Author's Note: I've been planning this story for two months and it's finally ready to see the light of day! I'm really looking forward to going on this ride with all of you. I hope you enjoy it too! :)

Les petits rats, they called the ballet students affectionately—the little rats of the Paris Opera Ballet School, for the rapid pitter-patter of their feet on the rehearsal dance floor. Days started early for the little rats, waking up at 6:45 am and continuing, nonstop, until 9pm, when it was lights out.

It was a strict and disciplined lifestyle, fiercely competitive and only kind to those rare few who possessed both natural talent and mental perseverance in spades.

Marinette Dupain-Cheng was one such dancer.

By the age of six, it was clear to everyone in her family that she was destined to be a ballerina, and when she was accepted to the Paris Opera Ballet School at the age of eight, everyone was elated.

For the past nine years, she had worked harder than everyone else in her cohort combined, landing soloist roles in each of the annual showcases, working through every injury and sore muscle with a combination of sheer will and grit. It was her dream to become an Etoile at the Paris Opera Ballet, and she was convinced that with enough hard work, someday, she would get there.

There was only one thing Marinette had never managed to achieve: getting to know Adrien Agreste, who was the son of Gabriel Agreste, the director of the Paris Opera Ballet, and the most talented male dancer in the entire school.

Though Marinette and Adrien were the same age, he had started dancing earlier than her, and he was a year ahead of her. Though she had always been drawn to him, she had never had a chance to get to know him, and she dreamed of being his friend (and possibly more) from afar.

There was no doubt that he knew who she was; as the best student in her year, everyone knew who Marinette was. But none of them really had time to become friends. And sadly, before they even knew it, it was time for Adrien to graduate, and he left Nanterre for the glittering lights of Paris before Marinette could ever do more than say hello a few times in the dormitory hallways.

Luckily for her, her best friend Alya was a university student pursuing a degree in journalism, planning to cover the arts beat. She was well aware of Marinette's crush on Adrien and had willingly followed his flourishing career in Paris over the past year, while Marinette finished up in Nanterre.

Alya often sent Marinette emails updating her as to Adrien's whereabouts, with titles like "your lover is going to be in this show tonight!" with links to videos and clips.

Marinette always laughed at the emails, but she also opened every link and watched every video, and for Christmas that year, she saved up money and bought a fancy camera lens Alya had been wanting for ages as a way of saying thank you.

A few days before the performance showcase being put on by the new members of the corps de ballet, Marinette took a late afternoon train from Nanterre into Paris with the two other girls who were joining with her.

At first, she listened with mild interest to Alix and Aurore talk about the nightclubs they were planning to explore after the showcase was over, but she quickly zoned out and spent the rest of the ride gazing out the window.

It was almost sunset, and the light from the dying sun was warm and limpid on her skin, casting dark orange shadows. She wondered at all the things that were about to change; after years as a student, in a few months, she was finally about to take the first major step to fulfilling her dream of becoming a danseur etoile at the Paris Opera Ballet.

And she was going to see Adrien again.

She smiled at the thought and pulled out her phone and scrolled through some of the latest reviews Alya had sent her of his latest performance, and when she saw that one of them had a video attached of him performing the Prince's Variation from Cinderella, she quickly pulled out her headphones and watched him, enthralled.

Adrien was the prince. He embodied the role; his entire being was immersed in the role, leaping three feet into the air as his facial expressions reflecting the pure bliss of infatuation.

He was beautiful to watch, and Marinette dreamed of dancing beside him. Hopefully, she thought, that day would come soon, though she knew she had competition in the form of Chloe Bourgeois, one of the other girls who had graduated a year before her.

But Marinette wasn't too worried. She knew how good she was. She would surpass Chloe in no time.

The next day, a few hours before rehearsal, she met up with Alya for coffee at one of their favorite cafes, a small place tucked away in Montmartre near Alya's apartment.

Alya settled into her chair and ordered two coffees as Marinette scowled down at her phone.

"Is something wrong?" asked Alya, raising an eyebrow. From Marinette's furrowed brows, it was clear that her friend was about to launch into a rant.

"I just received an email from Alix. There are more people joining the showcase. Some of the current dancers will be filling out the acts."

"Is that a problem?"

"No. But Adrien and Chloe are joining the showcase and doing the Cinderella Pas de Deux," said Marinette, puffing up with irritation.

Alya laughed. "That means you're going to see your Prince Charming again. You should be excited, not angry!"

