Marinette shrugged, "We weren't on the best of terms at first, but after he got akumatized, we got along a lot better. He's a good cop, he just didn't trust us very much until after we saved him." Marinette smiled at Sabrina, and the girl was surprised that it was genuine, and not one of barely covered malice, or over sweetness like Chloe would give her.
Sabrina's smile widened at the praise Marinette gave her Dad, "Thanks Marinette, that means a lot to me." Marinette nodded at her.
(Cat Noir arrives at a subway, where he turns back into Adrien as he walks upstairs.)
Police: Come on, let's get him!
Plagg: If you want my opinion, I'd say the thief was akumatized. (eats his Camembert)
Adrien: That much I had figured. See that lollipop stick? The sculptor. How did I not see that jealousy coming a mile away?
Plagg: Yours or his?
Marinette looked at Plagg, whose head was just barely sticking out of Adrien's hair. "Why not both?" Plagg snickered and flew out of his Holder's hair, arm raised towards Marinette. With a mirthful smirk, she gave him a high five and laughed at Adrien's put out expression.
"Don't deny it, kitten, you were both jealous, and you know it."
Adrien nodded grudgingly, "Yeah, but that doesn't mean I like it."
Adrien: Ha ha, so funny.
Scene: Outside Théo's studio.
Cat Noir: Gotcha, Copycat.
(Meanwhile, Ladybug is at the top of a building, when her yo-yo receives a call)
Ladybug: Huh? Cat Noir, where are you?
Cat Noir: I found his den.
Ladybug: Who?
Cat Noir: My Copycat.
Ladybug: I'm not getting you.
Cat Noir: If you'd been there this morning, you'd know what I was talking about.
Marinette gave the screen a guilty look, if she'd been there, then Théo would never have been akumatized in the first place.
Ladybug: Well? Tell me where you are.
Cat Noir: No, this is between me and him. I got myself into this mess, so I'm gonna get myself out.
"But I thought only Ladybug could purify the akuma?" Alya said, more than asked.
Marinette smirked over at her best friend, "You're right, but the Kitten thought he was a lion, and tried to be all macho."
Adrien pouted.
Ladybug: Uhh, Cat? Cat! (She checks Cat Noir's location and heads for it.)
Max's eyebrows raised incredulously, "Is there anything your weapons can't do?"
Adrien made a 'pfft' noise and looked up at Max, "Please, you haven't even seen them connect to the internet yet."
Max made a strangled noise of surprise.
Scene: Théo's studio.
Cat Noir: (reading a note) Cat's in the bag?
Marinette facepalmed. "You poor, naive, little kitten. How did you fall for that? It was so painfully obvious." Adrien rubbed the back of his head nervously.
"Heh, that definitely wasn't my best day, was it?" Marinette gave him a small, sympathetic smile.
"It wasn't mine either, Kitten."
(The box bursts, and Cat Noir finds himself in chains.)
Cat Noir: Cataclysm!
(Suddenly, Copycat appears and places a square object in front of Cat Noir's hand. He destroys it instead, wasting the Cataclysm.)
Max pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose as he studied the scene. "Smart, making you waste your Cataclysm, it puts him in the perfect position to take your Miraculous."
Adrien looked like he wanted to disappear into the beanbag. "Thank you, Max." He muttered sarcastically.
Still, Max had a point, this one had been far too close for comfort.
Copycat: I don't get what Ladybug sees in you. A fool who so easily falls into my trap.
"Stop insulting my Kitty." Marinette said to the screen, her mouth in a firm line.
Adrien's smile grew at the sincerity of it.
(Cat Noir sees that Copycat has his staff)
Copycat: Looking for this? Which one should I pick up? My one or my one?
(The staff starts ringing)
Copycat: Ladybug, hurry up. I've caught the imposter at Théo Barbot's workshop.
Ladybug: I'll be there in thirty seconds.
Cat Noir: Don't come here, Ladybug! It's a trap! (Copycat ends the call.)
Marinette rolled her eyes. "Seriously, minou?" She asked, a single eyebrow raised in amusement. "Even if I had heard that, I would have come anyway." She placed a hand on his arm, "Nobody hurts my Kitty and gets away with it."
Adrien smiled at her, touched at the sincerity in her voice.
"Eeeeee! Girl! Does this mean LadyNoir is a thing now?"
Until Alya ruined the moment.
After sputtering denials that no one but themselves seemed to believe, Marinette pressed play.
Copycat: Too late, Cat. Ladybug's on her way, which was my plan all along.
Cat Noir: She won't be duped. She knows me too well.
Copycat: I know you well too. (looking at his akumatized photo) And from now on, she'll love me, not you!
Cat Noir: Love me? ...You're right! She loves me! That's why she'll be able to reveal your true identity!
Marinette facepalmed. "Cat…"
Adrien sheepishly smiled, "I was trying to discourage him?" He asked, more than said.
