*~Chapter Eight~*

With a rustle of fabric, Phoenix Nuit hopped out of the window, turned and sunk her claws into the pale golden walls of the Agreste manor. She scaled up the wall, rising to stand on the roof. Her tail sweeping gracefully around her ankles, Phoenix turned and peered out to Paris, lovely and bright. The surrounding streets empty with Parisians going on with their life. Almost like it didn't have a care in the world. Settings her hands on her hips, Phoenix didn't move. She stood still, she breathed in, and closed her eyes.

For a time she just stayed there, breathing, listening to her city.

It had lived on.

It was still thriving.

It was still Paris.

It was still home.

Phoenix stretched, reaching her hands skyward, the flaps on her back echoing her movement though not quite growing out to be wings. Her tail also echoed her, rising up and spreading out slightly, showing off the lovely shade of blue with reddish pink eye spots on the ends. Bones chirped and clicked as they popped back into place, Phoenix humming in enjoyment of the stretch.

It was a good idea Duusu had. To stretch her wings, to get use to flying.

This was a good time too, most Parisians at work or school.

Not too many would notice her. She could fly undisturbed.

And if she was, well—

Phoenix faltered when there was a sudden gust, smacking dark hair into her face. She moved it aside, a nostalgic smile on her lips.

She missed this.

She withdrew from the edge, pausing a little, letting the wind blow and tug at her. Phoenix wiggled, her tail rattling in echo of the small dance. She raced forward, jumping off the building. The flaps on her back grew, extending into great wings. For a moment, she was weightless in the air, reaching forward, just floating above the world, untouchable.

Gravity pulled her down and she went with it, falling into a habit. She turned to throw her arm out, send off a yo-yo she expected to be there.

There was no yo-yo, and she didn't grab anything.

A surprised fear shot through Phoenix as she fell down, fabric rustled against the howling air.

With a squawk and a clumsy flap, Phoenix saved herself from the fall and slowly straightened, going higher into the sky, till Paris looked like a canvas at her feet.

Phoenix breathed hard, staring down at the city, her heart pounding from the fright.

It was ok.

She was ok.

She wasn't Ladybug.

She didn't need her yo-yo.

She was Phoenix Nuit.

She had wings.

Real wings.

She could truly fly now.

Phoenix released a breath, closing her eyes and letting the large wings wrap around her. She dropped again, going with the fall, taking in how her loose hair whipped and swung about, smacking her as she fell.

Her eyes snapped open and she twisted, spreading her wings and soaring over the streets. She tested her speed in the air, pushing herself to go faster, to move, let the adrenaline run in her veins.

She flinched every time her wings hit a building, jostling her flight, unused to these extensions. She kept going despite the fumbles, kept flying, kept moving and learning, getting used to these new wings and this new way of travel. She dove down, flying over the Seine, watching the water break and ripple under her, letting the tips of her wings cut and skim through the surface.

With a great flap, scattering drops of water, Phoenix flew up coming down to rest at Notre Dame. Her wings shrunk down to flaps, Phoenix relaxing as she slowly drew near the wall, coming to sit and lean on Notre Dame. She sighed, staring out, her blue eyes settling on her old home. She took it in, the different logo, the steady flow of customers coming in and out. She could just picture what was going on inside, Papa cooking in the back and probably covered in flour, her Maman greeting customers, getting them their orders with a kind smile, her grey eyes bright.

Phoenix took a shuddering breath and pulled up her knees, wrapping her arms around them. The flaps grew once again into wings, and curled around her, blanketing her.

She shouldn't do this, Phoenix knows.

This, this wasn't her home anymore.

She shouldn't be coming back, she was just hurting herself.

Yet she found she couldn't.

As her body hunched up, her gaze was locked on the bakery a fact rang through her head. A solid truth.

She missed home.


Adrien breathed in as he slipped into the bakery, humming happily as he was greeted by the most delicious of smells. Bread, cakes, cookies, brownies, candies… so many mouth watering delights. He licked his lips, unable to help himself and eye all the divine treats they had.

Maybe he could see if he could sneak a treat.

