Unsure about what had just happened, Marinette looked around the store cupboard she was currently standing in. One moment she was caught up in being nosey and watching a romantic proposal whilst offering Adrien a life changing decision of M&Ms, and the next, Adrien was on his feet, dragging her through the theatre and throwing her in here – wherever here was.
Pressing an ear to the door, she could hear the screams from those around her. What was going on? And more importantly, where the hell was Adrien?
"Tikki, can you please go and check this out?"
Quickly, the small red kwami phased through Marinette's bag and out into the corridors, Marinette remaining with her ear on the door and listening closely.
Within seconds the kwami was back, her eyes blown and mouth slightly open. "A-Akuma!" her small friend stuttered, almost as though she couldn't believe it.
"An Akuma? But it's been years!" Marinette hissed, not believing it herself.
"I know, but there's people out there splitting in two!"
"Splitting?… In two? What?"
"They're getting zapped and then they're splitting into two people! Something about the perfect spectre. I don't know, but what I do know is you need to get out there and go and help them, Marinette. Ladybug is needed."
She moved her hand slowly to her ear, a thumb brushing over the stud at her lobe. "I can't do this alone. I wish Chat Noir was here."
"You don't have a choice. You're Ladybug! Now get out there! Who knows, your wish might just come true. Maybe Chat Noir's in the area or an avid listener of the news."
"Good try." Marinette sighed, knowing full well her Kitty turning up was nothing more than wishful thinking. "Fine, Tikki. Spots on!"
As the magic wrapped around her body, she suddenly felt her past strength reappearing. It may have been five years since she last had to do this, but the feeling was still the same. Power and total butt-kicking awesomeness.
Opening the closet door, she looked around the foyer. It seemed quiet. Too quiet.
She began a slow, cautious walk down the corridor, checking around her in case she was about to walk into an ambush. On instinct, she unclipped her yo-yo and started swinging it in preparation of an oncoming attack — her body acting on muscle memory and adrenaline.
Continuing down towards the theatre, a black blur came flying out of the doorway with a force of a thousand rhinos, running straight into the concession stand with a loud shatter of glass. Turning to watch where the blur went, her breath hitched in her throat as she took in the body contorted on the floor.
"Kitty?" The name rolled from her tongue in utter disbelief.
Chat Noir was here?
"Hey, Bugaboo," he said through a pained laugh, his body collapsing to the side as he attempted to straighten himself up. "Long time no see."
He'd barely made it onto his feet properly when she ran full throttle at him, jumping up to wrap both her arms and legs around him tightly.
"You're here! Please don't tell me I'm dreaming."
A chair flew out of the theatre and crashed against the wall beside them. Chat Noir dropped her down onto her feet and pulled her out of the way. "As much as I loved the welcome back, we have work to do."
Screams were now freed from the main theatre, every second multiplying as each person inside was hit.
Chat Noir grabbed the staff from around his back and prepared to launch himself into the room.
"Wait," Ladybug said. "What's happening in there?"
"It seems a guy was turned down on a proposal after his girlfriend found out he's not exactly who he said he was. So, a word of warning, if you want to stay hidden behind that mask, don't get hit!"
Charging through the main doors, Chat Noir led Ladybug into what could only be seen as total chaos. As people were struck with the beams of purple light, they wobbled before another person appeared out of them – literally out of them. One looked like their normal self, while the other represented some sort of…celebrity? The theatre suddenly looked like an Oscars party instead of a performance of The Phantom of the Opera.
Ladybug stood in the doorway and watched as the guy in front of her was hit, separating himself. The second body being… Oh, wow! Chris Hemsworth.
"Thor-blimey, Governor!" Chat Noir said, skidding to a halt beside her.
"How long have you been living over here, Kitty-cat?" Ladybug flung her yo-yo up to the ceiling and wrapped it around the famed chandelier, pulling herself up and onto the balcony.
"Too long!" he shouted up to her as she began to sail up into the rafters.
She moved swiftly, narrowly avoiding purple and pink lasers as they shot her way, Chat Noir extending the baton and launching himself up on the opposite side. She glanced at his form as he moved. He was a lot more mature now, almost unrecognisable compared to what he was back in their teen years. His shoulders were broad, his chest widened, and his face was definitely something Adrien Agreste would be jealous of. He'd grown a lot in their separation, now more panther than cat.
