Runaway 🌑 (A Miraculous Ladybug Fanfiction)

Chapter 14 | In A Faith-Forgotten Land

Three Days Later

"Pound it!" The heroes bumped their fists together.

"Ladybug! Cat Noir!"

The two turned and their eyes widened in sync at the crowd of reporters and journalists running towards them, carrying microphones, notepads, and film cameras.

From being in the public eye almost his entire life, Adrien had grown accustomed and used to invasive questions and cameras being shoved in his face all the time. Marinette? Not so much.

"I wonder what they want to talk about," Cat Noir whispered to his partner as they waited for the ambush. "Last time it was to ask if we were dating—again."

Ladybug forced a laugh. "Yeah! That was... that was ridiculous, right?"

He shrugged. "It could've happened under different circumstances. Like if you weren't such a tight ass," He teased, and turned to stick his tongue out.

"Oh, for sure." She rolled her eyes. "It had nothing to do with you being so persistent and annoying."

"You know you love me, Bugaboo."

How could I not? "'Course I do, Kitty," She chuckled in a joking manner, although totally serious.

All the reporters stood in a half-circle in front of the heroes. Ladybug flinched at the constant camera clicks and flashes, and she raised her arm to shield her eyes. Cat Noir stood still, unfazed.

"Ladybug, Cat Noir," a woman with short, blonde hair and frizzy bangs started as she gestured for the cameraman beside her to get closer. "I'm Diane Bostic, number one journalist from 'Paris First News'. First of all, good fight! That was another epic battle from our best and greatest superhero duo."

"Thank you," the cat chimed in with a tiny wave.

"There's only one thing important on everyone's minds right now."

The bug took in a deep breath. Here it comes. She's going to ask if Cat Noir and I are dating.

"All of Paris is wondering what you're planning to do about Marinette Dupain-Cheng." The reporter extended her microphone to the heroes, impatiently awaiting their answer. 

Ladybug and Cat Noir shared a confused look.

"Are you going to assist Officer Roger in their search for her?" Diane clarified. "I know everyone would love to see that girl in jail, if not her head on a stick." She laughed hard and turned the microphone back towards them.

Cat Noir straightened his shoulders. I hate the way everyone talks about Marinette. There has to be something I can do to fix this. He cleared his throat. "We—"

"Excuse me." Ladybug stepped in front of her partner, pushing him aside, and snatched the microphone being shoved in towards their faces. "I believe Marinette Dupain-Cheng is innocent!"

A collected gasp echoed through the crowd.

"I have seen firsthand the cruel tricks and lies Lila Rossi is capable of not only with Marinette Dupain-Cheng, but with me as well. When she first moved to Paris, she spread rumors about us being best friends and how I had saved her life. And sure, you might be thinking, 'that doesn't sound bad'. I mean, who wouldn't want to be friends with a superhero? I wouldn't have minded being friends with Lila, at the time. But spreading lies about someone is not the way to make friends."

Cat Noir nodded in agreement. I remember that day. Of course, I was a little shocked to see Ladybug being aggressive with Lila, but after I found out she lied about everything, I felt she kind of deserved it.