Author's Note: Remember to breathe as you read this chapter. Because, it's finally happening... :)
- Chapter 18 -
Horses galloped at an unprecedented pace down the narrow path. Their heavy hooves making the ground faintly quake with their intense speed. Shouts and hollers rang out amongst the riders, as they rode in a single file line. They pushed their screaming horses hard; making them run at full bore. The metal of their armor and weapons clanking together like metallic thunder with the vibrations generated by such intense speeds.
Marinette had her body pinned firmly against the dirt. Her cheek pressed into the dry leaves. Doing her best not to move a single muscle, even though every fiber of her being wished to be anywhere than here at this exact moment.
She was in nothing but a steep pitched ditch that ran along the path. Fingers digging deeply into the ground to keep herself firmly planted. She dared not even breathe as the small army of riders rode by just two feet above her head.
Dirt and tiny rocks peppered her skin sharply from the stampede. She fought back any gasps or muffled cries at the pain. Just in case they somehow heard her.
She was shaking uncontrollably in panic. Praying to whatever Gods who would listen that this faction of The False Prince's army, which rode so close to where she was hiding, would not see her.
They had been doing so well. Traveling quick and far each and every day. She was exhausted from the constant moving. But sleep was a luxury that she could not afford. Especially when during every waking moment they were always being hunted.
If not by soldiers, than now by countless bounty hunters. Theo now offering a fortune to whomever could bring her back to him. And since she wasn't just a mere myth anymore, men jumped at the opportunity. These hired pursuers were not ordinary men. They were expert trackers and extremely familiar with the terrain.
So much so that their sweet horse had to be abandoned, as her hoofprints were too easy to follow.
Additionally, Theo called his armies away from the battlefields in an attempt to surround them. Even the lesser-traveled roads were now clogged with loyal soldiers. Hence their current predicament.
She was so tired of running. Tired of being scared. Tired of thinking she would be caught. It was hard to keep a smile on her face, and believe that everything would somehow be okay. Everything felt hopeless.
She whimpered aloud with these dark thoughts. Chat Noir shushed her softly, pressing her down tighter into the dirt; his body half covering hers. She could hear the pounding of his heart like a steady drum in her ears.
Even with Chat Noir here, she still trembled.
This was not the first time in the past few days that they had been caught unaware by a horde of traveling soldiers. As much as he did for her. He was not without his limits. Like he was constantly chasing after his own internal ticking clock.
Pinching her eyes closed, she gripped her fingers into dirty fists and willed her body to stop shaking beneath him.
What plagued her most was that she couldn't imagine being found and torn away from him. Not after all this. The very thought made her stomach sink in despair.
And yet, he was putting himself at so much risk by continuing to shield her. She had to keep asking herself why. Because the obvious reasons, were not so obvious anymore.
The pair stayed pressed together in the ditch for what felt like forever while the riders passed by overhead. Eventually, the sound of horse's hooves dissipated and vanished down the road.
Chat Noir popped his head up first. Leaning off Marinette, he used all of his heightened senses to check if there was anyone else who may have lagged behind the main group.
He was angry with himself. They had barely had a few seconds to drop down and hide before the riders were upon them. He knew better than this. But it was becoming harder for even him to know where danger lurked. Or how closely it followed behind them.
They had severely strayed off of his prepared route. Forced closer to villages, town, and main roads. Meals had consisted of whatever wild berries or edible wild growing plants they had managed to find. Or even (and he wasn't particularly proud of this) whatever he could steal.
They were on the run for real now. Not necessarily in a blind panic, but definitely feeling the pressure.
These particular soldiers had literally come from nowhere. Taking a "road" that was barely the size of a footpath through the twiggy trees. Hiding had been easier than trying to run – in case they may have been seen or heard.
To be honest, it was rather good to keep seeing soldiers on the move. He knew that they were getting closer to the edges of Theo's kingdom. Eventually they would hit lands that had remained neutral in the Endless War, or were owned by the Opposition.
The plague of bounty hunters had been an unexpected issue. He never imagined that Theo would let it be known that she was missing. But even Theo was willing to risk the help from strangers, albeit very dangerous strangers, in order to get her back. He probably figured that he could steal her back from them easier than trying to continue the chase.
Drawing in a deep breath, he sniffed the air deeply, smelling a gathering rainstorm on the horizon.
He turned to look back at Marinette, who still lay pressed down into the ground. She knew not to move and stay hidden until he said otherwise. They had been traveling together long enough to learn these things from one another. They acted more in sync with one another, and she made no attempts at fleeing from him.
Which was a good thing – he'd admit. Even though she probably still hated him. Not that he blamed her. It was his protection that was pathetic. They shouldn't be hiding and running like this. He should be doing more. He should have planned better. For her sake. Because all of this, was for her. She had suffered enough. And he was forcing her to suffer even more by running with him.
He was still nowhere close to allowing her to be free. And that hurt more than anything.
His heart burned with remorse and guilt. The beast thought him weak and growled with disproval.
Chat Noir shook his head back and forth to clear the voice in his head. The beast did not want to run. He wanted to follow that group of riders and rain down chaos through their camp. Pick his teeth with their bones. And then return to ravage his prize.
He shook his head again, gritting his teeth as he did so. He shouldn't be able to hear the beast so clearly like a second conscious. He needed to reset the spell soon. But the question was: when?
"It's clear." He told her softly.
Marinette picked her head up and slowly stood up, dusting the leaves off of her skirt and re-adjusting the hood of her cloak so that it covered her head. Her eyes looked wide and scared as she hid herself.
Chat Noir had felt her trembling beneath him as they hid together. It made him feel disheartened that she'd never know what it was like to be completely safe. And that thought frustrated him even more.
He had to be better than this. In fact, he knew he could be. He just had to get his hands dirty. But that had been part of his plan from day one.
His fierce eyes scanned the path and the direction of the riders. Rain would provide an excellent cover. They would never see him coming. The beast within him smiled a toothy grin.
