The next morning, Adrien found himself striding back to the interrogation rooms with a new purpose in his steps. This was it. This was exactly what he had hoped would happen from their mission last night and it couldn't have gone any better. Not only were the akumas unsuspecting of him, they also weren't even sure if the police were involved- some of them had voiced their concerns but Ladybug had just shaken her head, saying she believed the thugs were holding Princess Fragrance to ransom. Adrien wasn't sure how she was so certain of that but he wasn't going to knock it. He had never been happier to hear someone getting something wrong in his life.

Speaking of something wrong… He could feel his cheeks flare up as a hand trailed to his neck, stretching the tight collar a little so some cool air could reach the fevered irritated skin. He hadn't wanted to wear this shirt, the collar was way too tight for his liking, but Ladybug had forced him to. If it hadn't been for her, his neck wouldn't be covered in bright red marks still bearing the evidence of teeth and his collarbone wouldn't have a large bite mark on it that made him look like he had been ravished by an animal. He still couldn't quite believe that fact. Ladybug had given him a hickey? How was that even possible? He could still taste her on his lips; she had been sweet like a candied apple but still with a little bite and he knew he could very easily get addicted to the flavour. But he had no time to think about that now. He had a job to do.

Almost wearily, he turned the corner to see Nino standing outside the room that held Princess Fragrance, his arms crossed as he slowly shook his head. "I don't know how you do it man," He said with a chuckle as he peered through the glass of the door. "I really don't know."

Adrien groaned. "I'm sorry I couldn't tell you again but I couldn't risk having anyone around the area at the time; if the akumas had even gotten a hint of a police presence they would have scarpered. We couldn't afford that."

"I know dude, the chief had it all explained to me." Nino said with a small smile aimed at his friend that made him instantly relax. "It's cool bro. Also I need to tell you, it's just going to be us two today. Marinette can't come in."

"Really?" Adrien asked in surprise. "Why?"

"She called in earlier saying something about really needing to get something sorted. It was put under a family emergency. I don't know any more than that I'm afraid."

"Oh." Adrien said, a little disappointed. "I hope everything's alright with her family. They are such nice people…"

"You already met her family?" Nino's eyebrows shot up under his cap as he gave a sly grin. "My, that was fast." He continued to grin even when Adrien angrily groaned and punched his shoulder.

"Not like that you perve." He retorted, really not in the mood this early in the morning. "Now come on, we have a suspect to deal with."

"OK, OK," Nino relented, still grinning. "So do we have a plan?"

"I don't know yet." Adrien stepped closer to the door and looked through the glass at Princess Fragrance. As he stared, he couldn't keep thinking of how familiar this scenario was and he got a sense of déjà vu. Their suspect was sitting on one side of a table with two empty chairs on the other side, her arms folded as she glared at the far wall with an expression that was anything but sweet. Unlike her companion who had shared her situation, she was still in her full make-up and uniform; she had fought so fiercely against the officers that had tried to clean her up that none of them would now go near her. Her eyes still held clear traces of fury in them, only illuminated by the bright pink of her contacts, and Adrien's forehead creased in thought. She looked like she would be a harder nut to crack than Reflekta had been. The game had changed too much for her to give in easy and for one brief moment, their success felt like a weight around his neck.

"You know we don't have long." Nino said after a moment of tense silence. "The chief is going to want results soon."

"I know, I know," Adrien sighed. "I'm just a little stumped right now. We can't do what we did with Reflekta here, this has just gone too… wait." A smile finally found his way onto his lips as an idea hit the mark in his mind. "That's it. That's all we have to do… heck, why didn't I think of doing this sooner?"

"Doing what?" Nino exclaimed as Adrien suddenly turned on his heel and strode back down the corridor. "Hey, where are you going? Wait up man!"

"Sorry but we need to work fast," Adrien threw his voice over his shoulder as he slowed down the tiniest bit so Nino could catch up. "You said it yourself, the chief wants results, right?"

"Yeah but…" Nino huffed. "I still have no idea what's going on in that head of yours!"

Adrien laughed. "And that's the way I intend to keep it!"

OOO

When the door to Reflekta's cell was open, she barely looked up, expecting it just to be the warden or one of the guards wanting another room inspection. It was only after she heard a light cough that sounded familiar when her head reared and she glared at the two detectives with enough coldness in her face to turn them into icebergs.