It has been a while since he had a pastry, aside from cookies Marinette had made, it should be fine. His father was fine letting him have a dessert once in awhile. It should be ok. Plus he didn't know Adrien had cookies. He could probably get away with this.

Adrien found himself drawing near the cookies. Curious about them and just how similar they were to Marinette's.

They did look a lot like Marinette's. Perfect in shape, even in chocolate chips, no cracks or break in the cookie, perfectly held together.

According to Nino, these tasted a lot like Marinette's.

Plagg wiggled under his white jacket, peeking out to eye the cookies. He made a face. To Adrien, he pushed, "Why don't we get something cheesy instead. The cheese here smells good!"

"Later," Adrien said.

"How much later?" Plagg whined.

"Later, later."

The kwami pouted at him. Just as Plagg moved to whine and grumble about Adrien never treating him to cheesy pastries, he ducked out of sight as a voice called out.

"Hello, how can I help you today?"

Adrien turned, seeing a woman peering at him with a kind smile on her lips. Adrien blinked, looking her over. She had physical similarities to Marinette. He tilted his head, curious at the possibility that she was related to Marinette. Marinette herself didn't mention parents, and certainly didn't provide Adrien a last name. Maybe she was related to the Dupain-Chengs though. It looked like she could be.

Smiling, Adrien drew near, starting off, "Um hi, maybe you can? I was wondering if you possibly know anyone named Marinette?"

The woman gave a start, looking very alarmed at the name.

Adrien tensed at the flash of pain in her grey eyes, regret going through him as he watched her turn and glance back at her husband, checking to make sure he hadn't heard. With a soft sigh, she gently told him, "I'm sorry to say that the only Marinette I know was going to be my daughter. Or my son Orane…" She trailed, looking down and setting a hand on her stomach gently, trying not to think about that night long ago, the pain, the blood…

It was too much for both her and Tom to even think of trying again.

She looked back up, smiling slightly. She offered, "It's a beautiful name, isn't it?"

Shakily, Adrien answered, "It, it is." He rubbed the back of his neck. As Adrien moved to offer an apology, the woman spoke up.

"Is there anything you would like Sweetie?"

He offered her a small, sheepish smile. "A cheese danish please?"

He could feel Plagg dancing under his jacket.

Adrien headed outside, struggling to keep Plagg under his jacket and diving for the goodie in the bag. "At least wait till we're somewhere private," Adrien scolded.

Then froze, looking up to Notre Dame, blinking at the bit of blue against the building. "Plagg," he uttered.

The kwami paused. Then wiggled out and looked out, ears perked up.

Duusu was active.

"I think that's Blue right there," Adrien murmured.

Deeming that she wasn't a threat sitting there on Notre Dame, Plagg went back to his priorities. "Good for Blue, nice to see her out and about. Now how about that cheese dani—"

The kwmai groaned as Adrien ran off, watching fretfully as his holder swung the bag about, no doubt bruising up his cheesy treat.

It was so horrific.

As Adrien stopped, Plagg dove for the bag, intent to get that danish before the coming transformation.

"Claws out!"

Plagg wailed as he was sucked into the ring, and Chat jumped up, heading for Notre Dame with his ears perked up, listening for any movement from Blue.

This was his chance.

His chance to talk to Blue.

See if she was a hero.

And he would have a chance before Masque Ruse and Andrena show up.

Scaling up Notre Dame, Chat paused from where he was crouched above Blue, looking her over. Loose dark hair that gleamed blue in the in light hung over her shoulders, great wings with unnerving eyespots were wrapped around her frame like a blanket, and she had curving peacock like tail spread on the ground beside her.

On the surface, she did look a little unnerving.

But on by posture, she looked so small. Kind of… sad.

If anything, he felt inclined to hop down and wrap her up in a hug than be on guard with her.

She didn't seem like a dangerous villain at all.

Intrigued, he drew near, cautious and curious. As he watched her, he scrambled to think of what he could say, how to greet her without scaring her. Hiding away from them, Blue had to be wary in approaching them. Last thing Chat wanted to do was confirm that she had a reason to be nervous. He had to be careful in his approach, make it clear he's a friend.

