Disclaimer: I do not own Miraculous Ladybug or DC Comics.

International Relationships

"Talking"

"Thinking"

The school day ended and the students did their best to not actually flee the grounds. Adrien Agreste was one of the slower ones. There was really nothing that needed him to get out of there quick. Besides, it was a nice day. The sun could be seen through the clouds and there was a warm wind.

It was thanks to his slow pace that he heard the complaining. "Urgh, I can't believe this. How can I be failing French?" Adrien followed the voice and saw another student glaring at a paper. He recognized her from a class they shared. She was certainly pretty, and she had good taste in clothes. As did the girls surrounding her. More than a few boys in the area were giving them looks.

"Well, that's what you get, Kelly," one of the other girls said. "And you thought it was going to be an easy class." Adrien wasn't sure but that sounded like mockery.

"Shut it, Alice," she snapped.

Another girl glanced at the paper. She seemed concerned. "What are you going to do, Kelly?" she asked.

"Maybe if I can talk to Mr. Borowitz." She sounded hopeful but not completely. "Maybe he could let me retake the test."

Adrien probably should've kept walking. He didn't know her all that well and it wasn't his business. But a single thought stopped him. "What would Marinette do?"

The answer was obvious. She would try and help, however she could. And he could do the same. "Excuse me," he said as he came over. The girls watched him with a singular look. It was rather intimidating, but he pressed on. "I heard you were having trouble with French?"

The girl in question looked him over. He looked cute enough, if only he got rid of those baggy pants and oversized jacket. He also had a hint of an accent, but she couldn't tell where it was from. "What about it?" she asked.

"If you'd like, I could help you get better."

Not the first time she had heard an offer and it usually ended up with the same thing: them wanting to get into her pants. But she was failing French and if this kept up, she'd get kicked off the cheerleading squad. "How much do you want?" she asked.

He blinked. "How much?"

"Yeah, how much do you want from me?"

"As in payment?"

She rolled her eyes. "Yes. How much?" Sheesh, was this guy slow or something?

Once he figured that out, he quickly waved it away. "You don't need to do that. I'm just offering to help." Surprise spread across the girls' faces. They had not been expecting that.

"Kelly!" shouted a boy's voice. Its owner swaggered over to them, reaching out and holding her by the shoulder. He was taller than her and Adrien and clearly liked the gym. He was also wearing one of those jackets Adrien had seen on the American football players. "This guy bothering you?" he asked, raking the other guy with a sneer.

"It's fine, Robbie," Kelly said with an annoyed sigh. Some days, it was flattering her boyfriend acted like this. Other days, like today, it was exasperating. "He was just offering me help with my French class."

"What? This guy?"

There was plenty Adrien could say to that. Plagg squirmed inside his coat pocket. He felt eager. And while Adrien had no doubt he could put this guy on the ground, he didn't want a fight. "Hi, I'm Adrien," he said with a polite smile. Some of the girls liked his smile. That wasn't surprising.

Robbie kept looking him over. "You're that exchange student." He had heard the school had one. Personally, he thought it was crazy, not to mention stupid. Who in their right mind transferred to a school in Gotham?

"Yes, I am. I was just offering to help Kelly here. That's all."

"What can you do to help her?" he asked, still sneering.

If it helped end the conversation, he might as well. "Je suis Français. J'ai grandi à Paris (I'm French. I grew up in Paris)."

It didn't take Kelly long to get over her sudden surprise. Her figuring out what he actually said helped. "You're really French?" she asked. Now the accent made much more sense.

"Oui." Okay, that was enough showing off. "Would you like the help?"

"Yes!" She didn't mean to shout the answer. Her friends gave her amused looks "Yes," she said again in a much calmer voice. "I would like your help. Can we do it now?" Robbie was scowling but she didn't care.

"Sure."

"Great." She knew the perfect spot too.

Three blocks from the school was a little park. It was a popular hangout for seniors during the warm seasons. Once they sat down at a table, the idea of school became distant. It was a peaceful way to pass a few hours before going home again.

It wasn't just Adrien and Kelly sitting around a little table. Robbie had come too. "To make sure nothing funny happens," as he put it. Bethany, the girl who had been concerned about her friend's grade, had come too. She reminded Adrien of Sabrina, albeit with a stronger spine.

