Chapter 2

Hardship of a Villain

Hi everyone! I hope you'll like this new chapter, more about Adrien/Cat Noir.

Being a model and having to dwell in High society had allowed Adrien Agrest to make himself a solid mask, way before becoming Cat Noir. Not that he couldn't be genuine or honest with people, but hiding his negative emotions was very easy and it had become an extremely handy talent. He didn't show let the guilt show whenever he was around Alya, he only agreed with Marinette when she told her she had to be more careful next time a villain appeared. He was glad someone thought like him, all the others seemed to want nothing but hear details of her story. But now, Marinette was more sensible than a lot of people he knew.

He didn't show his deception either. Everyone rejoiced in Ladybug's victory, and he faked being happy too, with ease. He feigned admiration, when he cursed her inside. He could have caught her! She had turned back before he did, she had been vulnerable and if only he had been able to find her he would have seen her real face, and got hold of her miraculous! Not knowing who she was, seeing her escape every time…That was nagging him so much it stopped him from sleeping at night. While she was prancing around, his mother's body was frozen.

A part of him knew that it wasn't her fault, after all, she wasn't responsible for what happened to his family. But each time he thought of his mom, it just hurt badly, and he couldn't help but hate her because she was all that stood between him and the miraculous.

"My dad was so disappointed they didn't get Cat Noir! But I'm sure he will get him one day," Sabrina said.

"Please, if someone can get Cat Noir, it's Ladybug!" Chloe declared.

Her usual bratty voice was annoying, but Adrien had to admit she was right: it was much more likely for him to be caught by the heroine.

"Whoever arrests him, I'll be happy," Nino concluded. "I'd like to know who it is. Who do you think he is?"

"It's not as if I had any hints!" Adrien giggled.

It was better to laugh at the situation, to be amused by the fact no one knew who he was. Unlike Ladybug, he wasn't rewarded with glory and love, but now could he really blame people? Cat Noir did nothing to be loved. Pushing aside the sadness, he continued to joke normally: at least Adrien Agrest was liked by them. He wondered how Ladybug's life was when she was under her normal identity. Did she have a loving family? Or was she feeling lonely too? Nah, he bet that she didn't know what loneliness was.

When he came back home, he was greeted by Nathalie as usual and was surprised to hear his father was waiting for him in his office. It was probably nothing good. Adrien sighed, the atmosphere in here was so cold it sometimes urged him to go out as Cat Noir and just stay all night on the roofs of Paris. He would still be alone, but at least he would feel free.

"What does he want? I hope we don't have to take another photoshoot, I'd rather relax at home," Plagg yawned while laying lazily on his shoulder.

"Come on, you would relax in my bag. You spend your day chilling and sleeping when you don't eat."

"Felines needs a lot of sleep! And it's not that great to sleep in a bag, I prefer to take a nap on your bed. Though I'd rather play a bit before sleeping."

Adrien smiled at him. Maybe he wouldn't go out, spending time with Plagg could be really fun at times. Those happy thoughts disappeared as he entered his room and saw his father standing by the window. He had his back turned to him, standing in that usual stiff and cold stance. Sometimes it seemed like all warmth had left his dad. Plagg went in his owner's pocket: Gabriel really creped him.

"Hello, father. You're still mad at me?" Adrien asked without needing an answer.

"I hope you thought of what I told you yesterday," Gabriel stated, his back to his son.

Straightening his stance to give himself some courage, Adrien replied in a determined voice: "I did. I still don't agree."

This time, Gabriel turned to him, obviously angry: "You allowed Ladybug to win! You didn't have to save that girl, you had to focus on Ladybug!"

"So does your villains, they're supposed to help me against her and yet that one was more focused on sacrificing Alya! She is not just an expendable thing, she is a person too, dad! I wouldn't have had to do that if you had a better control…"

"I could have taken his power away at any time! She wasn't in real danger…"

"Why don't I believe you?"

Gabriel frowned at this and approached him, keeping his hands behind his back. "Remember who gave you this power, Adrien. And don't forget what's the most important."

