I did a rewrite of this and fixed some flaws with the plot and grammer. I am almost done with the conclusion, tho I know its been a year I will have it posted in about a week or 2. I also merged the original chapters into 1.

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Marinette was on top of the world. It was summer vacation, so she didn't have to put up with Chloe for almost a solid 2 months. Well, unless she ran into her while running an errand for her summer internship. Which was the greatest thing to have happened since being hand picked to commission an album cover for Jagged Stone. She was officially working for Gabriel Agreste as his personal assistant; while Natalie was taking care of Adrien schedule. She really couldn't ask for a better chance to get her name out there for her designs. Even running into Chloe in town, which happens more than she liked, is worth it.

Chloe would still tried to get a rise out of Marinette. But she's learning to not let it get to her, even when she tries to embarrass Marinette while she was working. Plus side of working for Gabriel Agreste was that when Adrien was around, so was his personal bodyguard. She could never figure what his name was, but he was quite intimidating in getting Chloe to back off and let Marinette work. She would be lying if she said she didn't take a LITTLE pleasure in Chloe not being able to see Adrien as he rehearsed. And Adrien was on Marinette's side those times, too.

That was the other perk of the job, how she got to see Adrien more often. Even sometimes working along side him. Unfortunately Adrian's own schedule kept him busy, so they really only got to see each other during shows or photoshoots. But that in itself was good enough.

The best perk of all was how the money she earned for her internship was going into a fund that, along with any side job commissions thanks to word of mouth via Jagged Stone, would eventually help pay for Marinette going to college and starting her own line. Things couldn't get better.

The day started as usual, she had gotten drafts of markups for an upcoming magazine article that was going to cover a fashion show the following evening, and was on the way to bring them to Gabriel for his final approval. That and his usual order of coffee. She went up the main stairs to where his office was, left past the picture of Adrien and his father in mourning. His office door was open a crack, and she heard him yelling into the phone. Who ever he was talking to seemed to have made a massive error in regards of the following evenings show, and it wasn't going well for whoever was on the other end of the line. She had seen him get angry one other time, when a model had gotten food poisoning On a dress specially tailored for her measurements on The day of a show. That was an interesting evening, she was surprised he didn't get akumatized over it!

Given that, she decided to come back in a few minutes rather then stand there awkwardly eavesdroping. Something had crashed into a wall, causing smaller pictures to rock. And that one large one swing open like a door. Marinette heard some strange rustling behind the door, almost like whispers. She knew she should ignore it, But her curiosity got the better of her. She placed the cooling cup of coffee and folder on a nearby table and carefully eased the painting open to find a darkened room. The rustling sound became more apparent, and she heard something, or somethings, move.

"Marinette you probably shouldn't sneak into other people's rooms." A small voice chirped from her handbag. Similar to her original one, Marinette had crafted a more professional looking one of a hunter green color that matched her business suit. The kwami flitted out to look around as well.

"I know Tikki. But something doesn't feel right." Whatever was in this room was causing chills run up and down Marinette's arms. There seemed to be a large amount of small things flitting around. She took out her phone to provide some light into the matter and saw what was in the room.

"Butterflies?" She asked out loud. Tikki floated near her head. There were hundreds of them. All white. Now Marinette knew something wasn't right.

Suddenly a nearby wall opened like a camera eye, casting light into the room and stirring the butterflies.

"I wasn't aware you were one to snoop, Miss Cheng." A soft, stern voice quipped at the door.

Marinette suddenly felt an unease, her heart kicked it up.

"Mr Agreste. I... the door was open. And I... "

"Got curious? Yes, purely natural human response. One I have right now is the curiosity on how you ended up with your particular miraculous." He approached Marinette, who stood in the center of the light spilling in from the now open window. As he walked Marinette heard him utter a name. "Nooroo. Transform me, now."

Marinette's shock floored her. She couldn't have been more surprised if she tried. She watched as in a blink, the white Butterflies swarming her vision, then settling down. Standing in a purple fancy suit and Shiney silver cowl, her boss, was none other than Hawkmoth. But her shock was short lived as once he was transformed he lunged. She barely had a change to call out to Tikki to transform her.