With one last pull, she swung herself up onto the circle and ducked behind a chair, trying to see if her partner had made it onto the same row as her. Her yo-yo began to buzz, her partner's face shining brightly on the display unit.
"Chat Noir?" She looked down the row again. Where was he?
"That's the name, don't wear it out!"
Ladybug looked down towards the audience still gathered in the auditorium, many now seated alongside themselves and munching on any food lying around them…including her M&Ms. A growl vibrated in her chest. How dare they?
"Any ideas?" Chat Noir's voice came through the yo-yo, loud and clear, pulling her from her chocolate-centred rage.
"Not yet, but let's see what else this Akuma can do." She peered around the chair, only to notice a familiar silhouette of two cat ears poking through the curtain up in the left side box. He sent a quick nod; he was ready.
She felt the trusted weight of her yo-yo in her hands before sending it sailing up to the chandelier and towards the stage where the main fire curtain was still lowered, hiding the stage. Chat Noir landed next to her, both of them calling out to the Akuma victim.
The stage began to quake, the red curtain opening slightly as music blasted from the speaker system, the undeniable sounds of 'The Phantom of the Opera'.
The music continued to fill the theatre, the Akuma victims all cheering as the main curtains parted and presented the Akuma. He turned around slowly, the outfit undeniably that of the Phantom. A half mask covered his face — both sparkling in the spotlights and purple, matching the sweeping cape covering one shoulder. The costume was beautiful, and the designer in her couldn't help but admire the essence of modernised romance.
"I've gotta say, M'Lady, Monarch seems to have upgraded his designs. That or there's been a change of ownership."
Before she could respond, the laser shot out from what looked like the engagement ring box the Akuma held, narrowly missing them as it collided with the curtain behind. Though the curtain didn't become a new variation of itself, the shot was enough to pull it down, leaving the stage revealed and ready for its opening act.
A shriek sounded in their ears as a stagehand took the next laser right in the forehead, splitting his rather attractive self in two as he was joined by none other than Dick Dastardly, complete with the handlebar moustache.
"Woah, that guy has a darker side," Chat Noir stated.
A laser flew in his direction, his head narrowly ducking out of the way. "Hey, Two-Face! Watch it! I've only just had this fur groomed!"
He launched his baton out, sending it in the direction of the Akuma, only for the villain to sweep his cape around himself and disappear. "What the hell?"
They moved slowly towards centre stage, both facing outwards and scanning the area for any sign of the Akuma. They froze back to back, both weapons on the defence, ready to go.
"So," she started, "how have you been?"
Chat Noir chuckled, a hand coming down to take hers and give it a welcoming squeeze. "It's unlike you to make small talk during Akuma attacks."
"I've missed my partner!"
A sudden crackling laugh echoed around the stage. Ladybug looked up to try and locate the source, only to jump as the laugh turned into a rather aggressive version of 'The Phantom of the Opera'.
"Sing for me, my angel!" The voice ricocheted through the Proscenium arch and out into the venue, another ray of pink flashing out and hitting a woman cowering behind a chair. Like all the others, she split in two. This time the small, meek brunette had the alter ego of Marilyn Monroe. Another three rays fired out, the crowd being joined by Dwayne Johnson, Margot Robbie and Homer Simpson.
"Geez, some people really need to look at their lives," Chat Noir announced, deflecting a beam that was coming his way.
Ladybug looked over her shoulder at him, unsure what to do next. If this Akuma could teleport without being seen, and could fire out multiple lasers, she was unsure what they could actually do.
Unless…
"Lucky charm!" How could she forget?
She threw her yo-yo into the air, only to be tackled to the floor before she could catch it, the object bouncing before rolling off the stage and into the band pit.
Keeping her eyes screwed tightly closed, Ladybug moved her hands around, feeling each and every inch of her saviour.
"Watch where your hands are touching!" Chat Noir chuckled, Ladybug's eyes shooting open to find herself staring into his dazzling ones. "You know, the last time we were in this position —"
"Look out!" she interrupted, spinning them over, only for Chat Noir to roll them over again.
