Previous Monday:
Monday was an extremely stressful day for Natalie. Sunday seemed to be a bit of a blur after all that episode with the little alien creature and she wasn't sure what's gonna happen next.
After the transformation somehow Duusu convinced her to go upstairs through a little inconspicuous door on the second floor and she ended up in a dusty room with large circular window she's never been before. To her astonishment she was greeted by another flying being, this time purple, introducing itself as Nooroo.
What followed next didn't make any sense whatsoever. Both aliens were trying to explain that Gabriel Agreste has a secret identity and turns humans into monsters and suchlike, her mind at that point was completely boggled.
At the end they convinced her to look for some book about superheroes and exhausted she agreed just so they leave her alone.
After the promise Duusu disappeared back into the brooch leaving Natalie speechless.
She hesitated but at the end she shoved the peacock tail in her pocket and swiftly left for her house.
Now it was lying at the desk in her office attracting her glance like a dead body. What if the creature appears again? Should she try and look for the book? Or any clues related to it? Natalie was rubbing her temples. She wasn't sure what's real anymore.
But there was no time to wonder about it, she just got disconcerting message from Gabriel and was in the middle of arranging everything according his wishes.
It was a depressing task as she was sure Adrien will strongly oppose his father's decision. She sighed. Sometimes her position turned out especially difficult.
Natalie checked the emails again. She notified the school, organised the flights, picked dozens of apartments for Gabriel to choose from...
Her sight again landed on the brooch. She huffed and continued with her email but her eyes kept sliding back. Natalie nervously fidgeted and tapped her feet.
Finally she couldn't bear it anymore. With one decisive move she swiped the brooch and pinned it on her suit.
Bright light blinded her for a moment followed by Duusu appearing out of nowhere.
"Did you find the book Natalie?", she squeaked straight away.
"Um, no not yet. To be honest...", Natalie hesitated, "I am not sure I believe it all. It's so improbable yet here you are..." last words she spoke more to herself than the kwami.
"Look, if you don't believe me why don't you come with me and I'll introduce you to someone who will certainly convince you. Trust me."
Duusu flew straight up to Natalie's face and looked deep into her blue eyes.
"Please, it is a matter of utmost importance."
Natalie swallowed and nodded very slowly.
"Now I hope he still lives at the same place...", mused excited Duusu as they were leaving Natalie's office.
Present day:
Adrien woke up all scrunched up and twisted. He must've been fast asleep otherwise his body wouldn't be able to hold such unnatural position.
It took him few minutes to untangle his limbs and stretch up.
All whilst he grinned happily. Last night! Last night, oh yeah. Did it really happen? He touched his lips feeling them tingling and closed his eyes. He could feel her kiss even now. It must've been true then.
He wanted to jump out of the bed or sing or something. He could hardly contain himself.
He kissed Marinette and it was great! Just thinking about it made him excited all over again. He definitely wanted to do it again!
He imagined it as he took shower, pulled his clothes on, checked his computer. Plagg was watching him dance around from his bed impatiently.
"Will I get some cheese today?!", he finally bursted out.
"Oh Tikki. Tikki, Tikki..."
Marinette was marching up and down her room in her PJs and occasionally threw her hands up in the air. It was early morning and Saturday, one would expect the teenager to have a lie in. But she couldn't stand the horrific guilt gnawing at her stomach since she woke up.
Her kwami was floating next to her since she jumped out of bed and started pacing.
"What is wrong Marinette? I cannot help you if you won't tell me.", squeaked concerned Tikki.
"Oh Tikki, I've made a big mistake!"
Exclaimed her owner and continued the march.
"But what happened?", wondered Tikki.
Marinette ran her hands through her hair in desperation.
"Oh Tikki, I've done something really really stupid! And now, now he will think, I...gah!"
"Oh, you mean last night...", her kwami understood finally.
"But what was wrong with that? I thought you like Cat Noir?"
"Of course I do! He's my team mate, partner in battle! But my heart belongs to someone else..."
Marinette whined.
Tikki was confused. "But I thought Adrien said no."
Marinette looked at her destroyed. "He did.", she admitted whispering.
"I don't understand then..."
"I still...I am still...", stammered Marinette. "Even though he was drunk who says he doesn't have hidden feelings for me, right? Alcohol only helped to bring them out. I thought...well...perhaps I might give it another chance...", said Marinette with hope.
Tikki didn't look happy at all. Her owner saw it and tried to explain.
"Look, I was thinking about it all night. Cat Noir was hurt and in need of comfort." Because of me, Marinette added in her head. "So was I. We bonded over our heartbreak. I think what happened last night was just a culmination of those feelings. He was just so different, so charming these last few days, I think I was overwhelmed. But definitely not in love. Definitely not." Marinette hit palm of her left hand with right hand formed into a fist.
Tikki gave her a chastising look.
"Marinette, you have to learn to control your feelings before you throw yourself head first into something. Especially when it means hurting someone else."
"I know Tikki, I know. But his feelings are for Ladybug not for me. He'll be ok, he must be. He is probably doing the same thing right now, wondering how to tell me."
The kwami shrugged not very convinced.
"I don't know Marinette..."
"I have to talk to him. He promised he will come back tonight. I'll explain everything." Marinette seemed slightly manic.