It was just before sunset. Chat Noir was waiting on the roof of Notre Dame waiting to rendezvous with Ladybug for their evening patrol. But judging by how many bells were tolling to signify the hour, she was running late. It wasn't something uncommon tho. She had mentioned before she'd had a summer job that may run late some days. So he waited patiently, his only company the gargoyles.

He had looked at his phone to see if there were any messages from his lady, when he heard some ruckus in a nearby park. He gave a shot at calling Ladybug, but with no avail.

"Well, my lady will just have to catch up then!" And swung down on his staff to find out what all the commotion was.

He found it was a new akuma, one rather interesting looking. She looked like a miss matched ragdoll, with stitches running up and down any exposed skin. Her outfit a dark green cloak with oversized sleeves, and black high heeled boots. She also had a round bag which seemed to carry sewing or craft supplies. He looked around to see what damage this akuma was capable of. It Looked like she was turning Parisians into mannequins, dressed with eccentric outfits. Except Chloe, he noted she was dressed in a potato sack on her mannequin, which had a deep scowl.

"Looks like I need to BUTTON UP for this fight, until Ladybug arrives. he said with a smirk.

The akuma turned to him with a scowl. "DON'T expect any backup this time around, kitty cat. You're in this fight alone."

Chat Noir jerked in recognition. "Marinette?" He looked into the blue eyes of the akuma. They were the same as those of his classmates.

The akuma rolled her eyes, brushing one dark braided pigtail aside. "I am The Fashionista. Not 'Marinette.'" She quipped.

Chat still persisted. "Marinette? What's wrong? Did something happen with my-at work?"

He carefully approached, holding his baton lowly, at the ready if she decided to throw something at him, his other hand held out gently reaching for her. Then he remembered what she said. "And what did you mean by me fighting alone? Ladybug will be here any minute."

That seemed to upset Marinette's akuma more. "Your wrong! Ladybug isn't coming to save Paris anymore!" She screamed, And threw giant knitting needles at him.

He knocked them both away effortlessly, knowing they were what caused the effects of the mannequin transformation. What she was saying disturbed him greatly, but he couldn't dwell as he dodged more attacks. He didn't want to hurt her so he mostly dodged as she landed several hits with her fists and feet. Sometimes the hits landed dead on, others was as if she couldn't get a clear shot, and she would trip over herself.

As he dodged her attacks there was 2 things he noticed quickly about her. There were tears streaming from her eyes, and there was something red along the side of her face. He had to get a closer look. He took a run to her and the Fashionista smirked pulling out a large knitting needles. But at the last second he used his staff to pole vault over her, she stumbled in surprise. Once over he managed to get her in a bear hug.

"You've had me on pins and needles this fight, Princess. Especially with that comment. What do you mean by that? That Ladybug won't be coming?"

Grunting Marinette struggled in his grip, trying to elbow him in the stomach, but his grip wouldn't relent. Turning her head to look at him, she said "Give me your miraculous and you'll find out. "

At the angle she was giving him, Chat Noir noticed what the off putting Shiney red was. Her earlobe was bleeding. He pulled back in shock, but still kept his arms around her, "Marinette, what happened to your ear!?" He asked.

But instead of an answer, she snapped her fingers. Chat Noir felt his arms pulled from around the akuma by a pair of mannequins. The Fashionista turned around with a smirk filled with anger... and sadness. He noted more tears threatening to spill. But the look she had in her eyes behind those tears. They were familiar in a way. But he had no time to think about why. He called out a cataclysm, and felt the power of corrosion in his fingertips. He clenched his fist.

"Now now, kitty-cat what are you going to do with that? Surely not use it on these helpless people?"

Granted, Chat forgot the dummies were people, but he'd had another thought. He kept his hand in a fist and tugged against the mannequin.

