Edit Note: This repost contains new content. Also, I'm officially putting this story on hiatus. This chapter made me realize I needed a break from the story. I hated writing this chapter, I ended up posting it because I got sick of looking at it and I felt like I had to post something. I knew the chapter wasn't up to my usually wasn't up to my usual standard but I posted it anyways because I felt pressured, and I don't like that. I've been working on this story non-stop since January, that's eight months of pretty much only working on this story. It's no wonder I'm getting burned out. I will try to at least update one more chapter before Nano, but if I don't manage it I hope you will understand. Thank you to everyone who's been following this until now. I hope that when I return from my hiatus, you will still be here.
Edit Note #2: This is being reposted yet again because I want to respond to a reviewer, but they have the PM feature turned off. The review reads: How long will the Hiatus be? Cuz u r gonna let down at least couple of hundred people here.'. seriously, you're first response to me saying I'm taking a break because I'm burnt out, is to try to make me feel guilty? Rude as hell. I KNOW people won't be happy. But I don't owe you or anyone else who reads this story anything. I need a break so I'm taking one, end of story. If I continue forcing myself to write this story, I WILL hate it and I WILL end up dropping it. Leaving this review has only served to piss me off and make me want to work on this even less.
DO NOT LEAVE REVIEWS LIKE THIS ON ANY STORY GUYS! Reviews like this are rude, and only serve to irritate the author. Also, don't demand updates, don't ask when updates will come. These kinds of things only add pressure, which makes it hard to write.
One last note. August 21 is fanfic writer appreciation day, so please try to leave a review on fics. Yes we writers write for ourselves, but it's a nice boost to know people out there care.
A/N: Time for another talk! But I promise this one will be less serious, and hopefully shorter. Since I'm pretty sure no one currently following this story followed my other fics, I need to prepare you for what's to come. This year will be my sixth year participating in Nanowrimo. Nanowrimo is short for 'National Novel Writing Month'. In the month of November participants attempt to complete a 50k word story. Since it's August, it's officially Nanowrimo prep season for me. I WILL still be working on this story, as I want to get a decent among of plot done before Nano, but I can't guarantee how much I'll get done because planning my Nano project is my top priority. And when November comes, I will officially be on Hiatus until I finish Nano and recover. But don't despair, you'll have something to look forward to when Nano is finished. My beta will probably hate me, but I think you guys will enjoy it.
"Reading on the job, My Lady?" Chat teases, landing next to her.
Ladybug looks up with a smile. "You're the one who took so long to finish patrolling. See anything?"
"Not much. Most people have heeded the warning to stay inside at night."
"Most?" Ladybug raises her eyebrow in a questioning manner.
"I saw someone I know walking around," Chat sighs, running a hand through his hair. "I have to figure out a way to talk to them about it."
"Were they an Akuma victim?"
"Yeah, a few years ago. Anyways, what are you reading?"
Deciding to let the subject drop for now, Ladybug holds up her phone so Chat can see the screen. "Nathaniel updated the comic."
"He's taking an interesting turn."
"You could call it that."
"Aw, come on, My Lady. Everyone loves a love story," Chat grins.
Ladybug sighs, putting her phone away. "Doesn't this worry you? How close he's gotten to being right?"
"Right about what?"
"About us. How we transform. He calls them fairies, but they work exactly the same as Plagg and Tikki. And they even look similar."
"He tried to take a different approach on the magical superheroes trope and got lucky," Chat shrugs. "I wouldn't worry about it. Now if he'd added Caleo before she appeared, I'd be worried."
"He's adding in a new hero. There's a glimpse of a girl in the shadows."
"I noticed that, but she looks nothing like Caleo. It's possible he just wanted to add a new hero. It's supposed to be a work of fiction after all."
"So you think I'm being too paranoid?" Ladybug asks in a tone that's still a touch concerned but also relieved.
"Just a bit."
"Alright, you win. Let's talk about something else."
"There is something I've been wanting to ask you about," Chat hesitantly admits. "But I've been….worried that you won't take it as me just being curious because of….because of what happened."
"What's the question, Chat?"
"Well, I've been wondering how things are going with your prince charming?"
Ladybug's eyes widen slightly. "Oh."
