I LIVE! With the way 2020 went I'm just gonna wish for everyone to have a fun year full of chaos (the good kind). We only made it 6 days... Either way welcome back and I hope you all are ready for more shenanigans! Some news first. As you can see there is only one chapter this month. I'd love to jump right back in this new year with two but I don't think that's going to happen. There will be at least one chapter a month and I will try to make two but my writing time has been greatly shortened due to all the Adulting I'm having to do. Hope you all enjoy the chapter and as always questions and comments welcome!
LeleCo04... Thanks for all the fun comments! You really made my days! I'm so happy you have enjoyed this story so far so here is a brand new chapter to keep you going.
Emily... If you want you may print my story out. Just a forewarning though. It will be over 600 pages if you don't double side print it. I'm glad you have enjoyed this story thus far and I hope to keep you hooked through its completion. I enjoyed both reviews and no I don't think you are weird at all so keep being you! To answer your question, scent is one of those things that can work in some situations and totally fail in others. You have a better chance at tracking a person in the wood by scent than in a large city. That being said a car would probably "leak" some scent but not enough and it would be overpowered by other in a city. Gabriel didn't know about Marinette being attacked till Adrien told him. After all the plan was to take Adrien alive and draw her in that way. Roger went off script something Gabriel and hawkmoth have in common... Wonder what else they have in common? I haven't made a final decision on Lila. I could use her as a foil later to cause havoc but her character overall is still up in the air for me. If I did use her she would probably be a lawyer or something. Thank for the questions hope I got them all!
(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?
Sleeping Beauty
Hospital's sucked. The smell of some fake flowery fragrance barely covered the antiseptic odors, and the stark cleanliness of every surface set Adrien's teeth on edge. It reminded him of his home after his mother had vanished. Everything was squeaky clean and fake-even the smiles that people at the front desk flashed him as he entered through the main doors.
"Bro!" Nino called the moment Adrien stepped in, thankfully averting his need to gather information from the overly cheerful welcome people.
Adrien was in no mood to deal with fake people at the moment, not with his ability to sense Marinette screaming at him in the back of his mind. She was so close and hurt and the need to go to her was a pulse in his blood that Adrien almost couldn't ignore, not even for Nino. Still… Nino looked hurt, pale and a little scared himself so Adrien made his way over to his side, hoping that this would be a quick conversation.
"Where?" Adrien ground out, not even managing to finish his sentence before Nino yanked him into a hug.
For a long moment Adrien went completely stiff, shocked by Nino's embrace. He almost wanted to shake him off but then he felt Nino let out a shuddering, dry sob causing a cold chill to run down his spine. For a moment Adrien just barely refrained from freaking out, Nino was usually such a calm presence, to see him like this worried Adrien. It made him worry that Marinette had some kind of complication or something just as awful while he had been waiting at home and it scared him. Instinctively he reached out for her presence down the silken strand he'd used to track her the night before. Her presence thrummed in his mind, weak, tired, and definitely unconscious but she was there. Steeling himself and taking a deep breath Adrien forced himself to remain calm because Nino was upset and he loved Nino like a brother.
It hadn't really clicked before how important Marinette was to him and so many others but now he was starting to see. She was the thread that tied them all together. While he'd known she was friends with Nino, they were clearly closer friends than he'd originally figured. Adrien wasn't sure if that was because Alya was Marinette's best friend or if there was a past history he wasn't aware of. Either way this wasn't the place to ask and it was obvious that Nino cared about Marinette. He was nearly distraught even though he tried to hide it beneath a thin veneer of calm. As much as he wanted, no needed answers, Adrien first had to deal, gently, with Nino who was still clinging to him like he was the only thing keeping him upright. Shoving his burning desire to be at Marinette's side right that second down into a mental hole, Adrien wrapped his own arms around his friend. He didn't have to ask what was wrong or why Nino had reacted in such a way because Nino started speaking as soon as he relaxed a fraction.
"Dude… we got the call, Alya did like an hour or so ago I think… Jeez I've lost track of time so I really don't know. She's a mess man, totally broke down when she saw Marinette. Thank god Marinette has Alya as an emergency contact. Otherwise we might not have even known. We still gotta call her parents and I still don't know what we are going to say! Alya and I decided to wait till we learned what had happened. I mean they are out of town still and Marinette is alive though hurt pretty bad… I'm just glad that you are ok. I was terrified for a minute that you were in here with her or out dead on the street. The doctors don't even know what happened, they said she was dropped off at the ambulance bay entrance. Do you know anything?"
