"This is bad."
Marinette nodded distractedly as her partner entered the massage room. Master Fu sat across from her, contentedly sipping his tea and ignoring the gigantic problem that loomed over Paris.
The sky was still dark, despite being midday. Every five minutes, a flash of white would pass by the tinted windows, indicating another patrol went by. Blood stains covered the street, and the cackle of an Akuma would pass by. If you watched long enough, the image of a panicked and frightened civilian would reach your eyes, and you'd watch them scamper from hiding place to hiding place, trying to find somewhere safe to spend the next five minutes, before they were inevitably caught by the patrol. But no one suspected the Tea and Massage Shop, the one that appeared closed down.
Adrien collapsed next to her, rubbing a bloody hand over his face. She gasped and grabbed it, looking for the injury. He put his hand over hers and shook his head. It wasn't his.
"A woman was collapsed on the ground. I helped her get her consciousness back and had another man take her," Adrien didn't mention he was almost caught by another Butterfly Patrol. No reason to panic Marinette any more. She slumped against his side, and his heart didn't race like it normally would when his Lady pressed up against him. There were too many things at stake. "Any luck here?"
"Master Fu isn't being very helpful," Marinette grumbled, and Adrien saw the Master's lips turn up at the corners.
"I am only telling you what you need to know, Marinette," Master Fu's voice creaked. "You ask too many questions. You don't need to know the exact characteristics of every Kwami, or every possible candidate. Kwami's are sentient beings. They can choose their holders themselves."
"What's going on?" Adrien cut in. Marinette sighed.
"We can't do this alone. Ladybug and Chat Noir aren't enough to fight off this army. We need help."
"We have Rena Rouge, Queen Bee and Carapace."
"They're not enough. Nooroo and Duusu have been taken. By adults, against kids, who aren't as experience or powerful as them. Hawkmoth's akumas and Peacock Nuit's mind control are too overwhelming. Both their powers control other people, which allows their forces to just keep growing. We need more help, And Alya, Chloe and Nino won't cut it this time," She turned to the old man. "Master Fu has eleven minor miraculouses that we can use. I just don't know who to pick for them."
"You don't need to choose, Marinette. Ask them. Ask your own Kwamis. They can speak French too, you know." His eyes twinkled with amusement as Plagg and Tikki flew out to join Wayzz on the cookie plate.
"You have some very promising people that you see almost everyday," Tikki chimed in, munching on a sugar cookie. Marinette and Adrien shared a glance.
Did Tikki mean at his photo shoots? Or at the bakery? Maybe during their daily patrol they ran into someone? Or the people that dropped off their baking and Camembert shipments? Or their piano instructors or their fashion design teachers? Or…
"Oh god." Marinette realized, the sinking feeling in her stomach growing immensely.
"Hmmm…" Adrien hummed. The possibility would be difficult, irritating, dangerous even. But…
"I could call Chloe and Nino, have them spread the message," Adrien suggested. Marinette studied his face for a minute, her facial expressions ranging from intrigued to horrified. She nodded.
"I've got Alya," She decided.
"I will summon the missing Miraculous," Master Fu told them, standing up.
Wayzz cleared his throat. "I haven't felt any activations from the missing Miraculous. I assume they are still dormant."
"Summon? How?" Adrien asked, standing up as well. "I didn't know you could do that."
"There are many things you do not know about me," Master Fu hummed, turning his back and leaving the room. Wayzz flew after him, followed by Tikki and Plagg. Marinette turned to face Adrien, still on the ground. She sat, almost like a broken doll.
She'd never admit it, but she was terrified. Her parents were taken. The were under Peacock Nuit's control, and the only way to get him back was to take down Hawkmoth. It would make sense that she wanted more help, to do it as quickly as possible.
Adrien's Father and Nathalie were missing, though Adrien had received an extensive note written in Nathalie's perfect cursive, explaining that they were out of town. It didn't seem right, but he hoped it was true.
He helped her to her feet, and she collapsed against his chest.
