- Chapter 20 -
Adrien awoke violently as the men charged towards them. The battle cries ringing like bells in his ears as he tried to get to his knees.
A thin sword swung towards his head. He ended up ducking down, pressing himself into the dirt once again to avoid it – although just barely. The blade whooshed through the air just above his head.
Marinette had rolled away from him, and scrambled to get to her own feet as she dove for the short sword he had taken last night, which lay propped up against the far wall. Stupidly out of reach.
For the moment, the attacking guards left her alone. Choosing to focus on the man in her company.
Reaching up, Adrien wrapped his arms around the guard's hips and used his legs to propel himself forward, knocking the other man backwards and off balance.
He had seconds to let go, pivot, and narrowly avoid the next blade from another guard, which went for his heart. In fact, the steel did manage to bite into his skin as it skimmed along the surface of his bare chest.
He leaped backwards, ending up near Marinette who stood behind him, her sword held at the ready.
She could throw a decent punch and probably an even better kick, but the sword felt foreign in her hands. Still, she gave off the illusion that she could use it, as she narrowed her eyes in determination.
The two of them backed up together, going deeper into the cave. The narrow entrance prevented more then three guards to enter at a time. But they stacked up behind each other, like silent shadows plated in armor. While Marinette and Adrien couldn't be surrounded, they were about to be outnumbered and overrun.
Marinette kept taking blind steps backwards, hoping that the uneven ground wouldn't cause her to trip. So far, so good.
Even though inside of his own head, Adrien was cursing himself for being so careless. He should have become Chat Noir before they fell asleep last night. It would have allowed them more time to escape from this ambush.
But it had also felt so wonderful to sleep beside her. And finally hold her in his arms all night long. It had been sheer bliss. He'd been selfish, and now they were paying the price.
Although, a dozen guards certainly wouldn't be a problem for Chat Noir. Adrien's voice cut through the tension as they faced down the armed guards. He sounded surprisingly calm.
"Leave us." He called to the guards. Giving them a chance to choose a non-violent route. "It's not worth your lives if you continue to follow."
The guards, of course, said nothing, but they also didn't stop pressing forward. Marinette weakly rose her sword higher, fear sliding down the back of her throat as they were forced to keep moving backwards into the cave.
"They can't speak." She told him, incase he didn't already know.
He nodded slowly in understanding. Drawing himself up, Adrien's arm went out to block her line of sight. He put himself in front of her, even though she was the one with a real weapon. His thumb casually rubbing the smooth surface of the silver ring on his finger.
Marinette's eyes flicked to him briefly. Wondering if him transforming into Chat Noir would be enough to take out this many guards. She had to believe that it was.
Drawing in a deep, steadying breath, Adrien stopped moving backwards and slowly recited the words of the spell as he starting walking confidently forward.
The magic began building within the cavern almost immediately. Drawing in all the available oxygen, and charging the air around them with static.
The magic swirled around his body, altering his appearance, and let the beast out to play.
Chat Noir turned bright green eyes in her direction while drawing his metal staff from its place behind his back.
"Keep going." He told her. "I'll cat-ch up in a moment."
Even with the looming danger, he kept his voice playful to keep her from worrying too much.
Marinette nodded wordlessly. Slightly amazed at the magical transformation she had just witnessed. If the guards could speak, they would probably be amazed too.
As much as it pained her leave him, she knew better than to stay behind and be a liability or impede his fight. There was barely enough room in the cave passageway to move around. It was like trying to fight straight through a hallway.
She lowered her sword, turned slowly, and giving him one last longing look before obeying his command and running deeper into the cave.
She ran as quickly as possible through the sporadically illuminated cavern system. Following the small patches of sun beams as she weaved her way through the walls of rock and channels that were carved into the floors by ancient flowing water.
Marinette could hear the battle cries behind her. The violent noises echoed off the cave walls. Seemingly always just behind her as the reverberating noises played tricks on her ears.
Every so often, her feet would splash into small, shallow puddles. Little tiny crickets and insects would dart away and hide. She squeezed herself down and through a narrow passage between the rocks, scraping her the skin of arm along the rough wall.
She barely made it another hundred feet before a strong hand clasped down on her shoulder, yanking her backwards.
She's scared for a second, but only for a second until she recognized the embrace.