"I'm excited about seeing him. But I'm not excited about seeing him dance with her."

"Marinette, they've both been here for a year and they graduated at the same time. And you know she's good—"

"Not as good as me."

"I know that. You know that. And you're going to show the directors, so stop worrying about Chloe Bourgeois. Let's talk about what you're performing instead. Is it exciting? Did Mademoiselle Etoile get a solo?" said Alya, as though Marinette hadn't been talking about the showcase nonstop for the past three months.

"Well, Alya, for your information, I'm going to be performing Kitri's Act I Variation from Don Quixote."

Alya gasped dramatically, eyes wide. "Is that so? It's the first I'm hearing this news! Why didn't you tell me before?"

She laughed as Marinette pushed away her mug and pulled out her phone to open the video of Natalia Osipova's performance and watch it for the 100th time, burning every turn and move into her brain.

"Girl, put that away. You've got this."

"Alya, you don't understand. Natalia Osipova is Kitri. If I'm going to become an Etoile as soon as possible, I have to be the best. I have to do what she does even better than her."

"I know," said Alya. "And you will. But for now, can you please focus on finishing your coffee? You're gonna need the caffeine if you're going to be at rehearsal for the next eight hours."

Marinette looked up and smiled gratefully. "You know I love you, right?"

"I will if you empty that mug."

Adrien sighed as he set down his tea cup and looked across the table at his father, who was silent as he looked through his calendar at his daily schedule. As the director of the Paris Opera Ballet, Gabriel Agreste was probably one of the busiest men in the city, but until a year ago, he had always at least had time to shoot a smile across the table before he rushed out of the house.

But that was before his mother had passed away, right after he graduated from the Ballet School.

Adrien had thrown himself into every performance, losing himself in every role and spending as much time out of the house as possible, while his father had slowly become more and more distant, drawing into himself. He had never been a man of many words, but they had never been as sharp edged as they were now.

Every so often, Adrien's best friend Nino mentioned that he had a spare bedroom in his apartment and that he was welcome to move in if he ever wanted to, but Adrien didn't want to give up on his father just yet, even if every interaction they had now was cold and formal, always either a direction or a command.

Adrien noticed with concern that his father seemed particularly pale this morning, but he didn't get a chance to ask him if anything was wrong—the moment he started to say something, Gabriel's eyes widened at whatever he was looking at on the phone, and he rushed out of the room, not even waving goodbye.

Adrien sighed as he looked down at his own phone and saw that he would be late for rehearsal if he didn't leave himself. He got up from the table and pushed in the chair before grabbing his bag and walking out the door. Perhaps he could try for another conversation again at dinner.

At rehearsal, Marinette sat in the audience and watched with irritation as Chloe fluttered and twirled around Adrien. Though they danced well together, there was no spark in their partnership—though Chloe was clearly a skilled and precise dancer, she lacked both fire and passion. She was simply performing the role; she wasn't living it, the same way Adrien was, and it took Marinette out of the scene completely. Marinette knew that given the chance, she would do a better job.

Still, she knew she had time. In the meantime, she had to focus on her solo. She was going to leave Paris breathless.

The night of the showcase, the entire theater was packed. Though Marinette's parents were out of town at a baking trade show, Alya and her new boyfriend Nino, who was a film student, brought all their fancy cameras and promised them they would capture every moment of Marinette's first big solo as an official dancer at the POB in clear and beautiful high definition.

And it was a wonder. Marinette was a whirling vision in red, beaming a million-watt smile as she jumped and leaped across the stage to the frenetic Spanish music, earning herself a standing ovation for her spectacular fouettes, and Alya smiled with happiness as she saw how happy the audience was to see her best friend's performance.

"Your friend is amazing!" commented Nino above the applause. "I know you told me she's good, but damn. That girl has skills! She is on another level—I'd even say she's almost as good as my best friend. I wouldn't be surprised if they get partnered up at some point. Something tells me they'd complement each other. Just an instinct."

Alya turned to Nino, surprised. "You never told me you were friends with any dancers. Who's your best friend?"

"Oh, I never told you? I'm sure you've seen him perform, since you said you come to these performances a lot. His name is Adrien. Adrien Agreste."

Alya screeched. "What?! Adrien Agreste is your best friend?! Why have you never told me this before?"

"Don't tell me you have a crush on him too!" said Nino, laughing. "The poor guy has girls falling all over him all the time as it is."

Alya shook her head and turned to look back at the stage, where Marinette was still bowing and waving to the audience, immediately starting to formulate a plan.

