As always, my first chapters are about half as long as usual just to get you acquainted with the world and setting. I am very, very excited for this one, but I've got to caution you. There won't be any smut, but there will be sex implied occasionally or some heated kissing. Chat Noir is 23, and Mari is 22 and there is going to be a lot of pent up emotion and passion between the two so yeah. What would you think would happen? Also this is a dark Chat AU... It's going to be a little dark. What do you expect? This is primarily Marichat(My FAVORITE!) with some other mixing of the ships of course. This is rated T, but might need to go up to M later on because this is a little mature. There isn't anything in here above what I think would be acceptable for a 14 year old. This deals with depression, is a little violent, and like I said earlier implies some nasty. As always, I am completely open to reviews and critiques. This is probably going to be my only story that is so dark, usually I write light-hearted stuff. Anyways, thanks for reading and let me know what you think! Feel free to message me anytime whether you're saying hi, asking questions, or if you just want to talk. :) Star Spangled Feels

The ne'er-do-well had the gall to grin at her. He stepped closer and closer still and she stepped farther back until she hit the wall. His playful smile turned downright predatory and Marinette felt fear flash through her like a wave of cold terror.

Prologue

Ladybug was accustomed to fighting by his side. It was easy and effortless and an exhilarating rush that left her breathless every time. She moved, he moved. She attacked, he had her back. A blow came for her, and he took it wordlessly. He dealt out swift punishments when she was injured, but he was never angry. She had never seen him mad. Ever. He kept himself patient, reigned in, and calm. Even when she messed up and got them into trouble. Even when she yelled at him, he was repentant and kind. She had never understood it until now, as she knelt by his shaking form, the butterfly Miraculous clutched in one hand. He quivered, his leather clawed hands tainted by dark red. She looked at him, at his eyes clenched shut and at the tears dripping from his mask. Her fingers shook as she reached out to put a hand on his shoulder. She wasn't prepared for his reaction.

He grabbed her hand before she reached him, squeezing her wrist so hard that it hurt. She gasped as he pushed her away, roughly enough to throw her several feet from him. She clutched her wrist, which was sore and smarting. She looked at him, betrayal and confusion pooling in her blue eyes. He had never done anything like this to her before.

"Chat?" She whispered. "Why does it matter who Hawkmoth is? What's going on-" And she paused when he looked up at her. In an instant she knew. She knew why he was so calm and he refused to be angry. He didn't want to be his father. She couldn't believe it. She had thought that he was just upset for killing someone. But no. He had hurt his own father to save her and the city.

She knew this all because Gabriel Agreste was lying in a pool of his own blood in the other side of the room. And then the dam broke and tears poured in earnest from her eyes. She had been holding back tears for Adrien, her classmate, because his father was a monster. She had been holding back tears for Chat, because he had just cataclysmed a person. But they were one in the same, and that made it a hundred times worse.

"Adrien…" She whispered, her eyes already blurry from burning tears. His green eyes were unrecognizable. It was like something else lurked there. "Adrien please listen-" And then she stopped again when she really saw the haunted look... The black butterfly flying for him. He was broken, and somehow the emotions raging in him were enough to summon Hawkmoth's dark magic. She cried out but it was too late. The akuma flew into his mask and there was nothing she could do as his eyes grew darker and ceased to belong to someone that she knew.

Chapter One

Marinette crossed the street with her hand in her jacket pocket, the other was clutching her bag. It was dark, and the night was still and stuffy. She had been at a party, which was why she was out at this dangerous hour. Even 4 years after Chat Noir's reign of terror began Marinette still found herself going out in the dark. She knew that it was dangerous. She knew that she was a small girl, and a lot of people out there would readily take advantage of her. She clutched her yoyo anxiously, constantly checking her environment. She was only a block from her apartment, and she lived in a very safe part of Paris. Besides, she shouldn't be so nervous. But she was nervous, incredibly so.

Since he had left her in the remains of the Agreste mansion, sobbing, scared, and disbelieving, she hadn't donned the mask of Ladybug. After performing the repairing spell, and delivering Gabriel Agreste's body to the police... She couldn't face it. However, since then she had only expanded her skills. For most of her career as Ladybug she had relied on her kwami for strength and skill. But she had worked hard for 4 years and now she was as strong and cunning as she had been in the latex suit. The only thing she didn't have was magic.

And then she heard it and her mind was snapped to the presence. Footsteps. Low and quiet and far too close for comfort. She didn't dare look behind her and alert her follower that she was aware of their presence. The dumbass was actually sneaking up on her, she was worst possible person they could have picked to stalk. And then, when she turned to walk the corner, her hand whipped out of her jacket pocket and she spun with blinding speed to see: nothing. No one was there. Just a quiet and empty street with a lonely lamp illuminated in the distance.