He was panting heavily. That wide chest of his rising and falling with each deep breath. His heartbeat sounded like thunder in her ears.
"Are they all gone?" she asked against that pounding sound. Already knowing the answer, but not wanting to hear it. Truths shared between them were slowly wreaking her.
"No." he rasped in reply, holding her in his arms while he calmed his labored breathing. Her presence always managed to soothe him. He hoped to be able to hold her like this again.
That one word and she instantly knew that this hug, was yet another goodbye. She gripped him tighter, burying her face against his armored chest.
She couldn't cry. She would be brave through her tears. But her heart was pouring raw emotion that her fearful mind couldn't comprehend.
He held her by the waist, hugging her fiercely for a long, precious moment. Using his heightened senses to remember her smell. He longed for another kiss. Although he had a bad habit of kissing her goodbye. Kisses weren't meant for goodbyes.
If he ever got the chance again, he'd kiss her hello and goodnight. And never worry about the goodbyes again.
When he finally pulled away, his face is twisted in sadness.
He offered a sly smile in order to hide it, "Keep going." He told her weakly. "I'll catch up."
No cute joke or play on the words. He was being somber, but also lying through the truth.
She looked at him, her face falling as she read the seriousness of his gaze.
"No you won't." She answered, as real fear glistening in her rare eyes. Not for herself, but for him.
He sad smiled brightened, and he took a small step away.
"You're right." He teased gently. "You know me too well."
She hiccupped a sad, little laugh. She wished to know more about him. She wanted to spend the rest of her life learning everything there was ever to know about him. To reset their tragic lives, and start anew once again. This time, she wouldn't be afraid to fall in love so easily.
He was hearing noises that she could not hear. His cat ears intensely listening behind them, back towards the entrance to the cave. He couldn't make this a long goodbye. Not when he could hear the galloping horse's hooves in the distance. They were war horses. Heavy footed and carrying armored soldiers. He needed to lead them away before they saw the pile of bodies outside the entrance.
As his ears listened, his eyes never left her face. He wanted to pour his heart out to her. Promise her that everything would be okay. And that they would escape this madness together.
But he couldn't promise anything anymore. He certainly couldn't promise her happiness. He could only hope to buy her more precious time. Even if it cost him everything.
"More are coming. And they can't find this passage to the Ocean." His clawed fingers brushed through her dark hair, drawing her up and closer to him. "I won't let them find you."
She closed her eyes and listened to his voice. Letting it appease her fear. She wanted to memorize everything he told her. In case she never heard his voice again.
He twirled a piece of her hair around his clawed fingers. "But, trust me, just run, as fast as you can. Don't look back."
Her voice is calm, but miserable when she asked. "Is there another way?"
She meant for the two of them. Because this could not be their final goodbye. Gods she never wanted to say goodbye to him ever again. And certainly not forever.
Chat Noir knew that if he kissed her in this moment, he wouldn't want to pull away and do what needed to be done.
"Have I ever led you astray, so far?" he cooed gently, holding himself back and it was breaking his heart.
"I'm asking you to trust me…
To trust me, one last time."
Marinette closed her eyes and took in a deep breath. Every part of her body, heart and soul ached. She leaned into him, letting her deep breath exit her lungs in the saddest of sighs. Even with the steadying breath, her body started to tremble.
She too, held her emotions in check. Knowing that any further physical touch would call the tears from her eyes and they may never stop.
He stepped away. Severing their physical connection, and it felt like breaking a bone. He knew that he had pieces of himself that lived in her. So when he stepped away, there were holes where those pieces should be.
He eyed the cave ceiling overhead. Judging the tiny beam of sunlight as it broke through the rocks just above his head.
"I have one more trick up my sleeve." He told her bravely. However, he could only do it once.
He backed away further, watching as she did the same. Somehow, she felt that he was about to do something drastic. Even though she didn't understand exactly what.
Before she has a chance to react, he called out for the spell again. This time, the words were different.
She watched, mouth agape, as he focusing that magic into one hand. Although the weight of the magic nearly brought him to his knees as he tried to contain it.
Learning this bit was one of the hardest things he had ever had to do. Plagg had told him that it should only be used for emergencies. Because it may just kill him.
