Adrien didn't know what to do.
Two days. Two days. That's how long Marinette had been akumatized. Ladybug was nowhere to be found and Adrien was stuck. Because to take down a villain he had to at least physically subdue them, and he couldn't lay a hand on Marinette. He wouldn't.
So here he was, watching as Avenger stampeded through the streets of Paris, destroying as she went. Marinette's beautiful hair had changed to white and her sky blue eyes had turned to a combination of deep navy and a dash of hatred. He had tried to reason with her, tried to threaten Hawkmoth so that he would change her back, but nothing had worked.
So, now, here he sat in his bedroom, tears misting over the edges of his vision. He couldn't save her. He couldn't save Paris.
"Not much of a hero now, eh Plagg?"
The kwami hadn't eaten anything all day. He hadn't even touched his camembert. He hadn't left Adrien's side since they had found out Marinette had been overtaken, and the boy began to realize how much the small creature had been there for him.
"You're still a hero. You've always been a hero." Plagg said simply. "Just because you don't want to hurt your friend doesn't make you any less. Quite the contrary, actually. But... you are going to have to make a descision soon."
Adrien swallowed. "I won't."
"You have to. It's your duty. You have to put her down."
"NO!" he shouted, punching the wall beside him. The kwami just stared at him with sad eyes. "No. I won't kill Marinette."
"You think I want you to? Adrien, you have no idea how hard this is for me. Reliving a terrible nightmare all over again..."
He suddenly grew silent and Adrien lowered himself to the creature's level. "What are you talking about?"
Plagg sighed heavily. "Medieval England. The Black Death. It was a huge plague that took over the entire land and killed hundreds of people. Ladybug... she was akumatized then too. I-Black Cat I was at that time- had to... I had to..."
He couldn't finish, but Adrien understood. "Plagg, I'm so sorry. But I can't. I won't. Marinette's my friend."
"No," His kwami shook his head. Adrien looked at him, confused. "She is much more than just your friend. She's your soulmate."
Adrien's eyes widened and he blinked. "There's no such thing as soulmates. It's a fairytale."
"Stupid words of your father." Plagg shook his small head. "Do you love her?"
"W-what? No! No, I don't love Marinette! I'm in love with Ladybug, you know that!"
"Stop playing innocent. I know the way you look at her when she's not looking. The way you smile when she laughs. The way your heart swells every time she walks into the room. I'm not an idiot, Adrien." A small smile slipped it's way onto Plagg's face. "I've been through this before, you know."
Adrien thought for a minute. They had started out as nothing more than aquaintences. Then, slowly, as she let herself trust him a bit, it had turned into friends. Then, he realized, as he visited more and got to know her. As they stayed up watching goofy movies and playing games like Monopoly. As they decorated cupcakes and pastries in the shop below, it had turned into best friends. And then he was visiting at least 5 times a week and sometimes picking up a random flower on the way, calling her Princess when she opened the skylight for him. Comforting her when she needed it, and vice versa. Her telling him that even if his father didn't treat him right that she was his friend and that she would always be there for him. It went from not trusting at all to trusting with everything they had.
And, if he was honest, he did like her laugh. Heck, he adored her laugh! And her smile... oh, dear lord her smile! The way her eyes sparkled and they way she lit up when talking about stuff like her family or her fashion projects. How clever she was, her brilliance, her beauty. Everything about her made him feel... home.
Bang! Realization hit. "I love her."
"Dear God it took you long enough," Plagg mumbled.
Adrien heard another explosion rock the city and whirled around. "Plagg, we've got a Princess to save!"
Adrien raced across the roofs of Paris with a new determination. He was going to bring her back. He was going to be the knight in shining armor this time.
Skidding to a stop, his eyes landed on the new villain who was cackling atop the eiffle tower. Her white hair was painfully bright with the sun at her back and her deep blue eyes were home to a cold, sadistic glare. Upon closer inspection, he saw red on her suit, but in the oddest places: on her left knee, her stomach, trailing down her forehead and to her chin.
Wait... that wasn't supposed to be there.
Oh dear God.
She was bleeding.
She had been hurt!
This was all his fault. If he had gotten there earlier...
Stop blaming yourself and save her, Plagg's voice said.
Adrien shook his head and took a deep breath, making his way towards the national monument with as much speed as he could muster. He landed as quietly as possible and hid in the shadows as Avenger talked to someone, he could only guess Hawkmoth.
"...And if she doesn't agree?"
"The girl is strong, but not that strong. In fact, her strength reminds me of a certain bug I have been meaning to squash. But she will not be able to resist a direct command. No one is that strong."
