Chapter Text
The following story is a work by a fan, for fans. The purpose of this work is merely to entertain, not for monetary gain. Miraculous: The Tales of Ladybug and Chat Noir is owned by Thomas Astruc, Zagtoon, and Method Animation. Please support the official release.
Warning: The following story takes place in an AU where all of the characters are the ages of seventeen and eighteen rather than thirteen and fourteen. For this reason, necessary changes will be made such as Collège Françoise Dupont being renamed Lycée Françoise Dupont to be age appropriate. Major departures from canon through new villains and heroes and plot threads will occur at about the halfway mark. Additionally, chapters based on episodes will not be a perfect one-to-one adaptation as certain changes are necessary.
While Miraculous isn’t a series I would consider to have spoilers (as much of it can be figured out after seeing one or two episodes), this story will contain events directly from the following episodes:
• The Bubbler
• Copycat
• Evillustrator
• Glaciator
• Sapotis
The story will also feature things mentioned or referenced in:
• Princess Fragrance
• The Collector
• Reverser
• Miraculous Comics (Trash Kraken Saga)
Most events that are considered “major-ish” spoilers for the series will not be included. If you are unfamiliar with Miraculous, the first few chapters will get you caught up.
There’s something exciting about the first day of school. No matter whether you love or hate formalized education, there’s something special about showing up on that first day to see old friends or make new ones. It’s even better when your first day of school ends up giving you a few extra days of summer vacation. The downside is that it’s impossible to walk in unnoticed.
All eyes were on you as you entered the doors of Lycée Françoise Dupont. “Where have you been [Y/n]?” your best friend Nathaniel Kurtzberg asked.
“Our hiking trip went a little late,” you murmured, trying not to turn red as his hair. “Kind of a pain… So, is our final year everything they said it’d be?”
“Not really; more of the same, but with extra anxiety! Couple new students though; kept a seat for you.” Nathaniel, or Nath as you tended to call him, had been your best friend for about as long as you could remember. The aspiring comic artist was your partner in crime – that is, if you consider marathon video game sessions, creating new comics together, and crying about the exams for le bac a type of crime. Both of you were quiet and reserved in class, but when left alone, you were a dynamic duo.
“How’s the new comic coming? Can I see the new villain’s design?” You asked, reaching for his sketchbook.
“Indefinite hiatus,” he said, swatting your hand away, “I found something better!”
“Better?”
“Ladybug! C’mon man!”
“Ladybug? What’s so great about a little bug?”
“No, no the superhero! You can’t tell me you didn’t see the news!”
“Nath, seriously. Paris has superheroes now?” You knew there were superheroes all over the place; the United States even had a former superhero as president! But France, let alone Paris, hadn’t seen home-grown superheroes in ages.
“Yeah! Would it kill you to at least look at the news?”
You shrugged. “So, who are they? Are they cool?”
“The coolest! Ladybug and Chat Noir!”
You crossed your arms. “So, a bug and a hipster cabaret poster? I guess beggars can’t be choosers…”
Nath rubbed his temples. “Okay, I get it, it sounds weird but trust me.”
“I guess it’s something I’d have to see for myself.”
“Did I hear you guys say Ladybug?” A new girl you had never seen before popped up next to you a phone and a look you could only describe as fox-like. “You should totally check out the new video I got on my blog.”
Nath leaned in. “Can I see?”
“Sure, it’s really cool.” The video was a little grainy, but there was an unmistakable superhero in red and black swinging through the air, fighting some gigantic rock creature.
“That’s awesome,” you breathed. “What was that thing?”
“Ivan.”
“Ivan? Like the guy in our class?”
“Yeah,” Alya explained. “There’s this supervillain called Hawkmoth who transforms people into his servants by taking advantage of them when they’re not in control of their emotions. But, we’ve got Ladybug and Chat Noir to keep us safe and rescue everyone from being transformed.” She pulled up another video showing Ivan, returned to his human form in a cloud of purple smoke.
“So, what’d I tell you?” Nath said. “Definitely better, right?”
You pretended to think it over. “Weeeell, I really wanted to see how your next design, but I guess so.” Alya and Nath stared at you. “Okay, yeah, Ladybug is freakin’ awesome! D’ya think we’ll see her again?”
“I’m sure she’ll be back if Hawkmoth tries anything,” Alya said. “In the meantime, you can always follow the Lady-blog for more.”
“Totally,” you promised, pulling out your phone with your favorite color case out of your backpack. You saved the URL just in time as the bell rang.
Your eyes wandered over the class. You were happy to see the shocking pink hair of the ever-energetic Alix Kubdel and the familiar pigtails of Marinette Dupain-Cheng. Another good friend of yours, Nino Lahiffe, sat in the front row, but there was a stranger next to him.
You leaned over to your desk partner. “Nath, who’s the blond?”
“Chloe?”
