Chapter Nine: Princess
A/N: I love Alya and all she stands for.
I also love angst. Which is why I changed this story to an angst category.
Rose Tiger: Uh oh indeed!
Shadowedartist: I believe I sent a PM your way!
black neko hime: Yes it was! And I'm glad you're liking Solace so far
mayuralover: Guess you'll have to find out...
Also you may know I write a few chapters ahead, so I was thinking: Should I post a chapter everytime I write a new one, or just post every five days as usual?
Bug Out!
Princess: (noun) The daughter of a monarch; royalty
At first it seemed like a good idea.
At first Adrien thought it was a good idea to sneak out, transform into Chat Noir and help defend Marinette from Chloe. He wasn't even thinking when he gave a peck on the cheek, hoisted her up and away, without a second glance and bystanders.
But once he returned the bluenette to the ground, her glare told him everything he needed to know. She was angry. Furious even, and she held no restraint to show it. Although he apologized after realizing how screwed Marinette's current situation is, she harshly shut it down before telling him off for calling her 'Princess'.
And that's when Chat Noir made one of the most regrettable decisions in his entire life.
He compared his princess to his lady.
Chat could feel Marinette's blood boiling as she stuck a finger on his chest before making a final remark. In utter shock, Chat Noir aimlessly lept from rooftop to rooftop, before finally making his way back to the school. He could see Marinette coiling up every time there was a mere mention of her and Chat Noir. He never wanted this for her.
Adrien wanted to yell at the insensitive students who would bombard her with questions they knew she couldn't answer, but continued anyway. Adrien wanted to run to the bluenette and console her, but he knew she would never accept him. After all, this entire mess spurted from his heartless rejection is the first place!
The blond admired how strong Marinette has been throughout this whole situation. She refused to let anyone see how much she was hurting. But the model knew how Marinette ticked. He could see the pain in those bluebell eyes from a mile away. He just wished he could do something.
Maybe as Chat? No. Marinette was currently angry with both sides of him, but seeing her suffer because of him? He'd take the risk.
Behind a mask and with the protection of a metal stick, of course.
Chat Noir wished he could express all his struggles to Ladybug, someone he knew would understand. But as of right now, their partnership was still unknown. After all, he still hasn't gotten the chance to apologize for his sudden coldness towards her. And besides, Ladybug has always prioritized keeping their identities secret. If he let slip the tiniest detail of his civilian life, Ladybug would refuse to listen.
As the black cat neared the bakery, Chat Noir could make out the silhouette of two, resting near the chaise in Marinette's bedroom. Instead of his usual loud entrance, Chat's boots lightly graced the balcony's pavement as he neared the windowsill.
"Now a lot of things I'm not sure of, but there's one thing I can guarantee. Chat Noir does not mean it in that way."
Chat Noir didn't mean to listen. He was planning on knocking, asking for permission to come in, but instead he decided to spy on a conversation Marinette and Alya were having. They were obviously talking about him and their conversation prior, but of which part?
"Chat Noir does not mean it in that way. Chat may not see you as a hero, yet, but he doesn't mean you are weak or how you could never be her."
The blond felt his head tilt. Although he had a pretty good guess as to which line they were referring to, Alya's addition of 'yet' made him question its context. Albeit strong and loyal, Marinette couldn't possibly be ready to handle a miraculous!
"He only wishes for your safety, and he only wants what you want. He's a good person and probably only meant that to tell you that you don't have to lock yourself up."
Chat Noir smiled at Alya's optimism, but then frowned when he realized Marinette thought he didn't think highly of her. Marinette was everything he strived to be: kind, funny, loyal, and just all around talented. While Marinette obviously admired his lavish half, he admired all sides of her. Even when she wasn't feeling good about herself, she would always make it a point to put his happiness above her own. Every day he cursed himself for not falling in love with her first, because maybe it would have been easier for the both of them. But he knew he could never let go of Ladybug.
"Now, am I right, or am I right?"
Chat Noir couldn't hear much longer.. He didn't want to wait for Marinette's answer, out of fear that she still may be hesitant and doubtful. So he intervened.
"You're right."
Chat has always made reckless decisions in battle, it was something Ladybug chastised about him. But what she didn't know, is that every 'rash' action he took, it was only because he couldn't bear to see her hurt. And, here he was, pretty much exposing himself for spying on their conversations.
