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milarqui · 2 years

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Scarlet Lady: Simon Says

Directory - Timebreaker

In the KIDZ+ studios, one of its star programs was about to go live, and if it came out like all other previous editions, it would prove to be a smashing time for anyone watching.

“Welcome, everyone, to the number one game show, The Challenge!!! Make some noise for our next challenger, Niiiiiiino!!!” Alec Cataldi announced, to the thunderous applause of the people in the studio.

“It was so cool of you guys to suggest Nino for the show!” Marinette told Mireille and Aurore. The weather girls had told them about Cataldi seeking new challengers for his show, and Nino, always the showman, had asked if they could get him a spot.

The girls had quickly replied that he could feature in the next Saturday's show, and Nino had invited his friends to watch. Unfortunately, Alya hadn't been able to join, as she had to take care of her twin sisters, but Adrien had somehow managed to get his father to let him go, so he was there, accompanied by his bodyguard, the Gorilla (and no, Adrien didn't know his name, because the man never gave it).

“No problem!” Mireille answered. “For some reason, Alec does whatever Aurore asks!”

“Heh,” Aurore laughed. Marinette didn't know why, but that laugh sounded kinda evil.

----

“Look, Alya, it's Nino!” Etta cheered, pointing at the screen.

“U-huh,” she replied. Under her breath, she continued. “Could've been me there with them. But nooo, I gotta babysit.”

“Who's Nino?” Ella asked.

“You know, the guy all over her phone!”

“U-huh,” she said, not paying much attention anymore.

“Oh! So he's her boyfriend!”

“U-hu–” What Ella said had finally registered in her mind. “Wait, what?!”

----

“So, our viewers' challenge for you is...” The screen changed to show a certain man, smiling at the camera, wearing his band and suit. “... to make the mayor of Paris, André Bourgeois, dance!”

“Hey! It's your father!” Tikki pointed out to a bored Chloé.

“Big deal.” She pouted, as Nino began to play music in his DJ table. “When are they going to show Adrien?!”

You know it's Nino who's being featured, right?

----

With fast talk, eagerness, and some serious music-mixing skills, Nino indeed managed to make M. Bourgeois – along with the entire audience – dance to the beat he offered to everyone, thus ensuring his victory well before his time ended. Another thunderous applause accompanied him as he left the stage.

“Congrats on your victory, we'll see you next week! Now our next challenger,” and the screen showed a man in his twenties, wearing a dapper suit with a cool bowtie, and holding several cards in his left hand, “Simon Grimault, the hypnotist!”

While Mireille and Aurore discussed something about the program, Nino joined his friends (and his friend's bodyguard).

“Good job, my man!” Adrien congratulated his friend.

“Thanks dude! And dudette!” he added, turning to Marinette.

“I hope it goes well for M. Grimault too!” she said, as the man himself entered the stage.

“Your challenge is to persuade an elusive celebrity to come to our TV set –”

And the screen that had earlier showed a smiling man now showed a man who looked sourer than a lemon tree.

Someone the two boys knew all too well.

“Gabriel Agreste!”

Oh no, he's screwed! Adrien and Nino thought, already seeing the disaster that was about to happen.

“Oh, it's your dad!”

Marinette, who had never met the man in person, did not see it.

----

This was a complete waste of time. Being forced to be on television – outside of anything related to his work as one of the world's greatest designers – was bad enough. Being put through such an inane, infantile, ridiculous thing was another.

But the PR department had insisted that something like this could be used to begin making a good image amongst the youth of Paris, all of them potential clients, and, against his convictions, he had allowed himself to be convinced to participate.

After all, he might be able to actually achieve something.

It was only a few seconds of seeing an adult man humiliate himself with a few cheap card tricks that he chose to cut things off.

“Your show is pathetic, just like your contestant. Control me? Never.”

And he turned off the connection.

Carefully, he stood up from his seat –

“Nooroo –! Get the trap door ready!”

– and rushed to craft his newest Akuma.

----

When Nathalie accepted the job offer to work for M. Agreste so many years before, she was certain that the contract had no mention of having to deal with her boss using a magical talisman to transform some person into a monster or empowered person so they would steal other magical talismans for him.

She still did her job and didn't tell the police or the heroes about M. Agreste's villainous moonlighting, because she understood what loyalty was. But, still, while M. Agreste's goal was worthy... it was still a bore.

“I am Hawkmoth and you are now Simon Says. I'll help you become the greatest hypnotist in the world. But in return, you'll have to help me when the time comes. Does this suit you, Simon Says?”

“Simon Says... yes.”

As her boss once more succeeded in convincing yet another angry/distraught Parisian to do something dumb, she kept her eyes on the screen.

I do not get paid enough for this.

----

The door opened with a slam, giving way to a man wearing a top hat and a suit that made him resemble the joker from the cards he now wielded.

“Simon Says the show's not over yet!” the Akuma yelled.

“Wha–?” Alec asked, but Simon Says quickly turned and threw a card at him.

“Simon Says, you're lame as a duck!”

“Hey!” Alec complained, while everyone else scattered to avoid the Akumatized man.

“That must be that hypnotist!” Marinette said, while Adrien took advantage of the distraction to cautiously sneak out of the studio.

“Maybe the studio should rethink competition shows for now...” Aurore muttered as she dragged Mireille away.

Mireille non-verbally agreed, while Simon Says tossed another card at Adrien's bodyguard.

“Simon Says, you're a gorilla!”

With the bodyguard forced on hands and knees, Simon Says used him as a platform to speak through the camera.

