A Chat's Determination

The sun had yet to rise, but there was hurried movement inside Adrien's room nonetheless. Pigeons watched curiously from their nighttime roosts as the blonde rushed around his room to gather together his "Lady hunting" gear. Adrien smiled triumphantly at the small pile of assorted "gear" that he would use to start conversations "casually" with his suspects. Adrien smirked as he marked chocolate chip cookies, Jagged Stone, and candy made with fake mint off of his "To Get List". Plagg, for his part wordlessly burrowed deeper into the covers in hopes of recuperating the sleep he had lost in helping Adrien run the cookie and mint errand.

Adrien nodded, pleased with his compiled supplies before he went into his closet to find the pink version of his usual shirt. Adrien grinned at his own genius as he was practically going to make himself "ladynip". Adrien chuckled at his own little play on catnip before taking the shirt and jeans with him to the shower so they would be ready when he was clean and, himself, ready for the day.

Adrien smirked as he popped his head through the hole of the less worn version of his signature shirt. The shirt itself was still black, but the colored lines on it were all different shades of pink, surely his ladies pink was on there somewhere. Adrien walked to his dresser and pulled out some socks from the top drawer before closing it and walking back to his bed to put them on. The smile on Adrien's face only seemed to grow as a small bump under the covers seemed to scoot away with a low grumble as he slid on his favorite orange shoes. Adrien decided to leave Plagg be for now as he carefully arranged his gathered materials into his backpack so that Natalie would not walk in on him with, GASP, chocolate chip cookies.

A smirk still played on his lips as he made his way to the door to, hopefully secure permission to walk to school today. His excuse on why was simple, plausible, and for once one hundred percent true. There would be no fencing today after school, due to his instructor being at a conference, and therefore he needed the exercise to make up for the lost opportunity later. Adrien was pleasantly surprised at how easily Natalie agreed to allow it, "Because of the circumstances". 'Ladybug must be up and thinking about me, because it must be my lucky day', Adrien thought happily as he went back to his room to gather his backpack and Plagg.

"Plagg, it's time to go", Adrien called lightly from the door, which only urned him a light hiss of complaint. "But, Plagg," Adrien said with mock hurt in his voice, "If you don't get up and come with me, what am I to do with all of this camembert", Adrien asked. Plagg zipped over to Adrien and snatched the smelly cheese from his hand so quickly Adrien could have sworn he could make out the trail though the air Plagg had left in his wake. "I'll have you know," Plagg stated, "that I have been ready and waiting on you for quite some time. Slow poke". Adrien chuckled lightly as he opened up his jacket for Plagg to go into his pocket. Plagg wasted no time in finishing his breakfast before zipping into the pocket where he could enjoy a nice cat nap.

Adrien marveled at his good luck as he walked the fairly empty streets of Paris on his way to school. 'No akuma attack last Friday, or this weekend for that matter, and my plan is going off without a hitch so far', Adrien smiled joyfully at the thought. Adrien waved to Mr. Damocles as he unlocked the school. Mr. Damocles, somewhat shocked to see Adrien so early and on foot, smiled politely and waved back before entering the school to do his part in getting the school ready for the start of the new school week.

Adrien positioned himself outside on the steps of the school, ready to interact with his six suspects. Adrien was still amazed at his luck as four of the six girls interacted with him at the door. Two of the girls, both in the upper classes, declined his offer of a chocolate chip cookie as they both disliked chocolate, much to Adrien's surprise. In conversation with Sarah, a grade lower than him, he determined she was not into Jagged Stone as his style was too hard and loud for her taste. She preferred instrumental, but admitted to liking one of Jagged's ballads that had a much softer tone. That marked three of his suspects down with two possible and Marinette was probably going to be late again. Adrien chuckled at the last part as he entered the school so that he would not suffer the same fate as his friend and classmate.

Adrien scribbled his findings on a scratch piece of paper. 'Suspect one and two do not like chocolate, suspect three is not a super fan of Jagged Stone. Suspect four-Samantha, passed the initial inquiries in loving chocolate chip cookies, Jagged Stone and the lightest pink on his pink striped shirt. Ella had not been seen that morning for his passing out of the cookies to his "Fellow students and classmates". Marinette had been late, but he noted she loved Jagged Stone as she was the one who designed his latest album cover. He had even gotten her to sign it! Adrien looked up at the girl who was busy working on the physics assignment, although she looked to be struggling.