"Did you get hit?" she asked, afraid something stupid would happen, such as revealing their identities.
"I don't think so. There's still only one of me."
She giggled. "And that's enough."
The organ began to play again. She looked around the stage for something that could help them. Her lucky charm.
"Roll with me!" she whispered, beginning to spin them down the stage and into the band pit, set on finding the red and black spotty object.
She landed on top of him, looking down at the smirk on his face.
"Stop." She giggled, slapping his chest.
"I don't know what you mean, ma cherie." He wiggled his eyebrows at her, causing her to slap him gently again before scrambling around for her lucky charm.
"Can you use your night vision or something and help me out here?" Her hands began to pat around, but she couldn't see a damn thing. The pit was pitch black. Every now and then her hand knocked some sort of instrument and made a noise.
"Shit!" she cursed, a chuckle coming from behind her.
"Now, now, Bug, no need for the cussing."
"Just help me, will you? How can you still be so infuriating?"
A laugh was heard again, though this time it was accompanied by shuffling. He was finally helping.
"You know you've missed it," Chat Noir said, smugly.
"Enough about that. Find the —"
"Here!" Chat Noir held a candle up in front of her face — an unlit candle. What the hell was she meant to do with that? "I think you need to serenade me, M'Lady."
"Not on your wick, Minou."
Grabbing it from his hands and delivering a quick thanks, she threw the yo-yo, out of the pit and up into the circle. Rays shot past her quickly, narrowingly missing her time and time again as she dived and darted into the rows of chairs, her partner following shortly after.
"What's the plan then?" he shouted as they fell easily into step and moved in tandem.
She looked around the room, her eyes catching the chandelier, the stage, the Akuma's girlfriend (ex-girlfriend?) and Chat Noir.
"How do you feel about being Raoul?" she asked, flipping over the next row of chairs and crouching down behind them.
Chat Noir landed beside her. "I was born to play the part, M'Lady."
"Excellent, now it's time to grab our Christine."
Launching from the edge of the balcony, Chat Noir sailed down to where the Akuma's girlfriend was hiding behind a scenery set. Ladybug watched as he took her off into the wings, disappearing from view.
"I've missed you, Puddy!" Throwing her yo-yo up to the chandelier, she looked at the candle in her hand and attempted to think of a way to light it. Looking around the room and not seeing anything useful, she once again called for her lucky charm, thanking Tikki for her upgraded powers as a box of matches fell down into her hand.
Excellent.
A glance down to the stage and she saw the scene was set, Chat Noir reappearing on the prop boat, his 'Christine' sitting alongside him.
"Night-time sharpens, heightens each sensation.
Darkness stirs and wakes imagination.
Silently the senses abandon their defences…"
She couldn't help but smile. What a voice! Last time she heard him sing, it sounded like he was being kidnapped by wild boars. He must have been secretly having vocal lessons.
Taking a match from the box, she struck it across the edge, watching as the head spluttered and sparked into life.
If she could use the candle to burn the rope, then the chandelier would come crashing down on the Akuma, trapping him and allowing Chat Noir to take the mask from his face and cataclysm it.
Why it was a candle was beyond her – a pair of scissors would have been quite helpful at the moment. However, she was at the theatre. It didn't hurt to be a little dramatic.
She continued to watch the boat slowly moving across the stage, Chat Noir calling out to the Akuma in not the most pleasant of ways.
"Hey, Two-face, there's only one of us that can smoulder in this show, and un-fur-tunately for you, I've already taken that position!"
The Akuma growled, turning his attention from his search to Chat Noir.
She looked up at the rope… It wasn't thinning fast enough.
"What are you hiding under there? Too ashamed to show yourself?" The Akuma grunted.
He began to advance on Chat Noir, Ladybug worrying more and more by the minute that this wasn't going to release in time.
"Come on, come on, come on." She moved the candle around a little, hoping the wave of the flame would do something.
"Awwww, look, Christine! You know, I was always more of a Raoul fan myself. He never kidnapped her or forced her into anything. He let her be, allowing her to make her own choices. I think you need to take a leaf out of his book."