Once Adrien looked over the test and some of her homework, he knew where Kelly was going wrong. She could translate the words easily enough, but it was the grammar and sentence structure she was getting wrong. All it took was a few pointers and she figured out what she was doing wrong.

A snap of Bethany's fingers broke their attention. "I remember where I've seen you," she said to Adrien. "You're Adrien Agreste! Paris's Sunshine Boy!"

The first thought Adrien had was to deny. He barely had the chance to open his mouth when Kelly spoke first. "Sunshine Boy? What, was he some kind of superhero?" It was a good thing Adrien didn't speak, because he didn't have anything for that. Plagg was laughing in his pocket.

"No. He was a teen model for Gabriel, a big fashion name in Paris."

Three sets of eyes turned to him. Out of them all, Robbie had the most disbelief. Adrien figured honesty was the best policy. "Yes, I worked as a model for my father's company, and I was somewhat famous because of it."

"Somewhat?" Bethany repeated. "If I read the articles right, you were huge."

Robbie wasn't sure about it. Sure, the guy looked like he could be a model. But one question loomed large. "What's he doing here in Gotham?" He looked hard at Adrien, waiting for the answer.

"After what happened with my father, I had to get away. So I transferred schools."

"To Gotham?" he asked, not bothering to hide his incredulous tone.

"Yes." In truth, Adrien had simply closed his eyes and poked at a random spot on the map. It just happened to be Gotham. It wasn't until he arrived in the city and properly learned about it that he suspected bad luck (or Plagg) having a hand in it.

Kelly was curious. She couldn't help it. "What happened with your dad?"

This, Adrien knew could happen yet always hoped it wouldn't. Just how could he explain what happened with his father? Again, perhaps honesty was the best policy. "It was revealed he was the supervillain terrorizing Paris."

Again, Bethany was the first one to figure out. "Wait, Gabriel Agreste was Hawkmoth?" He only nodded.

"Hang on, I think I saw a news report about that," Robbie said, frowning in thought. "That was the butterfly guy, right? Why would he call himself Hawkmoth when he was using butterflies?" he mostly asked himself.

It was amazing how the horror, the stress, and the pain of everything he and his Lady had gone through could be summed up in a sentence and a question. He also wondered how the other guy didn't know a hawk moth was a type of butterfly. "Perhaps we could talk about something else?" he asked.

They took the hint, somewhat. The conversation turned from Hawkmoth to Ladybug and Chat Noir. That was somewhat better, even if the Americans found the pair amusing. They did think Alya, as the Ladyblogger, was an idiot but that was because of Gotham. Here, if people saw a fight, they ran in the opposite direction, especially if it involved criminals.

When the little tutoring session was over, Kelly was feeling much more confident about her French. And maybe, Adrien had a few more friends.

Living in Gotham for a couple months had already given Adrien the sense that the city changed after dark. Every time he glanced out the window, he had the sense there was evil waiting in the shadows.

"Kid, you staring out the windows isn't going to change anything," Plagg said from the table while he scarfed down cheese. It wasn't camembert but at least it was one of his favorites. He had a hierarchy for that.

"I know," Adrien said, trying to look away. It was harder than he thought. He did it with great effort and went back to the table, taking his plate over to the sink to wash it. His apartment was fairly nice, even if would only fit in his old bedroom's corner. His father would've disapproved of his choice but that was why he did it. With what money he had from the business, he could've been living in a penthouse in Gotham's wealthiest neighborhoods.

Instead, he was living in a small studio in a modest apartment block. What he hadn't known until he moved in was the apartment close to Gotham's East End, only four blocks away. People only lived there when they had no other choice and crime didn't care if the cops came by.

It was dangerous, and yet, he knew he could do something about it. All he'd have to do, was go out there.

"The plate's clean enough, Adrien," Plagg told him. "You wanna get your head out of your mind?"

"Huh? Oh right." He quickly dried off the plate and put it away. Dinner had been light. Years of a model's diet didn't just go away. A siren wailed from down below, getting his attention again.

Plagg saw what he was doing. "You came to Gotham to take a breather," the kwami said. "You said you wanted to get away from it all for a while."

"I know," Adrien replied, still looking out the window.

"…And you're still going to go out there and be a hero." While he might've rolled his eyes, Plagg was secretly proud of his kitten. He was starting to get worried for him.

