I am staying right next to you. Heaven can't have me yet, Hell can't take me yet. I am here until my time is actually up

Promise

Chapter 12

Pulling her hair back after a quick transformation, Marionette looked at her sketchbook. Taking a pencil into her hand and drawing up a quick sketch of an idea for chat Noir. Due to the family drama, he had moved elsewhere and was busy with getting his place taken care off. In that time, she decided, with permission from Tikki, to make a new outfit for him as Chat Noir. So long as she kept a plate of cookies for her kwami to eat when her timer finally ran out. She was going to make this quick though. If anyone caught ladybug here and now, things would get out of hand. Keeping the ears the same, she draw up a pair of rough sketch of his body and went from there. Leaving the mask and ears the same but changing the long covered part into a leather vest with a hood attached. A black pair of gloves where his cat claws were located but unlike hers, didn't go up to his elbows just beyond his wrist and stopped. The pants were also leather and black with the tail the same but the bottom of his pants were bell bottom and loose with plain black converse style like shoes. It was up to date but also kept some of the qualities chat Noir liked about his superhero suit at the moment.

She smiled as she went up to her balcony window with her sketchbook in hand. Using her yoyo to get her to the fabric store. Her purse on hand as well as her walking stick in case she didn't make it back home in time. Once arriving, she walked in and made the shop owner stand up happily. Greeting her with pride as the sketchbook was opened before them. Ladybug took a deep breath and smiled at the owner. Her asking for the amount of leather it would take to make this for her partner. What surprised her was when he noticed the measurements she wrote on the next page where the vest was and asked to make it for her. He wanted to thank her and Chat Noir saving Paris and said this would give him the chance to do it. It was hard to say no but in the end, she paid him to make the outfit and left her sketchbook with him. Her only request was that it would be done soon because it was meant to be a gift for him from her for all that he had done for her of late. It made the owner say he would start right away and that she could pick it up tomorrow or the next day.

With that, she left the shop and swung her away back home. Landing on the roof just in time for the final beep to go off and have her sight go away. Making her sigh as Tikki helped her get the walking stick through the window as she followed. Slowly bending and feeling the ladder under her hand and then a hand on hers. It made her stop and smile as she soon had someone close to her. No doubt blocking her way inside her very room. Only Adrien could get this close and not have her lean away. Alya and Nino would also hug her only, never linger before her face.

"What's my princess doing out here?" He asked.

"I had some business as Ladybug to handle," Marionette replied feeling him press his forehead against hers. "Don't worry, it wasn't serious. Just an errand."

"I wish you could see though. I got new clothes, a new haircut. Had I known, I would have found you as Ladybug," Adrien sighed, laughing lightly. "But hey, Tikki is eating cookies so maybe later today after we talk? Since it didn't happen last time and I got busy."

"Or…" She started raising her hand. "You could hold still for me."

She touched his face but pulled back quickly. Breathing in and touching the top of his head and feeling how short it was compared to what she always felt and saw. He cut back all the split ends from how smooth the tips felt as well as had it short with barely any bangs present. Her hand then felt a single tail of hair in the back. Making her laugh and pull her hand back to his cheek.

"I like it," She told him. "It suits you."

Adrien's hand touched hers and she felt him lean into it more. Enjoying her touch despite still blocking her way inside her room. He didn't seem to want to move either. Moving only to have her scoot to the right and him sit next to her on the balcony next to her. Her hand still in his and him once again leaning his forehead against hers. He wasn't upset though. It didn't feel like he was upset. This felt like him just adoring her in a gentle way that it surprised her yet touched her. Neither really did much during their rare visits of late but when he did come around. This was it. Like he expected her to disappear one day like his mother and that wasn't the case. The idea was probably there for him still. It was sad to know that he was that scared of losing when she wouldn't go away. She didn't have any plans to...fly away and besides. Marionette couldn't even afford a plane ticket for one let alone two.

"Adrien, I am not going to disappear, y'know that right?" She said to him.

"I knew that. I just...like how warm you feel," He said. "It's welcoming."

The answer made her create a small amused chuckle like sound before leaning against him completely. Her free arm around him as he held her back. Eyes shut as the two relaxed outside. It wasn't warm out but it wasn't cold out either. She guessed it was cloudy though. Why else would it not be warm and yet not be cold? She asked Adrien what the weather was like and he told her it was cloudy with a chance that it might rain. After a minute, he asked if she wanted to head in. Stating that it would be fine with him if she wanted too. Marionette just said she wasn't going to move from her spot. Even as she heard her phone go off. Adrien must have grabbed it because he said it was Alya. Using one hand, she searched until she found it and put it down on the ground.

"Alya can wait," Marionette told him. "We need to talk anyways."

"It's not what your eyes say princess," Adrien said pressing their foreheads together. "They clearly want something else."

"You are right but we have to plan that attack to save your dad," She said. "So...one kiss only."

It didn't take long to feel him kiss her, using his arms to pull her close and her grabbing his shirt from behind. Leaning away, the blond held her as she leaned against him. The moment ended when he spoke up and asked her what her plan was and how she would get his dad's kwami away from him. Especially since Hawkmoth hadn't shown up yet to attack. It was then she said they were going to take it. Since him just up and stopping the attacks, for whatever reason he had, this was the chance to find his kwami and whatever item the kwami had to make him Hawkmoth and take it. It was the only plan she had to avoid hurting him since the other was they charged in, found whatever the kwami was located in, knock him out and take it by force. Even if Gabriel deserved every hit and punch they could throw at him. He was still Adrien's father and someone she did respect at some point and still did. She didn't like the choices he made, how he handled Adrien and his kwami. Those she didn't care to see hurt or tangled with but she still had some respect for him.

When Adrien spoke up, she felt him grip her hand a bit. Sensing his worry and how unsure it was of how they could pull it off when his dad was probably hold up somewhere in the house and would spot them if they weren't careful. That's when Marionette realized that if they did attack, he should have his new look before it. Chat Noir's new look would throw him off. She was also sure Gabriel hasn't seen her new look either since he never seemed interested in world events and such. So Marionette was sure he didn't know what the new looks were for Adrien and her. It would give them a form of an advantage and a chance to sneak in and find that kwami and miraculous. Before any other attacks could happen and this way, they could avoid having to battle him. He just go back to being Gabriel Agreste. It would also help Adrien avoid having to deal with his father and hurting him. Even if the family was having trouble, this was still the blond's dad. This was still the man who did raise him, even if it wasn't the best childhood. She had to avoid hurting him at all cost.

"Princess," Adrien spoke up.

"Hmm?" She said feeling him shift to get comfy again.

"I know you want to avoid hurting him. I understand that but...don't let him hurt you," He said to her, holding her close. "I can't lose you."

"You won't Adrien," Marionette said, raising her hand until felt his face. He leaned against her hand. "I am staying right next to you. Heaven can't have me yet, Hell can't take me yet. I am here until my time is actually up."

"Promise?" Her partner asked.

"Promise."


Next chapter, I will have them plan the actual attack and then the last will hopefully be the plan of attack.