#lnc2

[goodvibesformiraculous]

@lnc2

[theladynoirzine]

Meet Our Contributors: LNC

Meet LNC @lnc2​ a writer for Fall for You: A Ladynoir Zine!

How long have you been active in the Miraculous Ladybug fandom/how long have you been watching Miraculous Ladybug?

3 years

What’s your favorite thing about Miraculous Ladybug?

The love square dynamic and identity shenanigans

What do you love the most about Ladynoir?

I love that they trust and rely on each other without question.  I love how Ladybug is a leader and Chat Noir is not only comfortable with that but he is her hype man.  I like that they play off each other well- Ladybug thinks with her head and Chat Noir thinks with his heart but together they can get through anything.

What is your favorite Ladynoir trope?

... all of them?  But I adore a good narrowly-escaped-death-love-confession.

What is your ideal Ladynoir confession/date?

I love the stories where Chat Noir isn't pushy but he's straight forward about his feelings and isn't shy to let Ladybug know that he's not going anywhere.

What do you hope to see from Ladynoir in the upcoming seasons?

Let the bug girl and cat boy kiss.  Please.  I need it.

[nyanbinary-chatnoir]

I’m sorry, kaylee, have some cute blushy ladrien

[eternallyexhaustedmom]

I'm gonna start the ladrien fic for @lnc2 now!!

[tsuki-chibi]

For @lnc2 who seems to need some fluff!

It took at least a minute before the gentle tapping at his window caught Adrien’s attention. He paused his video game and listened for a moment, wondering if it was the wind.

Then he turned and saw the blue eyes peeking in his window and nearly died. Definitely not the wind!

He shot to his feet and took a step towards the window, only to trip over a book. Probably left there by Plagg, the little menace. Adrien just barely stopped himself from face planting; he stumbled forward several steps and finally caught himself against the bookcase. He lived his head, face on fire, to see Ladybug covering her mouth - hiding a grin, if Adrien knew his lady. He blushed harder.

“Why is Ladybug at my window?” he whispered to himself, rushing forward. Did she know who he was? But he’d been so careful!

He unlocked the window and opened it. Ladybug shifted her weight, leaning into the room. Her eyes glanced past him, scanning the room curiously, and he hoped that Plagg had had the sense to hide.

“H-Hi,” Adrien stuttered out.

Ladybug looked at him, her cheeks pink. “Hi Adrien,” she said softly. “I, um, someone told me it’s your birthday?”

Adrien blinked rapidly, shocked. Ladybug knew it was his birthday?! He couldn’t believe it. He nodded slowly, staring at her in amazement.

It actually hadn’t been a good day. His father had pulled him out of school for a photo shoot, so he hadn’t even had the chance to see his friends. Then the photo shoot had gone on for far longer than it should’ve due to problems with the equipment; everyone had been cranky and stressed by the end. Adrien had hoped for a dinner with his father to help save the day, but a dinner meeting kept Gabriel away.

In the end, the only birthday wishes he’d gotten that day were from Nino over text and Nathalie.

“So I... I thought I’d come say Happy Birthday,” Ladybug said shyly.

“To... to me?” Adrien pointed at himself, and she nodded.

“Is that weird?” Ladybug asked, biting her bottom lip and looking worried.

“No! God no. It’s... it’s actually been a pretty crap day,” Adrien admitted. “I’m glad you’re here, my - Ladybug. Really glad.”

Her blush deepened, but it was accompanied by a sweet smile that made his heart skip several beats.

“I have a gift for you,” she confessed in a whisper.

“A gift? Really?”

Ladybug nodded. “Close your eyes and hold out your hands.”

Adrien obeyed immediately. Something light and square-shaped was placed into his hands, but he’d barely had the chance to try and figure it out before there was a gentle pressure against his lips.

His eyes flew open. Ladybug’s blue eyes were inches away.

She pulled back, smiling. “Happy Birthday, Handsome Boy.”

Adrien may have made a sound; his brain was too friend to be sure. Ladybug giggled and smiled again before she backed out through the window. She gave him a little wave, threw her yo-yo overhead, and was gone just like that.

He licked his lips and tasted raspberry chapstick.

She’d kissed him. She’d actually kissed him!