But first… Chat Noir gazed longingly down at her.
Marinette felt his stare like a weight.
"Chat?" she asked curiously. "You okay?"
"Come on." His voice rumbled, extending his hand to scoop her out of the ditch and back into his arms.
Marinette assumed her hold around his neck and shoulders as he started to run.
Only after a short time of traveling did the wind start to pick up as the thunderhead clouds rolled across the sky. Marinette could feel the storm bearing down, as it was now yet another thing that chased them.
In the back of her mind, she was a bit content. Finally, a bit of rain to quench the lands. And this storm sounded ready to bring the rains. Thunder rumbled all around them. Lighting flashing across the heavy, low-lying rainclouds.
Chat Noir ran through the trees and then across an open field. Old, withered crops crunched underfoot, as the deserted farmland stretched out for acres in all directions.
Out in the open like this, Marinette could clearly see the great storm clouds building up in the sky. They were layering upon themselves in cascading, swirling hues of grey. Looking ominous and dark across the vast horizon.
Birds took flight from the neighboring trees, moving away from the approaching storm.
Chat Noir had his sights set on the abandoned barn in the distance. It was not one of his planned safe spots. But, it looked run-down and unapproachable like an old haunted house. Which is exactly why he chose it.
They reached an abandoned barn just as the first big raindrops began to fall and drench them. The building was half collapsed in past fire damage. Rain dripped steadily from the dilapidated leaking roof.
They stood huddled together, watching as the rain came down now in a constant sheet of pounding water. Hitting the ground so hard and fast that hot steam billowed in puffy clouds.
Not wanting to wait another moment, Chat Noir reached out and squeezed her arm, drawing her attention quickly to him.
"Stay here." He told her firmly.
Marinette blinked in surprise, raindrops falling from her eyelashes.
"W-Where are you going?"
He all but ignored her question by taking steps away from her, dropping her arm as he moved, and walking out into the rain.
Marinette chased after him, not caring one bit if she got wet. Something was off. And with that group of soldiers so close, she did not want to be left alone. The intense rain soaked through her clothes almost instantly.
"Wait! Chat!"
He turned back and stared at her, rain beading off of his black armor. The expression on his face was almost unreadable. Etched with a bit of foreboding and longing.
"Go back." He roared to her through the heavy falling rain.
She stopped moving instantly, and just stood there, staring at him in the downpour. His tone was frightening her.
"Why are you leaving?" she called back boldly.
There had to be a logical reason. He at least owned that to her.
He said nothing. Only turned away again. Intensely glaring out into the rain and the field beyond.
Whatever he was thinking about doing, she didn't like it. It felt like she was seeing him off to War. And she didn't want him to go. God help her, she did not want him to leave her like this.
Anxiously, Marinette rushed forward and grabbed ahold of his arm in a hug, keeping him from taking another step away from her.
"Chat. No." she begged softly, wet hair sticking to her face and neck.
She felt him stiffen up at her touch, so she squeezed his arm tighter. This was not like his usual goodbyes. This one felt dangerous.
There was a faction of at least thirty, maybe more, soldiers in the direction he was facing. What was he truly capable of doing? He could not hope to defeat them all on his own? She was too scared for him to even try. Too worried about what may happen to him.
Still, she wanted to hear him say it.
"What are you going to do?"
He pulled his arm away from her sharply. The action felt harsh and cold. Like he was blowing her off to go become someone else. And she'd seen that beast before. She knew what it hungered for.
The dark voice came from deep within his chest. "What I must."
Marinette shook her head back and forth, whipping her rain-clogged hair.
She hugged herself now. In her distress, she let her heart pour words into her mouth.
"D-Don't go."
He stopped. His face and eyes turned back towards her upon hearing those two little words. The green color flickering like a candle in the wind. Never had such simple words held him back so strongly.
Marinette stared into those eyes of his. Not flinching or turning away even as the pupils narrowed into tiny slits.
She knew what she was asking of him. And nothing in her rational mind would deny the honestly of the words she spoke.
"Stay with me."
Stay? She was really asking him… to stay? With this horrendous half-human of a broken man?
"Please. Stay with me."
Oh it was so easy to want to.
Reaching out, he touched her face gently, sharp claws sweeping the wet hair out of her face. He leaned down and she half expected him to kiss her. A part of her would have welcomed it if he did.
The rain continued to fall all around them drowning out all other noise. He laid his forehead against hers, and took in a deep, steadying breath. Marinette eyes gently fluttered closed against the sensation.
Even the beast within could not deny how hard it was to pull away from her.
Through her half opened eyes, she saw another bolt of lighting flash brightly. And by the time the thunder echoed in her ears, he was gone.
She stood in the weather, watching as the rain washed away his footprints in the gathering mud.
She trusted Chat Noir not to abandon her. But she didn't trust him not to be reckless wherever he went.
It felt like he wasn't coming back. And why did that feeling hurt so much?
Another bolt of lighting forced her to rush back inside. Her feet squishing on the ground with every painful step.
She stripped off her cloak and hung it on an exposed beam to drip dry. Ringing the excess water out of her hair and clothes in the process.
She found a somewhat dry corner of the ruined structure and collapsed. Pushing her knees to her chin. She should be used to being alone. But it still wreaked her mind with uneasiness.
Mostly because he had indeed hesitated in leaving her. And she was left to wonder exactly what that meant.
An owl hooted from somewhere above her head, scaring her for a moment. She looked up and saw the big bird tucked up in the exposed rafters. His wet feathers poufy and fluffed out, trying to dry off. Well, at least she wasn't completely alone.
Hours passed and the rain never let up. The thunder and lighting moved on, but the rain was constant. The rainclouds blocked out so much of the sunlight, that it was difficult to judge what time of day it was.
Little dark pools formed where the rain had seeped through the roof. The dripping echoed in her ears. She got up once or twice to cup her hands under the falling water and drank. Her stomach asked for food, but she ignored it. What choice did she have?
