So unfortunately I have some bad news... I went back to school to get my teaching certificate and here very soon we are going to be hitting several large projects that are going to suck up all of my time. This means that DLB is getting put on the back burner for a bit. I am going to have to take a quick Hiatus through November and December but I will be back with new chapters in January. I know this is a bummer but at least I didn't leave you guys on a cliff hanger! At least I don't call this a cliff hanger... Anyways see you all in two months and thanks for all the support you guys have given so far! I love reading your guys comments, they keep me writing!
LB-CN... You are welcome! I hope you enjoy Cats closet as much as you like DLB!
nethrarajkumar627 (MiraculaKwami627)... I did not see the new york thing... I have been a little strapped for time as of late and basically everything but sleep has been put to the side. I will have to go find it at some point! As for posting I post twice a month on Saturday. Usually the second and the fourth Saturday of each month. If something happens I might post on Sunday unless I take a hiatus. In case you missed the top part I will be taking a brief break so no DLB will be posted for November or December… Sorry...
(Slow Burn Detective AU!) Marinette is used to working alone on the streets of Paris as she strives to take down the Hawkmoth gang. When the thief Chat Noir comes crashing into her life things are bound to get magical, especially when co-detective Adrien returns to Paris and seems to want to be her new partner. Will their fated partnership end in a capture or a kiss?
Dreams and Darkness
Everything felt off. Like he wasn't connected to his body or as if he was watching things happen from a video game perspective. Darkness shrouded him but just a little ahead someone crouched, a weapon in hand. That weapon infuriated him and he leaped, ready to teach the fool why their weapons were useless when something slammed into him. A familiar scent, a familiar cry and he curled around the one that attacked him, instinct screaming that this was someone he needed to protect. In the next moment a face peered at him from the shadows but it was not the one he had been hoping for. Fury surged through him, calling the destruction that lived in his core awake. Fabric flaked under his touch and the woman held in his grasp yelled, her fear tainting the air before she vanished and he hit the ground as their legs tangled. Shadows fogged his mind while something deep within him screamed that he needed to back off but just as he tried to settle a signal drew him back. A second chance… It had to be… A second chance to save the one he failed to protect. They were in front of him walking into the darkness and he gave chase, trying to brush the shadows away. He was almost there, reaching out to grab that jacket when it turned to ash and he fell.
A silent cry was ripped from him as he fell through the darkness, trying yet unable to find which way was up. Nightmarish things stalked him and he wasn't sure where he was, who he was. He was no longer falling but there was also nothing surrounding him anymore. Shadows twisted in the nothingness around him and he tried to get up, tried to move. Someone had told him that he should never stop when the shadows tried to catch him, when the madness started to sink its thorny spines into him. There was nothing there though, nothing he could remember… Why shouldn't he stay in the darkness?
His answer came in the form of a tiny glowing sphere, one that was impossible to ignore. The sphere was a beacon in the darkness but it didn't overpower the shadows that surrounded it. Instead it encouraged the shadows to deepen and in turn they made the light seem brighter. He reached for it, unable to think or want for anything else. It felt familiar and soothing and even though he couldn't pull free of the shadows that held him the sphere seemed to heed his silent call. Pressing to his outstretched hand the light forced the shadows to retreat, slinking away from his form until the world around him had transformed into a field of flowers.
The field was stunning and awash with color but the most beautiful thing in the field stood before him, her hair loose and flowing around her shoulders while her blue eyes sparkled with concern.
"Marinette… What are you doing here? Where is here?" Adrien wondered his gaze flicking past her as he tried to determine where they were. There were no discerning features to the landscape around them. In fact, darkness licked at the edges of the field, giving him the idea that they were in a pocket of space somehow rather than in the real world. He had probably seen a field like this in photographs but never in his life had he ever stood in a place like this. It felt cozy here, safe, and Marinette gazed at him with love as the flowers rustled in a soft breeze. A tiny ladybug was knocked from its flowery perch and it flew past his nose, coming to rest on Marinette's shoulder.
"Adrien… You've fallen too deep Mon Minou." Marinette whispered stepping closer to him. "I could feel you falling, could feel your mind in pain… Adrien none of what happened is your fault. You realize that right?"
Her hands brushed his cheeks, wiping away tears as everything from that night seemed to come crashing down on him emotionally.
"I couldn't protect you." Adrien shuddered as he wrapped his arms around her, "Marinette… I-I never should have left you."