“For refusing my challenge, Gabriel Agreste will make a show of himself for you on this set!”

“Pére...” Chat Noir muttered. He also looked at his bodyguard, now humiliated by the Akuma's magic. If he could stop him now, then maybe this would be solved quickly, before the Akuma caused more problems.

So he jumped.

“Chat Noir says, shut up and gimme the cards!” he shouted, causing Simon Says to jump off from his human platform.

----

“Chloé, look!”

“My gorilla will take care of you!”

“An Akuma! He's hideous!” Chloé said, making a disgusted face. “I have to protect my Adrikins!”

“But does he want your protection?” Tikki asked. Not that she expected Chloé to listen to her before transforming.

----

While Chat Noir was distracted dealing with the man, the Akuma quickly tossed more cards from his pack, hitting nearly everyone else in the room, and putting them under his control.

“Simon Says you're all soldiers!” he declared. “Simon Says, search the city high and low, my soldiers, and find Gabriel Agreste!”

The hypnotized victims began to walk out of the studio, ready to do as Simon Says willed.

----

Chat Noir was glad that the suit granted him super-strength and agility, because fighting his hypnotized bodyguard wasn't easy at all: the man's size and reach made it hard to get close enough to him without getting embraced by him, and he knew that that was a daunting experience.

Seeing him do that to one loony fan that had approached him a tad too fast was one too many, thank-you-very-much.

The fight ended up taking them near where the lifts waited, and Chat Noir noticed one of them was open in the current floor. That gave him an idea.

When the Gorilla tried to grab him again, he ducked under his arm and grabbed him.

“HYAH!” he yelled, and with a powerful hip throw, he sent the man into the lift. With him trying to get back on his feet, it was enough time to get him out of the fight. “Cataclysm!”

And he destroyed the control panel.

The lift cabin quickly began to fall, and Chat Noir's last sight of the man was his surprised face before he vanished. A second later, the cabin crashed against the bottom.

“... I'm sure he's fine...” he said, attempting to convince himself about it, and internally swearing to do something nice for the man some time soon. At least, once Scar finally got herself off her butt and decided to help, the Miraculous Cure would help heal the Gorilla's injuries.

… and now he was running out of time. He would have to change strategy now.

----

“HYAH!”

The door violently opened again, this time impulsed by a black heeled foot.

“Scarlet Lady?!” Marinette said, surprised.

“That was quick!” Nino said, just as surprised. The two of them had managed to remain hidden as Simon Says sent all of his hypnotized minions away, and they had hoped Chat Noir would return soon.

“Where is my Prince?!”

“Huh?” Nino asked, wondering who the hell she was speaking of.

“Ugh, Adrien!”

“How'd you know he was here?” Marinette asked, incensed. The fact that she was appropiating Chat Noir's nickname for her had no bearing in her anger, no sir!

“My love radar always knows!”

Aaaaaaand any traces of respect she might have had for her vanished.

“So, you're stalking him. Stop using your powers for evil.”

From behind Scarlet Lady came two beeps, and Scarlet Lady moved aside to reveal Marinette's favorite hero.

“CHAT NOIR!” Scarlet Lady exclaimed.

“Huh. You got here surprisingly fast,” he pointed out.

“While you were goofing off, my Prince has gone missing! Find him!” Scarlet Lady demanded – even though she had done nothing to help.

“Ah, he's probably hypnotized, no need,” Chat Noir waved her off.

“But he's my bro!” Nino exclaimed, shocked at Chat Noir's nonchalance.

“Please, can we look just one more time?” she begged: she feared for her friend and wanted to make sure he was alright.

“You're so right,” Chat Noir replied. “I'll meet up with you at the Agreste place.”

And he sniffed. And he was actually crying.

“You okay?” she asked, before Chat Noir nodded and split off.

----

Returning to his civilian form, Adrien quickly gave Plagg some cheese so he could recharge and ran to find his friends, not far from where he had left them.

“Nino! Marinette!” he exclaimed.

“Adrien!” both of them replied.

Scar didn't even bother to hold back.

“I came, my Prince!” she shouted, looking like she wanted to kiss him.

That was the kind of thing that would replace the whale in his nightmares.

So he dodged the horrifying polka-spotted projectile and let her crash against the hard glass floor while he hugged Nino.

“Thank goodness!”

“Oof! You good mec?” Nino asked; of course, he couldn't have known that Adrien knew they had begged his hero self to look for him.

“I was worried you'd been hypnotized!” he said as cover, while he let Nino go and hugged Marinette, who was just as welcoming of the hug as he was.

“I'm okay!” Scar said, somewhere behind him.

He didn't care.

----

They all took off for the Agreste mansion, with her bravely escorting her Adrikins while those other two just distracted him from what he really wanted, namely being with her.

Adrien opened the doors, and they were met with Gabriel Agreste himself from the top of the stairs.

“Good evening, Scarlet Lady,” he greeted her, and she smiled. She would only have to say a few words and she'd have his blessing to date Adrien!

“Père!” Adrien exclaimed, while M. Agreste and Lahiffe just glared at each other, probably something unimportant since she wasn't involved in it. “You need to get out of here! Simon Says is coming for you!”

“That's enough excitement,” M. Agreste declared. “Nathalie, make sure they stay in Adrien's room.”

“As you say, M. Agreste!” Scarlet Lady replied. She was going to be able to spend time with her Adrikins in his room!

“Mlle. Scarlet, are you not here to protect me?” M. Agreste asked.