"Don't worry. I'm not the one with a crush on him."

Nino followed her gaze to the stage, his eyes widening as he realized what she meant.

"Oh. Oh. I'm gonna have to help you set them up together, aren't I?"

Alya turned to her boyfriend with a grin and a thumbs up. "That's right! Such a quick learner. That's why I like you."

Nino rolled his eyes. "Your name should be Emma Woodhouse, not Alya Cesaire."

"Well it looks like someone was paying attention in World Literature. Anyways, this is the plan. The Glass Slipper. Tonight. 10pm. Make sure he's there."

"Anything for you, Lady Wifi."

Alya groaned. "You know I hate it when you call me that."

"I'll stop calling you that when you stop complaining about the bad wifi signal in here."

"Hey, I promised Mama Cheng I would send her the videos of Marinette's performance tonight. It's the least I can do before I take her daughter out and get her hammered."

Marinette smiled with pleasure at the warm reception from the audience. Her solo had gone better than she could have possibly imagined, and even though she wished her parents were there to see her perform, at least Alya and Nino were filming it for them.

She scanned the audience in search of them, but found her eyes drawn to a tiny woman sitting in the audience instead. Though their eyes only met for a few moments, she felt shocked to the core as soon as they made eye contact.

Marinette knew she couldn't have possibly ever met her before, but something about the look in the woman's eyes made her feel like she knew all of her hopes and fears. she quickly left the stage soon after, completely unnerved.

Adrien sighed as the music began for his performance with Chloe and he stepped onto the stage. Although they had been rehearsing for weeks, he still didn't feel quite right dancing with her.

But he wasn't going to let that show. He gazed at Chloe and tried to imagine she truly was Cinderella as he circled around her and looked into her eyes. But even though their every movement was in sync, and exquisite in technique—they were both graduates of the school, after all— he felt an emotional barrier emanating from her, her eyes empty and listless. She wasn't a girl in love with a prince; she was Chloe Bourgeois, The Dancer.

Still, Adrien continued to support her turns, and gazed at her like she was a princess, but when he lifted her up and spun her around, he found himself distracted and looking into the audience, and locked eyes with a dark skinned, cat-like man sitting in the front row. The man had impossibly neon-green eyes and peered at Adrien like he knew all of his secrets.

Instinctively, Adrien knew that he should be nervous. But all he felt was curious, and after the performance, as they left the stage, he had to fight the urge to look back and meet his gaze again.

Marinette practically ran to the dressing room after her performance and slammed the door, overwhelmed by the emotions the mysterious audience member had triggered in her. She sat in the chair and buried her face in her hands, breathing heavily.

And then she heard the door opening once more, followed by footsteps that sounded as light as a feather, and she looked up. Standing right in front of her was the mysterious woman from the audience.

Up close, she was tiny and compact. Her freckled face and large ebony eyes were at once both ageless and young, dwarfed by a cloud of dark auburn curls. She gazed into Marinette's eyes with a look that was somehow both piercing and friendly, and Marinette wasn't sure if she felt more curious or unnerved by her presence.

"Bonsoir, Marinette," she said, her voice as sweet and delicate as sugar. "My name is Tikki."

"Bonsoir, madame," said Marinette, backing into her chair. "How can I help you?"

"I've got a question for you," said Tikki. "How would you like to be a danseur etoile for the city of Paris?"

Marinette crinkled her eyebrows. "That's impossible—I just joined the corps de ballet as a quadrille, how can I be a danseur etoile? The auditions for coryphée aren't even for a few months! I won't be ready to be in that position for at least a few years."

Tikki shook her head and smiled. "This isn't for the Paris Opera Ballet. It's for something far bigger than that."

"I'm afraid I don't understand," said Marinette. "I've been preparing to be a dancer here my entire life. What could possibly be bigger than this?"

Tikki nodded, calm and knowing. "I know it's confusing. But you will, if you accept."

"But what am I accepting? What will I be doing?" Marinette protested.

Take these earrings and you will understand," said Tikki, holding out her palm. In them were two ruby studs that glowed brightly in the flickering light of the hallway. She pressed them into Marinette's hand and closed them with a sense of finality. It was clear that Marinette didn't have much say in the matter.

Still, she tried. "Why are you giving these to me? These are precious stones!"

"You have been chosen as an Etoile to fight and defeat Hawk Moth."

"But I'm a dancer! How can I fight and defeat anyone? And who is Hawk Moth?"