Returning to her little dry spot, she curled up and attempted to sleep. Although it was pointless. Her mind was too full of thoughts.
Yes, she was scared. Fear was permanently engraved in her head and may never leave. The constant dread of being found and caught. Even if it wasn't by Theo or his men, there would always be others.
She remembered when she had first been discovered. The feeling of hungry hands on her body, as they tore at her skin. That could easily become her fate again if Chat didn't come back.
Chat. Yes, him. Because her mind was also rapt with worry for him. She couldn't deny that. She knew that without Chat Noir, she'd be lost. Completely and utterly lost. And because she had grown to care for the man. His selflessness was limitless. And, seemingly, without reward.
It was strange to need to rely so heavily on one person. Especially since she was so used to being alone in her problems. But now, she couldn't imagine going any further without him with her.
The owl hooted at her again. Her ears listened painfully for any signs of his return. But as more minutes (or maybe it was hours) ticked by, she felt herself getting emotional.
Emotional because she cared, really cared if he came back.
Sniffing back tears, she picked her head up and watched the rain continue to fall outside.
In that moment she knew that she longed for him to return. And return to her safely. Gods, she wanted him back so badly it made her heart ache and her chest tighten with tiny, gasping sobs.
And, as if her wish had been granted, through the wall of rain, strolled a single figure.
He stumbled towards her, almost as if it hurt to walk normally. Wet blonde hair plastered to his face and neck. His cat ears slumped forward. A clawed hand fixed to a bleeding wound on his shoulder. His other arm hung limply at his side.
The beast in his head was contentedly licking blood from its metaphorical paws. Satisfied and appeased for the moment.
Once Marinette had confirmation that it was him, she was on her feet and instantly rushed out into the rain to be with him.
"Chat? Oh my god. Chat, you're okay?"
She tentatively touched his bleeding shoulder, surveying the damage. It was a sword wound. Like someone had attempted to cut his head clean off, and missed. Oh thank the gods they had missed.
He tried to play it off casually, but it was obvious he was in a bit of pain.
"Just a scratch."
She helped him stumble into the building and guided him towards the only dry spot. Her mind instantly jumping to how she could possibly help him. She had no rags to clean the wound. No herbs to dumb the pain.
"How did you…?" she questioned. "… fight off thirty men?"
He groaned in pain, kneeling down on the ground. "Pfft, child's play."
Marinette knew he was only kidding. The fact that he had these few injuries was nothing short of miraculous. One man versus thirty should not have survived that.
"… and it was more like forty." He added dryly. "Maybe fifty, now that I think about it."
She smirked slightly at his joke. Well, at least she hoped it was a joke. Her hands went for the hem of her still damp skirt. She put the fabric between her teeth, and was about to start tearing off sections of it to be used as bandages, until he put a gentle hand on her arm.
"Don't ruin your clothes on my account."
She dropped the cloth from between her lips enough to say, "But… we need to clean your wound."
He dropped his hand away and shook his head slowly. "I'm already healing. Trust me."
Not believing him, she shamelessly smacked his other hand away from the wound and looked closely at it. Chat Noir could have stopped her, but rather liked her feistiness.
Sure enough, the skin was slowly knitting together like the wound was days old, not just hours.
"H-How is this possible?" she asked him, completely dumbfounded.
He hesitated telling her. But then decided it wasn't worth hiding anymore.
"The curse gave me 'special abilities', if you will. I don't heal like a normal human."
Marinette knelt down before him. This was one of the few times that he openly talked about the curse with her. She hoped to know more. If he continued to share.
"So, you used to be… human?" she asked.
He nodded wordlessly, rolling his shoulders to keep the healing skin from tightening up.
"What happened?" she pushed further still, eyes unblinking as she hung on his every word.
He smirked slightly and let out a wayward sigh.
"You're prying again, Marinette."
She blinked and sat back, looking away from him because she felt guilty for asking. While also crunching up her nose with gathering irritation. She was mostly mad at herself. She had to respect his wishes.
"I know. I know." She huffed.
The pair was quiet for a long moment.
Chat Noir stretched out one leg and raised the other. Casually letting his hand rest on the top of his knee. He couldn't deny her curiosity. So while he sat there healing, he decided to appease her.
Softly, he said. "What exactly do you wish to know?"
Marinette's head snapped back in his direction. As if she didn't believe he'd just spoken and given her permission to ask him questions.
Her fingers instantly went to her chin, tapping it in thought. She had probably over a dozen questions. But there was always one that weighed the heaviest on her mind.
She sucked in a nervous breath, preparing to ask it.
"How come… How come you don't care about my eyes?" she asked nervously.
Chat Noir was slightly shocked by her question. He thought she would push to want to know more about him. But he realized that the question was just as revealing.
"I do care." He answered plainly.
Marinette cupped her hands in her lap and stared at them. "No you don't."
"Oh, but I—" he started to say.
She interrupted him, speaking very matter-a-fact and serious.
"I've had hundreds of people stare at me like I'm nothing but a vessel. A shell without feelings or emotions. My eyes being the only thing they ever see. Or care to see about me."
She raised her heavy gaze as if peering through his very soul. "But you don't care at all, Chat Noir."
He dropped his hand from his knee, and leaned closer to her.
"You are mistaken, M'lady. While others may only see you for your rare eyes." His voice dropped lower. "But, I see you for you."
Her mouth hung open slightly at his pretty words. Weeks ago she wouldn't have believed him. But now that things were suddenly so different between the two of them. She knew he wasn't lying.
And it was enough to make a deep blush form on her cheeks. To hide it, she jumped up and moved away to go stare outside and try to calm her racing heart.
"Well." She called back after a short while. "You'd be one of the first."
Chat Noir made no move to stand up and follow after her. Content to just watch her standing that short distance away. And so, when he finally spoke, his voice sounded like it was trapped in a memory.