Oh, right, the stupid Akuma.

“Dammit,” she muttered. But, well, silver lining, she just needed to spend some time with the man and she would ensure she got what she wanted!

----

Neither she nor Nino had ever been to Adrien's room – their only visit being back during the Bubbler's debacle – and she was surprised by how large it was. It was probably large enough that her home's main hall would easily fit in twice over.

“Whoa...” she let out.

“Make yourselves at home!” Adrien welcomed them, before going to the bathroom. “I'm gonna take a shower.”

Nino looked at him, weirded out.

“Now?”

“What can I say? It's the model in me!” Adrien shrugged his shoulders and carefully closed the door behind him.

The two of them sat down on a couch that was facing a frankly huge television screen, feeling somewhat awkward as they did so.

“Sooo...” Nino began, trying to break the ice, and he snapped his fingers. “Gabriel sucks, right?”

That was something she could agree with!

“Oh, heck yeah! But does Scarlet Lady suck more?”

She ignored the faint Claws Out! Coming from the bathroom, it was probably her imagination.

----

He had seen her through the screen and (more or less) through his Akuma, but this was the first time he actually met his greatest enemy in person.

Oh, those earrings! They were just there! But he had to maintain his cover, and hope Simon Says would do what so many others had been unable to.

Not that he wouldn't take advantage of the situation if it were presented to him on a silver platter, of course.

“That's an... interesting belt, Scarlet Lady,” he said. Learning of what weapons she kept on herself would be useful for –

“Isn't it?! Perfect for holding my accessories. I'm so clever, you know.”

Wait. What?

“Accessories? Not weapons?”

She had to be messing with him.

“Of course! I know the importance of maintaining your image!” She wasn't messing with him – and that made it worse. “I'm the perfect match for your son, doncha think?”

“My son?”

He was of two minds.

On one side, if she was attracted to Adrien, perhaps it could be a tool to dispossess her of those earrings. His son was a good child, and in spite of the recent spate of rebellion coming from him, he would likely have no problem in doing this.

On the other side... seeing this side of his enemy made something crawl up his back. The kind of feeling crafted by the kind of people that had prompted him to keep Adrien safe at all costs.

He shivered. He had seen what some people thought was fine to send his son by mail. He was thankful for the mail screening service, and for the police's willingness to act on the contents of those messages.

“Are you seriously doing this right now!”

Ah, and here was the other half of this vexing duo, slamming his windows close. Given this sudden reveal... perhaps the better half of this vexing duo would be best said?

Quite unfortunately, this was not about a social visit, as Chat Noir pointed him to look at the security system – showing that the main gates had fallen, and Simon Says' hypnotized minions were coming through.

“There's too many of them! Your defense system won't hold!”

There was merit in that observation. However, there wasn't much he could do – except let this play out until the end. Hopefully, the Akuma would actually do something with this ploy.

“I'll go get Adrien! And maybe the others,” Scarlet Lady declared, pointing at him. “You should hide better.”

The absolute disappointment of a girl ran outside the room, not even closing the door in her haste, and he stood in front of his monitor, watching this army invade the grounds of his home, and stealthily deactivated some of the more... lethal contents of his defensive system. No need to let the heroes know about the concealed anti-air missile system, after all.

“She is... not what I was expecting,” he told Chat Noir. “Quite the bossy little thing.”

“Yeah, it's pretty annoying when people act like they're better than everyone else, isn't it?”

He rose his eyes and saw Chat Noir clicking on a remote, starting to bring down the reinforced steel sheet that would cover the window from attacks. He didn't know the boy, but could it be right that he detected a touch of poison in his words?

“It's okay, I knew you wouldn't get it.”

And Chat Noir jumped off, letting the window close down.

He was alone now, but he had little time to spend before he had to remain as Gabriel Agreste for quite some time.

----

“Wha... what do you plan... on doing with your army... Simon Says?”

“Hawkmoth, do you need to take 5?”

The man at the other side of the connection did sound like he was about to bust a gut from breathing in.

“Just... just get me the damn jewels,” he huffed before cutting off the connection.

----

“Where's Adrien?!”

“HAH?!”

They had been all calm-like (well, as calm-like as one could be when an army of hypnotized minions was assaulting the place you were in) when Scarlet Lady kicked in the doors (again) and demanded to know where Adrien was (again). Naturally, they had been shocked. In fact, Nino had only managed to save his cellphone because he blunted its fall with a foot and the plush carpet did the rest.

“In the shower... what's going on?” Nino said.

“The shower?”

Marinette thought that Scarlet Lady's expression was really like a stalker's would be. Because, geeze.

“We need to get to shelter, but don't worry. I'll go get Adrien–”

A hand gripped Scarlet Lady's shoulder like an eagle would grip its next lunch, and Scarlet Lady turned to see Nathalie Sancoeur giving her not so much a glare as a promise of sudden and painful death if she made another step forward.

“M. Lahiffe shall retrieve Adrien,” the secretary imperiously stated, and Scarlet Lady meekly buckled while Nino did as bid.

----

“Dude, you hear? We gotta get a move on!” Nino said after knocking on the door.

“K, just a second!” he said, trying to plan something to deal with the current crisis while keeping his secret identity hidden from the world. Plus, Scar was out there, and that was another can of worms he had to deal with.

But the choice was made for him, because the door was forcefully opened – again.

“Oh, no, they're here!” he heard Marinette say.

“Stay away!” Nathalie shouted, and he heard what sounded like a fight that was way too short, and then of people struggling to get loose without success.