Marinette rolled her eyes, "Of course you were, minou, of course you were."
Hawk Moth: Copycat, stop this small talk and get me Cat Noir's Miraculous!
(Copycat knocks Cat Noir down and is about to take his ring, but then Ladybug appears.)
Copycat: Huh?
Cat Noir: Ha ha!
Copycat: There you are.
Ladybug: Cat Noir! He really looks like you!
Cat Noir: That's because I am me!
Ladybug: Where is his akuma?
Copycat: Inside his ring, of course. Grab it.
Hawk Moth: Ladybug's doing all the work for us. What sweet irony.
(Cat Noir's ring beeps.)
Ladybug: He even has the same powers as you.
Copycat: Simply amazing, isn't it?
Adrien shuddered. Copycat was just plain creepy.
Cat Noir: If you don't believe on the real Cat Noir, ask him about our love for each other.
Ladybug: Uhh...
Cat Noir: Have I ever lied to you, Bugaboo?
Ladybug: (To Copycat) I hope you didn't tell him about us.
Adrien blushed slightly as Ladybug leaned into Copycat's face.
It might have been a stressful moment, but could you blame him for admiring the view that gave him?
Copycat: What?
Ladybug: That we're... you know, we made a secret promise?
Copycat: Uh, yes! Of course!
Ladybug: We never made a promise. Copycat!
Copycat: I love you, Ladybug! I'm way better than this mangy alley cat!
Ladybug: Sorry, but liars are losers. Cat Noir may annoy me to pieces, but he's never lied to me.
Cat Noir: Thanks for the compliment. I think.
Hawk Moth: Do it now, take his Miraculous!
Copycat: If I can't have you, then nobody will! Cataclysm!
Ladybug: Let's wrap this up! Lucky Charm! (A spoon appears.) A spoon? What am I supposed to do with this?
Alya shook her head, she'd given up trying to understand Ladybug's powers ages ago.
(Copycat is about to use his Cataclysm, but Ladybug holds Cat Noir's chains up so that Copycat breaks them and frees Cat Noir.)
Cat Noir: Excellent job, my lady.
Ladybug: Where's his akuma?
Cat Noir: The photo in his pocket. Let's make it snappy.
Copycat: Ha ha ha! You're going to change back before me.
"Actually… if Hawkmoth doesn't know our identities, would he just be a glorified cosplayer, or would he turn into Adrien, with an akuma version of Plagg?" Marinette asked Tikki, who looked just as confused as she did.
"I don't know...I want to say he'd just be powerless and look like Cat Noir, but I could be wrong… we'll have to ask Master Fu when we return." Marinette nodded intently, it was going to bother her now.
(Copycat and Cat Noir fight, and Ladybug joins in.)
Ladybug: He's pretty good.
Cat Noir: Don't need to rub it in!
Copycat: I told you I was better than him.
Ladybug: (takes Cat Noir's staff) But I'm better than both of you! (gives the staff to Cat Noir)
Her stunt pulled a lot of whistles and cheers from the crowd.
"Woohoo! You go girl! Girl power!" Alya cheered, Alix, Mylene, and Juleka included.
Marinette laughed slightly as she pressed play when their cheers died down.
(The two Cats keep fighting, and Ladybug grabs Cat Noir's arm)
Cat Noir: Hey, it's me!
Copycat: He's lying! I'm the real one!
Ladybug: Ugh, now you're both annoying me to pieces! Show me your ring. How many pads you have left?
(Cat Noir's ring beeps first, showing only one pad.)
Ladybug: Cat Noir, scratch attack!
"Why do I suddenly feel like a Pokémon?" Adrien asked, Marinette smiled at him.
"Well, you would make a very good Purrloin." Adrien gave an offended gasp.
"My Lady! I'm a Torracat, at the very least!" She rolled her eyes.
"Please, more like a newborn Meowth." Marinette teased, causing Adrien to look away dramatically.
"At least I'm not a Ledyba." Their teasing was interrupted by a chorus of snorts.
"You guys are such dorks, you know that, right?" Alya asked, the two blushed slightly while Max bemoaned the ending of what looked like a perfectly good chain of Pokémon references.
Cat Noir: Gladly. I love a good cat fight. (meows)
Nino snorted. "Dude, did you just meow?!"
Adrien chuckled slightly and rubbed his neck. "I was lost in the moment?"
(Ladybug uses her lucky vision, and it shows her Cat Noir's staff, a wooden rod, her yo-yo, and the spoon. Ladybug uses these to make a fishing rod.)
Ladybug: Time to go akuma fishing!
"How...how did that even work?!" Max asked, one of his eyes twitching. "That spoon wasn't even bent at the correct angle! And if the Lucky Charm was wanting you to fish for the akuma, then why didn't it just give you a fishing hook?!" He sounded so hopelessly confused, and Marinette couldn't help but take some pity on him.
