Here's the second chapter. I have to finish this story fast because I don't think it will be a long one. I just want to get it out there.
Thank you for reading and tell me what you think, kay?
Ashley hummed a tune as she sat down on the sofa in Adrien's room. She was pinching Plagg's face, loving how squishy it was. Adrien paced around his room, thinking of how to explain to his cousin.
"So...you're Chat Noir..." she hummed, squishing Plagg who was not really enjoying it.
"Ummm...no?" Adrien replied, scratching his head and chuckling nervously.
Ashley furrowed her brows. She held out Plagg in her hands, asking, "Then, what is this?"
"It's a talking doll. He just like telling lies and stuff... You know?" he stuttered a lie.
The girl shook her head. A knock was heard. She quickly hid Plagg. Adrien opened it to find Nathalie with a tab. He knew that it was almost time for his photo shoot.
"I'll be there..." he sighed.
"I'll wait in the car," she nodded, glanced up at Ashley and left.
Adrien turned to Ashley who was now rubbing Plagg's cheek on hers. She was loving having the kwami around. Adrien smiled at her reaction and chuckled a bit, seeing how much Plagg looked like he would puke.
"Look, I promise I'll explain when the time comes. Right now, we have a photo shoot to go to," he said to her.
"Okay," she cooed like a little kid.
She placed Plagg inside her jacket's pocket, saying that she will hold onto Plagg for now. Adrien sighed, muttering some words as they exited the house. Ashley happily trotted beside him with a broad smile. How she loves teasing her cousin! They got into the car and off they went. That day, Adrien had a photo shoot at Le Grand Paris, inside and outside of the said hotel.
"So, is there anything I can do?" Ashley asked Nathalie.
"Just stay close to Adrien," Nathalie replied in a cold tone.
Ashley puffed her cheeks angrily. She stomped to Adrien's side. The boy smiled at her behaviour. As they entered, Adrien's photographer greeted him and pulled him to the spot where he would have to be posing the whole two hours. Ashley walked around the building, poking her nose everywhere she was allowed to. Her curiosity is that of a cat. She entered the elevator and went to the restaurant. She went up to the windows, amazed at the view.
"This is a really lovely hotel…" she muttered.
As she was eyeing the place, screams suddenly broke through the hotel walls. Ashley rushed into the kitchen which she thought was the source had come from. A man in black suddenly stood there. Two orbs on each side of him were flashing. She blinked a few times at the scene. He smirked when he saw her.
"You'll be a good enough bait to lure Chat Noir and Ladybug," he muttered.
The orbs turned into ropes and they started circling her. She sighed, disappointed at herself for being a victim of an akumatized man. She reached out for Plagg inside her pocket.
"If Adrien really is Chat Noir, then please tell him where to find me," she whispered.
Her grip loosened before she could put the kwami down. Plagg saved himself from meeting the floor. The man took Ashley to the rooftop to prepare for his next move. Plagg rushed to Adrien who was actually busy searching for him.
"What happened?" he asked Plagg.
"A man has been akumatized…and he took that cousin of yours with him," Plagg explained.
Adrien nodded. He transformed into Chat Noir. He sent a quick message to Ladybug before rushing to the rooftop. Ashley was tied and put on the floor while the man hid from view. Chat Noir barged in, catching sight of his cousin. She forced a smile to him. He approached her, starting to untie her.
"You know fully well that this is a trap, right?" Ashley sighed.
"Yeah, but I can't risk losing you," Chat muttered.
"Huh?" the girl was confused.
"I mean, I can't bear seeing how sad Adrien is if he loses you," the hero grinned sheepishly.
An orb crept closer to Chat Noir. It suddenly turned into a rope, aiming to tie Chat up. Ladybug threw her yo-yo towards it. The rope disintegrated.
"Milady, so good of you to come," Chat greeted his partner.
"Ummm…" Ashley grabbed their attention.
The duo looked at her. She pointed towards something. They both turned to look and jumped away on time. The orbs had turned into whips this time.
"Ladybug, Chat Noir, give me your miraculouses!" the man shouted.
He aimed his hands towards the pool. The water rose, turning into sharp ice. He aimed it towards the three. Chat Noir picked Ashley up. He and Ladybug jumped away from the attack.