“Get off me!” Nino screamed, but the scream sounded weaker than it should have been.

“Guys?” he asked. He hoped they had just been taken away by Simon Says' minions, but the fact that he hadn't seen it made it slightly more terrifying, like a horror movie where the worst part was what was just outside your eyesight. “Oh no, we're gonna have to transform!”

“Again?” Plagg complained with an unfriendly face. But, hey, it wasn't as if he had planned having to transform three times in less than a day!

Still, Plagg relented (under promise of a good wheel of cheese that night) and once more Chat Noir flew out of the bathroom window and entered his own room from the actual window, finding the room deserted but with little more than a few chairs thrown around.

“Seriously?!” Oh, and Scar was there, of course. “Everyone's gone?! Even Adrien?!”

“Whose fault it that, hero?” he called her out. Knowing her, she had probably ducked into a wardrobe the moment the minions came in, and hadn't come out until she was certain she wouldn't have to do a thing.

----

Being kidnapped by this lot – or, better said, letting herself be kidnapped by this lot – was an arduous task. Still, Nathalie bore with it, if only because she trusted M. Agreste, and she trusted him to see his plans through.

Even if his current plan seemed to have led him to fall in the hands of his latest Akuma.

“Dear spectators, I've kept my word!” Simon Says stated, presenting M. Agreste, who was being held in place by the Gorilla's oversized hands, and glaring at the Akuma for treating him like a prize. “Here is Gabriel!”

The Akuma presented a card and placed in on M. Agreste's chest.

“Simon Says you are... a butterfly!”

Must not laugh.

She was a professional. She would not laugh.

“Flap, flap,” M. Agreste said, waving his arms like they were wings, his face completely deadpan even as he looked so incredibly ridiculous.

She was biting her lip to avoid doing something unprofessional.

Must not laugh.

“Flap, flap,” M. Agreste continued flapping as he 'flew' around the stage.

Must not... ah, screw it, I think I can allow myself to loosen up.

So, she turned to a side and did her best to snort very quietly. It wouldn't do for people to see her mocking her boss' disgrace. She could do more of that when she was in the solitude of her rooms, after all.

“Don't cry, Mme. Sancouer!” Mlle. Dupain-Cheng, the poor, sweet child, had completely misinterpreted her action, and was trying to calm her down. “Chat Noir will save M. Agreste!”

As if summoned by those words, Chat Noir and Scarlet Lady – whom she should have some serious words about with M. Agreste once this situation finished, assuming this ended in victory for the heroes – entered the studio on a run.

“Don't mess this up, we're on TV!” the girl stated. Such a shallow conviction!

“Speak for yourself! And go for the cards!” The boy did seem to be more professional in his dealings.

“Lucky Charm!” The magical ladybugs flew out of her yo-yo, and dropped in her hand an object very much similar to the one she had just used. “A normal yo-yo? Utterly useless!”

“Simon Says–”

“NYAH!” Chat Noir yelled, interrupting the Akuma.

This was the moment.

She gave the hypnotized man holding her a hard elbow strike to the face.

“Now, children, while he's distracted!”

“Huh?” Mlle. Dupain-Cheng said, clearly surprised.

“Go for the throat or the instep!” she instructed, using a perfect elbow throw to rid herself of the man holding her.

“O–Okay!” Mlle. Dupain-Cheng answered, quickly stomping on her captor's foot. Good – must have had some kind of martial arts training.

“What kind of assistant are you?” M. Lahiffe asked as he loosened up his restrictions.

“I assure you, M. Lahiffe, that it is a useful skill to employ in my daily life.”

She had lost count of how many times she'd had to act to stop this or that person after M. Agreste used his sharpened tongue on them.

And, speaking of, he was still flapping about, without a care for the fight going on around him.

“Simon Says, take flight little plane!” the Akuma declared as he tried to fence off Chat Noir.

M. Agreste stopped flapping, and instead began to make sounds like a motor, while his arms were lifted to the sides, like fixed wings.

There was a limit to the nonsense she would allow. She grabbed the man by the back of his jacket.

“NO.”

----

He was getting overwhelmed by the heroes, but he still had enough aces under the sleeve! One or two moves, and they would fall like so many, like the oh-so-proud Gabriel Agreste, had!

“Gimme your cards, you walking eyesore!” Scarlet Lady shouted, quickly turning her yo-yo in a circle around her hand.

“Rude! Simon Says–”

“We won't let you get a word in edgewise, Akuma!” the other girl also turning a yo-yo in a circle around her hand, interrupted him, while the boy that had competed before him held a microphone staff like a weapon.

“What the–?” How had they managed to free themselves?! “Simon–”

“Nya-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya!” Scarlet Lady drowned him out.

“Not listening~!” the girl screamed.

Too much. It was too much. He had to get a word, give an order, something!

“S–Simon–”

“AN OPENING!”

Pain.

Even with the phenomenal powers granted to him by Hawkmoth, getting hit in the back by a hard sole attached to a boy of about 50 kilograms going at the speed of a bicycle hurt.

The impact was such that he accidentally lost his one weapon, his deck of cards.

“Hawkmoth, why have you forsaken me?!” he cried out, before Chat Noir destroyed the cards and put an end to his reign.

----

Well, that had been... embarrassing.

Not only had the Akuma failed in his task, he had actually managed to entrap him. And he had also managed to embarrass him. On live TV.

So much for the PR department's ideas.

