Love creeps up on you

chapter one

Marinette sat on her bed, her eyes boring into the wall in front of her. A red blur snapped her from the daze she'd been in since 4 o'clock that afternoon. She checked the time and noticed it was now 05:39pm. Her kwami simply offered her a sympathetic smile. The girl swung her legs over the edge of her bed and made her way downstairs. Things had been tense in the bakery recently, after the school contacted her parents for something she didn't do. It had stung when they hadn't believed her but it was pretty understandable, considering it came from an adult. It was just unfortunate that that adult was Caline Bustier. She was incompetent and a placater at the worst times. It was actually baffling how she still had her job.

Marinette wasn't a regular girl as it is. She may go through hardships, but she still stood tall as the parisian superhero; Ladybug. It was quite amusing to see all those who hated Marinette practically worship the ground that Ladybug walked on. That feeling never lasted very long though, always cut short by a scathing remark.

Today, she was just going to spend the remainder of her afternoon going through her emails and finishing off that commission for Jagged Stone. He really did have an obsession with leather and anything that involved studs. She chuckled to herself and her parents looked at her in confusion. She sat at the table and they ate dinner in an uncomfortable silence. Any attempts at conversation were stilted and surface-level. Marinette finished her food far quicker than usual and made her way to her room so that she could return to her work.

Once she reached her room, it became clear that Hawkmoth had other plans. It was as if she wasn't allowed a moment of peace. So, running on two hours of sleep, she muttered her transformation phrase and left to battle the newest victim. It truly was a miracle she hadn't been akumatized herself.

Once she made it to the scene, she took note of her partners absence. That didn't matter for now. Hopefully he'd be there when she needed him. The akuma was calling herself 'Lib-scare-ian'. Her weapon was a large book that seemed to be able to create whatever she wanted it to. The woman was making her way down the streets, calling for Ladybug and Chat Noir as she monologued why she was seeking revenge.

"Nobody cares for my books and they don't deserve my patience! You all break my rules and vandalise my property! You can't escape me now! i'll show you how useful books can be!"

Lib-scare-ian muttered something before pulling out a page from her book. It seemed to listen to what she was saying before crushing itself into a paper ball and reshaping into a sword. Of course it had to be a sword. She swung it around threateningly and civilians ran as fast as they could. The akuma was fast approaching and just as she went to strike a young man, a yo-yo wrapped around her wrist and tugged. He was able to escape as Lib-scare-ian's eyes met Ladybug's. She growled and advanced on her opponent. When she lunged, Ladybug ducked and tried to grab the book. She was unsuccessful and the akuma began to mutter again. This time, the page became a gun. When did these akumas become so violent? Lib-scare-ian cackled triumphantly as she aimed for Ladybug. She'd failed to notice a certain cat slink behind her. He raised his baton and hit her on the temple. Hard.

"Chat!" Ladybug took on a worried tone as she reprimanded her "partner" for the unnecessarily heavy swing. She looked over the akuma who was out cold and currently had blood rushing from her head. Ladybug took the book from Lib-scare-ian's limp hands and ripped it straight down the middle. A dark and sickly butterfly squeezed itself from between two pages and tried to make a hasty escape. It was unsuccessful and quickly captured in Ladybug's yo-yo and set free after it had been purified. Ladybug watched it flutter away. She called out, "Miraculous Ladybug!" and the city swarmed with ladybugs as all the damage was erased, as if nothing had ever happened in the first place.

A young girl with flowing blonde hair and brown eyes sat where Lib-scare-ian previously was. She looked meekly up at Ladybug, apologising for letting her emotions get the better of her.

"It really shouldn't be something you have to apologise for. I suggest visiting miraculous.com for suggestions on how to prevent this from happening again. Are you feeling okay? I have time to talk if you need." Ladybug's smile was gentle as she addressed the akuma victim. She really did care for the people who went through akumatization, giving them advice and helping them in any ways she could. The girl simply shook her head and thanked Ladybug for her suggestion, saying she'd check out the website. Ladybug gave her a warm smile and waved her off as she was guided to the police car that was called to make sure she got home safe.

Then she directed her attention to Chat Noir, but was met with the sight of his puckered lips. She took a step back and he had the audacity to look offended.
"Do i not get a thank you kiss for helping you out of that deadly situation?" he asked, his tone accusatory.

"Why can't you grasp the fact i don't like you like that, Chat? I've had a long day."

"You have to come to terms with the fact that we're meant to be, m'lady. I came to your aid right in time. I saved you." He had an unsettling smile as he looked at her. He spoke as if he was explaining a foreign concept to a child and it drove Marinette insane.

"No Chat. And you should have been there from the beginning. Not to mention how hard you hit the victim! It's not her fault she was upset and Hawkmoth took advantage of her!"

"Well she was still an akuma. She was going to hurt you and i couldn't have that, m'lady. I'm always here to protect you." His smirk was predatory as he reached for her hand, no doubt to kiss her knuckles.

"Please don't kiss me, Chat. You know i don't like it. I really have to get home." Without waiting for an answer, she pulled her yo-yo from its place on her hip and swung in the direction of the bakery.

Once her feet hit the solid ground of the bedroom floor, her transformation fell and she collapsed, barely landing on her chaise as sleep overcame her.