"You don't have to answer of course. I just thought I'd ask since you know about the girl I like."
"Things are...fine I guess." Ladybug looks away to hide her reddening face. "I um, I actually haven't said anything yet."
"The courageous Ladybug afraid of telling a guy her feelings?"
"You're not any better!" Ladybug snaps, scowling at her partner. "Last I heard, you hadn't said anything to your princess."
Chat raises his eyebrows. "Princess?" She couldn't possibly know...could she?
"Hey, you're the one who picked the royalty theme."
"Fair point." Chat grins mischievously, "How about a little challenge?"
"You know I like a challenge." Ladybug smiles with confidence. "Let's hear it."
"I'll say something to my princess, if you'll talk to your prince," Chat proposes.
"I can't just-"
"Prom," he cuts off Ladybug's protest. "We have to ask them to prom, that's the challenge."
"And if one of us chickens out?" Ladybug asks.
"Then they take over patrol for two weeks?"
"That'll effect Caleo, that's not fair since she's not involved."
"We could get her involved." Chat grins. "I'll bet there's someone she likes."
"Chat no-"
"Too late. I'm calling her." Chat pulls out his phone and dials Caleo's number, putting it on speaker.
"Hey Chat, did something happen?"
"No, Ladybug and I have a challenge going and want to know if you'd like to participate."
"Chat wants you to, I tried telling him it's a bad idea," Ladybug corrects, crossing her arms.
"Fine, I'd like you to do it with us."
"Of course, you may not be able to."
"Why not?"
"Well, in order to participate you need to have a crush on someone," Chat supplies.
There's silence for a moment, "You guys are supposed to be patrolling. What are you getting up to out there?"
"No one said we have to be serious all the time." Chat teases. "So I take it you do have a crush on someone?"
"Please tell me this challenge doesn't involve embarrassing myself."
"Not at all. All you have to do is ask your special someone to prom."
"You assume I'm not home schooled."
"Are you?" The duo asks in unison.
"...No." Caleo admits. "Is there at least someone kind of reward slash penalty for this?"
"If you chicken out you have to do all patrols, that aren't joint patrols, by you self for two weeks."
"Hm….make it three weeks and we have a deal." Caleo sounds more confident now. "What's the time limit?"
"Friday before prom?" Chat suggests. "We'll be getting together for patrol anyways."
"Sounds good to me. Ladybug?"
"That's fine, I guess."
She's going to be stuck with patrols for sure.
"Plagg, is Chat Noir always a boy?"
"Not always." Plagg knew Adrien would ask eventually. "It's rare, but girls have been Chat Noir. Usually they're a twin."
"So Chat Noir doesn't always fall for Ladybug?"
"In those cases no. There's an exception to every rule Adrien. They're still soulmates though, two halves of a whole."
"Niko had my ring."
"I know what you're thinking kid, and it's possible. The way those two acted, their personalities even...they'd be good candidates."
"But Collette wasn't wearing earrings." Adrien points out.
"That's because they're both under age." Plagg explains. "Normally, the chosen are adults. In rare cases, teens are chosen, but they don't transform until they've had years of training."
"But Ladybug and I-"
"Were an exception to the rule. Papillon rose to power sooner then any of us expected. We thought for sure Nooroo was laying low. The best candidates for the next Chosen were only fourteen, but there was nothing to be done about it."
"Caleo said she was chosen when she was eleven."
"And she didn't transform until she was about fifteen. She had four years of practice under her belt. She was prepared."
"Unlike us." Adrien sighs.
"Honestly kid, I think she was chosen by accident. She stumbled into the shop sooner than your mother anticipated. Humans are complicated creatures, we had no way of knowing that Caleo's mother would commit suicide, prompting her to wander the streets and stumble upon Master Fu's shop."
Plagg lands on Adrien's knee, a frown set on his lips. "You're avoiding what we should be discussing."
"I don't want to talk about it Plagg."
" I'd like to avoid anymore heart to hearts than are strictly necessary, but I think it's important that we talk about what happened with Chloe. Considering everything you've been through, what you said to her is a big deal."
"Because I'm in love with her. If you care about our friendship at all, that should be enough for you."