"Good morning." Adrien greeted her as if nothing was amiss and they weren't all standing in a prison cell. Reflekta's response was only a small growl as he started looking around the small plain room. It was painted a mottled green colour and one wall was almost entirely taken up by the giant steel door that trapped prisoners inside. A small bed sat forlornly in a corner opposite the one with a small silver bowl. There were heavy thick bars on the window that had moulded with the glass; it seemed the force were taking no chances with this valuable prisoner. "Nice digs. You enjoying it here?"

"What do you two want? I'm not telling you anything else!" She snapped, her eyes cold and unforgiving. Out of her pink akuma dress, she looked almost normal in prison slacks with her hair loose about her shoulders and her face free of all make-up but she still hadn't relinquished her fierce akuma attitude.

Adrien chuckled as he casually leaned against the doorframe, managing to look relaxed and yet block her exit at the same time. "Don't you think we would have been back sooner trying to make you talk if that had been the case?"

She frowned. It was true, she hadn't seen them for a few weeks but she still looked at them untrustingly. "So why are you here? I don't think you're planning on releasing me just yet."

"You thought correct." Adrien smiled. "But that could very easily be changed."

Reflekta raised an eyebrow. "How so?"

"You should come with us." Adrien said, halting Nino when he went to grab handcuffs. "There's somebody here you really should meet."

OOO

"Reflekta?"

"Princess!"

Reflekta stayed standing in the open doorway for less than a second before she charged at the other girl who only had enough time to stand up before she was almost crushed in the force of her tight hug. The table and chairs were shunted back a little as both of them started crying, tears soaking into the green of her make-up and making it run. Adrien and Nino stood just outside the room, not wanting to intrude on the private moment but still wanting to supervise. After a few long moments, Reflekta pulled back a little only to cover Princess Fragrance's face with soft little kisses that made the girl squirm and giggle. Reflekta grinned at the sight, her lips tainted green before she cupped her face and made her pink eyes look deep into her hazel ones which were once again slowly brimming with tears.

"Are you alright?"

"Am I alright?" Princess Fragrance asked in shock. "I'm fine, what about you?!"

"Who cares about me?"

"I do! I've been worried sick, I wanted to come save you so badly but I didn't know what happened to you, what they were doing…" She gave a disgusted glance at the doorway. "You promise me you didn't get hurt?"

"I promise." Reflekta said sincerely, kissing her forehead and smoothing out her angry expression. "Nothing got hurt… except my pride that is, thanks to those two."

"You really wound us." Nino replied dryly and Adrien had to smother a laugh at his deadpan voice. "And I'm sorry to have to break up this tearful reunion but we have a few more questions for you. Both of you."

Reflekta glared over at them as she turned around, standing protectively in front of Princess Fragrance like she was worried they would spring at her and physically tear them apart. Her tall frame nearly hid the pink-haired girl from their sight but they could still see her face peeping around as she eyed them closely.

"I've already told you so much, this is way bigger than you realise. If I told you any more, I'd be dead the second I stepped out of here! I'm fine with risking my own life but I'm not doing the same with hers!"

"Wait… you already spoke to them?" Princess Fragrance looked aghast at her fellow akuma and Reflekta's mouth twitched.

"I had to. Otherwise they would have gone after you." Princess Fragrance looked stunned into silence but both cops saw her hand trail down her waist and snake into hers, clasping it tightly to show she understood. For a moment, Reflekta rapidly blinked like she was fighting back tears but soon she had regained her composure and was back to staring Nino and Adrien down. "Alright, I'll be willing to talk to you guys again but I want to know what's in it for me and her." She put her other hand on her hip as she lifted her head up with a new determination, fuelled by the hand she gripped tightly in her own. "Otherwise I'm keeping my trap shut."

There were a few seconds of silence as her words echoed in the room before Adrien shrugged and pushed himself away from the doorframe. "We figured you'd want something like that." He said simply, his eyes not leaving hers. "So we do have a proposition for you. If you talk to us again, we'll give you both the chance to disappear. You won't escape punishment completely, your crimes are just too many to count for that, but we are willing to give you our protection, the best kind we can offer. Nobody would have the chance to come after you then." He left a purposeful pause, allowing his words to sink in before he continued. "But you have to make sure the information you give us is worth it. We don't want just any old thing that pops into your head. The choice is yours."