Adrien barely resisted the urge to stress purr and his voice came out rougher than normal as he spoke. "I was ill last night. Marinette must have texted me but I missed the messages. I didn't even know anything was amiss until you contacted me. The only thing I know is what you have told me and what those messages said. Can I see her Nino?"
Nino sniffed, containing his tears as he pulled back, "Yeah, yeah. Of course… Sorry I just. I didn't know where you were and when we got the call that Marinette was here and that she had been shot. Mari looks so small like this and I was terrified that something had happened to you as well. You do look like crap by the way. Were you really going to go into work like that? Like are you still sick? Should I get a mask or something?"
Adrien huffed, a kaleidoscope of feelings swirling through him. Nino had been worried about him. Even his own father hadn't asked how he was, even after lying that he had been ill the night before. Pulling Nino against him again Adrien thanked whatever deity watching over him that he had such an incredible friend.
"I'm fine Nino. I think I just had a very minor case of food poisoning or something. I'm in one piece even though I apparently still look like crap. Thank you for worrying about me but as I said, I was home asleep. Hell I could still use some sleep but you know, work. I know you said Alya is a mess. Is she with Marinette?"
Nino patted Adrien on the back three times -their signal for release- and Adrien allowed Nino to pull away. "Yeah she is up there, worried out of her mind. I mean the last time something like this happened, well… Tiki died. Come on. We should go up and get the ball rolling. The doctor said he would be back in to talk with us in 30 minutes and it's probably been about 20."
"Good, I was hoping to speak with someone." Adrien murmured as he followed Nino to the nearest bank of elevators.
They were up in Marinette's room a few minutes later and Adrien felt like he'd been hit by a truck as he finally laid eyes on her. Like Nino had claimed she looked too small in the bed, surrounded by beeping machines while an oxygen mask sat snugly on her face. Wires poked out from under the blankets going to their appropriate locations and an IV was taped down at her wrist. Adrien had thought he was prepared. He knew how badly Marinette had been injured last night but seeing her like this with a bruise decorating her cheekbone and several more bruises discoloring the skin of her arm… Adrien was more than willing to go feral once more. He felt half feral as he walked to Marinette's side. Alya was on the other side of the bed sniffling, her hands clasped around Marinette's hand. She gazed up at Adrien and seeing the utter rage on his face, the accusatory words on the tip of her tongue melted away.
"She-she'll be ok. I don't think she is as bad off as the last time she got hurt." Alya sniffed, her voice filled with heartbreak.
Adrien nodded, unable to speak as he continued to catalog Marinette's injuries. Bandages peeked out from under the gown at her collarbone and he knew that she probably had further bandages under her gown from the gunshot wound.
"What have you been told?" Adrien finally asked, his voice lacking the rage he felt in his soul. Instead it was flat and cold like he was frozen inside instead of burning with fury.
"That she was brought in late last night injured and they have no idea who brought her in. With all of her injuries they decided to wait until she was stable to start reaching out to people on her emergency contact list. The doctor should be back soon to tell us more. You look like crap Agreste."
"It's of no concern." Adrien said dismissively as Nino came around to Alya's side.
"Babe… Lets give him a minute ok? She'll be safe with him. Come on… the doctor should be back soon." Nino coaxed half lifting Alya out of the chair she had pulled up to Marinette's side.
Alya didn't fight Nino, muttering something about a bathroom and Adrien waited stiffly until the two of them had exited the room. Reaching in his pocket once he was sure that they were gone, Adrien pulled out Marinette's miraculous stone and without even thinking he pressed it into her palm. Rosy light flashed bright enough to illuminate the bones in Marinette's hand and Adrien closed his eyes instinctively. Warmth seeped into him from their joined hands, soothing his fury slightly as the heart rate monitor sped up for several seconds. For a moment Adrien held onto the hope that Marinette was waking up but as fast as it started her heart rate dropped back off to its original lower state.
"Whooo… now that was a bit of a light show. Good thing you waited till your friends had left." Plagg commented, flying from his pocket to stare down at Marinette.
"S-She didn't wake up." Adrien hissed, his voice hitching as he brought her hand up to his lips.
