Chapter 1

TIME FOR AG'REST'

Adrien Agreste, 24, has been out of the limelight for a few weeks having a well deserved rest after the recent head to head with his father. It was never known if he had ventured to the Bahamas with his wife, however he has recently been spotted out and about window shopping on the Champs-Élysées. Onlookers noted how he had been lingering around display windows at some of Paris' finest jewellery stores. It seems the blonde haired model was in the market for diamonds and we couldn't be more jealous.

One eyewitness reported Adrien fawning over possible eternity ring choices in both Cartier and Tiffany's, and a source close to us explained that Adrien finally came away with a new two carat diamond, stating '[he] had found the perfect stone for the perfect Lady.'

Could this mean a vow renewal is on the cards for Paris' lovebirds?

Here at 'Mode Mania' we are drooling with stunning visions of Vivica Agreste, 23, sporting a 'Gabriel' wedding dress as Adrien looks gorgeous in a well tailored suit. After their private celebration for their first wedding three years ago, all of us here at 'Mode Mania' feel as though we need photographic evidence of this rather beautiful event.

'Gabriel' are yet to make a statement on Adrien's behalf, though a recent post on Ms. Agreste's social media might mean one comes much sooner rather than later. Her most recent post pictured herself in a top class nail bar receiving a perfectly painted manicure.

'Perfect nails compliment the perfect accessories.'

We wait with baited breath for the 'accessory' to appear on Vivica's finger, with no doubt that it will be stunning, just like Paris' top couple.

So, Adrien, hurry up and decorate your lady's finger, we love a good wedding.

•••••

Marinette walked into the toilets, slamming her bag down hard on the vanity. Searching inside she pulled out gum, makeup wipes and a toothbrush/toothpaste set. She looked at her face in the mirror and grimaced, lipstick seemed to now be everywhere apart from on her lips. She looked like a glorified clown and contemplated sending a picture to Alya. Her bff would truly appreciate the pick me up. As she turned side to side a giggle left her lips, forget being Ladybug, she thought, she could give the joker a run for his money instead.

"Ugh!" Opening the packet, she pulled out a makeup wipe and began to scrub at the left over marks on her face. This was the reason she would usually wear lip stain on a date, but unfortunately the red lipstick was a necessity to prove the kissing had happened. She gently rubbed the wipe in circular motions, removing the makeup from her face, and with it the memory of what she'd just had to endure. Once the lipstick marks had vanished, she began on the rest of her face, there was no way she was leaving here with a big patch around her mouth, looking like a panda wasn't an option. She may have completed this job, but her next one would just end up with her being ridiculed.

Once she was happy her face was clean of unwanted makeup, i.e. all of it, Marinette bent over, flipping her hair upside down and blindly searched her bag for a hair tie. Why didn't she just put one on her wrist like she normally did? As much as she loved her hair down, the removal of the microphone wire (complete with the sticky tape) was always a pain, literally, and more times than not she ended up removing strands of her hair that had caught itself in the stickiness. She felt Tikki place the tie in her hand and fastened it around her thick raven hair.

Happy with the makeshift ponytail, she stood up and looked in the mirror. Makeup removed, hair up, next it was time to remove the microphone. Pushing her dress strap to one side, she found the thin black wire and began to pull it from her skin. Every now and then, an unplanned hiss would leave her mouth as the wire unstuck from her skin leaving a slight red mark in its wake. Finally, she reached the head of the microphone in her small cleavage and pulled that off too, rolling the wire around her fingers and placing it in her bag. She swapped the wire for her phone and called through to her office, placing it on loudspeaker and on the vanity's side so she could continue her aftercare routine.

"Marinette?"

"Hey Peyton, just to let you know it's done."

Peyton replied in her usual fashion, checking Marinette was okay and if she'd managed to get all the evidence the client had requested. Peyton took good care of her girls, and each would always have a photographer or bodyguard nearby just in case. Hits have been known to turn nasty, and, luckily for Marinette, she was yet to experience one, however her friend Kristie had been on the receiving end of abuse after a client's husband followed her into the bathroom after the kiss. The story was that horrid it almost stopped her from trapping, almost being the keyword.

