Published: 4/21/2016; Thursday; 8:32pm; Unedited

MLFanFicRec This is my entry to the Miraculous Ladybug Contest. Thank you for the opportunity to enter my first contest. :) and sorry I'm entering last minute ^-^"

[the set-up]

It's finally April. The first of April, to be precise. Alya wanted so badly to cackle maniacally, but that would wake her mother and siblings up, and she did not want to do that. She was anxious, but so ecstatic. She had been planning this with Nino since last year after what happened.

Oh yes, the senior-year-prank they had been planning (read: conspiring). On their best friends of course, but not only was it a prank, it's also a set-up.

They were both so fed up with the wait, it was obvious that Adrien had finally realized his feelings towards Marinette but didn't believe she felt the same (despite the obvious blush, occasional stutter, and the utter adoration in her eyes every time she looked at him); he was annoyingly oblivious at this point.

Alya still encouraged Marinette to confess whenever there was a chance, but that was one of the things about Marinette that never changed: how shy she was when it came to Adrien.

But now, it's April. April the First.

It was time.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Hey, Mari," Alya greeted her best friend who was sitting in the school library. Said girl looked up, smiling gently.

"Good morning Alya," she replied, closing her book after placing her bookmark in it. The years had done well for the young Dupain-Cheng. Her hair had grown out to mid-back, and only occasionally let it fall out of it's neat bun at the back of her head, but her face still framed with side-swept bangs and baby hairs in front of her ears that still held black earrings.

Her clothes changed to something more modest than most people dressed lately. White skinny jeans, a light pink button-up shirt that wasn't always buttoned all the way on some days, and switches between a grey or black mini-vest, and her shoes had changed from slip-on flats to Converse as they were comfortable and easy to run in.

"What were you reading? It's almost time for class!" She looked at the time and quickly packed her scattered school supplies in her bag.

"I didn't even notice the time!" Marinette gasped, "I was reading about some ancient-- uh-- spirits from Egypt. It was really interesting."

Alya giggled, "The whole Egypt thing again? I thought we were done after the last Egypt incident!"

"You mean after you were almost sacrificed?" Marinette laughed as she hugged the book to herself, walking up to Alya and they started heading to their class chatting along the way.

"Alya!" Nino called out after seeing the two girls exit the school library with Adrien glancing at his phone to see his schedule (which was clear for the whole day, and little note of 'day off' at the top amking him smile), waving as both Alya and Marinette paused to look at the DJ and his blond friend next to him. "Morning!"

"Hey Nino!" She replied, the two boys catching up to walk with them to class.

"Good morning Marinette, how are you so far?" Adrien started a conversation with the shy girl next to him, as Nino had moved to walk with Alya, leaving them next to each other as well.

"G-good morning A-Adrien," Marinette shyly stuttered, giving him a small smile before looking down at her shoes as they walked, hugging the book tighter, "It's been nice so far, especially since it's the first of April."

Adrien chuckled, remembering last year's events, "Your plan was genius, I had fun." Marinette laughed along, recalling the memories of her brilliant prank. "I'm surprised they haven't gotten back at us, we should keep our guards up."

Marinette nodded, smirking as she looked up ahead of her, "If they have anything planned, they better watch out."

While the not-so-secret love birds laughed about last year, Alya and Nino spoke in hushed voices, not noticing the other pair's topic of conversation.

"Everything is ready, right?" Alya asked, glancing at the couple that will be an official couple tomorrow. They have to be after what will go down today.

"Yeah, everyone was willing to help out after what happened last year, except Chloe, obviously," they both rolled their eyes, "But they don't know the whole plan, just the prank."

"Good." She nodded, grinning. "We're so close to making this happen-- I can't believe they haven't noticed us whispering or that we've already entered the classroom."

Nino snorted, "Shows how much they don't know they're in love with each other."

Alya groaned, "Tell me about it."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"The movies?" Adrien and Marinette echoed their friends' words, both glancing at each other before looking away, blushes on their cheeks.

"Yeah, it's the new Captain America: Civil War movie. Nino and I were talking and I brought up that you wanted to see it and he mentioned that so has Adrien. Nino and I want to go see it as well, so we thought-- 'Why not go together?' So? What do guys say?" Alya leaned forward, expecting. Whether they said yes or no would throw their plan into shreds.

"Hm... Well, today is my day off-- for once-- and I really want to go see this movie. I'll have to tell Natalie I'll be going out, but sure, I'll go," Adrien grinned, making them all look at Marinette, who was pondering over it, tapping her chin with her finger and lips pursed.

"I just have to finish up some chores in the bakery, but I should be able to go. I've been dying to see Civil War!" She gushed at the end, and smiled at them. "Let's do it."

Nino and Alya twiddled their fingers together behind their backs.

