S2EP16: Frightningale

evacuate the dance floor
I'm infected by the sound

stop this beat is killing me
hey mr dj, let the music take me underground

evacuate the dance floor
cascada

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"Thank you for coming, all of you! This is like a dream come true! Together we'll dance and sing; it's going to be awesome and amazing!" Clara announces, keeping her rhythm not only in her rhymes, but her movement as well.

"We're going to be in Clara Nightingale's music video." Alya anticipates, unable to tear her eyes from the artist standing before her on stage. "This is humongous!"

"I can't believe this is happening!" Marinette exclaims, kind of alarming you with the almost crazed look in her eyes. She latches onto you, tighter than any parasite could as she asks "Can you believe this is happening?!"

"Nope," you smiled anxiously, "neither can I." Honestly, you weren't so sure why you even agreed to audition in the first place. You didn't like cameras, nor was she your favorite artist. Maybe it was because how excited they were and you wanted to be the supportive best friend?

You'd never know the real answer until it hits you square in the face. Unless. . . you subconsciously knew the answer already?

"Come on, where's your excitement?! I know it's in there somewhere." Alya interrogates, shaking you up in hopes to get it started again.

"Alya!" You laughed, swatting at her antics as you broke free. "As much as it's exciting," you expressed nonchalantly, "it's not like we're playing Ladybug herself. We're extras!" You finish with a shrug.

The silence that fell amongst your group immediately had you sighing, turning to peek at their not-so-convinced faces had you subtracting your previous statement. "Okay. Okay. It's. . . pretty awesome." You exclaimed, a sudden burst of energy resonating from nowhere as you jumped along with the girls in pure excitement.

"And now, meet our rising star, Adrien Agreste as Chat Noir!"

The moment stills as Adrien comes into view of every watchful eye, a sheepish display as he wears the catsuit his father had replicated. It looked real-too real. Your jumping comes to a halt. "It's Adrien!" Marinette says, eyes blown wide open, mouth agape as she mindlessly waves back to him.

Alya catches both of yours and Marinette's demeanor, her mischievous smile going unnoticed as both of your gazes was stuck on Clara's surprise guest. "What's the matter? Chat got your tongue?"

It was unclear who she was speaking to, but you definitely heard her. The logical answer would be Marinette, of course-but you had the need to decline her silly advancements, to prove her wrong that it wasn't Adrien's presence that influenced your sudden silence (If there isn't anything there, there wouldn't be the need to prove her wrong, now would there?)

Your mouth opens against your better judgement, knowing it would only fuel her teasing, but.

Your eyes meet; they somehow always do. Even in a room full of hundreds of people, his eyes always knew where to find yours without a fail. They were just as bright and compassionate as they were on the first day you saw him. So warm and inviting, his smile equally so to the point you couldn't help but to return it yourself.

Green. They were green.

You remember it so clearly now, the blanks filling themselves in; no longer vague. Ms. Bustier, the kissing zombies, Adrien falling victim. But that's the thing. . . was he really a victim when his eyes were green when they should have been pink? He was pretending. But why?

Your eyes find Adrien once more, staring at him with puzzlement as you tried your best to come up with some reasonable explanation, when you subconsciously pick up the conversation happening amongst him and his farther.

"The costume fits you like a glove, as I knew it would. But where is your mask?"

Adrien tenses at the mention of such a simple detail, his eyes lying elsewhere as he answers him, "Uhh, I couldn't find it anywhere."

His body language was a tell of its own. He was lying, but the question presents itself again: why?Your mind runs wild as he makes his way onto the stage, the Ladybug auditions happening before your eyes-but even the sight of Lieutenant Roger's in a Ladybug wig had you uninterested.

"Haven't I told you girls before that Adrien kind of looks a little like Chat Noir?" Your stomach twists.

"Whatever! He's a thousand times more cooler than Chat Noir!" Marinette defends Adrien's behalf.
"Y/n?" Alya snaps you out of your inner turmoil, leaning in closer to psych out your reaction. "Would you agree with that statement?"