Marinette gave her usual all clear before ending the call and placing the toothpaste on the brush. She needed to get the taste of this guy out of her mouth. He had been a tongue user, and she'd felt like she'd been licked by a serpent. Sexy, it definitely was not.

She'd been Honey Trapping now for just over one year, she was definitely one of the best at Honeypot Incorporated but that sometimes meant she got the harder, or more hands on clients. Her Ladybug smarts helped her plan and get the evidence she needed without hassle. She never pushed a hit into doing anything they didn't want to, over the year of her work it was clear that if a man was going to cheat, he would do it regardless. Her main aim was to get the job done and keep her dignity.

Tonight's trap was forty-two year old Rick. Rick owned a very successful law firm just south of the Seine and Marinette had been employed by his wife to Honey Trap him, and of course, being the sleaze ball he was, it had only taken Marinette two hours to get all of the evidence she needed for Mrs. Rick, photographs and a recording of him offering to take her home.

There were two types of Honey Trap; a full trap and a half trap. The full trap included one of Peyton's security team, disguised as a taxi driver, driving the trapper and victim to one of the work apartments where the disgruntled wife would be waiting to confront the husband. A trapper never entered the apartment, they just delivered them with an agreement of extracurricular activities. One thing Marinette would shamefully admit was that she enjoyed seeing the shocked expression on their faces when they realised their wife was waiting for them. She just wished she could have stayed for the blow out.

A half trap, however, never went more than simply kissing, and maybe hands to the thighs or ass. A photographer would position themselves a suitable distance away, snapping pictures to show to the client, and along with this, each trapper would wear a wire to catch the conversation, including what usually indicated the want for more. In Rick's case, he was determined to give Marinette her first night of multiple orgasms. A complete lie on Marinette's part of course, she was provided with that the night she lost her virginity.

A shiver ran through her spine as she remembered what Rick had whispered (in far too much detail) what he wanted to do to her. She wouldn't even let her boyfriend do most of the stuff he'd wanted to, if she even had a boyfriend that was. It was vulgar and made her skin crawl, how he thought someone almost twenty years his junior would do that with him was beyond her.

Taking the toothbrush to her teeth she began to brush vigorously, attempting to get the taste of Rick and cheap beer out of her mouth, before brushing over her tongue.

"You okay Marinette?" The photographer, Gail, walked into the restroom and watched amused as Marinette attempted to take the top layer of skin off her tongue.

"Did you get it?" She muffled through the obstruction of the toothbrush.

"Yeah, you're free to go."

Marinette finished scrubbing her tongue before slipping the stick of gum into her mouth and repacking her bag. Her job was complete and all there was left to do now was sneak out the back door. Thank god for her alter ego, it always made this part so much easier.

Saying goodnight to Gail, she headed for the emergency exit leading to the alleyway behind the bar. Hopefully the alarms were disconnected and her sudden escape wouldn't pull an abundance of attention.

She pressed down on the cold grey bar, holding her breath as the door swung open into the scarcely lit alley. Closing her eyes and letting out her next breath rather vocally, she stepped outside and quietly closed the door behind her. Freedom!

"He was a sleeze ball," Tikki said, appearing out of Marinette's clutch bag.

"You're telling me," Marinette scoffed, looking around to make sure there was no one near or any security cameras. Knowing what Marinette was looking for, Tikki flew around the alleyway, double checking everything for her holder, and disconnecting any camera's which looked as though they might be working.

"You're clear, Marinette." The kwami said.

"Tikki, spots on." Taking the yo-yo from her hip, Marinette swung into the air feeling the cooling night breeze as she landed on the rooftop of the bar and began to make her way along the Parisian skyline and over towards the Eiffel Tower.

Marinette couldn't say she enjoyed her job, her non superhero job that is, but it was good money and to be honest, after her last relationship had ended when she found her fiancé in bed with another woman, she couldn't help but feel like she wanted to make sure nobody felt the pain she did. Yeah, she'd gotten over it in the long run but at the time it hurt, it hurt a lot.

Continuing her run to the tower she could already see the shadow of her companion waiting for her. His silhouette blocked the light each time it swung past his resting place, and a shadow of a cat complete with ears and a tail was perching, preying on top of the tower.

