Chapter Text
It was a sunny Paris afternoon. Alya was strolling through the park with Nino when her phone rang. It was Marinette. She took a lick of her ice-cream, which consisted of three scoops of caramel, orange, and blueberry, before answering.
'Hey, girl, what's up? Everything OK?'
Since Alya had discovered her best friend was Ladybug, the question Everything OK? had a much deeper meaning than it had before. It could mean How are you? Or it could mean Do you need me to become a superhero and help you save Paris? Right now, Marinette wasn't in need of a fellow hero, but rather someone who could help her babysit.
'Alya, you've got to help me, Manon is destroying my house!'
Alya sighed, rolling her eyes.
'Marinette. Surely by now you can deal with this yourself?'
'I can't!' Marinette's voice dropped to a whisper. 'She's going through all my stuff and she's going to find the…the you know what!'
Alya bit her lip.
'Don't panic, girl. Even if she did, she wouldn't know what it was.'
'I need you here. You're the only one who knows and can help me keep it a secret.'
'What you need, Marinette, is a distraction. Something else to occupy her. Or someone.'
'Someone? Yes. Like you.'
Since Nino had last been akumatized, Alya didn't want to do anything that would compromise her quality time with him.
'I'm on a date. You're going to have to ask one of the others.'
'What's going on?' Nino asked.
His girlfriend did some quick thinking.
'Marinette doesn't want Manon finding her super-secret diary. She writes everything in there, including all about her crush on Adrien…'
An impish grin spread across her face as an idea popped into her head. She'd done this once before, and it had worked perfectly. She flicked over to her contacts and scrolled to a familiar phone number, praying that he would be available.
'Hang in there, girl. I'm sending just the right person to help you out.'
Marinette didn't like the tone in Alya's voice. That was the tone she had when she was up to something.
'Manon, I said no! Don't do that!'
The young heroine had once again found herself in over her head babysitting the daughter of Nadja Chamack. Manon wanted to know what everything was in Marinette's room and was going through her drawers. As she had explained on the phone to Alya, the excitable little girl was dangerously close to finding the Miracle Box.
'Hey, um, why don't we go downstairs and play a video game? Or watch something on TV? Or bake a cake?'
'Can we play with the Ladybug and Cat Noir dolls? I promise to leave them behind this time.' Manon gave her the baby-doll eyes. Marinette shrugged. That was a distraction, at least.
'Sure, okay. I've made some new villains too.'
'Oh, yay!'
Marinette took out five dolls; Ladybug, Cat Noir, and the newly made Bubbler, Reflekta and Timebreaker.
'Those are cool. But I wanna play as Ladybug and Cat Noir, so that I can win!'
'Okay, but be careful with them.'
'Yaaaay!' Manon snatched up the dolls. 'We're gonna defeat you bad guys!'
'Oh yeah?' Marinette retaliated, picking up the baddies. 'You have to catch us first!'
She jogged around the room while Manon chased after her.
'Get back here so I can beat you!'
Eventually, Marinette allowed Manon to catch up to her and 'defeat' the villains by slamming into them.
'Ladybug and Cat Noir win! Yay!'
'Well done, Ladybug and Cat Noir,' said Marinette, laughing. Maybe she could handle this on her own after all. But who was this perfect person that Alya had supposedly sent over to help her?
Her question was soon answered. Manon leaned out of the open window and squealed with delight. In her excitement, she dropped Cat Noir into the street below.
'Manon! I told you to be careful!'
'But Marinette! Your boyfriend is here!'
Marinette did a double take.
'Luka? But we broke up. He's not my boyfriend anymore.'
Manon giggled.
'Luka? Who's he? No, silly. It's Adrien.'
'What!?' Marinette scrambled over to the window and peeked out. Looking back up at her was indeed her crush, holding a certain doll and flashing an amused smile up at her. She waved awkwardly before retreating back inside.
'Oh noooo!'
She spun around the room like a tornado, gathering up pictures of Adrien and shoving them hastily under her bedcovers. So that was what Alya had meant. She should have known. Manon watched her curiously.
'Why do you even have those pictures if you don't want him to see them?'
'He's not my boyfriend, and he cannot find out I have a crush on him!' Marinette didn't have time to take down everything, but she could use the old 'fashion research' excuse for the rest.
'But you want him to be your boyfriend.'
