A Life Less Miraculous
by MellyMiraculous

Summary: Marinette feels invisible, despite the fact that her face is all over Paris. Adrien is a kind-hearted boy yearning for adventure. When this young model and baker's son are singled out for the responsibility of a lifetime – protecting their city from evil – will they be able to rise to the challenge?Will things change for the better, or will being superheroes only make things worse?

Notes: This is part of my Life Swap AU (which can be found on my Tumblr, also mellymiraulous), wherein Marinette is the model and daughter of a fashion designer and Adrien is the bakers' kid. I wanted to explore how things would be both different and the same, swapping their lives while mostly retaining their personalities. Expect spoilers for ALL episodes. And be sure to let me know what you think! -MellyMiraculous

Chapter One - Book Covers

Marinette tugged her bag higher up onto her shoulder as Nathalie escorted her through the front door of the mansion. Letting out a heavy sigh, the girl tucked her hair behind one ear, only to freeze at the voice which greeted her.

"Honestly, Marinette." Sabine Cheng may have been small in stature, but her presence within any given space demanded respect – and she got it. At the moment, she was gazing sternly down upon her only child from the landing. "Whatever is your obsession with this collège?"

The girl shot a betrayed look over her shoulder at Nathalie, before stepping closer to her mother. "Please, Maman, I just want to go to school like everyone else!" Marinette pleaded. "Chloé goes there. If it's safe enough for the mayor's daughter-"

"You," Sabine cut in sharply, "are not the mayor's daughter. You are mine, and you will do as I tell you."

"But, Maman-"

"Do you or don't you understand?" The woman pierced her daughter with a severe look.

Marinette visibly deflated. "Yes, Maman. I understand. It won't happen again." Shoulders drooping, she started up the stairs to go to her room.

"Marinette," her mother addressed her, causing the girl to turn towards her, the faintest spark of hope kindling deep inside her. "Posture."

Turning away quickly so the woman wouldn't see the mutinous look which darkened her features, Marinette squared her shoulders and straightened her spine. She continued up the stairs with noticeably louder footballs, her otherwise silent protest somewhat ruined when she tripped on the last step. Her mother let out a long-suffering sigh and Marinette felt her face burn with shame.

Upon reaching her room, the teen closed the door with ill-grace and locked it behind her. Tossing her bag carelessly to the side, Marinette flopped down onto her bed, loose hair fanning out around her head. She proceeded to pound against the mattress with one fist, a mumbled litany of "stupid, stupid, stupid," leaving her lips.

She was left to her peace for only a few minutes before Nathalie was knocking at her door, reminding her that it was time to start her lessons. Marinette righted herself furiously, glaring at the door. She wanted to yell. She wanted to scream and shout about how utterly unfair it was. Instead, her shoulders sank once again and she let out a hopeless sigh.

"I'll be down in a minute!" she called back. Rising to her feet, the girl stopped in front of her vanity mirror, combing her fingers through her black locks of hair. At least her mother seemed to prize that. Not for the first time, Marinette wished she could be someone else. Anyone else.

0o0

Adrien hummed contentedly to himself as he waited at the crosswalk. He held a box of his mother's macarons in one hand, his school bag slung over the opposite shoulder. The boy bounced slightly where he stood, filled with energy. It was the start of a new school year and he was excited to see his friends again.

A car horn blared, and Adrien looked up to see an old man struggling to hurry across the street. Without a second thought, the boy darted forward to offer a hand. His toe caught on the curb on the way back and he fumbled the box, barely managing to avoid dropping it. Macarons safely in hand, once more, he turned wide green eyes to the elderly stranger.

"Are you all right?" Adrien asked, casting an inquiring look over the man and his cane.

"Just fine, young man, thanks to you," said the gentleman.

The youth raised his free hand to scratch the back of his blond head. "It was nothing," he said with a smile, "don't mention it."

"Still, I thank you for your kindness," insisted the stranger. He motioned to the box. "Is that okay?"

"What these?" Adrien asked with a small laugh. He opened the box to reveal the neatly lined cookies. "They're deliciously indestructible. Have one."

"Well, if you insist." He accepted a macaron and took a bite, nodding approval at the taste.

The teen's smile broadened, only to vanish when he heard the bell at his school begin to chime. "Got to run! Have a nice day!" He darted off with a final grin and a wave.

Adrien didn't see the old man straighten from his hunch with a smirk or take another bite of the cookie as he casually slung his cane over one shoulder. In fact, it was unlikely the boy would put any further thought to the encounter. That was just how Old Master Fu preferred it.

0o0

"Why is Chloé dictating seating arrangements, again?" Adrien asked Nino quietly as he took his seat. He nodded towards where Sabrina, Chloé's usual seatmate, was sitting next to the new girl, who looked none too pleased by the arrangement.

"Some other new girl is supposed to be coming today and Chloé wants to sit with her," Nino responded.

"Marinette Dupain-Cheng is not just some girl," Chloé declared pompously from her seat behind Adrien. She was leaning on her desk as she addressed the two ignorant boys. "Marinette Dupain-Cheng is only the most promising young fashion model in all of Paris. Furthermore, she and I are just like sisters. Sabrina knows."

"Oh, you are absolutely right, Chloé!" Sabrina simpered from her place opposite the boys. "Marinette is so pretty, too. She's almost perfect. B-but not more perfect than you, of course, Chloé."

The blonde impatiently waved off her friend's rambling, fixing the two boys with a condescending smirk. "In any case, Marinette is to be joining our class today. As her most bosom friend, it's only right that I reserve her a seat, is it not?"

"If you say so, Chloé," Adrien replied, ducking his head to hide his own amused smirk. He could feel Chloé's frown, but chose to ignore it. He was in too good a mood for it to be ruined by the girl's airs or the arrival of this supposed fashion model.

In fact, the boy hardly noticed that Chloé's 'bosom friend' didn't show up that day. There were far more interesting things to hold his attention.

0o0

"Are you serious, Master?" the kwami asked in surprise, looking over the old man's shoulder as they watched the goings-on in the park. "Her? Her face is all over this city. Is that wise?"

"People are very adept on not seeing what is before them," Master Fu replied.

"All right, but she hesitated. She almost didn't stop to help you, at all," Wayzz protested. "Ladybug should act without hesitation. This girl... do you really think she can be trusted to put others before herself?"

The girl in question was turning to look back over her shoulder, her each move being coached to her by a man wielding a camera. "Now give-a me a big smile," they could hear him saying, "Now, a little more shy. A handsome boy you like is-a telling you you're pretty. Perfecto! Right there."

"Judging a book by its cover, Wayzz?" the old master admonished fondly. "You know better than that. Heroes are not the only ones who wear masks, my friend. She is the one. I am certain of it. Hidden behind that pretty face is Ladybug's heart, her courage, her selflessness. You will see."

Wayzz questioned the Guardian no further. After all, the man was seldom wrong about these things.

In the park, Marinette Dupain-Cheng continued to fake a smile for the camera.

To be continued...

A/N: Remember that reviews are love!