"Yeah."

The kwami dropped the rest of his cheese and floated upwards. "Well, you gonna say it?"

"Plagg, claws out!"

It was a good thing his apartment was close to the roof. All he had to do was sneak out the window, climb up, and he was out and about. There was the chance someone might recognize Chat Noir, so he made some changes. There was padding on his torso and legs, giving him some additional protection while making him look bulkier. He wore a leather jacket for protection and warmth (Gotham was cold) while losing the bell around his neck. His mask was the last thing to change, the edges extended downward, covering his cheeks. He had considered a hood but kept the ears (he was still a cat, after all. Some things had to be respected).

The sensation of running across the rooftops was as exhilarating as he remembered. These rooftops were different than the ones in Paris. Here, if he didn't pay attention, he could very well get lost. Everything twisted and turned, jumbled together and yet fighting for space. He loved it.

A scream for help got his attention. When he looked over the rooftop's edge, he saw two men cornering a woman. One of them had a knife. He dropped to the alley with an easy jump, landing behind the criminals. They didn't notice he was there until he swept their legs out from underneath. When they tried to get back up, he knocked them down and they stayed down. He was gone before the woman could say "Thank you."

That was how he spent his nights, roaming the rooftops and alleyways, watching for any thug looking to hurt someone. Adrien (it was hard to think of himself as Chat Noir with his different costume and silence) wasn't foolish. This was Gotham, after all. Home to the legendary Batman, who didn't like other superheroes being here. So, if he kept his attention to common criminals, he could stay under the radar.

And it worked, until it didn't.

A week after he started roaming, he was watching the streets when a woman's voice spoke. "My, my, my, what is this I am seeing?" It was a voice that could send shivers up a man's spine when it purred. Adrien could attest to that.

He turned around and saw a woman leaning against the chimney. Yet, that word didn't do her justice. She was clad in a tight leather bodysuit that showed off an amazing figure. The zipper had been pulled down just enough to hint at her bosom. Goggles covered her eyes, attached to a cap with cat ears attached. There were a few strands of black hair peeking out underneath the cap.

She sauntered towards him, using every inch of her long legs. Her confidence and lush curves made sure he paid attention while blood rushed somewhere he really didn't want right now. "Milady, think of Milady!" he told himself. It helped somewhat.

"I had heard little stories of a cat-shaped human attacking thieves and would-be looters in the East End," the woman continued as she got close. "I wondered if perhaps I had a fan. So I just had to come see for myself." Her lips, full and plump as they were, quirked as she walked around him. Her finger slid across his skin as it trailed a path, leaving a burning sensation in its wake. "And I find a handsome kitten out on the prowl. It is quite interesting. Perhaps you're a superhero trying to make his mark." Her smirk turned sensual, promising something. "Are you looking for a mentor, my handsome kitten?"

Her voice was painting images in his mind, with very vivid detail. As much as he liked them (they would be even better if someone else was in them), he forced himself to look at the details. Those gloves had claws attached at the tips. She wore a utility belt with confident assurance. The bullwhip coiled at her side had been used, frequently. And there those ears.

Adrien was doing his best to stay out of Batman's way, but he had forgotten about Catwoman.

His first thought was to run. But that wouldn't work. Odds were she knew this place better than he did and would find him again. She didn't know he was Chat Noir, so his disguise was working in that aspect. Fighting her off was not only stupid, it was suicide.

So, maybe go with what she thought and lay it on thick. He took a step back from her and bowed. "Bonjour, Mademoiselle," he said, bringing back more of his accent. "I did not think to run into another cat tonight or any night. I apologize if I have intruded upon your territory."

Her smirk turned into a smile, yet not losing its sensuality. "My, such manners. Might I have your name?"

"Alas, I do not have one. I am a simple alley cat, going where I please." If he could convince her he wasn't a superhero, that could work in his favor.

"You, an alley cat?" She laughed and the warm sound of it made his stomach flipflop (he summoned the image of his lady's smile. It helped, somewhat). "No, I think not, my handsome kitten. Even if you are, I know a Parisian voice when I hear one. These are not your alleys, are they?"

Damn, she had him there. "A cat can go where he pleases, can he not? I found myself here and I felt incline to wander."

"And the men you've left battered and bruise?" she asked, clearly amused.

