"Tonight, for our first edition of Face To Face, you'll have the opportunity of a lifetime. The chance to talk live with Ladybug and Chat Noir. Along with me, Nadja Chamack. We'll be revealing some sizzling hot information, no holds barred about your favorite superheroes. Don't be bemused, it's just the news." Nadja announced as Tikki suddenly gasped looking up at news broadcast on Marin's desktop.
"Sizzling hot revelations? No holds barred?!" She immediately flew to her partner who was sewing something "Marin, you're a superhero, not a star. You have to remain a mystery to protect yourself from Hawkmoth and his super villains!"
Marin bit through the thread, smiling as he fixed his Ladybug doll. Then turned towards his Kwami, holding out his hands as Tikki sat on his palm. " Don't worry, I only accepted this because I want the people of Paris to know that Chat Noir and I will always do whatever it takes to keep them safe." He said reassuringly.
"Just be careful tonight, okay?" Tikki requested as Marin nuzzled her cheek.
"I will sugar cube. Don't worry."
"Marin!" Manon called out from downstairs as she then ran up, her eyes lighting up as she immediately hugged him. "Marin!"
Marin lifted her up in his arms as he smiled at her mother, "Hello Mrs. Chamack." He smiled.
Nadja nodded to him in greeting. "Sorry, I'm running late. Thanks again for watching Manon." She handed him Manon's backpack, "I've put a bunch of things for her in her bag and she's already had dinner. Oh, I'm so glad you were free tonight."
Marin chuckled nervously. "Uh, yeah. No plans at all."
"I better get going. I've got a lot riding on this interview. I need all of Paris in front of the screen tonight." She kissed her daughter, "Sweetie, just for tonight, you're allowed to watch some television with Marin."
"Yay!" Marin cheered, climbing up onto Marin's shoulders as she hugged his head. " Mommy's gonna be on TV with Ladybug and Chat Noir." She informed.
Marin smiled, looking up at the small child. "Oh yeah? "
"Yeah!" Manon said as Marin glanced back at her mother.
"You'll do great, Mrs. Chamack, me and Manon will be right here cheering for her."
Nadja nodded. "I appreciate it. Manon, be good for Marin."
"I will!" Manon said as she waved at her mother leaving.
Marin placed the small child down, "So, what would you like to do?"
"Watch mommy!" Manon responded as Marin chuckled.
"Of course, but would you like a buddy to watch with you?" Marin asked as Manon looked up at him curiously.
Nadja sighed to herself, looking up at the empty couch before her before checking her tablet once more. Then she was surprised as Chat Noir seemingly appeared before her out of thin air. "Uh, how did you get in here?" She asked as he took a water bottle off the snack tray.
"Secret celebrity door." He said taking a sip. "I see my Lady isn't here yet."
Nadja sighed. "I thought you and Ladybug would be arriving together."
"Wanna hear a secret?" Nadja nodded as Chat Noir popped a pastry in his mouth. "I love chouquettes." He said as the woman couldn't help but giggle. But her smile faded as she apparently got a call from someone. Anxiety riddled her face as she responded to the other caller.
"No, of course not ma'am." She then hung up the call, sighing heavily.
"We're on the air in 5." An intern called out as Chat Noir noticed the woman's frantic looking expression.
"Super Manon to the rescue, woohoo!" Alya said as she held Manon over her head.
"To the Eiffel Tower and beyond!" Manon cheered.
"Sorry for troubling you with this Alya." Marin apologized as he placed down a bowl of popped corn on the blankets they laid out.
Alya brushed him off, placing Manon on her lap. "Don't even trip, it's way more fun watching your favorite superhero on TV with my favorite cuties."
"Don't let your sisters hear you say that." Marin remarked as he then turned towards the new report promotion.
"When we return from commercial, Nadja Chamack will be joined by Ladybug and Chat Noir for an incredible, exclusive interview."
Manon pointed to the screen. "Mommy, there's mommy!" She said happily as Alya sighed.
"Why can't I get an exclusive interview like that for my Ladyblog?"
Marin smiled at his friend for a moment. "Oh, I forgot, it's my turn to prep the ingredients for tomorrow's baking. Do you mind keeping an eye on Manon while I'm not here?"
"And you're coming right back, yeah?" Alya asked with a sly smile on her face.