"Course she didn't, you idiot. She's injured and she probably over extended herself quite a bit yesterday. Returning her stone to her wouldn't change that!" Plagg snarked but at Adrien's stricken look he softened his tone. "Adrien… she was hurt and there is nothing you could have done to save her more than you did. Magic can only do so much, and it still follows some laws of nature, as you've figured out. You know what happens when your body doesn't have the energy to support the magical strain it's under. You pass out. Marinette is tougher than most and she will heal buuut she probably won't wake up for at least a day, maybe two. Stop fretting, ok kit?"
Adrien was not satisfied with Plagg's assessment but as the stone in Marinette's hand pulsed lightly he could help but feel that maybe he was right. Even still, he hated seeing her like this and he wondered if there was a way to talk the doctors into letting him spend the night in the room. Even if they didn't allow him, there were windows in the room that opened to the outside and he wasn't above coming to see her in costume. If they kicked him out he would have to keep the stone with him but Adrien hoped that he would be able to stay.
Not daring to sit down yet, Adrien leaned forwards to press a gentle kiss to her forehead. "I'm sorry Marinette. I feel like I failed you on all sides last night. I know you would probably just call me stupid but I feel like I should have known about Roger. If I had just been a little faster… I couldn't even kill the piece of garbage properly. Although Fu has given me permission to eviscerate Roger if he dares pop back up."
It felt good to talk to Marinette even though he knew he would just be repeating himself once she really woke up. Even though she was unconscious, talking about what happened helped him sort out issues in his mind. The stone between their palms pulsed, reminding Adrien why he was there and he took a deep breath as he tried to wrestle his guilt under control. He knew what Marinette would be telling him at this moment had she been awake. She would probably be threatening to hit him with her pillows if he didn't stop.
"The Whisperers said they would take care of Roger's phone and I have already called my father. As soon as I find a good way to ask for your stuff I'll be able to start the investigation. I'll have to leave your side but… I'll be back as fast as I can. I'll have to keep the stone with me until you wake though." Adrien took a shaky breath but before he could continue the door opened behind him.
"Yes, scans have shown that there is no hemorrhaging in the brain. We do not know what she was hit with but other than the bruising there was no other damage. Are you certain that you want to take possession of her effects? They are a little… bloody."
Slipping the stone out of Marinette's hand and into his pocket Adrien turned around to face the doctor that had come bustling in with Alya and Nino.
"We will need to take possession of her things. She was shot and brought to the hospital by an unknown party. Her things might give us the only clue as to what may have happened." Adrien stated, his tone coldy neutral.
The doctor blinked at him in surprise. Clearly he had not been prepared to face Adrien. "Ah… Who are you?"
"I am Adrien Agreste. I am a detective at the same precinct Ms. Dupain-Cheng works at. I am here as a friend and to start investigations as to how she ended up here. Until she wakes and tells us something useful, her clothes and cell phone are the only things we have that can give us clues about her whereabouts last night." Adrien pulled his badge out of his pocket, showing it to the horrified doctor.
"I-I see…" The Doctor managed, having recognized Adrien's last name, " Yes well, that shouldn't be an issue at all. I will ask one of our esteemed nurses to bring them to you. I wish you the best."
Adrien inclined his head and slipped his badge back into an inner pocket. "I am grateful for your compliance. What else can you tell me of her injuries? Any information will help us reconstruct what happened to her."
As the doctor gave a run down of Marinette's injuries and presented a recovery plan, the nurse ran off to get Marinette's things. Alya and Nino had plenty of questions for the doctor as well, slipping their concerns in between Adriens grilling. The poor, now nervous doctor proclaimed Marinette to be completely out of danger, although he claimed that she had been sedated to help her injuries get a jumpstart on healing.
"Is she allowed overnight visitors? Depending on who tried to kill her she may need more protection than what the hospital can provide here." Adrien asked, his concern leaking into his tone.
"Ah… yes… Anyone is allowed an overnight visitor. Of course if Ms. Dupain-Cheng needs extra protection that is something the precinct will have to discuss with the hospital." The doctor stated, looking more than ready to flee the room at the slightest hint of permission.
At that moment the nurse returned with a biohazard bag, cutting off anything Adrien had to say to that, and Nino took the bag from the nurse as Adrien continued to question the doctor who was trying to slip out the door unnoticed. Nino made a face as he opened the bag and glanced inside taking in the large amount of blood that saturated Marinette's clothes.
"Man is all this blood from Marinette?" Nino asked in disgust, happy to hand the bag over to Adrien who had finished questioning the poor doctor and returned to his side.