"It's okay Max, I don't fully understand how it works either." This didn't seem to help him, but he did wave for her to continue the show.
(Ladybug uses the fishing rod to lift Copycat into the ceiling, and Ladybug grabs his photo and tears it, releasing the akuma.)
Ladybug: No more evil-doing for you, little akuma. Time to de-evilize! (catches the akuma) Gotcha! (turns akuma into a butterfly) Bye bye, little butterfly. Miraculous Ladybug! (Everything turns back to normal, and Copycat turns back into Théo, who is caught by Cat Noir.)
The now customary cheering followed, along with Chloe's now customary attempts to hide her excitement at seeing her favorite superhero fight.
Ladybug: Nice catch!
Cat Noir: I'm so glad you could tell the real cat from the fake one.
Ladybug: Once I figured out which cat was really in love with me, it was a no-brainer.
(Cat Noir's ring beeps.)
Cat Noir: Better help the fellow out. His crush just got crushed. (under his breath, as he leaves) That makes two of us.
Marinette looked at the screen forlornly, turning to Adrien and giving him a hug before she thought about her actions.
"I'm so sorry Kitty, I didn't mean to hurt you." She squeezed him comfortingly, and after a moment's hesitation because his Lady was hugging him! He hugged back, squeezing her just as tightly.
"It's okay My Lady, you didn't think I was serious, I could have been a little more tactful than puns and pick up lines." Marinette looked at him with a hesitant expression, and then, after a second, she leaned up and kissed him on the cheek. He looked at her with wide eyes as she leaned away, an indecipherable emotion on her face.
"I won't take your feelings for granted ever again, mon Chaton. I swear." With one last comforting squeeze, she finally untangled her arms from him and pressed play, glad that Alya had stayed quiet throughout the exchange.
Even though she could hear Alya and Rose quietly squeeing.
Théo: Ugh... What am I doing here? Ladybug?
Ladybug: I'm sorry I couldn't make it this morning, Théo.
Théo: Can you autograph it for me?
Ladybug: Of course I can! You've got some real artistry here. You've really captured my essence.
Théo: Thank you, Ladybug. And don't worry. I know about you and Cat Noir. It's okay.
Ladybug: Huh?
"That makes so much more sense now." Marinette muttered.
Scene: College. Cat Noir turns back into Adrien, and searches for his phone. He gives up and returns to the car.
Adrien: Didn't find it.
Nino's eyebrows rose, "Dude, the Gorilla was waiting that whole time?"
Adrien shrugged, "He doesn't question this stuff, he drives my father as well, he's used to it."
Scene: Marinette's room. Marinette is with Alya.
Automated voice: (from phone) If you wish to hear your message again, press 1. If you wish to erase your message, press 2.
(Marinette presses 2.)
Automated voice: Your message has been erased.
Marinette: You know what? I'm gonna tell him I found his phone. That'd be a good way to start up a conversation, wouldn't it? And I'll invite him to the movies.
Adrien raised an eyebrow, but didn't turn to Marinette, he'd get his answer in a moment anyways, but that definitely didn't happen, though they did go to the movies that night, if he remembered correctly. (And he did, because he would never forget an outing with his friends.)
Alya: That's my girl.
Scene: College. Adrien is talking with Nino about his missing phone.
Nino: Maybe you dropped it somewhere.
Adrien: Well, if I did, then, whoever has it found it in the boys' locker room. I was checking my voicemail during fencing practice.
Alya: Do it now!
(Marinette puts Adrien's phone in his bag, which falls over.)
Adrien nodded, so that's what happened.
Adrien: Huh? What the... I already looked in here a thousand times!
Nino: You need some time off. Hey, I know, let's go to the movies tonight.
Alya: Hey, dudes, mind if new friends tag along?
Nino: Sure thing!
(Marinette looks at Adrien and jumps for joy/)
Marinette: Yay!
THE END.
The class broke out in laughter.
"Girl? What was that?!" Alya forced out through her chuckles, Marinette blushed in embarrassment.
"I- You know that didn't happen! You heard the Ladybug who brought us here! This is a show from another dimension about our lives, or something… it was a creative choice!"
Her best friend raised an eyebrow at her, "As if you weren't doing that on the inside."
Marinette looked away, but she didn't deny it.
Adrien chuckled slightly but didn't tease her for it, and instead pointed at the remote questioningly.
Marinette nodded a little too quickly and picked up the remote just a bit too enthusiastically.
"The next episode is…"
A/N: I love teasing you guys with Adrinette, I promise they'll actually get together, sometime in the next 21 chapters. My first draft of the getting together overshadowed another pairing, so I pushed it back.
Anyways, I hope you all enjoyed, and I'll see you next week!
Also, Miraculouslove? Yes, I did read your review, and I'm glad you enjoyed it!