Reflekta crossed her arms and gave him a long hard look like she was trying to suss him out. Adrien didn't move, keeping his eyes on hers the whole time and it ended up with her being the first to break away. She looked down at Princess Fragrance for a short moment and watched as the shorter girl gave a tentative nod before she spoke.

"OK. We'll answer any questions you have for us. No names though. I won't rat out anybody."

"Perfect." Adrien smiled as Nino grinned behind him. This could be the breakthrough they needed. The names weren't really important for the moment; they didn't want to just pluck away individual akumas, they wanted to get right into the heart of the organisation. "We only want a little information from you anyway. Firstly, I want to clear up something you touched on in our first interview Reflekta. You said that Hawkmoth always keeps his promises. What did you mean by that?"

Reflekta looked a little uncomfortable at the sudden interrogation, rubbing the toes of one foot on the floor but she gave a very definite answer. "I meant exactly what I said. Hawkmoth is a ruthless man, we all know that but he always keeps his promises. He makes one with every new akuma that is brought into his ranks and as long as they keep to that promise, he gives them exactly what they want. That's why the akumas are so loyal- if there is so much as a hint of betrayal, he will have no qualms about taking what he gave you away."

Nino and Adrien exchanged looks. This was a new piece of information and it made Adrien feel slightly worried. As Chat Noir, what promise would he be made to make? It was an unnerving thought but he pushed on, not wanting the tow of them to see any chink in their armour.

"Do you know what promises the other akumas made with him?"

"Some, not all." Reflekta shrugged. "Some people will tell those they trust and others find it too private to mention at all. Nobody knows Ladybug's for example."

I didn't think they would, Adrien thought. "What promise did you make with Hawkmoth?"

"I wanted to be recognised." Reflekta told him, not sounding ashamed or embarrassed about it at all. "I had committed so many crimes under so many different disguises that nobody could connect the dots and in a way that angered me. I wanted the world to see that I wasn't invisible and he gave me that chance. Now everybody knows my name and I'm no longer in the background and in return I serve him."

"I see," Nino said. "Now, this one is for Princess Fragrance." The small woman flinched at her name but she didn't look like she would back down, giving them both a level stare. "A few nights ago, some of our officers saw you and your fellow akumas travelling the streets of Paris without your leader Ladybug there. Could you possibly explain why that was?"

Princess Fragrance looked unimpressed but she still grudgingly answered. "We were heading to our main headquarters," She said honestly. "Ladybug had sent us off as a group last night as she had other business to attend to, important business, and before you ask, no I don't know what she was doing." She glared at them as if daring them to call her a liar before she continued. "We went there to talk with Hawkmoth about our newest member, Chat Noir."

"What about him?" Adrien managed to ask neutrally despite the fact his intestines were twisting inside him.

"He hasn't been properly introduced to him of course." Princess Fragrance snapped. "Hawkmoth's not going to be so much of an idiot as to let a stranger in his inner circle without having himself and the other akumas met them first. It's a really big deal so we didn't inform him of it, we didn't want to ruin the surprise. Of course, we all know he'll be fine, if he has Ladybug's support nothing can stop him."

That made Adrien feel a little better but his stomach still felt like it had been pummelled repeatedly. "Was this meeting arranged?"

"Yes for tonight." Princess Fragrance replied and Adrien nodded. Although the thought of it being so soon was terrifying, he knew it was better for it to be sooner than later; that way they could easily wrap up the case once and for all.

"One last question ladies, this time for both of you. Where is Hawkmoth's headquarters?"

Both of the girls looked at each other in shock, linked hands trembling slightly like leaves caught in the breeze. "That's… that's worth more than both our lives…" Princess Fragrance whispered and Reflekta gave a silent nod, her face pale and her mouth in a thin line. "D-do we really have to tell you that? He'd have us skinned alive…"

"If you tell us and we give you our protection, he won't be able to find you." Nino told them curtly. "That is part of our deal. But if you've both changed your minds…"

"Wait!" Reflekta shouted in her desperation, physically holding out an arm like she could grab the promise and clutch it to her chest. "Wait… it's down in the warehouse district, not far from where you arrested me. It's one of the smaller ones there but you can't miss it. Number S0109." Her hand finally fell to her side as she bowed her head. Silence filled the room again as Princess Fragrance reached a gentle arm around the taller girl's shoulders and went right up on her tiptoes to whisper in her ear and rub circles on her back.