"How would I know? I've never personally met with Chat Noir before." You answer, face overheating with embarrassment as you recall the moment you almost kissed Chat Noir-but only this time around his face was replaced with Adrien's.

Is Adrien Agreste Chat Noir?

Alya lifts a brow at your statement, obviously hearing a complete different story on her end. "Really? Because my sources said otherwise-"

The excessive chatter amongst the extra auditionees come to a momentary pause at the sight of an approaching Clara Nightingale, saving your hide as Alya's sentence died for good. "You must be hungry from all that waiting!" She chimes, holding a tray of chouquettes in front of her.

"She's coming our way!" Marinette smiles big, happy to finally have a chance to personally interact with her idol who was sweet enough to offer a snack to her fans-but your sixth sense tells you otherwise.

You watched as she grew closer with confusion, wondering why it was going off at such a time. You knew it had to do with Clara herself, but not the reason. Soon enough, you find yourself ducking under the rope and by Clara's side, catching her just as she tripped. "Are you okay? You could have hurt yourself." You questioned, ignoring the dramatic gasps and whispers coming from around you as you helped Clara straighten out.

"There you are!" Clara smiles, hugging you tightly. "Here's a hug, because you are Ladybug!" She announces, shocking everyone once more as you laughed half-heartedly. "Excuse me?"

Taking your hands into hers, she looks to you with admiration and was determined to get you to agree to be her Ladybug. "You did what Ladybug would, just the same! Your heart is pure, like hers. What's your name?"

You glanced to your group of friends for their reactions, seeking out for one in particularly, all of them acknowledging your accomplishment with nothing but support and encouraging smiles. "Y/n."

"Y/n, say it so!" She gets down on one knee for a final grand gesture to formally ask you, "Will you be Ladybug in my video?"

Yet again did you find yourself looking to your friends, smiling affectionately as Marinette eagerly nods her head for you to agree. But how can you do that to them when you agreed to be extra's together? They were so supportive of you even if it meant the plan changed. You couldn't do that to them!

"That's so nice of you. . . but I came here to be an extra with my friends, I'm sorry Clara."

She stands with a nod, albeit a little bit disappointed, but all the more impressed. "That's a pity; a shame. But I understand it's true. That's a very cool gesture, very Ladybug of you!" You smile in relief, accepting her hand gratefully as she leads you to a makeup stand. "Just sit over here for makeup, okay? I'll ask your friends to be sent over right away!"

"You're crazy!" Mylene squeals, the first to ambush you with a hug. "You turned down down filming as Ladybug to be with us?!" Alya exclaims, joining in on the hug with the others following in closely. "You're the best!"

"We came here for one reason only and that was to be extras in her video! You're the crazy ones if you think I'm going to give up on our plans that easily!" You teased.

"Well thanks to you, we're all that closer to the plan becoming true!" Marinette grins, the lively bubble you were all wrapped in abruptly pops as the doors were carelessly thrown open, revealing Chloe in A Ladybug suit-wig included-as she nasally announces,

"Thank you all for coming, you can go home now." She flickers her hair, nose turned up high as she sashays to the stage. "Your Ladybug has arrived! So when does the shoot start?"

"Brat alert in the immediate vicinity." Alya sneers, eyes narrowed as she watched the girl stand before Clara Nightingale expectingly. Marinette tuts at this, crossing her arms. "As if! Knowing Nightingale, Chloe doesn't stand a chance of being chosen!"

"I don't know," you chime in, looking over to the empty audition line for Ladybug, "Clara might not have much of a choice." Marinette's eye twitches.

You watched with surprising anticipation as Adrien frowns at his childhood friend, just as against Chloé being Ladybug as Clara was as he reminds her that she has to audition like everyone else did. You were relieved. Where it was coming from? You hadn't the slightest of clues, but it only lasted for so long until Chloé threw herself in some practiced stunts that could possibly seal the deal.

