CH.4: Cat out of the bag
Adrien could not believe just how far Chloe would go to keep him to herself. Marinette…she had looked so hurt, and rightfully so after such harsh words. Even if Chloe was his friend she could push the envelope sometimes. Part of him felt compelled to go after Marinette but much like everyone else he just sat there. The presentations still continued though Adrien found his mind elsewhere leaving Nino with much of the duty of getting them a good grade. Marinette would eventually rejoin class though he could tell even with her strength returned…their friendship was strained.
His next class was fencing and as he parried the blows from his opponent he thought of the last time he was Cat Noir. He pondered on his inability to tell her how he felt. It was much the same with Marinette wanting to ask him to the dance. He did like Marinette…though…his heart belonged to Ladybug. It would feel wrong to fall in love with one…and leave the other in the cold.
"Your form is good…but your judgment is clouded…" He listened to the instructor as he managed to get through his guard easily enough and tapped his chest.
"Sorry…just…miles away right now and all. Girl trouble…mostly…" He took his position again and as they fought he kept picturing Marinette's face as Chloe butted in. Those eyes…they almost reminded him of…
"And that is the match…I must say whatever is eating away at you it is leaving you quite open to attack. Care talking about it?" He went to remove his protective gear letting his black hair fall about his face.
"There was this girl…innocent enough intentions who wound up hurt by words from a girl who is my friend. The thing is this girl had no right doing what she did…but I can't bring myself to say anything…cause she is my friend. This friend of mine likes me…but…I like someone else."
Adrien took off his own gear and walked over to the seat resting against the wall as he sat down. It was good getting this out in the open, plus…not like he was naming names or anything. His life was so hectic right now…he needed some clarity, some right of mind where he cannot be torn in two as he is right now.
"Adrien…it would seem the best course of action is to tell this girl you aren't into her, this friend you speak of. I will not have you give me any names…best to keep that to yourself. I realize you feel you would be letting this friend down, however, if this keeps up she will continue to get the wrong idea. I have been there…I know and trust me when I say…the longer you let it continue on…the worse it gets and there is no recovering after that."
Adrien sighed knowing he was right. Resting his head against the wall he watched the other students finishing up their fencing. Unlike him…they appeared not weighed down by the gravitas of what was real life. To a fencer one was focused on this and only this, the teaching went a steady hand led to firm thrusts and clarity…while a weak hand led to lousy defense and outright vulnerability leaving one open to attack. In battle, as he had learned…there was no hesitancy, no moment of doubt or question as it would lead to losing or getting tossed about like a rag doll. In some weird sense the lessons learned in school and life helped him out as Cat Noir.
"Thanks Mr. Reynolds I will keep that in mind. I should probably go get changed…my ride home will be here any second." Adrien bade him farewell as he headed off to the locker room. So it was settled…he'd tell Chloe he was not interested in her…simple. However the more he thought about it…the more his heart and head were conflicted.
The drive home was rather quiet and Nathalie, his father's assistant and caretaker of him when he was not around was studying some important document. Adrien was curious what it was but when he asked about it she told him that it concerned a business associate of his father's and he didn't need to concern himself about it. Adrien found that odd but decided not to question it further. Someday he would be able to drive himself places…instead of having to be driven where he wanted.
Upon arriving at his rather luxurious home he found Nino waiting for him. Nino was one of his first real friends, unlike Chloe he actually cared about other things besides herself. Nino was friendly and carefree, and he made him laugh and feel like a normal teenager. For so long he had kept him in the dark about his many disappearances…and he felt guilt over that. Nino deserved the truth.
"Ah, Nathalie, is it alright if I have Nino in my room? We have…uh…another project to work on. I want to make it up for him after spacing during our last one." Adrien unbuckled as he opened his door and looked back to see what she thought of this.
"Your father does not wish you having others in the house…however…if it is for school I don't see why this can't happen. Do not make it long though…your father should be back from his business trip shortly." Nathalie makes no move to get out of the car and Adrien seizes his chance.
"Thanks…it won't be long." He hurries over to Nino and before he can say his usual greeting he takes his hand and makes haste to the door. Opening it up he walks in and aims for the stairs with his friend not questioning things, figuring he wouldn't question the time rule.
"So bro…what is the sitch?"Nino inquires as they climb the stairs. "I get that your babysitter/caretaker doesn't want anyone in here longer than half an hour but you are acting a bit flighty of sorts."