"I hunt those who annoy me."

Her rich laugh was making his spine shiver again. "Such a fierce kitten you are. I'm starting to like you." She eyed him up and down. He didn't know what she was looking for, but she seemed to know what she was doing. Her hand danced up to the zipper, pulling at it ever so lightly. "Perhaps I should take you under my wing and teach you a few things. I'm sure you would like the purr-ks."

And suddenly, Adrien could see why his lady got exasperated by his puns. That was the only one he heard and already he hoped it'd be the only one. "Unfortunately, mademoiselle, I have no need for a teacher. I am not a superhero, just an alley cat who goes where he wants and helps how he can, if he can."

Something shifted in Catwoman. Her sensuality faded and her smile had the warmth of a welcoming stranger. "Well, if you feel to wander, I won't stop you. The rooftops belonged to more people than me. One more won't hurt." She closed the gap between them and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "We both know you're lying about not being a superhero, but hopefully you won't deny some help, if it comes your way."

Was she…? It sounded like an offer. He glanced at her. "If it comes, it would be rude to say no. And I would be a poor cat if another cat wanted to play."

"Lovely. I could use a partner. I'll see you around then, my handsome kitten. And don't worry," she added with a knowing smirk. "I won't tell the Bat about you, for the time being." She was gone before he could say anything.

Adrien wasn't sure how he felt about what just happened. Sure, he escaped with his identity (and his life) intact from Catwoman. But he didn't think she'd try and help him if she wanted to. He had the sinking suspicion that she would try to be a mentor even if he didn't want it. And there was that word she used.

Partner. The only partner he had was his lady. His bafflement faded as he thought about her. They had run out of time during the last fight against Hawkmoth and changed before him and each other. It was that moment that led them to victory. It was also the reason Adrien transferred schools. He had to get away, to wrap his head around everything that happened and how he'd go from there.

He promised Marinette that he'd be back and they'd talk then. She took it as a promise. They hadn't really talked to each other since. No phone calls or emails. Sure, Adrien had chatted with his other classmates but no one was used as a proxy.

For a moment, he wondered what she was doing. Hopefully she'd be doing alright. Now that Hawkmoth was defeated, she and Paris could take a breath. They needed one. Maybe she had a commission to work on. He could see her at her sewing machine, blue eyes focused on the task at hand. It was a good look on her, that focus.

"Stop it, Adrien," he thought, pulling himself out of the memories. He was in Gotham and got the attention of Catwoman because he had to get out and help. Now he knew bad luck (and possibly Plagg) had been involved.

He took off across the rooftops, running as best he could while listening to any possible signs of danger. Thoughts of Paris, his father, and Marinette were left in his wake. It was something he'd been doing for a while now. He knew it wouldn't always work but he could hope it would work for now.

End

Author's note: Thank you for the reviews you've sent me.

I found Miraculous Ladybug thanks to TV Tropes. You'd be amazed at where a Random Wiki Hike can take you. Case in point: I found a story under the Fanfiction page of Class Princess, got interested and read it. Lo and behold, after a couple weeks of idle research (I had to figure out why they kept referring to Kim as a guy) I started watching the show. It's a good one and if you haven't tried it, you should.

While I was looking through the fanwork for Miraculous Ladybug, I also came across the whole Maribat portion, AKA Marinette and Damian Wayne. To be honest, while I do hold faith that Marinette and Adrien will figure things out between each other, this other pairing was intriguing. So I read what stories I could find.

But in the process, I notice something else about the part of the fandom: there is an appalling (and I mean appalling) lack of stories focused on Chat Noir and Catwoman. I mean, come on! Two people dressed up in black cat outfits and deal with crime? Has issues along with a will-they-won't-they situation with a superhero? Hello, it's right there! The closest I've seen to that kind of story is where Catwoman is Adrien's mother. If you're caught on the show, you know what that means.

Okay, small rant over. So this is my attempt to write that relationship. There will be no bedroom tangos here, not between them. It's a strictly mentor-student relationship (as much as they can be mentor and student). Also, there will not be any Marinette being Bruce Wayne's biological daughter here. That's already been done several times over.

Also, don't expect anything about Lila here. There's already enough salt in this fandom to scare the Navy. In this story, it's been handled and will be left at that.

I'll see you all next chapter!