"Course, anything for you, cupcake." Marin said hesitantly as he knew he was lying through his teeth. "Okay bye, love you." He immediately jumped down the stairs and into the living room, opening up a window. "Luck it's date night, or this would be much harder. He remarked as his Kwami flew out of his jacket.
"Tikki, spots on!"
"Going live in ten, nine..."
Nadja sighed heavily, biting her nails as soon her career would be over.
"Hey no worries, there's no way my bugaboo would leave his fans hanging." Chat remarked trying to reassure her.
"Five, four, three, two, one-"
Nadja looked up seeing, Ladybug sitting beside Chat Noir, poised professionally as he crossed his legs.
"I thought you decided to stand me up, bugaboo." He remarked playfully.
" I would hate it if everyone tuning in were disappointed. I'm sorry I'm so late, Nadja." Ladybug apologized as the reported recovered from her stunned expression. Nodding in appreciation as she then turned towards the camera.
"Good evening. I'm Nadja Chamack and this is Face To Face. For our first edition, I welcome the beloved guardians of Paris - Ladybug and Chat Noir. Hello, thanks so much for accepting this exclusive live interview." Chat Noir waved while Ladybug nodded his head.
"Hello to all my fans!"Chat Noir remarked as he blew a kiss to them, winking with a charming smile glued to his face.
"I'm sure thousands have tuned in to watch you both, how does it feel to be so admired?"
"Hear that Bugaboo, thousands of people want to spend an evening with us." Chat Noir joked as Ladybug retained his composure.
"Of course we always appreciate the feelings of our fans, it shows the amount of faith they have in us." Ladybug responded ignoring his partner, who was undeterred.
Ladybug simply keeps his composure as Chat glances towards him. "You know what would get you all the views? Getting our stoic Ladybug to smile. I can't even get him to crack a joke when we're on duty."
"I can joke around."
"Good jokes Bugaboo." Chat Noir remarked as Ladybug smirked.
"I wouldn't want to encourage you." Ladybug said as he flicked Chat Noir's bell. "If I didn't hold back, then you wouldn't have half the number of fans you do now."
Chat Noir chuckled, "It's cute you think that. But come on bugaboo, you know I only have eyes for you." He half-joked as he noticed Nadjas eyes light up as she was glancing at something on her bracelet.
"It's obvious you two are very close." She remarked. "People know you but they don't really know the real you. We see you saving Paris all the time but we don't know much else."
"We won't be keeping anything from you, Nadja-" Chat Noir began to say until Ladybug placed his hand of his, stopping him from talking as his previous lighthearted tone faded.
"What my partner means is, we will try to be as open as possible. However, anything retaining to our identities or personal lives are off the table within reason."
Nadja nodded after checking her watch. "Absolutely! How about we start a few questions from your biggest fans?"
Ladybug nodded as Chat smiled eagerly. All of them turned towards the jumbo screen as Chloé appeared before them calling from her room.
"Hello caller. State your name and your question." Nadja instructed.
"Err, seriously Nadja? Surely, no one would be the first caller but me." Chloé remarked. "I'm only the most prestigious fan of Ladybug."
"Oh yes, of course. Hello there, Chloé Bourgeois. Daughter of the mayor of Paris-" Nadja introduced half-heartedly.
"And don't forget my daddy is the manager of the Grand Paris, the best luxury hotel in the entire city." Chloé interrupted as she waved to the camera.
"Err, thank you for reminding us. What is your question, Chloé?"
"Oh, I don't have a question. I just wanted to say hi, since as you all know, we're such very good friends - Ladybug, Chat Noir and I!" Chloé remarked, winking to the audience.
"Uh, thank you, Chloé Bourgeois - next caller!" Nadja quickly scrambled.
"Hey, I'm not finished, who gives you the right to-" Chloé was cut off as everyone seemed to sigh in relief. Nadja then pulled up another caller, one that made Ladybug scream internally.
"Hi there, Ladybug, Chat Noir!" Alya said with a smile. "I'm Alya and I was wondering if you can grab me an interview for the Ladyblog. You know, since I have way more viewers than Nadja! What do you say?" She asked with a confident smile.
Ladybug sighed, "My apologies, but we're on Nadja's time right now if there's something specific you want to ask."
Alya sighed in disappointment for a moment before getting her pep back, nodding excitedly, " Of course. Thank you, thank you!"