Marinette watched in horror as his hand dissolved into a swirling storm of chaos magic like he was holding a falling star in his clawed hand.
With one last aching look at the woman he loved, he turned and bolted away, dragging his charged fingers along the cavern ceiling as he ran.
The rocks instantly collapsed under the weight of the spell. And the ceiling caved in with a thunderous fall of rocks and dirt.
Jumping backwards, she avoided the falling rocks, covering her eyes as the debris rained down. All she could hear the crashing noises of the boulders as they tumbled down just in front of her. It sounds like an avalanche in her ears.
When everything is finally still, she opens her eyes to see only small cracks of sunlight penetrating through a solid wall of rock and stone.
Gone was the exit. Gone was her ability to reach him even if she wanted to.
He had created a deep wall between them. Blocking her from the outside world while hiding the ancient cave from anyone who would dare to look.
She called out to him again. Panicked that he was buried beneath all that earth and stone.
There was a small gap between the boulders, so she dropped her sword and began to climb up to peer through the rocks. Her footing wasn't good and she could barely hold herself up. Her arms begin shaking as she peered through the small gap. Her eyes searching for him on the other side.
She saw him huddled on the ground trying to get to his own feet and failing. If he was hurt, she couldn't tell. But he was in some kind of obvious pain. His chest heaved and his body was physically shaking, although he was very much still Chat Noir.
She called out to him a third time. Her ears desperate to hear his voice - to just give her some indication that he was alright.
From the other side of the wall, he yelled back. Although, his voice was deeper and wild now. Coming from that hollowed place in his chest where the beast slept.
"Keep going. Don't stop. Even if I don't come back. Keep running."
Hearing that other voice speak to her like that, Marinette heeded his rough words and ran from him.
She sprinted through the cavern. Legs spinning like wheels. The cavern system is immense. Beautiful in areas. The stalagmites and stalactites dripping and climbing to touch each other.
She ran until she could not run anymore. Only then did she walk at a lumbering pace. She continued to walk for what felt like painful hours. The cave twisted and turned as it guided her along.
She barely rested. And she really couldn't stop crying now. The heavy tears making her stumble with every weakening step.
Gods if she could ever see him again. If Fate could only be so wonderful.
But how was she supposed to find the man of her dreams twice in one lifetime?
Eventually she had no more tears left to cry. But her body is too heartbroken and weak.
Marinette fell to her knees, hugging a slimy stalagmite for comfort as she rested. She may have fallen asleep. But she couldn't tell. Time didn't seem to exist anymore.
Some period later, she picked herself up and continued to limp along. Picking her way through the massive geological features that were trapped in suspended time until per presence disturbed them.
She never forgot his words. Don't stop. Keep moving. It became her new life mantra. Even though she wished with all of her soul that he was still beside her to physically whisper it into her ears.
The sudden roaring and crashing of waves caught her by surprise. The sound making her feet move all on their own. She walked towards that sound. Following it until it was loud enough to be real.
The cavern opened into a shadowing sky, heavy with twilight. Dark waves crashed against the rocks below. Spilling salty water and mist into her face. Starfish clung to the rocks, unbothered by the battering waves. Seabirds cried out as they rode the air pockets overhead, on a never ending quest to look for food.
Beyond the rocks, the watery horizon went on for, what seemed like, forever. No islands or lands could be seen for miles and miles.
It should be beautiful. The vastness of the Ocean was breathtaking. But, for Marinette, it's the saddest thing she'd ever seen. The foamy waters below looked distant and hollow. She had always pictured it differently. Or at least, feeling differently.
Slowly and carefully, she climbed away from the breaking waves. Finding a dry spot along the seawall and collapsed in a heap of tattered, muddy skirts. She made herself as small as possible as she tucked herself into the rocks. Well hidden, as best she could.
She imagined that he was still nearby, or on his way back to find her again. They are pretty thoughts that keep her calm. Only then, did she let herself finally rest. Her eyes shutting automatically, and exhaustion swept away her consciousness almost immediately.
She dreamt of a voice soothing her. Telling her everything will be okay. A voice she's not familiar with. Although rough sounding, the voice's tone is somewhat kind.
So she continues to sleep because the voice told her to do so, and she couldn't deny its words.