Adrien smirked as a plan to question Marinette without being too obvious took form in his mind. "Hey Marinette, I still have some chocolate chip cookies from this morning. Would you like one", Adrien asked innocently as he silently wondered if the bakers daughter would like baked goods if she was around them all the time. Too much of a good thing sometimes made people dislike it after all. Marinette, for her part, blushed and stammered, but ultimately accepted the offered cookie. "Th-Thank you Adrien. I love you….I MEAN I love chocolate chip, that's my favorite", Marinette giggled nervously. Adrien smiled warmly while discretely marking a positive in Marinette's cookie column.

Adrien smiled brightened as he took interest in her assignment, "Oh, what are you working on Marinette", Adrien asked earnestly even a ghost of a smirk played on his lips at the game he knew he was playing and winning today. "I-It's just physics. I hate it, but I need to pass", Marinette groaned before smiling shyly and quickly turning back to her work. Adrien blinked several times before a smile spread across his face. 'That was easy', Adrien thought happily as he put another positive mark in Marinette's "dislikes physics" column.

The rest of the day, much to Adrien's dismay, did not go as smoothly as he had hoped for as each of the final three suspects all received positive marks on each of his Lady Hunting categories. Samantha, Ella, and Marinette each earned their Lady points. This was silently driving Adrien crazy at being so close to knowing, yet so far way as he had literally run out of facts to cross reference each girl against. "Why do you have to be so troublesome, mi'lady", Adrien whispered softly. Nino looked at Adrien in concern as he has seemed down about something since a little after lunch. "Dude, what's got you all bummed out? Is there anything I can do to get my main man's spirits back up", Nino asked hopefully. Adrien smiled appreciatively at Nino, "No, I'm fine. I'm just kinda tired. I got up earlier than usual today", Adrien offered truthfully as he had gotten up two hours early to ensure he had everything ready for today. Adrien gave a mental sigh of relief when Nino seemed to buy his story completely. "Dude, I feel you. Today has just been dragging by. I can't wait to hit the sack tonight", Nino offered in solidarity before returning his focus to the playlist he had been working on for a project in Psychology.

Adrien smiled as Nino, and their Psychology project, gave him a great idea on how to continue his search. Adrien had just written down do question Ladybug on her favorite songs when a resounding boom echoed across the city. Everyone got up and rushed for the door as their teacher eagerly urged everyone to remain calm and to get down stairs and away from the windows. Adrien frowned when he realized this would have been a perfect time to tail Marinette, but she had already scampered away. 'I wonder if she went to hide or transform', Adrien though wistfully as red blur shot past the windows to the classroom. Adrien smirked as the classroom was now deserted. "Thank goodness Mrs. Mendeleev gets spacy in situations like these", Adrien chuckled as Plagg flew out to join him.

Plagg, although displeased at having to "go to work", looked resolved. "Alright, kid. Let's just get this over with", Plagg whined nevertheless. Adrien grinned fondly at his kwami, "Your idea, not mine. Alright Plagg, Claws Out", Adrien exclaimed as he was enveloped in a flash of green light.

Chat opened the classroom window and flung himself into the now empty street as Parisians had become accustom to seeking safety indoors during an akuma attack. Chat raced to where he heard sirens, screeching tires, and the general sounds of panic as people fled the area. Ladybug sat perched just behind a chimney of one of the older buildings in the small square. Chat hid himself behind one of the upturned cars as the akuma, who proclaimed herself as "Waterspout", launched jets of high pressure water at cars, windows, and anyone unlucky enough to come within range.

Chat gave Ladybug a wink as he slowly slunk his way out from behind the upturned car. The akuma was currently enthusiastically breaking the windows on the other side of the square which gave Chat an opening to sneak in from behind. Unfortunately, Chat was so focused on the Waterspout and the glowing purple bracelet that he failed to notice the brick Waterspouts high pressure water jets had dislodged from its rightful place near the squares famous, at least locally, water feature that allowed the citizens to play in the water fountain. Chat tripped and stumbled into the fountain. Chat quickly sat up and spat out the water and made awkward eye contact with Waterspout. "I guess you could say I'm all washed up", Chat joked to the humorless akuma who grinned wickedly at the feline hero.

Chat raced across the square skillfully dodging each new jet of water Waterspout shot his way. Chat, discreetly as possible so as not to give away his ladies position, looked towards Ladybug to seen when she was going to be ready to move in. Chat smirked as he saw the tell tail signs that Ladybug had used her luck charm. 'Just give me the signal LB', Chat though silently as he dodged another jet of water all while moving slowly closer to Waterspout.

Chat smiled as he easily picked up Ladybug's sharp whistle. Chat smirked as he turned on a dime and raced straight for the akuma. This change in tactic obviously surprised Waterspout as she started frantically blasting water without much consideration to aim. "Cataclysm", Chat howled as he grazed the street right next to the Waterspout. The street crumbled and the akuma fell in with a surprised shout. Ladybug swiftly closed in and plugged the water cannons on her wrists with what appeared to be red and black spotted potatoes.

