Ladybug’s Kitchen

Happy belated holidays, @noblechaton​! I hope you had a wonderful start to your new year, and I hope you enjoy this gift for the @mlsecretsanta​ exchange!

This assignment was a joke. Alya knew it, and the utterly ridiculous editor who assigned it to her knew it, too. She grumbled the entire walk to her desk and half-slammed a notebook onto her desk for good measure.

"Whoa. Is everything okay?"

She rolled her eyes. "Chloe just told me my next assignment is finding out who this stupid food blogger is. Just because her dad practically owns the school, doesn't mean-"

"Doesn't mean she should be able to run the paper like some kind of dictator," Nino finished for her. "I know."

"It's a fluff piece!" Alya hissed, glaring in the direction of Chloe's small office, built just for her when she decided to take over the school newspaper. "She doesn't even care about this. She just wants to be in charge something!"

"Then, let her." He shrugged. "Do your own stuff on the side if you want. She won't care."

"I care! And so should you! This is why journalism is dying!"

"Really?" he didn't need to give her more than a look to point out just how ridiculous she sounded.

"Okay, so it's not the only reason," she said, still annoyed but at least now she'd let out some of her frustration. Finally, she slumped back into her chair and pulled out her phone. "Have you ever even heard of Ladybug's Kitchen?"

Cute About Me Tag

Tagged by @breeeliss - bless you, because this is adorable.

RULES: Bold the statements that apply to you, italicize your aspirations, and tag nine people!

AIR: I have small hands • I love the night sky • I watch small animals and birds when I pass them by • I drink herbal tea • I wake to see dawn • The smell of dust is comforting • I’m valued for being wise • I prefer books to music • I meditate • I find joy in learning new truths from the world around me

FIRE: I don’t have straight hair • I like to wear ripped jeans and overalls • I play an organized sport • I love dogs • I am not afraid of adventure • I love to talk to strangers • I always try new foods • I enjoy road trips • Summer is my favorite season • My radio is always playing

WATER: I wear bracelets on my wrists • I love the bustle of the city • I have more than one set of piercings • I read poetry • I love the sound of a thunderstorm • I want to travel the world • I sleep past midnight most days • I love dimly lit diners and fluorescent signs• I rewatch kids’ shows out of nostalgia • I see emotions in colors not words

EARTH: I wear glasses • I enjoy doing the laundry • I am a vegetarian or vegan • I have an excellent sense of time • My humor is very cheerful • I am a valued advisor to my friends • I believe in true love • I love the chill of mountain air • I’m always listening to music • I am highly trusted by the people in my life

AETHER: I go without makeup in my daily life • I make my own artwork • I keep on track of my tasks and time • I always know true north • I see beauty in everything • I can always smell flowers • I smile at everyone I pass by • I always fear history repeating itself • I have recovered from a mental disorder • I can love unconditionally

And I’m tagging you. Yes, you. Anyone who reads this (and wants to do it).

Also @ladriened @larvesta if you haven’t already done this. :)

Five Times Marinette Kept Her Identity a Secret and One Time She Didn’t

Hello @kogehl! I hope you had a lovely holiday season/new year! Here is your gift for @mlsecretsanta! I thought you might enjoy something a little fluffy with a reveal at the end.

Marinette was used to near misses when it came to her identity. After all, she had to transform at a moment’s notice, and sometimes she barely had seconds to find a safe place to detransform. She tried to brainstorm excuses she could use in advance, but none of them seemed very convincing, so she gave up and hoped she’d come up with something on the spot if she needed to.

Unfortunately, she wasn’t always the best under pressure.

“Marinette? What were you doing in the janitor’s closet?”

She froze when she heard Nino’s voice from behind her. “U-umm…” She turned to face him, a wide grin plastered onto her face. “I was just hiding from the akuma!”

He frowned. “And what was that weird light under the door?”

“Just my phone!” She shrugged. “I was trying out a few apps. It was pretty boring in there.”

“Oh. Cool.” Nino pointed behind him. “Alya was looking for you.”

“Thanks!” Marinette rushed off before he could think of any further questions.

How to Win Over a Crocodile

Hello @teamsavingmyles! Here is your gift for @mlsecretsanta! I hope you enjoy some light and funny Ninette, and I hope you’re having a great new year!

Nino had been dating Marinette long enough to hear some very interesting excuses for why she was twenty minutes late or why she had to suddenly cancel dinner. In fact, he had a running list in his head for the most elaborate and another for the most unlikely to be real.

This one topped both of them.

“So, you have to go and pet sit an alligator?” he repeated.

“Crocodile, and yes.” She sighed. “I’m sorry. Penny said Fang really scared the last person they hired to watch him, and apparently he likes me, so-”

“Wait, did you say Fang?” He perked up, simply hearing the name he recognized immediately. “Are you pet sitting for Jagged Stone?”

“Yes. But, if you’re okay with it, he said we could have dinner here.” Her voice brightened over the phone as she continued. “He even offered to pay for room service, and Fang is really sweet once you get to know him.”

“Wait, you’ve watched Fang before?” Somehow, even after dating for five months, he had no idea that apparently Marinette was so close to one of his musical idols.

“A few times, actually,” she said as though it was the most normal thing in the world to pet sit for an actual rockstar. “Do you want to come with me?”

As if there was any chance he’d say no.

New Year’s Kiss

Hello @toriistorii! Hope you’ve had a lovely holiday season! Here is your gift for @mlsecretsanta! It turned into a sort of fluffy lovesquare reveal that was such a delight to write. I hope you enjoy!

Why did she ever think this was a good idea? Sure, when she suggested it, she thought it was an excellent way to take a new step in their relationship. It felt dramatic and impulsive and maybe even romantic. But now, staring at Chat Noir, seconds away from kissing him and dropping her transformation at midnight on New Year's, Ladybug was terrified.

"You okay, bugaboo?" he asked, soft and caring as he always was when he sensed she was nervous.

"I'm fine," she lied, heart pounding an unsteady rhythm.

"We don't have to do this, you know," he assured her.

Just the offer was enough to melt away some of her nerves. After all, she knew exactly how much he wanted this. He'd been waiting almost two years now, and he'd never pushed her. The truth was, that was part of the reason she'd started falling for him. In fact, right up to the instant they made eye contact, she had been just as eager to learn as identity as he was to learn hers.

They both glanced at the watch Chat Noir had brought along with him.

"Looks like it's almost time." She reached out to squeeze his hands. "Now, you have to promise me something, Chat Noir."

"Anything," he answered without a second's hesitation.

She watched him for a moment, trying to keep her expression serious. "When our transformations fall, and you finally know who I am..." She could see the concern building in his eyes as she paused. "You have to promise you won't spam my phone with cat puns."

He laughed, both of them relaxing a little now that she had helped cut the growing tension. "I purromise."