When she awakes, she uncurls herself from her self-protecting ball. A man is crouched near her. His dark hair is wet and wavy from the Ocean spray. He barely speaks, but asks for her trust.
Without much hope, she nods and agrees.
She asks who he is. He answers with a name she should remember, but can't. He doesn't tell her anything more before a veil of mist descends upon them both – sealing them in a grey room of clouds.
Marinette heard what sounded like a dozen voices talking at once. All high-pitched and excited as they darted around her head.
She's physically moving through the clouds, but doesn't remember standing. A foul scent strikes her nose like the burning of incense. The smell pulls at her body, dragging her down once again.
Her eyes begin to close. Or were they perhaps already closed? Either way, she can't fight it anymore as the grey-clouded world she once knew, goes black.
A blow from an metal gauntlet struck Chat Noir in the chin. For a normal human, his head would have been thrown backwards and his jaw nearly broken.
However, he absorbs the blow and barely moves his head at the impact it caused. His green eyes unblinking even as blood begins to dribble down his chin from the new wound. Add it to the two dozen more wounds that he had acquired thanks to his smart mouth.
The clever humans had him chained in irons and bound him to the earth. Each limb separated and spread out so he couldn't bring them together to fight or get away. He could do nothing except lie there, take their blows, and bleed for them.
Because he certainly was not going to answer any of their questions – not that too many guards actually had the ability to speak. And even fewer lacked the courage to approach him.
Although they all took turns beating him. And, no matter how hard they hit him. Or how many days he went without food, water or basic human decency – he gave them nothing that could lead them to Marinette.
Not that these thought of him as a human. Each day in their captivity, he was behaving more like a beast than a man. Snarling wildly and snapping his elongated teeth and jaws at their faces when they approached him.
Soon, the men avoided him altogether. Mumbling prayers and charms to ward off the demonic presence he was giving off.
Finally, after a few more torturous days went by, a larger group of men entered the war camp. Followed by a caravan of supplies and luxurious camping items.
A smartly dressed man joined Chat Noir as he lay chained to the open ground at the center of the camp. The man's long black hair was balding in spots. His once prideful youthful face was aged from sunburn. And he had self-inflicted dull claw marks running down his cheeks and neck.
A team of Theo's men held Chat Noir's down in his chains. So that their Prince could be face to face with the animal pretending to be human.
"Thief." Theo spat at him angrily.
"Moi?" Chat teased darkly, licking cracked, dry and bloody lips.
Theo kicked him sharply in the side of the head. So hard that it hurt his own foot to do so.
"My Jewel. Tell me where." He bellowed.
Chat Noir growled deeply as the blow made his teeth rattle in his head, and he tasted his own blood in his mouth. He let the blood mix with the drool that salivated down his lips.
"She's mine." Theo angrily whined. "You had no right to take her away from me."
Chat Noir lifted his head and attempted to lunge forward, but was abruptly held back. His chains rattled from his sharp movement. The men holding him back groaned at the force they were suddenly suppressing. In fact, a few others who were simply standing by jumped in to assist because their comrades seemed to be fighting a loosing battle. Especially when Chat Noir took a small step forward.
"Not yours." he snarled darkly from deep within his chest. "Never yours."
In a fit of rage at his words, Theo pulled a bejeweled dagger from his hip and slammed the sharp blade into Chat Noir's shoulder. Imbedding it all the way to the hilt, and deep into the muscle.
He left the blade there, so that with every movement, this Beast of a man would feel it biting into his flesh. A reminder to the pain in which Theo was feeling being without his Jewel all this time.
Chat Noir roared loudly in agony as the blade pierced through his skin. He breaths gasping against the pain, tongue panting. Although his open mouth only further showcased his elongated fangs, dripping with bloody saliva.
His once feline eyes were starting to cloud over. The pupils reduced to only tiny, paper-thin slits of black amongst the green irises.
Theo stared into those inhuman eyes and continued to poke at the Beast.
"I will have her." He promised. Dropping his voice low and slow as he added, "Again… and again… and again."
He closed his eyes remembering the feeling of her tight body. "And you will listen to her pleasures. And then, you will die."
In his blind fury, Chat Noir forgot himself. Whatever mental cage the Beast had been locked in before was long gone now. His let his human mind get swallowed down and absorbed. His last conscious human thought was that it was all worth it: it was worth loosing himself, if the Beast would see this man dead.