"He is the maestro of the realm of emotions. He has a rather peculiar sense of humor. He takes the phrase "all the world's a stage" a bit too literally, you see. He has the power to send out black butterflies that create illusions that will turn the world in front of his victims into a scene from a ballet, and if the Etoiles don't realize it in time and take their place to dance their way out of it, his victims will be trapped in his cage of illusions forever."

"That sounds like something out of a children's fairy tale. Why has he never come here before? And why should I believe you?"

"Hawk Moth is not always the same person. His identity comes from the powers of darkness, and the Etoiles must work to expel the darkness from his heart before he spreads it throughout Paris. The dark magic that controls Hawk Moth is wise. It searches for a powerful host, and finds one who has the potential to be a master of manipulation. The last Hawk Moth was in London, a long time ago—but luckily, Ladybug and Chat Noir were able to stop him. It's been years since I felt his dark energy, but I have no doubt that he's here. And now the world needs another Ladybug."

"Ladybug?"

"She is one of the two Etoiles. And you have been chosen to take on her role."

"Me?!"

"Yes."

Marinette stared at her with wide eyes. "I don't think you have the right person for this. My dream is to be an Etoile for the Paris Opera Ballet, to perform for the people of Paris. I'm not a magician, or a psychologist, or a wizard!"

Tikki shook her head.

"Put the earrings on, and you will understand."

Marinette frowned. She wasn't sure what was happening, but something was telling her that Tikki's intentions were pure, so she went with her instincts and put them on.

And nothing happened. She looked to Tikki, who laughed. Clearly, she had been anticipating this reaction.

"Now touch your fingers to them and rub them in a counter-clockwise direction," said Tikki.

Marinette did, and everything around her abruptly went dark, with nothing but a spotlight shining down on her. She realized that she was standing on pointe, wearing a bright crimson tutu in the old-fashioned romantic style, with tulle falling to her knees. Long red ribbons were floating from her bun, and she felt the pressure of a mask upon her face. She reached up to touch it, and her fingers brushed against the intricately beaded edges.

"What's going on?!" she cried. "Tikki, what is this?"

Tikki smiled. "That is your costume, Ladybug. It will change with the story, but when you wear it, you have the power to see through Hawk Moth's illusions, and with the power of these earrings, you can create them as well. But it's important for you to pay attention. Hawk Moth is a master of manipulation, and you'll have to be careful. But don't worry—you won't be alone. You have a partner. His name is Chat Noir. He will always be there by your side whenever you face Hawk Moth."

"Chat Noir? Who is he?"

"That's your first challenge and test. You must figure it out and find each other. Hawk Moth isn't yet ready to find his first victims, but he will be soon. So you must identify and team up with your partner before he does."

"But where will I even start?"

"Follow your instincts. You'll know when you find him. And remember, don't tell anyone else about this. It's important to keep this a secret."

"But how do I—"

"Change back? Rub the earrings clockwise, and you'll return to normal. That's all there is to it."

Tikki waited until Marinette de-transformed before nodding with satisfaction.

"I knew I chose the right girl. You're perfect. Good luck! If you need me, just call for me. I'll be there."

"But I don't have your phone number!"

"And I don't have a phone!" said Tikki cheerfully with a final nod and a wave as she walked back down the hallway and disappeared into the darkness.

Marinette stood there, clutching the earrings, a little shellshocked, and a little disbelieving. She wasn't sure if she was ready to believe that what had just happened was real. But the ruby earrings were still in her palms, pulsing with energy. Whatever had just happened was real, whether she was ready to face it or not.

Alya rushed into the dressing room a few minutes later. "Girl, you were amazing! I told you they would love you!"

Marinette shook her head and tried to focus. "What? Oh, thanks, Alya. I'm glad you enjoyed the performance."

Alya raised an eyebrow as Alix and Aurore entered the dressing room, both carrying an armful of dresses, sporting huge grins on their faces.

"Why do you sound so glum? You just blew everyone away with your performance!"

"I guess I'm a bit tired," said Marinette, looking down. There was no way to explain what had just happened to her.

Alix shook her head. "Nope! I'm not having that. I told Alya that you never go out when you're at school, and she's mad that you lied to her. Anyways, I knew you wouldn't have brought any going-out clothes with you, so Aurore and I snagged a bunch of options from Juleka."

"The costume designer?" asked Marinette, surprised.

"Yup!" said Aurore cheerfully. "She designs club clothes in her spare time. Aren't these great?"

