A/N: Ah yes... Some more Adrinette and some Ladrien...
The Cat's Nature
"Look over there! Is that Nemo?", Emma squealed, leaning close to the thick glass in front of her, narrowing her eyes in hopes to get a better look of the fishes inside this huge tank. "Nah… it isn't…"
"Oh, then… what is that? Is that the Dory-Fish?"
"Dory is her name, silly! And Dory is a Regal Blue Tang… She loves to swim and to sing and can't remember things…"
"Ah - then she is just like me! Totally forgot where I put my keys…"
"Really? You are funny!"
"Hey – it's true!"
Emma's giggle washed over them, before she leaned back against the thick glass of the tank, pointing at a swarm of fish, that swam by.
"Look there! Dory-fish!"
"Uuuuh~ Pretty!"
The girl had fun. Sure, everybody could tell. And Adrien – he as well! He was just as amazed as his daughter, watching the animals in front of them with glee. Chatting with Emma, chuckling and laughing and just enjoyed his time with her.
Without Lila's constant watch and with her reckless flirting behavior. It was more easy for him now to approach his daughter that way. And the girl let him…
And Marinette stayed in the background. She didn't mind one bit. Was glad, that it worked so well for her friend. Enjoyed watching them – heck – she even was able to let her guard down to actually sit on a bench some meter behind them, with a small sketchbook on her lap, while she sketched things, that crossed her path.
She hadn't done that for the longest time…
To just let all her duties and responsibilities fall from her shoulders. To breath freely. Relax, almost. Letting the easiness and the calmness of the moment wash over her, without a care in the world…
A genuine smile crossed her features, as she looked back up again, seeing father and daughter being easily amazed by the fishes presented in front of them in their constant circles around the tank. A watery hue casting over them, painting the surroundings blue as well.
And it almost felt like a dream, the walls and glass of the aquarium shielding them from all the harm from the reality, that awaited them outsidr. And this fantasy world was painted even more by the soft tunes that played somewhere in the speakers above and Marinette was very able to block out everything else that wasn't currently important to her.
Just those two lovely people in front of her, being like father and daughter for the very first time.
And… gosh… Adrien really was a lovely father…
It was him, who turned back around for a mere moment, smiling and waving in her direction. Making her blush instantly, for she certainly had stared for far too long in their direction. Especially his…
She felt caught – immediately looking back down to her sketchbook, scribbling something in a haste, before he could have questioned her behavior in any way.
Yet… it didn't help her, she noticed only a moment later, when Adrien started to casually walk over to her, once Emma decided it was time for them to move somewhere else – who yet rushed past the bench where Marinette was sitting on, to look at the fish in the tank, that was behind the young woman, instead.
Adrien on the other hand stopped for a moment by her side, hands in his pockets and he took a long look at Marinette's sketches from above.
"… stuff like that should hang in a museum…", he mumbled calmly, almost as if his words were meant to be more to himself, than for her. And he seemed to notice his almost tiny mistake, cleared his throat, before he raised his voice once more: "Your drawings… They look wonderful! You really have talent, Marinette…"
His voice was smooth and it tingled her spine – like any compliment he would give her. This time wasn't any different…
"T-thank you…", she said shyly, daring to look up to him to meet his eyes immediately. "I just… rarely have the time to draw these days. It's gotten rare and I certainly had gotten worse at anatomy and-"
"Well, I love it!", he said, his face shining with the genuine smile, that emerged there and stayed there for the whole time. "I really do…"
Marinette's breath got caught in her throat. Forgetting about her whole existence all together for a mere moment. Not blinking, in fear she could miss one precious second of it – merely turned back around to look over to Emma once more, when she felt as if she was about to faint.
… still feeling very lightheaded…
"She has started to like you!", Marinette hurriedly said, trying to change the subject as fast as possible. "I can tell! You totally had her with the Platypus and she won't stop, until she will eventually see one herself…"
Adrien tore his gaze from her, looking over to Emma as well. Nodding.