Marinette mimed zipping her mouth shut.
'Not a word about this to him.'
The little girl shrugged as the doorbell rang.
'Okay.'
Marinette took a deep breath and went to let Adrien in. Although she knew it was going to be him there, she still wasn't prepared to see his beautiful face once more when she opened the door. He was also clutching her Cat Noir doll, which was embarrassing.
'Adrien. Hi.'
'Hey, Marinette.' Adrien smiled warmly. 'Alya told me you could use a hand. I don't have any experience babysitting, but I'll do whatever I can to help.'
'You're so sweet. I mean, that's so sweet. Of you. For helping out.'
All this had done was make things super awkward. Adrien was an only child like she was, and had had a secluded upbringing, which meant he'd had even less interaction with kids than she had. It was clear when Alya had said she was sending 'the perfect person' she had just been thinking about setting the two of them up, as per usual. Oh, well. It would be easier with two than one at least. If she could get her words out properly.
Adrien decided he'd done the right thing in coming to help out his friend. She looked incredibly stressed when she answered the door.
'So, where's Manon?' he asked, stepping inside.
'Oh, she's in my room.'
'Shall we, then?'
Marinette nodded and they climbed up into her room. Adrien's apple green eyes landed on the rest of the dolls lying on the chaise. Going to Marinette's house was always an eventful experience, but he certainly hadn't been expecting a tiny version of his alter ego to drop out of the sky straight into his arms. As he'd realised what it was, he'd had a sudden flashback of being made into a puppet and forced to fight his Lady. He shuddered.
'Are you cold? Should I close the window?' Marinette asked.
'Oh, no, it's fine.' He scratched the nape of his neck. 'So, um, what were you guys doing when I arrived? I'm guessing you were playing with these?' He held out Cat Noir.
'We sure were!' Manon sang. 'I was being Ladybug and Cat Noir, and I was winning!'
'Manon likes to win,' Marinette explained. 'And Ladybug and Cat Noir always do.'
'You're certainly right about that,' Adrien said proudly. He turned the doll over in his hands. It was perfect, from the hair to the bell to the boots. 'This is a fine likeness. And so are the others, of course. Did you make all of these? They're really good.'
'Yes, I did.' His classmate blushed a little, which he found very endearing. 'Thanks for catching it for me.'
'No problem at all. Now we just need a dog to fall out of the sky.'
Marinette looked at him, puzzled.
'Uhh…why?'
'Because then it'd be raining cats and dogs! Get it?' He chortled at his own joke. Marinette burst out laughing. Who knew Adrien had such a cheesy sense of humour?
'No dogs here, I'm afraid. But I do have a Ladybug.'
'Ah, yes.' Adrien took the red and black-cladded figure from the chaise. 'She's perfect.'
'Marinette does the best impression of Ladybug and Cat Noir. She sounds just like them!' Manon exclaimed. Adrien raised his eyebrows.
'Oh, does she now? I'd like to see that.'
'Ohhh…she's exaggerating. I don't sound that much like them,' Marinette waved them off.
'I insist, Marinette.' Adrien handed Ladybug to Marinette and picked up the three villains. 'Why don't we be the bad guys, Manon, so Marinette can show us her amazing impression?'
Manon pouted, and then took Reflekta.
'Okay. Just this once.' She began to wave the doll around. 'I'm gonna take your Miraculouses, you goody two shoeses!'
Accepting the challenge, Marinette raised Ladybug.
'Oh no you won't! You'll never get my magic earrings!'
Adrien's face broke into a smile. Marinette made a wonderful Ladybug. She had her character spot on. And she sounded a lot like her too.
He then raised the Bubbler.
'I'm gonna send you into outer space, Ladybug! Then you'll have to give me your Miraculous.' He paused. 'Isn't Cat Noir going to help her?'
Marinette continued playing as Ladybug.
'Where is that cat when you need him?' Then, she picked up Cat Noir, made him swoop out of the sky, and put on a deep voice.
'Why hello there, Bugaboo. I see you're in need of a helping paw.'
Adrien had to keep his mouth from falling open. Manon had been right – she sounded just like him! It was very odd hearing the name Bugaboo coming from Marinette of all people. Was it common knowledge that he called her that?