"Hey, nice earrings!" said Alix, noticing the new studs on Marinette's ears. "Are they onyx?"

Marinette stared at her for a moment, confused as to how she could have confused them to be anything but rubies. But just as she was about to respond, she looked in the mirror and realized they had turned black. How was that possible?

Her eyes widened as Tikki's voice suddenly appeared inside her mind. You're not going crazy, Marinette. They turned black for your protection. They'll only turn red again when you transform.

"Yes, they're onyx," Marinette told her friend. "They were...a gift from a fan."

Alya laughed. "Wow, look at Mademoiselle Etoile! Getting a fanbase already! I'm proud of you, girl."

Marinette eyed one of the dresses, a sleeveless and skin-tight crimson number that she knew would complement her hair and eyes perfectly. She reached out longingly to touch the sleek fabric. It had been a long time since she had gone out with her friends, but she had to do what Tikki had told her and find Chat Noir—even though she had no idea where to start.

"I know what you're thinking," said Alya invitingly. "Give into the temptation, girl. Come out with us. You deserve to celebrate!"

Marinette turned to look at her best friend. "I don't know...I think I might just want to go home tonight."

"We are not taking no for an answer, Mari," said Alix. "You're coming with us to The Glass Slipper tonight, whether you like it or not."

Marinette whipped her head to stare at her petite pink haired friend. "Did you say The Glass Slipper?"

Something about the name felt like it was a lead. Tikki had told her to follow her instincts, and her instincts were honing in on this place. It had to be a sign.

"Obviously," said Aurore. "It just opened a month ago. Don't you remember we were talking about it on the train? But I mean...if you really don't want to go there, we can go somewhere else. As long as you come out with us tonight."

"NO," interjected Alya. "We're going to The Glass Slipper. Period."

"But what if she wants to go somewhere—"

"It's fine," said Marinette quietly, but decisively. "That's where I want to go too."

"Alright!" cheered Alix. "I knew you'd come around!"

Alya nodded approvingly as Alix and Aurore surrounded Marinette and started primping her for the club. She pulled out her phone to text Nino and tell him that phase one had been successful, and that it was now up to him to carry out phase two.

When Adrien returned to the dressing room, the man from the audience was sitting in his chair, waiting for him with a smirk. As Adrien walked into the room, he stood up and approached him, eyes glittering.

"My name is Plagg," he said. "And I have the role of a lifetime for you. A role that will give you more freedom than you ever could have imagined, and the chance to become the savior of Paris."

Adrien frowned. "That sounds like a Faustian deal. How do I know I can trust you?

Plagg shrugged, graceful and catlike. "You don't. But that's what faith is all about, isn't it?"

"I'm not sure," said Adrien, hesitating.

"Do you have the heart to do it?" said Plagg, his voice low and coaxing.

Something about the look in his eyes compelled Adrien to say yes.

"Terrific," said Plagg, pulling out a black box from his trousers and handing it to Adrien. "Inside this box is a silver ring. Put it on."

Adrien opened the box gingerly and slid the ring onto his right ring finger.

"Nothing's happening," he said.

"Rub the seal counterclockwise," said Plagg.

Adrien did, and suddenly, he found himself wearing a mask, and felt the pressure of something on his head. He reached up and touched what felt like cat ears, and whirled around to look in the mirror.

Along with the ears, his prince costume had been replaced by something else entirely, a black tunic and leggings made of a strange fabric that was practically pulsating with magic. His hands were covered by thick black gloves, made of a material he didn't recognize, and a black mask covered nearly half of his face. A neon green shield made his eyes look almost inhuman.

He stared in awe at his own reflection. "I...look like a cat. A black cat."

Plagg laughed. "That's because you are one. Your name in this form is Chat Noir."

"I don't even recognize myself," said Adrien touching the various parts of his new costume with a tentative wonder.

"And now you have the power to destroy," crowed Plagg.

Adrien frowned, suddenly brought back down to earth. "Destroy what? The silence in my house? Because I haven't had a single conversation with Père ever since Maman died."

Adrien stopped himself. This was the most he had ever said out loud about the problems he had at home, and he was doing it in front of a stranger, no less. Granted, it was a stranger who had just gifted him with some sort of magical powers, but still.

Plagg snorted. "No. You can't destroy problems that have a basis in reality. You have the power to destroy illusions. But you can't do it alone. You need your partner, your counterpoint. Ladybug."

"Ladybug?" Adrien asked, confused.