"Shhhh" Marinette sighed, pulling him down to press a kiss to his forehead, "You didn't leave me, you saved me silly kitty. I am alive and I will heal. Nothing that happened tonight was your fault. Just do me a favor, when I get out of the hospital, remind me to go visit Tiki's grave. There is something I need to do even if I don't remember this conversation. Hopefully you will."
Adrien snorted, "This all feels so real, so… safe. Can't we stay a little while longer?"
"No, I don't think this place is really meant for us Adrien…" Marinette murmured, pressing a light kiss to his lips. "Listen to me. Don't beat yourself up over what happened. Nightmares are only nightmares even if these were shadows of reality. Please Adrien, don't leave me alone. I don't want to face the future without you."
She felt so solid in his arms, but right before his eyes Marinette seemed to be getting lighter along with the field, while the shadows started encroaching once more. Desperate, Adrien pulled her to him again. "I won't let you do this alone. I'm yours Marinette."
"Then don't let your spirit drown in this darkness." Marinette ordered, "It's time to wake up Adrien."
Power surged between them, warm and filled with her scent until suddenly Adrien came awake with a gasp in the darkness of his room. The sheets were tangled around his body and the very air felt oddly oppressive. Everything felt too close, his nightmare seeming to follow him into waking. Jerking over to the side Adrien slapped his phone, making it light up and easing the smothering sensation that seemed to fill the shadows around him. It was early, barely 6 am and Adrien knew that he wasn't going to be able to sleep again. The nightmares were lying in wait within his mind and Marinette…
"Marinette!" Adrien gasped yanking the sheets away and rolling up to his feet. She had been in his dream, or rather nightmare. Had she been a figment of his mind or had she been something else entirely? Had something happened to her? That field… It had felt otherworldly but some part of him knew that it had been real enough.
Unsure of himself, Adrien was about to call for Plagg when he tripped over the edge of his futon and slammed into the ground with a yelp, his phone skittering away in the darkness.
"Kit?! What's wrong? You ok?" Plagg demanded, flying in to hover above Adrien's phone so he could see him.
"I… Marinette… she was in my dream but I…" Adrien trailed off suddenly, his mind actually coming to full wakefulness from the impact of the fall.
"Was it the nightmare kit?" Plagg sighed, flying away from the phone to turn the light on. Adrien winced at the influx of light and pushed himself up off the floor.
"N-no not that one… I don't know if this was a nightmare… I mean, part of it definitely was but it also felt like a memory. Then towards the end Marinette was right next to me. She snapped me out of it. Awake I mean."
Plagg frowned, glancing at the stone he'd brought with him into the room. The same stone he'd been curled around when he had felt a small surge of power run through it. That surge had awakened him from his own unpleasant dreams and made him feel as if Tiki were nearby again. Now he wondered if that surge had been Marinette reaching for Adrien, or if Adrien had been in danger somehow. With how deep Adrien had fallen into his powers, he really shouldn't have let Adrien sleep alone. Normal nightmares were one thing, but if his powers were still messing with his kit then the nightmares Adrien usually faced could have hurt him.
"That… could be possible."Plagg hedged, seeing the shocked look on Adrien's face. "Marinette clearly has a deep connection to you since you were able to track her down through the bond you two have forged. Your nightmares might have been causing your mind to regress, and since Marinette is deeply unconscious too she probably sensed your fall and reached through your bond to help. Having her stone here probably aided the connection. You fell too deep into my power and your instincts earlier; you had to know that there would be some sort of repercussion, besides the usual exhaustion that is."
Groaning Adrien swiped a hand down his face, "Do you think this is going to become a common thing?! I already have enough issues with nightmares and insomnia for stretches of time! Do I now have to worry about them driving me insane?!"
Plagg sighed, "No but the closer you two get the better for you and her. There is a reason why the stones come in pairs. It's to help balance the forces that come under your control. Go take another shower, a real shower this time, and try to calm down. No one has called yet and you only got a few hours of sleep. I will let you know if someone tries to get a hold of you."
Adrien drooped, a heavy sigh slipping from his lips. He started to turn when an odd thought crossed his mind, "Marinette can heal and stuff but other than my senses I don't seem to be able to use any abilities. Plagg... Before you died... were you able to use any powers? I mean had any manifested?"