Peering through the window, he say a red Marinette and a shocked Alya, staring at him.
"Hey, uh, Chat!" Alya chuckled awkwardly. "How long have you been waiting there?"
"I uh just got here," He responded, placing his paw on his chest. "Cat's honor."
Marinette sighed in relief, much to his confusion. "Last time I checked, there wasn't any catnip hanging on the windowsill, so what are you doing here?"
"Isn't it obvious? I really need to talk to you, princess." Chat addressed, much to the bluenette's chagrin. "Can I talk to her in private, Alya?"
Planting her feet firmly on the ground, the brunette crossed her arms. "Not a chance."
Of course. I shouldn't expect anything less.
"Marinette, I really am sorry for what I did at the school. It really was stupid and I had no right to violate you like that." Sadly smiling, he bent down to the bluenette's height. "And I never should have compared you to Ladybug. Although different, you both have things that make you into the good person you are today."
Marinette's demeanor shifted as she briefly glanced at her friend. "I'm sorry to. I should have let you explain and never should have stormed off like that."
Alya chuckled. "Let's be honest, did anyone believe you two would stay mad at each other for long?"
Marinette and Chat Noir burst out in laughter, passing looks at each other before they finally died down. "I get it Alya, we're dorks. Anything else you need to get off your chest?"
Straightening her glasses, Alya knelt down to look at both their eyes. "Now that you mention it, there's an issue that we need to address. Why do you call Marinette 'princess', hmm? Anything you'd like to say to our pigtailed friend?"
"ALYA!"
"I um, well it's a complicated story…" Chat Noir stuttered.
Plopping onto the pink chaise, Alya smirked. "I have time."
"When Ladybug was busy, she asked for me to protect Marinette from Evillustrator. I kind of got a bit carried away and let out a 'purr-incess'. If it wasn't for Ladybug's conflict, Marinette and I probably would have never became friends."
"I see," Alya smiled, casting a knowing glance and the bluenette. "So are you saying that you're meeting was fate?"
"Yeah, I guess you could say that." Chat Noir said, looking away. "But- but not in that way!"
"Ah, but I never said so in 'that' way. Are you implying that you were already prepared to lie about your feelings for Marinette here?"
Wait what
"W-what is this?! An interview?!" Chat stammered, face turning red.
"You're not denying it…" Alya taunted.
As Chat Noir grew redder, Marinette began to uncontrollably giggle.
"Alya why are you pressuring me like this?! This isn't one of your blogs!"
Waving a tape recorder, Alya grinned. "You're right, it's not. Until I post it!"
As Chat Noir waved his hands trying to swipe the device with no avail, Alya finally settled down. "Just teasing. I won't post it." She leaned towards a hysterical Marinette. "I'll send you the recording later."
"ALYA!"
Screams
Cries
Help
With a sudden shrill shriek, the three turned towards the Pont Marie, which was currently being ravaged by a ticked-off akuma. Standing taller, Chat Noir opened the window as he extended his staff.
"A hero's work is never done!" He said triumphantly. "Till next time, ladies."
As the blond hopped from building, he realized the potential power of their latest foe. He could only pray that Ladybug was already on the scene.
As his feet paved the pavement, his emerald eyes searched for the victim. Walking closer towards the towering building, he was only given a loud scraping scream as warning. Glass shattered as he was thrown onto the bridge leading up to the titular landmark.
Looking around him, Chat Noir was washed with relief as not a single piece of glass pierced his suit. Yet.
Emerged from the shadows, a woman with emerald green hair levitated near the shards of broken glass. Periwinkle streaks of energy graced her hands.
"So what should I call you? Goldilocks? No wait, Greenlocks?" Chat Noir joked.
"ARRGH!" The akuma growled, femininity lurking in her tone. Raising her charged arms, she formed them into an X. With one final grunt, her force sent Chat Noir, and nearby shrapnel, flying. "My name is Kinetix!"
Wearily getting up, Chat spun his staff as he deflected Kinetix's blast. Each burst of energy was stronger than the last as he found himself closer and closer to the bridge's edge.
Where are you, Ladybug?
Once Chat Noir was far from view, the bluenette turned to her friend. "I have to help him."
With a curt nod and small smile, Alya winked, "Go get 'em, girl."
"Tikki, Spots On!"