The Beast smiled within its new fleshy host. Its magic swirling through the human body and grabbing onto every muscle and fiber of its new home, setting in for the long haul. Excited to be completely unrestricted. His tail swished along the ground. Patiently conserving his energy until he could break free and unleash chaos onto the world.
Marinette felt something brush across her face, stirring her awake. It was thick but also wet as it slid along her forehead. The air surrounding her smelled like rich earth and sunshine. Her body felt light and well rested - for the first time in a long time.
She gently opened her eyes, only to feel them instantly begin to burn and tear up. She cried out against the sudden pain and reached up to rub them.
However, a quick hand caught her wrist, holding it tightly, but then gently softening when Marinette didn't fight her.
"Bare with it. It's only for a moment." Came a soothing female voice.
Marinette blinked multiple times, feeling the tingling tears streaming down her face. Through her watery eyes, the world looked grey and shapeless.
"I can't see." She hissed painfully.
"You will." Came the female voice again.
Marinette turned her head toward the voice. Willing herself to trust it. But not being able to see was also making her anxious and unnerved.
"W-Where am I?" she asked, her fear building in her voice. She was lying on something soft. It reminded her of her sea of pillows in Theo's palace.
"Safe." She told Marinette calmly. "Believe me."
Marinette blinked heavily and winced, wiping away the stinging tears. "Who are you?"
The sound of water being rung out of a cloth replaced the silence. The soft cloth touched Marinette's cheek, who jumped slightly at the touch, but then accepted the cloth to help clean her sightless eyes. Although, she could begin to see a bit of color around the edges of her vision.
After a long moment, the woman finally answered Marinette's question. "You may call me Tikki."
"Tikki?" Marinette questioned. She did not know that name. Ignoring that for the moment, her mouth spit out another question of the hundreds floating around in her mind.
"How did I get here?"
Tikki took the cloth out of her hand and set it into the bowl beside her. She wondered if she should tell this little mortal the truth: that Plagg had finally worn her down and invoked her dwindling sympathy. No, she would not admit that. Her counterpart would never let her live it down.
"You were brought here to me. And I then sought you out."
Marinette tilted her head in confusion. The riddle of words making her head hurt. "I don't understand."
The woman huffed. Standing up, she moved away from the mortal woman.
Marinette could hear her move and blinked heavily to try and see better. Her eyes were burning less. And she could start to see outlines. She was glad to see that the figure in front of her looked human from her silhouette.
She ignored the lack of a response for now. And pressed on with another question.
"What did you do to me?" she asked.
"T'is nothing but a spell, dear. Just a simple spell to hide your eyes." Tikki answered from some distance away.
"My eyes?" Marinette questioned.
"The color." Plagg's deep voice echoed into the room. "That's what you wanted, isn't it?"
Marinette turned her head towards his voice. "I know you… that voice...?"
Plagg chuckled and moved closer to her. Marinette could feel his presence like a wave of heat. He must be inches off her face.
"So, you're the girl, huh?" he breathed against her face. He smelled like rain and mint.
"I'm… what?" she questioned, leaning away from him slightly because it was suddenly harder to breathe.
Plagg sucked on his tongue, making it click in his mouth. "The girl that Adrien chased all over kingdom-come... The girl he sold his soul to save... The girl whose curse was worth his own."
Marinette gasped aloud. She didn't know whether to cry or hit him. His words certainly struck her like a blow.
Before she could speak, Tikki jumped in. Her voice sounded scolding. "Leave her be, Plagg. She doesn't understand."
"It was you. You did that to him." Marinette cried out angrily, her eyes narrowing because she could begin to see his physical features even though they were a bit blurry.
Plagg laughed and glanced over to Tikki. "I think she understands just fine."
"Answer me." Marinette demanded. She would not let him ignore her. "Why did you do it?"
Plagg rolled his yellow eyes. She could see that they were yellow now. She could also see that he was dressed in black multi-layered suede armor. His face was a swirl of continuously moving shadows that played dramatically with his sharp facial features. Which only made his yellow eyes stand out more.
Tikki was just a few feet away, leaning against a wall of solid stone. She wore long robes of white and red with wide billowing sleeves. A sheer veil covered her head and hair, slightly masking her face. Her bright red hair flowed behind her like a cloak.