With that, his father left and the boy sighed, slumping on his chair. Plagg got out after the door was closed: "How about some cheese to cheer up?!"

Adrien gave him a bit and the little creature swallowed it whole. Still staring down, the boy felt like he wanted nothing but punch something. He wanted to help his father, but why did he have to be so careless with human lives?! And it was his friends, the only pals he had, couldn't Gabriel care a bit?! Didn't his feelings matter too?! Was his dad really blaming him for not letting a young girl die?!

His kwami looked at him hesitantly before getting a white billiard ball and throwing it near the teenager. He took it without much motivation and threw it back. The kwami caught it easily and threw it again at him. The boy started to grin again and continued the little game. As it went on, he was feeling some joy back, Plagg would make little jokes which made him laugh. He had to admit it, he was good at this game. Adrien jumped back on his feet and put more strength into his next move.

"Catch this one!"

He threw it harder than the others and froze as he realized the ball was going toward the window. Plagg rushed at it and caught it right before it broke the glass. Adrien huffed in amazement and went back to the little creature.

"Thank God you didn't miss it!"

"Always here to help!"

The cat gave it back to him with pride and the boy felt really grateful, but he wasn't sure why. "You're the best!"

As Adrien put the ball down, Plagg asked: "You want to transform?"

"Not for now, Cat Noir can get out only at night if he wants to be left alone. But I think after dinner."

"What are you going to do?"

"I don't know, maybe get on top of the Eiffel Tower? I always liked it. Or just chill out on the roofs, I don't know. And if I cross Ladybug…"

He saw Plagg lowering his eyes and stopped himself. It wasn't something they liked to talk about. "Well, for now I have homework anyway."

"I can stop you from accidentally breaking your window but I can't help you that."

"Go ahead and chill out," Adrien instructed him while giving him another bit of cheese.

He dined alone, Plagg was sleeping and he didn't want to bother him, and he guessed his father was too angry to talk to him. He did his best to focus on his homework until it was finally late enough for him to go out as Cat Noir. He was happy as he transformed, he always was, and it was strange sometimes to think that his father who had held him locked for so many years had given him such a way to be free! But he knew his father didn't intend him to use it for himself; he wanted Adrien to remain obedient, and only use his power to help him when he asked...But he was tired to be nice all the time, Cat Noir wasn't a good boy.

He jumped from roof to roof, the few people who got sight of him would probably call the police but he didn't care, he would be far already. He loved to explore Paris as Cat Noir, he was already starting to know a lot of thing, a lot of unknown passages and hidden places which could provide interesting lairs. He loved some of those places.

As he reached the opera, he saw something red flying toward the roof. Ladybug! He silently went toward her, like a real cat whenever he would stalk his prey. He crept toward her as she was obviously training, he guessed she was working on her speed. Well, let's see if she could hold up to the cat! With a swift and formidable jump, he threw himself at her. He was about to collide with her, and he was ready to hit her when she turned round and kicked him away hard. Her foot connected with his face and almost sent him off the roof, but he caught himself back and with a graceful roll, got back on his feet in a second. She held her yoyo, ready to attack. He gave her a smirk and held his baton nonchalantly, or at least in what looked like a nonchalant pose, she knew him though: he was on his guards, ready to fight.

"Ouch, is that how my Lady greets me?"

"I'm not your Lady! And did you seriously thought I didn't hear you coming?"

He chuckled: "I hoped so. Tell me: where did you hide last time?"

She gritted her teeth: she hated to think again of that moment, when she had been so vulnerable and forced to hide. And God, she hated whenever he would tease her like this! "Doesn't matter, you're the one who'll have to hid this time!"

She lunged at him and he mimicked her. His baton went right toward her chest and she jumped to avoid the blow and Cat Noir threw himself at her. They both tried to hit and dodged, she sent her yoyo at him and he went to counter with his baton but the rope wrapped itself around it. With a brutal move, she tore his weapon away from his hands. He gasped. Hell, how could he let that happen?! She attacked again, this time both with her yoyo, trying to tie his legs, but he swiftly jumped away. His shadow passed before the moon and he kicked her but failed to get his baton again. He went to punch her once more but she hit him right in the belly with the baton, sending him against the closest chimney.

