Part 8

Chat's clawing ceased; his mouth hanging open. No, please, no. He'd lost his Lady; he could not lose her too. "Marinette!" He yowled, his claws scraping fiercely against the finished wood separating them. The girl was silent below him, but he could faintly pick up her sniffles and shuffling with his enhanced hearing. His razors made marks against her door, but he could not stop himself from his destructive habit. He would claw the damn door off if he had too. His hands fisted and he began to pound on the door; his cry for Cataclysm loosely hanging on his tongue and threatening to slip at any second.

Rationally, he should have known his crazed actions would further scare her away, but he could not string two rational thoughts together for more than a mere second before Ladybug's betrayed face assaulted him. He'd drove her away. He had chosen Marinette. He'd declared his love for the girl before his first love. He didn't stop loving Ladybug. His heart still wept for her even as he begged for another girl.

Adrien had always wanted what he could never have. He wanted his mother and she had left. He wanted Gabriel and Ladybug and they both pushed him away. And now that Marinette belonged to another, he wanted her. He wanted to brush away her tears and hold her in his arms. He wanted to kiss her again. He wanted to prove that Ladybug's words were wrong. That Marinette did love him.

Shudders coursed through his lean frame as he bowed over his quivering hands; his beating paused for the moment. "Mari," he whispered. Her name fell from his lips like a prayer opposed to the curse that he barely managed to hold back. "Mari, please…"

He was broken.

Marinette never opened the door for him that night.

XXX

Gorilla dropped him off from school before pulling away from the curve. Plagg squirmed in Adrien's pocket reminding him of their agreement from this morning. After Adrien had somehow managed to shower and dress despite his lack of sleep and enthusiasm, Plagg had demanded the two talk privately once they got away from Adrien's babysitters. The boy trudged to the boys' restroom and locked the door after checking that they were alone. Once secured, the kwami darted out. "Kid, it's time to get to the bottom of this," Plagg began without prompt. "You've not slept at all this week and you're wearing me out with these runs to your love bugs."

Adrien leaned back against the door, his right leg crossing over his left as he folded his arms. "There's nowhere to go," Adrien muttered. "They both hate me and I'm scared. Mari could become akumatized. And Ladybug could. If we can even get akumatized, I mean. And I can't fight either of them. And if Ladybug fights Marinette, I don't…" He lifted a hand to pinch the bridge of his nose as his eyes scrunched shut. "I don't know what to do," he admitted.

"Exactly," Plagg agreed. "We need to go see the Master."

The boy peaked open an eye. "The who?"

Sighing, the black cat crossed his nubby arms. "He's the one who gave you two the Miraculous. He probably can help fix this mess between you two."

Adrien's shoulders slumped. "You mean, this whole time, there was someone who could have helped us? Someone that knows who we both are? Why are you telling me this now?" His voice rose too loud at the end and Plagg shushed him.

"It wasn't the right time," Plagg grumbled. "Some Ladybugs and Black Cats never meet the Master. It's been about a century or so since I've seen him. Tikki sees him more often. With how young you two are, I'd be surprised if Tikki hadn't already directed Ladybug to go there." Plagg narrowed his large eyes at his Chosen. "He doesn't usually choose kids. I don't know what he was thinking. You two should have never…" He trailed off with a flick of his tail. "Anyway, let's ditch and go see him."

Logically, Adrien should say no. He should shove the creature in his bag and go straight to homeroom. He should fist bump Nino, nod to Alya, and try to coax some response from Marinette. But, as his father complained time and again, Adrien was too much like his mother. He pushed away from the door with a flourish and unlocked the door. Plagg jumped into his shirt pocket as the boy strode out of the restroom; his mind set.

"Where's the Master?" Adrien mumbled softly, his lips barely moving to prevent anyone from noticing his seemingly odd behavior.

"16th ARR," Plagg drawled. "About a block before La Muette. It'll look like a small siheyuan."

Adrien nodded in understand as he heard his name called. He turned and saw Nino and Alya barreling towards him. He barely held back his grimace. He needed to get there now. Not that he didn't love his friends, but the two girls he cared about were in danger and he needed help.

"Dude, you skipping too?" Nino assumed, his fist raised for their signature greeting as he stopped before him. Adrien quickly returned the greeting.

"Uh, yeah. I forgot about something very important and I need to go now." Alya raised a brow skeptically at his excuse. "Nathalie just texted me. There's a big, secret photoshoot that Père has been working on. Apparently the line just came in."

Alya snorted. "That is the worst excuse ever, Agreste. But whatever," she pulled out her mobile and thumbed it a few times before showing him a series of texts. "M is seriously scaring me right now. If you're heading there, please…Please make sure my girl is ok. I don't know what that jerk did to her, but if I ever see him I swear on my Ladyblog, I'll end him."