"It's OK… anyone else would have done the same… we needed to be safe Jules, that's why… it's OK, I'm still here and I'm not going anywhere…"

Adrien looked back at Nino and his friend gave a brief nod; their work here was done. "Thank you for your co-operation ladies." Adrien said, feeling a little guilty when he saw how the pair of them were clutching to each other for support. Even with one of them still decked out in her costume, it was hard to see them both as terrifying gang members; they looked more like a pair of schoolgirls who found themselves up against the world with just each other for support. "We won't need anything more." His words were softly spoken as both cops left the room, closing the door gently before springing into action but that all went unnoticed by the couple left in the grey room. Slowly, as Reflekta made muffled sobs into her shoulder, Princess Fragrance stroked her long hair from scalp to tip, words not needed as the enormity of what had just happened sunk in.

"Hey… Rose?" Reflekta asked softly, pulling her head back a little so her forehead was dipped and resting on her girlfriend's, leaving a chalky smudge on her own skin. "We're… we're going to be fine, aren't we?"

Princess Fragrance smiled as one hand went to the back of Reflekta's neck. "Yes, we're going to be fine Juleka," She told her, leaning upwards to plant a kiss on her lips. "We're going to be fine."

OOO

That night, Chat Noir was waiting in the shadows of the arranged meeting spot he had been given by the akumas, his green eyes scanning the horizon as the bad feeling in his stomach refused to settle. Everything in him was saying this was the worst idea he had ever had and, for the first time in his living memory, he didn't have any argument against it. He tried to look relaxed, just in case he was being watched, by keeping his thumbs tucked in his belt and his head leaning lazily back against the hard wall behind him, hoping that they would still his trembling nerves. Tonight was the night where the case could either wrap up or fall apart- and it all depended on him.

He sighed. This was really the first meeting when he knew what was going to happen and now he almost wished he didn't know what was about to take place. He started wondering what would happen once this was all finished. It had consumed him for so long that to have it over would probably leave a great void in him. You'll find something else, you know you will, he thought but that gave him very little comfort. He closed his eyes and a pair of bright blue irises flashed before his own as his hand snaked up to the now faded but still painfully obvious bite mark on his neck.

Oh yeah. And he had to get over that as well. Good job Agreste.

His berating of himself was quickly interrupted by the whizzing sound of a yoyo string and he opened his eyes just as Ladybug landed a few paces away from him, her landing swift and flawless as she crouched and then straightened up, her eyes not leaving his. He could see her cheeks burning a little under her mask and her fingers were tense as they curled around her yoyo, looking like they might snap the thing as she trained herself not to reach out. He saw all those things and wondered if he was giving off the same signals. Had his breath hitched a little at the sight of her or had his body shifted so it was her and only her in his line of sight? He could only give a smirk to let her know he felt her pain and she returned it, playfulness playing at her lips as their shared memories gave them a joint rush.

Chat Noir didn't even know the other akumas had arrived with her until he heard Evillustrator's obnoxious voice sever their lifeline.

"Can we go already?" He snapped, really sounding angry at the eyes the pair were making at each other. To his right, Lady Wifi gave a pleased giggle and as Chat Noir turned to look at the three, he could have sworn he saw her wink at him. "We need to get moving, Hawkmoth won't be happy if we're late."

"Hawkmoth?" Chat Noir repeated, pushing himself from the wall and staring at them in mock surprise. "Are you for real?"

"It's just a minor thing," Ladybug brushed off his concern as she put her hand on his shoulder, a gesture that made Evillustrator look ready to explode. "He just wants to give you a look-over, make sure you're made of the right stuff. It shouldn't be long though- he knows he can trust me when it comes to these things." She gave him a small smile and he felt like his insides would melt from happiness. In that moment, he forgot what his job was and what was going to happen as he allowed himself to bask in this warm glow. This was perfect and as he smiled back and watched her grin widen, he should have released it wasn't going to last.

The bullet that sounded like thunder shot straight behind their gazes, forcing their eyes away from each other as they sprang back. It bedded itself in the wall behind them and for a split second there was silence as they all froze, staring at the small hole in the concrete with the sound ringing in their ears. Then the barrage continued. Like the clouds had opened up and started a rainstorm, the noises of metal on concrete started to ping all around them as they all covered their heads and bent down, too startled and confused to think straight.