"Surely there must have been others?"
Marinette sighed nostalgically. Her own mind unknowingly reliving the same sweet memory. Her tone was dreamy when she answered him.
"Yes. There was another. He was nothing but a stranger who fell on my doorstep. But, for the briefest of time that we were together. I felt like he saw me."
Chat Noir was quiet for a long time, hanging on her every word. Trying to keep the tone of his voice from giving anything away.
"How do you know for sure?"
Marinette's head turned towards the sky. Watching the rain clouds as they rushed by overhead. This was the only reason she could come up with.
"Because, he left."
The rain lasted way into the night. It made for a dreary atmosphere. Especially while huddled under a dilapidated barn with mist constantly pouring through the drafty wood paneling.
Marinette slept very little during that time. The amount of available dry ground made stretching out nearly impossible. So she was scrunched up in an uncomfortably small ball trying to avoid the dripping roof. Every other inch of the ground surrounding them was entirely water logged.
It wasn't until Chat Noir moved closer and let her use his shoulder as a firm but comfy pillow, that she did finally fall asleep. His body giving off enough heat like a fire.
If he slept at all, she wasn't aware. Because between his cozy body heat and his steady, rhythmic breathing, she was asleep almost instantly.
She dully awoke a few hours before dawn when he shifted and moved beside her in the dark. He carefully cushioned and guided her head to lay back down in his absence. This time onto her own, now dry, cloak. Which he had coiled up as a makeshift pillow.
Before she completely fell back asleep, she heard him gently whisper. "I won't be far."
Her half-asleep mind registered that as: he needed to slip away and somehow deal with his curse. She wasn't sure why or how, but it had happened enough times that she knew he would be back soon.
Finally and blissfully horizontal, sleep consumed her not a second later.
It might have only been mere minutes that she actually slept. But it was a frightful sleep. She dreamed of horses nickering. And… voices. Deep, gruff and non-coherent voices talking as if just over her head.
Fingers brushed along her cheek, and she moaned softly at the sensation. Her dreams remembering the touch as pleasant.
Her eyes fluttered open, and a bright, hot light burned suddenly in her face, forcing her to close them again.
"Is it her?"
The next sensation was not at all pleasant. Fingers wrapped solidly around her neck, dragging her upward.
Marinette was suddenly gasping for air, grabbing for her own neck and kicking out beneath her.
"Holy shit!"
"It is!"
Her toes barely touched the ground, and she squinted her eyes open once again. Her gaze fell upon a small group of rough-looking men, each holding burning torches in the darkness.
"Jackpot."
All of them were dressed in a bit of armor but no helmets, revealing grisly and unkempt beards all of various lengths and colors. They smelled like they had never bathed in their entire lives. She could all but guess that they were bounty hunters.
She shuttered as the grip on her neck tightened hard enough to bruise. She grabbed for the iron like fingers, trying to pry them off.
"Don't kill 'er. She's worth mor alive."
The man who held her by the throat pulled his face close. Close enough that she could smell how rotten his teeth were.
"Pretty. Pretty. Pretty thing." He cooed to her. Each 'p' sound making a bit of spit hit her in the face.
"Don't fall in love too fast." One of the others teased.
The man scoffed, turned around and dragged her out of the barn. His heavy booted feet splashing in all the deep puddles. Marinette cried softly as she was dragged away, and there was nothing she could do.
Some tired looking horses stood just outside, along with another two men who held the reins.
"Lookie 'ere what was hiddin' in that ol' barn."
"That her?"
"Ha! They's don't call me Ivan the Nose fur nuthin."
"Lemme see them eyes."
Marinette groaned and wiggled in the man's grasp. Wincing at the pain it caused her.
She squinted to see two men approaching closer. Trying to reach out and touch her, but the man carrying her kept pushing her out of the way.
"Lay off you. I got 'er first."
"I just wanna see 'em."
"You'll get yer turn. Once I'm done lookin'."
"You won't just wanna look though."
He laughed hoarsely. "Yer right 'bout that."
Marinette felt herself groan. Gods she was so sick of hearing this.
"Com'on, just one lil peek?"
Someone grabbed ahold of her leg and started lifting her muddy skirt.
Swinging her legs, she kicked out sharply. Getting instantly rewarded when the heel of her foot struck a nose, and the man doubled over, slurring together a string of curses.
"Ha! Serves you right."
"What a lil' spitfire."
Someone in the back of the group called out in distress. Collectively, everyone turned towards the noise.
"Da fu—?"
In silent surprise, the rough man dropped his grip on her throat, and Marinette went tumbling onto the muddy ground. Gasping, she clutched her own neck, feeling the already bruised skin under her fingers.
Glancing up weakly, she saw two of the men go back into the barn drawing weapons as they moved. Battle cries rang out, along with a series of curses.
"Where'd you come from?"
"Come on then tough guy. Come on!"
One of the men went flying backwards through the air. His body crashing through the wet wood paneling before sliding to a halt. He looked dazed, but slowly began picking himself back up.
"Come on ya 'ol sod. It's just a kid for cripes sake."
Another incoherent shout followed by a bellow of pain. And then, metal on metal screeching as weapons connected.
This time, men shouted in pain as blades cut into skin.
More weapons were drawn and the other two men abandoned the horses to suddenly go join their comrades in the surprise fight inside the barn.
For the moment, the attention was not on her. So, ever the opportunist, Marinette decided to make a break for it.
She attempted to get to her feet, but slipped in the mud. Falling back down in an angry huff. Gathering her nerve, she sloshed along the ground, finally finding traction with her feet and ran for it.
"Hey!" someone called after her.
She didn't look back, she just kept running. Her feet splashed and sunk in deep, mucky puddles. But she never once stopped trying to get away.
She tore across the old farmland. The dark sky rimmed with the beginnings of sunlight. Clouds covered every star so she had no idea where she was going. She just continued to run. Not necessarily in a particular direction, but hoping to reach the trees.
