Sorry for the late chapter again, the Christmas craziness has really held me up :D
Anyway, enjoy~
In order not to attract attention they had agreed to meeting up behind the house in front of Hawkmoth's lair. Going there in a group would've certainly been odd, especially with Marinette. Someone would've noticed them.
So they had planned that Alya would go get two safety vests and meet with Nino, Marinette and Chat Noir, who would come there alone. Adrien hadn't liked the idea of letting Marinette go alone at all so she had suggested that he could also watch over her as Chat Noir. He had begrudgingly given in, silently grateful that Marinette didn't argue with him. The streets of Paris were still a dangerous place for her, especially in the dark.
The girl sighed as she zipped up the form fitting costume, adjusted by her to look exactly like her magical suit. She eyed herself in the mirror and sighed, biting her lip at how skinny she had become. She hadn't been the heaviest girl in the class beforehand but now she certainly was the lightest. Her hip bones protruded at the front and when she lifted her arms her elbows looked like deformed balls between two sticks. She had lost too much weight over the last months, that was for sure. Adrien surely would freak out as soon as he saw her in the costume… But one thing was missing.
The most important.
She stepped away from her mirror and to her desk where the mask laid. It had a tiny rubber band to keep it firmly in place and she could easily hide it under her hair. With a comb she parted her hair at the back of her head, making herself a little bun on top so she could easily pull the mask on. Then she let her hair down again and paused before she would start the familiar movements with which she had tied up her pigtails for years over years.
Her fingers trembled when she parted the hair on the back of her head again, sideways this time, mindful of the rubber band. With a practiced training, her hair was tied together in two equal pigtails, feeling like her old self. She squinted her eyes, her mask moving so wrongly as she did so. She grabbed the fake yoyo and put it on her hip, tying it to it's place. Then she took a deep breath and positioned herself in front of her mirror again, eyes still squinted.
She didn't know what she expected. Or how she would react.
She remembered the very first time of seeing herself like this, in the same mirror in front of which she now stood. Maybe it would hurt, maybe she would start crying or screaming, or maybe she would even feel proud again. She truly didn't know.
"C'mon Marinette.", she whispered to herself, her voice sounding way too much like Tikki's encouraging words, "You can do this. C'mon."
As she opened her eyes she had to look away instantly again. In front of her stood Ladybug.
When she slowly looked back again she felt tears pooling up in her eyes but at the same time she didn't feel different. No, quite the opposite.
It actually felt really familiar. The strange aura, the-… Courage that radiated from her appearance.
She was back.
Sneaking past her parents hadn't been a problem. She had just climbed out onto her balcony, after putting on a big sweater, some jogging pants, shoes and a big cap over her costume, and used the fire escape ladder down to the street. Just a few steps down the street she already felt her boyfriend's presence, his radiant green eyes watching her from the rooftops. He must've waited for her, she noted with a slight smile.
And he never left her unattended. Even if she crossed a bigger street, he was always right above her, watching her closely. She had never felt as safe as she felt now, even with the knowledge of what the evening held for her.
Finally, she arrived at the building where se had told her friends to meet up with her. Instantly, as she stepped into the small gap between the two buildings that stood across of Hawkmoth's observatory, she heard boots as light as a cat's feet touching down on the ground. Before she could even turn around his arms were wrapped around her, his nose on her cap.
"I missed you, my lady…", he mumbled, a quiet purr rumbling against her back. She smirked and snuggled against him, hugging his arms that were tightly locked around her shoulders.
"But I'm back, Chat."
She felt him recoil and giggled a bit more at how much she must've sounded like the old Ladybug just now, teasing and caring. Almost even a bit joyful. He parted and turned her around, his eyes widening at the mask that she wore.
"That-… That looks really convincing…"
Marinette sighed, shrugging lightly as his thumbs brushed over the mask that was strapped to her face.
"Well, if it didn't it wouldn't work. So, I made sure it would look okay."
Chat nodded, pressing his lips together as his eyes wandered down. As if he could see the costume beneath her clothes.
"And you're sure?", he asked for the umpteenth time to which she just rolled her eyes, pressing a little kiss to his cheek.
"Yep, absolutely."
Nino arrived as the third, looking anxious and tense. His hands were buried in the pockets of his jeans and he also stopped at her appearance. After waiting another few minutes for Alya, she finally arrived. Holding out a safety vest to Nino.
His eyes wandered up and down on her, questioning.
"Where's your vest?", he asked, not taking the one Alya held out to him. She kept her gaze down, her arm slowly getting tired since the vest was rather heavy.
"They-… They didn't wanna give me one… Sabrina's father finally snuck me one but he, uhm-… That the only one he could spare without anyone noticing. I-…", she sniffled, "I want you to have it."
"Absolutely not.", Nino crossed his arms, his expression getting stern, "Or you stay behind."
"We need to move, people.", Chat answered instead of Alya, breaking up the fight that was about to start. He wanted to be on the roof and looking out for Hawkmoth as soon as they could.
So, Alya shouldered the vest to climb up the fire escape ladder while Chat merely took Marinette in his arms, using his baton to lift them both onto the flat roof.
Nino followed suit, furrowing his eyebrows as he went. He surely wouldn't accept the vest from Alya.
"Is he still not there?"
"No.", slowly, Marinette's fighting spirit faded. They had waited for an hour now and it was getting dark outside. Cold breezes swept over Paris and she shivered in the thin costume. Chat had brought them a few blankets after the wait had gotten a little too long and now they took turns with shifts to watch over the dark building. They were facing the big window and with every minute that went by, the feeling increased that something must be wrong.
"And you are sure-…?"
"Yes, I am sure that everytime Hawkmoth was in there, with or without Akuma attack, the window was open, Chat. I told you several times now and I am not lying."