Adrien's eyes widened as he scanned the messages.

Alya- How was meeting with your new beau? ;)

Mari- I can't do it. We got in a huge fight last night and he hit me. I deserved it, but I just never expected him to do that.

Alya- Who is this guy?! Whatever you did was not worth him laying a hand on you. Give me a name and we'll take care of it.

Mari- No, Alya. It's not that simple.

Alya- Of course it is!

Alya- Adrien seemed intense today when you mentioned him. And then he danced with you tonight. I bet if you talked to him he could help

Mari- I can't bring Adrien into it. That was part of our fight.

Mari- I don't want Adrien to get hurt.

Alya- What do you mean?

Alya- Mari?

"What do you know Agreste?"

Adrien could not meet Alya's hard gaze. The shiver that traveled down his spine nearly toppled him over. This guy had hit his Princess? That had to be why she were so upset last night. And what was more, he had hit Marinette because of her feelings for him? Because they had danced last night? The events Marinette described plucked at his brain for another reason as the foremost anger rolled through him. Whoever had hit Marinette would-

Oh.

Oh, Dieu. He, as Chat Noir, had hit Ladybug while she defended her feelings for Adrien Agreste yet belittled his feelings for Marinette. They had been fighting about Adrien and Marinette as Chat Noir and Ladybug.

Marinette was Ladybug.

Adrien turned on his Converse heels and ran madly through the halls, completely ignoring his friends' shouts.

XXX

Panting, Adrien looked up at the siheyuan through his slightly sweaty bangs. He had just emerged from the alleyway across the street. He had transformed into Chat to make the quit trip to the Master's home and then detransformed across the way. "Is this the place?" He panted to Plagg.

"Yeah. It's not changed at all. Well, according to Tikki anyway. I last saw him in China." For all the months Adrien had known Plagg it was the first time he appeared to be genuinely excited about something that wasn't cheese. It surprised Adrien before he thought how Plagg had lived for so long and barely got to see the few others who understood his plight. Surely it got boring just being around his Chosen. Adrien felt a pang of despair. He had always assumed Plagg disliked him, but this was confirmation. While Plagg would forever be a huge part of his life, Adrien would only be a small blip on Plagg's radar. He'd surely had other better Chosen.

Plagg tilted his head and snorted. "Well. Look at that." He pointed a nub. Adrien turned his attention back to the building to see Marinette Dupain-Cheng exit. He licked his dry lips. "Either you're on the money about Marinette being your lovebug or she needs a new chiropractor."

The two watched as the girl turned left and made her way down the sidewalk. Adrien waited for the girl to be out of sight before running across the street. Plagg shouted at him as he barely dodged a honking car. "Are you crazy?"

Adrien burst in the building. The heavy wooden door slamming against the entrance. There was another door at the end of the hallway. A closed sign was turned to depict the business would open tomorrow morning. Plagg rested on his shoulder. "They're straight ahead. Master Fu and Wayz."

Adrien nodded once and headed towards the door. He rested a hand on the knob and thought his hand would shake. All his questions would finally be answered and there were absolutely no nerves rushing through him as he pushed forward. Sitting in the middle of the room at a small table sipping tea was an old man.

"You…" Adrien trailed off as he pointed towards him. "You're the man from the school."

He was an older Asian man with white hair. He wore the same Hawaiian shirt he had the day Adrien had helped him. The day he had gotten the Miraculous ring and met Ladybug. He sipped from the small green cup before smiling at Adrien. "Hello, Chat Noir. I was wondering when Plagg would send you along. You must excuse him. He's gotten lethargic in his old age. Tikki's also tried to teach him manners, but he's quite contrary." Plagg hissed at him from Adrien's shoulder. The Master's smile grew. "Just scratch him behind the ears and he'll do whatever you want," he whispered conspiringly.

Plagg shot from his shoulder with another hiss and before he could begin his rant, Fu's hand shot out to finger the special spot behind Plagg's right ear. The cat fell into a purring lump on the table right next to an open book. Adrien ignored the sweetness of the moment to move closer. He examined the familiar book that was opened to a page with a hand drawn image of an ancient Ladybug. He dropped to his knees. "My father's book…"

Plagg and Fu ceased their bonding to look at the boy. "Yes, Tikki mentioned it had been in your possession. Tell me, Adrien, was there anything else? A broach perhaps?"

Adrien pulled the book closer to him. Gently, he flipped to the next page where he knew his predecessor's image would be. "Yeah," he replied. "A little peacock tail broach. My mother used to wear it when I was a kid." He looked up. "How did you get this? Why did Tikki have it?" If Tikki had given Fu that information, then did that mean Marinette had taken his book?