"I'm on TV?" Manon asked looking around, then waving frantically towards her mother. "Hi mommy!"
"Manon? But, where's Marin?" Nadja asked in concern.
"He's finishing up on some chores?" Alya said, covering for her best friend. "He's a hard worker.
"Hi Ladybug!" Manon yelled, waving.
Ladybug couldn't help but smile softly at the small child.
"Hello, Manon."
Manon turned toward Alya in awe, " Ladybug knows my name!"
"Of course, he's saves everyone after all." Alya remarked as she placed Manon on her lap.
" So you're smiling for the fans but not me?" Chat asked jokingly.
"What can I say, she's far more charming." Ladybug responded with a playful smirk on his face, one that was infectious.
"Okay yeah, I have to admit, she is cute." Chat Noir conceded. "So, do you have a question for us Manon?"
" Hmmmmm." She thought hard for a moment and then her eyes lit up. " Why are you called Ladybug?"
"The name is pretty obvious, isn't it?" Chat Noir remarked. "He dresses and has magic ladybugs, the name comes with the territory." He reasoned.
"Actually." Ladybug cut in, "I never gave myself that name."
" What, really?" Alya asked in surprise, "Where did it come from?! Are you even a Ladybug?! What do the spots mean?!"
"Sory, but I think it was one question per call." Ladybug reminded, glancing at Nadja who nodded.
"I think we've spent enough time here." Nadja said, cutting off the link as Alya tried to ask something else, making Ladybug try to stifle his giggles.
" Now you're laughing?" Chat Noir asked, " I'm starting to think you're actually enjoying yourself."
"It's just your imagination."
"Uh, Ladybug, Chat Noir, um, so a lot of fans think of you as a couple of superheroes. But also, and I quote-unquote, as a "couple". Period."
Ladybug smile quickly faded as one drew on Chat Noirs, bursting with anticipation of what was to come.
"Can you confirm that you're dating here, tonight?" She asked as electricity filled the air.
"We are not dating." he bluntly stated as Chat Noir sighed in agreement, nodding.
Nadja hummed for a moment. "Then how do you explain these photographs then?" she asked pulling up a photo, the photo, that showed them kissing. Ladybug recognized it all too well as Chat Noir's eyebrows shot up with surprise.
"Ohhhh, that's certainly not romantic at all. Yeesh, on the street like that?" He joked, noticing that Ladybug kept a stern expression despite the fact that Nadja kept throwing more photo's of them together.
" Still, why did you never tell me about this?!"
"Sorry, it must have slipped my mind."
"You kissing me slipped your mind?!"
Nadja smiled, looking down at her watch. "It's so obvious that you're both in love, why not play with the idea for a moment? After all, you two are extremely close."
Chat Noir leaned back, "She's not wrong you know." He said pointing to the reported.
Ladybug was about to say something as his yo-yo beeped. He opened it, narrowing his eyes as he then stood up. "All of these are just a bunch of photos taken out of context. We're not a couple, we're just here to protect the city until we can find a way to take down Hawkmoth. Anything more than that would breach the trust of the people we're sworn to protect."
Nadja scowled at him. "But it's clear there's a real chemistry between you two. Why not just tell the truth?"
"But it is the truth, Nadja. The safety of Paris always comes first, speaking of," Ladybug remarked, "We're needed elsewhere. Thank you for your time but this interview is over." He said as he walked out of the studio.
Chat Noir exchanged a glance with the reporter as he then shrugged his shoulder's "Sorry, duty calls." He remarked following after his partner.
"Wait for you two, the show is not over yet," Nadja remarked with an anxious expression. "Your fans will be disappointed if they don't get an answer."
"If they are true fans, they'll understand." Ladybug remarked as Chat Noir saluted everyone behind him, walking out alongside him.
"Woah, what's the rush? What's going on?" Chat Noir asked as he and Ladybug landed on a roof nearby the building.
"Nothing." Ladybug said pulling out his yo-yo. "I set up multiple alarms ahead of time if we needed to bail out of there earlier.
"Smart plan, but what was up back there? You seemed a little cold." Chat Noir asked.
"Nadja was willing to do anything to make sure her show would be a success, I understand she was probably under some pressure, but we did what we set out to do."
Chat Noir shrugged his shoulder. "That's the price of success my lady, the price of stardom."