"Are you sure? Her body is already on the brink. Anything else might just stop her heart."
Adrien gasped. Obviously this wasn't a normal akuma. It was another kwami, or something like it, that had taken over Marinette's body and was controlling her. But it was so powerful that it was doing thing's that Marinette's body couldn't handle and it was... it was killing her.
He had to act quickly before her shape could get any worse. Sliding closer, but staying in the shadows, he waiting until Hawkmoth's holographic face disappeared before making any sounds.
Finally, he stepped out slowly. "Marinette."
Avenger whirled around, scowl in place. "Marinette isn't home right now. Why don't you leave a message, Alley Cat?"
"I don't think so. Her voicmail isn't working." Adrien snarled, beginning to circle her. She rolled her eyes but joined in as they paced opposite each other. "I know she's in there."
The villain laughed. It was a terrible, cold laugh and nothing like the sweet giggle he was familiar with. "In here? Oh, yes, she's in here alright. She can feel all the pain, she can see everything, hear everything, feel everything I feel. Oh, you should have heard her scream..."
Adrien almost pounced at the statement. Avenger noticed and smirked. "Oh, yes, Kitty. She didn't let me in willingly. I made her scream louder than I ever have anyone else. You see, I'm a minor Kwami, not one of the big ones like yours or Ladybug's. But I do have power, and I can hurt so much. Marinette knows this. She's felt it. "
"Let her go!" Adrien shouted, gripping his baton tighter.
"You see this?" She pointed to the wound at her head. "That's because she was struggling. This one," She gestured to the one on her leg. "Was because she tried to save a child. And this one... well, she'll die of blood loss from this one. This one is because she tried to take control and kill me. And by me I mean herself."
Adrien's eyes widened and he almost dropped his weapon. "Y-you MONSTER!"
Avenger laughed. "Yes! Heck yes, I'm a monster! And proud! Without your little Ladybug, Chat Noir, you can't win."
"Marinette, I know you can hear me. Please come back!"
"She's not strong enough, Silly Kitty!" the white haired villain smirked.
"Yes, yes you are, Mari! Please! You're the strongest person I know! You're brave and smart and beautiful! You're sassy and clever and are best at everything!" He took several steps closer and Avenger took a step backwards. "You're kind and compassionate and always care for others above yourself! You know me! I'm Chat Noir!"
"NO!" She screamed, holding the sides of her head, face contorted in pain. "NO!"
But, even as she spoke, he saw a several dark strands weave their way into her hair, then disappear again. He was getting to her!
"Please, Marinette! You know me! I'm the idiot who you climbed up a broken fire escape for! I'm the silly cat who you made a jacket for! I'm the boy that danced in the rain with you! You're the girl that told me you would always be there for me, and here I am, returning the favor! I'm here, Mari! Please!"
They were close now. So close that he could see the fear in her eyes. She blinked, and when she met his gaze again, he was greeting with sky blue.
"Ch-Chat?" Her voice was small and cracked, but still there.
"Yes, yes, it's me! It's me, I'm here! I-!"
"NO! GET AWAY FROM ME! STOP IT!" Her eyes returned to navy and her scowl replaced the smile. She backed up, her back hitting the wall with a soft thud. Her head was shaking furiously and her hands were clamped over her ears.
"Marinette! It's me! Please!" He crawled over to her, desperation in his voice. "I make terrible jokes and stupid puns all the time! I burned the cookies once and you laughed at me for, like, 20 minutes straight! You're my best friend, Marinette!"
He leaned down, meeting her eyes just as they began to morph into light blue. "I love you." And he smashed his lips on hers.
She stiffened for a long, agonizingly long minute before sighed into him. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her into his lap and she linked her arms around his neck, one hand in his hair. Her lips were warm and inviting and he smirked as she moaned into his mouth.
Finally, both of them had to come up for breath, but Adrien held her close to him, resting his forhead against hers. Her heavy breathing overlapped his and she met his eyes. Never in his life had he been so happy to see that beautiful blue.
"Thank you." She whispered.
Adrien's heart cracked at the smallness in her tone. He leaned down to capture her lips again and she smiled against his mouth. He let one of his hands stray to her hair and untangled it from its usual pigtails, letting his fingers run through her dark locks. She hummed with pleasure and pulled away, eyes closed and cheeks red.
"I love you." Chat said quietly.
Her eyes snapped open wide. "What?"
"I love you."
Marinette stared at him before her features relaxed into a soft yet bewildered smile. "I love you too, Kitty."
Adrien's heart soared and he grinned, but before he could kiss her again, she closed the gap and beat him to it.
Well, after all, the Princess was supposed to kiss the Knight, wasn't she?
