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When Adrien leaves a note, neatly penned out in neon green gel on a piece of scrap paper, tucked between the pages of the first book of the Miraculous Ladybug series, he isn’t really expecting anyone to respond. But he’s lonely and this is one of the only public places his father allows him to go, so he leaves it anyway.
Hello, random person who’s reading this! I hope you’re doing okay and all that other stuff.
Jeez, why am I so awkward
. I’m leaving this here in the hopes that someone will see it and respond. If you want to do that, that would be, like, super cool (ha,
super
cool, get it?) (cause I’m writing this in a book about superheroes?). Anyways, yeah. If you could respond that would be awesome!
Nice to meet you,
Chat Noir
He checks back every week, disappointed though not surprised when he sees that no one has written him back. Until, one week, someone has.
Marinette doesn’t know what made her respond to the note. Maybe it’s because it was left in her favorite book. Maybe it’s because the person who left it signed off as Chat Noir (what a complete and utter dork). Maybe it’s because they had the nerve to draw Ladybug and Chat Noir– partners!!– kissing in the corner of scrap paper he’d written the note on.
But for whatever reason it was, she leaves a note in return.
Hi Chat Noir,
Nice to meet you too! I’m doing alright, how about you? Also, that was a horrible pun (and they get infinitely less funny when you actually try to explain them, you know that right?). Also WHAT IS THAT DRAWING. They are PARTNERS . This is blasphemy, Chaton, and I simply will not stand for it. Either way, I’m here, writing you back so… yeah. I don’t know where you wanted to go from here, but maybe write me back?
Bug Out!
LB
Adrien stares in awe at the drawing intricately sketched beneath her note, a picture of Ladybug in action, determined and fierce, with Chat Noir next to her, leaning on his staff. The drawing is so pretty, Adrien is tempted to take it out and frame it somewhere.
He resists and manages to write another note back.
Ladybug,
What do you mean ‘what is that drawing?’ Ladybug and Chat Noir are SO meant to be together and you will have to fight me on that, My Lady. Like are you kidding me, the nicknames and longing glances? DOES DARK CUPID MEAN NOTHING TO YOU?!? (I mean, come on. It was true love’s kiss!!) Also, I will have you know that everyone who meets me thinks my puns are paws-itively meow-valous ;) You’ve got to be kitten me if you say they’re bad.
Seriously though, what do you have against LadyNoir?
Can you tell me something about what you’re like in real life?
I play piano and my favorite color is green.
Looking forward to your next note!!
Chat Noir
He doodles paw prints around the edges of the paper and leaves it there for Ladybug to find. It only takes a couple of days for her to respond again.
Chat Noir,
Ladybug doesn’t even like Chat Noir that way!!! That’s why FéliBug is obviously the best ship! They reciprocate each other’s feelings! Also, those puns were truly horrifying. I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone make that many bad puns in a row. Seriously. And my dad is the King of Puns. (I guess there’s something about my real life right there).
But other than that, I’m pretty normal. I’m sixteen (I’m assuming you’re around that age?? Please tell me I haven’t been chatting with a thirty-year-old man or something).
I want to fashion designer when I grow up. My favorite color is pink. What else do you want to know? (NO NAMES, Alley Cat)
I hope you’re doing alright!
Ladybug
Adrien smiles down at the note. On one corner, she’s drawn Ladybug sitting next to Félix on his sofa, laughing at something he said. On the opposite corner, Ladybug is staring, clearly unimpressed, at Chat Noir. In his speech bubble are the puns Adrien had written in his last note.
My Lady,
How could you say that FéliBug is the best!?! It’s so boringgggg, bug. There’s no character growth or anything!! The best ship is either BrigeChat or LadyNoir!
It’s so cool that you want to be a fashion designer! I want to be a physics teacher, but my father is pretty set on me being a model… hey! Maybe I could model your designs one day. And NO, you have not been talking with a thirty-year-old. I’m sixteen, just like you.
I wonder if we go to the same school or something…
Anyways! Do you have any pets? I’ve got a cat named Plagg (yes haha make fun of the dork who named his black cat after a kwami). He’s an absolute glutton– life imitating art?– and is honestly a real pain.
I wish we could meet.
Chat Noir.
And so it goes, on and on for months.
You know, of course, you would like that BrigeChat is the best. You’re such a dork, Chaton.
Meowch, Princess. You’re gonna hurt all my feelings :(
Your puns are horrible, still. In this case, practice does not make perfect.
Until Marinette puts in a note she didn’t really mean to. (she later blames the fact that she left it in the notebook at all on her sleep deprivation)
Hi Chaton,
You’ve sounded a little upset in our notes– are you okay? I hope you’re feeling alright!! If need be, I will attempt to smuggle a passionfruit macaron in and leave it for you. School is going pretty well for me, how about you?? I know this sounds weird, but I miss you. (Is it possible to miss someone you’ve never really met?) You’ve been kinda distant, recently. Did I do something wrong?
Feel free to tell me I’m being paranoid, by the way. Either way, let me know if I can help cheer you up, Chaton.
Love you!
Marinette
When she arrives at school the next day, she is not expecting to see Adrien holding a pile of scrap paper, panting like he’d just run a marathon.
He immediately pulls her into a hug. “Ladybug,”
Marinette pulls back, suddenly wide awake, “I’m sorry, what was that?”
Adrien shoves the pile of paper in her direction.
She goes through the pile slowly, months of correspondence between her and Chat Noir sitting there, neon ink and drawings. Marinette finally lands on the last note. Love you! Marinette.
“I love you too,” he says softly.