Ladybug sighed heavily as Chat Noir then walked in front of him.
"Wait, I wasn't planning on getting home so early. Why don't we get some ice cream, I know the purr-fect place." He said winking, "We could have our own little interview with each other. He remarked as Ladybug conceded, he did indeed care for ice cream.
"Hmmm...Orange and Peppermint please." Chat Noir asked, standing next to his partner within an ice cream shop. He noticed Ladybug glancing at him like he was crazy, crossing his arms. "What wrong?"
"What lack in a pallet you make up for in charisma." Ladybug remarked as he took the ice cream from the vendor, who was happy to provide the two heroes with their tasty treats in exchange for a photo. He looked over the orange and light green ice cream Chat Noir chose for him, now regretting that decision wholeheartedly.
"Psh-" Chat Noir chided as held a pink and blue cone in his hand. "It's refreshing. Besides, like it's any worse than blue moon and strawberry?"
"Yeah." Ladybug responded, "What I chose is simple and sweet, not an attack of the tastebuds."
"Sounds kinda ironic coming from someone who's as complicated to figure out as you. What I chose is mature, you just handed me a whole mess of fluff."
"Yeah, that's what ice cream should be, complimentary. At least replace one of these flavors with chocolate." He remarked as the two sat within the outside seating across from each other.
"Maybe you should just try it then if you're complaining this much." Chat Noir recommended taking a lick of his cone then licking his lips.
"Ugh, you are so gross." Ladybug said seriously just as he was about to take a bite, but was then stopped by an announcement on the jumbotron they were sitting nearby towards.
"Welcome to a new show, hosted by me, Prime Queen!"
They both stared in surprise as Nadja, who was akumatized was now announcing "Tonight, Ladybug and Chat Noir disappointed all their loyal fans by refusing to admit their love for one another. I've prepared some trials just to see how far they're prepared to keep the truth hidden from us."
"Let's welcome our very first guest, Chloé Bourgeois, who's apparently a personal friend of our two superheroes."
"I certainly am." Chloé said quite calmly despite her situation.
"Just proves that you can't believe everything you see on TV." Chat Noir remarked as they both watched Chloé being thrown on a subway. "Guess this means out ice cream date is being put on hold?" He asked as the two heroes stood up.
"Welcome, to the subway of suspense! If it reaches seventy miles per hour, you can say goodbye to your precious little friend!"
"Well, well, look here, the ratings are rising! More and more of you want to know if our superhero friends will get here on time. The suspense is killing her! (laughs) Ladybug! Chat Noir! Are you willing to travel through the screen to save your darling Chloé?"
"Ladybug, Chat Noir! I beg you, save my jacket!" Chloé called out in a panic as she got gum on it.
Chat Noir took out his staff, extending it towards the screen as he noticed Ladybug was looking at something on his phone, narrowing his eyes.
"Ready to take the leap, my lady?" He asked as he confirmed that the screen was a portal.
Ladybug glanced towards him, "I may have a plan, but it may require some...unprofessional journalism." He sighed.
"Ooo, what does my bugaboo have in mind?" Chat Noir inquired with a playful smirk.
Ladybug dropped his microphone into his hand, fallen from his yo-yo did the same with his batton. "I'll keep all the attention on me while you track down Prime Queen. If I can say whatever I need to, to get her ratings up then it should keep her occupied long enough for you to break her bracelet."
"How do you know the Akuma is in the bracelet?" Chat Noir asked.
"She was staring at it all throughout the interview." Ladybug remarked. "Keep in constant communication." He said as the two nodded to each other. Abandoning their ice cream, Ladybug jumping into the TV while Chat Noir took to the rooftops.
Ladybug landed feet first as he noticed Chloé on the ground, helping the girl to her feet as he tried to untie the wires.
"Ugh, finally, what took you so long? Hurry up and get me out of this underground nightmare! Woah-" The whole train shook as Chloé fell over due to the sudden speed. Ladybug grabbed onto a pole as he glanced towards Prime Queen.
"You're about to be the stars of the highest-rated show in-" She stopped for a moment. "Where is Chat Noir?!" She demanded.
Ladybug silently apologized to his partner. "Chat Noir? That jokester?" He scoffed as Prime Queen stared at him stunned for a moment. "It's not as though we're attached to the hip or anything. Quite the opposite actually, I'm not much of a cat person."