The two of them looked like polar opposites. But that was somewhat intentional.
"If you did this to him... Why can't you just take the curse away?" Marinette asked. She looked back and forth at the two of them. Begging for either of them to answer.
While she spoke, the stone room shifted and materialized into a real room. Complete with furniture and torches to light the small pace. Although, while it had curtained windows, there were no doors. Marinette was sitting on a low bed that felt too real to be an illusion.
"Because, he has to willingly give it up." Plagg told her, crossing his arms across his chest as he moved away from her angrily. "Chaos magic given cannot be so easily taken away."
Marinette shook her head. "That doesn't make any sense. How could you not…?"
"Do not speak as if you understand, human." Plagg snapped at her before leaving the room in a huff by phasing directly through the stone.
"Wait!" Marinette called to him.
Tikki was suddenly at her side patting her outstretched hand, silencing her next words.
"Chaos and destruction are corruptible magics. Not so easily ignored, and very… hostile." She tried to explain.
Her eyes flicked to the empty wall that Plagg had so swiftly exited from. In Plagg's case, it also made for a grump of a companion.
Marinette was doing her best to understand. But it was a lot to comprehend. So much so that she just accepted the fact that the room had changed all on its own. Or that disappearing through stone was completely normal. Being around magic was not unusual. She'd spent weeks with Chat Noir, after all.
Instead, she chose to focus on their words, because both of them spoke in mind numbing riddles. And it was difficult to discern the truth while putting together the details she already knew.
Marinette felt Tikki's soft touch as the woman calmingly stroked the back of her hand. She stared into the woman's face. Her physical features kept shifting. One moment she was old and wrinkled. The next, her face was beautiful and youthful. Her veil of red fabric cascading and floating behind her as if an imaginary wind was playing with it.
"But… you're not like that." Marinette complimented her softly.
Tikki smiled. "In a way, Plagg's magic is the driving force. I exist to cleanse and create anew. And follow in his wake."
"Like a healer?" Marinette offered, trying to think it out.
Tikki nodded curtly. "Of sorts, yes. But with order and reasoning."
"Can I ask? Why does Plagg do this? Why does he give his power so freely knowing that it could go so terribly?" Marinette asked.
"It's in his nature to be that push. That swing in the pendulum. As much as it is mine to counteract and pull it back. But they both must exist to balance the other. He is the push. I am the pull." Tikki responded. "We are what Humanity calls: inescapable."
As much as Marinette heard what the goddess was saying. It also made her instantly angry.
"And we are just your playthings?" Marinette stated bravely. She was a part of that so called Humanity that these gods toyed with so casually.
Tikki scowled and her red eyes darkened like the color of dried blood. Her voice was devoid of all emotion when she spoke again. Completely expressionless and utterly indifferent. Which made Marinette's original assumption of her friendly disposition to be incredibly wrong.
"I have never cared for Humanity. Nor do I care of its outcome." The room melted around them and Marinette was suddenly in a field of wiry grasses, lying dangerously close to the edge of rocky cliff that overlooked the Ocean. She recognized the landscape and could smell the salty air.
Tikki kept speaking, un-phased by the sudden change of scenery.
"Of the two of us, if you're looking for empathy, talk to Plagg. I am only here now because he asked me to be. Nothing more."
And with those heated words, she disappeared in a cloud of fog.
Marinette couldn't believe that of the two, Plagg was the most reasonable. And, seemingly, the most benevolent.
She stood on her own two feet. Realizing that the room before had been completely fake. The earth beneath her feet felt natural. The textures made it real. She was back in the real world.
Tikki and Plagg were not of this world. They had magic and powers that Humanity did not possess. Marinette should be scared, she really should. But as she saw Plagg standing just fifty feet away, she suddenly had more questions that demanded answers. And he would not disappear again before she got her answers.
She charged towards him. Running even though her body was sore and her vision was still not perfectly fixed.
She stopped just a short distance away so the wind did not steal her words.
"Tell me." She called. "Is he alive?" Marinette asked boldly. Afraid to know the truth, but also needing to know because it was eating her alive.
"Yes." Plagg answered simply. Not turning around.
"How do you know?" she persisted.