"Calm it a bit, Kitty, I don't want him killing you when this is done," she said to herself, twisting the candle one last time.
The rope began to fray, each strand snapping one after the other as it pulled itself apart. Snap, snap, snap… Finally, the last string was holding on for its life as Chat Noir made his last advancement to centre stage.
"Come on, Chaton, just a little…"
The rope snapped, the chandelier sailing down towards the stage.
"Come on, just a little more!"
The boat finally reached centre stage. Chat Noir grabbed 'Christine', pulling her out of the boat just as the Akuma dived forward towards them. Rays fired from all cylinders, hitting Chat Noir square in the back.
"No!" Ladybug screamed.
Chat Noir rolled out the way as the chandelier crash landed on top of the Akuma.
Swinging down, Ladybug landed as Chat Noir stood and shook himself off. "Yikes!" he exclaimed, looking around his body and at his tail. "Well, looks like I've made it out of this one unscathed."
She breathed out, thankful nothing had happened. There was still only one Chat Noir.
He made his way over to the Akuma, calling his power and placing his hand on the Akuma's face. The mask disintegrated under his touch, releasing the purple butterfly and allowing Ladybug, for the first time in five years, to purify the beast into a soft white vision of loveliness.
"I don't think this is what Sia meant when she wanted to swing from the chandelier." Chat Noir held out a fist to her, her own beating it in perfect synchronisation.
"W-what happened?" The Akuma victim began to come around, looking from the two heroes to his girlfriend.
"I think you need to go and talk to each other. There's obviously something you've been hiding." Ladybug sent him a small smile, which was met with a tentative nod of his head.
The guy stood up and looked at her before turning to Chat Noir, then the stage. "I'm never going to be forgiven for this! I can't afford to pay for it to be fixed either. I lost my job and I have nothing left to my name." He looked at his girlfriend, who suddenly seemed a little more sheepish than a few minutes earlier. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I didn't mean to live a double life. I just didn't want to disappoint you. I'm so, so sorry!"
His girlfriend walked towards him, slowly and unsurely, before wrapping her arms around his waist.
Chat Noir appeared beside her, holding out the candlestick with the cheeky grin she'd missed so much. "You know what to do, Bugaboo!"
Her hand tightened around the candle before she launched it into the air. "Miraculous Ladybug!"
As red and pink ladybugs circled around the theatre, putting everything back in its rightful place, she couldn't help but feel amazed at seeing it all happen again. At seeing everything return to their places. Including them.
She smiled at Chat Noir; he was watching the room like she was, a look of awe at what they'd just accomplished together. They'd done this so many times, yet it could still take her breath away.
Ladybug watched as the couple headed from the stage and back down into the stalls, taking their seats once again with their hands intertwined. She couldn't help but hope they worked this out.
Finally, she turned her attention to her partner.
"It's like we never stopped, isn't it?" She couldn't help grinning as she walked towards him, wrapping her arms around his waist and reminiscing in his leathery scent. She'd missed him so much, and for the first time in 5 years, she felt like herself again.
"We're amazing! But we already knew that." His chest vibrated as he laughed, nuzzling his nose into her hair.
They stayed like that for a while, Chat Noir breaking the lock first. He pulled away and she was instantly disappointed from the lack of contact. There was so much to say, so much to ask. But before she could open her mouth, a steward had climbed onto the stage and began to inform the slowly entering audience that the show would still be going ahead – curtain call in 10 minutes.
"I better go," Chat Noir said, grabbing his staff and preparing to leave. "But I'm going to be back in Paris soon. How about –"
"Yes," she interrupted. "Yes," she repeated a little less enthusiastically. "I'm back in Paris too."
He nodded and extended his staff. "Meet me at our normal patrol time next Sunday? In our place?"
She nodded, the smile almost splitting her face for joy.
He turned to go before stopping and looking back at her, his wonderful lopsided grin spreading across his face. "It's great to see you again, M'Lady. You're looking as beautiful as ever." With that, he was gone.
If only you knew, she thought.
Unhooking her yo-yo, she quickly made her way back to the cupboard Adrien had thrown her in and prepared for him to come back. Today had been a day of strange encounters and she wasn't quite sure what to make of everything.