“You know who I mean!” You scowled. “Who’s the new blond guy? He’s kinda cute.”
“How don’t you know? That’s Adrien Agreste, you know, the model with his face plastered across Paris.” He rolled his eyes after your blank look. “Y’know, like the Agreste fashion brand and the popular cologne?”
“Forgive me for not being caught up on the trends, I have better things to do,” you said with mock superiority.
“Like binging the newest anime?”
“Only the finest, of course,” you snickered with an accent that sounded like an old businessman. “So, why’s Mr. Pretty Boy here with us?”
“I heard he was home-schooled, and his father finally let him out so he can prepare for le bac. He seems nice enough – I mean, Nino likes him – but he’s also friends with Chloe.”
“Damn, I’m sorry for him on both counts.” Your eyes trailed over his golden hair and toned arms. As he turned, you could see pretty green eyes.
“Earth to [Y/n]?”
You blushed and turned back to Nath who had a smug grin. “Sorry, I zoned out.”
“I noticed. Have a crush on the new guy?”
“C’mon Nath, I haven’t even talked to him yet. Besides, he’s a model and probably straight. I bet he dates girls from all over the world. I bet he’s a player and a total bag of dicks under that smiling cute mask.”
“Cute?”
“Shut up.”
“Good morning class!” Madame Bustier’s greeting cut Nath off before he could respond, and you were thankful for the change of subject. “And welcome back Mr. [L/n], it’s good to see you again. Everyone, let’s pull out our textbooks and continue our discussion of the colony of Massalia.”
Several lectures later, the school day had come to a close. There was a decent amount of work from your absent days, but it wasn’t anything unmanageable. Luckily enough, nothing was due tomorrow, which obviously meant no homework was getting done tonight. You were on your way back to the Metro station when your phone buzzed with a text from Nino.
Hey man, we’re throwing a party for Adrien at his place!
“Party?” You texted back. “What kind of party?” You got the response almost instantly.
Birthday party dude! Adrien’s padre never lets him do stuff so we’re makin’ up for lost time. I’ll send ya the address. Party’s startin’ now so hurry up!
It actually wasn’t that far away, a short hop on the metro in the opposite direction from your house. You could go home or you could hang out with the cute guy. Well, given your absolute moral fortitude and self-control there was no choice. You sent a message to let your parents know and headed out.
“What the actual hell?” you muttered under your breath. Adrien didn’t live in a house. This place was a mansion, maybe even some old noble’s palace or vacation home of a royal family. You could feel the thumping bass of Nino’s own electro-house mix on the other side of the garden wall. Something felt odd though as the general foot traffic through Paris was nonexistent. Even the metro seemed empty. Aside from the music, it seemed quiet on the street.
The scene only got stranger as you passed through the main gate. Everyone was uncomfortably dancing, but not the kind of “awkward high schoolers” dancing. They kept a wary eye on some guy who looked like a walking modern art piece, who stood at the turntables. The only guy who seemed to be having fun was Adrien.
“Welcome to the party, dude!” The weirdo shouted from the stage. “You better get dancing.” The voice was unmistakable as Nino’s, but why did he look like he just stepped off the Yellow Submarine? Did Hawkmoth get him?
“Oh hey!” A kind, smooth voice shouted to you. The model ran up with a smile made of sunbeams. “Thanks for coming. You’re [Y/n] right?”
You nodded. “How’d you know?”
“Nino says you’re a cool guy, sorry I didn’t get to introduce myself in class.” He held out his hand.
“Nice to meet you, Adrien,” you said, taking his hand. His skin felt like silk in your hand. “Sorry, I didn’t have time to get a present.”
“Are you kidding? Just being here is a huge present!” You flushed, knowing that the model’s words did not mean what he implied, but you planned to replay them in your mind later. “My dad’s never let me have a party before!”
“I’m… sorry to hear that,” you stumbled over how to best respond. “Maybe now that you’re in our class, we can hang out more.”
“That’d be great!” He then saw someone else enter. “Oh, sorry, I gotta go say hi to Marinette. It was nice meeting you!”
As he walked off, you muttered to yourself. “Definitely not a bag of dicks.”
Nath awkwardly shuffled over to you. “Psst! You shouldn’t have come!”
“What does that mean?” You started to sway and leaned in so that you looked like you were dancing. “What happened to Nino?”
“Hawkmoth. Nino is calling himself the Bubbler and he’s holding us hostage!”
“He’s holding us hostage at a party? Well, could be worse. At least there’s food. Any idea on how to turn him back?”
“You can’t without Ladybug, and the police are all trapped.”
You didn’t like the sound of that. “Well, maybe we can reason with him!” You barely heard Nath’s squeak and attempt to stop you, but you were already at the front of the crowd. Everyone stopped dancing around you, fear clear on their paling faces. “Hey, Nino! This is a great party and all, but you weren’t planning on keeping us here forever right?”