She shoved her yoyo back into her pocket and scurried down the street and into her apartment complex. She went into the elevator quickly, breathing in and out in an attempt to calm her racing heart. She knew that someone had been behind her, but what the hell had happened? She didn't understand any of it. She unlocked her 3rd level apartment, it wasn't too high or too low, a small walk from either the elevator or stairs but they were close enough for her to dash out in a hurry. She was a bit paranoid. Of course, she could just swing out her window with her Miraculous if she really needed too.

Marinette walked inside and paused in front of the open door to her bathroom. She caught sight of something twinkling on her ears in her reflection. She still wore the earrings, she didn't have the heart to take them out. But Tikki didn't speak with her. She hadn't seen her in years, and every time that she thought of her little friend it make her sick to the stomach. She didn't deserve the earrings. Her hands reached up all on their own to take them out but- she couldn't do it. Not yet. A deep, hidden part of her longed so much for the days when she cleansed akumas and swung around Paris by his side. She still loved him. Ever since discovering his identity, despite everything that he had done. She knew that it wasn't his fault.

So she stayed close. She worked at Agreste Inc. She was a top designer, in fact. She loved him from afar, watched from afar. He had never hurt anyone in his escapades. His criminals were the ones that did things like that. Sometimes, when her faith in the real him resurfacing diminished, a serious crime would spring up. One of his gang members would kill or rape a young girl and the perpetrator would be found at the police station with claw marks running down his face. So she knew that Chat- her Chat was in there somewhere. She couldn't find it in herself to fight him. She knew that it was selfish. But she didn't do it. She had faith in him, the ever so often retribution kept her from donning the mask and kicking his leather covered ass.

"You know, you almost got jumped out there." Came a voice from her left. Marinette spun, and she was shocked, but she wasn't frightened of the voice. She knew it too well. Hopefully he didn't realize that and took the surprise in her eyes for fear.

"What?" Chat chuckled from her window seat, sitting there covered in the suit that she knew so well, despite the years. His eyes. The eyes that she could read a mile away. Gosh she loved him. After all this time he was still so damn- stop it. She chided herself. Despite the past, he was a villain now and she needed to focus. "Chat got your tongue?"

"You wish." She blurted before she could stop herself. Marinette slapped her hands over her mouth and her eyes felt so wide that she was afraid that they would fall out. Oh no no no. This was not the time for brave Ladybug. This was the time for scared Marinette that he was less likely to endanger. She didn't want to make him angry.

He burst out laughing and she squeaked. "I-I didn't mean that! No no, I'm grateful because you helped- Oh my gosh you're Chat Noir and you're going to-"

He kept laughing and she made herself stop talking. She tensely awaited for what he would say, but he kept laughing.

"Is this funny too you?" She couldn't stop herself from demanding the words. "If you think that you can just tell me somebody was going to jump me and then turn around and rob me or something-"

"Relax, purrincess. I'm not going to hurt you." He suddenly interjected. Marinette was angry that- despite the fact that he had been red in the face and doubled over from laughing- he was still absolutely gorgeous. Curse Adrien for his physique, it was annoying.

"Chat's honor." He held up his fingers in an oath swearing position and Marinette made a face.

"Yeah, because you've demonstrated a lot of that." She scowled.

"Meowch, purrincess. I'm pawsitively wounded that you think so little of me." He stood from the window bench where he had been sitting, and began to stroll around her apartment. She stared after him, dumbfounded. What the hell did he want? Why now? Why was he suddenly right in front of her?

"I can show you the perv who was stalking you if you'd like. I dumped him in the Seine, but I could fish him out to prove it. You're really too pretty for your own good." He managed to say this all casually(while still looking hot as hell), and Marinette could only watch as he inspected her living quarters.

"E-excuse me?" She stuttered. He had to have been following her to find someone else following her. What was going on?

He turned his eyes on her incredulously. "Honestly, Mari. Look at what you're wearing." She automatically looked down at her red party dress under her nice jacket. She frowned. He might have a point.

"How do you remember my name?" She demanded, and then the cocky look in his eyes disappeared. He looked sad for just a moment... But then the sarcasm was back.

"Why purrincess, I'm shocked. We used to be quite good friends, you know." He sat in her desk chair, next to her bed. He twirled in it. "I haven't done this in a while.." He murmured.

"Done what?" Her curiosity got the better of her, and he smiled.

"Sat in your spinning chair," He said simply. She couldn't help but marvel at this all. Adrien Agreste, disguised as Chat Noir, was sitting in her apartment again. After all this time.

"How'd you find me?" She didn't live in her parent's bakery anymore. She had moved out a year ago.

"Just because I didn't visit doesn't mean that I wasn't keeping tabs on an old friend." He shrugged lightly, but Marinette heard the slightly too innocent tone in his voice.

"Why would you do that?" She asked dubiously, folding her arms and popping out a hip. She hadn't been so confident in years. Despite the fact that he was now very, very dangerous, she hadn't felt so safe or comfortable in years. She had been wearing a shy shell, and now he brought out the real her, just like he always had.