Tikki sighed.
"Just be honest with him...and with yourself."
Previous Monday
The room looked very Chinese. The walls, the furniture, the decorations. Everything made Natalie feel great reverence.
Old gramophone caught her attention and she came closer.
"Good morning."
She jumped as she heard behind her back suddenly.
As she turned her eyes rolled down to see short Chinese man radiating great power hidden behind his humble looks.
Natalie didn't know what to say as Duusu happily flew out of her pocket and the old man greeted her without surprise as if he was waiting for her.
"I was hoping you will come Natalie. There is a lot we need to go over and we don't have much time as I've heard.", said the man seriously. "This will require great strength of character from you. Perhaps you'd like to sit down! Cup of tea before we start?"
Present day:
Adrien entered the dining hall where to his shock and astonishment he found his father casually eating breakfast.
"Father! I didn't know you've returned!"
Gabriel barely raised his sight from the newspaper he was reading.
"I came extremely late, early morning we could say."
Adrien's face turned white. This was typical of his father and he grew weary of this. When he overcame the initial shock and managed to sit down to his own already prepared breakfast, Gabriel suddenly put down the paper.
"So, why don't you tell me about the party? I've heard it's been quite an event..."
Adrien almost choked. He expected the question at some point but not straight away.
"I...uhm...it wasn't..." What was he going to say? That it was Chloe's idea? That he had nothing to do with it? And what about the alcohol and all the drug episode with Natalie and Gorilla? How is he going to explain that?!
Gabriel was observing his inner struggle with a tiny smirk. The idea definitely didn't come out of Adrien's head, that much was obvious. Maybe it was one of his friends, perhaps that DJ kid. However Adrien certainly enjoyed the outcome. His decision to move out definitely came in the right time.
"Let's not talk about that.", he said to his son's astonished expression. "I always thought Paris has a bad influence on you. And those friends of yours... Anyway this is not going to be a problem anymore."
Wait WHAT? He isn't going to be punished? Hang on, what was the rest? Perhaps he jumped into conclusions too early.
"What do you mean?", Adrien froze with fork halfway to his mouth.
"We are moving to New York. Natalie is finishing the preparations as we speak.", Gabriel dove into the newspaper again ignoring reaction his announcement caused.
To Adrien those few words sounded like a death sentence. Hall echoed with the fork falling out of his numb fingers hitting the plate.
"What, no, what do you mean?!" Adrien struggled to produce coherent words.
This cannot be happening! He was breathing faster and faster approaching hyperventilation. But Gabriel's face behind the newspaper remained unchanged.
HE MEANT IT! He really really meant it! What is he going to do?! What about his life? What about his friends?!
Nino, Marinette, LADYBUG! Cat Noir, what will she do without him? They are a team, THE team! They protect Paris! What if Hawkmoth takes another victim?
The room was spinning.
As if he wanted to add to his misery Gabriel noted: "We're leaving first thing Monday morning."
That was it! Adrien sprung up and dashed out of the hall and up the stairs finally reaching his room, slamming the door and landing on his bed.
Disturbed Plagg looked at him firstly annoyed but soon realised something is seriously wrong.
Adrien was blind to everything as his brain bombarded him with thoughts. He needs to get out! He needs to find Ladybug! But where would she be in a morning? Could he afford to rely on her being somewhere on rooftops? He could call her but if she's her civil self she won't be able to reply!
What about Nino? Alya? He had no chance to slip out of house even if he'd send them a message. Not now when his father returned and security was again on high alert.
No. His only option was to run away as Cat Noir. And there was only one person he could go to. The only person he could approach as Cat, the only person who would be on one place at this time. At least most possibly. In worst case he could wait there for her, no-one would suspect that.
He was already standing up. The thought of escape bid his blood to run again oppose to a minute ago when it was frozen in horror.
"What's up kid?", asked Plagg now seriously worried. He saw his master bursting into the room hitting the bed now getting up again in quick succession.
But before anything could be explained Adrien said the words:
"Plagg, claws out!"
And he was Cat again, free as a wind, ready to jump out of a window when suddenly...
"I don't think so my son."
Someone's big hands grabbed his shoulders and pulled him back helplessly kicking his feet. He could feel wide chest he was squeezed against, firm grip and silent growling somewhere inside and figured out it must be Gorilla. Maybe he should think twice before pissing him of next time.
Gabriel stood in the middle of his room.
"As I said, Paris has a bad influence on you."
Where is he? Marinette fidgeted on her bed biting her nails. It was half past eleven in the night and Cat Noir was nowhere to see. Or hear for that matter. Marinette listened to every little pop and creak the pipes were making, every squawk and hoot night creatures produced. Everything sounded like Cat's scratch on the door. She expected his head with blond messy hair pop in any second now, but no-one appeared. Finally she bursted out.
"He's not coming Tikki! Do you think he decided to end it himself?"
"Don't worry Marinette, he could have been delayed by something.", Tikki was trying to calm her down.
But it didn't work. Something sinister was finding its way through Marinette's thoughts.
"We have to go and find him. I have a bad feeling, I am terrified.", whispered she.
Her kwami admitted. "I must say I am feeling the same! Something is not right!", she squeaked.
"Just say the words Marinette."