Shit! Adrien's mind screamed as several got too close for comfort, one zooming past his ear and another almost cutting away a claw when he dared to raise his head a little. What the heck is going on?

His blood chilled when the wail of sirens started up from the ground and he heard a voice bark up at them to get down and come quietly, the voice tinged with the metal edge of a megaphone. The police? What were they doing, this was way too early! Panic seized him as the hail of bullets only seemed to get thicker and louder and it only calmed a little when he felt a hand rip at his shoulder.

"C'mon, we need to go!" Ladybug shouted in his ear, her voice filled with her usual authority as her eyes locked on his. "Get up!" That command was enough to make his panic evaporate and he hastily scrambled to his feet as she started to run, still holding him in a vice-like grip as her hand moved from his shoulder and down his arm before she clasped his hand tightly and used it to steer him like a rudder.

"We can't lead them back to the base!" She called out to the other three akumas who had huddled around her in order to hear her next command. "Take a detour and we'll shake them off our tail. You guys know what to do by now with people this persistent. And make it quick- you know how I hate to be late."

Evil grins crossed the faces of his comrades as they split away and Adrien felt a jolt of worry for the officers down below who were chasing them. It couldn't have been their fault this had cocked up so badly, they were probably only following orders… but who had overridden his? He had told them to lie low until they reached the warehouse and had all the akuma inside, ready to catch like a bunch of mice in a trap. This had now turned from a smoothly run operation to a giant mess and he had no clue how to fix it.

The gunshots carried on following their trail as Ladybug tried to shake them off her, first going in one direction, then the other in an attempt to lose them and be out of danger. After a few minutes of frantically trying to keep up and feeling like a dead weight she was dragging around, Chat Noir realised the noises behind them were beginning to thin out and soon the air around them was quiet as they both puffed like steam trains to a stop. He looked behind them and saw there was nobody below them; the akumas really did know what they were doing. Swallowing his guilt down, he turned back to his leader and saw to his horror that she was swaying on her feet.

"My Lady! Are you alright?" He forced himself to stay steady as he reached out to hold her up, feeling how both their legs were buckling from the exhaustion of their running and their fear. "Ladybug?"

"Sorry," She said gently, a weak smile plastered on her face as she once again gripped his shoulders tight. "I've been exhausting myself all day running around trying to get any information about Princess Fragrance and I haven't stopped at all. This must have been the final straw." She giggled, almost sounding delirious as she looked up at him. "Chat…"

She never finished her sentence as a sudden sound from above them made her scream and topple over. She fell right on Chat Noir as he tried but failed to keep them both upright and the back of his head hit the ground hard, sending pain shooting all through his body and making him cry out. Ladybug's weight on top of his chest knocked the wind from him and he spluttered as she righted herself, her hands either side of his head in a parody of their position last night.

"Chat are you…" He heard her try to speak above him but her voice was cut off mid-sentence by a gasp and he suddenly felt her arms begin to violently shake.

"Ladybug… I'm fine… Owww…" He murmured as he rose on hand to his face. He rubbed his forehead, expecting to feel leather there but instead his finger met the softness of his own skin. His eyes shot open as he turned his head to the side, not wanting to believe what his senses were telling him. Only about a few inches from his face, his black mask sat crumpled on the ground, one end pointing upwards towards the sky in the exact place it had landed when it had been knocked from his face. He looked back upwards and at once caught the betrayal in those blue eyes that were slowly filling with water as she looked down at him. He was about to start trying to explain when he saw the state of her mask and his words dried up on his tongue. Her red and black mask was still on her face but only just as one corner still determinedly clung to one cheek, only serving to conceal the tiniest of patches of her skin. The rest of her face was left exposed for the whole world to see and as they both stared at each other in shock, time froze as they each uttered the other's name at the same time.

"Adrien?"

"Marinette!"

I know, I'm awful with cliffhangers, please don't hate me!

Anyway, I feel really guilty that this took so long (it feels like forever since I last updated) but I'm having my butt kicked by uni right now and although I love it, I'm kinda exhausted, almost as bad as Ladybug is. I'm going to try and get the next chapter up quicker because I don't want to leave you in suspense for too long, I'm not that evil.

I hope you guys liked it and aren't out for my blood or anything. Please review if you want!