“This is the best day ever,” Adrien breathed, looking down at the box. He recognized it immediately. It was from the Dupain-Cheng bakery. A quick peek revealed that it was stuffed to the brim with tons of pastries. It must have cost Ladybug a fortune.

His lady was so amazing. He clutched the pastries to his chest and sighed dreamily.

[kryptored]

This is for you, @lnc2 after I got really inspired and excited about your AU for Business magnate Marinette and Devoted assistant Adrien. I’ll be making more of them, but so far this is what I came up with. I'll keep tagging you seeing as you created this monster in me. it might look rough around the edges, but anyone’s welcome to correct me on my mistakes (so long as you let me know). 

Quick question: do you mind if I post this on AO3?

Enjoy!

“So, Adrien… what is it that made you want to apply for the position of being my assistant?”

“Well, it’s quite hard to explain with just words. But I’ve heard enough about you to know that you’re a wonderful designer with paw-sitively purr-fect designs.”

“… did you just make puns?”

“Mhm. I find them quite funny. I hope that wasn’t too unprofessional of me,”

“No, it wasn’t. I just found it interesting, is all. It also says here that you previously worked-MON DIEU, YOU’RE GABRIEL AGRESTE’S SON?!”

“That’s right. I hope there’s nothing… wrong with that, Mademoiselle?”

“N-no, i-it’s just that I’ve looked up to your father for a long time ever since my interest in fashion started. Now that I think about it, why be an assistant when you could work for a much higher position?”

“I finally managed to step away from my father’s coattails of fame, so working as an assistant will be giving me a new experience and responsibilities that I never had in the first place. I know that making my own decisions have not exactly been a dominant part in my life when it comes to my previous job, but there’s no better time to start than now. After all, the smaller things are what makes up the big ones.”

“Hm… good answer.”

“I hope that this doesn’t make you think or treat me differently.”

“Of course, not! I can tell that you’re a really sweet person and sincere about what you said. Not to mention, the other applicants I’ve interviewed seemed a bit…” she wanted to say haughty, conceited, arrogant; those were words she wanted to say out loud, but the crooked smile Adrien offers her is enough to tell her that he understands. After all, he was there in the lobby when he heard those murmurs of condescending snide remarks towards Mlle. Dupain-Cheng. How on earth could those ignorant people have the nerve (well, most of them) to apply to be her assistant and look down at her the same time? Rude, the lot of them were-are.

‘Those damn applicants. First, they’re praising you so much, but the minute I turn my back at them they talk about how naïve I am. Not to mention really rude about a lot of things, knowing that I’m still new to the industry. She looks up to him and is thankful that Adrien Agreste doesn’t seem to project any façade of politeness or niceties.

She reaches out her right arm towards him, palm open. Adrien looks to her with a raised brow and head tilted slightly, almost resembling a curious cat (who would probably be twitching his furry ears atop his head if he had them).

“Congratulations, Mr. Agreste. You’ve shown to be the most promising candidate for this job. You’re hired.”

His eyes shine like glittering stars and she can’t help but smile widely at him. He smiles back and couldn’t be any happier, shaking her hand vigorously (but not too rough).

“Thank you, Mlle. Dupain-Cheng.”

“Call me Marinette.”

“As you wish, My lady.”

[freedom-shamrock]

The Ladybug Special

Also over on AO3 Part 2   Part 3   Part 4

Inspired by @lnc2's Tumblr post

Thanks also go to @whatarubberchicken because I was stuck on a title!

Adrien walked swiftly toward Esplanade des Invalides.  It was warm and sunny, a beautiful day. And for the first time in what felt like months, possibly because it might have actually been months, he was finally able to meet up with his friends outside of school for something other than a project.  He'd missed so many of their planned get-togethers, including a few that he'd set up, thanks to his father's capriciousness and a million and one photoshoots.

But not today.

He took a deep breath, allowing the energy and scents of the city fill him. Nearly four blocks away from the river, he could still smell it. He'd found his senses heightened as Chat Noir, of course, but apparently long-term use of the miraculous had impacted him out of the suit as well.  He was glad it had been a gradual change, so he could adapt as it grew. Things that would have once been repulsive had gained layers of texture and interest. He still found stinky cheeses unpleasant, though.