Unfortunately for Chat, a pigeon flew high above him, losing a feather. A feather that danced in the air like a free performer as it drifted down, carefree and graceful. It made one wild dive down right by the cat hero's head.

Chat sneezed.

He jumped when Blue jumped up and whipped towards him, her tail spreading out in an large display, wings stretched out defensively.

Chat froze, eyes locked onto the red eyespots that glared at him, the tail shaking a little and making those spots move in an unnerving display. Instinctively he wanted to back away from those eyes, uneasy with how big Blue seemed facing him.

Those feathers stilled, and a low voice drew Chat's gaze down. "Chat Noir…"

Blue stared at him, expression frozen, her posture stiff with surprise and awe.

Chat peered back down, equally alert and alarmed.

She, she almost looked scared...

Why would she be scared?

She looked like she didn't know what to do and just stood frozen, her tail fanned out, blue eyes that were bright against a black sclera were locked on him. Eyes that were both lovely and unnerving.

He blinked when she moved, a small twitch to rise, to relax.

Chat cleared his throat, reaching up and rubbing the back of his neck. "H-hi!" he greeted, offering her a small wave. He paused when she flinched, something akin to a watery smile spreading over her lips. She gave him a shaky nod back, straightening up and shrinking down before Chat. The tail dropped down and curled up, going small and hanging behind her. The wings didn't shrink, instead they wrapped around Blue, almost like a blanket.

It was like she was still scared. Still unsteady.

He had to careful in his approach.

Chat cautiously dropped down, making sure his claws were up where she could see him, that he was posing no threat to her.

Kindly, he asked with a big grin, "So, new to Paris?"

She nodded again, not breathing another word.

He continued, "So, I'm Chat Noir! The coolest cat around! Which you already know…" he trailed, his tail curling sheepishly. He flashed her a quick glance.

Still no response.

His ears went down at the lack of response, unsure what to do.

He intended for things to go much smoother than this... He wasn't expecting an awkward wall. A wall he didn't know how to get past. How get things to run smoothly.

She shifted before him, also unsure of what to do or say. Chat noticed that she wasn't looking at him, instead she looked to Paris, gripping her wings like a shy child.

Chat fumbled, joining her in looking over Paris, scrambling on what to say or do. At least they weren't fighting, Chat noted positively. That was one step in the right direction.

He turned when she shifted, meeting her strange eyes, blinking at the shift in her posture. Gone was the shyness, seriousness and determination replaced it. A sharp gaze stayed locked on him, taking him in and leaving Chat feeling like someone was peering right into his soul. In a firm, resolute tone she uttered, "Chat Noir."

He instinctively straightened, peering down at her, ears perked up and at attention.

She breathed and held out her hand, her wings shrinking down to small flaps hanging at her back. "I am Phoenix Nuit," she told him, "I'm here to help you, Andrena, and Masque Ruse with Hawkmoth. I'm here to help you win."

Chat gaped.

This was another hero.

He was right.

He was right!

He grinned broadly, eagerly accepting her hand. "I'm looking forward to working with you Phoenix Nuit! Happy to have you on the team! Well, sort of? We don't really have much of a team—"

"I know," she said, quickly withdrawing from him, hugging herself. Again her wings grew and wrapped around her. The wall was back. "But, believe me. That, that's going to change."

"Change," he repeated curiously.

He jumped when the school bell sounded, turning to it in alarm.

Lunch was over!

Phoenix flashed him an amused, nostalgic smile. Like she knew why he was so tense and alarmed. She promised, "We'll meet again."

He turned and blinked at her, surprised. He gave her a warm smile. Before he could reply, she teased, "You're going to be late Chat."

He flinched, gave her a salute, and jumped away, racing towards the school.

Phoenix stared after him, not moving till he was out of sight.

Her legs shook under her and she collapsed, trembling slightly as she hugged herself.

It was him.

It was still him.

Adrien was still Chat.

Her Chat.

Her Adrien…

She curled up, letting her wings wrap around her, hide her away from the world.

Just a minute.

That's what she needed.

Or so she told herself.


Chloe was quick to note that Adrien seemed especially… twitchy after he came in from lunch. And spacey. He was barely paying attention to anyone, was constantly looking out the window, as if he was searching the sky. He was tapping foot, ready to go and move and do what Chloe wasn't sure at all.