"Nothing like Marinette kit. If they had we both would have fared far better the night we both died. Why? Do you think the nightmares are a power manifesting?" Plagg asked curiously.
Adrien shrugged, then winced as his muscles reminded him of their intense workout just hours ago. "I-I don't think the nightmares are a power, but I think something happened when I went nuts. Other than that one time I drank too much I've never lost it like that. I guess I need to ask Stormy or Gram maybe. Or Fu I guess but I don't think he was out."
"That's a good idea. Call Fu. Right now." Plagg said, making Adrien gape at him in surprise.
Ignoring the stupid look, Plagg flew to Adrien's phone and shoved it back over to him. Plagg knew why Adrien looked so shocked and while he wished he could blow this whole nightmare thing off, something told him that he shouldn't. Fu was far more qualified to talk to Adrien about powers and feelings than Plagg ever was, and the truth was Plagg didn't know remotely how to help his kit. Sure he had his innate knowledge from being rebirthed as a kwami, but their awakening as Chat Noir hadn't followed the normal paths so things were more than a little skewed. Plus, if Adrien put off calling he would totally clam up which couldn't result in anything healthy. With Marinette in the hospital there was a very good chance that no one would even notice Adrien's distress.
Adrien picked up his phone, looking at it then Plagg a little suspiciously. "Am I still dreaming?"
Plagg's eyes narrowed and he flew to Adrien's hand before sinking his tiny fangs into a finger. Adrien yelped in surprise as well as pain, swatting at Plagg instinctively. Plagg dodged the blow, having already released his grip.
"What the hell was that for?!" Adrien snarled, sucking on the now bleeding finger. "That hurt!"
Plagg eyed him shrewdly, "Oh I don't know, are you still dreaming?"
Adrien grimaced, "You could have just said no you know. You didn't have to bite me."
"Quit stalling. Just call Fu kid." Plagg groaned.
"It's really early though… you don't think he's awake do you?" Adrien asked, staring down at Fu's contact.
This time Plagg growled and slapped his paw against the screen so that it started calling Fu.
"Plagg!" Adrien hissed, but the call connected almost as soon as it started to ring.
"Adrien?" Fu stated, his voice sounding small and tinny because of the distance.
"I-I'm here!" Adrien yelped, jerking the phone up to his ear. "Sorry if I woke you! Plagg thought I needed to call you."
"Did he now… That's unusual."
"Adrien thinks he might have a new power coming in as Chat Noir but he isn't sure since he would have used it last night. Did anyone report anything that stuck out to you?" Plagg demanded, flying to Adrien's shoulder so he could talk and hear.
"I do not know Plagg. Because of the chaos and the hour no one has given any real reports. You may have to wait a day or two before I can answer that. Since we are on the subject though, does Adrien have access to any powers de-transformed?"
"Not that I know of unless heightened senses count, but then again I've never tried to use any powers de-transformed." Adrien answered before Plagg could.
Fu hummed in distraction for a moment, "You may want to start trying to access them. Keeping everything about your Chat Noir side locked away constantly probably isn't very healthy for you. You have had an active Miraculous for a while now, something should have popped up. Now that Marinette is awakening as your stone's other half, I would not be surprised if your abilities start to change as well. You will have to come by at some point and we will discuss it at length, unless you would rather wait for Marinette?"
"I will wait for Marinette." Adrien answered quickly, "Ha-have you heard anything?"
Fu sighed, "She is alive and will recover. We had one of our people plant Rogers' phone amongst her things after we copied the phone. Make sure you bring attention to that fact when you go to see her. They were planning to hold you hostage and kill Marinette when she came for you."
Adrien gritted his teeth, "I know. Marinette managed to tell me that much when I was rushing her to the hospital. I wish the idiot had followed through with his original plans rather than doing what he did. Roger wouldn't have escaped me then. I would have taken him and any Hawkmoth member down the second they came too close."
"It is better this way Adrien." Fu commented, and even though Adrien snarled with outrage he continued. "Marinette is strong Adrien, and even though she was badly injured this was the spark needed to set other things into motion. Your father will see that Marinette needs to be an active part of the street life and he will probably recognize the merit of you two being partners. The fact that Roger targeted you two will not go over well with him. Speaking of which, do you have an alibi for the past evening?"