Her yoyo flew and the rope wrapped around him before he could even realize it. Hell! That thing was pretty unbreakable. She grinned maliciously and went toward him. Without thinking, Cat Noir used his last asset: cataclysm! The black energy appeared in his hand and he pressed it against the chimney. The thing crumbled, loosening the rope and he jumped in the air as soon as he could, right before she could reach him. She gasped, not expecting that and just had the time to turn around and see Cat Noir kicking her right in the chest. She didn't have the time to block.

The impact took the air out of her lungs and her head and back connected hard against the concrete. It wouldn't wound her, she was more resistant as a superhero but it still gave her a slight vertigo. The baton had fallen from her hands. Her enemy didn't need more. Cat Noir was on her in a second, straddled her and pinned her down. He was holding both her wrists at each sides of her head, and looking at her right in the eyes. He was smirking evilly.

"I told you I would get you! Who would have thought? After all this, our war will end with no monster, no big panic in the city, just the two of us on a roof…"

"Let go!"

"No! Now that the cat got his little mouse, he won't let go," he murmured on a playful and slightly dark tone.

She took a deep breath, his green feline eyes seemed to pierce through her. "And what's the cat gonna do? If you release one of my hands, I'll hit you!"

He leaned a bit closer and she shuddered at this. Even he couldn't help but feel kinda weird at this proximity. He realized then that he was straddling a girl and holding her down. A slight moment passed in almost complete silence, except for the sound of their breathing. He took hold of himself and just murmured: "There is always a solution."

With that, he forced her arms up her head and tried to get hold of her wrists in one hand. She struggled though, her body trashing violently. She pushed on her legs to try to reverse their position, and although she didn't manage to do that, one of her hands slipped. Before he could caught her wrist back, Cat Noir received a hard punch right in the face. He released her other hand and she finally pushed him away from her. He only had time to get his baton back. They lunged at each other again, her yoyo wrapped around his baton again, but this time he kept hold of it, pulled hard and she barely had the time to block his next kick. She retaliated with another kick which he dodged.

As he was about to attack again, he heard the usual beeping sound. Hell, he was going to transform back! He threw himself on the side as she attacked again and freed his baton from the rope before jumping away as far as possible from Ladybug. He couldn't let her see who he was! There was no way he would find himself having to hide from her while being under his normal form. Not only it would be dangerous for him but it would be too humiliating! Using his baton, he started to get from roof to roof.

Understanding what was happening, Ladybug rushed to get him. He wouldn't escape, oh no! He had pinned her down, and almost got her Miraculous! She had to get him, she just had to restrain him again now that he couldn't use his power anymore. He was about to transform back! She almost got him back when the damn Cat took a sharp turn and plunged down in an alley. She followed him in here and started to run to catch up on him but realized he was nowhere to be seen. What?!

She got up and looked everywhere from a higher point of view, but couldn't see any sign of the cat. Although she searched, she soon had to admit it: she failed. She cursed herself. God, that time he was the one who had been running out of time, and she hadn't been able to use that! This damn cat was fast. She would really have to work on her speed again and again.

Sighing, she went back home. It would be all for tonight.

Adrien regained his breath as he got back into his room discretely. Thank God, he took his normal form right after he passed the portal of his house, no one saw him and he got back into his house easily. He had used one of his little hideouts, an entrance to the sewers which could be opened easily. Most people wouldn't notice it, but Cat Noir had seen some people snooping in it and decided to use it as well. He had been able to hide there long enough for Ladybug to leave. He was really happy he knew little places like that where he could hide. Yet this was the only relief he had tonight.