He seemed curious and excited. That was for sure.

About what, she just didn't know.

In physics, she got found out, noting that Adrien was reading up phoenixes on his tablet whenever Mendeleiev was turned away.

Why he would was completely beyond Chloe.

Of all myths she can agree that phoenixes were lovely and inspiring. Her favorite place to have sushi had a lot of phoenix themes in their design, usually portrayed as golden flaming peacocks. Or something akin to peacocks.

They certainly matched Chloe's style and elegance enough that she could appreciate the mythical bird.

But, to her knowledge, Adrien has never showed an interest in the phoenix before. Why now was strange.

Even stranger that he wouldn't tell her when she asked.

She could hear the shaky lie from him as he told her, "Oh uh, there was a really cool phoenix in an anime I was watching."

She let it go since Adrien did like to go through phases. And studying Chinese, he did like to dabble into the culture and mythology.

Him looking into phoenixes was probably just the latest phase.

Besides, there was something more intriguing for Chloe to look into.

The mysterious Marinette, allowed into the Agreste home, getting away with making cookies which was always a big no no in that household. Once a few months Chloe knows that's when cookies were allowed.

To be able to get away with making so many, a pupil of Gabriel's; that was curious.

"You're probably overthinking it," Trixx voiced from where she sat on Chloe's couch, stretching out in the sun. "What does it matter if there's a pupil who got away with making cookies?"

"It is odd," Chloe insisted. "If one of his pupils made that many cookies in his home, he would have fired them a long time ago!"

"Maybe this Marinette is good at designing and he doesn't want to let her go?" Trixx offered, sitting up. "Perhaps Gabriel really likes her and is willing to tolerate this."

"And she's allowed to live in the same building as Adrien," Chloe added, pacing near and glancing at the blue sky, debating when she should go. "That's never happened before. Gabriel doesn't like strangers in his home. And what if Adrien winds up liking her?"

"He's a kit that likes everyone," Trixx reminded.

"And he's naive and doesn't know how the world works!" Chloe huffed, setting a hand on her chest. "I do. And I'm not going to let strange girl come and tempt my Adrien with cookies!"

"Possessive," Trixx tutted.

"My friends are my friends."

Trixx hummed and advised, "It's good to hold your friends close, but you should be careful with how closely you hold them. You can easily become a constricting vine."

Chloe gave Trixx a flat stare. "I am not in the mood for you proverbs."

"It seems no one ever is," Trixx shrugged, unbothered.

Growling, Chloe prowled towards her balcony, peering out and searching the skies.

Yesterday, she didn't find the new miraculous user. She wasn't active at all. Nowhere to be found. And to make matters more irritating, Andrena was able to land a sting on Masque Ruse, revenge for the "stunt" she pulled earlier.

And of course, before Ruse could return the favor, Andrena disappeared.

It was becoming quite a pile of irritation for Chloe lately. But, one thing at a time. Chloe was as clever as she was beautiful. And patient. She can be patient. It was key from what she learned from her Daddy. To wait for an opening with her opponents, and when their guard was down, go in for the kill.

She'll take on what she can.

An estrange miraculous user.

A stubborn bee that doesn't know when to be quiet.

And a mysterious girl that was suddenly in Adrien's life, a girl that Gabriel Agreste liked enough to let her live in his home and bake a lot of cookies in with no punishment.

The last issue was the easiest to solve.

And by night, Masque Ruse will be hunting.

She'll check out and judge this girl herself.

Just no one could be Adrien's friend, even Nino Chloe could barely tolerate and only allowed because Adrien insisted, locked on having the boy as a friend. This Marinette though, another girl; Chloe wasn't willing for any sort of chance.


Marinette twisted and turned in the bed sheets, trying to will herself to be still, to go to sleep. Her body ached for it, her eyes were heavy, her mind slow and foggy. She wanted to sleep. To rest.

Yet her body was twitchy, it felt invigorated with energy.

She felt compelled to move despite her exhaustion, to act, to do something. To be busy.

And Chat.

Adrein.