"Starting to regret your decision, aren't you?" Alya looks to you knowingly, your uncharacteristic behavior not going unnoticed by her.

"No. Even if I had agreed, Chloé would have stolen it from right underneath my feet." You mumbled, resting your chin in the palm of your propped hand as you watched her close her stunt with a cheesy pose. Why were you so annoyed?

"Aha. It's been awhile. Eight years of private classes with Amelie Dupont from the Paris of Op-er-a." You look to Marinette with an amused glare, shielding your snicker as she silently mimics her. "I know, I'm breathtaking."

"You've definitely got enough talent for me, but you and Chat Noir have to be a good match, you see!" Clara exclaims, not exactly factoring that reason in for the other auditionees, but it had to be done! Something about casting Chloé as Ladybug didn't sit right with her when there was already a perfectly good Ladybug sitting in the extra's casting chair!

"No problem!" Clara watches with a defeated sigh as she hugs Adrien with familiarity. "Adrikins and I have known each other since we were little!"

"Hmm. . ."

"The son of the world's greatest fashion designer and the daughter of the Mayor of Paris-that would be just perfect!"

Marinette grits her teeth, tugging on her pigtails in frustration as the role was practically handed to Chloé on a silver platter just like everything else has been for the past years she's been breathing! "Chloé playing Ladybug? No way! Not gonna happen!"

"Oh? And that bothers you more than Chloé getting to film with Adrien all day?" Alya butts in, doing what she does best: instigating.

"If I were Ladybug, I wouldn't want some brat like Chloé playing me!" Marinette argues, turning to you faster than the speed of light. "You have to tell Clara that you've changed your mind about playing Ladybug!" She pleads, clasping her hands together as she did so.

"Marinette," you sigh, pushing her clasped hands down in rejection, "do you really think that's a good idea?" She nods her head desperately. "I can't! Suddenly changing my mind because a brat like Chloé wouldn't look good!"

Marinette slumps, a pout tugging on her lips as you all continued to watch the scene unfold in front of you.

Clara hums with conflict, approaching Gabriel's assistant for a second opinion. "What do you think, Gabriel?" She voices, hoping he too would disagree and give them a little more time to wait and possibly find another to play Ladybug.

"Hmm. Artistically speaking, the young girl with fast reflexes would've been ideal, but it's time to start filming. We'll make do with Ms. Bourgeois."

Clara sighs, nodding in agreement. "I trust you, Gabriel." She returns her focus on the kids portraying Ladybug and Chat Noir with the best smile she could muster, but it was proving to be a difficult task at the imbalance of dynamics between the two.

"Wahoo!" Chloé's hug tightens around Adrien, "We're both going to be in a music video, Adrikins! Or should I say. . . Adri-Cat?" The boy winces at the nickname. "Get it? Adri-Cat?"

"Adri-Cat, yeah." Adrien weakly laughs, gaze trailing to the girl he'd much prefer to be standing next to him right now, his attention lost as he watched the makeup artist add a light blush to her cheeks.

"I can't let this happen!" Marinette whisper shouts to you as soon as the artist walks off, an apologetic look on her face. "Marinette. No!" You plead, knowing what that look of hers meant. But if there's anything you know about this girl is that once she sets her mind to something, there's no stopping her.

"Hey, wait!" Marinette shouts, pulling you out of your chair with a tug of your wrist. And with it, she raises your hand in the air. "Y/n changed her mind! She does want to play Ladybug!"

Clara's charisma returns at your (more like Marinette's) announcement, approaching you with purpose. "Awesome! This will be the best video yet! Thank you, thank you Y/n!" She cheers, kissing both of your cheeks with gratitude when she turns to a flabbergasted Chloé. "I'm really sorry, whats-your-name, but you can still be an extra in the video, if you're game!"

Chloé's eye twitches, Clara's words setting off a time ticking bomb. "What?! You want me to be a mere. . . extra?!" She stomps her foot. "Ridiculous! Utterly ridiculous!" She shouts over her shoulder, storming out of the Grand Palais with her butler in tow, sealing your fate.