A lesson to be learned, he guessed. The next time he caused an Akuma in his civilian persona, he would have to make sure it was unable to reach to him.

He chose to ignore Nathalie's mysterious giggles when he mentioned his butterflies.

He went over to Adrien's room, to ensure he had come out well from the distressing event. While his son hadn't been captured by Simon Says, it must have been a terrible moment.

“Adrien.”

“Père?” Adrien asked. Maybe a bit surprised?

He chose to do something he hadn't done in much time.

“I'm glad everything worked out,” he said, giving Adrien a hug. My goodness, he was growing out – he now reached to his shoulder without him having to lean down too much.

“Y-Yeah.”

Letting him go, he mentally considered the time and thought he could take some time speaking with him, to ascertain his current state.

He looked down and saw something strange in Adrien's hand.

“I never noticed you wore a ring...” he pointed out, and Adrien gave him a look.

“I've been wearing this for 3 months now.”

…

Awkward.

“Ehem,” he coughed. Awkwardly.

Perhaps he should have paid attention to what Nathalie said about speaking with Adrien more regularly?

No time like the present, he supposed. He sat on the couch and invited him to sit next, and he asked about what had happened to him while he, Nathalie and Adrien's friends were taken to the studio. Fortunately, he had been left unmolested after they took his friends, and he had tried to reach the studio, only to learn on the way that Chat Noir and Scarlet Lady had stopped Simon Says.

Which prompted him to ask something else.

“Adrien, Scarlet Lady expressed interest in a relationship with you, and I wanted to know your thoughts–”

Adrien's face immediately acquired a color that seemed to vacillate between puce and green.

It actually resembled the one he got a night, so long ago, before he vomited his dinner in the hall. That had been a terrible night.

“EW. No.”

“Oh, thank God.”

There goes that bargaining chip, but at least my son isn't infatuated with... her.

----

The next Monday, the class was abuzz with questions for Adrien, Marinette, and Nino, and their involvement in the latest Akuma. Adrien had little to say, given that he had avoided the Akuma's attention by dint of pure luck, but Marinette and Nino more than compensated with their thrilling tale of escaping the minions and helping Chat Noir capture Simon Says by distracting him at the critical moment.

Meanwhile, Chloé decided to speak about an entirely different matter.

“Adrihoney~! I heard you got visited by the amazing Scarlet Lady!”

Adrien yawned.

“Ugh, yeah, and I have the eyebags to prove it.”

He must have stayed awake out of his love for me! Chloé thought, giddily.

“Soooo? Isn't she ultra fab? Don't you just love her?”

“Ew. No.”

----

Within Chloé's mind...

Statement by Adrikins: Ew. No.

In answer to: Don't you just love [Scarlet Lady]?

Statement indicates: Adrikins doesn't love Scarlet Lady.

Illogical. Everybody loves Scarlet Lady!

Illogical. Adrikins couldn't not love Scarlet Lady or me!

Ergo.

Statement by Adrikins must be ignored.

Delete Statement by Adrikins.

Deletion confirmed.

Statement by Adrikins never existed.

Logical truth: Adrikins loves me! And Scarlet Lady!

----

“Welcome to the set of your favorite game, The Challenge!!” Alec Cataldi proclaimed. “Last week, Nino, our friendly DJ, won his challenge! So as promised, here he is again!”

As Nino walked into the stage, Marinette and Alya turned to the surprisingly present Adrien.

“I can't believe your father let you come again!” Marinette said.

“And after he publicly mocked the show,” Alya commented.

“Well...” Adrien replied, feeling like the cat (heh) that ate the canary, and pulled out his cellphone. “I might've threatened to wear this to the next fashion show.”

And he showed them his latest discovery in the field of punny cat T-shirts.

One that had a cat showing his middle fingers, and the legend “Get meowt of here” around it.

He had already bought it; it was too good to not have it in his wardrobe!

“Oh my God,” Marinette, the most fashion-conscious of his friends, mumbled out, her eyes going wide like plates.

“The ultimate rebellion,” Alya joked.

----

“You'll have to make two celebrities dance this time! But you get to choose your opponents!” Alec declared. “Who's it gonna be?”

“Easy!” Alec might as well just close up the program and let him return next week. This was in the bag. “Supermodel, Adrien Agreste, and LadyBlogger, Alya Cesaire!”

As he waved them to the stage, Alec was clearly shocked that he had so easily won.

“Y-You can't just challenge your own friends! That's not a fair challenge!”

Oh, he just said that. He turned to look at the man.

“Do you really want to talk about what's fair? After last week?”

“Uhhhh...”

Seriously, one would think he'd have learned from his screw up with Stormy Weather.

----

Volpina

@zoe-oneesama Really hope someone will be able to remind Hawkmoth about how much he loved flapping around like a butterfly...

Seriously, the part where Gabriel is forced to act the butterfly and flap around (especially when Gabrial actually says 'flap flap') was too good. I'm sure that Nathalie has a small video library hidden in her personal computer where she can watch a list of Gabriel Agreste's funniest videos.

#scarlet lady #scarlet lady the novel #scarlet lady is better than canon #fanfiction #milarqui #long post #marinette dupain cheng #adrien agreste #nathalie sancoeur #gabriel agreste #simon says

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lady-de-mon-coeur · 2 years

Text

This girl

Words: 3,636

Language: English

Read on AO3

Summary: I'm bad at writing summaries, all I can say is that I wrote this fic just because I thought there's not enough Ladrien/Ladynoir fluff out there. So I tried my best to stuff this story with as much sweetness as it could contain. Hope you'll enjoy it.