He kept popping into her thoughts, wandering through the haze that settled in her head.

He was still Chat.

The statement kept ringing in her head.

She knows her partner anywhere, and she knows who he is.

That was Adrien seeking her out.

That was Adrien seeking to befriend her.

Adrien once again wary to approach, nervous to scare her and he shouldn't have too, he was her partner and their interactions should be easy and warm and…

Marinette smeared her face against the pillow, feeling a frustrated sting in her eyes.

It shouldn't be like this.

She didn't want it like this.

She didn't want to be so unsteady every time she saw him.

Adrien.

Chat.

Her partner.

She squished her face into the pillow, curling up into a tight ball, exhausted, aching, and irked. She felt Duusu roll around, her tail tickling Marinette's neck, the kwami mumbling in her sleep. Marientte peeked out over her pillow, staring at her dark room, painted in a blue hue of the night. She nestled her pillow, trying to tempt herself to sleep, to rest, to fall into a world of oblivion. Join her kwami in a state of dormancy.

Seconds ticked on.

Minutes dragged by.

Marinette opened her eyes, feeling an itch in the corner of them.

Nothing.

No sleep to draw her in tonight.

Sighing, she slid out of bed and went to her vanity, opening her sketchbook to a random page. Grabbing her pencil, she moved to draw. But as the point touched the paper, it didn't move.

Nothing came.

No spark.

No motivation.

No inspiration.

The nostalgic want was there. Marinette could feel it in her fingers, ready to draw again.

But nothing was coming.

No push to move the pencil, to make lines, to draw out and design.

She set the pencil down, frowning.

She wanted to do something, but what?

There was nothing she felt she truly wanted to do.

She didn't want to draw.

She didn't want to bake.

She left her room, moving silently down the hall, heading for the foyer, her thoughts a whirl, her body just wanting to move. She looked across the foyer, towards Adrien's room, set at the top of the staircase. So close to her. Just right there.

It'd be easy.

Go down the steps.

Go back up.

Stop at his door.

Knock.

Crumble onto him when he answered, hold him tight, feel the rise and fall of his chest as he breathed, hear his heart drum in her ears, and feel warm arms wrap around her. Hold her. Hear his voice above her and a gentle nuzzle on top of her head.

How easy it would be to do so.

To ask for comfort, to receive comfort and...

Marinette blinked, her knuckles on the door, ready to knock.

She withdrew, gripping her fist hand, shoulders going up.

What was she doing?

She wasn't think.

She, as much as she wanted too she couldn't...

When her eyes started to sting and her body tilted and wobbled, she hurried went down the steps and sped into another room with a couch. She jumped to it, curling up and nestling against it, trying to hide in the soft fabric. For a few minutes she just laid there, curled up and hugging herself, just breathing, letting the ache slowly fade. When she felt she was able, she shakily stood and stumbled her way out.

She was still too restless to retire.

She looked up to the Agreste family portrait; a depressing painting of Gabriel and Adrien. Neither looking towards the viewer, both looking off into different directions. Adrien with a clear slump in his shoulders. Gabriel looking poised and resolute, though there was a clear exhaustion in his eyes. Both Agrestes had a dull tone in their eyes.

She peered at it, considering it.

Thinking it over, the few days she's been here, she has yet to see either of them interact.

Has yet to see them talk.

She was aware that Adrien had issues with his father.

But the exact extent...

Marinette rubbed her arm, heart going out to the two. An instinct sparked in her, a want to help smooth relations, see them as family. She knows she seen a picture of them as a family, a portrait of them when Adrien's mother was still with them.

It couldn't be impossible to be a family again. And losing her own... She could at least help these two be a family again before she...

"A very lovely painting, isn't it?"

Marinette tensed at the sound of Adrien's voice, seeing him coming down the steps in her peripheral vision. She kept her gaze locked on the painting, not trusting herself to face him.

Breath.

Just breath.

It was Adrien.

Her partner.

Her best friend.

Her love…

Marientte took a shuddering breath.

"Though, it is also quite dramatic" Adrien declared as he stopped next to her, eyeing the sad painting with her.

Marinette shook her head, careful to not look back to him.