She could hear footsteps behind her. Someone was chasing her.
The air shifted. A strange static-like feeling crawled across her skin and up the back of her neck. It was like an invisible force sparked to life. But it felt ancient.
'Chat.'
She dared a look over her shoulder. The one man was following her, his torch firmly gripped in his hand as he ran. He was surprisingly quick while running on the soggy ground and weighted down with weapons.
Gods, he may actually catch her. And no Chat Noir in sight.
She turned her attention back forward and tried to focus on simply running. He would have wanted her to keep running. Keep trying to get away. Although, her frantic mind couldn't help but think that he was in trouble somewhere behind her. It hurt to run from him.
The pull on her heart made her lose her footing to the panic of the moment. Stupidly, she tripped on a vine and fell forward. Rolling along the wet ground, and knocking the wind out of herself.
Pissed at herself, she rolled onto her back and tried to rise up. The man was suddenly there, standing over her. The torchlight making the angry lines on his face practically glow.
He went for the sword at his side, but she wouldn't let him get to it. Pushing herself forward in the mud, she kicked strongly at his kneecap and watched as the joint snapped backwards.
The man roared in immediate pain, dropping his torch. He teetered on one leg, trying to stay upright.
His torch sizzled along the ground, having amazingly avoided all the nearby puddles.
Despite his pain, the man grit his teeth and fully drew his sword. Marinette stared up at the large, flat blade as it dimly reflected in the torchlight.
She was defenseless on the ground. All she could do was stare at him, and hope to be quicker when he finally attacked.
He lunged forward, swinging the blade down at her. Although without the use of his one knee, the blade thunked heavily onto the wet ground as she rolled out of the way.
She scrambled to her knees, narrowly avoiding his next swing as it went for her head. Which genuinely surprised her. He was aiming to kill her. She must have really made him mad.
He cursed profusely as he gathered himself up once again. Marinette crawled along the ground, trying to stay mobile.
The man never got the chance to bring his sword down a third time. In fact, if Marinette had blinked, she would have missed it completely.
It was a simple blur movement, something faster than the shadows. Hot blood poured onto the ground before she even saw the glint of another weapon.
The man garbled his words and slowly collapsed in a heap. The entire side of his neck completely torn out. That large artery nestled under the skin having been severed.
Behind him, eyes ablaze with green fire, stood Chat Noir. Body still poised with the strike. The magic power coiling off of his black armor like ashes in the wind.
Marinette slowly picked herself up from off the ground. Her eyes never moving off of him. She should be scared. Petrified even. He was the stuff of nightmares. A shadow turned living.
And yet, like before, she could now stare at this beast and not feel any fear. The bounty hunters had scared her more than him.
"Chat Noir?" she called to him. Hoping her voice could pull him back should he be still more beast than man at the moment.
Chat Noir physically shook himself. His shoulders lowered and his clawed hands dropped to his side. His chest heaving in small gasps.
"Are you hurt?" he asked her. She expected to hear that deep, chesty voice. But was pleasantly surprised to hear his more jovial tone.
To answer his question: she was caked in mud, her neck would bruise all kinds of pretty colors in about a day, and she was practically shaking in aftershock, but she wasn't hurt.
"N-No." she stuttered.
He chuckled warmly and walked over to the still weakly burning torch. He gave it a small kick and pushed it into a puddle, extinguishing it completely.
He sauntered towards her again. Cautiously, he extended a gentle hand towards her. As if afraid she would take it. Would she be upset by how easily it had been for him to kill that man?
"Come on. Let's go." He purred softly in reassurance.
With a curt nod, she took his offered hand without question and allowed herself to be swept up into his arms.
He ran with renewed and regenerated strength. Light-footed and swift as they reached the tree line in a matter of seconds and pushed further in.
As the sun broke the horizon and created a new day, they hurried along together at a blinding pace. With the heavy rains of the night before, the day was alive with life. The trees gave way to open up into a field of swishing grasses. Tiny white flowers blossomed up, opening their petals to the sun.
The storm had left behind fair weather, complete with a cool breeze and clearing skies.
He ran until the grasses ended into an endless stretch of orange sand and rock. The winds blew strongly here, but also continuously moved the sand around to cover their tracks.
Marinette tucked her face into his chest and shut her eyes tightly to keep the kicked up sand out of her eyes. She silently wished for her abandoned hooded cloak. But that was long gone behind them now.
Despite the beautiful weather lifting her spirits, she was very hungry. Neither of them had any food or water. But she would never think to complain about it.
She did her best to continue to ignore her hunger. Instead, she tried to just simply enjoy the fact that Chat Noir was with her once again. As they had, somehow, carved themselves free of another tricky situation. She couldn't help but feel happy that they were once again alone together. Just the two of them.
A few hours later, a spot of green flashed along the horizon. And Chat Noir recognized it, smiling to himself in sweet relief. He abruptly turned and headed straight for it.
It turned out to be a generous grouping of wispy trees and bushes being fed from a small underground spring. Critters and animals scurried away in haste as they arrived. Clearly they were not the only ones taking advantage of the small oasis.
To Marinette's surprise, Chat Noir unearthed a bag of previously stocked supplies. They had not come across one of his safe spots in at least a week. There was nothing in the bag except food. But, at this moment, that was all either of them cared about.
"How did you know we would even come this way?" she asked him as she tore into the brown bread, eating around a bit of mold that had started to grow.
Chat Noir's eyes were looking to the horizon and beyond. This was not a place he wanted to stay at for long. An oasis like this would get frequent travelers. And he wanted to be long gone as quickly as possible.
Luckily, he could see in every direction for quite some distance. So no one could exactly sneak up on them.
To answer her question he said. "We've backtracked and circled around a bit. This is actually the route I intended to take."
Marinette swallowed her mouthful of bread and instantly bit off another large bite with her teeth.
