Who We Never Thought We'd Be... (Miraculous Fanfiction)

The Investigation Begins...

That bit of news hit Marinette like a freight train. "Adrian!?" She squeaked. "I. Have been fighting crime. With Adrian!? Are you sure!?"

"Yes! I've lived with the guy for two years, I think I know who he is!" Plagg replied.

"And he's been flirting with you this whole time...!" Alya squealed. "He likes you back, Marinette! Well, he likes Ladybug, at least."

"The ultimate love square...!" Tikki whispered.

Marinette gasped. "But that means Gabriel Agreste is Hawkmoth! I've idolized that guy since...forever!"

Alya giggled, "So maybe Hawkmoth is holding up in a fabric store!"

"Alya!"

"Sorry. Just trying to lighten the mood. I mean, you just found out that you've been shutting down your crush's romantic advances for two years, and his father, who you idolize, is secretly a supervillain intent on taking over Paris."

Marinette sighed, falling back onto the mat in the center of the room. "I'm doomed, Alya... My entire career as Ladybug is over!"

"Only if you let it, Marinette!" Tikki replied. "You can fight this, I know it! Let's focus on finding Adrian first."

Marinette nodded, sitting up again. "You're right, Tikki..."

"I'll help too!" Alya replied, then looked at her phone. "But it's late tonight. Let's meet up tomorrow morning at school."

Marinette nodded. "Okay..."
The two girls headed out of the building and both got onto their bikes and headed for home.
Hang in there, Adrian. I'll find you, I promise...
______________________________________

"Gosh dang it! I wanna go down there and help!" His fingers drummed the rooftop, eyes flitting around to take in his surroundings.

His partner placed a hand on his shoulder. "You know we can't do that...not until she gives the word."

"But Ladybug...she's so fragile, and-"

"Just because she dresses as an insect does not mean she's weak. She'll be alright... Our orders are to simply observe and intervene if necessary."

"It's not necessary now!?"

"No... If Hawkmoth is about to take their miraculouses, then we intervene. Not now... This isn't our city, partner. We are only observers in this situation."

"I know...I just want some action, ya know? To get my hands dirty."

"Which is the opposite of me...I'd prefer to just stalk them all day and never engage..."

"Right...We'd better get back to camp before they notice we're not in our wagons."

"As they say every performance... 'The show must go on.'"
______________________________________

The next morning, Marinette and Alya slipped into their classroom earlier than usual, speaking in hushed tones as they went over what they knew.

"Okay, so his hideout would have to be somewhere he could easily send out akumas from..." Alya whispered. "And probably be able to see a lot of the city from it... A tower maybe?"

"There's the clock tower." Marinette replied, "But people tour the tower frequently, so I don't think that's it..."

"Adrian's own house has high places where you could see out, but is it high enough...?"

"You really think Hawkmoth would hold Adrian hostage in his own house?"

"Didn't he do that already? I mean, before Adrian started coming to school with us?"

"Oh man, school! When Adrian doesn't show up today, everyone's gonna be curious as to why!"

"Especially Chloe."

The two became silent as Miss Bustier and the other students stepped into the classroom.
"Girls!" Miss Bustier smiled as she saw them. "You're not late for class, you're early, in fact!"

"Just wanted to be good students!" Alya announced.

"Well, I'm not expecting it to be your new usual, but thank you."

"Where's Adrian?" Chloe and Nino both asked.

"Sorry, but Adrian is sick and couldn't make it today."

Marinette and Alya looked at each other. "Who told her that?" Alya whispered. "Hawkmoth?"

"Or maybe his assistant Natalie said he was sick so nobody would suspect they're both missing." Marinette whispered back.

There was a barely audible shuffling in Alya's bag as Plagg shifted positions inside, but fortunately, no one else noticed it.

They'd decided that Plagg was safer for now with Alya, who wasn't a superhero and less likely to have had Plagg sent to her by Adrian.
If Hawkmoth assumed any of Adrian's friends had him, it would probably be Chloe or Nino.

One thing was true, though. The first place to look was the scene of the crime...