Ladybug quickly snapped the bracelet from waterspouts wrist, releasing the akuma. Ladybug stepped forward to swing her yoyo and catch the akuma to de-evilize it, but tripped over one of the many bricks that had been disturbed by the cataclysm. "No", Ladybug shouted as she dashed to chase down the quickly fleeing akuma. The chase was short lived, but the timer had already started to tick the moment she first cast her lucky charm. Chat chased Ladybug down and alley where he saw her release the now purified butterfly. "Bye, bye little butterfly", Ladybug sighed in relief.

Chat smiled fondly as Ladybug gave him a tire, but relieved smile. "I thought my luck had just run out there Chat", Ladybug smiled brightly before her face took on a look of panic. "Chat! I don't have time to reverse the damage! I gotta go, I'll fix it later! Bugou...", but Chat reached out and grabbed her wrist to stop her. "Mi'lady, is this what you were worried about", Chat offered hopefully as he help up her lucky charm sack of potatoes. A look of fear and then relief flooded Ladybug's features. "Oh, thank you Chat! If I hurry…Miraculous Ladybug", Ladybug called out as she took the sack from his gloved hands and tossed it in the air.

Chat watched Ladybug fondly as her cure spread across the city, fixing all the damage that had been done by the akuma. Chat's eyes widened in panic as his eyes caught sight of the last dot fading out on her earrings. "Ladybug, don't go yet! You won't make it", Chat called stopping Ladybug mid-throw as a pink light enveloped her. Chat closed his eyes like a vise leaving the sounds of what he assumed to be a startled Ladybug. Chat shakily and slowly stopped forward, searching blindly with his hands until he found her. "It's ok mi'lady. I didn't look", Chat sighed as his mind screamed for him open his eyes and see the answer he had long sought while his heart cried for him to keep his eyes closed so as not to break her trust.

Marinette slowly turned and looked at Chat, shocked and relieved he indeed had his eyes closed. "Th-thank you Chat. I know h-how much you want to know. You are as loyal as you are brave, you silly cat", Marinette said nervously, yet fondly as she ruffled his hair. "Thank you", Marinette breathed as she placed a soft kiss to Chat's cheek as she and Tikki dashed down the alley and away from Chat Noir.

Chat stood frozen in place as he tried to process what had just happened. 'Di-did she just', his mind sputtered as his transformation dropped and somewhat annoyed, but bemused Plagg hovered in front of Adrien's face. "Yo, lover boy. You can look now. She took off a minute ago. I gotta hand it to ya kid, you didn't do the smart thing, but you did the right thing. I doubt you would have earned a kiss if you had looked", Plagg teased. "Now get us home. I'm tired, hungry, and ready for the mushy stuff to be done with for the day. A cat can only take so much", Plagg lamented as he situated himself comfortably in Adrien's front pocket.

Adrien slowly opened his eyes and reverently touched the place on his cheek ladybug had kissed. Adrien's goofy smile did not waver as he made his way back to school to pick up his backpack before headed home. It wasn't until much later that Adrien could think clearly enough to continue to planning his search for his lady, "the right way".

Plagg eyed Adrien fondly from his perch on top of the fluffy pillow situated on his bed. "You do realize that this planning, scheming, and searching stuff would not be necessary if you had just opened your eyes? What does this make, the third time you could have found her? But no, you had to do the noble thing", Plagg teased affectionately as he took another bite of cheese. Adrien smiled ruefully at the cat kwami, "You said it yourself. This knight in shining leather would not have received a kiss from his fair lady otherwise. I would say it is more than worth the struggle", Adrien beamed happily as he marked off suspects one through three while vaguely wondering if it would be possible to get close enough to each girl, discreetly, to see if she smelled like vanilla the same way Ladybug did when she was de-transformed in the alley.

Adrien sighed happily as he lay down and let the memory of his ladies soft lips and sweet vanilla scent guide him to dreams of a future where he did know who she was, even if she was always just a voice that could not be seen or in her ladybug outfit. One day those dreams would be filled with the girl under the mask, Adrien just knew they would. Adrien could only dream of how wonderful life would be like with his lady perpetually by his side.

Authors Note:

I hope you have enjoyed the second installment of "A Chat's Determination". The ending scene between Marinette and Chat was inspired by MissLogophile's story I read the other day. I referenced the story in Chapter one in the Authors note there. I enjoyed writing this chapter and hopefully I have found all the oops's and other such goofs, but alas I am sure I missed something. I hope you enjoyed and stay tuned to see what our favorite Chat will do!