To think that he had Ladybug in the palm of his hand again, and that he had been unable to get her! He failed once more, why the hell was he such a failure?! He could hardly sleep that night, and when he woke up, he did his best not to let his father see his feelings, he didn't want him to know. If Gabriel learned that he had left in secret and met Ladybug only to be defeated…Well, he wasn't sure how his father would react but he didn't want to find out! Plagg knew what happened, though.

"Come on, I know you're moody inside," he told him once Adrien was in the bathroom of the school. "But it's not the end of the world."

"I know, but I can't help it, it's just so frustrating to think I keep failing…I almost got her that time!"

"Is it really all for that?" It was a rhetorical question but at Adrien's expression, Plagg understood that it was actually not all, and he wondered what else was wrong. The boy blushed a bit. "Well…It's the first time I…I get close like this with a girl. And it had to be her."

"Ah, yeah, I forgot you humans tends to be silly when it comes to 'romance' and all…"

"It's not romance! It's not like there could be anything between Ladybug and me!" He hesitated. "It's just that…I don't know, I had a weird feeling."

"Then you're just desperate for that thing called romance, you should get a girlfriend! You might need it, even though in my case I prefer a good slice of cheese."

"I'm not gonna get a girlfriend just to have one! I need to fall in love. And you don't find girlfriends like this!"

"Come on, it's not that complicated to find a nice girl, there are plenty in your school. When I need to find a nice cheese, I have special criteria and as long as I carry on with those…"

"Choosing someone you love is very different. Anyway, I have to go back to class."

Plagg was really silly at times, really if he wanted a girl, he could have made a move toward Chloe a long time ago! But going out with her was certainly not a good idea. As time passed, he couldn't help but think about it. It was true he would have liked to get a girlfriend, he never kissed a girl until now. And he wished to know what it felt like, to be with someone who would his girl. Still, he didn't want to get out with someone with no feelings, and more importantly, he was kind of a criminal! What would he do? Keep lying to his girlfriend about being one of the most feared figures of Paris? It wasn't easy with his friends already!

He really wanted to talk about that to someone, but who? His friends? That was out of question, he couldn't tell them about his dilemma as Cat Noir, and if Chloe heard he wanted a girlfriend…Oh boy! Nathalie? She was cold and not really talkative. His father? He already knew this wasn't a good idea; Once again, Plagg was his best confident, but when it came to love, his kwami wasn't the best advisor.

Well, once again, he would have to handle those questions by himself. And it's not as if he had someone he wanted anyway, so it didn't matter much for now.

"You're okay, dude?" Nino's voice almost made him jump in fright. "You look like me when we have a math Test!"

Classes were over and the students were getting up. Marinette heard that and looked at Adrien with concern. He didn't look good at all indeed.

"Oh, yeah…I just…I was thinking about some stuff. Hum…Just my father, he is angry because he thinks I should put more effort into…Well everything, I wasn't really focused during my last shooting, and during my last Chinese class."

Marinette wished she could have stayed with them, but the other girls called for her attention and she followed them.

"Seriously, your old man needs to chill out!" Nino replied as they were getting out.

Adrien grinned and he noticed Marinette, Alya, Rose and Juleka chatting and walking together. In a flash, he couldn't help but think again about last night with Ladybug while watching them and felt a bit weird. Dating one of his classmates? That felt kinda weird, they were his friends…But it's true most of them were pretty. He focused on his talk with Nino, maybe he could spend some times with him…He saw his father's car and the Gorilla inside. He could forget that, his dad wouldn't allow him.

"I have to go. I'll ask my dad if we can spend some times together after school, but…"

"Yeah, I know it's not easy," Nino finished for him. "Good luck, dude! Don't hesitate to call or text if you need."

He waved at him, smiling, and entered in the car. His phone buzzed soon enough and when he heard his father's voice, he understood what was going on: "Are you finally out of school?"

"I am." This tone of voice, he was talking to Hawkmoth, now.

"Good, you won't get home but at the Eiffel Tower instead, I found someone who will be a perfect partner for a new fight against Ladybug!"

He took a deep breath: this time, he wouldn't fail!

Okay, I hope you enjoyed it! Don't hesitate to review!