Once draped in red, the spotted heroine took one last look at her friend, before bursting through the window with a fiery passion.
Don't get into too much trouble without me, Chaton.
Following the bright lights of battle, Ladybug saw the bridge leading to the Pont Marie covered in broken glass. Her heart stopped when she saw her partner lay helplessly, at the mercy of the akuma. Suddenly, she was engulfed with hatred as Ladybug threw her yo-yo with such force it almost swept Kinetix off her feet.
"Leave him alone!" Ladybug shouted. With one leap, the bluenette fiercely threw her weapon as she landed on the bridge.
Green eyes glowed with hatred as the akuma ran towards her. Wisps of energy circling her hands, she pounded them to the ground as shards of glass sporadically flew everywhere. In a mad panic, Ladybug ran to her partner, protecting his exposed skin from the dangers of the flying glass. Her yo-yo circled them both as the shrapnel bounced off it, into the ground.
"Are you alright, Chat Noir?" Ladybug asked. "The akuma must be in her necklace. What do you think?"
The black cat gave a small smile and a thumbs up, before his eyes widened in terror. "Ladybug!"
Turning towards the infuriated villain, Ladybug saw the greenette lift her bloodied fists, eyes bloodshot in anger.
"GIVE ME YOUR MIRACULOUS!" Kinetix bellowed. When the lucky duo refused, she once again balled her hands into fists. With one fluid motion, she waved her hands away, as the bridge began to thunder and the tides became more violent.
The bluenette's mouth gaped as she struggled to keep her balance on the shaking structure. The nearby streetlamps blew a fuse as Chat's night vision provided him adequate light. "M'lady, what's going on?"
Before she could respond, screams of fear were heard as monstrous waves of water loomed above them.
"..." Ladybug quivered.
"Give me your miraculous, or everyone dies!" Kinetix yelled. Hands above her head, she was the only force preventing nearby Parisians from being swept away.
"She's trying to leverage us with innocent lives! What do we do?! We can't give her our miraculous!" Chat panicked.
Ignoring his worrisome questions, Ladybug gripped her yo-yo. "Lucky Charm!" A gallon of gasoline fell into her hand. "What am I supposed to do with this?"
Pile of cars… Cataclysm… Street lamps…
Ladybug gasped. "Chat Noir, use your cataclysm to get people nearby out of here!"
Chat nodded as he began to lead witnesses out. After getting all off the bridge, he yelled. "Cataclysm!" Right claw glowing, he touched the brick wall enclosing the river from the main district. As it disintegrated, the blond led everyone through the tunnel, back into land.
"Good kitty," Ladybug mumbled before she refocused her attention back to Kinetix. Opening the can, she drenched the street lamps and cars in gasoline before pushing them into a pile.
"You can't win, Ladybug! Unless you want to be the casualty, you better give me your miraculous!"
"We've got everyone, LB!" Chat Noir called out.
Wrapping her yo-yo around the pile of metal, Ladybug grasped her yo-yo. "If I die, at least I know I saved lives tonight!" With one final yell, the spotted heroine swung her yo-yo as the mixture of cars and street lamps were hurled towards the akuma.
Kinetix shrieked as she focused her energy towards the projectile. Waving her hands, she tried to throw it away. Unfortunately, her powers triggered the gasoline as an explosion threw Kinetix off her feet.
Seeing her opportunity, Ladybug rushed towards the greenette. Breaking the necklace, she smiled. "I'm freeing you from evil!" After capturing the akuma, she reopened her yo-yo. "Bye-bye little butterfly-"
Before Ladybug could blink, the waves Kinetix was supposed to be holding up gave way as the bluenette was crushed by the water.
The last thing she saw was the murky picture of Kinetix being surrounded by a mixture of police and press.
The last thing she felt was the icy cold water piercing her skin through the suit.
The last thing she heard was a desperate cat calling for his lady.
That, and one final beep fading away.
Beep.
A/N: Haha, I hate writing akuma battles but I loved Kinetix so much. Who is basically a discount Polaris from the X-Men.
"He realized the potential power of his foe"
Did you get the pun? No?
Lol this was not how I originally wrote this chapter. I actually was gonna continue, but then I realized I already had 2,000 words and was like "Why not guarantee these readers will return for more?"
So yeah, you're welcome.
Bug Out!