Prime Queen stammered for a moment. "T-The rules for my show are simple, admit the truth live on TV that you're dating and in love and I'll stop the train!"
"Dating? Come on Prime Queen, even our best friend Chloé realizes that he's just a side-kick." Ladybug glanced at Chloé who nodded.
"That's what I've been saying from day one!" She remarked as the ratings rose.
"Wha...but- the photos! The interview!" Prime Queen remarked in shock.
"Like I said before, all of it was taken out of context." Ladybug sighed, "If you were an actual reporter, you'd have realized how much I actually hate his guts. Guess there's a reason modern news articles are just turning into tabloid fiascos." he said condescendingly, as Prime Queen grew more enraged while the ratings only rose.
Ladybug overheard his partner's voice through his earpiece. "Okay, I'm in front of the power box, and a little rude, bugaboo."
"Come on Prime Queen, you really were scraping the bottom of the barrel for that interview, you have to admit." Ladybug remarked as he smirked at Prime Queen's rage now growing despite her ratings.
"That's it!" She snapped, her rage blinding her as she put her hand through the tv, she was already halfway though as the screen as her arm was suddenly grabbed, "What-" Prime Queen gasped as she was suddenly thrown across the train car. Next thing she knew she was bound to the pole of the still-moving train. Looking up at Ladybug who was holding red duct tap with black spots, quickly breaking her bracelet.
"No more mischief from you little Akuma. Time to purify!" Ladybug said as he swung his yo-yo towards the possessed Akuma, capturing it in one motion. Then opening it once more, watching the newly purified Akuma fly away. "Bye-bye, little butterfly. Miraculous Ladybug!" Ladybug called out, throwing up the lucky charm as everything turned back to normal.
Nadja turned back to normal, looking around as the train started to slow down, stopping at a station. "Huh, where am I?"
"On a train." Ladybug answered handing back her bracelet.
She looked guilty as it was handed to her. "I'm sorry about earlier, it was unprofessional of me to put you two on the spot like that."
Ladybug nodded towards her, appreciating her apology. "If you're open to it, I think I may have a compromise to what you and your viewers want." He said.
"Everything work out?" Chat Noir asked at the Louvre as Ladybug guided Nadja off the train.
"Yup, everything okay." Ladybug said as his earrings beeped, "Nice work partne-"
"Hey! What about me?!" Chloé yelled out as Ladybug realized he totally forgot about her. Watching just as the train moved onto the next station with her still tied up on it.
Nadja glanced towards Ladybug just stared as the train left the station, now running automatically with no conductor.
"Need some help?" Chat Noir asked.
"No, go on home, we're done here." Ladybug insisted.
"If you say so, let's take a rain check on that ice cream. Chat out." He said as Ladybug removed his earpiece, sighing heavily.
"This is fine." He said, sprinting to the next station.
"Don't be bemused, it's just the news! Hi, I'm Nadja Chamack, and this is Side by Side. Today, I'm joined by Alya Césiare, who created the Ladyblog! Together, we'll be looking back over Cat Noir and Ladybug's greatest feats." Nadja announced a few days later as she sat on set next to Alya within the studio set.
"Hello Nadja! Hey fans! So, first of all, I gotta set the record straight. Chat Noir and Ladybug are not a couple! Well, not yet at least, sorry to break the news." She laughed on the recording as Alya glanced towards Marin with a smile who had Manon on his lap, both of them sitting within Marin's living room.
"Hey, that's you with my mommy!" Manon said as she looked at Alya in awe.
"That's right, monkey," Alya said booping her nose.
Marin smiled proudly at his best friend, "Nice job, soon you'll be the celebrity."
"You want an autograph?" Alya joked as Manon then jumped into her lap.
"Me first!" She said excitedly, then turning to her baby sitter. "Can I have a paper?" She asked as both Marin and Alya laughed together.
"Sure monkey." Marin said as he then stood up, downstairs towards the bakery, grabbing a paper pad he set there earlier. Just as he passed by the front door he noticed that the mail already came. He looked through a few letters, sighing heavily as he pushed back lingering hopes, there was nothing for him. Putting on a smiling face, he then ran back up the stairs towards his best friend, hoping his facade wouldn't break.
Notes:
- I try to not make the shorter chapters filler. This ending leads up to the Befana episodes. One that I've been wanting to do for a while. :D