He paused at a stoplight and pulled out his phone while he waited to cross.  Sending a quick text to Nino, he let his best friend know he was only a couple blocks away.  They were meeting up at André's cart, and because the glacier moved around so much, they'd planned to decide the rest of their afternoon from wherever that happened to be.  

Turning the corner, André's iconic cart came into view on the curved sidewalk bordering the bleuet de France roundabout. Nino and Alya were already there, holding hands, their heads tipped toward each other as they waited.  Marinette was nowhere to be seen, but that was hardly unusual. While she'd gotten better about getting to school on time in the last year, she still had a tendency to go missing during akuma attacks. If she wasn't actively helping evacuate their class, she was nowhere to be found. Alya mentioned that she suspected their friend had an anxiety disorder; until she wanted to share it, they would just support her as best they could.

Adrien broke into a jog, eager to get to his friends.  "Hey Nino, Alya. What a perfect day."

Alya laughed. "Look, the sunshine came out," she said, gesturing to his face. "I'd almost forgotten what it looked like."

"Pfft," Nino snorted. "It's nice to see you so happy, dude.  I think I finally understand what radiant truly means, looking at you in the sunshine, away from photographers and fans."

Adrien rolled his eyes.  "You two are ridiculous. Where's Marinette?  She never picks on me."

Alya coughed, muttering something that sounded suspiciously like, "She wants to pick you up."  But that didn't seem right.

"Alas, my dude," Nino said with mock sadness and a slow shake of the head. "Your staunch protector is stuck at home, running the bakery counter while her parents prepare a huge order for some shindig at the Grand Palais.  I guess it came in late, but with a bonus Tom and Sabine couldn't turn down."

"Awww."  Adrien felt his joy droop a bit.  He'd really hoped to hang out with all three of them, not just because he'd heard Marinette's tales of woe at being a third wheel with the other two.  But he was determined to not let this setback bring him down. "Well, maybe we'll have to swing by the bakery later, see if she's up for a movie or something."

Alya grinned, looking positively predatory.  "Yes. Let's definitely do that." She looked over at André's  cart, where the line had dwindled to the last couple. "But until then, how about we get our ice cream."

"Yes!" Adrien agreed.  "I love this stuff. André's the best."

Adrien stood behind his friends as they ordered.  The André experience was half food service, half performance art, and he loved it.  There was something sweet and, dare he say, magical about it. As his friends stepped to the side, beaming at each other over their matched couple ice creams, he met the man's eyes.

"Ah!  Adrien, so good to see you."  André held his outstretched hands to his sides.  "Still coming to see me without your sweetheart, I see.  Perhaps this one will draw her out, yes?"

Trying not to blush, Adrien shrugged.  "I can hope."

Making a show out of waving his ice cream scoop about, before digging in and assembling Adrien's treat with a pronouncement that sounded suspiciously like a spell. "Strawberry with black chocolate chip! Blackberries for her hair, and blueberry ice-cream just like her sky blue stare!"

"Purrfect as always," Adrien said, thinking of his Lady as he reached for the treat.  "How do you always know?"

"Ah, ah, ah."  André grinned and wagged a finger at him.  "Trade secrets. Not to be shared."

Adrien understood all about keeping secrets, and honestly, given his work with the miraculous and Master Fu over the last two years, he was inclined to believe in magic.  "Have a great day, André." He walked over to where his friends waited.

"What did you get?" Alya asked, eyeing up Adrien's ice cream.

"My usual."  Adrien held it out for them to see before he scooped up a bit with the tiny spoon.  He closed his eyes and savored the first taste.

Nino took a step closer, going so far as to catch Adrien's wrist and hold it steady as he stared at it.   "Dude," he said gently.

"Yes?"  He felt unaccountably nervous all of a sudden.

"Dude."  The word was elongated and a sly grin spread over his face.  "Marinette, eh?"

Adrien glanced around, wondering if she'd been able to show after all. "Marinette?" he asked, uncertainly.  Alya's eyes had gone much wider than usual, and she'd slapped a hand over her mouth. He realized his friends were staring at his ice cream.  What did Marinette have to do with his ice cream. "Oh! You think my ice cream is Marinette themed," he said, understanding. "I guess I can see that, but no, it's…"  He froze. In the middle of preparing to reveal what they would see as an embarrassing fanboy crush, realization hit him like last week's akuma.