"Wh'er wes goin'?" she spoke with a full mouth and chewing happily.
He chuckled at her, but felt a twinge of remorse for letting her go so long without food.
He stretched his arms over his head and rolled his shoulders in large circles.
"I'm hoping to reach the Ocean in a few…"
Marinette swallowed hard, coughing slightly. A huge rush of excitement welled up inside of her.
"T-The Ocean? Are you serious? We've really come that far?"
Chat Noir dropped his arms and squatted down in front of her looking quite pleased with himself. It was obvious that she was completely thrilled with their destination.
"We have." He purred amusingly.
Marinette let the bread lower into her lap, practically forgotten. Shyly, she stared at it and not him.
"I've never seen the Ocean before." She admitted to him.
"Oh?" he teased her, playing along. "Well, you shall see it soon enough."
She smiled gently, tucking her loose hair behind one ear, but did not look up. Quietly, she opened up to him and told him a story.
"You know, I've never really seen any of this before. These lands, I mean. I grew up in a small village in the forest, and then spent years locked in the Palace."
Marinette fiddled, turning the bread in her fingers as she talked. Tapping on the hard crust, she lifted her head and stared out into her surroundings, her longing gaze looking at everything and nothing.
"Things like mountains, jungles, and the Ocean. I never thought I'd actually get to see them."
Chat Noir rocked back and forth on the balls of his feet. He fought within himself to keep his face neutral and not smile too enthusiastically. It would give everything away. But his heart was beating faster and with gathering excitement at her words. He had secretly pondered how long it would take her to figure out exactly what he was doing. Wondering if she would draw that conclusion.
After all, she had once asked him to show her all of these things: the world and all its hidden beauty. Their secret adventure. And he had promised to do so. If given better circumstances, he would certainly have done it more properly. But he could at least give her this.
He opened his mouth to say more, and ended up shutting it. Words would only give him away. He silently wished he could promise to leave no stone unturned or corner of the globe unexplored. But that felt like a dream neither of them could afford.
He hugged his knees slightly, opting to just stare at her like he so often did. Relishing the visual sensation of her presence because it was still difficult to believe that she was even here with him at all.
Marinette took a smaller, more delicate bite of her bread. Chewing slowly and trying to mind her own business. But feeling his gaze upon her so intensely made her cheeks burn.
In order to hide her embarrassment, she changed the subject abruptly. Hoping to get him talking again.
"What happened back there? At the barn?"
He cocked his head to the side in confusion, laying his cheek on top of his knee.
He scoffed lightly. "Bounty hunters. I'm sorry that they scared you like that. I hope you weren't hurt too badly?"
"No, no. Well, I mean, yes. I was scared at first but… it's okay now."
She fidgeted again. Trying to figure out how exactly to ask him.
"It's just… How did you not hear them coming?"
Chat Noir rolled onto his knees and sat back heavily on his legs. An irritated huff escaped his lips. Not at her question, but at himself. Shaking his head slightly, he simply answered.
"I was careless."
Truthfully, he hadn't been Chat Noir when the bounty hunters had found her. So he didn't have any of the heightened senses that would have alerted him. Had they shown up any sooner, he would have been too disoriented with the spell aftershocks to stop them from hurting her or worse.
Marinette blinked at him and his short reply. It wasn't good enough for her. She'd spent enough time with Chat Noir to recognize his presence. That curse held a power that she could physically feel. And she had not felt him at all. Or, at least, not until much later.
"But you. You weren't you though. Not at first. I didn't feel your magic until after I ran."
He said nothing. Eyes staring into the ground and swallowing hard against a sudden dry throat.
She was figuring him out. And figuring him out fast. He wasn't quite sure what to do about it. So he said nothing.
He should move away from her. Being this close only made it harder to ignore her.
"Chat Noir?"
Not his name. Don't say his name like that. Not in that sweet-sad voice of hers.
Her hand touched his knee and just that simple gesture what about to be his undoing. He pinched his eyes shut tight, trying to ignore the fact that she was touching him so casually and he was eating up every precious moment.
"Chat, please… I-I want to know." She begged.
"What would you have me say?" His voice sounded defeated and shattered.
She scooted closer now. Her hand went from his knee to now grip his hand. Not at all concerned that piercing claws tipped the fingers she held.
"Everything… Anything… You don't need to keep hiding things from me."
He sucked in a shaking breath. Really starting to lose his nerve.
"How did you get cursed, Chat Noir? You said you did it by choice, but how? Why? What happened?"
All of her questions bombarded him. And made him yearn to answer. No matter what he said, even if was the truth or a lie, she'd know. And he wasn't sure if he was ready for her to know. Even now.
He stared down at her hand in his. Observing the paleness of her skin in such sharp contrast against all the blackness of his armor.
"I… I…" he started to say.
Marinette leaned forward, rubbing the top of his knuckles with her thumb. Begging him with her closeness to keep talking. To share those secret pieces of himself with her. She yearned to know more about him. He was becoming someone she cared about – as scary as it was to admit that to herself.
Finally, after a long pause and struggling to find the right words, Chat Noir let down his guard. His heart couldn't take it anymore.
"I am truly human." He told her. "This curse is nothing but borrowed magic that I agreed to."
He took in a steadying breath and kept talking. Realizing that it did not sound so bad explaining everything to her. In fact, the words poured out quite easily.
"Although, it tries to take control. This… being… it lives inside the magic and… in me."
Marinette nodded her head, as if understanding. But she was still completely lost. She delicately traced a clawed finger, imagining what his normal human hands would look like.
"I call it a curse because it weighs on me like one. Whenever I feel it completely trying to consume me, I release the spell and turn back into… me. The real me."
She suddenly didn't care about his talking of magic, spells or curses. She cared about the mention of the man underneath.
"And who is this 'me'?" she asked quietly.
He stiffened and she felt it radiate down his arm. She peered up into his masked face. Which told her nothing of who he truly was. Only that his lips were frowning and his brow was tightly knitted together.
