Red Strings And Markers

f i f t e e n

"Sounds like a plan Bugaboo." The two watched as Kirigami held the paper sword in his hands and had a smirk. Towards the hilt of the sword, he peeled the paper and it unraveled, revealing a very real long sword.

"Holy shit." Ladybug brought a hand to her lips, not wanting to have cursed so loudly in front of Chat, but Chat only snickered.

"We got this." As if their luck couldn't get any better, Kirigami put some distance between the two of them, going to Ladybug. Ladybug hooked the can of paint onto her yoyo string and went into a baton versus sword fight. She had to admit, she wasn't used to this type of combat and was trying to block to the best of her abilities.

The blade hit the baton, causing sparks to fly. Ladybug tried to shield her eyes from the flying sparks and Kirigami saw the chance to turn the sword and hit her with the hilt of the sword on her head. Ladybug fell back, white fireworks popping in her head and she blinked away the black spots that were growing in her eyes.

Chat immediately looked over once feeling the blow, completely ignoring the papers that cut into him.

"Chat, now!" Ladybug unhooked the can of paint and tossed it in the air. Chat summoned out his black magic and jumped into the air, swiping his hand across the can of paint, splattering everywhere.

Kirigami gave a loud gasp, looking down at his now red-stained costume. Ladybug found the chance to take the ring off of him and tossing it to the ground, stepping on it. A velvet butterfly emerged from the ring and Ladybug cleansed it, releasing it into the night.

"Miraculous Ladybug!" Most of their injuries were healed and any damage sustained by the paper birds disappeared, except for Ladybug's throbbing head. Chat was quick to go to her side, holding her up as she almost stumbled.

"Are you alright Bugaboo?" He placed a soft kiss on her pain, Ladybug letting out a groan.

"I'll be alright. You... Go back to your place and I'll be fine." She said. Chat refused. "I'm going home tomorrow. Are you?"

He nodded and she sighed of relief. "Bugaboo, please take care of yourself tonight... I'll see you when we get back, alright?" Chat pressed his lips against her forehead and she cupped his cheek.

"Of course." She bid him goodbye and Chat watched as she left, before deciding to go back to the hotel.

Adrien opened the door of his bedroom, still seeing Marinette's bedroom door closed. He went and knocked on her door, wondering if she was okay. Marinette opened the door and she looked a little dazed, fresh out of the shower, but before Adrien could say anything, their front door was opened.

"Where were you two?" Alya asked, Nino coming in behind her.

Marinette and Adrien were still standing before Marinette's door, startled.

"S-Shower."

"Shower."

Both Marinette and Adrien froze. They both gave the same excuse and now they knew they were in trouble because Alya rose an eyebrow.

"Together?" They both stammered for a response but Alya simply rose her hand, silencing the both of them. "Excuses, excuses. Let's go Nino." She left, shaking her head as if disappointed, but looked back at them with a mischievous wink. Marinette sighed and went to plop down into the couch.

"Shall we continue?"

Adrien eyed her for a moment, shaking his head. "I think you should be getting to bed. You look like you've just had the longest day Marinette."

She gave a soft chuckle, draping her arms over her eyes. Just the light from the bedroom was making her head throb.

"Well, I did, although I thoroughly enjoyed myself." She looked from under her arm, shooting him a smile and he couldn't help the smile that crossed his lips as well.

"I can't say you're wrong. Still, go to bed." Adrien pulled her off of the couch and pushed her into her bedroom. "Good night Marinette."

Marinette mumbled a 'thank you', retreating to her bed.

As soon as he closed her door, Adrien pulled the green marker he slipped into his pocket and scribbled onto his arm.

"Feeling better my lady?" There was a delayed reply, but there was one.

"My head is killing me."

"Get some rest. Good night Bugaboo." There wasn't a response for several minutes and Adrien finished watching the rest of The Sorcerer's Stone, leaving the ink on his arm, in hopes that she would see it when she wakes.

Adrien finished watching the first movie and turned the lights off, heading to his bedroom, until he heard a door open.

He turned, watching Marinette sleepily stumble out of her bedroom and navigate through the dark towards the kitchen. Being used to seeing in the dark all the time with Plagg, he watched her quietly, not wanting to startle her.

Marinette made it into the kitchen, opening cabinets for cups. As she did, Adrien noticed something that was on Marinette's left arm. Green writing.

Adrien hummed to himself; he had never seen Marinette talking to her other half, now that he thought about it.

"Whoever it is, they're lucky to have a girl like her." Adrien thought to himself. He focused back on Marinette who had grabbed some pain killers and was now drinking a glass of water. He didn't mean to, but he unintentionally read the message that was on her arm.

"Get some rest. Good night Bugaboo." Adrien tilted his head to the side, focusing in on the green ink on her arm, before looking down at his own. It was the same exact message he wrote to Ladybug.

Adrien rose two fingers to his arm, swiping his fingers across the "Get some rest" piece. Just as he did that, he glanced at Marinette's arm and it disappeared as well.

Marinette felt the pressure on her arm and looked down at it drowsily. "Thank you, my kitty cat." She mumbled before she stumbled back to her bedroom to sleep.

Adrien couldn't move from his place, couldn't breathe, and couldn't think.

The reason Ladybug showed up at any time, Nino and Alya would go to the spot, yet she would always be missing.

The reason why she was never seen writing to her significant other.

The reason that she couldn't stand up to Chloe.

The reason that she was so artistic.

It all suddenly made sense. The resemblance was suddenly uncanny.

His Bugaboo was Marinette Dupain-Cheng.

A/N:

Shout out to my buddy Albert, whom I based off Kirigami off of. For those of you that don't know, Kirigami used to be an old method of origami and literally translates into "paper cutting". 

Introducing the Hogwarts AU. The idea was not mine on what houses they would be in, but if you go to @agreste-dupain-cheng on tumblr, you'll find their art AND their Hogwarts AU fanfic!