Chasing Ladybug 📸 (A Miraculous Ladybug Fanfic)

A Retelling: 5 | A Request

Theo stands across from the school, disguised in a baseball cap and a thick coat, camera ready as he watches Adrien's friends and classmates hang out by the front steps, waiting for the bell to signal their first class.

He raises his camera, zooming in on the students, and takes candid shots, trying to read their lips as they have private conversations with each other. Then, a silver car pulls up into his view and he watches as Adrien Agreste climbs out of the backseat.

The model's steps are captured as Theo's camera follows the blonde over to his friends, Nino, Alya, and Marinette. After greeting the deejay and reporter, Adrien turns to the amateur designer. He leans in, and suddenly stops.

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

The first bell rings and the students head inside for their first class. He takes 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 climbs on his bike and drives back to his studio.

His unfinished sculpting projects collect dust in the corner as Theo focuses on his new hobby: scrapbooking and picture collages. He sat at his desk, opening the search bar on his laptop, and types in the name of the school Adrien attends. There's many articles of the teachers and students and Theo thoroughly reads every single one.

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

Theo steps back from his board and looks 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 mumbles to himself.

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

"Tomorrow will be the three-year anniversary of Ladybug and Cat Noir's heroic debut in our lovely city," Mayor Bourgeois speaks 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 glares at his computer screen, catching his angry reflection. "I understand honoring Ladybug, but that mangy alley cat, too?!" He slams his laptop shut and pushes it away. "He doesn't deserve it!"

He looks up at his unfinished project in the corner and jumps 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 begins working on it, his phone beeps with an akuma alert. Theo smiles. "What the hell, I can pull an all-nighter to finish it." He grabs his keys and helmet and rushes outside. "Where are you, Ladybug?" He wonders to himself as he tries to find the battle's location.

Ladybug and Cat Noir race 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 tells his partner as they leap over a bridge and land in the sand.