Patrol
Chapter 4
Marionette looked out at Paris from atop the roof of her balcony. The cool air blowing her hair making her sigh as she had Tikki transform her into Ladybug. She swung off her roof and landed on the next one close by. Walking along the shingled roofed building and take in the lights as she jumped onto one of the chimneys and stood atop it. Once again overlooking Paris and its splendor and lights. The way each building looked and was crafted. How even the people enjoyed this wonderful city at night and looked so relaxed and happy. The wind blowing in her face made her smile sadly as she took it all in. Knowing full well what lay ahead but knowing she'd miss this. The lights and how it all looked at night and during the day. How everyone had so much expression in their eyes and face. Even the way many walked during the day or gestured had her taking it in. She was trying to memorize it all so that when the time came to where she couldn't see. It was just in her mind. It would leave her with something to look back upon. Even Chat's face was worth taking in as well as how he gestured when flirting with her.
At the thought of him, she sighed. Early Adrien found out and right after Chat had offered to be there every step of the way but he did the same thing. Either he was her partner in crime or both had the same thought process. Either way, it was sweet but it left her in a bind. One that she didn't want to be involved with Adrien but she could handle Chat. She knew him and even if it was still a stranger behind the mask, it was clear she could trust him. Sadly, even as she held her head and ran her hand and fingers through her hair, it was upsetting. Her crush moved from the blond model to her partner. The very person she probably knew very little about aside from him being a serious flirt. The wind blowing again made her thoughts scatter as did steps behind her. The only person able to reach her would either be an Akuma or Chat Noir himself. It was probably him though since an akuma would have attacked by now and taken her down.
"I usually see you so alive at night My Lady," He said to her as he jumped onto the chimney next to her. "You seem deeply worried and I won't leave until you tell me what's bothering you."
Looking away from her city and towards Chat, she saw he meant this to be a serious conversation. His crossed arms, stern yet gentle tone with a gentle stare full of worry pointed at her. It had her smile sadly and wish she could touch his cheek but she didn't. Looking away from him and holding her impulse back to do what she desired. Her silence only served to make her partner lean closer which made her step away from him as much as she could. People watching a couple as he spoke up again but was ignored. When he repeated what he said with the same worried tone, she looked at him again. Despite knowing she'd make him jump and that it would send a serious mixed signal to him. Ladybug raised her hand towards him and saw his confusion but she pulled it away.
"It's nothing Chat," She said. "I just have a lot on my mind and I just can't justify dropping it on you when I don't even know what your life outside this mask is like. It wouldn't be fair nor right for me to assume you are free to just...worry about me."
"Contrary to what you think My Lady, I always have you on my mind. It's very hard not to think about you," He said to her. "Even if I joke and flirt with you, I do mean what I am about to say. I never got to tell you what I wanted on Valentines and I hope." Chat grabbed her hand and saw her worry and confusion all over her face. "That you'll listen to me and not run away. Not when I finally have a chance to tell you."
"...if this about who I am…"
He shook his head and it made her go silent. Clearly thankful, she saw his face turn to worry and almost...fear and she guessed it was of her rejecting him. Like she'd do that but at the same time, it was hard to justify her liking him when all this and more was stressful enough on her at the moment. Dating a superhero and fooling him into thinking she was some...great person behind this mask she wore wasn't fair nor right!
"I love you Ladybug. After all these years of fighting, that hasn't changed. I really do love you and I would do anything to make you happy. Even if it means protecting you day after day from any and every attack sent your way," He said finally speaking what he wanted to speak that day. "I can't even go a day without picturing you next to me fighting crime and I always look forward to the next battle. Even if I don't know who you are or what you look like." Chat mentally stated to himself that he knew who she was but he wasn't about to tell her that.
She went to speak but instead stopped and shut her mouth. Waiting for her wasn't what he wanted yet it was all he could do. If he was right in how Marionette conversed with his superhero identity of late, then she had fallen for him. Hard, just like he had for her civilian self. It was just a bonus that she was Ladybug.
As for Marionette, she was thinking on what she heard. Chat Noir still loved her as Ladybug. Still harbored feelings but this time had matured them into a genuine feeling of love towards her. It was heartbreaking to know he loved her superhero self more than Marionette but it was expected since it was what he knew of her. It left with her with one thought. Did she tell him who she was and wait for the moment where she would be told he couldn't date a blind girl OR...would he accept that she was Ladybug? The thoughts and scenarios in her mind that played just ended in those two ways. The third option was not reveal who she was and accept Chat's feelings. Lie to him and not reveal who she was until Paris was completely safe from Hawkmoth. It was horrible and the idea made her guilt increase but it would save him so much trouble if she just lied to his face. Even if Tikki would severely disapprove of her choice of lying, she had...good enough reasons right? Protecting him from disappointment long enough to get the job done then reveal herself and let him move to another girl worth his time.
Words would never express what she was feeling and leaving Chat in the dark was clearly making him nervous. The way he kept a hold of her hand as if she would disappear. The posture and face full of nerves and fear as well as the agony of being kept waiting. It only made her smile sadly as she took her hand back and put both hands on his face. It surprise him as she finally said something and then did something that surprised him once again. What shocked him was her kissing him after he swore he heard a line but he wasn't able to concentrate. Her lips in contact with him made him pull her close and notice a bright light flash in front of his closed eyes. When he opened them, Ladybug had removed her mask to reveal Marionette before him. If she saw disappointment then it would explain why she was suddenly off the chimney and walking away. Before she could get far, he jumped over her and blocked her path. Grabbin her hands and making her worry grow as he then pulled her close with a smile.