"Yes. She is the other Etoile—your partner, and you must find her tonight, at The Glass Slipper."

"The dance club? How will I find her there?"

"You ask a lot of questions," said Plagg, sighing.

"Forgive me for wanting to know what I'm signing up for!" responded Adrien indignantly. "You said that I have the chance to become the savior of Paris. What exactly does that mean?"

"Okay, kid. Detransform and sit down and I'll explain what's going on. And before you ask, to do that, all you have to do is rub your ring clockwise."

Adrien did so and sat down in his chair. He listened, enraptured, to the rules of the game, and of the tales of previous Ladybugs and Chat Noirs, and how they had saved every Hawk Moth from the darkness by dancing together. It was an eternal battle, never-ending and manifesting in many different ways through the generations, but with righteousness and love, the side of the light always came out on top.

It felt right. It felt like something it could do. And perhaps in doing so, he would be able to find a way to reconnect with his father again.

And then there was Ladybug.

Even though he hadn't met her yet, Adrien was sure she was going to be amazing, and his eyes sparkled with excitement at the thought of meeting her and dancing together to save Paris. He started fantasizing about what she looked like, and his mind readily supplied a stunning vision of black hair, piercing blue eyes, and clouds of crimson tulle.

"Kid, are you listening?"

Plagg's droll voice and hands waving in his face interrupted his daydream.

"What?"

"I said I have to go. I can hear your friends coming, and I can't have them see me. Remember, all of this needs to stay a secret. But if you need me, call me and I'll be there. Are you sure you've got this?"

"I think so."

"Great. I'll see you soon, kid. And keep that smile on your face. It looks good on you," said Plagg with a wink, before he spun around in a circle and disappeared into thin air.

Adrien blinked in shock at the empty space where the catlike man had been standing just two seconds before, when Nino came bursting in.

"Adrien, my man! You were amazing out there!"

Adrien smiled. "Thanks, buddy. I appreciate that."

"So, I've got a crazy plan for you," said Nino. "Let's go out tonight. I know you're gonna say no, but hear me out. There's a new place called The Glass Slipper—"

"Say no more. I'm in."

"For real? Am I actually talking to Adrien Agreste, he who never goes out to clubs?"

Adrien blushed and raised his arm to rub the back of his neck. "Well, there's a first time for everything, right?"

"Hell yeah, dude! And let me tell you, there will be some gorgeous ladies there."

"Aren't you dating someone named Alya?"

"Yes, and she's the hottest girl on this planet. But who said I was looking for ladies for me? We're talking about you, my friend."

Adrien smiled. The only girl he was hoping to find at the club tonight was Ladybug, but Nino was a great friend, and for his sake, he would meet the poor girl his friend had managed to persuade into joining them at The Glass Slipper.

The club was dark and crowded, but Marinette was nestled comfortably in between her friends. She held on tightly to Alya's hand as her friend led her through the sea of pulsing bodies.

Her deepest instincts were telling her that Chat Noir was here tonight. She didn't know how she knew, but there had to be a reason why they had come to this club—The Glass Slipper (an odd name for a club, really).

"Les petits rats are going to party it up tonight!" Alix cheered loudly, earning herself a glare from several of the other club-goers. She stuck her tongue out at them and cleared a space for their group, which had expanded to include several other formers students who had discovered they were in town. It was a happy reunion on both sides, and one filled with laughter.

It had been years since all of them had even had time to go out together—being students at the Paris Opera Ballet School meant that it was lights out at 9pm, no questions asked.

But now they were all officially members of the corps de ballet, and they were back in Paris—no more nights in the dorm, no more midnight checkups—they were adults now, with the freedom to do whatever they wanted.

And even though they still didn't have the kind of freedom that regular adults did—the life of a professional ballerina was a strict and disciplined one—these were a few nights where they could do whatever they wanted. Almost.

Marinette soaked in the freedom and let her hips sway and arms move freely as she moved to the beat of the pulsing music, sweat dripping down her skin.

Alix and Aurore had done an amazing job dressing Marinette up, and she knew she looked amazing and she reveled in it—she knew she was here on a mission to find Chat Noir, but that didn't mean she couldn't have a little bit of fun.

She was wearing the killer red dress and her hair was down and she would be damned if she didn't find at least one cute guy to dance with tonight, even if it wasn't Adrien Agreste.