"All will be answered in time, young one." Fu flipped a few pages to a peacock themed superhero Adrien had missed earlier. Fu tapped on the drawing of Adrien mother's broach. "Was this there?"

Plagg groaned. "Seriously? You trusted this family with two Miraculous?"

A green blob zoomed from the corner of the room. Landing beside Plagg, the green creature nodded. Adrien cocked his head at the green turtle that resembled Plagg in appearance and size. Another kwami, he realized. "This is where the problem lies," the kwami began. "After she died, Duusu should have come back to us. But she didn't." The turtle glared softly at Fu. "Honestly, I think when Master saw Adrien he may have given him the Cat Miraculous because of his soft spot for Mme. Agreste." The kwami and master smiled faintly. "How rude of me," the turtle said. He turned to Adrien with a smile. "I'm Wayz."

Adrien nodded in greeting before barreling on. "Are you saying…Mère was…she had a Miraculous?"

Fu and Wayz nodded. "Yes," Fu answered. "Mme. Agreste held the Peacock Miraculous once upon a time. And while it may have swayed my decision slightly, you were always destined to wield the Black Cat." He flipped back to the Ladybug page. "Just like Marinette was destined to be Ladybug."

Adrien met his eyes. "So, it's true then? She's…" Fu nodded. "I need to be with her," Adrien started. "We can discuss all of this at another time, but my Lady needs me. What's going on? She said she was being forced to be with someone…" He swallowed thickly. "I need to know…"

Fu nodded once more as he sipped his tea. "Marinette never wanted to be Ladybug. She suffers from severe anxiety. She's always worried about not being good enough, but she takes her responsibilities seriously. However, as charming as it has been to watch you two dance around the other, a serious storm is coming." He closed the book. "If the Ladybug and Black Cat Miraculous do not combine their strengths, more than Paris will be at stake. While I may have played my trump card too soon, I needed Marinette to put aside her feelings for your civilian side." The short man stared up at Adrien. "It must be tough. You have so many adoring fans. And yet, none of them know you. None of them know your dreams and hopes. They see what they want and you must put on a show. You can't crack under the pressure. One sign of weakness and it's all over."

Adrien's brows knitted in confusion. "What does that have to do with Marinette's feelings for me?" Yeah, it was tough living a double life and he was hurt that Ladybug had seemingly chose the model over the cat, but once he had started noticing Marinette's feelings for the cat, Adrien felt at ease. This girl was struggling, but she had still found the courage to offer him comfort. And now knowing that the two were one and the same, it made so much sense. Of course Ladybug would choose Adrien. They went to school together. Ladybug had admitted to loving Adrien. Thus, Marinette loved him. But she…Ladybug had said Marinette would never love him. The girl he loved, only loved one side of him. They were both repulsed by his Chat side. But why, then, did she kiss him?

"I was referring to how Ladybug feels when you worship her," Fu said. "Marinette so many times feels worthless and both her partner and the boy she cares for hold her other side, the side she hates, on a pedestal. Much like how she holds Adrien Agreste up. I knew once Marinette's love for Adrien Agreste cracked, she would see you for who you were. In turn, you saw that Ladybug was human."

"Of course she's-"

"Her less redeemable qualities aside," Fu interrupted with a shake of his head. "The pressure she was under, surely you understand? Ladybug has this thin line to walk. Much like Adrien Agreste."

Adrien glanced at Plagg who was paying more attention to grooming his tail than the conversation at hand. His gaze fell to his lap. "I fell for the illusion," he stated. "I was mad at Ladybug for loving the side of me I don't like and yet…" His eyes closed in pain. "I did the same thing to her…"

"You two are fated for each other. Each Ladybug and Black Cat is," Fu continued reassuringly. "Whether they be friends, family, or lovers. A few have turned against the other and Marinette feared after last night, it would happen to you two." Adrien flinched at the implications. "I know you acted impulsively and would never normally do that. While you do hold your mother's personality, never forget that a part of you is also Gabriel."

"What does that mean?" He grumbled. He swore he would never turn into his father. If he and Marinette had children, he would adore them. He would never neglect them.

Wayz shook his head. "All will be revealed in time. For now, you need to go to Ladybug. You are the only one who can help her now. Tikki is holding off the akumas that would threaten her, but there is only so much she can do."

He finally looked back up, his gaze shifting between Fu and the kwamis. "But she said she could never love me."

Plagg rolled his eyes. "Oh come on," he whined as he finally joined back into the conversation. "She was angry. That girl is head over heels for you."

"You mean…she…?"

Fu smiled kindly at the young man. "Marinette loves you."