"Sorry, m'lady.", he mumbled.
"I'm sorry, Chat, I-… Chat?"
He had returned to the others already and didn't hear her anymore. She sighed but stayed laying on the edge of the building overlooking Hawkmoth's observatory. A little smile played on her lips as she overheard Alya and Nino talking.
"Nino, you should wear that vest. You'll run in more likely than I will and I don't want-… Well-… You should wear it, that's all."
"What are you, crazy? I won't let you – keep that vest on, damnit – I won't let you give it to me. You'll need the protection because Hawkmoth knows you're Marinette's best friend. And even when he'll be occupied with Chat Noir fighting him, you'll need to stay protected."
"But I know you, and I don't want you to run in and-…"
"Neither do I. And you'll keep it. Got it?"
"Nino, no! I won't-…"
"Dude, help me!"
"If Alya would be my lady-…", the feline hero spoke up and Marinette could already hear the smirk in his voice, "I would never accept that offer. The lady's need to be protected."
She heard Nino and Chat laughing and fist bumping while Alya groaned.
"Machos…", she mumbled.
The bluenette heard rustling and now it was Nino's turn to groan.
"Keep that vest on, woman. I don't want it."
"Nino, please, I-…"
Marinette grinned and got up to walk back to them.
"Alya, I have to stick with Nino in this one. Keep it on, please."
They looked up as she reached them and snuggled herself beneath the blanket that was draped over Alya's shoulders. The brunette grumpily laid an arm around her shoulder but didn't say a word. Thankfully, Marinette felt much warmer in an instant. Nino understood, nodded and got up to watch over Hawkmoth's lair.
"Chat, I'm sorry. I'm a nervous wreck right now and I guess you are too, so I shouldn't have been so hard to you. You're worrying like I am."
He looked up and nodded smiling.
"C'mere, princess."
She excused herself from Alya who grinned and pushed her out the blanket. Marinette turned, seated herself in Chat's crossed legs on his lap and leant her head on his shoulder. He draped his arms around her and held her close.
"Everything's going to be fine, Mari. We'll defeat Hawkmoth and he won't know what happened to him. Alright?"
She sighed again, rubbing her forehead against his neck.
"I'm just-… I'm afraid, to be honest.", she admitted.
"I know. But don't be. I'm with you. These two are with you. And Tikki's gonna be back with you in no time."
Marinette nodded, taking Alya's hand she held out for her. They relaxed for a moment, enjoying the quiet.
These could be the last moments, Marinette realized. The last moments she could be held by Adrien, the last moments she could squeeze Alya's hands. And with a jolt, she remembered that she hadn't even told her parents goodbye. Tears pooled up in her eyes and she whimpered, pressing herself tighter against Chat.
"I-… I didn't tell my parents I loved them… I didn't even tell them that I'm gone. I-… I didn't even-… All I thought about was sneaking out… I-… Oh gosh, I didn't tell them goodbye."
Alya shrugged, brushing over Marinette's knuckles.
"I didn't tell mine either. That just means that we won't let anything happen tonight, doesn't it?"
Chat pressed a kiss to her temple, nodding in agreement.
"I won't let anything happen to any of you. I promise."
She allowed herself to relax and lean back again. They were right. Chat wouldn't let anything happen and they would return home safe and sound.
Until Nino gasped.
"Guys, guys! The window has opened!"
They all jumped and crawled up to Nino's spot on the roof. The window had opened and they saw Hawkmoth walking around in the room. He seemed to be talking to something, Marinette assumed, because he paced and used his hands in an excessive manner.
Was he untransformed?
Did he talk to his Kwami?!
Her eyes went wide and she tried to see more but the room was too dark. She couldn't see who it was. If we could see his secret identity…
"We need to move, quickly! He's not transformed! We need to see who he really is!"
Chat understood immediately, wrapping an arm around her waist, pulling her closer to him.
"I got you. Nino, Alya, hang on to my back, I'll break the window and we'll attack now!"
With that, he extended his baton, smashing a good part of the window in hawkmoth's observatory. The hero didn't waste any time, putting his baton to the ground and swinging across the street, with his friends tightly grabbing on to him. Marinette touched her mask, hoping it still was attached. To her relief it was.
They flew through the opened window and Chat landed softly, letting them slide to their feet as they faced him. The breeze of their landing sent a few butterflies fluttering away. Hawkmoth had been fast enough to transform, Marinette realized, and clenched her teeth. Even if they didn't know his secret identity, they would still fight him.
"Hawkmoth.", she greeted coldly, her eyes narrowing.
"But, Ladybug, how are you-…! How did you-…!", the man immediately went into a defensive pose, both his hands firmly on his cane.
She moved a bit, keeping his attention on her and not on Nino and Alya. He was still confused so she could protect them while giving Chat an opportunity to locate her Miraculous.
"Hawkmoth, surrender or else. You've got no chance against Chat and me."
"But-… How were you able to transform?!", the man growled, bringing his cane closer to his chest. Before he could surge forward, though, because Chat moved to attack immediately. He ran forward and swung his baton, right to hit his face.
A sudden movement flashed before Chat was thrown back. Hawkmoth had drawn a sword out of his cane and had parried his blow. The feline hero slithered back on the floor and held his arm, his face contorted in pain.
"Chat!"
"I'm okay! You stay out of this!"
Chat jumped up and tried a different technique now. He encircled Hawkmoth and constantly extended his baton to hit him. He tried to make him spin around to keep him in sight so that Marinette could search for the Miraculous. She noticed that the man's suit was flawless, except for one thing. There was a little bulge, right on his chest, that stuck out when he turned and she saw his profile. He must've tried to ensure himself that the Miraculous had still been there when she had jumped in and confused him.
"There they are!", she whispered to Alya, now determined, "I'm going in."