Step one complete.

"So," Adrien piped up, "What time?"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"What do you mean you can't make it?!" Marinette hissed into her phone, Alya on the other end of the line.

"I'm really sorry, Mari! My mom said I have to take care of my siblings, no way out of it!" Alya sighed, sounding annoyed at the situation as well. "Just enjoy the movie, okay? You love Chris Evans and Marvel!"

Marinette pinched the bridge of her nose, sighing, "Okay, yeah. I'll talk to you later. Love you."

"Love you, too, girl." She hung up, putting her phone in her back, Tikki asleep inside next to a zip-block bag of cookies for when she woke up.

"Who was that?" A voice made her jump, whipping around and seeing Adrien. His hands were in his pockets, face blank, eyes boring into hers, his seemed to be filled with an emotion that she couldn't place.

"Alya," she breathed out, "She has to babysit and can't make it." Adrien blinked, the dark look in his eyes disappearing, but a frown adorned his lips.

"Nino can't make it either, being an popular DJ, he got booked last minute," he brought his right hand out and ran it through his hair before rubbing the back of his neck. "Do...do you still want to watch the movie? I mean, since we're still here and really want to see this movie--"

"Adrien," Marinette giggled, her stutter suddenly diminishing to an extent, "Just because they aren't here doesn't mean we have to leave too. Let's go buy the tickets." Marinette smiledm gesturing her head to the ticket booth, turning around and going ahead.

Adrien stared at her back, something familiar about the way she walked away from him. Shaking his head, he smiled and followed. He caught up quickly because of his long strides, since his legs had gotten longer, growing taller over the years. Marinette was small still, liker her mother, and had only grown a few inches. Adrien towered over her now, and he found it cute.

"Good evening," the woman looked up at them, something flashing in her eyes before sending them a brighter smile. "What movie would you like to see?"

"Two for Captain America: Civil War," Marinette quipped, reaching into her bag to get some money but a hand landed on hers. She looked up, eyes wide at Adrien.

"Don't worry, I'll pay," he smiled, taking out his wallet.

"Please choose where you want to sit," she gestured to a screen in front of them, which showed which seats were open and which were taken. Surprisingly enough none were taken.

"Row H, seats five and six, please," Adrien decided that the middle would be the best spot.

"Alright, that will be £19.92." Adrien paid the cash needed, got their tickets and went inside. Once the door was closed, the woman took out a walkie-talkie, she pressed the button she needed to and spoke into it, "They're in."

There was a pause before someone replied, "Perfect. Continue with the plan."

"Roger that. 104 to 128."

"This is 128, what's the status?"

"Prepare to commence step two."

"Hell yeah."

"So do you want popcorn or a drink?" Adrien asked as they looked at the many snacks they can get. He glanced at Marinette who was looking at menu carefully before nodding.

"Candy is expensive here so I would rather just get popcorn and a soda, maybe even water if that's what you'd like to get," she looked up at him, trying not to freak out. She doesn't know how she wasn't stuttering, but she hoped she could keep going like she is now.

"Sorry for the wait, what can I get for you?" They were both snapped out of their moment, not even realizing they had been staring into each other's eyes. The guy behind the cashier was grinning, a glint in his eyes.

"Just a large popcorn and large coca-cola," Adrien sent a questioning glance at Marinette who just nodded in approval. The cashier clicked a few things in the screen before turning around and getting their popcorn and drink.

Adrien peeked at Marinette and noticed that she decided to go with her grey mini-vest today, something he noticed that she switched around a lot.

"Here you go," he turned back to the cashier who sent a knowing smile, before handing it to them, "Enjoy your movie."

Marinette's brows furrowed, "Wait, we haven't paid for this yet."

He shook his head, grinning, "It's on me." Before they could either voice their complaints, he turned heel and started helping out with the other orders to get them out faster.

"Well...that was nice of him," Adrien commented as they headed for their theater room.

"I still feel bad that we didn't pay, though," she pursed her lips. "Maybe we should--" She yelped, as a a rope wrapped itself around her waist before yanking her up to the ceiling of the hall. "Wh-what? What's going on?!"

A laughter filled the room and Adrien looked around to see many people stuck to walls, to the floor, or in positions from a sort of trap, at the end of the hall, a girl giggled, dressed like a jester of sorts.

"That's the best one yet!" she cackled, pointing at Marinette. "I've been waitin' for someone to walk into that one!"

"Adrien!" He looked up to Marinette, her hands gripping the rope which was most likely digging into her stomach painfully, "Run! See if you can find help! Call for Chat Noir and Ladybug!"

"But..." He couldn't just leave her, but he had to get her down, and he couldn't do that as he is now. "Right!" He set the popcorn and drink to the side, not throwing them in hopes that they would still be there later, and tried to find a place to transform.

