Chapter Four: A New Ally?
Chat had been outside looking for clues for hours and he still hadn't found a single thing that might lead him to Ladybug or the woman that attacked them that day. His side was beginning to pain him once more and with sunrise gaining on them, he knew he had to give up for the moment. After all, Chat Noir and Ladybug were supposed to be missing and Adrian Agreste would soon be found to be gone as well. Things were truly becoming quite the mess. Making his way back to the rooftop where he left his duffle bag, Adrian pulled off his ring and leaned his back against the walled edge. Once he was himself again, the pain got a lot worse and he started to see a bit of blood seeping through his shirt.
"You are really pushing it, kid," sighed Plagg as the Kwami shot into his bag to rummage for more wrapping.
"It's not like I can simply sit around and do nothing. Murders all over Paris, Ladybug is nowhere to be found, and the last time I saw her, she was saving me from a crazed psychopath. I have to know that she's safe…"
Plagg listened to Adrian silently, dragging Adriens extra clothes from the bag. "Well…" he began, placing the shirt on his partners lap, "…you can't stay in that hospital gown all day long. We need to rewrap your wound too."
Adrien nodded, a little embarrassed to be changing clothes on an open rooftop, but he didn't have the luxury of privacy anymore. No money, no shelter, he would have to make it on his own until he found Ladybug. It took a little longer to change than he would have liked with his injuries and all, but once he was done, he lifted his clean shirt a bit, allowing Plagg to remove the old bandages and fly around him to wrap the new ones.
"So, what now?" asked Plagg once he had finished.
"We go to Marinettes house. We need to confirm that she is there and that she's safe. For all we know, she could be hiding from that woman in plain sight," answered Adrien as he leaned back against the concrete once more to rest.
"Do you really think she is there? All these people being murdered and you think Ladybug is just hiding? That doesn't sound like her."
Adrien didn't respond. He just shut his eyes and took a deep breath. Plagg was right. That wasn't like her. Ladybug would never stand by while others got hurt. She never had before. No matter what the danger might have been. Still, he did hope she was hiding. It was selfish, but Adrien wanted her to be safe. It was a long shot that Marinette was home and simply living daily life, but it was the only shot that they had right now. They didn't have any other leads.
"Adrien!" Plagg shouted in a panic, causing the young man's eyes to burst open.
Standing in front of them was a young woman with hazelnut hair, tied back into a braid. She wore a simple white sundress, her large blue eyes almost covered by the shade of her sunhat. The stranger appeared to be older than he was, but not by too much and she didn't seem alarmed by the wounded young man and his cat-like Kwami.
Adrien didn't want to arouse suspicion yet. He was supposed to be in hiding. This girl was probably a tenant of the building and came out for some air. Plagg quickly hid himself behind Adrien and the young model lowered his head to try and hide his face. He wasn't exactly an unknown student in Paris. His face was on posters and magazines everywhere you looked. He hoped that if he said nothing and pretended to be relaxing in the sunrise, that the young woman would simply take him for a tenant of the building as well and leave him be.
"Are you okay?" the woman asked as she stepped closer to him.
He panicked a little, but refused to look up at her, though he could clearly hear her footsteps edge towards him.
"I'm fine," he said in a low voice, trying to disguise it a bit.
The woman didn't say anything and it was quiet for so long, that he thought she gave up and left, but he didn't hear any more footsteps. He finally dared to glance up to check, only to find that the woman's face was only inches from his own, staring at him with curious eyes.
"Wh-Wha-?!" Adrien exclaimed in surprise, almost hitting his head against the wall as he pulled back.
"You are not at all what I expected," the woman began, an amused smile lacing her lips now, "but if you were chosen, it was for a reason. Plagg, you can come out now."
Both Plagg and Adrien stayed perfectly still. First, Adrien listened carefully to the woman's voice. It didn't sound anything like the woman that attacked them that night. So at least that was something. Still, he had no idea if he could trust her.
"Who are you?" Adrien asked seriously now, bringing his hand to his back and signaling Plagg not to come out just yet.
The girl seemed to realize something and without a word, she stood up, pat herself down, and removed her hat to properly show her face.
"My name is Maria…and I came here to help you find your friend, Chat Noir."
A/N: I'm so sorry that this chapter is so short, but the next will be longer.
I should also apologize for being away for so long. Without going into too much detail, I'll just say it was a family/medical matter. It took a long time for me to get back to my daily routine, but everything is okay now and I'll be able to write again. So I hope that you will all continue to follow my story and hopefully find our sweet Ladybug together.