Adrien hummed. "I wonder if I should be surprised."

Marinette blinked, frowning slightly at the soft sneer. She faced Adrien, taking the snobby look that countered the soft smile. A look that said he wasn't impressed with what he saw. A look that showed that she was still very much a stranger to him.

Like this was his first meeting with her.

She narrowed her eyes, drawing away from him, wishing Duusu was here.

This though, this was familiar.

This seemed to be a trend, too arrogant and proud to truly be deceitful.

It was concerning to Marinette how similar Masque Ruse seemed to be to Volpina.

She firmly asked, "What do you want, Masque Ruse?"

"Adrien" blinked in surprise, gaping at Marinette. He narrowed his eyes as an orange smoke fell away from him and there was Masque Ruse standing before Marinette, eyeing her with glowing blue eyes, her arms crossed, ears down. "You saw through my illusion," she uttered lowly.

"What do you want?" Marinette demanded, ignoring the statement.

"How did you see through my illusion?" Ruse pushed, eyes narrowing as she bared her teeth.

Too tired for this, Marinette said, "It seems foxes are too proud to be clever in their deception."

Ruse's ears perked at foxes.

Foxes as in more than one.

She narrowed her eyes, tensing. "You know another fox?"

"What do you want Masque Ruse?" Marinette pushed, rubbing her face, feeling it throb. She was truly drained now.

"I wanted to check you out," Ruse confessed. "To see you."

Marinette tensed, more awake now. Technically, Masque Ruse had no reason to look into her. She was just a random girl that shouldn't be on this fox's radar at all. If there was anyone Masque Ruse should be looking into it was Phoe...

Marinette glanced at the fox hero, wary.

Did she possibly suspect?

How, how could she find out?

There was no way.

There was no connection.

Phoenix Nuit has only been active twice and no one really knew that Marinette was living here.

How could Masque Ruse find her out?

Marinette glanced to the necklace, heart pounding.

She wished Duusu was here. Transformed she had protection if Masque Ruse attacked her.

But she wasn't and Marinette was on her own.

Perhaps if Ruse did move to attack, she could take the miraculous, tug it off her neck and force the transformation to drop. She had to be fast. She was not going to let a fox get in her way, to stop her and take her miraculous away.

She lost too much and gave up so much to be here as Phoenix Nuit, she wasn't going to miss a chance to be face Hawkmoth.

"I find it very curious," Ruse brought up, watching Marinette tense up, "that the King of Fashion, Gabriel Agreste, took you in."

Marinette physically slumped, much to the surprise of the fox.

It was just that.

No suspicion of her being Phoenix Nuit.

Ok.

Ruse was a fan of Gabriel's work then.

Marinette can work with this.

"I assure you, Masque Ruse," Marinette said, "there's nothing to be suspicious of. Gabriel took me in from the kindness of his heart."

Ruse narrowed her eyes. "You don't look like someone fit to be his pupil."

Marinette blinked. She wasn't aware that she was Gabriel's pupil. But it would work well enough to answer why she was here. She rolled with it. "I have solid designing skills, Gabriel was impressed." Marinette tilted her head, asking, "Do you not trust his judgement?"

Ruse glared at her. "I don't trust you," she stated. As she moved to continue, she paused, long ear twitching. She made a face, tail swishing in displeasure. "I'll be keeping an eye on you," Ruse promised, "you do anything to hurt the Agrestes, you'll regret it."

Masque Ruse turned and tore off, disappearing before Marinette.

Just in time for Nathalie to come in view, struggling to muffle a yawn.

The woman gave a start to Marinette up, blinking in surprise.

"Hi?" Marinette waved.

"Marinette what are you doing out of bed?" Nathalie demanded. "Back to bed right now!"

"Yes ma'am," Marinette bid, hurrying up the steps and returning to her room.

Coming in, she found Duusu was up and blinking sleepily, looking around for Marinette. Her pink eyes locked on Marinette and she yawned out, "Where'd youuu go?"

"Some water," Marinette told the kwami, crawling into bed, nestling under the sheets. Duusu joined her, wiggling about to get under.

Laying still and keeping her eyes closed, it took a near hour for Marinette to fall asleep.