"Hey! What's wrong, dude?" He turned to the cashier guy, he was about to answer when he yelled, the drink dispensers exploding as he pressed a cup to it, pooling to the floor making him slip.

"There's an Akuma here! Run!" Adrien shouted, making all the people scream and run out, trying to get to safety. He muttered, "Why today, why now of all times?"

"Where'd ya go, Blondie?" the Akuma, which he still hadn't learned the name of, called for him. Probably not liking that he was escaping. "There ya are. I'd be careful if I were ya. Nowhere is safe on April Fools."

April Fools...April Fools.

"No one is safe from me on this day, I'm the ultimate prankster-- I am Trickster!"

He ran inter a closet quickly, hiding from everyone, "Plagg!" His kwami flew out, a mischievous grin on his little cat face.

"Doesn't that suck, your precious date was interrupted!" He laughed.

Adrien huffed, "Plagg, transform me!" The black kwami was sucked into the ring on his finger, a girl light engulfing him, and he was now his alter ego. Bursting out of the closet, he ran down the hall to see Ladybug freeing people from the pranks (read: traps) while avoiding attacks from Trickster.

He appeared next to her, bowing dramatically, "Am I late, My Lady?"

"Almost thought you wouldn't show up, Chat," she teased, and they began their fight with the master of pranks.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Marinette!" Adrien called out, in the crowd of people who returned to the theater. He was worried about her, she was rather small, and she was really pretty, what if someone--

"A-Adrien!" Her voice came from his right, making him go that way, weaving through the crowd, apologizing to everyone along the way, "Am I-- I mean, I'm o-over here!" He spotted her hair, which was rather unique, and made his way over to her.

"Oh my gosh! It's Adrien Agreste!" Some girl shrieked behind him, it sounded familiar but he kept going, but the screaming started getting closer. He reached Marinette who looked fearfully behind him. He took a glance and saw many girls heading their way.

"We should go," Adrien gently pushed her shoulders towards their theater, attempting to escape the hoard of fangirls.

"Y-yeah!" Marinette squeaked, letting him lead her.

But it was all for naught, they didn't make it.

"Adrien! Who is that?!"

"Move, whore!"

"Get away from him, you filthy commoner!"

Adrien didn't mean to, but the more they called Marinette names, the more the girl shrunk in on herself, eyes glossy, he snapped. "Hey! Don't call her that!"

"What?! But Adrien--"

"You can't be serious! She's--"

"My girlfriend, and I don't appreciate you being rude to her. Come on, Marinette." He pushed her a little forcefully to get her to move from her spot since she had suddenly became rooted to the floor. There were hushed whispers, some girls started crying, a lot were taking pictures, and a lot of scoffs. But he kept going, Marinette was his priority right now.

Once they were in their theater, which was still empty, previews already playing.

"A-Adrien..." Marinette stuttered, face red, "A-about j-just tha-- I mean what-- I--" she stopped, taking a deep breath, and let it out. "About what happened..."

He turned to her, in the barely lit room of the theater, it gave her an illumination that he thought he'd only seen in movies, animes, and professional photos. She looked heavenly. "Marinette," he brought his hands up, cupping her cheeks, "Will you make what I said true?"

Her face, if even possible, flushed more, "Y-y-yes..." Adrien began leaning in slowly, their nose brushing together, he nudged her, as if asking permission. She, Marinette, one of the shyest people anyone has ever seen, closed the gap. Standing on her tip-toes, she kissed him. It was short, but sweet, and both were shy about it during the movie, but their locked fingers stated something else.

They didn't notice the two figures sneaking out the theater.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The next day at school, Marinette was a mess, trying to hid her face from everyone while Adrien was next to her, doing the same thing.

While both being able to be sassy and confident, this was not something they wanted everyone to know about, yet when they arrived, they were hit with pies straight to the face and greeted with pictures everywhere of the two kissing from the night before.

Alya and Nino stood in front of them, smug and fist-bumped.

"Sadly we had to extend the plan for this morning because of the Akuma attack, but it was totally worth it," Alya laughed.

"You know, I didn't think you had the guts, dude," Nino ruffled his friend's hair, the blond in return swatting his hand away with a groan.

Everyone was cheering, congratulating them, Chloe screeching her head off, but hey, that wasn't new.

Nino and Alya stood a ways from them now, Nino's hand wrapped around her waist, keeping her close while she leaned on him. Alya breathed out a quiet laugh, "When do you think we should tell them we've been dating for three months?"

Nino grinned, "After this goes down and they forgive us," Alya nodded after thinking about it. That sounded good. "Do you think we should tell them we know about them being Superheroes?"

Alya didn't even stop to think, "Not until they tell each other, first."

[word count: 2846]