Chapter 3

"Chat Noir seems very angry with you," said Tom. "That's why I got akumatized. I was scared for you."

"Honey, we're concerned," said Sabine. "Chat Noir said, 'after all we've been through' and you said, 'don't go there' – how intimate have you gotten with him?"

"We haven't, at all. Just a hug and a hello kiss tonight. Nothing more," said Marinette.

(She was fibbing, not saying anything about the kiss as Ladybug to save him from Dark Cupid's control, but that was entirely different.)

"He can get to your balcony at night," said Sabine. "Has he been in your room?"

"No! Well... twice, but it was superhero business. He and Ladybug came to the house when Troublemaker attacked. I heard them fighting when I locked myself in the bathroom. They were all over the upper part of the house. They had to be, because that's where the villain was."

"I'm glad they did," said Sabine. "We really needed help."

"What was the other time?" asked Tom.

"Once Alya and I were on the subway, going to see a movie. The Puppeteer took control of Alya and turned her into Lady WiFi again. She threatened me for my Ladybug, Chat Noir, and akuma villain dolls. I told her I didn't have them on me – they were at home. She left to go get them.

"Chat Noir came investigating a few minutes later. I warned him that the Puppeteer wanted my dolls to control people, and that they were in my room. I gave him our address. I'm pretty sure he and Ladybug went there to protect the puppets. Some were taken anyway, but at least they saved the Ladybug one. If the Puppeteer had gotten control of Ladybug it would have been all over."

Tom said, "Good for you. You did your duty as a citizen."

"There has to have been more between you and Chat Noir," said Sabine.

"Well... he saved my on my birthday when Nona Gina turned into the Befana and wanted to turn me to coal. He carried me away and found a hiding place for me at the Eiffel Tower. He helped me escape when Max, the Gamer, was chasing me.

"Chat also saved me when Evillustrator had a crush on me and demanded I go to his birthday party on a boat he had stolen."

"It was terribly risky to go somewhere with an akuma victim," said Sabine.

"It would also be risky to refuse to go," said Marinette. "By going, I was able to help Chat Noir. He nearly defeated the villain quickly when I got his drawing pencil away."

"You took his pencil?" asked Tom. "Did that stop him?"

"Well, Evillustrator got it back. He trapped us under a box and tried to sink the boat we were on. But Chat got us out with his expanding staff. After that, I went home."

"I think you were reckless to grab a villain's weapon like that. Where was Ladybug?" asked Sabine.

"I don't know their whole plan, but I think she was watching Chloé in case Evillustrator attacked her at her home. That's where they finally stopped him."

"Marinette! That was so dangerous! Anything could have happened to you," said Tom.

"Things have happened to me, but they've always gotten fixed by the Miraculous cure. I was turned into a mummy at the Louvre, a knight at City Hall, a copy of Reflekta at school, and a kissing zombie, also at school."

"That school is so dangerous," said Sabine. "So many akumas. We ought to transfer you somewhere else."

"We're doing all right. We have akuma drills and we're prepared. All my friends are there. Everywhere in Paris is dangerous... even here at home."

"I'm so sorry about today," said Tom.

"It's not your fault, Dad," said Marinette. "It's all on Hawk Moth."

"So far, there's nothing you've told us about that Chat Noir wouldn't do for any civilian," said Sabine. "I think he meant something more when he said there was something between you."

"Chat Noir visited on my balcony once. He invited me to another rooftop, not far away. He had set up a romantic picnic spot for Ladybug, but she didn't make it, so he shared it with me. We talked and cheered each other up. Then Glaciator came after me – I didn't believe André when he said his ice cream was magic and it would make my sweetheart appear if I ate it. Chat carried me home to safety and then he and Ladybug fought Glaciator."

"Letting a boy take you away from home without anyone knowing is poor judgment," said Sabine. "Just because a boy is a superhero doesn't mean he's safe."

"Nothing happened," said Marinette. "Chat Noir was a perfect gentleman. I trust him with my life."

"It's no wonder he moved on from Ladybug and got interested in you," said Tom.

"You told him that you loved him," said Sabine. "He told me he thinks it's a lie."

"Last night I got carried away in the moment. I had just seen the huge battle where they saved the bakery from the giant baby."

"Where you could have been smashed by a giant doughnut!" said Tom. "I was so worried about you!"

"I went up to the roof to watch. I had space to dodge there. I would have been hurt worse if I stayed in my room... and Ladybug would have healed me if I was."

"You shouldn't take risks relying on her cure," said Tom. "Ladybug could get killed in battle, or get her Miraculous taken, and not be able to fix anything."

"You were about to tell us about the hug," said Sabine.

"When Chat came up I was so excited that I hugged him and told him I loved him. Later I regretted saying that," said Marinette.

"You're absolutely allowed to change your mind," said Sabine. "You had a fangirl crush. Chat Noir took it too seriously and got hurt, but you don't have to force yourself to be in a relationship just because someone will be unhappy if you don't."

"But I'm disappointed in you for the risks you're been taking," said Tom. "This has to stop."

"I don't like that Chat Noir has easy access to your room," said Sabine. "We need to lock your skylight and set an alarm on it at night."

"And put bars on the windows so he can't get in that way," said Tom.

"Please don't do that!" said Marinette, suddenly worried about how she could get to an akuma attack. The rooftop had made things so easy for her as Ladybug.

"We need to keep you safe," said Sabine. "We could trade bedrooms with you instead."

"There aren't enough windows down there," said Marinette. "I need light to do my fashion work. This bedroom is my studio."

"You need to realize you've broken our trust with all this sneaking around," said Tom. "I didn't think we needed to worry about you taking huge risks with boys when you're only fourteen. You've proven us wrong."

"You need to earn our trust again," said Sabine.

"And promise to stay away from Chat Noir from now on," said Tom. "I didn't like that today, when you tried to tell him no, and he got angry."

"This is a dysfunctional relationship, darling," said Sabine. "Almost abusive. It has to stop."

"Please don't do this. I feel like I'm being locked up in the ball of rose vines again!" said Marinette.

"This was a big wake-up call for us, sweetheart," said Tom.

"Things need to change for you to rebuild trust with us. Think about it and try to come up with a plan we can all agree on," said Sabine.

"We're doing this for your own good," said Tom. "We'll leave you to think about it."

They withdrew down the stairs. Marinette collapsed on her chaise lounge and began to cry.