"The precinct can test it but yes… it's probably all from Marinette. The doctor did say they had to give her a transfusion." Adrien replied, shifting through the bag's contents gently until he spotted Roger's phone.
"H-hey… that's not Mari's phone…" Alya noted as Adrien reached out to grab it, only to stop.
He really should put gloves on before handling anything but then again his DNA could show up on the phone already since he had handled it as Chat Noir. Handling it now would cover his tracks. Lifting Rogers' phone out of the bag Adrien allowed Alya to keep pawing through the bag until she pulled out Marinette's phone.
Marinette's phone was completely dead but Rogers phone kicked on as soon as Adrien tapped the screen. The words Recording Saved flashed on the home screen and Adrien narrowed his eyes, having a feeling what said recording was. For a moment Adrien hesitated, Alya nor Nino shouldn't be forced to hear Marinette getting shot, but this was an opportunity for more witnesses in case something mysterious happened to the phone in his hand. If Hawkmoth had one mole in the Police department Adrien knew there could easily be more and he didn't want to be the only one who heard this recording. Granted the Whisperers probably had multiple saved copies of Rogers entire phone but secondary sources of such evidence were not usually taken as seriously.
"What's with the look Agreste?" Alya asked as Nino wrapped his arms around her looking worried.
"Like you said, this isn't Marinette's phone and I think I recognize it. The problem is that there is a recording on here and it looks like it was saved last evening." Adrien answered, his decision made but he was surprised when Alya frowned and said,
"Play it."
Adrien hesitated but even he was curious as to what the recording held. He had an idea from what Marinette had told him during his run with her to the hospital, but it wasn't like he'd had the chance to listen to it. Hitting the recording saved prompt opened the phone automatically and sound burst from the speakers as Marinette's defiant voice echoed in the room.
"So let me get this straight Roger… You were going to lure Adrien out tomorrow and have him kidnapped, all to give Hawkmoth a chance to kill me because I would have tried to rescue him. But because you ran into me tonight, you decided to move your timetable up and instead frame this Chat Noir for my death with fake claw marks all the while you walk off freely into the sunset?"
Alya gasped, dropping the bag in her hands as Nino's arms dropped away from her in shock. Thankfully Alya managed to keep hold of Marinette's phone. Adrien wanted to shake his head at Marinette's brilliance but he refrained as the recording continued.
The males voice was easily recognizable as Roger's and he seemed to snort before answering Marinette. "Basically, Hawkmoth will reward me bigtime for this, and since I'm in charge of the case too… No one else will come sniffing around with you out of the picture. The Hawkmoth gang is going to become the rulers of this city. I'll have an army practically at my fingertips and be rolling in wealth. Then Chloe will regret having broken up with me and everyone else will respect what I have to say. Especially Gabriel and Adrien... Although, Adrien might get a bit broken by the time all this gets finished. I don't think Hawkmoth has decided what he wants to do with him yet. Don't worry too much… I'll pretend to cry at your funeral."
"That jerk betrayed her?! I'm going to kill him!" Alya snarled and Nino grabbed hold of Alya motioning to be silent since the recording wasn't done.
"It will never happen." Marinette calmly reprimanded. "Adrien will stop you, tear you apart, and let's be quite honest Roger, you couldn't find your way out of a wet paper bag with a map and a sword. You will never be anything more than a pawn. The Hawkmoth gang is already rotting from the inside out, won't be long until the whole gang collapses and you… you will be in jail, or dead. Depends on who gets to you first I suppose."
Both Alya and Nino stared up at Adrien who realized that despite the icy feeling around his heart, tears were beading in his eyes. "Dude?" Nino started reaching out to comfort him as Roger's voice snarled,
"Shut up Marinette. Just tell your old partner I said hi."
There were sounds of a scuffle followed by gunshots which made Alya jump and squeak and Adrien hurriedly pressed pause on the phone. Neither of them needed to know what happened after that and Adrien had to figure out how far the recording continued. He still wasn't sure if he wanted to be caught on the recording as Chat or if it would just cause more issues. There was also the chance that the Whisperers had already shortened the recording. It looked like it was barely 15 minutes long and Adrien knew it had taken far longer than that for him to get to the hospital and back.
"This phone is evidence. I'm sorry but you two are now witnesses…" Adrien started, half expecting them to be angry at him.
"Play the whole thing." Alya snarled, ignoring Adrien's shocked look. "I don't care about being a witness! I've been a witness to Marinette's crazy shenanigans plenty of times. I need to know what happened! Clearly that was recording when whoever came to rescue her. I want to know who I need to thank before I go hunt down Roger."
