6. Chapter 6

If it was all about distraction - or destruction, no pun intended - Chat Noir would be the best person. Not that Ladybug didn't know how to do it (because she was damn sure she can distract her partner with a mere wink), the superheroine would require some ample time to utilize her powers.

But that was for 'Akuma attacks'.

'Crazy fans' would be a different story.

Ladybug knows the feeling of having fans; Marinette knows the feeling of being a fan - so technically, the aspiring designer didn't have to rattle her brains out just to solve the problem.

And yet she did.

"What am I going to do, Tikki?" she asked her hundred-year-old guardian. "Do I need to transform here or what?"

"You have the answer. You've been asking me that same question thrice already." was the stony reply.

"Urgh." the girl grunted while staring at the commotion in front of her.

She tried, really tried to get on hold of Adrien despite her disadvantages in terms of height and strength as a civilian. If she was in her superhero form, she might've flung those people out then grab the model safely back to their bus.

However, Marinette was the problem.

If she transforms into Ladybug then throw Adrien inside the bus, of course, Marinette will hide in order to de-transform but with no guarantees that she will never be left behind.

If she transforms into Ladybug, throw Adrien inside the bus, then de-transform there, Marinette's identity will be at stake.

If she transforms into Ladybug, throw Adrien inside the bus and stayed there as Ladybug, she might have lots of explanations as to why Marinette left herself behind.

If she transforms into Ladybug, throw Adrien inside the bus, then Marinette will likely hide somewhere to de-transform with a chance that she will never be left behind. But then, there will be no guarantees that some of his crazy fans were not among the passengers.

"How I wish I'm not Ladybug." her bewails earned her a pinch.

Marinette was simply joking of course, but the sight of their driver walking towards their bus only adds up to the pressure.

Tikki's frantic voice wasn't helpful either. "Hurry, Marinette! He's coming back!"

One thing for sure, she couldn't just leave Adrien there then proceed to their travel plans all by herself. Not only because she was concerned for his well-being, but because her integrity as a class officer was put on the line.

If only I can delay that bus for a minute...

"Tikki!" she called her transformation while wishing for Chat Noir's assistance. "Transforme moi!"

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In actuality, Chat Noir was there but as a helpless civilian.

Being a master of distraction - or destruction, he mew-sed - Adrien was able to wheedle himself away from that tight situation.

Only to end up in a tight space.

He couldn't help but be happy for the invention of Men's Toilet, a place he considered his solace during Akuma attacks and fans' assault.

As of the moment, no one knew that he was there all along. Even if his fans would comb the entire place to seek him out, they would never dare to check all the toilet's cubicles without considering some people's potty time. Not to mention some gender restrictions.

This wasn't his first time to be in such situation for his two personas. He normally transforms into Chat Noir whenever Adrien was in a pinch or vice versa, provided that he could find a perfect place to hide.

Like now.

However, there was a blunder.

His Miraculous has not been taken away, but his kwami went missing.

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"What am I supposed to do with this?"

After she summoned her Lucky Charm, a set of kiddie's face paint fell on Ladybug's gloved hands.

It wasn't her first time to use her powers outside Akuma attacks. Though the first 'emergency situation' was due to her jealousy, this time it was a real emergency.

Funny that both reasons were interconnected to the same person.

She looked around and saw some red and black spots around the bus' exhaust pipe, and then another on the face paint's packaging. With an idea that sparked on her head, she removed the contents hastily, crumpled the packaging into a tight ball then squeezed it firmly inside the pipe.

She clapped her spotted hands. "Now that I'm done with our vehicle problem, next would be Adrien's."

Her Miraculous beeped, warning her about her remaining minutes till de-transformation.

The heroine looked at the face paint's contents again when something in the dumps caught her attention. Her smirk grew when another idea struck her.

It seems like I might not need to use my last stash of cookies for another Lucky Charm.

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It might not be the first time Plagg went missing, but this time was different - Adrien couldn't simply go out and look for him.

He wasn't that concerned if someone ever saw his kwami since Plagg could either play as a cat or a plush, unless a shiny and smelly object was involved - because he would definitely break his cover.

Which might eventually lead them to the discovery of Chat Noir's origin.

Leaving with no other choices, Adrien resorted to his backup plan: Cheese.