"After what happened with Sabine, I didn't think you'd admit it out loud anytime soon." Plagg admits. "Loving someone and being loved in returned, it's scary."
"I'm fine."
"Adrien, you had an anxiety attack because you mom told you she loves you. You're not fine."
Adrien remains silent, eyes dropping to the floor as he fiddles with the charm bracelet on his wrist.
"I'm not criticizing you, I don't expect you to be perfect. If I had realized sooner, I wouldn't have pushed you so hard."
"I don't know why I react this way." Adrien mutters, sounding defeated.
"Because the two people who are supposed to love you know matter what betrayed the trust you had in their love for you. It's scary because love for you has equaled people leaving you. It causes anxiety because you don't know how to be loved anymore. Because the last time a woman said she loved you, she disappeared. For all the bravado you put on around Ladybug, you were scared. You never confessed because you couldn't. If you're honest with yourself, you'll admit that part of you was relieved when she prematurely rejected you. She saved you from having to come out and say it."
"But I told Chloe."
"I'm going to go out of character and act like Tikki for a moment. There are many forces in this world. Fate, destiny, us kwami, but far stronger than all of those is love. In fairy tales you read about true love's kiss breaking the spell and heroes triumphing over the villains because they hold love in their hearts. I have seen love destroy men and seen it turn the weakest of people into champions." Plagg flies up to rub his head against Adrien's cheek. "You love Marinette and that is what pushes you to piece the broken parts of yourself back together. You want to be better for her. Maybe you can't say it to Marinette yet, but you made a big step today. "
"That's what Tikki sounds like?" Adrien weakly smiles. "Ladybug is lucky."
Plagg pulls away to look Adrien in the eye. He's smiling softly, his eyes sparkling with...something. " Listen up, because you're probably never going to here this from me again. I'm proud of you, kid. You've done good."
"So who are the other two miraculous holders?"
The three heroes sit atop Notre Dame, once again in disguises so their kwami can be free to talk with them.
"Aside from Master Fu, we don't currently know who their civilian identities are." Tikki tells Marinette. "Their hero names are Genbu, Volpina and Cer."
Caleo laughs at this, prompting strange looks from the others.
"I'm sorry. It's just that Cer is pronounced the same way as an english word…" She bites back a final laugh. "Sorry, keep going Tikki."
"Wait, you know english?" Chat asks in surprise.
"Yes, I've been studying with Master Fu for years. One of the current holder is an english speaker, he's been learning since you two were chosen but Master Fu thought it'd be a good idea for me to learn just in case."
"So you know who-"
"No, I don't know who they are; Master Fu has never told me. All I've gotten out of him is that Cer is male and Volpina is female."
"Why wouldn't he tell you?" Ladybug questions.
She simply shrugs. "Same reason he hasn't told me your identities, I don't need to know. They'll join us if it becomes necessary."
"Which isn't always the case." Rikku chimes in. "There have been times when Ladybug and Chat Noir were able to take down Papillon."
"Their miraculous are animal themed as well. Volpina is themed around foxes, and Cer around peafowl." Caleo explains. "If they join us, it probably won't be until we're ready to fight Papillon. With how strong he's becoming, it's too much of a risk for us to be gathered."
"What I'd like to know, is why Papillon's so powerful." Plagg says as he flies back and forth across a short distance.
"Don't worry, I'm working on it."
"You're what?"
Chat Noir stares at his kwami, eyes wide in shock. In the four years he's spent with Plagg, he's never heard him so angry. Never heard him actually yell.
"I told you guy, I've been getting info on Papillon. I haven't quit that just because-"
"You will stop it right now." Plagg snaps, flying close to Caleo's face. "Now that your face is all over the news, now that Papillon knows you exist, you are to stay away from him."
"But I-"
"No! You teenagers are all so arrogant."
"Plagg." Tikki tries to reason.
"You think that having special powers makes you invincible, but they don't." Plagg continues as if she hadn't said anything. "We don't. Do you know why Rikku hated you when you first met her?"
"Plagg, please." This time it's Rikku.
"I'll tell you why. Because the last group of weilders got cocky." Plagg glares at the girl. "Five. Five of the chosen, and the Keeper, died trying to do something they had no buisness sticking their nose in."
Silence falls heavily over the group.