And then she saw him. He was here. And he had seen her—

Adrien's eyes brightened as he recognized the dark haired girl and practically ran up to her. Alya and Nino, who had been standing behind their friends and texting frantically as they tried to figure out a clever way to arrange a meeting, shrugged at each other from a distance. It appeared that their services were no longer necessary.

"Marinette! It's so nice to see you again—I watched your performance tonight, it was absolutely amazing. Congratulations!"

Marinette blushed and nodded. She started to say something in response when she was shoved forward from behind by someone passing through and violently thrust into Adrien's chest.

Instinctively, Adrien's arms went around her protectively, and he glared at the drunken club-goers passing by. He gently moved his arms back and let Marinette gather herself once more.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes—sorry about bumping into you. I—I don't usually come to clubs."

Adrien's arms were still around her, and Marinette acutely felt the pressure of the tips of his fingers against her bare shoulders, forgetting that her own hands were resting against his chest. His hands were strangely cool, even though the temperature was quickly rising as more people piled inside the club.

She realized suddenly that he was much taller than she had realized, and she had to crane her neck upwards to see his face.

"That makes two of us," he said, softly chuckling. "I don't either."

Marinette turned to look at Adrien's shirt, which was much closer to her eye level, and she quickly realized he was wearing formal wear. She tried unsuccessfully to fight back her giggles, and she ran her hands down the shiny black buttons.

"Why are you so dressed up for a club?"

Adrien flushed and smiled bashfully. "My friend Nino didn't exactly give me much time to get ready. He told me we had to get here by 10, since this place closes at midnight. That's why it's called The Glass Slipper. This was the only thing I had to wear other than my costume."

Marinette laughed. "Well, I guess it doesn't matter all that much."

She wrinkled her nose as a cheesy older song started to blast over the speakers. "Who's DJing tonight? They're terrible!"

"They should hire my friend Nino," said Adrien. "He's studying film, but he's an amazing DJ!"

"Nino? Does your friend have a girlfriend named Alya?"

"Yes!" Adrien said with surprise. "How do you know that?"

"That's because she's my best friend," said Marinette, grinning. "Small world, isn't it?"

"It really is," said Adrien, considering this new information as the song changed to a slow love song and the tightly wound groups on the dance floor untangled into pairs.

He looked again at Marinette. "Hey, wanna dance?"

Even in the darkness and the strobe lights, Adrien could tell that the petite girl was flushing pink, but it didn't keep her from saying yes, and he could feel the soft thrum of her racing pulse on her wrist as he led her out onto the floor.

Two hours passed like the flash of a strobe light, and before they knew it, it was midnight, and it was time for the club to close.

Marinette and Adrien had spent most of the night together, bonding over memories at the school and laughing over how strict life had been as a petit rat, but now, it was time to leave. Even Nino and Alya had left almost half an hour ago, and unwillingly, they parted and agreed to meet up for coffee again in a week.

Adrien called the Gorilla to come pick him up, and Marinette texted Alix and Aurore to find out where they were. Luckily, they had not yet left- they were waiting outside for Marinette to come, and she quickly texted back that she would join them after popping into the ladies room.

As she looked around for the bathroom, Marinette looked back at the empty dance floor and felt disappointed. Her instincts had been wrong. Chat Noir was not here tonight. And yet—she still felt a rush of adrenaline.

She walked into the bathroom and looked into the dirty mirror with a sigh. Tikki, I need you.

In a matter of seconds, the tiny woman appeared in a whirl of curls, freckles, and sparkles.

"What is it, Marinette?"

"I thought Chat Noir was going to come here tonight. I mean, I haven't exactly been looking for him for the past few hours...but still, my instincts told me this was the place to be. Was I wrong?"

Tikki shook her head. "Ladybug, trust your gut. You've got the power of luck. If you think he's going to come here tonight, he will."

"But why haven't I seen him yet?"

"Patience is a virtue, you know. Perhaps it wasn't the right moment. How do you feel now?"

Marinette closed her eyes and felt the energy in the air reverberating around her. She gasped as a distinctly feline energy curled its way around her body, like a cat's tail.

"I think he's here. I think he's outside."

"Then transform into Ladybug and meet him. What are you waiting for?"

"What will I say to him?"

"I can't tell you that. Good luck, Marinette," said Tikki with a wink before she disappeared once more.

Adrien leaned against the brick facade of the club with a tired sigh as he waited for the Gorilla to show up with the car.

One of the benefits of being a rich man's son was not having to worry about things like transportation after nights out, but as he watched the various groups of university students wander off into the night, laughing drunkenly as they stumbled down the sidewalk, he thought that perhaps it would be fun to have such an experience at least once.

