Miraculous

Chapter One

"Come on Chat!" Ladybug called as she zipped across the rooftops of Paris.
"Yes, my Lady!" He replied as she glanced back to see him following swiftly behind. She stopped in the middle of a park, alighting on a bench and motioning for him to sit next to her.
" So, what was so important that you just had to have us come here for?" He asked, eyebrows raised mischievously. She tucked some hair behind her ear nervously.
" Well, I've been thinking about your last proposal," she started, eyes lowered.
" Aaaaannd?"
" You know. . . About revealing our identities. . ." He let out a small sigh, his shoulders drooping slightly, his disappointment barely showing on his face.
" I think we should do it." Ladybug said staring into his eyes. His ears pricked up, shooting her a curious glance.
" Yea?"
" Yes," she replied confidently. " but on one term. You have to go first."
" Why?" He knew suspicion was showing clearly on his face.
She shrugged, dropping her gaze.
" Just for my comfort." He raised an questioning look, but then dropped it. He knew Ladybug well enough to know that she wouldn't do anything to hurt him.
" Fine."
He removed his ring, his black suit fading to reveal the well known figure of Adrien Agreste. He ran his fingers through his hair then gazed up at her.
Ladybug looked at him with curiosity, but then he realized she was looking at his ring. He felt Plagg brush against his neck and whisper something he couldn't make out.
" Your turn," Adrien said simply.
" May I?" She asked gesturing at his ring. He felt confusion flash across his face, but then replaced it with a blank stare. He tightened his grip on his right hand. He slowly slid the ring off and placed it in her open palm. She examined it for a minute, then closed her hand.
" Thank you Chat. You don't know how much this means to me. . ." He suddenly noticed a malicious glint in her eyes as a wolffish smile slid across her face.
" But it will be of more worth to my master, Hawkmoth. . ." She noticed a stricken look on his face, the patronizingly said," Oh, don't look so sad Adrien! It's for a better cause!"
She landed a kiss on his lips, then grabbed her yo-yo and slung away, his ring still clenched in her hand.

                             * * * * *
Adrien lurched upward from his dream, cold sweat trickling down his face and back. His right hand throbbed and he looked down to see it clenched. Uncurling his fingers, he saw his ring laying in the center of his hand. He slid it back on, and Plagg's familiar snoring filled the room. The kwami's small black figure was curled up at the foot of his bed, outlined by a sliver of moon light, an accent in the stark black night. He glanced at his alarm clock, the green digital numbers flashing the time for all to see.
3:58!! 3:58!! It seemed to say. He sighed and laid back down. He slowed his breathing, and listened  to the subdued noises of late-night

* * * * *
" Adrien! Focus!" Natalie snapped. "We only have a few more pictures!"
Adrien glanced uninterested at the camera man, posing for him. After snapping a few photos, the camera man examined them, then with a wave of his hand said," Dismissed."
" Come to the car," Natalie said, her composure returning.
" No. I'll walk home today," he replied. She gave him a quizzical look, then walked to the car without him. He walked down the street, the streetlights flickering on in the dimming light. He looked over towards the bakery run by his school mate, Marinette's parents. He heard a familiar zing! and looked up to see a silhouette leaning on a rail atop the bakery. He frowned, remembering that the rooftop was a part of Marinette's room. He shrugged the thought off. Veering towards the entrance, he stepped inside the building, the aroma of freshly baked cinnamon rolls washing over him.
"Hello Adrien! Would you like a cinnamon roll?" Marinette's father asked. Adrien nodded, not wanting to miss a chance for a free one.
" Is Marinette here?" He asked as her father handed him a cinnamon roll. Her father nodded.
" She's in her room. You can head up a get her if you want," he replied as he winked at Adrien.
" Thank you," he said.He walked up the ladder and knocked on her door. He heard a muffled squeak, then a flurry of movement. Marinette lifted the trapdoor and jumped, blushing when she noticed him.
" Hi Adrien," she managed to say as she gestured for him to come in. He walked in, and stuck his hands in his pockets. He noticed a few picture frames flipped over, but then followed her as she climbed up to the rooftop.

Plagg popped out of his jacket, sniffing the air, then flew up to his ear and whispered," It smells like a kwami in here."
"Hush!" Adrien said as he shoved him back into his jacket. He walked over to the railing and stood next to her.
" So. Umm. Ahh. . . How's school coming for you?" She asked.
He shrugged, looking out on the rooftops of Paris." Pretty good."
She turned her head to look into his eyes. " Did you see the awesome save Chat Noir and Ladybug made the other day?"
" Yea. Ladybug did really well," he said recalling the last akumatized villain they had fought. His phone buzzed in his pocket, and he pulled it out to see a text from Natalie telling him to be at his house in five minutes.
" I have to go," he said after a minute of silence.
" It was nice talking to you. See you tomorrow," Marinette said as they walked to the ladder.
" See ya."
He walked out of the bakery and down the streets of Paris.