Adrien's phone buzzes just as he's finishing the final panel.

Dude, you still coming today??

Adrien replies to Nino with a confirmation, and checks the time. He's promised to meet the group at the Musée Grévin at 12:30, ready for the unveiling of the Adrien Agreste wax figure at 1:00.

It's 12:22. Nathalie will be coming in to fetch him any minute.

ChatNoir: sorry to back out so close to the end, but i really have to go

LadyBug: no problem. i have to go soon too, but i'm pretty close to where im going. i can finish this panel, easy

Adrien beams.

ChatNoir: thanks, mlady

ChatNoir: any chance you're headed to musee grevin?

LadyBug: you caught me. ive just made an entire episode focusing on this event, no way am i missing it

ChatNoir: maybe you'll see me ;)

"Adrien?"

Adrien turns his laptop off at the power button, and swivels in his chair with his phone in his hand. It's still locked, but Nathalie can't see and seems convinced he was texting someone. Not making comics on Miraculous.

Speaking of Miraculous, his phone buzzes with LadyBug's message.

"Are you ready to leave?"

"Yes," Adrien says, getting up. The assistant escorts him down to the car, and once Adrien clicks his seatbelt, he turns the phone on.

LadyBug: doubt it. theres going to be a massive crowd, and you probably dont stick out :D

ChatNoir: excuse you i stick out like a sore thumb. you wont be able to miss me ;)

LadyBug: whatever you say, chaton

Adrien almost laughs, knowing full well that there's no way LadyBug could possibly miss him if she's at the Musée Grévin today.

The car stops just outside the museum, and as LadyBug predicted, there's a massive crowd. Standing by the door, waiting for him, are Nino, Alya and Marinette.

When the door opens and Adrien steps out, Nino winks at him. Alya smirks, and Marinette seems to be looking at the crowd.

Adrien follows her gaze, scanning the crowd, wondering if LadyBug is out here or inside.

"Adrien!"

"Mr. Agreste, over here!"

"How do you feel about your new wax statue?"

If Gabriel has taught Adrien anything, it's how to ignore the press. He smiles at them, but acts as though he hasn't heard their questions at all.

"Hey, famous guy," Alya teases when he gets to the door.

"You wish you were famous," Adrien replies. "You could have several marriage proposals a day."

"How many do you want to bet will be made before one?" Nino asks. Adrien considers it.

"Considering I'm completely in the spotlight today, I'll guess somewhere around seven."

"Seven?" Nino laughs.

"We're going to be hiding out of view for a bit," Adrien reminds him. "Speaking of which..."

Nathalie and Gorilla have arrived, and Nathalie is leading the way through the museum. Nino, Alya and Marinette hurry to keep up as they're led into the office. Adrien shakes hands with the team who made his wax figure, and the man who runs the museum. He assures them many, many times that it's an honour to meet them, and how touched he is that they have made a figure for him.

He's slightly salty that his figure is going to end up right next to his dad's, but it's okay. For now, it'll be on a special, newly-made platform. It's their latest big deal, so they want to give it the spotlight.

At ten to one, Adrien is escorted to the platform. There's a ribbon to keep the crowd back, and while they could easily push past it, they seem to have got the hint. The statue has a heap of large, red material to cover it.

"Just yank it off," one woman tells him. "There's no way to do it gracefully."

Marinette, Alya and Nino stand off to the side, and the news reporters begin.

"I'm at the Musée Grévin right now," says one woman, "with five minutes left before the eagerly-anticipated Adrien Agreste wax figure is officially revealed by no other than Adrien Agreste himself. The figure was officially announced to be in the making over a month ago, and fans of the model are very enthusiastic to see the figure."

Adrien smiles at the many cameras that are being pointed at him. He's long used to the things. It's almost second nature, the fake smile he gives them.

"We only have one minute left," the woman smiles brightly. Adrien glances up, and spots the large counter above him. Sure enough, it's currently counting down to 1:00.

58 seconds.

57.

56.

"It'll make a large beep," someone mutters to him, so quietly and without moving their lips so that the cameras don't spot it. "When it beeps, yank."

Adrien makes the smallest of nods, and moves closer to the statue. At thirty seconds, he grabs a fistful of the fabric and takes a deep breath.

3.

2.

1.

BEEP.

Before Adrien can think about it, he yanks on the material. The figure looks so much like him that it's scary. Like looking in a 3D mirror.

He makes the same pose beside it, arm held up slightly. It's the pose from one of the more popular adverts, so it only makes sense that this is the one they chose.

Just to annoy the photographers, after about five minutes he moves and stands on the other side of the figure, making the same pose. He can tell that Marinette understands what he's done, because he catches her giggling after he finishes moving.

For a split second, his fake smile shifts into a real one, before he remembers he's being photographed.

After the photographs are done and the statue is now properly accessible to the public, Adrien thanks Nino, Alya and Marinette for their support, and leaves.

'You got us front row seats," Alya reminds him as she leaves. "It should be us thanking you."

Adrien laughs as he's escorted back to the car by Nathalie and Gorilla. He waves out the window at them, partially to say goodbye, and partially because it drives the girls standing behind them absolutely crazy. A girl with long, brown hair pushes against the barrier, knocking poor Marinette's phone out of her hands.

They turn the corner, disappearing from sight, and he messages LadyBug.

ChatNoir: so, did you see me?

She doesn't reply. She's normally so prompt, Adrien frowns.

ChatNoir: lb?

LadyBug: sorry i dropped my phone and accidentally hit log out

LadyBug: im afraid i didn't see you. clearly you dont stick out as much as you hoped

Adrien grins. He highly doubts she didn't see him.

ChatNoir: XD. you're so unobservant. clearly you'll never be a detective, mlady

LadyBug: excuse me, but did YOU notice that adrien's smile was faked for almost every single photo? he only properly smiled for a split second when he'd moved to the other side of the statue

Adrien stares at the phone. How in the name of all the heavens did LadyBug notice that?

LadyBug: no reply to THAT, i see. and you didnt see me either

LadyBug: chat: 0 ladybug: 1

ChatNoir: im slightly creeped out, if im honest. how the heck did you see that?!?!

LadyBug: i have my ways :D

ChatNoir: tell me? pretty please??

LadyBug: you wish

He does wish. He wishes he knew just how close she was to him, for her to be able to spot that secret smile.

And, now he's thinking about it, that she noticed his smile was faked before.

[A/N: we're so close to the ending!! and i managed to update on time this week!! so many exciting things!!]