I'd like to thank @opakitty for beta reading my stuff and providing help with improving this fic.

As you might've already noticed, English isn't my first language, so there might be errors. Sorry in advance.

Once back home after their conversation at the top of the Eiffel Tower, Adrien was ecstatic at first. Happiness and excitement were bubbling inside him so that he couldn't get any sleep.

His lady was finally willing to know his identity. And he hoped it was the beginning of something bigger.

His identity first, then all of him. If she only gave him a chance. If she only allowed herself to really know him, then who knows. His dream could come true.

He wanted her to know all about him. He was dying to finally let her know what kind of person he was. The decision he had made after André's reakumatization kept popping up in his mind. If he showed Ladybug who he really was, perhaps she would fall for him eventually. And now he was given a perfect opportunity to show her the real Adrien Agreste.

A few days have passed, but there were no akuma attacks, therefore no chance to meet his lady.

When the attack finally occurred, he got to know about it in the most unexpected way possible.

He has never been so thrilled to hear his lady's voice as when he heard it through his civilian phone during his fencing class. Hearing her call him by his civilian name sent shivers down his spine. That must mean that the reveal definitely did happen. She remembered it too.

When he arrived, glad to finally meet her, Ladybug was almost the same. She acted as if nothing happened between them. But when she was about to leave after the battle, she surprised him by apologising for interrupting his fencing class.

He had no time to ask her how did she know that because when he realised what she just said, she was already gone, leaving him puzzled.

------

He was extremely happy about their newfound dynamic at first. To be called to his lady’s side every time there was an akuma attack. To not be forced to lie to her in order to avoid exposing his identity. To be able to transform and detransform in front of her. All that was definitely something to look forward to.

At least, until Adrien noticed his lady's strange behaviour.

Everytime he put his hand on her shoulder or touched her in any other way, she flinched and her face immediately became crimson. He could've never imagined that his lady could be so blushy. She looked adorable with pink cheeks, he had to admit that, but now he started seriously worrying about her. Her attitude towards him has clearly changed, but he really couldn't grasp what exactly was going on.

Everytime he caught her after a villain of the day had launched her through the air, she escaped his arms as quickly as possible, and he could feel her shaking like a leaf.

She constantly averted her gaze, but he could see with his peripheral vision her stare at him every now and then. Yet he couldn't interpret her expression.

Her hands were shaking every time they did their usual "Pound it." Her voice cracked occasionally or might sound much fainter than usual. Two or three times, she had a sudden attack of stuttering – something that he witnessed only once as Adrien, when a group of zombies sent by akumatized Simon Grimault attacked his mansion.

In other words, Ladybug wasn't herself anymore.

As the days passed, Adrien started realising: his lady was apparently uncomfortable around him. Her behaviour has become so strangely familiar. So similar to his cute classmate's, one of the people he held dear the most. Marinette, this sweet, awesome girl.

Marinette was always so tense around him, no matter how much he tried to show his affection, and her behaviour became even more tense a few days ago: she ran away from him when he tried to help her up, and during the recent rehearsal at the Liberty she suddenly got up and escaped, as though she couldn't stand his mere presence.

And now his lady has started acting strangely.

"What if she despises me now?" Adrien asked the black cat kwami. He knew Plagg wasn't a great expert in the romance department and would probably advise taking interest in delicious cheese instead of girls. But the growing anxiety was consuming Adrien till an extent he couldn't bear it. "She must've been disappointed when she found out my identity."

Plagg rolled his eyes.

"Why do you think so? Did she say that?" he said, munching a big slice of cheese.

"Well, she didn't say that outright, but everything is pointing to that. The way she trembles every time I touch her. The way she blushes. She never blushed in front of me before! What have I done to make her react like that? I must've disappointed my lady."

Plagg sighed. How can someone be so dense and yet so adorable? This boy has a heart of gold, but he still has no clue. Sadly, there was almost nothing Plagg could do to help him out of this situation. Trying to explain to this adorably dense kid that his lady actually has a huge crush on him could expose her identity, and he simply couldn't do this to her. She should do it by herself.

"What if you ask her in person, kid? I'm sure things are better than you think."

This time it was Adrien's turn to sigh.

"Okay, I will ask her. But I'm afraid of what she might say."

Deep down, he knew that he was right. He should've expected this. Since his childhood, he was causing only disappointment. He was bad luck incarnate. He couldn't get into his lady's heart, neither as Chat Noir nor as Adrien. There was no use fooling himself and hoping that she would ever love him back.

But he will do as he was told to. He'll ask her. No matter what the answer would be, he needed to know.

------

He started the conversation as the opportunity presented. He put his hands on her shoulders. Her reaction didn't escape his attention. Ladybug blushed furiously and lowered her eyes. Chat Noir felt sorry for making his lady uncomfortable, but there was no way back for him.

"Are you alright, Milady? You look restless as of late", he asked worriedly, trying to look her in the eyes.

"I'm fine, Ad… Minou", she said in this recently adopted flustered manner he still couldn't get used to. There was a moment's pause, as if she were thinking about something she wanted but couldn’t say out loud, and Adrien's heart skipped a beat. Then she blurted out all of a sudden: "Tell me, Chaton, are you… are you still in love with me?"

Chat Noir couldn't believe his ears. He thought that his lady despised him, while she was going around worrying if her partner was still in love with her? Why would she care so much? Unless she… No, he will think about it later. He needs to do his best to allay her fears first.