"Where's the akuma…" Ladybug muttered.
"It could be in one of his gloves. He morphed things using his hands…" Ashley said.
"How'd you know that?" Chat asked.
"Well, he morphed those orbs from some kitchen utensils and he morphed a few plants to turn into ropes to tie me up," she explained.
"She could be right. Let's give it a try," Ladybug said.
She used her lucky charm. Chat told Ashley to run into the building and 'find' Adrien. Sighing, she nodded to his orders. She rushed back inside, took the elevator back to the lobby and rushed to the photo shoot venue. She could guess that she would not find anyone there. She took a seat on a chair.
"I knew it…" she whispered to herself.
A few minutes later, Adrien appeared, exiting the elevator. Ashley rushed in to hug him. Adrien patted her head with a smile.
"Where have you been?" she asked.
"Uh…I was morphed into an orb too," Adrien lied.
"You really think that lie would work on me after what I've been through with Chat Noir?" she replied with an angry look.
Adrien grinned nervously at his cousin. He pulled her behind a wall, safe from people's eyes. He told Plagg to come out. The kwami flew out of his over-shirt. Ashley blinked towards the black creature.
"If it weren't for Plagg, you wouldn't be here right now," Adrien said, sighing.
"I know. Thank you," the girl flashed a sweet smile.
"No one must know about Chat's identity you know," Plagg chimed.
Ashley nodded. "What do I get if I tell on you anyway? You're my cousin and my best friend. I won't tell on you!"
She wrapped her arms around Adrien's arm. Plagg and Adrien heaved a sigh of relief. The blond patted her head again.
"But, you have to treat me," she chirped.
"Okay, what do you want?" Adrien gave in.
"Kid, you really can't say no to your baby sister," Plagg groaned.
Adrien grunted at his kwami's statement. Plagg grinned and hid inside Adrien's over-shirt because he was told to. The photographer decided to reschedule his photo shoot that day due to all of the commotions going on just a few minutes ago. He was glad that he could spend some time with his cousin before their ride arrives.
"So, what do you want this time?" he asked.
"Umm… I want ice-cream…" she hummed.
"Again? People will be taking more pictures of us," Adrien reminded her.
Ashley laughed, stealing glances at her cousin's expression. Adrien groaned, defeated. She happily strolled to the entrance of the hotel waiting for her cousin. Gazing at her happy face, he dragged himself out of the hotel.
"Let's head to the park. I'll text Nathalie to meet us there," Adrien said.
"Okay," she cooed.
It wasn't a long walk. When they reached the park, Ashley rushed to the first ice-cream stand she saw. Adrien walked up to where she was.
"I want vanilla and strawberry!" she squealed.
Adrien nodded to the seller. The seller nodded back, starting to scoop up the flavour Ashley had just mentioned.
"Man, for a fifteen-year-old she sure is spoilt," Plagg whispered.
Adrien turned his back to the two, opening a bit of his over-shirt where Plagg was hiding.
"Plagg, the ice-cream seller might've heard you," he complained in a whisper.
"Adrien, pay up…" Ashley called, pulling at his arm.
"Oh, r-right," he replied, grinning nervously again.
He paid for the ice-cream. They sat on a bench, waiting for their ride back to the mansion. They could feel glares and stares coming their way, but Ashley ignored it. She licked on her ice-cream happily.
"Yo, Adrien!" Alya suddenly greeted them.
"Oh, hey, Alya," Adrien said, locking his stare at Alya's face.
Alya gave out a smile before pulling a very bashful Marinette to her side. Ashley blinked in confusion at the two.
"Mind if we join you?" Alya asked, glancing up at her best friend.
"Not at all," Ashley replied before Adrien could, standing up, "I'm going to buy another ice-cream."
"Already?" Adrien asked.
Ashley looked at Alya and then, turned to look at Marinette. She chuckled to herself. She could see that the blue haired girl has a crush on Adrien. The way she was staring at his face without him noticing it.
"I'll go with her. You two stay here," Alya said, tapping Marinette's shoulder once and leaving with Ashley.
"That was really nice of you, Alya," Ashley said.
"Yeah… Marinette is so not good when it comes to Adrien," Alya sighed.
"I can see that," the orange haired chuckled again.