He was fortunate enough to snag a cube of brie after they left Hibiscus, and had to tap Plagg away from his jeans pocket before he could eat it. It wasn't as pungent as Camembert, but it was good enough to bait his lazy guardian.

He crossed his fingers and hoped for a miracle.

His prayer was answered when a black blob immediately floated towards the sink. It was obviously not a mouse or a cat, so he grabbed it before it lounged to the cheese.

"Plagg!" the blond hissed. "Where the hell did you go?!"

He was fuming when he released his grasp, only to feel sorry a second later after he saw his kwami's disheveled state.

Plagg's large green eyes blinked as he stared at his charger then hiccuped. "Adrien...it's - it's scary."

"Oh, Plagg."

He could empathize his kwami's horrible condition. Plagg probably slipped out forcibly and almost squashed by the raging fans, which resulted in his dented whiskers and sore limbs. The injuries weren't life-threatening, and his bruise seemed okay, but the event somewhat traumatized the poor guy.

Adrien scooped him gently then pinched a cheese towards his mouth. "I'm sorry I wasn't there to help you."

"I...I understand." the black god sniffled as he cradled the cheese for his dear life. "Girls are pretty scary."

"I know." the model chuckled then wiped his guardian's falling tears. "I'd prefer Akuma."

"I'd stick to cheese."

"Eat it, will you? So that we can leave this place."

Plagg nodded as he obediently ate in silence.

Adrien pulled out his phone to call Marinette but her line was busy. She might've been calling him at the same time, so he decided to send her a text message.

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Adrien:

I'm sorry I got stuck. You can go without me. I'll follow later :-)

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"I'm ready." the kwami declared. "Let's get out of here."

"Plagg, Trans - "

His phone's vibration interrupted him. Marinette's caller ID was flashing so he answered it immediately.

"Where are you, Adrien?" she asked.

"I - I'm still - uh, near the store."

"Where specifically?"

"Toilet."

"Inside or outside?"

He wasn't sure if she was referring to his actual location or the toilet's location. Since he was using the service crew's toilet, which was outside the vicinity, he replied "Outside."

Then she hangs up.

"Is that Princess?"

"Yeah." the model replied as he looked at the call ended screen prompt. "She's in a hurry. Maybe she's inside the bus and about to leave?"

"Or maybe she was caught in the commotion and decided to go home."

"Well, let's find out." he sighed. "Plagg, Transfor - "

BANG!

The door suddenly flew open, which jolted both occupants.

Plagg was fast enough to hide inside his shirt collar before the person noticed him, and probably rattled there as an aftereffect of his trauma.

Adrien was the only male human inside, and the only person who almost suffered a heart attack upon seeing a familiar female.

Marinette, his sweet and kind classmate, was inside the men's toilet.

Marinette, his sweet and kind classmate, was inside the men's toilet alone with him.

Marinette, his sweet and kind classmate, was inside the men's toilet alone with him, bearing a smug face and a...is that a chain on her hand?

Before he could speak, she hurriedly ran towards him then shove him inside the cubicle. He froze when he heard the door lock clicked behind her.

"Erm, Ma - Marinette?" he squeaked then began to sweat beads when he heard mumbling noises outside.

He was sitting on the toilet lid while she remained standing with a right knee in between his legs for balance. His arms were stretched on the cubicle's side wall, while hers were direct to the back wall.

She leaned forward when several steps became louder, hinting them that they were not alone anymore. Their only partition from the occupants was the thin divider of the toilet cubicle.

Both of them were in a ridiculous position, but nobody moved or mentioned it until the occupants left.

Marinette's arms were numb yet sturdy enough to support her weight not to slump on Adrien. She leaned on the cubicle's door behind her then squirmed when her sweaty back touched the toilet door's cold partition.

Similarly, Adrien was sweating and blushing, especially when he caught a whiff of her cologne that triggered some suggestive fantasies. He immediately looked away then began his mental exercises about the Periodic Table of Elements. It almost didn't work.

"So," he asked. "What are you doing here?"

She pulled out all the materials she scrapped from her pockets then peeled off her blazer.

With a devious smirk, Marinette answered: "We need some transformation."

He gulped at the sight.

Girls are indeed pretty scary.