Ladrien June 2023

Day #8: Spotlight

(Sequel to Day 4: Flirting)

Days after the movie premier, there were pictures of Ladybug with Adrien all over Paris; news stations, magazines, social media, billboards, kiosks, you name it.

At first, Adrien feared his father's wrath at seeing all the un-preapproved publicity—with the inclusion of a girl who everyone was assuming was his girlfriend now. That incident with Marinette was bad enough—but, surprisingly, he had been mistaken.

After seeing his sales go up and the amazing things the people were saying about how his son and the heroine made such a cute couple, Gabriel thought the arrangement had its merits. Plus, Nathalie told him all about how happy Adrien was during the premier, spending the whole evening with Ladybug. So he thought his son would like having her for a girlfriend.

He of course talked with Adrien first. Adrien confirmed that he did indeed like Ladybug a lot. He always admired her as a hero but also respected her as a person. He thought she was brave, smart, kind, and amazing. Not to mention the most beautiful girl he'd ever seen. He felt this way before the premier. Then after getting to spend some actual time with her, he had fallen even harder for her.

He'd love nothing more then for them to be an official couple. But they weren't.

Hence, Gabriel had a plan.

~*LB+AA*~

A few more days later, during a press conference, Gabriel shocked everyone by appearing in person. He stood alongside his son as he took the podium.

After sharing a reassuring nod with his father, Adrien began.

"People of Paris, ladies and gentlemen of the press, I'm here today to set the records straight and make something clear to you all," Adrien announced. Everyone in attendance and/or watching on a screen from home or anywhere else in the city waited with baited breath. "I'm not dating Ladybug." There were a few gasps and then some murmurs. Some reporters tried to ask questions but they were hushed when the model started talking again. "We hung out at the premier and had a wonderful time but we never established any sort of relationship," he explained. There were more murmurs as they all processed this information. But Adrien wasn't done just yet. "That being said, I'm also here today to hopefully do just that." The reporters all snapped to attention at that and leaned in with their mics and recorders to hear more. "I've always admired Ladybug. Her amazing escapades as a hero, her kind heart, and charming personality. And after spending that evening with her, getting to know her a bit better, getting a peak at the girl underneath the mask, all I can say is that I want more days like that," he ranted with a far-off, love-sick look in his eyes. Then he straightened up and looked directly into one of the cameras broadcasting. "Ladybug, if you're watching this, there's more I'd like to say to you, but I'd rather do it in person. So, if you can, please come down here, right now."

In her room, Marinette looked at Adrien's face on her computer screen, watching the live interview.

Adrien really felt that way about her?

She'd have to get down there to find out for sure.

~*LB+AA*~

Back at the press conference, everyone waited anxiously, looking up all around for any sign of the spotted heroine.

The reporters hoped she come to get one hell of a story. Adrien prayed she come to give him a chance. He hoped she didn't think it was crazy that he just announced his feelings for her to all of Paris then just expect her to come.

Would she accept? Would she let him down gently? Would she scold him and call him a crazy fan boy exaggerating their innocent hang out as a date, for thinking that there was anything between them.

Was he over-exaggerating? At the premier, he thought she liked him too. Even just a little bit.

But was it enough?

A few minutes later, he got one of his answers.

All of the reporters started gasping and pointing their cameras up at the sky. Adrien looked up and saw a red figure swinging down from the sky, then watched them land right behind the press crowd.

She came.

The reporters all parted like the Red Sea. Adrien hopped off the stage and walked down the cleared pathway. Ladybug walked down to him until they met in the middle.

"Adrien," the spotted heroine said as she stood in front of the blonde model.

He smiled at her, glad that she had been watching and decided to come talk. "I'm sorry about this. I didn't know any other way to get in touch with you," he apologized. He hadn't meant to put his feelings for her in the spotlight like this. He would have preferred they do this privately but he hadn't seen that happening. There was also the fact that his father wanted to turn this into a publicity thing. So it sort of already had to be public. But that didn't matter. All that matter was him and her. "Ladybug," he began, taking her hands in his. "I…I really like you. I think you're the most amazing girl I've ever met and I want to get to know you more. Of course, I'm not asking for your identity, I know you've got to keep that secret, but, I'd really like to date you." He watched as a blush appeared under her mask again, but she never took her eyes away from his. "Would you be my girlfriend?"

Ladybug didn't know what to say.

This should be the moment she'd always dreamed about. Adrien asking her to be his girlfriend.

True, they were surrounded by strangers with cameras and she was in her magical suit, but…

She had an easier time talking with Adrien that day. She wasn't worried about saying something stupid or ruining anything. For the first time, she actually felt like they could be a couple. Not just a famous model with a bubbling fan-girl friend hopelessly pinning after him.

She wanted this. But there were still things in the way.

"Adrien," she finally said. "Ever since I became Ladybug, I didn't think it was safe for me to be in a relationship, with Hawkmoth still out there," she told him. Adrien's face fell. He knew that all too well. "But I really like you too," she added, making him perk up again.

"You do?" he squeaked with joy.

"I don't know how this would work or if I can keep you safe." Hawkmoth would most likely try to use their love for each other against her one way or another.

Adrien raised one of his hands up to cup her cheek. "I believe in you. All I want is for you to be happy, Ladybug. You deserve to be happy, no matter what you're going through."

Forget Hawkmoth. Yes, he knew there were risks, every relationship had them, but he wanted to face them with her. Because he knew they'd be worth it.

Besides, he had his own little secret weapon if anything did happen. He was still Chat Noir.

Ladybug smiled.

"Then…yes. I'd love to be your girlfriend."

Clapping and even more camera flashes went off around them but they drowned it out.

Adrien leaned in and wrapped his arms around his new girlfriend. Ladybug hugged her boyfriend back. When Adrien pulled back a bit, it was just enough to kiss her cheek.

More cheering and murmurs for answers to reporter questions sounded around them, but Ladybug paid no attention to any of them in that moment.

That moment was only theirs.

However, when it passed, Ladybug decided to also use them to communicate with someone else that was hard to get ahold of.

"I know one way to help keep you safe," she said to him before turning to one of the tv cameras. "Hawkmoth, I know you're out there, so I'll say this directly to you. If you even think of using Adrien against me, don't. As Adrien's girlfriend, I will protect him with everything I have. And you know what my everything looks like," she said seriously. Then she leaned in closer. The camera man, following her lead, zoomed in. "You threaten him and I will make you wish you never sent out your first butterfly," she said in a lower, more threatening voice.

When she was done, she turned back to Adrien, smiling, and kissed his cheek, followed by more cheers and camera flashes.

Paris's newest, cutest couple wrapped their arms around each other and smiled as more pictures were taken.

By that evening, more pictures of Ladybug with Adrien were all over Paris. Only this time, when they advertised that they were a couple, it was the truth.

Next chapter will be on the 10th. ;D