The weird creature that was once your friend turned, pausing the music. “C’mon man, you just got here, and without the adults, we can have as much fun as we want.”
“What do you mean without the adults?”
The Bubbler produced a giant bubble wand from his back. “I sent them away for a bit. Adults don’t know how to party! We’re gonna keep going all night long!” The Bubbler cranked up the music, but everyone waited, hesitant to dance.
“Nino, you can’t do this! What about our parents and teachers? And we can’t party forever either!”
The Bubbler growled at you, brandishing his wand. “You sound just like them. You like adults so much, why don’t you join them?!” He swung his wand, launching a green bouncing bubble towards you, engulfing you inside. Slowly you began to rise into the air and away from the party. “Unless you want to join him, DANCE!” He ordered. Everyone complied, but they fearfully looked up to you, trying to figure out how to save you.
As the bubble began to crest over the rooftops, your heart thumped harder and harder, until it beat so hard you swore it was about to burst. You shut your eyes tight and forced air into your lungs. You played with the leather band on your wrist. Your wanderlust-stricken uncle found it for you on his travels. He claimed it was a warrior’s band, though you were sure you could find the same one on any tourist stand. That said, you knew the gift came from the heart, and it always calmed you when you fiddled with it. “A warrior keeps a calm mind,” you murmured to yourself. “Fear is natural and not to be shamed… A warrior knows fear and uses it to drive him…” You kept repeating the mantra, but your heart wouldn’t slow.
Out of nowhere, a silver pole slammed down on the bubble and knocked you earthbound. Like a pinball, you rocketed down to the street and bounced. With a slash, the bubble shredded, and you were safe on the ground. You opened your eyes to see a handsome young man in a black skintight suit, twirling the pole around. His brilliant green eyes were concealed behind a black mask. A belt-tail swished side to side. Adorable black cat ears poked out of his sunshine-blond hair.
“T-thanks.” You replied, still trying to catch your breath. “I’m guessing you’re Chat Noir?”
“Nah,” the superhero smirked. “Can’t you tell I’m supposed to be Ladybug?”
“Sure,” you laughed. “The tail and claws were a dead giveaway.”
Chat Noir smiled. “Always like someone who can joke with me, but you should probably get out of here.”
“No way! I’m not leaving my friends behind! Tell me what I can do.”
“Maybe a distraction… wait here and I’ll see if my Lady has a plan.” He jumped back into the fray while you were stuck behind the garden steps. Your friends were all hiding behind the picnic tables. The Bubbler was launching a flurry of bubbles at the heroine, which she deflected with her magic yo-yo. Chat Noir landed next to her, and in perfect synchronization, they worked with each other slamming the danger away.
Your friends started shouting and flinging food at the villain, trying to buy time, but they were quickly bubbled. You felt your anger flare and before you knew what you were doing, you ran in and tackled the villain to the ground. “It’s time for you to stop!” It wasn’t eloquent, but you weren’t the superhero.
Ladybug leaped in and snapped the bubble wand in half. Before your eyes, a black butterfly materialized from the weapon. “Alright,” she said, swinging her yo-yo. “No more evildoing for you, time to de-evilize!” The yo-yo clicked open and snapped up the butterfly before flying back into Ladybug’s hand. She tapped it and released the insect. “Bye-bye little butterfly.”
“Who knew a little guy could cause so many problems?” Chat commented.
Ladybug shrugged and grabbed something you couldn’t quite make out. She flung it into the air, shouting “Miraculous Ladybug!” A swarm of friendly little ladybugs whooshed through Paris, returning everyone who was bubbled back to safety and returning Nino back to normal.
“You okay Nino?”
“Yeah… what happened?”
“You threw a rager, that’s what!” you laughed.
A beep rang out from Ladybug’s earrings, and you saw the spots start to disappear. “Whoops, time I get going. Thanks for the help!”
She swung out disappearing before you could even thank her for saving you all. Chat Noir wasn’t far behind. Again, like on instinct, you jumped up and ran to snatch the superhero’s hand. “Hey, thanks again for saving me. You’re awesome!”
“All in a day’s work,” he said, leaning on his pole. He seemed to flex a little looking at you. His ring now beeped, the little green pawprint starting to fade. “Oh, gotta go. Don’t wanna give away my identity. See ya!”
He leaped away with all the grace of his namesake. You couldn’t help but wonder what he was like under the mask. He seemed like a nice guy, but you never could tell these days. His eyes were… well, the word “pretty” just didn’t do it justice. And that suit! It clung like to him like a second skin, accentuating his features, plus there were abs hidden under that suit, definitely a six-pack, maybe even a legendary eight pack! He was probably shredded like a fitness model – he had to be, to do all of those flips right? Then there was the way he swung his tail around, and those hips did not lie. There was also…
“Oh crap,” you muttered to yourself. “I have a crush on a superhero.”