Adrien nods his head and once they are at his room he closes the door behind them. Plagg of course is lying on his bed and he immediately freezes. "Uh…yeah…though first would you mind taking off your shoes, my father is kind of a stickler on a cleanly room."
"Oh right, forgot, germaphobe and all…got it." Nino bends down to take off his shoes and Adrien hurries over to the bed and picks up Plagg and looking around places him in his backpack.
"So…there is something I need to tell you Nino. I mean you deserve it man given how well you have handled my…disappearances of late. You might want to sit down though." Adrien could hear Plagg making a fuss about the backpack…that is until he finds the cheese and begins to munch away.
"Sure man…I got your back. If you feel you need to get something off your chest cool." Nino walks over to the bed and sits down.
Yeah, well, we'll see how you respond when I pull a cat out of my bag, literally. "So, I've been living a dual life of late Nino…been keeping me busy and scattered you could say. I should have told you sooner but…for reasons as they are…I was prompted to keep this to myself. Anyway…you might want to sit down-."
"Dude…I already am sitting down…just get on with it already. I won't freak out if that is what you are thinking." Adrien pursed his lips about to say something on that but decided to push it aside.
"Alright…though if you do freak out could you keep it quiet?' Adrien walked over to his bag and as he pulled out Plagg he saw Nino's eyes widen and he wore a coy grin.
"No way…is that thing for real?" Nino walked over and Plagg stared right at him. The two seemed to stare for quite a while.
"If you are thinking of pinching my cheeks or patting my head you got another thing coming. Adrien I thought you weren't supposed to tell anyone of my existence…or that you are Cat Noir-."
"Whoa, no way, my best friend is a superhero?" Nino did a double take, his hand half way to Plagg's face.
"He did not know that…till you told him." Adrien gave Plagg a look and the cat laughed nervously. "Listen Nino this does not go outside this room ok? My father would ground me for life if he knew I was out there risking my life, as it is some part of him still doesn't agree with the decision of letting me go to school. So, promise, bro to bro."
Nino continued staring at Plagg a bit before looking back at him. "It is a bro decision, a bro promise, no breaking it no matter what. So…does that mean I have to keep it from my girlfriend and all? I mean that would suck if it were to come out and it was revealed I knew and all. Right now she is super obsessed about finding out the identity of Ladybug…if she knew I knew who you were then she would have me question you about her-."
"I don't know who she is. Truth is the two of us always hide or run off when we are about to transform back into…us. There was a time I was tempted, ok more than once…but knowing who we are would possibly put us in even more danger in our battle against Hawk Moth. Besides, a little mystery never hurts-."
"Oh dude…you are so blushing right now, you are crushing on Ladybug!" Nino clapped his hands and Adrien rushed over placing his hand over his mouth.
"Nino…can you say that any louder, not sure Nathalie heard. Far as crush…um…I wouldn't say it was a crush…per say…" Adrien walked over to the window as he leaned against it.
"He is in love with her…big time. Do you have any camembert on you?" Plagg goes over to Nino who winds up on his back on the bed.
"Uh no…wait…is that why Adrien smells like that all the time? Dude…I get why you have to shower so often. And…love…wow man that is heavy. Though how would that even work…dating someone like her without knowing who she really is? What if her real self is dating someone, would that be alright to date her and she has to like lie to the other guy?"
"I don't know…but…I can't fight these feelings I have for her. I want to tell her how I feel…but first I have to tell Chloe how I truly do not feel about her. The dance is coming up and she is my date…do you think I should do it during the dance or after?"
"So…what are you?" Nino inquires , his eyes focused on this cat.
"I'm a cat…you aren't blind are you? In short I am a Kwami, I help Adrien here power up to be Cat Noir. My kind have been around for ages helping out stop the evil forces that threaten the world. So…how long can you stare without blinking, cause I'm pretty good at not blinking. And the name is Plagg, for future reference."
"Oh it is so on. And if you win I will give you some camembert…deal?" He could see this cat was up for the challenge and the two began to stare.
Adrien looks over and sees Nino and Plagg having a staring contest…again. Well…there went his bro in confidence. Looking back out the window he heaves a sigh. Telling Nino went a little better than he could have planned. However he still needed to deal with Chloe…and Ladybug…wherever she was. There was no putting it off any longer…he had to tell Chloe how he really felt. He just hoped she would forgive him after.
Authors note: Sorry for the delay in putting this chapter up. Anyway yeah the dance is fast approaching and as Adrien has just told Nino his secret, Marinette will also find herself going down a similar path. And what of Hawk Moth? These questions and many more will be answered next time.