"Is this a good idea?" She mumbled into his ripped shirt as he wrapped his arms around her waist. He nuzzled his cheek into her hair.
"Probably not. I can already tell they won't take this well."
She muttered unintelligible things, muffled by his black tee. He held her silently, watching her shoulders shake from the heavy breaths.
"Still," She told him as she pulled back. "I've got you."
He grinned, leaning forward. "Yes you do, Princess. You can have as much of me as you want," His words quieted as he leaned forwards and kissed her neck. She sighed and reluctantly pushed him back. The motion reminded him of something he tried to stop thinking about.
"So," Marinette started, her eyes wide as she tried to comprehend what she was seeing. "You're Chat Noir."
It wasn't a question.
"And you're My Lady…" He said, gazing at her, wondering how he never noticed it before. It was so obvious it almost made him depressed. All this pinning after her, and he sat in front of her in class.
"This is… wow. I'm so stupid. I knew the back of your head looked familiar, but I never thought it would be sweet, quiet, hot as hell Adrien Agreste…" She said, her gaze meeting his eyes. His eyes widened as he tried to form a thought. "And to think all this time I actually had a crush on the complete dork Chat Noir… This changes things a lot."
"You had a crush on me?" He blurted out. She opened her mouth, and blushed.
"Uhh, yeah?"
"Hmmm," He hummed. "Maybe we should go out sometime then? I mean, I love you. I could never have asked for a better partner in battle, or a better friend. Can I upgrade you to girlfriend?"
Her eyebrows skyrocketed and she opened her mouth. Then hesitated. Gulped. And said, "No."
His face fell. "But… you said-."
"Not yet, actually. It's too dangerous. If we start dating, and suddenly Chat Noir and Ladybug are dating, it's too obvious. Hawkmoth could figure us out immediately. Plus, it puts our families and friends in danger. He would consistently target us, over and over until he beat us. It's too risky."
Adrien opened his mouth, but stopped. She was right. Even if they 'delayed' Ladybug and Chat Noir's relationship, it would be too dangerous. They would become vulnerable if they had more attachments to each other besides being partners. His eyes found his feet, and he played with the hem of his jeans.
"Once he's defeated, though, I will gladly go on a date with you," She declared.
His head snapped up, meeting her excited face. He broke out into a smile, and leaned forwards to connect their lips. She took a deep breath and pushed him back gently.
"We shouldn't…" She sighed, eyes falling to the floor. He nodded, grabbing her hand instead.
"As you wish, My Lady," His lips pressed to her hand, and she chuckled.
"Did I just get 'Princess Bride'ed?"
"Of course, Marinette. You deserve it."
A loud spark, and crash came from outside the window. Marinette and he raced to the glass, gazing out at the building that lost its door. Another Patrol fluttered around a man, who was crying for help. He screamed and sobbed as they ripped at his flesh until he finally stopped resisting. Marinette stiffened as his limp body was now carried off with the Patrol. She moved to follow them, but Adrien's grip came back, now vicelike and unforgiving. She struggled.
"Adrien, let me-."
"No, Marinette. We can't help him anymore."
"But, he's hurt and I could help if I really tried and-."
"It's too dangerous. The Patrol will get you, no matter what. You know we can't stop it."
"Please!"
"I'm sorry. I can't lose you."
"Adrien, please I can save him! Please! Let me go!"
"I'm sorry, Marinette."
"Adrien!" Her voice was cracking now, her throat feeling dry as her voice ripped at it. She flexed again, attempting to break the grip on her arms. She reached for the door frame, the door's edge, the handle, something for her to grab onto. She couldn't reach.
"I'm sorry. I love you. I'm sorry," He felt her body become limp, and tried to ignore the angry tears welling up in her eyes. He pulled her tighter as a broken sob escaped.
"I could've helped…" She whispered, her voice wrecked. They stood in silence, .
He held her until Master Fu returned with the missing Miraculous. Master Fu ignored them as they regained their composure, as Marinette hated looking weak in front of anyone, even Fu. The It was time for their new plan to be put into action.