He closed his eyes and thought about the events of the day.

Plagg had said that Ladybug would be there. But she hadn't come.

"Who's to say she's not in there now?" said a droll voice beside his left ear.

Adrien jumped into the air as he turned to see Plagg standing beside him with a smirk.

"Calm down, kid," said Plagg, rolling his eyes. "Like I said, you've gotta get used to this."

"I thought she'd be here, Plagg," said Adrien. "You said she would be."

"The night's not over yet, Adrien. Why don't you go back in and see if your lady's there now? Maybe she likes her first meetings to be a little bit more private. I know I do."

"Is that possible?"

"You'll never know unless you try, kid," said Plagg with a wink, before he disappeared.

Adrien gulped as he rubbed his ring counter-clockwise, suddenly nervous, realizing that he was completely in over his head. But there was no going back now.

Chat Noir walked inside. The dance floor was abandoned and dark, save for one bright spotlight shining down on the middle of the floor. And there she was, waiting for him. His lady.

She stared intently at him across the floor. "Is that you, Chat Noir?"

"Yes," he said. As he spoke, a second spotlight appeared out of the darkness and shone upon him.

"I'm Ladybug," she said, her voice as soft and musical as a bell. "I guess we're partners then."

As she approached him, he realized her eyes were the clearest shade of cerulean blue he had ever seen, her hair as black as a raven's wing.

She was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen in his life.

Facing each other, both found themselves at a loss for words.

"Your eyes are very green," she finally said, after several beats of silence.

"The better to see you with," Chat Noir found himself responding immediately, with a smirk. Who was he?

Ladybug blinked with surprise. "So you're a joker, are you? Funny. I wouldn't have pegged you for one. You seemed to be more of an elegant type."

Chat Noir raised an eyebrow. "So cats can't tell jokes? I'll have you know I'm the punniest cat in Paris. My jokes are purrfect."

Ladybug muffled a laugh and tried to look serious. "Well, this is not how I expected this meeting to go. But I'll take it. I look forward to working with you, Chat Noir."

"The pleasure is all mine, my lady," he responded with a bow.

"So now what?" asked Ladybug.

"Well, I don't know about you, but it's almost one in the morning, so I've got to get home. I've got a car waiting for me outside. I can take you home, if you need a ride."

Ladybug's eyes widened as she realized how late it was. "Oh, no, my friends! They must be wondering where I am. Chat Noir, I'm sorry, but I have to go right now. I guess I'll see you later?"

Chat Noir darted an arm out to stop her from leaving. "My lady, wait! Can't you tell me your name?"

"I already told you. I'm Ladybug," she said.

Chat Noir shook his head. "Your real name."

"I'm sorry, but no. We have to keep it a secret, even between ourselves," she said, softly but firmly.

"We'll find each other again when we need to. It was nice meeting you, Chat Noir," she said, gently pulling her arm away and rushing through the door into the night.

Chat Noir stood there, lovestruck and shell shocked, reaching his arm out into the darkness.

Tikki groaned.

"I told her she was supposed to keep her identity secret from everyone else, not her own partner!"

Plagg snorted. "Are you sure you specified that point?"

Tikki cut her eyes at him. "No. But I thought that was implied."

Plagg shook his head. "If there's one thing I've learned from centuries of dealing with humans, it's that they'll never understand what you're saying the way you intend it to come across. If you want them to know something, you have to tell it to them straight."

"I was perfectly clear!" protested Tikki.

"Well, you could tell him and make it easier for the both of them," said Plagg with a snort.

Tikki sighed. "You know the magic doesn't work that way. They have to decide to reveal their identities to each other on their own."

"It's okay—you know this always happens! One of the two of them always decides they should keep it a secret. But they'll tell each other eventually. They always do."

Tikki looked out onto the abandoned dance floor, eerie in its utter solitude.

"I know. I just hope they figure it out in time."

Plagg placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry. They will."

Adrien returned to his room in a daze. The events of the night still didn't seem quite real. In between the showcase, meeting Plagg, dancing with Marinette for two hours, and then meeting her, this was going to be a night he was going to remember forever.

He dreamed of only one thing that night: the vision of her stunning cerulean eyes, gazing at him through the darkness as he tossed and turned under the sheets.

Adrien didn't know what was coming, but he knew one thing: whoever the girl under the mask was, he was already in love with her.