Alternate Egos

Disclaimer: I do not own Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Chat Noir

"Are you sure it was okay, Alya?" I squeaked in nervousness and excitement. We just got back to my house from the Françoise Dupont Nightclub and I was still exhilarated from the dance off against Chat Noir. I never thought of pursuing my dancing pleasures, just a simple way to stay fit and have fun, since my real passion was fashion design. So when Alya suggested heading to the notorious nightclub, I panicked in diffidence. Only she has seen me dance, both of us often creating our own styles together, for the past year. Never have I formally performed in front of people, but tonight, I felt so at ease; easily bantering with and beating Chat Noir. Alya quickly dashed my doubts,

"You. were. amazing. girl! Totally had Chat Noir with his tail between his legs- which isn't easy. Everyone loved you!"

"You mean loved Ladybug, they loved Ladybug not Marinette."

"Not this again. I told you before girl, whether disguised or not, people will like your dancing and they not only liked it but they loved it!"

I looked away, my cheeks glowing a ruddy complexion, as Alya shook me with a hug. I couldn't help but give a soft smile. It was galvanizing to beat Chat Noir, to dance with him. Somehow, even with our banter and competitiveness, we were in synced, dancing as if we've been partners before. Alya pulled me from my thoughts, myself not realizing I was smirking as she snapped her fingers in my face,

"Earth to Marinette. Not falling for a certain cat now, are you?"
I laughed heartily at the thought, shaking my head in response,

"And have to deal with those ridiculous cat puns. Please, Alya, you know who I like."

I blushed as I stared longingly at Adrien's pictures posted around my room. No one could compare to him, his striking green eyes and beautiful blonde hair; not to forget his amazing smile either.

"You think maybe under the mask Chat Noir could be Adrien?"

Alya raised her eyebrow towards me, wiggling it as she smirked in curiosity.
A mask of blackness flashed before my eyes, disguising Adrien as Chat Noir as they had similar eyes for a second. Just as it came, I dismissed the thought. No way was Adrien Agreste the famous break dancer, Chat Noir.

"Oh Alya, Adrien's too perfect and Chat Noir is too..."

"Catrrific."

I laughed again with Alya, throwing a pillow at her,

"Those puns though. I think he pulled more of those out than dance moves."

"Not as good as you though! We definitely need to go back."

My smiling teeth vanished from sight at the thought, panic and insecurity seeping through my stomach with knots.

"Uh I don't know Alya. Once is enough I think."

"Even if it means not finding out who Chat Noir is?"

"Definitely. Then he'll want to know who Ladybug is...I-I just can't."

Alya sighed in frustration,

"Fine but at least come with me from time to time. You know how I am with my jams. Plus Nino spends most nights DJing there and I don't want to have my nights alone anymore."

Alya turned to give me a pleading, puppy-dog face. I grit my teeth as I tried to look away; she knew exactly my weakness. The dreaded puppy-dog face, her eyes brimming towards her glasses. Every time I glanced back, she pouted harder, till finally I gave in,
"Alright. Alright, I'll go with you-"

"Yes-!"

"But only once in a while. I still have fashion designs to work on for that opportunity for an internship and I can't focus if I'm staying up each night dancing."

"Aye aye, Captain. We can go this weekend then!"
Alya squealed as she tackled me to my bed, squeezing me tight in a hug. I rolled my eyes but chuckled as I hugged her back before pushing her off me. She was squeezing too tight for me to breath. Alya's phone buzzed, initiating her time to leave before becoming grounded for missing curfew.
"Gotta go Mari. Just remembered, you promised, this weekend."
Alya left just as swiftly as her posting news on her dance blog; no doubt she had already taken a video of Ladybug and Chat Noir's dance off and posted it.
I sighed and sank into my chair, staring at my reflection in my vanity mirror. The red paint was smeared off and my sneakers laid along the floor, but I could feel the confidence I still had being Ladybug. My collage of Adrien adorn around the frame of the mirror and once again, the black mask of Chat Noir seem to fixate around Adrien. I blinked several times, frowning in concentration.
No. Adrien can't be Chat, can he?
I shook my head, dismissing the thought again. They were just so polar opposite; Adrien was way too kind, sweet, and perfect to be the flirtatious, competitive Chat Noir. I had a worrisome thought, wondering if people would accept that the clumsy, shy Marinette was actually the confident, sassy Ladybug. In which case, I was confident no one should know Ladybug's identity.

_

My alternate ego seemed the nonstop gossip at school the next day; everyone was talking about Ladybug's victory against Chat Noir. Several of my classmates were even speculating who Ladybug was under her mask. I kept to myself, trying not to show my twitching fingers at the thought of being discovered. Instead, I tried focusing in class or on my fashion designs during lunch. Sketching always calmed the butterflies in my stomach when I was on edge; the feel of the pencil smoothing along the paper, at my command to create and inspire. I was currently sketching a new fall design when I suddenly heard a quiet voice,

"Hey Marinette. Did you see the video Alya posted on her dancing blog? The one with Ladybug and Chat Noir?"
I squeaked in surprise as I looked up to see Adrien smiling down at me. My heart raced as I tried to articulate my response. Of course it came out perfectly,

"Adrien! Saw I video yes- I mean, yes video I saw. Gah- oof."
Suddenly, I was on the floor, my face in the dirt as Chloe barreled past me towards Adrien.
"Adrikins!"
I lifted my head up to see Chloe suffocating Adrien with kisses, himself dodging and trying to pull away without seeming too rude. I quietly scrambled my papers back together, heaving a huff of annoyance.