"...What happened?" It's Chat the breaks it with a small whisper.
"They were blown up." Plagg turns to his chosen. "By a group of humans that were already so vile they didn't need Papillon's help to kill hundreds of civilians. That incident is why the Miraculous are only brought together in desperate times. And that is why Rikku rejected you. She, out of all of us, held the biggest grudge. And this, this arrogance," Plagg turns back to Caleo, "is precisely why I told the Keeper that choosing teenagers was a terrible idea."
"You never told me about that." Ladybug looks up at Tikki, her eyebrows knitted together.
"That's because Tikki is far too forgiving." Plagg mutters.
"That is not true."
"Need I remind you of Molly?"
"Please plagg." Rikku cuts it, flying between the two.
"It wasn't her fault." Tikki fires back. "I know you don't think that but-"
"She killed him." Plagg shouts. "It's her fault that Chat Noir met an untimely death, and there is no forgiving that."
"Okay, time for a timeout." Rikku grabs the arguing kwami by the arms and flies away, despite the protesting teenagers below her.
"Caleo?" Chat looks to the girl, a question in his eyes.
"Don't look at me, I didn't learn about the lives of past Ladybugs and Chat Noirs."
"That's because it is not your place." Rikku sighs as she flies back to the group. "The lives of Ladybug and Chat Noir are harder than you know, Caleo. As I'm sure they can confirm."
"What did Plagg mean?" Ladybug asks. "Did this Molly girl really kill her Chat Noir?"
"Ladybug, please just let it go for now."
"But I've-"
"I know." The kwami cuts her off. "It's not what you're thinking of, I promise. Plagg would never hold that incident against Tikki. They'll be fine, this fight happens from time to time. And I'm sure they will tell you when they think the time is right."
"...What about you?" Ladybug's voice trembles.
"Hm?"
"Do you believe Molly killed her Chat Noir?"
"Ladybug…" Chat takes her hand in his, giving it a squeeze.
"Please Rikku."
The Kwami let's out a long sigh, "I believe that you humans are complicated creatures. You are always growing and learning."
"That doesn't answer my question."
"Ladybug, you don't need to hear this." Caleo slides herself so she's sitting next to Ladybug and wraps an arm around her. "It's not important."
"It is to me." Ladybug whispers. "Rikku, I need to know."
Rikku flies in a few slow circles, contemplating her thoughts. "Molly...If I'm being honest, I don't think she should have been chosen as Ladybug. She clearly wasn't right for the job."
"Rikku." Ladybug snaps. "Stop avoiding the question and just give me an answer."
"I'm trying, but I don't know Ladybug. Really, I don't." Rikku admits with a helpless shrug. "Ultimately, Micah made the decision, but…"
"But?"
Rikku lets out another sigh, closing her eyes. "But Molly was the one who pushed him to it." When her eyes open again, their shining with tears. "What you need to understand is that you humans...some of your societies are far behind our kind. The Kwami have been around for thousands of years, we've had time to learn and adapt. But your world...it can be cruel. Molly was a product of her time and Micah was a victim of his. That Molly was not able to rise above this, is why I say she should not have been chosen. Ultimately if Molly had been better, Micah wouldn't have died."
"So you do blame her."
"It's not that simple." Rikku shakes her head. "You humans see the world in black and white, when really it's nothing but shades of grey. I blame society, blame the humans who even now are so small minded that a boy like Micah was pushed to the brink. Who pushed him so far that he only found happiness and acceptance from behind a mask. I hold both Molly and Micah responsible for what happened. Micah was selfish and Molly was cruel. Yet both thought they were doing the right thing."
"What happened to them?"
"It is not my place to answer that. If you can't piece it together from your memories, then you must wait for Plagg and Tikki to discuss it when they are ready." Rikku gives each of the chosen a stern glance, "Do not push the issue. Both of them were scared by what happened. Plagg had never lost a Chat Noir that way, and Tikki...she was forced to take the Miraculous from her chosen for the first time."
"I think I understand why you hated humans so much." Caleo quietly states.
"The cruelty of this world is what corrupted my Nooroo; I still hold a grudge for that. You three give me hope, I pray that you do not become corrupted as well."