"You know, sometimes you just look damn freaky," she landed beside him, coming to sit next to him and hanging her legs over the side.

"Hey trapper, who was it tonight? A rich astronaut or an old playboy?" Chat Noir started laughing at his own joke causing her to elbow him in the ribs.

"You know, sometimes you're not funny! I shouldn't have mentioned my job." She said, looking at her friend without a hint of anger. He was always funny, she just would never admit it.

"I only jest!" He said, holding his hands up in defence. "So seriously, who was it?" Chat said, looking at her with such warmth she suddenly felt the chill of what she had to do earlier that evening leave her.

"An old playboy."

Chat stuck his tongue out at her and crossed his eyes.

"Just because you are a pretty boy, doesn't mean you get to make fun of my job."

"Hey, what can I say I'm jealous of all these men you get to kiss."

"Chat," she rolled her eyes at him, "it's people like you that cause people like me to have a job."

"I still don't get how you can do it? I mean, I get why you do, some men are bastards, but you could do so much more. Don't you want to get into a real relationship? Don't you want to know real love?"

Ladybug burst out laughing, he knew full well what she thought about all that. "I'm fine with just our relationship, it's hard enough to keep you happy without thinking about a boyfriend, or heaven forbid a husband."

Chat Noir joined in with her laughter before nodding his head towards her. "Yeah, well I can't really disagree with that."

He looked out over the distance and Ladybug ogled at his side profile, he really was a gorgeous human being.

"Any news on your front?" She asked.

"The divorce should be going through soon and I'll finally be free." He looked down at his feet as they swung backwards and forwards from the metal bar.

Ladybug reached out, taking his hand in hers. She knew all the in's and out's of his relationship and it broke her heart everyday knowing what he'd been through. His father had had no right to do what he did, and to think this poor man beside her had been used as a tool made her want to reveal identities just so she could string his father up by his legs and beat him with Chat's baton.

"You've put up with so much, mon chaton," she rested her head on his shoulder and stared out over the bright lights of Paris. "Did you ever love her? Like even the tiniest of bits in the beginning of the relationship." She felt him shake his head.

"No," he huffed out, "I tried to like her for sure, but she's just so transparent. She's materialistic and jealous, and - uh - she's never been anything compared to you and the other girl I used to mention. I just wish I would have stood my ground all those years ago. I've lost both of you now."

"I'm still here, kitty."

"You're a man hater, Bugaboo," she started to laugh and squeezed his hand. She couldn't deny that. Thanks to two of the relationships in her past (two out of the three) they'd broken her. She wasn't ready to fall in love again, and more importantly, at the moment, she didn't want to.

"What about the other girl?"

Chat sighed, what about the other girl? He hadn't seen her in years. When it came out about his 'relationship' she'd slowly faded away into the background, before eventually disappearing. She hadn't answered any of his texts, calls or emails, she hadn't turned up for his wedding to save him, and the last he had heard about her from his friends was that she was engaged. Surprisingly though, not to anyone they knew. He'd made so many mistakes when it came to her, time after time after time ... he'd been an absolute fool and now he was paying for it.

"I haven't spoken to her for years, but God I miss her everyday. I love you, you know I do, but I feel like she's the one that got away and I didn't do a damn thing to stop it from happening. I hate myself for everything that happened."

"Well you know what they say, what you give is what you get returned, and I'm sure karma is looking out for the right time to deliver, my kitty. Don't lose hope."

They sat in silence for a few moments, both lost in their own thoughts about 'the one that got away', Ladybug not knowing whether her heart ached for her first love Adrien Agreste, or her wonderful partner. Two boys who were bound to break her heart even more than it already was.

"Perhaps one day you'll honey trap me, see how amazing I am and fall in love."

His words were so out of the blue she couldn't stop the bark of laughter from leaving her lips.

"I didn't realise I was that funny."

She moved her head off his shoulder to see the amusement dancing in his eyes.

"Why would I honey trap you?"

"I'm rich and successful, and my wife is a psycho."

"You're too good to cheat," she bopped his nose, grinning wildly at him and he couldn't help mirroring the image.

"Yeah, you're right, but still, if it was you, and I knew it was you ... I'd let myself get caught."