"Ah. Hi. Chloe. You know, Marinette was sitting there."
I could feel my cheeks burning as Adrien acknowledge my presence, my mind squealing not to collapse on itself.
He's noticing me.
I soon realized Chloe's icy glare on me as she commented,
"Whoops didn't see her. Anyway, Adrikins, Daddy says that with all the good news on the Françoise Dupont Nightclub, he's finally letting me go. In which case, we are totally going and being the hottest couple there. Maybe even get to dance with Chat Noir!"
I felt my mouth go slack in disbelieve. One instant, Adrien was actually talking to me. The next, Chloe had snatched him away again. Who was she to make claims on Adrien when no one liked her bossy, snotty attitude. My hands gradually curled in frustration before I signed in dejection. I began to walk away, knowing Adrien couldn't possibly want to talk to me anymore after that embarrassment.

"Sorry Chloe, already have plans for a photo-shoot. If you excuse me, I believe I was talking with Marinette."

A warm hand grabbed my wrist, stopping me in my tracks. I turn to see Adrien shyly smiling at me, rubbing his free hand behind his head in awkwardness. He was perfect. I became frozen, staring with wide eyes.

"Sorry about that Marinette. Are you alright? Chloe can be a handful."
Silence held, turning into an awkward silence as my mind couldn't think of what to say. A blank slate.

"Marinette?"

"I-I-I never danced before in my life."

I squeaked before mentally smacking myself. Adrien tilted his head in confusion.
Or just announce yourself as Ladybug now, why don't you.
I quickly tried to fix my mistake,
"I mean- I overheard you and Chloe talk about that Dupont Françoise- uh- Françoise Dupont Nightclub. Cool place huh."
I smiled too widely, I could feel my eye twitching while my stomach flipped within itself. Somehow, I was able to get almost a full, cohesive sentence in before stuttering again. I could see Chloe steaming from the corner of my vision as she watched Adrien talk to me. After a second of bewilderment, Adrien chuckled,

"Yeah. I heard it was a cool place, you been there before?"

"What? No, no. Me? Nope. Never been there before."

I awkwardly laughed, a little too hard, as I stuttered to keep my secret.

"But you see Alya's posts right? What you think of Chat Noir?"
"Chat Noir? He's...a good dancer. Not as good as you I'm sure. I mean, you're perfect and he's uh..."
I was rambling and I suddenly got quiet as I realized what I was saying, my hand moving my papers up to cover my mouth. I became flustered as Adrien stared questioningly at me. The bell rang with perfect timing and I swiftly said my goodbye,

"Ah. Class. Starting. Bye!"
I rushed away, arriving to find Alya chatting with Nino in the classroom. I simply sunk into my seat next to her, hiding my face with my hands.
Alya nudged me with her elbow,
"What's the matter, girl? Weren't you just talking with Adrien?"

"Just leave me alone to die of embarrassment please, Alya."

"That bad?"

"You don't want to know the half of it."

I ducked behind my backpack as Adrien walked in, fist bumping Nino before smiling at Alya with a greeting wave. I was saved from further embarrassment as our teacher called for class to start. I could feel Chloe's glare on me the whole time.
I was finally set free once the last bell echoed through the school and I bolted out the door. Alya ran behind me, sadly so did Chloe and Sabrina.

"Come back here Marinette! Don't think you can run away from me!"
I sighed to myself as I turned to face the queen bee.

"I didn't do anything Chloe. What do you want?"

"What I want is for you to stay away from my Adrikins! No one wants you or your lame fashions around."

"I beg to differ. And I don't see Adrien minding Marinette being around him. Why not let him decide who he hangs out with."

It was times like these that I felt especially grateful towards Alya. She was always so forthright and determined to help those in need. Chloe turned her glare towards Alya, stomping her foot in outrage,
"You think you're so cool with your dancer blog; I bet you can't even dance."

"Better than you; you never even been to the Nightclub before."

"Well after tonight I will be and I'll show you all who belongs with Adrien. Why would he want a pathetic, awkward klutz like you, Marinette? You probably have two left feet. Mark my words Marinette, keep away from him."

Chloe shot one final glare, Sabrina backing her up with a huff of breath, before both girls turned on their heels to leave. I stuck my tongue out at the two before rolling my eyes as Alya giggled,

"Looks like you have another dance challenge Mari."
I blinked confusingly at Alya before gasping,

"What? Oh no Alya. Don't even try that, we were just there last night and you agreed that this weekend was okay."

"But Mari, you can't let Chloe win like that! At least show her that the dance floor isn't hers to claim and neither is Adrien. Besides, don't you want to get back at Chloe for once? She won't even know it's you."

I bit my lip at the thought, the pictures flashing before my vision in temptation. My body was irking to move again, to be set free and beat Chloe. People love Ladybug, so why not give more to them. For once, I could stand up against Chloe. I would only have to worry about Chat Noir and his cat puns, but that should be easy. I sighed in acceptance, knowing deep down it wasn't just Alya who wanted to go,

"Okay. I'll go with you tonight."

Alya squealed in excitement as she tackled me. I laughed as I hugged her back. I peered down the stairs to see Adrien and Nino glancing in our direction, Adrien smiling as he waved goodbye. I melted into Alya, my legs wobbling and for minutes, I doubt I could dance ever again.

A/N: Thank you all so much for the positive results for this fanfic! A special thank you to Snowy-Maplette, MiraculousLadyBugFan995, GhibliNerd, and Mechanical-Rose-Sama for the first great reviews! Sorry this is updated later than what I intended, sometimes just get writer's block but hoping to keep a weekly update! Sometimes, its also just me trying to find good music and dance ideas. Anyway, hope you enjoyed this next chapter and please continue to review, favorite and follow! Love to hear suggestions! Till next time, hope all enjoyed!

P.s. also wrote a Miraculous one-shot called I Need You to Stay if you enjoyed my writing.