"Of course I am. Why are you even asking? There's nothing that could make me stop loving you."

"You probably wouldn't say that if you knew who I really am under the mask," she said shyly, still looking at the ground.

Suddenly something has clicked in Chat Noir's mind.

"Is that why you don't reveal your identity to me?"

She nodded silently.

"I won't force you to reveal your identity if you're not ready, Milady," he said seriously, this time managing to lock eyes with her. "But you've got nothing to be afraid of. I'm sure I would love you even more if I knew who you are under the mask."

Her eyes softened, and a small smile appeared on her face. He could see just how relieved she was, and he felt like his heart was singing. She still looked bashful, but now he started realising that maybe it wasn't discomfort.

Luckily, he had enough time that night to think about it.

He didn't ask her what he was going to ask, but today’s conversation made him think for the first time that Ladybug’s behaviour could mean something else besides disappointment or repugnance.

He recalled all the times he encountered his lady as Adrien. He used to act in a totally different way back then, so unlike his Chat Noir persona. He must’ve been blushing because he felt his cheeks go hot when he was face to face with Ladybug as a civilian. He didn’t even dare to reach out to her because he felt like a simple touch on her shoulder would’ve been too bold of him. It was so similar to the way his lady now acted around him.

So similar to the way Marinette always acted around him.

Oh, wait… No, there was no way… Marinette?

“Plagg,” he suddenly said out loud.

The tiny black cat was already snoring on his pillow, but he woke up with a start.

“Why aren’t you sleeping yet, kid?” he asked grumpily. “Are you still thinking about your conversation with Pigtails? Have you nothing better to do?”

“I just wanted to know… Is it possible for Ladybug to have a soft spot for me?”

Plagg sighed. This boy is definitely making progress. Maybe the day will come when these kids can finally be together. He was done with the constant sighing of the lovesick boy, and he was sure Sugarcube wasn't having it easier.

------

The next day was the day for another surprise. Ladybug has asked for permission to walk him home after the patrol. She was seemingly nervous when she asked him. She looked down, fidgeting with her fingers, her cheeks glowing bright pink.

And when she did walk him home, she surprised him even more by asking for permission to stay for a while.

"Of course you can stay as long as you want, Milady," he said, still not quite recovered from the shock. "You can come here whenever you want, you're always welcome. But before you enter my room, make sure I'm alone."

------

That's how Ladybug started visiting him every day. She brought him some goodies every time she came. But the most important thing was that she was willing to listen to him. She was genuinely interested in actually knowing him, in being his friend, even when he was outside the mask. He never talked so much with anyone before, never felt himself so needed and appreciated.

The times when he feared that Ladybug didn't need him anymore, were long gone now. How could he think that he was a burden, when his lady was here with him and seemed not to want to leave?

Adrien still didn't feel it was the right time to try pursuing her romantically again. She would give him a sign when she's ready. Who knows, maybe she was still in love with that other guy. He wasn't going to give his hopes up, but he should be patient. He would wait as long as necessary. That's why he hasn't said a word about his love for her since that memorable conversation. He was so afraid of getting fooled by his imagination. He'd been waiting for his lady to fall for him for so long that he could easily confuse illusions with reality.

But as the time passed, he could see it more and more clearly: Ladybug actually has a soft spot for him. He could see it in the way she looked at him when he was talking to her, in her posture when she was listening to him play the piano, in the way she put her hand on his arm while talking to him, in the way she said "mon Minou" and "mon Chaton".

Ladybug was still the same. She has always been calling him that, she has always been treating him with softness and affection. But there was now a subtle difference in all she was doing. As though someone turned on a pink tint filter in her vision, which made her not be able to take her eyes off him. She looked at him as though he was everything she could ever wish for, seemingly admiring his every word and move.

Softness and affection were still there. But now it was extremely velvety softness, when she called him those pet names or simply by his civilian name. And the affection and the tenderness were now almost tangible, wrapping him like a warm fluffy blanket.

Actually it was Ladybug who wrapped him in the warmest hugs. She was now more willing to touch him than ever. She used every opportunity to brush his hand, to run her fingers through his hair, to caress his cheek, to scratch him behind his cat ear when he was transformed, making him purr. ("Oh, you have started purring again?" - "No way!") She liked to play with his bell and the cat tail. She started taking special pleasure in giving him featherlight, barely there cheek kisses, as if she was afraid of her boldness but couldn't hold herself back. As light as these kisses were, it felt like they were leaving burning traces on his skin.

She was so close to him, not just physically, but also emotionally.

That was that kind of closeness he always dreamt of. To be able to tell anything. To be heard and understood. To be loved and appreciated for being himself. To be seen and cared for.

------

Once, when he was brave enough to ask, he finally asked whether she was disappointed when he revealed his identity.

They were sitting side by side on a rooftop after the patrol and watched the sun go down.

She didn't respond right away, peering anxiously into his face for a moment, as if wondering why he was asking.

"Not in the slightest, Chaton," she assured him after what seemed an eternity to Adrien. "I was surprised, that's all. Are you mad at me?"

"Why would I be mad?" he asked, blinking in surprise.

"For not believing you at first," she responded, and there was a hint of guilt in her voice. "I needed some time for the idea of you two being the same person to sink in."

Adrien remembered clearly the facial expression she had when he detransformed in front of her that night. She was looking at him like she'd seen a ghost.

To be honest, no wonder she was surprised to such an extent. He knew he was too different when he was Chat Noir. However, hearing her say that she wasn't disappointed took a huge burden off his mind.

