Chapter Text
There was a bug is his apartment. Small and spotted with red and black, it sat on the kitchen counter, minding its own business. Adrien Agreste had seen ladybugs before, but they were not what he was expecting to find in his apartment the first morning he was there. He looked at the small bug for a moment longer, and then remembered that he was in fact a human being and could take care of this on his own. He pulled a glass from the cupboard, which still had newspaper in it from the move, and after removing the bit of paper, but the glass over the bug, pleased with himself for only a moment, before realizing that now he had to get it out of the apartment.
Part of him was saying “just kill it” while the other told him to do what was right and let the little bug go outside. He looked at the clock, and decided that his best bet was the window. Using a postcard he had meant to send back to his friends at home the day before, Adrien picked up the cup and headed for the window, letting the little bug go, and allowing it to fly away safe and sound.
But his little act of compassion cost him time as he raced down the stairs, deciding that being late on his first day at a new job was not a good idea. He made it to the elevator and stepped inside, riding down to the first floor by himself. Adrien had spent the last few days memorizing the parts of the metro he would have to use in order to get to work every day, and his nerves went away immediately as he made it to the building he had interviewed in a few weeks prior.
He stepped inside and remembered what he had been told last time. “Your job is going to be assistant to the editor. Do this well, and you'll be able to progress here well.”. He looked around, but didn't waste any time heading for the editor's office, knocking on the door.
“Come in.” A female voice said. Adrien opened the door and found a small woman with pink hair sitting behind the desk.
“Hello.” Adrien said, “I'm Adrien Agreste, I'm-”
“Oh I know who you are.” The woman said, “I'm Iva Moraeu.” She held out her hand and smiled, “I hear you're my new assistant. Good. I've been missing mine for a few weeks now,”
“What happened them?” Adrien asked, taking the seat that Iva motioned to.
“She got a better job here.” Iva said, “You'll probably meet her, one of the best journalists we've had in a while.”
“What's she working on now?” Adrien asked, “Anything interesting?”
“Well I would be afraid to tell Alya that something she was working on wasn't interesting, so yes, what she's working on is interesting,” Adrien looked at Iva for a moment, who blinked and then laughed, “But that doesn't answer your question of what is she working on.” She said, and pulled a folder out of her desk, “Alya runs the website dedicated to the graffiti artist LB.” She opens the folder, and Adrien sees some of the artwork that he had seen on the sides of buildings in the past few days as he moved into his new apartment.
“Who is LB?” He picked up one of the pictures and looked at it, the colors were mostly red and black, “Do we know what it stands for?”
“Not really.” Iva said, “We assume that it means something, but Alya has never been able to figure it out.” Adrien puts the photo back and Iva closes the folder, putting it back in her desk, “Alya is one of our best journalists. She started the website last year when she started working here, and it's been one of our most popular segments when we publish pictures of it in the magazine.” She smiled at Adrien, “And what is it you hope to accomplish here, Adrien?” Iva asked, “It has to be more than just being my assistant.”
“Honestly, I was just looking for a job in the city.” Adrien says, and Iva laughs, “But I did a little bit of modeling when I was in high school, so I could always get back into that.”
“Well we're happy to have you on our team.” Iva said, and she began to take Adrien through his day to day responsibilities. He made it smoothly through his first day, and then headed home, taking extra care to look at any graffiti he saw, trying to recognize the style from the pictures he had seen that day. A few pieces stuck out to him, but it could have just been their use of the color red.
When he made it to his building he stepped into the lobby and went to the wall of mailboxes that stood inside. He checked, and was not surprised to find his empty. He was surprised however, to find the landlord in the elevator as he stepped in. The landlord lived on the top floor, and according to some of the other residents wasn't seen much, but was fair and always made sure to get things that needed fixing fixed as soon as he could.
“Adrien hello!” The landlord said as Adrien stepped into the elevator, “How are you liking the apartment.”
“The apartment is great, but the strangest thing happened this morning.” He said, “I found a ladybug on my counter.” He said, and the landlord looked at him with a strange expression.
“You live in 312, that's across from...oh.” He smiled and laughed, “Marinette.”
“Marinette?” Adrien said, “Who's that?”
“The bug girl.” The landlord said, “She keeps bugs in her apartment, it's probably hers.”
“I let it go outside, do you think she'll be upset?”
“I doubt it, she has plenty more I can guarantee.” The landlord said, “She's a little strange, but she is reasonable.” The elevator doors opened then, and Adrien said goodbye to the landlord, and walked towards his apartment. He heard a noise coming from the hall, and he rounded the corner to find his cat, Plagg, sitting in front the closed door of 313.
“How on earth did you get out?” He asked the cat, laughing as he picked him up and went to his own door. As soon as Plagg was removed from the door of 313, it opened, and a young woman with dark hair and large blue eyes almost fell out of the room.
“Is that your cat?” She asked, “He's been keeping me hostage in my own home for hours!” Adrien looked at the girl, and realized who was.
“Oh, you must be Marinette.” He said, and she looked at him with a puzzled expression, “The Landlord told me I lived across from you.” He said, and left out the part about her being strange, although from the impression he was getting now it was not far from the truth.
“That's me, yes.” Marinette said, “I'm Marinette, and you are?”
“I'm Adrien.” He held out his hand, but she backed away, “Could you get rid of the cat first if you're going to shake my hand?” She asked, and Adrien knelt down, putting Plagg on the ground, closing him into the apartment.
“Don't like cats?” He shook her hand as she shook her head.
“Allergic. Very allergic.” She sniffed, as if to prove her ailment, and Adrien nodded, thinking about her obsession with bugs.
“I found a ladybug in my kitchen today.” He said, “Was it yours?”
“Probably.” Marinette said, and closed the door to her apartment behind her, stepping fully into the hall. “You didn't kill it, did you?” She says this with a nervous expression, and Adrien smiled, happy that he could answer,
“No, I let it out the window.” He saw her smile and nod her head slightly, as though she approved.
“Well I have to be going.” She said, “But it was nice to meet you.” She turned away and heading for the elevator, a duffle bag slung over her shoulder. She was odd yes, but it was the kind of odd that made him want to get to know her better. He smiled as he opened the door to his apartment again, finding Plagg watching him from the floor. He laughed, and shook his head at the cat who had been keeping Marinette hostage in her own apartment, and went to the counter, almost expecting to find another ladybug waiting for him.