Chapter 8

Ladybug quickly released Gabriel Agreste and swung down to catch Nathalie, swinging her back into the roof. She quickly set Nathalie next to Mr. Agreste before grabbing King Bee and the cat Miraculous and swinging off.

"I'll be back in a second!" She called out to Rena Rouge and Carapace. She lightly landed in the Agreste Manor garden, out of sight.

"You'll need to untransform." Ladybug said, gently.

"Yeah," King Bee said, "Buzz Off."

Adrien quickly bent over in pain, clutching his injured hand as he detransformed. "You're going to have to take it." Adrien grunted. "I don't think I have the strength to pull it out of my hair."

Ladybug mentally shook herself, trying to stay focused with her crush standing in front of her. She reached up with shaking hands and gently retrieved the red and black Miraculous. Adrien quickly handed over the bloodstained rag, gritting his teeth.

Ladybug returned both items to the Miraculous box and threw it into the air, exclaiming "Miraculous Ladybug!"

A swarm of magic ladybugs spread through the air, a group breaking off and swirling around Adrien's hand. After they flew off his finger was restored. Adrien let out a sigh of relief, "I wasn't sure this would count." He said, giving Ladybug a strained smile.

A group of ladybugs swarmed next to them and Chloe appeared. "What just happened?" She asked, looking around confused. "Where is Hawkmoth?"

"We took care of him, I need to get Adrien to safety and recharge my Miraculous." Ladybug said. "I can drop you off on my way."

"I can find my own way." Chloe said, "Just because Hawkmoth turned out to be a psychopath doesn't mean I like you."

Chloe quickly began stomping her way out of the garden before pausing and turning to Adrien. "I'm glad you're better Adrikins." She said, looking at his previously injured hand. She threw Ladybug a glare before continuing out of the garden.

"I guess that makes this easier." Ladybug said, she handed Adrien the cat Miraculous with a smile. "As far as I'm aware, I'm the only one who knows your secret identity, aside from your father and his assistant. I'm so sorry about what happened. If there is anything I can do to help you I will." She added solemnly.

"Not anything." Adrien whispered, looking at his ring and turning it over in his fingers.

"Yes, anything." Ladybug said. "Tikki, Spots off."

Adrien determinedly stared at the ring as he slipped it on. "You don't have to do this Ladybug." He said, avoiding looking at her.

"I was wrong." She said. "If I had known your identity, I could've made it here a lot faster."

"She's right." He recognized Tikki's voice. "I thought if you knew each other's secret identities that it'd be dangerous, but it turned out it was just as dangerous not to know."

Adrien slowly looked up to see Marinette Dupain-Cheng standing in front of him, smiling shyly up at him. "I hope you're not too disappointed." She said, blushing darkly.

"Not even a little, Milady." Adrien said, with a bow and a kiss to the back of her hand, drawing a squeak from Marinette.

He looked up with a smile and a wink. "So, I guess I was wrong." He said with an overdramatic sigh.

"Wro-ong?" Marinette said, stumbling over the word.

"I always said if you saw me without my costume you wouldn't be able to keep your hands off me." He said, beginning to blush despite his words. "I've also always said Luka was a lucky guy, I guess I didn't realize how lucky."

"Luka, what?" Marinette asked in a daze.

"Well, I guess we'd better get back." Adrien said. "Plagg, Claws Out!"

Marinette stared non-plussed as she watched her partner magically transform in front of her. She shook her head and turned to Tikki, who nodded before swallowing the rest of the macaroon she had been munching on whole. "Tikki, Spots On!" She exclaimed.

Chat Noir gave her a smile, "After you, Milady." He said with a smile and a bow.

"We're going to have a conversation about this." Ladybug said, still blushing. "And your wildly incorrect assumptions." She added before swinging off.

Chat Noir froze in the bow, wildly incorrect assumptions? What did that mean? He shook his head and quickly darted after Ladybug.

They landed on the roof to see Carapace guarding Mr. Agreste, who was now laying on Nathalie's lap. "Rena Rouge recharging?" Ladybug asked after she landed.

"Sure is." Carapace replied. "Looks like Mr. Agreste is coming around. Good to see you back to yourself Chat Noir."

"It's good to be back, although I do think I look rather dashing in black and red stripes." Chat Noir said with a forced smile as he looked down at his father. "I guess we better get these two to the authorities." He added.

"Chat Noir, a moment?" Ladybug asked, grabbing his arm and pulling him away from the group.

"What did I do this time?" Chat asked, when they were out of earshot.

"Do you really want to turn your father into the authorities?" She asked seriously.

"Yes." Chat said, "he deserves it, and I never want to see him again."

"I'll never understand what you've been through." Ladybug began.

"Exactly!" Chat exclaimed, turning to her and drawing an odd look from Carapace before he lowered his voice. "I've given him every chance to be the father I needed and he failed every time. He doesn't deserve any more chances, he cut off my finger! And even aside from my personal issues, the people of Paris deserve justice! He has been terrorizing the city for ages now, don't they deserve to know who that was? Don't the people deserve to know they can sleep safe now?"

Ladybug let out a sigh. "Without the moth Miraculous we have no proof he was Hawkmoth, and with this new Hawkmoth the people unfortunately can't sleep safe. Chat, I know it sucks, I'm not saying you have to live with him anymore. I'm not saying you have to go back to your life and pretend everything is normal. You have to realize what is going to happen if we turn him in as Hawkmoth, he won't be the only one whose life and career are destroyed. You'll be put on blast with him. You'll be dragged through court hearings and harassed by the media. He doesn't have the Miraculous anymore, we can just confiscate everything he has Miraculous related and leave him to rot in his failure."

Chat took a deep breath in before letting it out slowly. "You're right, but where will I live?" He said looking at her in panic.

"Every single one of your friends would gladly let you live with them." Ladybug said pointedly. "My place is available whenever you need it."

Chat Noir nodded and the two of them returned to the group as Rena Rouge landed next to them. "What'd I miss?" She asked.