"Sorry if I made it look like I was disappointed," Ladybug continued, placing her hand reassuringly on his arm. "I want you to know that I'm really happy that you're my partner."

Chat Noir turned his head towards her. Their eyes met. Ladybug was looking at him with the most apologetic smile he'd ever seen, a sweet childish expression in her eyes.

They were looking at each other for a moment, and Chat Noir somehow knew that she understood all the words he wanted to say but left unspoken. That he wasn't mad, quite the opposite, he was as happy as she was to be her partner, to not need to lie to her anymore.

She suddenly shifted closer to him and placed her head on his shoulder, lightly squeezing his hand. Chat Noir tilted his head to the side and saw that she had closed her eyes, a blissful smile on her face.

They remained like that for a while, Chat Noir contemplating Ladybug's calm face. God, she looked so beautiful, and the slanting rays of the setting sun were casting a gold hint onto her face. She was leaning on him so trustfully, like a baby sleeping in mother's arms.

For nothing in the world would he want to spoil this wonderful and peaceful moment between them, but it was getting late. When he finally dared to move, he found that his lady was fast asleep.

Chat Noir smiled to himself and wrapped his arm around her waist, cautiously pulling her a little closer to him. Every day since Ladybug said they should reveal their identities offered him new experiences. This one was a miracle all on its own – Ladybug sleeping by his side like it was the most natural thing for her to fall asleep in her kitty's arms.

Chat Noir ran his hand through her jet black hair and closed his eyes, too.

------

The night after The Mime’s reakumatization was rainy and cold. Ladybug was apparently freezing, and that was something Chat Noir wouldn’t accept. His lady had been bringing warmth to his heart for so long, now it was his turn to warm her up.

She looked at him, surprised and amazed, when he unfolded his umbrella above her head.

Chat Noir let his gaze linger on his lady's face. He could see her lips curl up into a gentle smile, and this smile alone held the power to drive him crazy. She was so beautiful and her eyes were so soft and warm. Her awestruck gaze was fixed on him, as though there was nothing that could make her look away. Her whole being radiated sweetness, and it all was directed at him. Chat Noir barely dared to believe his luck.

This was the kind of reaction he always wanted to see from her. Loving glances. Soft smiles. Tender touches. Warm hugs. Honest talks. Everything was perfect so far. But he would be lying if he said he didn’t want something more. He already had all possible non-verbal signs of her love and affection. But he was dying to hear her saying those three words out loud. If he was to believe his eyes, his lady was barely holding herself back … from what? As though some words were ready to escape her lips. Hopefully, it would be exactly what he wanted her to say. Her confession. The words that would change his life.

But what he would never do is force her to say these words. She will say them when she’s ready. Be patient, he kept repeating to himself. There's no need to rush things. I trust my lady.

All this time, Adrien felt her look at him lovingly. Those looks accompanied him as they left the battlefield, landed in a desert alleyway, as he detransformed, waved her goodbye and turned around to leave, Plagg hovering near his head.

Yet again, her feelings became tangible.

Just when he was about to leave, he was stopped in his tracks because Ladybug grabbed his wrist.

He turned around to look at her. She was so close, looking nervous, clutching onto his arm as if it was the only thing that kept her from drowning. Her eyes were full of strong determination.

“I’m ready this time”, she said, looking him right in the eyes.

He heard her say this, but the words didn’t quite register in his brain. He needed a few moments for these simple words to sink in. And when they did, he froze, his mouth slightly agape.

Here it was. The big moment has finally come. He felt his cheeks grow hot and his heart thump excitedly in his chest. He couldn’t think of a word to say, he just stood there and watched his lady disappear in the halo of pink light.

When the splash of pink sparks dissipated, there was a girl standing in front of him. A girl in civilian clothes. So strangely familiar girl, by the way.

The girl he always wanted to like him. The girl he was so fond of. The girl who reminded him so often of his lady.

His cute and awesome friend Marinette.

The girl he loved to pieces.

His face was still on fire. The time stood still for him. All he could do was stare at her.

They remained silent for a while. Somewhere in the back of his mind, there was a thought that she was probably awaiting his reaction, but he must've lost the gift of speech.

Adrien just couldn't take his eyes off her. It was like an angel suddenly appeared in front of him.

She was so adorable with that blush on her cheeks that matched perfectly his own .

She was everything he could ever wish for.

Wait… what did she just say? Yet she brought this "you probably don't love me anymore" up again! Adrien knew he must do anything to get this thought out of her head for good.

He reached out to her and took her hands – his lady's bare hands! – in his. He pressed them to his heart, like he always dreamt of. Her hands were so warm and fitted so perfectly in his, and her eyes were of amazing blue, as she looked up at him anxiously. He was eager to do anything to soothe her, to let her know how happy he was to find out her identity. That she meant the world to him. If he only could find the right words.

"How could I ever stop loving you, Milady?" he whispered. "I'm so happy right now because I found out that one of my closest friends is also the love of my life."

He couldn't hold himself back anymore. This girl belonged in his arms. He let out a light sob and pulled her into a hug.

"Milady," he whispered in her ear. "My lady Marinette."

She was so close that he could feel her heart beating like a trapped bird. She was shaking, as if she was still freezing, but she eventually relaxed and melted into his embrace. Her arms wrapped around him timidly.

This was it. This long-awaited moment. His lady was right in his arms where she belongs.

#ml fanfiction #my writing #ml ephemeral #ladrien #ladynoir #identity reveal #fluff

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