"I was just going to say I had been feeling sick and went to bed to be honest. Marinette texted me twice while I was on the Paper Raid with Mime. The texts are vague enough that I could swing the excuse and why I never responded. What should I say about her though? I mean she left early, and even though she had finished all of her duties for the day, I don't want her getting reamed when she wakes up."
The Whisperers will take care of an alibi for her if needed. I am sure you will be the first person to know when she wakes so just tell Marinette to be vague. Rogers' phone has plenty of evidence that will support just about any tale Marinette could come up with. At this point we know Roger was badly injured by you so I don't think he will try to go to work. We have already checked his home and there are no signs that he returned there last night. It's like he vanished which is disturbing. If Roger does show up you have my permission to kill him." Fu stated.
"You don't have to tell me twice. I have a feeling that even my father won't care about me eviscerating Roger when he discovers how this all went down." Adrien growled. "Even though my father is an ass, he really does like Marinette."
"And you love her." Fu commented not unkindly. He could hear the stress in Adrien's voice and he wondered if he should make Adrien come visit even without Marinette.
"Love?!" Adrien spluttered remembering the conversation he'd had with Fu as Chat just hours ago. He didn't want too many people knowing and Adrien wondered if he had been that obvious. After all, he wanted to work with Marinette as her partner. If people realized they were in love it could cause some major issues. "You can't tell anyone! I know you know who I am and all but Marinette is in more than enough danger from being associated with Chat! Roger was going to try and frame Chat Noir for killing her this evening. He probably would have gotten away with it too had I not found her in time!"
"I understand Adrien, have a little faith. Your emotions are important and you simply need to find a better balance than what you have. It's to be expected honestly. Your father is too constipated emotionally to see what is right in front of his face and Plagg wasn't the best at emotional guidance. That being said you should just try to be a little more careful with your smitten looks while in public. Marinette does an excellent job of hiding her feelings for you but you are a little too obvious at times, especially when in the guise of Chat Noir." Fu stated his voice grave, "As for everything else, try and take a deep breath. We have had people out searching for Roger but as I said we cannot seem to locate him. We will keep you updated and several Whisperers have been discreetly standing guard over Marinette in case someone else tries something"
"Thank you Fu. Marinette... She brings out the best in me and I can't ignore her or what I feel for her. It would be like trying to stop breathing." Adrien sighed, "She accepts me and all my flaws for who I am. Even now I have this drive to go to her even though I can't. It's like she is my heartbeat."
"That's love kit, just get better at expressing it at appropriate times is all. Your stone face is usually impeccable. It's only around Marinette that you crack." Plagg snarked, coming out of nowhere to hover before Adrien's nose. It took him a moment to realize that Adrien had closed his eyes while he'd made his little speech.
The poor kit looked exhausted, with dark smudges starting under his eyes, and Plagg patted his nose making Adrien shriek in surprise as his eyes snapped open. Jerking back, Adrien dropped his phone, missing Fu's reply and ended up tumbling to the floor as he tripped over a discarded blanket.
Ignoring Adrien's dramatics, Plagg floated down to the phone. "Thanks for talking to the kit, I will probably make him come see you even before Marinette gets out of the hospital."
Adrien heard Fu reply in an affirmative tone and without even saying goodbye Plagg hung up.
Slowly Adrien sat up, staring at Plagg. "You know Plagg… I remember Marinette always being so kind and encouraging me when we were in college. I didn't realize it before but I guess I really did miss her when I was in the states. I know she had a crush on me in college, and I know we have both said that we love each other, but is it the stones pulling us together or are we just made for each other? I want to build something more with her than just what the stones have influenced."
Plagg rolled his eyes. "You two are the most insecure little fools I have ever met. From the sounds of your steamy little smooches I'd say you have a really good chance of building something very solid with Marinette. You two already have a connection that even death might not sever so just keep doing what you're doing and don't be afraid to love her in private. In public keep your paws off."
"Awe Plagg… That's super sweet of you." Adrien cooed, looking at him with awed green eyes.
Plagg hissed at him, "You are the idiot who keeps spouting off love confessions only to backtrack and wonder if she loves him back! Just… just go take a shower or something and get out of my fur!"
Adrien watched as Plagg zipped back over to the stone and curled around it again, determined to ignore him. Grinning a little, Adrien collected some clothes and moved towards the bathroom, more than ready to get rid of the sticky nightmare sweat that coated him.
