Chasing Ladybug 📸 (A Miraculous Ladybug Fanfic)

10 • Then | A Request

THEN

He raised his camera, zooming in on the students, and took candid shots, trying to read their lips as they have private conversations with each other. Then, a silver car pulled up into his view and he watched as Adrien Agreste climb out of the backseat.

The model's steps were captured as Theo's camera followed the blonde over to his friends, Nino, Alya, and Marinette. After greeting the deejay and reporter, Adrien turned to the amateur designer. He leaned in, and suddenly stopped.

Theo chuckled to himself as he snapped another picture. That's right, pretty boy. You're only dating her as Cat Noir. Does she know who you truly are? Adrien nervously laughed and instead offered Marinette a handshake.

The first bell rang, and the students headed inside for their first class. He took a few more pictures before he put his camera away back in his bag. I need to find out who his friends are and see if there's a way I can use them against him. He climbed on his bike and drove back to his studio.

His unfinished sculpting projects collected dust in the corner as Theo focused on his new hobby: scrapbooking and picture collages. He sat at his desk, opening the search bar on his laptop, and typed in the name of the school Adrien attended. There were many articles of the teachers and students and Theo thoroughly read every single one.

Miss Bustier's class was just involved in a charity project at the mayor's hotel, Theo learned as he reads through his eighth article. There was a group photo at the end. Conveniently, all the students' names were listed. Theo grabbed his notebook, scribbled down their names, and printed out new pictures, connecting the right names to faces.

Theo stepped back from his board and looked over the new pictures he added. It's not enough, but it's good for now. I need to learn more about Adrien's friends. The more I find out, the closer I'll get to replacing that stupid cat. He sat back down at his desk. "Maybe I should focus on his family next..." He mumbled to himself.

About twenty minutes into researching Adrien's family and private life, an alert appeared on the screen. Theo opened it immediately and live footage from the mayor's hotel started playing.

"Tomorrow will be the three-year anniversary of Ladybug and Cat Noir's heroic debut in our lovely city," Mayor Bourgeois spoke into a foam microphone, standing at a podium in front of a crowd of journalists and reporters. "And as mayor of Paris, I'd like to honor their partnership, our guardian angels. I'll be hosting a red-and-black themed gala at the hotel, where I'll officially make tomorrow Ladybug and Cat Noir Day! Every year on this special date, we'll celebrate our heroes for their selfless bravery. I'd be glad if the two will be gracious enough to make an appearance tomorrow night. Thank you."

Theo glared at his computer screen, catching his angry reflection. "I understand honoring Ladybug, but that mangy alley cat, too?!" He slammed his laptop shut and pushed it away. "He doesn't deserve it!"

He looked up at his unfinished project in the corner and jumped up. "Shit! I've been so focused on gathering intel on Adrien's friends that I forgot to work on my sculping project for the gala tomorrow!"

As he began working on it, his phone beeped with an akuma alert. Theo smiled. "What the hell, I can pull an all-nighter to finish it." He grabbed his keys and helmet and rushed outside. "Where are you, Ladybug?" He wondered to himself as he tried to find the battle's location.

Ladybug and Cat Noir raced towards the Seine, chasing after Shadowmoth's re-akumatized villain, Stormy Weather.

"I have a lunch date with my mouse later, so I'd like to hurry this along," Cat Noir told his partner as they leapt over a bridge and landed in the sand.