You slowly turn your head to a sheepish Marinette, trying your best to hold in the choicy words you had in store for her. "You owe me big time.".

⋆⋅☆⋅⋆

Conflict. So much conflict as you stared at your reflection now wearing the famous Parisian hero's suit-the very outfit that deemed you untrustworthy. Laughable, isn't it? It makes your skin crawl at how well made it was.

"This is madness." You groaned, turning your back to your reflection. Chat Noir. Adrien. Were they one of the same? Sure, Chat Noir has more confidence than the other, but their morals align with each other just right. Is it really that outlandish? You better pray it is, because that would mean you could have potentially kissed Adrien Agreste.

"Are you ready, (Y/n)?" A mans voice questions, one you recognized as the stagehand's. Taking a deep breath, you grabbed hold of the Ladybug mask, debating if it should be put on now, or later. With a shake of your head, you opened the door, revealing said stagehand. "Yes. I'm ready."

⋆⋅☆⋅⋆

Marinette's POV

Her eyes stay on the look-out for the girl, awaiting to see her best friend in a Ladybug costume. Not too long ago, Marinette had watched as the hair stylist tied the hero's famous red ribbon into her hair before sending her off to her own trailer with the costume in hand. She was anxious, to say the least. Did she overstep her boundaries asking, her to play Ladybug just so Chloé couldn't? Even after Y/n had expressed her discomfort being the camera's main focus? She really screwed up, didn't she?!

"There she is!" Alya exclaims, readying her phone camera as the star of the music video stepped out of her trailer, showcasing Gabriel Agreste's personal replica of Ladybug's superhero suit. Marinette gasped. She looked amazing! Although her hair wasn't exactly styled like the hero's, which Marinette is eternally grateful for, the suit was. . . well, spot on. The choice of fabric, the craftmanship, the seams; it was all well-made! Almost too well-made.

Marinette, along with the others of course, cheered loudly upon her reveal, smiling excitingly as the girl looked back with a nervous smile. She at least looked like she wasn't mad, but oh how she still feels guilty for making her do this. "Spot on!" Clara compliments her, offering her a helping hand as she climbed the stage's steps. "And spotlight!"

The light pours down onto Y/n and Adrien-Ladybug and Chat Noir! She giggles, watching as the two interacted with each other. She was amazed how easily Y/n slipped into the role, certainly having the attributes of a hero, but she couldn't help but to think how silly it was to watch Adrien portray Chat Noir. Alya was certainly wrong to ever think about Adrien being behind Chat Noir's mask, that was for sure!

"She's doing great!" Marinette whispers to Alya, not wanting to disturb Clara as she taught the duo the music video's choreography. The girl agrees, smiling as the two bumped into each other on accident, watching with perceptive eyes at how bashful Adrien was.

"I'm surprised how well you're taking this." She points out. Not that she's complaining or anything, but it was out of character how Marinette was so cool-headed allowing someone other than herself get so close to Adrien. But then again, it's Y/n. And if there's anyone more determined to stay away from that boy romantically, it was her.

"What do you mean?" She mumbles mindlessly, watching as her best friend mirrors Clara effortlessly, not minding she'd be sitting in the director seats for awhile when she was easily entertained as so. Alya blinks in astonishment, choosing not to question her any further, quite yet.

⋆⋅☆⋅⋆

"Your dance moves need to be synchronized if you can. So, you'll need to hold each other by the hand." Clara suggests with a spontaneous twirl, awaiting for you to follow suit. You blinked owlishly, confused as to what holding hands could do for the both of you, but you simply shrugged, doing as she says. It was her music video after all.

Looking to Adrien expectingly as you offered your hand, you flinched with confusion as he grabbed your hand with his opposite as if you asked for a handshake. He looked just as clueless as to why he did it, adverting his eyes away from yours as he smiled bashfully at Clara. "Not like that! Don't be shy." She chimes, twirling to you both to correct his mistake. "Like lovers do!"