"Tikki," she whispered, hoping to have a quick conversation with her kwami before Adrien was back – if he came back. "Tikki," she said again a little louder. "Tikki–"
Without warning, the door flung open to reveal an out of breath and dishevelled Adrien Agreste on the other side, resting an arm on the doorframe. "Are you okay?" he said, his face full of concern as he looked around the cupboard. "You were shouting something!"
"Squeaky!" she said without thinking. After all, there weren't many other words which rhymed with Tikki.
"Squeaky?" he repeated, almost as though he hadn't heard the word correctly. He looked perplexed…but not as much as she felt, attempting to cover her own tracks. How did she keep getting herself in this position?
"Yup," Marinette responded. "Squeaky!" To make her story more believable, she grabbed a bottle of lubricant from where it lay on a shelf and began to squirt it on the hinges of the door. "I came out when all the screaming died down and the door was squeaky, so I thought I would help out and just…you know!" She sprayed it again a couple of times without realising the opening was facing her, therefore coating her top in a shiny dark brown liquid. Just when she thought the day couldn't get any worse, she now looked like she'd had a run-in with C3-PO.
Adrien looked between her top and the door and then back again. He grabbed hold of the handle, pushing the door forwards and backwards. No squeak. "Huh, seems like you fixed it."
"Yep," she responded. "I like to take part in a little home improvement every now and then. I have a lot of squeaky doors in my apartment."
"Oh…okay. Maybe you could help me out sometime? I think my bathroom door at the new apartment isn't as quiet as it could be."
"Sure." She attempted to smile, hiding the dying feeling inside her. Well, if Adrien Agreste didn't see her as a loser before, he well and truly would now.
"Well, they're about to start the show, if you want to see it. I mean, I'm guessing the Akuma might have brought up some bad memories, but if you're game…I have new M&Ms!" He held up two bags: brown chocolate M&Ms and blue crispy M&Ms.
Who was she to say no to that offer?
"I can't believe that show's ending!" Marinette said, leading them through the enthusiastic crowd and out into the foyer. "It's a crime to all those who want to work in Musical Theatre."
"I know!" Adrien replied, a mouth full of their remaining chocolate M&Ms. "Hey, I'm ready for the night to end yet. How about I take you on a trip through Trafalgar Square? As much as I love Paris, a little part of me will miss London."
"Sounds perfect."
He smiled, and they headed out of the building.
Marinette had had the most wonderful evening. The show had been incredible, the company had been fabulous, and the M&Ms had been the chocolatey cherry on top. The thought of the night ending and having to go back to reality had her in the London blues. She'd almost forgotten she was about to be fired!
Adrien had been a sunshine on a dark day – fun-loving, not serious in the slightest, and a fantastic way to forget about the continuous downfall of her day. He hadn't even commented on the huge stain on her top.
She hated the fact that when she returned, her job would be hanging on the line. Mary was not happy with her, but it seemed Adrien liked her, so maybe – just maybe – she could keep hold of it a little longer. If she fixed his doors for him, he'd have to owe her a favour, right?
They strode past the National Gallery, stopping and looking out over at Nelson's Column. There were still some young children climbing up the base, as buskers played and sang around the square. The whole atmosphere buzzed as the lights of Big Ben shone in the distance. If she wasn't so dependent on Paris, she would love to live here. There was just something about this city – but Chat Noir would soon be back in theirs. Excitement settled in her stomach. If all else failed, she at least had time with her partner to look forward to, and she really couldn't wait.
She emptied the blue packet into her hand and threw it in the bin. Rather unattractively, she lifted the hand to her mouth and pushed the remaining M&Ms in without a care in the world. She felt free with Adrien. There were no expectations to behave a certain way. She could just be herself and it really didn't matter if he liked her or not. "Have you lived here long?" she asked.
"About 4 years. I travelled around a bit before ending up here. I went to Cambridge with my cousin, Félix, and we started our own business."
"Isn't that awkward? I mean, I love my cousin, but I wouldn't be able to work with them."
Adrien shrugged. "Félix is more like a brother. We just do what we need to do at work and have all the drama out of the office. He's one of my best friends."