He said nothing. So she urged him one final time.
Her fingertips traced lazy circles in the palm of his hand. "Why won't you tell me who you are?" she asked.
He sucked in a shallow breath. Trying to keep himself together, but failing. No, not failing, just tired of lying to her – the person whom he cherished above all else.
"I want to tell you." He told her gently. "I want to more than anything."
"So tell me." She yearned. "What's stopping you?"
He twisted his clawed fingers into fists, subsequently now gripping one of her hands tightly.
"Because… Because you'll hate me. More than you already do."
Marinette shook her head and frowned. She leaned forward up off of her legs and onto her knees. Using her body language to make her words adamant.
"I don't hate you, Chat Noir."
"Yes you do." He said sadly and turned his head away, averting her gaze. Clearly hurt. "You said so yourself."
Marinette let out an exasperated breath. Remembering that time when she did say it. But that was only because he had chased her down and scared her. They were long past that now.
"Fine. If I did hate you once, I don't anymore. Sure, you're a stranger and I'm technically still being kidnapped… but I… I also feel like I'm finally safe."
He glanced sideways at her. "You really feel safe… with me?"
She nodded confidently. "Yes. Yes, of course I do."
He wasn't buying it. After all the near-misses he'd led her through. How could she possibly feel safe with him? He kept fishing for reasons. Hoping one would stick.
"You'd want to leave though, if you had the chance."
Without any doubt or hesitation in her voice she replied.
"No. I'd stay."
He turned back so fast that she nearly fell over. She was nearly nose to nose with him, and the emotional weight in his anxious gaze making her feel embarrassed.
"Really?" he asked, stunned by her words.
She sat back on her legs once again. Giving them a bit of space. Only then did she remember how to breathe properly.
"I'm here now, aren't I?"
It was his turn to lean forward and close that small physical distance between them once again. His face was inches from hers, wanting to read her every expression.
"Because you want to be?" he pushed.
She blinked surprised eyes at him but slowly raised her lips in an honest smile.
"Yes, of course."
He reached out and pulled her into his arms. She ended up sprawled across his lap as he hugged her so tightly that she dared not move or squirm. There was obvious pain in his embrace. She could feel it vibrating through his body.
No wait. Those were sobs. Huge, body shaking, sobs.
"Chat?" she called up to him. He only held her tighter. His ragged breaths continuing as he hugged her.
She stayed that way for a long time. Wondering what he was feeling.
Slowly, he allowed her to sit up once again. But his clawed hands still gripped her arms, as if afraid she'd run away.
Marinette sat up between his legs and watched him emotionally struggle with himself. Those cat-like vibrant eyes pinched tight in pain and tears.
"It's okay." She told him gently, putting a hand on the side of his cheek. "Hey. It's okay."
"N-No. It's not okay." He shakily gripped her arms. His voice wreaked with pain.
"Chat…?" she cooed softly. She'd never seen him like this before. It was breaking her heart. "What's going on?"
He hung his head. Cat ears drooped to the sides.
The words came pouring out of him now. He couldn't stop them. Not when she had put all his doubts to rest. He had not sensed one bit of hesitation in her voice. Not one bit.
"T-Too long. You had to wait far too long. For me… For anyone…"
She stiffened. "W-What are you talking about?"
He lifted his head and opened those magic eyes to gaze at her. His raw, teary expression searching her face, memorizing it all over again.
His hands traveled up her arms, stopping on her shoulders, near the base of her neck. His voice was breathy, nearly gasping as he rambled now.
"I-I should have… I should have come for you sooner… But I wasn't strong enough, Mari. And it took so long to feel like I could even be that which you needed.
And then, I-I had no idea where he was keeping you. I had to buy time with you, just to have solid proof that you were actually in the old Palace… "
Marinette drew herself up slightly. She felt herself slowing coming apart at the seams the more he poured his heart out and finally explained himself. Although none of it yet made any sense.
"… I-I've regretted it every. single. day. since I left you alone in those woods.
But I had no idea, Marinette, please believe me, I had no idea they would find you. You had survived for so long on your own. I-I thought I would only make it worse.
I did make it worse. I made everything worse. I ruined your life…"
She was crying now. Hot, frustrated tears dripped down her cheeks. Her chest was so tight that it hurt to breathe. She felt like she had been punched in the stomach. And the after effects left her bitter and angry.
She pounded weakly balled fists into his armored chest. Punching her frustrations out because she felt like her own chest was about to rip itself open.
"T-Tell me." She wailed as she struck him. "Tell me who you are!"
After a few seconds he caught her fists in his clawed hands. His voice calm, soft and resonating within her.
"You know who I am."
His words brought back a thousand memories she had hidden from herself. From a time when life was perfect. A time she had forgotten because it might as well be a lie.
She shook her head violently, flinging tears, frustration building in her own voice.
"I want to hear you say it." She snapped at him, bitterness tasting like bile in her mouth. "Say your name."
He paused for a moment, taking a steadying breath. And finally said it out loud and for her and all the world to hear.
"Adrien."
She knew that name. Gods did she know that name.
She let out a loud sob and instantly started fighting to pull free from him. Kicking her feet out underneath her, and sharply twisting her wrists in his firm grip.
He continued to hold her immobile and, thus, she had nowhere to go.
"Y-You're lying." She wailed.
He said nothing. Only continued to keep her pinned. Taking whatever blows she was able to land.
"Let go!" she ordered angrily.
He gripped her wrists tighter. "No."
She still continued to fight against him, feeling safe in her anger. She could not let her heart believe the idea that he had returned just for her. Her Adrien was gone.
"Let me go!" she cried.
"I won't."
He understood her anger, he truly did. He had spent years being angry too.
But as she fought so adamantly to get away from him, he could feel himself begin to regret telling her. Not to mention, his heart couldn't take much more of this.