You grow rigid, spotting a familiar ring wrapped around his finger. You were quick to look away, not wanting to alarm Adrien with your suspicious behavior. Do not jump into conclusions, you told yourself. Gabriel could have easily have put in an order for a custom ring for the sole purpose of this music video. You need more proof then this. Your heart is beating so fast.

"She's going to freak when she sees these pics!" Alya gossips to a giggling Marinette, the girls now standing in front of the stage for a closer look. "Oh! I can't believe how much they look like the real Ladybug and Chat Noir!" Rose exclaims, the others not hesitating to agree with her statement. Even they think so, too. You take a deep breath. Not now.

"One final task: Put on the mask!"

Adrien tenses, his grip around your hand tightening. "Uh, I didn't see it! I looked everywhere in the dressing room for it but it was. . . nowhere to be found!" He exclaims, his odd answer only worsening your internal war. Everyone seemed to had found it funny, their laughter reverberating throughout the building. You'd had felt bad for the boy if you weren't so busy stopping yourself from spiraling out of control right now. "It's okay! I found it!" The stagehand announces, making Adrien look to him in distraught. You can practically feel the nervous clam of his hands through his suits fabric.

Your eyes watched his every move, every facial expression he makes, as he was offered his mask; looking down to it as if it was the very source of all his problems. "And you? Will your mask need to be made anew?" Clara questions. You swallowed the lump in your throat down, avoiding any further eye contact with Adrien as he looked to you confused, almost upset as you took away the warmth your hand provided, as you answered "No. I have mine right here." You say, pulling the mask out of hiding.

"Go ahead, put them on you two! We've got a lot of singing and dancing to do!" You looked down at the mask in your hands with a deep sigh, closing your eyes as you placed the mask upon them. Singing? You thought music video's were all about lip-syncing? Your heart began anxiously beating, glancing into Adrien's direction as his mask grew closer and closer to where it needed to be-to finally show you how wrong you were about him being Chat Noir, but even then the Universe wouldn't allow that.

"I'm sorry. My administrative staff just realized you never submitted permit A38 as stipulated in the circular B65 that one can only get at counter C, third floor of City Hall, which is, alas, closed for renovations until August, which means you don't have a permit to shoot. . . anywhere in France, including Paris." Mayor Bourgeois states, handing the hefty pile of papers to Clara with a smug Chloe in tow.

"I. . . I don't understand!" Clara exclaims in fraught, looking to them with a plead for leniency.

Chloé huffs in annoyance, approaching the music artist with the same look she walked into the place with. "It means no more singing, no more dancing." She looks to you with a self-satisfying smirk, grabbing Clara's microphone from underneath the pile of papers. It made your blood boil.

"The nightingale can spread her wings and fly away!" Clara cried out in shock as she tossed her microphone into the air, disregarding the papers to the ground in favor for her microphone, eyes tearing as she turned it around to see the star shattered. "Oh! Did you hear that? I made a rhyme! How talented am I?"

"No. . . The video needs to be shot here, In Paris! The capitol of love, the city of Ladybug and Chat Noir! This ruins all of my plans!" She cries sorrowfully, looking to the auditionees who still stuck around even if they didn't get a part. "I'm so sorry, my beloved fans!" Clara retreats into her trailer, weeping as she held her broken microphone close to her heart.

⋆⋅☆⋅⋆

"The show is over! You all have to leave now." She laughs in triumph, watching as all the extras left the vicinity.

You tore off the mask, glaring down at the blonde with a snare. "Where do you get off making people's lives miserable?" Taking a step with every motive to knock her down a peg or two (metaphorically and literally at this point), a clawed hand grabs hold of your arm, keeping you from taking another step.

[Don't. You're allowing your emotions to get ahead of you. Hawk Moth could be anywhere, don't let him take advantage of you.]

Dawn's sudden voice shocks you into compliance, reminding you of the comms you were still wearing.