'I've told you not to call me Bugaboo,' said Marinette. 'We need to capture their akumas before they destroy the city.' She then switched back to the deep voice. 'Of course, m'lady, but not before I've told you how pawsitively purrfect you look today. Simply mewtiful.'
Adrien chuckled. It was a very good impression. Perhaps…a little too good.
'Enough of your puns, Cat Noir. You know they won't work on me.' And then: 'You'll fall for me and my charms one day, m'lady.'
He narrowed his eyes. How did she know all that? Then he thought: Marinette was best friends with Alya. She probably watched the Ladyblog a lot. Yes, that was it. Alya captured a lot of footage of him and Ladybug. And he had called her Bugaboo live on TV once. Marinette and Alya had probably been watching together.
'Wow, Marinette, you certainly know those two very well,' he remarked.
'Um, yeah. What can I say? I'm a big fan.'
'Adrien!' Manon snapped. 'We're meant to be defeating them!'
'Yes, right.' Adrien picked up Timebreaker. 'I'm gonna get your powers and go back in time so that I can fix my beloved watch!'
'Lucky charm!' Marinette sang. She reached out and grabbed a nearby tape measure from her desk. 'A tape measure? What am I supposed to do with this?'
'HA!' yelled Manon, waving Reflekta around in the air. 'You'll never beat us!'
'Oh, yes we will! You'll never…measure up to our powers!' Marinette replied in her Cat Noir voice.
Very good, Adrien thought with a smirk. Marinette was evidently no stranger to puns. This was a whole new side of her that he'd never seen before. She had Cat Noir's personality just right; all the things he would say with just the right amount of cockiness. He felt something moving beneath his shirt, which must have been Plagg shaking with laughter.
Marinette reached out the arm of the doll and touched his paw against Adrien's Timebreaker doll.
'Cataclysm!'
'Oh no, I've been got! Whatever shall I do!' Adrien wailed.
Marinette used the tape measure to wrap up the three villains, defeating them.
'No more evil-doing for you, little akumas! Time to de-evilise! Bye-bye, little butterfly. Miraculous Ladybug!'
'Another job well done, m'lady! Pound it!' She bumped the two heroes' fists together. Adrien laughed. Manon didn't look so happy though. Tears were brimming at the edge of her eyes.
'I lost again.'
'But Manon, you didn't technically lose,' Marinette said gently. 'Ladybug and Cat Noir don't actually defeat villains. They save them.'
'That's right,' Adrien agreed, grinning sideways at her. He picked up the three villains one last time. 'Thanks for saving us, Ladybug and Cat Noir. What would we do without you?'
'You're welcome, Nino, Juleka and Alix. Just doing our duty,' said Marinette as Ladybug. 'Bug out!' She chucked the doll up onto her bed before reaching for Cat Noir. 'I'd better split too before you see how awesome I look without this suit. Remember – I'm the cat's meow! Rawrrr!'
This was too much for Adrien. His breath caught in his throat and he made a choking noise.
'Oh no! Are you okay?' Marinette forgot all about the dolls and went to give him an awkward pat on the back.
'Yes – I'm – fine!' Adrien spluttered. He coughed a few times to get back to normal. If he were transformed at that moment, he might have had some choice words for his classmate. He decided it was time to try and get to the bottom of Marinette's expertise.
'I suppose you watched that interview that Ladybug and Cat Noir did?'
'Yes!' Manon jumped up and down with excitement. 'Me and Alya watched my mommy interviewing them. Right here in Marinette's room! But Marinette missed it. She was with her mommy and daddy.'
Adrien frowned.
'Really?'
Marinette shrugged, not meeting his eyes.
'They needed help with the bakery.'
'That must have been a shame for you.'
'Yeah, it was. But I watched it back afterwards. It was all over the internet.'
Adrien felt for her. He was no stranger to making sacrifices for his parents. Well, his father.
Suddenly the doorbell rang again. A minute later, Sabine Cheng opened the trapdoor and climbed up into the room followed by Nadja Chamack.
'Mommy!' Manon ran over to her mother who scooped her up in her arms.
'Have you been a good girl this time?' Nadja asked.
'I sure have! We've all been playing dolls!'
'All?' Nadja's gaze landed on the famous model in Marinette's room. 'Adrien Agreste?'
'Hi, Mrs Chamack. It's nice to see you. I came over to see Marinette and keep her and Manon company. Hope you don't mind.'