"Babe no…" Nino began.
"Babe YES! That slimy ass betrayed them Nino! If it hadn't been Marinette last night it would have been Adrien tonight or worse both of them! Marinette always hated Roger but she obviously never thought he would betray her or them like this!"
Adrien didn't bother to contradict Alya, even as Nino sent him a pleading look. In fact Adrien was half tempted to invite her along on his own hunt as Chat Noir. That would probably make for an interesting night. Putting the thought on the back burner, Adrien backed out of the recording and went hunting through Roger's messages. Many of them were just as damning as the recording making Adrien wonder how such a foolish man had survived this long. Roger's messages were not encrypted at all and Adrien couldn't decide if Roger was a new member of Hawkmoth or if this had been a long con.
"Alya is correct Nino. It's obvious from these messages that this plan had been in the works for a while. A few weeks at least." Adrien decided as he scrolled up on the messages. "Had Roger not jumped the gun so to speak, Marinette and I could have been killed. Our chances of survival would have been far lower at any rate."
His two friends gazed at him in horror and worry, making Adrien pause. He realized how clinical he sounded and how much he seemed like his father when he said it. Exhaustion, lack of sleep, and severe anxiety was combining into a nasty brew within him, deadening his ability to empathize. Or at least keep his foot out of his mouth. Grimacing, Adrien rubbed at his eyes turning Rogers' phone off.
"I need to call my father, report this in. You two will probably have to make statements now that you've heard that recording and someone will need to come collect Marinette's things. Maybe forensics will be able to get more information from her clothes. Either way, it's going to be a long day."
Nino took a step forward as Alya bent over to collect the bag she had dropped. "Dude you were sick last night and no offence but you look rather terrible. Is there any way you can sit this out? Or pass it along to someone? I mean hell, you can chill here and I'll drop whatever needs to be taken to the precinct off myself."
Adrien shook his head. "I don't want to leave but I don't know who I can trust at the precinct. My father needs to see Rogers' phone now and I don't trust anyone to deliver it but myself. Getting past the front desk will be a hurdle all on its own and Natalie won't let you into my fathers office no matter what you say. Plus if by some miracle Roger is at the precinct I will feel far better exposing him for the fraud he is. Not to mention I will enjoy beating him to death."
"Leave a piece for me Agreste." Alya snarked, shoving the bag of Marinette's things at him. "I pulled out her earrings, there is no reason for them to be taken to the station and Marinette doesn't like to be without them. They used to be Tiki's and she is super protective over them. Just take the bag with you. I don't want strangers sniffing around her right now. Especially after what we just heard."
"That's fine Alya. What will you do with the earrings?" Adrien asked, accepting the bag.
"I'll stick them in a pouch necklace so Marinette can keep them on her while she is here." Alya answered with a shrug. That's what she did last time and the hospital didn't dare argue with her."
Adrien nodded and crossed his fingers that the pouch would be large enough to house the miraculous stone as well. "No matter what my father says I will be watching over her tonight. I'll be back as soon as possible but let me know if anything crops up."
"Will do dude." Nino huffed, wrapping an arm around Adrien's shoulders. "Let me walk you down ok?"
As much as it pained him to leave Marinette's side again right now he also didn't trust anyone else to get Rogers' phone to his father. He could listen to the rest of the recording on the way to the precinct and figure out the best way to present it. His father would be furious but it would kick start an investigation and he would be able to come back to Marinette's side far sooner. Even if he passed this info along and remained with Marinette now, his father would call him in once Marinette's phone came on. She had sent him messages last night after all and he needed to check if those messages made it to her phone or if they had been lost to empty space. Doubts and desire rolled through him making him feel as if his skin was vibrating, even as he accepted Nino's company. Desire had him wanting to go back over to Marinette to hold her hand or give her a kiss, but he refrained since he knew he wouldn't be able to turn his back on her again. Instead as Alya sat back down in her chair and took Marinette's IV-less hand Adrien trudged out the door with Nino attempting to comfort him. The last thing Adrien heard as they walked out was Alya muttering. "Of course you would aggravate the man when he was holding a gun. You really need to stop taking bullets for people Mari…"
It broke Adrien's heart that he hadn't been able to take that bullet for her and it ground the pieces to dust when he understood that he couldn't do anything to wake Marinette up faster. All he could do now was get the ball running for the hunt of one traitorous Roger.
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