"I didn't do anything! It wasn't my fault she didn't prepare a permit for something she planned for so long." Chloé tuts, crossing her arms. "My Daddy was just doing what's right."

You tune her voice out almost immediately, feeling a buzz run throughout your being. You placed a careful hand over Adrien's, removing his hand as you turned around to come face to face with a colorful villain. "Out of the way!" You shouted, pushing Adrien to the side as a whip from the villains microphone-Clara's microphone, snapping in Chloé's and her father's direction.

"Sing, dance or rhyme, or you'll be frozen in no time!" The villain announces, smirking down below as she awaited their fates.

"What is she talking about? Dancing and making rhymes? And why not play the trumpet, too while you're at it-" Everyone gasps in horror as she turns into a shiny pink statue. "Chloé, hon!" Frightningale cackles at his reaction. "Please! Please! I'll keep up this rhyme. Don't make me freeze, not this time!"

"Oh, bravo! And you've got the right tempo!" Frightningale applauds, twirling her whip around as she strikes at her next victims.

You kept your head down as you searched amongst the chaos, hoping to find that Marinette wasn't hit, but she was no where in sight. "Dawn. Do you have eyes on Ladybug?" You mumbled under your breath.

[Quantum energy undetected.]

You gasp out in shock as you were pulled up, finding Adrien the culprit as he pulled you away from the danger. "We have to hide until Ladybug and Chat Noir fix this!" He shouts back to you, running into the farthest trailer.

You stayed silent, watching him scope out the area before turning to you with a kind smile. "You'll be safe in here. Just stay low." He says, before turning to leave, your mouth running dry at the sense of deja vu.

"What about you? We're safer together." You stopped him, staring at him with such intensity, eagerly awaiting for his response. You hoped he would agree and stay with you. Ladybug and Chat Noir will show up and fix everything, just like he had said, and he wouldn't have left your sight. But deep down in your heart, you knew that wasn't possible. But were you ready to come to terms with it?

Adrien's facade falters a little, your worry almost convincing him to tell you what his true intentions were, but he knew that would be too dangerous for the both of you; no matter how much he wanted too. "I need to go change. You should, too." He refers to the small rack of clothing pressed into the corner of the trailer.

"What we're wearing should be the least of our worries, Adrien." You pestered. "Not when we're dressed as Ladybug and Chat Noir. That would confuse the villain and then we'd be the targets!" Adrien chuckles. You kept your mouth shut. Although he had a point, there wouldn't be the need to if you both stayed hidden. But that was the thing; he can't stay hidden and do nothing.

You gave in, nodding your head. "Be careful, okay?" You knew it was pointless to say, but you still said it anyways. "Always." Adrien smiles, taking one more look at you before he bolted out the door, off to fix the problem.

The door comes to a close, and so does that nagging voice in your head as you collapsed onto the couch. "Any signs of Ladybug?" you breathlessly say, mind reeling with all the moments you were with Adrien, making sense of the sudden appearances of Chat Noir after he disappears; why you were so comfortable around the hero to begin with.

[Quantum energy detected. Ladybug and Chat Noir have entered the fight.]

You exhaled with relief at the bug's presence, nodding your head at Dawn's claim.

[Are you okay?]

"My presence here just became more dangerous." You muttered, rubbing at your face tiredly, knowing your answer was vague. What if you said it out loud and someone overhears you? Why were you so terrified to say it?

Just say it.

"Adrien is Chat Noir."

━━━━━━━━ 𝑻𝑶 𝑩𝑬 𝑪𝑶𝑵𝑻𝑰𝑵𝑼𝑬𝑫

i'm really insecure with this update. being gone for so long, i keep asking myself 'was the read worth the wait?' no. i really don't think it is ahhhh but it is really nice being able to hit that publish button again :,)

gosh. can you guys guess what year i started writing this book? whoever answers correctly gets a freebee question about. . . just about anything within reason x

published 01/06/24
edited on 01/03/24

words: 4610