'Of course not.' Nadja's gaze lingered over Adrien and Marinette for a moment and her mouth twitched into a knowing smile. 'You two are good friends?'
'Very good friends,' said Sabine.
'Um, yeah, we…know each other from school.' Marinette glowered at her mother as her cheeks flushed.
'Well, Manon, we'd better get going. You know what the traffic can be like in Paris. Thanks again Marinette, and Adrien.'
'No problem,' the two teenagers chorused, before catching each other's eyes and grinning awkwardly. Adrien could have sworn Sabine giggled. Marinette gritted her teeth as the three departed from her bedroom, Manon waving over her mother's shoulder.
She turned back to Adrien.
'I'm guessing your father wants you back home?'
Adrien checked his phone.
'Not for another hour. Wanna see if Alya and Nino are still around and join them for ice-cream?'
'Sure, that would be lovely.' If the day's events were anything to go by, and if she knew her best friend, Alya and Nino would be making a rapid getaway when they heard Adrien and Marinette were coming out together.
'Where's your bathroom, Marinette?'
'Oh, it's this way. I'll show you.'
While Adrien was in the bathroom, Marinette found a text from Alya on her phone.
You're welcome.
She hastily sent a reply.
You are one sly fox. Can you believe I ended up playing dolls with Adrien?
Alya replied:
OMG, that's brilliant.
And then a few seconds later:
During or after Manon was there?
Marinette rolled her eyes as she responded.
Ha-ha. Now we're heading out.
Ooh on a date?
Kinda. He suggested we join you two for ice-cream.
Yeah…that's not happening. You two are going to get some alone time or I'm not RR.
Well, you're not anymore.
I'm serious, girl! You need to make a move! Without some convoluted plan this time.
May I remind you that you're the one who comes up with the convoluted plans too?
Marinette. Ask. Him. Out!
Adrien emerged and Marinette hastily stashed her phone in her bag.
'Are Alya and Nino still around?' he asked.
'Um, no. They've…gone home.' This was probably a lie, but as predicted, Alya was playing the matchmaker.
'Guess it's just the two of us, then?'
'If…that's okay with you.'
'Of course, it is.'
'Great! Let's...uh...let's go!'
'Okay, we need to work out where André is.' Marinette brought up André's social media page as they set off. 'His last post is from near the Louvre.'
'If we hurry we'll be there in ten minutes,' said Adrien.
They set off. After a few minutes walking in awkward silence, Adrien said:
'You know, Marinette, that really was a remarkable impression of Ladybug and Cat Noir.'
'Oh…it was?'
'Yes. Why…it was almost as if they were in the room. You must be a huge fan of theirs to know all that stuff that they say.'
'Um, yeah. I'm a pretty big fan. Not as much as Alya is, though.'
'Oh, yeah? I bet Alya wouldn't have sounded as convincing as you.'
'I don't know. Alya would make a good Ladybug.' Marinette smiled to herself. Adrien gave a little frown.
As they approached the ice-cream cart, André spotted them.
'Ah! So you two are finally together?' he asked, eyes twinkling. 'I knew it would happen at last!'
'Oh! No. We're just – friends,' they both stammered, looking anywhere but at each other.
'I see. Well, what can I get for you today, my dears?'
They both hesitated. Neither wanted to be presented with an ice-cream which would reveal their secret crush.
This, however, was not going to be a problem. For at that moment, there came a loud scream from a few streets away, followed by Parisians running away from the noise. Then, flying over the rooftops, appeared a supervillain in a bright coloured costume.
'Oh no!' exclaimed Marinette. 'It looks like there's been an akuma!'
As if on cue, a bright blast of light surged towards them. Before Marinette could even react, Adrien had tackled her to the floor out of harm's way. André, however, was not so lucky. The blast sailed over the young heroes and hit him square in the chest. He gasped, and promptly turned into a chicken.
'André!' Marinette exclaimed. She had to get away and transform so that she could save him. She wriggled, rather reluctantly, out of Adrien's arms.
'I have to get home. My parents will be worried.'
'Oh, um, yeah, me too,' said Adrien. 'My father will want me safely back at the house. Promise me you'll be careful?'
'Of course. And if I get hit, Ladybug and Cat Noir will save me.'
She dashed off.
'They sure will,' Adrien replied, and ran in the opposite direction to find somewhere to transform and save the day.