Even though his shower was nice and relaxing, his anxiety had returned full force by the time he got out - leaving him unable to sleep again even though he briefly tried. Rolling across the blankets, unable to quiet his mind and just sleep, Adrien got up with a disgusted huff. He was too worried, and knowing he wasn't going to get any more rest he threw on a change of work clothes before he started his morning routine. Guilt pricked at him as did a heavier worry.
Someone should be calling soon, if only to tell him that Marinette had been injured. Even if no one did there was no way he would be capable of going into work and pretending everything was ok. He had no plans of ever going into work today even though he was dressed to do so. He didn't want to draw attention to himself by not being in proper attire and Adrien didn't want to have to make a scene at work by rushing out when someone did call. If someone didn't contact him soon Adrien planned on using the texts Marinette had sent him as an excuse to start shaking things up. Moving into the living room Adrien began to pace and mumble to himself. If anything Adrien desperately wanted to go to the hospital, but he couldn't since he shouldn't know about Marinette being hurt yet. It was starting to become late though and being tardy to work would draw unwanted attention to himself as well.
Finally, just as he was about to say screw it and go to the office his phone rang, snapping him to attention. Nino's name flashed on the caller ID and Adrien let it ring twice before losing what little patience he had left and picked it up.
"Hello?" Adrien asked, his voice coming out as a croak from nerves.
"Oh thank god your safe… I-I was worried that…" A bluster of air whooshed through the speaker and Adrien pulled back for a second to make sure it really was Nino.
"Nino?" Adrien queried.
"Y-yeah it's me man… Look I-I got some bad news. Marinette's been hurt, she's in the hospital." Nino managed, his voice filled with sorrow.
Adrien was already out the door, having scooped up his bad tempered kwami and miraculous stone the moment the phone rang. "Which hospital? Is she ok?" He already knew which hospital of course but he couldn't just show up - it would look strange.
"Well she got shot apparently and lost a lot of blood. They think she might have a concussion but she is alive. I'll give you more information when you get here. I gotta go calm Alya down. No one knows what happened." Nino answered and then told him the hospital's name and her room number.
"I'm on my way." Adrien promised and hung up.
Forcing himself to ride in a taxi was probably the hardest thing Adrien ever had to do. He'd wanted to change into Chat Noir, the steadily rising sun be damned but Plagg had vetoed that idea real quick - before he was even out the door.
"How will you explain yourself when you show up in five minutes, when it takes at least fifteen to get there by car?! Not to mention that you are exhausted still and so am I." Plagg snarled, "Think kit! You already know that Marinette is alive and doing ok, don't screw up and make people look at you funny! They may not question it right now but they will later and there is already going to be suspicions thrown every which way! One being those messages you got last night but never responded to!"
Adrien flinched at Plagg's tone but he agreed that he was right and called a taxi. Even still he was jittery, gritting his teeth as the taxi all but crawled through the streets. Knowing he either had to distract himself or go insane Adrien pulled out his phone and called his father's personal line, one that circumvented Natalie. There was no way that Adrien had the tolerance to speak to his stiff secretary, much less get put on hold so she could clear his call before transferring him to Gabriel.
Even though this number was technically Gabriel's emergency line it rang for nearly thirty seconds before his father finally picked up. His voice was icy and utterly devoid of emotion. "Gabriel speaking."
"Father, I have just been informed that Marinette was shot and is in the hospital. I am on my way there now but I do not have any further information." Adrien spat, somehow managing to keep his tone civil.
The phone went silent for several long moments before Gabriel spoke again and this time Adrien could hear the shock in his icy tone. "What did you just say?"
"Nino called me about 15 minutes ago give or take, to inform me that Marinette was shot sometime last night and is currently in the hospital unconscious. She is alive and I am on my way there now to start asking what happened. The only lead I have at the moment are two text messages from Marinette last night that show she went to help Roger with something. He might be the last person to have seen her uninjured. I was feeling ill and fell asleep early last night so I didn't get those messages till earlier this morning. I was about to start sending out inquiries when Nino called me."
"I will speak to Roger when he arrives." Gabriel stated, his voice like ice. "Keep me updated. Your duties will be shifted as well as Marinette's. Thank you for letting me know right away. Make sure you keep in contact. Any attack on one of our people is an attack on the precinct. I doubt Marinette will be conscious so soon but let me know if she awakens."
"Sir." Adrien affirmed and the phone call cut off as the Taxi pulled up to the front of the hospital.
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