"Because I can still feel the magic. If it is alive, then so is he."
She had to accept that what he said was true. It made her feel better knowing. Because she was going to find him again, even if it killed her.
"I wouldn't." he warned her, as if reading her mind.
She gripped her fingers into tight, frustrated fists. "I'm not going to abandon him like you did."
Plagg turned around at her words. His yellow eyes glowing like Chat Noir's. "He's not who you think he is anymore."
She stepped boldly forward towards the man who could probably end her life with the snap of his fingers.
"What are you talking about?" she demanded.
He gave her a look, knowing that she'd probably figure it out if he kept quiet. She may be a human, but she was smart. Certainly smarter than Adrien. The poor love-struck guilty fool.
Marinette stared out over the landscape. The Ocean was at her back, so she at least had that point of reference. Between the two of them, these beings had brought her here. Wherever here was. And whenever it was.
And, with that thought, she knew what to ask.
"Plagg, how long has it been?" she demanded and begged. "Tell me. Please."
He hesitated, but then answered. "Over two weeks, I suspect."
Two weeks? Had it really been two whole weeks? How? Did time flow differently in that clouded grey world? And, if Adrien had been Chat Noir for over two weeks, then… then he… Oh God.
He had never been Chat Noir for that long. Days maybe, but never weeks. She remembered that. And she remembered just how difficult it was for him to turn back if he waited longer than a few days.
As if Plagg read her mind once again, he slowly added, "I doubt that there is much human left in him now."
Marinette almost fell to her knees. She swayed on her feet at his words. Hearing them was robbing her mind of hopeful thoughts. Sure, he was alive. But who was he now?
"W-We have to do something." Marinette insisted. "Please."
"Do what exactly? The magic has either consumed him, or he transformed back and they've killed him."
Marinette sucked in a breath, Plagg's straightforward words piercing her heart. She steadied herself by speaking boldly again.
"But you did this. You gave him this magic. You bare some of the responsibility here. How can you just leave him like it doesn't matter?"
Plagg glared at her. Not angry, but tired of explaining himself. "He accepted the contract willingly. He knew what the risks were."
Marinette shook her head back and forth. "That's not fair. You… you tricked him."
Plagg scoffed and ignored her.
Marinette tried a different approach. "How can you be okay with this? You've known him his whole life. Don't you care what happens to him? Does his life mean nothing to you?"
"His life is what he makes of it. Magic or no magic."
He started to walk away and Marinette ran to block his path, throwing her arms out wide.
"Do you know where he is?"
Plagg simply nodded.
"Show me." She insisted.
"Why?" he questioned, stepping close, and began physically circling around her without moving his feet. "Why should I listen to you? Hmm? You hold no power over me. You have your new eyes now. I have saved you from a future filled with anymore possible horrors. So, tell me, little female. Why should I care about him?"
Marinette let him spin around and play with her head, mumbling all his little words to make her feel insignificant.
When he finally stopped moving, she raised her chin up and gave him the weight of her gaze. Not because of the color they used to be, but because of the steadfastness held within them.
She smirked, hoping that her next words would be enough to draw him in to believe in her.
"You enjoy causing chaos and mayhem, correct? And life is nothing without a little chaos to make it more exciting."
"Indeed." He echoed, although his lips were already curving into a brilliant smile by her choice of words.
Marinette took a steadying step forward. "And love is such a beautiful thing of chaos, Plagg."
He laughed. Throwing his head up to the sky and letting the happy sound echo across the land. Marinette's skin faintly shivered as she listened. There was magic and power even in his laughter.
"Alright, little human. I hear you."
He rushed forward in a blur of movement, coming to stand behind her. One hand on each of her shoulders, urging her forward towards an open door that did not exist.
He lowered his mouth against her ear as they stepped through. "But don't blame me if you die for your beautiful chaos."
Author's Note: Hello my lovely readers. I really wish that I had something to say, but I don't. We are slowly building up to the finale, and I'm feeling all the emotions. The ending to this story has been a real challenge for me. I never thought my writing would go there. I'm glad you all are here to take this journey with me. I couldn't do it without you. Let me know what you think :)
Edit: Apparently, my tenses were all kinds of fricked up. Lord, I need a proofreader lol. Fixed now :)