Adrien couldn’t believe it.
Which was a stretch considering what he saw on most days: Pigeon Men and shape shifting animals and his own best friend as a villain. But this this was out of the very realm.
This was him handcuffed to Ladybug.
Rose had done it earlier. Sweet, wonderful Rose who had been akumtized after a fight with Jaleka over the bracelet Rose had made her for their one month anniversary. Jaleka hadn’t liked it and heart broken Rose had become Bracelet, determined to inspire friendships and close partnerships with her magical bracelets that acted like handcuffs.
Even as an akuma, Rose couldn’t truly be evil.
Just before Adrien had been able to slip away to transform, Rose had turned to him and Ladybug had appeared out of nowhere to shove him aside. Instead, they wound up handcuffed together, Adrien’s heart pounding.
This was Ladybug. The girl of his dreams, his partner in crime, his one true love.
And she was muttering under her breath about Cat Noir.
“I can’t believe he hasn’t shown up yet,” she growled. “That good for nothing cat.”
“Hey,” Adrien said and Ladybug’s eyes snapped up to meet his.
Whatever he had been about to say completely left his mind and Adrien swallowed, hard. He watched as a flush crept up Ladybug’s cheeks.
“Er. I mean...I’m sure he would be here...if he could. He always has your back. That I’ve seen, I mean. Not that I’ve been paying close attention it’s just you know you’re famous, he’s famous....”
Ladybug giggled giggled at him and Adrien felt his own cheeks grow hot. What was wrong with him? He interacted with Ladybug every day as Cat Noir and he managed to flirt easily. Now, out of the costume, he was a mess?
“You’re right,” she said, suddenly looking away from him. “Cat Noir always has my back. I’m sure there’s a perfectly good reason he hasn’t shown up yet.”
Yeah Adrien thought he’s a little tied up right now
“I’m going to try to get a way out of this,” she said.
One Lucky Charm!, pair of dice and an ingenious Ladybug plan later, the cuffs were broken and Ladybug was pulling Adrien to his feet.
“It was nice being stuck together,” Adrien said and then immediately winced. “I mean-”
Ladybug held up a hand and smiled at him. “It was. You’re Adrien, right? The model?”
“I’m a bit of a fan,” Ladybug said.
Then she winked at him, winked, and glided off on her yo-yo before her miraculous could time out in front of him.
Adrien sighed dreamily after her.
“She’s not even a piece of cheese,” came Plagg’s voice from inside his jacket, bored and disinterested, “Pull yourself together.”
Adrien shook himself out of his stupor. “Oh, be quiet Plagg. We have to go help Ladybug. Claws Out!”