"That's sweet." Marinette smiled before sighing.
"What's up?"
"I don't want to go back to Paris," she replied honestly.
"Going to miss me that much, Sweet Thang?" He laughed and hit a shoulder into hers, only making her laugh too. God, it felt good to laugh.
"Of course, it's all about you. You'll be in the office in a few days anyway."
Adrien walked in front of her, stopping her in her tracks before taking her hands and letting out a little cough to the side.
"Think of me, think of me fondly
When we've said goodbye."
"Oh my God! Are you 'Phantom'ing me?" She laughed, pushing a hand against his chest.
"Remember me, once in a while
Please promise me you'll try."
"People are starting to look," she said. "Please stop!"
"Why? Am I embarrassing you?" They came to the crossing, Adrien pressing the button before turning back to her. "Come on, Marinette. Sing with me, my angel of music! When you find that once again you long to take your heart back and be free."
"I'm not singing," she replied stubbornly.
"Come on, when was the last time you were spontaneous?"
"That isn't spontaneous." If he thought she was about to belt out West End hits in the middle of London, he had another thing coming. "If you want the rain to stay away, you'll let me off."
"I have an umbrella at the hotel! Pleaseeeee, just until the green man appears. What's the worst that can happen? That man over there's peeing against a bus stop. I think people would be more repulsed by that than your voice."
Rolling her eyes, she took a quick glance to the right, only to notice that there was, in fact, a man peeing against the bus stop.
She looked between Adrien's begging kitten eyes, half thinking she'd just entered a performance of Puss in Boots. His eyes were wide and oh so dazzling. "Fine."
Taking a deep breath, she sang quietly, praying the beeping would start soon enough and she could break free and cross the road.
"If you ever find a moment,
Spare a thought for me."
Thankfully, the sound of the crossing echoed into the night sky before she had to sing anymore and embarrass herself any further. Without waiting for Adrien, she scurried across the road like a little mouse, her cheeks vibrant red and borderline radioactive.
"Hey, wait up!" Adrien caught up, falling into step with her as they continued towards the hotel. His hands slotted effortlessly into his pockets, making him look as though he'd just walked straight off the catwalk. "You have a lovely voice. You should sing more often."
"I don't think so," she said with a chuckle. "But thank you." She looked down at the ground, trying not to think too much about the compliment.
They reached the hotel, Adrien waiting for her to enter first before following behind. "Would it be okay if I walked you to your room?"
Such a gentleman. "Sure."
They headed into the elevator and up to her floor, conversation flowing easily as they approached the door.
Marinette dug out her keycard. "Thank you for a great night. I needed it after today."
Adrien's features softened in a way which had her melting. "Thank you for coming with me and for not running away when the Akuma hit." He rocked backwards and forwards on the balls of his feet and she was slightly unsure what to do.
Turning slightly to her door, she pointed over her shoulder. "So, I'm just going to…"
"Yeah, I - um - sure!"
Pressing the keycard to the lock, Marinette welcomed the flash of green before beginning to open it, unsure whether it would be seen as unprofessional to just shut it in his face.
"Wait!" A hand appeared on the door above her head, stopping it from closing.
She turned to look at him, her back becoming a new and improved door stop.
"I know you don't really know me, but we will be working together…and I don't really know anyone in Paris, so I was wondering…if it's okay with you, can I have your number please?"
Adrien Agreste wanted her number? And not just for work? She studied his face. He looked like a child trying to make a friend on the first day of school.
"Sure, pass me your phone." She input her number before closing it down and handing it back.
"So…I'll see you around then."
She nodded. "See you around."
Finally stepping into her room and closing the door, she couldn't help but take a moment to gather her thoughts. Pressing her back against the door, she allowed her head to fall backwards, hitting it a couple of times against the wood.
A chime signalled in her bag, Tikki flying out with her phone and a rather large grin.
Adrien: [umbrella] just in case it rains
Adrien: Goodnight, Sweet Thang
She smiled as she returned the message.
Marinette: Sweet dreams, Hot Stuff ?
There was a beep through the door. His phone. Just knowing he was still there messaging her goodnight made her feel important in a way she hadn't in such a long time.