Her heart fluttered at his sentiment. It was when he said things like that she couldn't help but hope that when all was said and done they could try. Who knows, maybe they could be happy together?

"You know, I haven't shared a bed with my wife since our wedding night three years ago."

Now that was new, he rarely spoke about his marriage, avoiding the conversation as much as possible. "Really?" she asked, wanting to know more. "Is your marriage actually legal then, you know, if you didn't consummate -"

"We did that. My father made sure of it." He covered his eyes and let out a muffled scream, "Please don't make me elaborate on that."

"You know, I hate your father ... like, properly hate him."

"I know, Bug. Me too." He stretched to his side and pulled out a red and black polka dot bag that was hidden behind a support beam. "Happy Miraculousversary, sorry I'm a week late. I had to have something done to it."

"They don't put that on a card," she smiled, watching Chat bring the bag out in front of himself and presenting it to her. "Chat, I told you not to bother this year."

"I know, but I can't help it. I was out shopping and saw it ... and well, I just had to buy it for you. Open it."

Smiling at her partner, she grabbed the bag, reaching in to grab the long oblong box wrapped in shiny pink wrap and a big pink bow. He was bouncing around like a child at Christmas and she couldn't help but mirror his actions. Tearing open the wrapping paper she saw the tell tale signs of Tiffany blue. She stroked her finger down the box, a sharp pain shooting through her heart and chest. She couldn't help but wonder if that was what it meant by love struck.

"Chat," she whined out, only to be met with his annoyingly handsome smile.

"That's my name, don't wear it out."

She pushed her shoulder into his as she slid the box out of its cardboard cover and opened the lid. Her hand flew to her mouth as she took in the wonderful jewel in front of her. She'd never owned anything as beautiful as this in her life. Even her engagement ring was way substandard compared to it.

"How could you afford this?" She trailed a finger over the platinum chain before lifting the Tiffany solitaire diamond pendant from its cushion.

"You always laugh when I say it but I am loaded. Seriously, this costs less than what I earn in a day, so please don't think it's above what I can afford. It's our ten year anniversary, I wanted to get you something as a keepsake, and something you can pawn in your old age."

She burst out laughing, whenever anything serious came up in conversation he always covered it with a joke, but she knew he meant it. The guy always spoke from his beautiful heart. The thought that he wanted to give her something special which could help her if she needed it just added to the many, many, many qualities which made her love Chat Noir.

He knew Honey Trapping paid her well, but he was worried for her. Not many knew what she did, and she was quite sure people would look at her differently if they found out. Plus, if too many people knew about the secret her cover would be blown. It was one of the reasons she took the job, it kept her secrets exactly that. All of them.

"My gift just looks awful now."

"I loved it, Bugaboo! Not everyone gets my love for vintage games and the fact you got me a 1985 NES system with games ... Well, that's why you, M'Lady, are my favourite." He turned to her and placed his lips on her cheek, causing a blush to form under her mask.

They stayed out for another hour before they headed off to their retrospective houses, Chat clinged to Ladybug in a tight embrace before letting her go to head to his house for the night, he didn't have a home. Her arms were more of a home than where he lived.

As Marinette reached the balcony of her one bedroom apartment, she dropped her transformation and headed for her bedroom. She was ready for sleep, wanting to get into her pyjamas as quickly as possible and crawl under the covers.

She took her phone out of her clutch bag, before positioning it on her bag rack and checking for anything important on the rectangular device. She noticed she had a new notification and skimmed over the news update, scoffing to herself when she saw Adrien's name in the headlines again. She wasn't in the mood to read about him tonight, instead grabbing her latest 'Little Black Dress' book and placing it on her bedside table ready to get lost in the fantasy of a reporter and a hockey player. Tonight she would ignore whatever trash the media were sprouting about him. God, she hated him. Well and truly hated him, but worst of all, she hated that she just couldn't disconnect from him.

Switching off the news app on her phone she noticed she had one new voicemail. Pressing the red dot she placed the phone on loudspeaker and began to change into her pyjamas.

"Hi Marinette, it's Peyton. I know tomorrow is your day off but I need you to come in and complete some paperwork from this evening's trap. Also I've matched you with a new client and believe me, it's definitely going to be worth considering."

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