As the school day slowly drags on, Adrien finds himself regretting making the bet with Ladybug more and more. He'd hoped it'd give him a push to finally say something to Marinette, but everytime he tried to talk to her something came up.
Adrien is silently admitting defeat when he spots Nathaniel talking with a tall blond who's definitely too old to attend Lycee. When blue-ish grey eyes meet Adrien's, he places the face to a name.
"Are you ever going to stop being a doormat for your father?"
Adrien looks up from from the book he'd been reading. He'd only spoken with his fellow model a few times, but Adrien and Felix don't exactly get along. "I respect my father and want to make him happy."
"By being a doormat."
"I'm not a doormat." Adrien scowls. "I, unlike you, happen to have respect for my elders. And I, unlike you, care what other people think about me."
"But I, unlike you am not a doormat." Felix smirks. "When you're done being your father's doormat, you should let me know. We can hang out; I'd like to get to know you better."
"Why would you want to know me?" Adrien asks in surprise.
"I'll tell you next time." Felix smirks and walks away with his hand in his pocket.
There isn't a next time though. A short time later, Adrien gets informed that Felix quit modeling. For some reason, hearing this made Adrien hate Felix even more.
"What are you doing here, Felix?" Adrien asks coldly.
"Well hello to you too." Felix smirks, patting Nathaniel's shoulder. "If you must know, I came to visit Nathaniel here."
"You two know each other?"
"Felix is the co-author of More Than a Mask." Nathaniel explains.
"Felix is the co-author you keep going on about?" Adrien's voice holds disbelief. Felix, a writer? That image doesn't fit.
"Careful, I might think you don't like me." Felix feigns a hurt expression. "I've been following the Ladyblog for a while, and when I saw that Nathaniel was looking for help I offered my services."
"Alya's blog is really getting popular if you've been reading it." Adrien mutters.
"She should be proud, not everybody gets to watch real life superheroes in action. I'm hoping I'll get to see the famous Chat Noir and Ladybug in action while I'm here."
"How long will you be staying, by the way?" Nathanael asks.
"I'll probably stick around for a couple of months."
"Can you do that?"
"The perk of my job is that I can do it from almost anywhere." Felix smiles. "As long as I'm still turning in work, my editor doesn't care. Actually, he might be happy I'm here if I can get an interview with the resident heroes."
'Yeah, that's not going to happen.'
"Anyways, we'd better get going. Your mom won't be happy with us if we're late. I'll see you around, Adrien. That is, your father will let you out of the house. I remember quite clearly how...protective he was. Maybe if you've learned to stand up to him the three of us can hang out sometime."
Felix laughs at Adrien's scowl and wraps his arm around Nathaniel's shoulder, causing his shirt to ride up slightly. Adrien catches a glimpse of a sea-green belt buckle but before he can get a better look, Felix turns around and walks off with Nathaniel.
"Who was that?"
The sudden appearance of Alix makes Adrien jump. "Felix, he's Nathaniel's co-author."
"Felix...huh. What is he doing here?"
Adrien shrugs, "Helping Nathaniel with the comic, I guess? He said he came to surprise Nathaniel."
"I see." Alix chews on the inside of her cheek for a moment, lost in thought. "Take a walk with me."
"What?"
"Take a walk with me." She repeats, a hand on her hip. "We can get smoothies or something and talk. I feel bad for letting you completely bomb today."
The back of Adrien's neck heats up, "W-what do you mean?"
"There's no point trying to hide it. I know what you were trying to ask Marinette all day."
"O-oh. Was I being that obvious?"
"No, I've just been keeping my eye on you so I could step in if you need some help. And boy do you need help." Alix slips her arm around Adrien's and starts pulling him down the sidewalk. "I want to help you. So let's take a walk and create a battle plan."
"Why are you so willing to help me?" Adrien questions. "Not that I don't appreciate it. I know we're friends but…"
"Marinette makes you happy, that's enough isn't it?" Alix fires back, a soft smile forming. "We could be hit by a bus and die tomorrow, so we have to jump on the happy moments while we can."
"That's a bit morbid."
"But it's also true. We don't know what tomorrow will hold so we have to enjoy today while it lasts. I want you to find happiness before you run out of tomorrows."