"Because you used to be my friend." He had a strange glimmer in his green eyes and the comment brought back a lot of memories to her mind. Midnight talks, hot cocoa in the winter. Him taking her to rooftops in the summer. Spraying his nose with her water in the spring. Late night movies in the fall. If she hadn't been so blinded by Adrien- she would have openly admitted being in love with him. At first the suit had bothered her, the secrecy, but she knew why. And- wait. Used to be his friend?

"Used to?" She was strangely offended. Why was she offended? It wasn't her fault that he had gone practically insane and been akumatized.

"I'm a criminal, remember?" He smirked, eyes sparkling with amusement.

She made a noncommittal noise in her throat and he eyed her.

"Didn't you notice that you've never had any run ins or encountered anyone in the past 4 years?" He pointed out, gesturing at her with one clawed hand.

"I live in a safe neighborhood." She said defensively.

"I made it that way." He said wryly. She scowled. Damn him. She hadn't even noticed that he had been around all this time. Maybe it was good that Tikki was mysteriously missing, if he was frequently watching he might have noticed. Besides, he had known which apartment was her's.

"What do you want, Chat Noir?" She distanced him a little by saying his full title. She had always called him Chat, but she needed to think about this all. She would probably sit in shock all night. Good thing that it was a Friday night.

"Well, being a criminal is a loveless job, purrincess." He wiggled an eyebrow, sporting another dangerously alluring smirk. Her heart beat a little faster.

"If you wanted sex you could get it." She said flatly.

"That's not what I meant." He held back a chuckle, leaning back in the chair.

"Why now?" She asked, a deeper meaning. She begged his green eyes with her own, why now? Why now...

"I don't know…" He mused, picking up a pencil off of her desk and examining it methodically. He looked up at her from under his lashes, she hoped that he didn't hear her breath catch. He smirked a little more and she grumbled. Damn that cat.

"I'll see you around, purrincess." He jumped up lithely, and in what seemed like one smooth motion he swung out her window and into the night. She raced after to lean out the window, gazing into the dark of Paris. Her heart fluttered, reminded of all the times that he had done something like that before. She frowned, shut her window, and locked it. Not like that would stop him. But she wasn't worried about being in danger from Chat Noir. No, she had seen something in his eyes. A plea. He was finally remembering and he wanted help. She had to believe that.

"Tikki…" She asked quietly, turning to face her apartment. And before her eyes, a red spark exploded into existence. Tikki, the ladybug kwami, her friend, looked at her with tears in her eyes.

"Oh, Marinette. I'm so proud of you. I missed you." The kwami flew forwards into the crook of her neck and Marinette began to cry, too.

"Oh, T-tikki." The tears came in earnest. "I'm so sorry… I failed Paris… But we have to make this right. I love my city, and I left it to ruin. I abandoned you, too."

"It's okay, Marinette. You just needed to grow strong enough to do this." Marinette curled in on herself and sat on the floor, holding the little kwami. Those were the words that she needed to hear. That it was okay. That she had needed time.

But now she had work to do.

"Spots On, Tikki…" She whispered, the old words putting courage into her bones. A smile spread across her face as the transformation occurred and that familiar magic spread throughout her. Her eyes opened- raw power surging in them. She flung her window open, grabbed her yoyo, and swung into the broken city that she was determined to fix.

Alya Cesaire was surfing the news when she saw it. There were police surrounding a bank with hostages in it. She was about to change channels, this wasn't anything new. But then she saw it. A little red blur in the corner of the screen. She looked closer at her screen- it couldn't be.

"No way…" She whispered, eyes wide. But she'd know that suit anywhere. "NINO!" She screeched, calling for her boyfriend. A second later he was stumbling out of their bedroom wearing only his boxers. He was wide awake, despite having been deeply asleep seconds ago. He had long ago adjusted to Alya's antics in the middle of the night.

"Get the Ladyblog servers up!" She yelled, running for a coat and her camera. She shoved her phone in her pocket and got her camera ready for streaming.

"What?" Nino asked, shaking his head, thinking that he was still asleep.

"C'mon!" She ran out the door, still in bunny slippers.

For the first time in 4 years the Ladyblog was streaming live and and all over Paris alerts buzzed and people watched in silent trepidation. One by one they heard gunshots, and one by one the police inched closer. Alya waited, and suddenly Ladybug herself threw the bank doors open. A dozen people inched out from behind her into the bright police lights and promise of safety. In an instant they were walking into the arms of the emergency responders and reporters cheered. Ladybug stayed at the top of the bank steps, watching with a small smile.

Alya Cesaire watched her closely, and the female superhero noticed her. Anyone watching the Ladyblog saw her salute the camera and swing away off into the distance. Police rushed into the building and the only thing they found were the robbers, passed out in a heap. The information wasn't released to the press, but each man had thing red welts all around their necks… Like they had been strangled with a thin wire… From Ladybug's yoyo...