Marionette didn't pull away but Tikki got between them and scolded him. It only stopped when he ignored the kwami and looked back at his lady. She was waiting and he wasn't sure for what. The worry he saw, the fear in her face and eyes and how stiff she felt made him realize he had yet to let her know what he was doing and what he was thinking. How he could console her after she took a brave step and let him know who she was while accepting his feelings with her thoughts full of school and other issues. It was amazing that she took this step and he finally understood what she meant earlier. He wasn't though and he could pretend the reveal was dramatic when he already knew earlier. Now the question was, did he let her know? Did he reveal who he was to his lady with hopes it wouldn't backfire on him? To Marionette, he was untouchable as both Chat and Adrien. Outside the mask, he was a rich model with an evil father. With the mask, he was a hero to all of Paris. It would explain her reluctance to date him and her desire to not wait or put pressure on him.
"Chat, whatever is on your mind, I'd...kinda like to know," Marionette said. "I'm sorry if I disappointed you but I can't fix it if I don't know what you are thinking and staying quiet isn't helping me at all."
This was stupid. Course Chat would hold her against her will and stare at her. Course he'd make sure he soak in who his lady was. Why did she release her transformation!? Why did she think he'd just accept who she really was? He was a hero who fell for a heroine! Now the illusion of her being some...brave, strong and smart woman was ruined by her stupidity! He was probably judging her and making some cat pun to show her how stupid he thought she was! The idea he liked her or would even like her now was too ignorant of her to think about. The most she could hope for was him letting her go and groan as he walked away from her. Jumping away and leaving her alone to her own despair. Tikki wasn't helping either and it only made her want to leave even more. Her hands were released but the silent cat only moved his hand to her face which made her jump and look away. It was coming. The rejection and him stating some insult was on its way. All she could was close her eyes and wait for it.
"Good thing I got to know you," His words said making her open her eyes and see him smiling at her. "I never thought you were this close to me but guessed wrong."
She went to speak but was stopped as Chat released his own transformation and revealed Adrien holding her. It made her cover her mouth as he kept her in his arms. Adrien was Chat? She guessed right? It was a stupid hunch since neither of the two were alike at all. One was some...serious flirt who enjoyed the battles and time with her to his extent while shielding her from harm. The other was a friend of hers who she used to crush on. In reality, she never got over him. Marionette just fell for his superhero self while he had started to pursue her outside of being Ladybug! The shock in her faded but it made her smile sadly and cover her face. Letting herself absorb this all in. This meant Hawkmoth, Chat Noir's sworn enemy was also Adrien's father. The very man she told Adrien to be there for was their number one enemy. It must be tough to have to battle one's own parent but somehow he was managing it.
"You went...silent. Did I disappoint you?" Adrien's voice asked her.
Marionette saw his face and it was..an array of emotions. Worry, fear, rejection that shouldn't be there, the confusion as to what she was thinking or feeling and the clear idea that instead of her being afraid of what he thought. It was him afraid of what she thought. A rich pretty boy playing superhero with a crush on someone who in his eyes would never be in his league either due to the status of his life, his dad being a villain or how he was in general. It probably didn't help that she told him they could be friends since someone impossible to reach had her heart. Sighing, she once again touched his face gently. Seeing him stare at her even more and waiting patiently. It just confirmed that she really would miss seeing the world around her but her memory was good and she couldn't forget a moment like this. Even if she tried, it would just be burned into her memory. Her thoughts made her realize that he was still waiting and this action of her touching just wasn't going to cut it for him now that both knew how the other felt and how the other was probably panicking.
"I guess...we both are ignorant at times. I fell for you then for your hero form. You fell for me as ladybug. We both were pretty stupid to not realize," She said making him laugh nervously. "Yet here we are. Four years later and finally revealing it to each other."
"Yeah," He said, nervous. "So you aren't…"
"No," Marionette said to him, shaking her head gently. "It should be you disappointed. Your lady is going blind Adrien. Something unavoidable and yet you love me despite this. Not to mention, your dad is Hawkmoth. You have so much going on. Is it...really right that I add to your pile amongst graduation, your dad and your superhero life?"
He didn't reply to her question but both heard a scream and looked to see someone got turned into a stone version of the hulk and was throwing cars and destroying houses. Both looked from it to one another and transformed into their hero selves. Chat still holding her with one arm with everyone running and dodging the items thrown at them.
"We have a tough one ahead of us," Adrien said keeping her close. "You gonna be okay after this?"
"So long as my eyes don't hurt me after, I should be...decent," Marionette told him. "Just don't panic on me if I suddenly hold my head. My eyes physically hurt me right now."
"No worries My Lady but no promises about the panic," He grinned letting go of her. "And I did mean it when I said that I'd be here. Every step of the way." He took her hand and kissed it.
"I know you will but let's focus on the akuma and then on finding a way to save your dad okay?"