Blackberries for her midnight hair, worn in twin tails since they'd met.  Blueberries for her piercing blue eyes. Eyes he'd seen in the face of two amazing girls… one.  He corrected himself. Just one girl had those amazing eyes, even if she had two forms. The strawberry chocolate chip wasn't just her super suit.  It symbolized that she had the heart of a hero, that she was truly Ladybug, whether she was transformed or not.

He stared at his friends in shock.  "Oh my god," he whispered. "It is

@lnc2 - thanks for letting me play with this.  I hope it fills your need for an ice cream reveal.

[tsuki-chibi]

For @lnc2 because my brain was like oh hey how about a silly fluffy sequel?

——

“Ladybug! Hey, Ladybug!” Adrien jumped up and down as he called her name. A rush of relief went through him when Ladybug’s head turned towards him, and then she abruptly changed direction.

They’d just finished fighting an akuma. It hadn’t been a hard battle, but Chat Noir had used his Cataclysm and had to leave right away. Ladybug, on the other hand, hadn’t used her Lucky Charm and had said something about taking the long way home. It was too perfect of an opportunity to pass up.

Ladybug landed in front of him. “Hi Adrien,” she said. “What’s up?”

Now that she was here, Adrien could feel himself blushing. Nerves spiraled through him. He clutched the bag tighter, unable to meet her curious gaze. More and more, this was feeling like a mistake. But he’d come this far, and he’d never heard the end of it from Plagg if he chickened out now.

So he thrust the bag at her. “For you. Happy Birthday.”

“What?” Ladybug looked dumbfounded. “It’s not my birthday.”

Adrien nodded. “I know.” He’d tried, as Chat Noir, to get that bit of information from her, but Ladybug was stubbornly silent on anything that might lead to their identities being known.

“So why...?”

“Because you gave me a present, and I wanted to return to the favor,” Adrien explained. “So... imagine it is your birthday.”

She blinked, and then a gorgeous smile flashed across her face. “That’s so sweet,” she said, sounding happy. “Thank you!”

Adrien tried to smile back. “Open it first. I don’t know if you’ll like it,” he lied.

“I’m sure I will,” Ladybug said, opening the bag. Her eyes went wide and she screamed. “Oh my god! Is this Ultimate Mecha Strike VII?!”

“It might be,” Adrien said, happily absorbing the way she glowed as she pulled the game out. “I hope you like that series?”

“I love it! Adrien, thank you! I’ve been dying to get my hands on this,” Ladybug gushed.

Adrien had, in fact, already known that. Chat Noir and Ladybug had lost many hours to discussing the Ultimate Mecha Strike series, and just last week she’d lamented her lack of money and how expensive the new game was.

Her smile was well worth three month’s allowance.

“I’m glad you like it,” Adrien said.

“I love it,” she said again, beaming up at him.

“There’s, um, a second part to your gift,” he said, feeling his face heat up.

The way Ladybug looked at him, he thought she knew what he was planning. But she smiled even as her face turned the same color as her costume, and nodded.

Adrien leaned forward, half-expecting her to pull away. But she didn’t. She leaned forward a little, lips parted, and he eagerly closed the distance between them to lay a chaste kiss on her soft lips. She tasted of vanilla today.

“Happy Birthday,” he whispered. “I hope it’s a good one.”

“Oh don’t worry,” Ladybug whispered back. “It’s far and above my best birthday yet.” She moved back, clutching the same to her chest. “Thank you so much.”

“My pleasure,” he said, meaning it. “And uh, anytime you want a partner to fight with, you know where to find me.” He nodded to the game, though he meant it in every way.

Ladybug grinned. “Maybe I’ll take you up on that one day, Hot Stuff,” she said, and then, while Adrien’s jaw was scraping the ground at the unexpected nickname she’d bestowed on him, Ladybug used her yo-yo to launch herself back up to the rooftops.

It was just as well. Adrien’s brain was officially offline, and he didn’t think it was coming back anytime soon.