Another mannequins brought over a fallen tree branch, while the Fashionista gently took his right hand. He clenched his fist, careful at pulling against her, not wanting the power touched by someone he cared about.

"Now let's just dispel that so I can get what I came here for. Right mon petite chatton?"

He had only a second to act.

"Sorry to do this, my lady, as much as I don't want a free akuma flying round, I'd rather have you back instead." And ripped his hand forward out of her grip, and touched the bag at her side. As he hoped, the bag disintegrated freeing the black butterfly from its depths. As it flew off, the mannequins froze and the colorful outfit Marinette wore faded in a cloud of black smoke.

Marinette stumbled on her feet, but Chat caught her against his chest. "Are you OK, Princess?"

Marinette looked around bewildered a moment before looking up at Chat Noir. He noted that the tears were still there, quietly streaming down her face. He frowned.

"Marinette? What's wrong?"

She pushed back from him, he let her, but still reached out to comfort her. She shook her head. What's wrong? That was a loaded question. How could she answer. Her ear gave a throb and she reached for it. Suddenly remembering the fight. How Hawkmoth tore one earing from her viciously, breaking her transformation. Then threatening Tikki if she didn't hand over the other. After that he took advantage of her anger akumatizing her. She had no idea how hard it was to resist that thrall. But then again she'd always had bad luck didn't she?

She looked around and saw the aftermath. She felt like she couldn't breath, and Chat caught her before she fell. He guided her to a nearby bench, away from the living mannequins.

"Marinette, please tell me. What happened? At work; to your ear? You can trust me." He gave her a genuine smile, and gentle squeeze on her shoulder.

"It's a long story, but I think you should know. I found out that Hawkmoth is Gabriel Agreste, and he has my Miraculous."

Chat sat stunned, his green eyes wide in surprise. His father, was Hawkmoth?

"How did you find that out?" He asked, swallowing the growing lump in his throat.

"I found his lair in his house by mistake. And," she paused, rubbing at her face as the next part of the story seemed to truly upset her. "When he caught me snooping in his lair, he transformed. Chat, he has the Ladybug miraculous. I tried to fight back, but he's so much stronger than I expected."

He wasn't surprised at that statement so much. He's never first hand seen his father fight, but he remembered stories his mother told of him in his younger years. The fact of the matter, the one that angered him tho was that he attacked Marinette.

"I'm sorry that your partner is just a clumsy highchooler who can't even protect her miraculous. " she finished, breaking him from his thoughts. The tears had started flowing again. Chat put a hand on her shoulder giving her a warm smile.

"I'm not too surprised you're Ladybug. I actually figured that out halfway thru the fight. If anything I'm grateful that my lady is such a sweet person!" He suddenly got a serious look on his face. It was Marinette's turn to be surprised.

"It's the identity of Hawkmoth that caught me off guard." His ring gave warning. There was only one pad left.

"Your should go-"

"No chance!" He gave a smirk. "I'm not leaving your side one second. I had to let your akuma free, and that means it can come back. And until we can get your miraculous back, I'm going to protect you at all times. Even as my normal self."

He gave a cocky pose, just as his transformation faded.

It was Marinette's turn to be shocked as in his place was none other than Adrien Agreste. Her jaw had dropped and heart seemed to have stopped. He turned and gave a determined look, still talking in the confidence that was her partner.

"I promise we will get your miraculous back, Marinette, and I swear to you. I had no idea that my father was Hawkmoth."

Marinette looked back and forth between him and the small cat creature on his shoulder who must have been his kwami. She shook off her surprise.

"Don't worry, I believe you."

He escorted Marinette home, and she quietly avoided looking at the mannequins around Paris. Tho it seemed as they walked she found every single crack to trip over. How embarrassing. Yet Adrien never said anything about it, just made sure she never actually fell. After dropping her off at her front door, just minutes later he was on her balcony. They had to plan. And, he was going to do whatever it took to make sure Marinette's akuma didn't come back till they were ready. But they knew they had to act fast. And getting those earrings back were the number one priority.

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