@LADYBUG is typing... [A Miraculous AU]

UN

Le Chaton ~ The Kitten

Marinette had been ridden with paranoia for as long as she could remember. She was a pessimistic child, one fueled by insecurity, cowardice, and fear of her future. A future so vague and uncertain for the naive, simple Marinette. Her desires were clear to her, but the next step was a sight unseen. One option, the bakery, was her parent's pride and soul but for her to be stuck rolling dough and baking pastries for the rest of her life was everything but ideal. She was just fresh out of college and they were already hinting at her inheritance. An inheritance equivalent to abandoning her world of dress forms, fabrics, and fashion.

When she told her parents no, which she dreaded to do, her eyes began to fill with tears at her mother's response. Do whatever makes you happy, my dear, she said while caressing her cheek. Just take care of yourself and don't do anything stupid. Marinette sobbed out a few yes, Maman's and a hugged both of her parents before running to her room and typing out a long-overdue application. She felt her body ache. Her dreams were bundled up in this single e-mail.

Three weeks later and she hadn't heard a thing.

"Tikki, what if they declined? They probably thought I was pathetic." She said and balanced the phone between her jaw and shoulder while pricking her finger with pins. "Oh, I knew this would end in disaster. I'm cursed!"

Her personal commission for Madame Dupont was due tomorrow and she was too preoccupied with sulking that she had mismeasured all the patterns and made a dress that was nowhere near the size of her client.

"I'm a failure. Maybe I should just become a baker and sell chocolate-filled croissants till I die." She mumbled, slipping off her strapped pincushion and collapsing on her sofa.

"Marinette, calm down. You've been picking yourself apart over that internship and dress for weeks. For your sake, you need to take a break."

"What can I do that will make me forget all of this?"

She heard a sigh over the phone. "Seriously? What did you do in college to procrastinate all your projects?"

Marinette sniffled. "Ultimate Mecha Strike Three?"

"There you go."

She couldn't believe how one match of her favorite game was enough to make her forget all the prospects of her future. Maybe it was the competitive side of her that swept all her problems away, but the moment she picked up the controller she didn't spare Gabriel one ounce of her thoughts. It had only been her and the frantic clicking of her joystick until another voice had rung in her ears.

"Hey, bugaboo."

Marinette ceased all movement and watched her in-game fighter come to its doom. Was all the delirium of weariness getting to her head? She pressed her lips together and dazed at the screen.

"I'm hearing voices."

It was a laugh that interrupted her this time. "No, it's just that the game added a built-in voice chat. I'm the guy who just beat you. My bad, bugaboo."

"Wait, no fair! I wasn't paying attention." She pursed her lips. "And what's with the bugaboo nonsense?"

"Ladybug, right?" The words rematch flickered on her screen. "Bugaboo sounds better. I'll stop if it really bugs you."

"Oh god, that was awful." She giggled and pressed accept.

Several matches and far too many Ladybug puns later, Marinette realized how little time she had left to finish the dress. She had cut out the fabric and sewed on the sleeves, but the rest of the stitching and embellishments needed at least two hours.

She yawned. "Okay, Chat Noir. I gotta go."

"What? It's only eight o'clock." Before she could turn off her console he had begged her to wait a few seconds and then voilà, a notification popped up on the corner of her screen.

Chat Noir has added you as a friend. [via FISCORD]

"Hmm? What is this?" She teased and hovered a nimble finger over the accept button. "Should I?"

"Please, princess!"

"Oh, so I'm a princess now?"

"So you like bugaboo?"

She laughed and let her finger down. "Aw, screw it."

Marinette had two revelations when she woke up the next morning. One, she had slept in and would be late to meet up Madame Dupont. And two, she had slept in and would be late to meet up Madame Dupont because she spent three hours playing UMS3 with a complete stranger. Not only that, she let him call her pet names and for some godforsaken reason, she had enjoyed it. She suppressed her scream with a pillow and grabbed her phone from her stand.

You have 4 new messages.

Chat Noir: hey bugaboo, i had fun tonight!

i usually don't use my mic

and i never have time for this

but ty and have a good night :)

Marinette smiled and typed a brief reply.

Good morning!

Sorry for not responding.

I had fun and if you want, we can play again soon.

seen at 10:00