He shook her roughly. "Mari, please."
She closed her eyes tightly and turned her head away from him. Her arms going limp in gradual defeat.
"Look at me!" he cried to her.
But she kept her eyes pinched shut and refused by shaking her head.
"Y-You're not him. Y-You're not!" she wept.
Knowing what he needed to do, Chat Noir let her go only to grab for the ring on his finger and yank it off violently while hoarsely repeating the spell to turn him back.
The sudden pop of magic pricked across her bare skin like a thousand stinging needles, making her breath gasp in shock of the pain. She stole a glance quick enough to watch in silent astonishment as the feline features fell away, and a man appeared from beneath that black armor.
His face turned away to begin coughing violently like he was going to be sick. However, after several seconds, and even more deep breaths, he slowly collected himself and looked in her direction.
His face found hers.
And Marinette's world stopped spinning as the sight of it pinned her to the earthen floor.
With a shaking hand, she reached out to touch the side of his jaw, lifting it slightly so she could look into his face for what felt like the first time. Her wet eyes searched that face, remembering him from all those years ago.
Gods, it truly was him. He had really come for her.
Her words were still filled with disbelief.
"Why… Why did you do this…?" She pleaded with him.
He chuckled slightly, and then winced at the pain it caused.
"To save you. Of course."
Tears spilled over her eyes once again. "But… why? Why risk yourself for me like that?"
He chuckled again and just let the honest words slide from his lips without another care.
"Because, I'm in love with you."
Her face dropped. He loved her?
"I… I don't understand." She whispered quietly. Unbelieving what she was hearing. How could he possibly? How had she warranted his love?
Adrien sighed so heavily and contently that it physically relaxed his whole body. Just because he now could, he leaned the side of his face against her hand, rubbing his jaw against her skin. A very cat-like gesture.
"I've waited years to tell you that." He said satisfied, and then added. "To finally find you, and tell you that."
She ultimately melted. Her anger vanishing. Left in its place: an open heart, believing every word.
Because he had always been with her. That little fighting voice in her head – it was him. That strong voice that told her to survive and live on. It had always been his voice.
"I didn't realize it until I'd lost you." He continued on blissfully, as if finally able to pour his heart out without fear of any repercussions. "And I thought I'd never see you again."
"You… you didn't have to save me. You didn't have to risk yourself like that for me." She told him, her voice shaking while trying to sound serious. She was not ready to hear that he had risked everything just for the sake of rescuing her.
He stared at her, but before he could try and prove to her otherwise, she kept talking.
"I had closed myself off. And I was surviving fine on my own." Because of him.
"Is that why I found you trying to escape? Climbing the palace walls in desperation?"
"Yes, but, I had endured a lot more before you showed up."
His face fell. "I know you did. And I'm sorry."
She sucked in a weak breath, ready to convince him. "You have nothing to be sorry for! None of this was your fault. None of it."
He shook his head. "How can you not see that what happened to you, was all my fault?"
She pulled her hand away from the side of his face, pushing him in the chest again to drive her point home.
"Because it wasn't. I don't blame you. I've never blamed you. Ever. I only hoped that you were safe. That the War didn't take you. That you were…"
"Mari." He shushed her gently. Her words could not completely erase the guilt from his chest, but they were helping. And that was a start.
She fisted his shirt, trying to calm herself down. With each steadying breath came a whole new wave of emotions. All the pretty spoken words. A younger version of herself would welcomed his love and even his sacrifices. But as she was now, a woman both damaged and un-pure, what could she hope to offer him?
"It's too much. All this… It's too much."
"What would you have me do?"
Letting out a sad little puff of air, she said. "Nothing. Absolutely nothing. You've done enough. I just… I can't…"
"Can't what?" he pushed.
She whined slightly. "I-I can't believe that any of this is even real."
He smiled weakly and without asking for her permission, because he simply couldn't stand it anymore, he grabbed ahold of her face and kissed her gently. Let his lips be a physical reminder that they were together again.
She had but a second to realize what was happening before she pulled away just enough to speak.
"I don't deserve this." She whined softly. "I don't."
"Yes you do." He told her, then slyly adding. "And I'll keep kissing you until you believe me."
Her lips lifted slightly with a dull smile. But she tried to lock it back down.
"Adrien, please, you shouldn't have come. I'm not worth your sacrifice."
"No, you're worth more, Marinette. To me."
She bit down on her bottom lip, teeth dragging along it.
"They will never stop coming for me." She reminded him.
What kind of a life was that for the both of them? Forever being chased and looking over their shoulders. Forever running. Forever worried that someone would steal her in the night.
"I know." He said firmly.
He was prepared to run forever as long as she was with him again.
"Adrien…" she persisted. His name sounded so good leaving her lips. She may never grow tired of saying it.
"I only want to hear one thing from you." He said, adding a bit of humor to his voice.
Her eyes narrowed suspiciously. "And what's that?"
He pushed a piece of hair out of her face. "Say you'll stay with me. Let me protect you and keep you safe. Because now that I have you, I don't ever want to let you go. Not ever again."
She wanted to believe everything that he just said. It sounded so impossibly wonderful. Almost too good to be true due to how she'd been forced to live for so many horrendous years.
In a leap of blind faith to what their lives could be now that they were together again, she gave herself over to the sensation.
She kissed him chastely. She had not kissed anyone willingly in many, many years. And she was so happy that Adrien would be the one to break her free. It awakened her heart and mind to something she had been missing: hope.
And because she never forgot the way he made her feel.
"Of course I'll stay."
Their kiss deepened. She rolled onto her back, with Adrien poised above her. When they finally broke apart, they were both panting.
He leaned his forehead against hers, and they both shared a heartfelt smile and a bit of nervous laughter.
It would take time to rebuild what they once had. But now, there would be no more secrets. No more masks or hidden identities. They could be themselves, and remember one another all over again.
Author's Note: Don't worry. There will be more. Thank you for reading.