Chasing Ladybug 📸 (A Miraculous Ladybug Fanfic)

A Retelling: 9 | Red Strings

Theo Barbot stabs two thumbtacks into the picture of his lady, printed straight from the Ladyblog. He rests his hand flat on the board, tracing his index finger over Ladybug's paper face, still warm and fresh from the printer. Leaning forward, he presses his forehead into the wall and sighs, deep. "Oh, Ladybug... why can't you see how perfect we are for each other?" He whispers out loud to himself in his empty studio.

Theo steps back to admire his love, his reason, the only muse he would ever need. On the wall before him is a ceiling-to-floor collage, a collection of his favorite pictures of Paris' famous superhero—Ladybug. Hundreds of candid's of the spotted hero in action covers the entirety of the beige wall. 

There were pictures of Ladybug in battle, fighting akumas Shadowmoth created, stills of her at press conferences and galas hosted in her honor, pictured with—of course—her partner, Cat Noir. He did his best not to capture the cat, but he's always attached to the bug. Some pictures —if not all—Theo had taken of the bug himself.

Though, the ones Theo had taken were the ones Ladybug didn't know she was posing for.

The sculptor's been infatuated with this red-and-black spotted hero ever since she made her superhero debut. Her confidence, her bravery, her selflessness, it sparked something in Theo, and he knew from the very moment that he first laid eyes on her, he wanted the bug for himself.

"I can't have Ladybug until I get rid of that cat," Theo mutters to himself as he turns to a different wall, glaring at a pinned picture of the leather-covered hero. His hands ball into angry fists. "Ugh! I hate him!" 

Pictures of Adrien Agreste and Cat Noir sit side by side together. A red string connects them.

Theo recently found out the hero's secret identity, and ever since he's spent the past three months gaining any and every information he can find on the young blonde model.

Red strings connect to other people in the hero's life. Gabriel Agreste, father and famous fashion designer. Nathalie Sancoeur, his father's assistant and mother figure. Gorilla, his personal bodyguard and drive, cursed with a nickname from when the model was young.

Theo spared no expense to learn everything and all that he can about Adrien's friends and classmates. He follows red strings connecting to pictures of the model's friends.

Mylene Haprele, a proud advocate for a clean earth, and her supportive boyfriend, Ivan Bruel, who'd do anything to protect his girlfriend and keep her happy.

Juleka Couffaine, twin sister of Luka (ex-boyfriend of Marinette), and Rose Lavillant, other members of self-made band, Kitty Section, and longtime girlfriends.

Alix Kubdel, Nathaniel Kurtzberg, and Marc Anciel—proud members of the art club.

Zoe Lee, a transfer student from New York, and half-sister of Chloe Bourgeois.

Nino Lahiffe and Alya Cesaire—best friends of Adrien Agreste and Marinette Dupain-Cheng. The model, designer, deejay, reporter are close, always together, and loyal to each other.

There were four people prominent in the model's life.

Adrien's ex-girlfriend, a strong, intelligent girl with dark hair—Kagami Tsurugi. The two dated briefly and despite a harsh breakup, they remain friends.

Adrien's childhood friend, a feisty blonde—Chloe Bourgeois. Though she's selfish, loud, and cruel, the rich-upbringing pair are still somewhat close.

Adrien's current best friend, an energetic and self-proclaimed deejay—Nino Lahiffe. The two had met on the model's first day of school and have been inseparable ever since.

Then there's Adrien's soft spot, the strong willed, clumsy baker's daughter—Marinette Dupain-Cheng. She was his girlfriend, at least when he was masquerading as Cat Noir. The hero and designer have been dating in secret.

This didn't make sense to Theo, as Cat Noir had claimed—again—that he and Ladybug were still in a relationship. The bug had confirmed this fact herself. So, what, did Cat Noir have two secret girlfriends?

A few years back, Cat Noir had said that he and Ladybug were in a relationship—a perfect couple—and it caused Theo to be akumatized into a supervillain, Copycat. The hero had lied to him. Theo had no idea why, maybe to just be a jerk, but even so, Ladybug still trusted Cat Noir. They were closer more than ever, and Theo couldn't understand why.

Theo had spent the past three months learning everything he can about Cat Noir, in hopes of soon replacing the hero and taking his rightful place by Ladybug's side. He was desperate to know why Ladybug cared for her partner so much, why she burdens herself in his presence, and why after all this time they were still so close, still together.

He didn't like that at all.

"What is she thinking?!" Theo shouts, picking up his desk chair and throwing it across the room. Anger rises in him with each breath he takes, his eyes wide. "How can she stand that stuck up, self-absorbed, ego-driven cat?! He doesn't deserve to even be in her presence! To be so close to her..."

Theo closes his eyes and imagines Ladybug in front of him. Cat Noir's face appears and his eyes snap open. "That cat doesn't deserve to fight alongside her! It should be me by her side!"

And soon it will be.