"I am glad she does not try to run away from me anymore. I hated that thought. And now… she actually speaks with me! Asks me questions. Listens to my answers… It's… It's awesome!" This very revelation made him relax. His tense shoulders were falling a little and his moves were only half as timid as before. For a mere moment, for his features immediately darkened, again and he turned back around to look at Marinette instead.
Worried this time and the young woman gulped upon seeing the darkness, that casted dark shadows over his handsome features. He opened his lips once, twice, trying to find the right words, before he was able to speak his mind:
"… what if she asks me about her grandparents, Marinette. You know… my mother… Gabriel… She… she is too young to understand. And it might scare her away. And… what will she think about the fact, that her grandfather is… was…" He gulped himself, before he lowered his voice into a whisper: "… a villain…"
He looked pale, upon saying these words out loud – as loud as he dared for this very moment. His hands looked as if they were twitching, his eyes leaving hers to look to the floor. Widened. His breathed heavier.
His demons were taking over, as panic tried to get a grip on his heart.
Marinette rose to her feet, fear spreading through her whole body as well. The sketchbook and pencil were left behind without a care.
But this was more important now!
He…was more important…
And she had witnessed this before – had seen him before at his lowest point and she was not afraid to help.
They were friends after all, right?
"Look at me, Adrien…"
Thankfully Emma was still too distracted by the fish, that roamed that tank behind them, not daring to look away, in fear she would miss just anything. So she wouldn't question their strange behavior.
And for the other people around…
They were rather minding their own business. The aquarium's low lighting gave them enough privacy for the moment anyway and nobody had yet noticed, who this blond man was.
But she had to be fast – his emotions could draw an Akuma close easily. She did not want that.
After all… she didn't want to fight him. Adrien – the man, who has stolen her heart so many years ago. But she didn't want him to turn into a villain himself. Not in front of Emma. Not in front of the world. Never…
"… look at me…", she whispered with a shaking and tiny voice, her heart skipping a beat, when he finally did. "… we shall not talk about that right now. You are right – she won't understand. She is too young…"
Sure – children nowadays learn about the infamous Hawk Moth in school. Sometimes from their parents, true. But it definitely was a delicate topic and one, that should be treated with caution.
Though… things changed with Lady Titalee now having a hold on the butterfly Miraculous… right?
But still… Emma wasn't even five years old. She wouldn't understand the whole impact of his words… and she shouldn't know about this legacy she would inherent one day from her father and grandfather.
… and… this day would eventually come, where she would find out about Hawk Moth's reign of terror. That was true. And she would need to know, that this very man was related with Adrien. And with her as well.
But there would be the right time and the right place for that…
Right now and here in the middle of the Parisian Zoo weren't even close to perfect for those kind of talks between a father and his daughter – especially when their relationship had just started to bloom between them.
Marinette let out a shaking breath, for Adrien was still caught within his own dark mind, still not looking up to her. So she laid a caring hand on his cheek, softly touching his skin there. Stroking over it with her thumb, before she leaned closer to his ear, her lips barely touching, when she said:
"It's okay, Adrien…"
Deep down she knew, that nothing was okay. Probably never would be as okay, as they used to be. But she wouldn't mind.
Hell… she would be by his side through it all, if he wanted her there…
"Marinette…", she heard him croak – letting her know, that he was close to crying, which broke her heart one more time in all these years.
But she couldn't react. Wasn't able to, for Adrien was the one to move again – paralyzing her completely.
His arms were moving up in a hurry – hugging her, his hands staying on her back, to draw her even closer. Laying his chin on her shoulder with that. Marinette's on the other hand were pressed between their chests and it almost felt, as if she could make out the combined pulses of their beating hearts.
… or the rising of their chests, but whatever it was, it made her nervous and excited and all at once.
She felt her cheeks coloring and it felt like the temperature in this room was rising in a rapid speed.
… but… she did not mind…
"Oh…so you two are married?", Emma asked all to suddenly, having turned around only a moment ago. "But you are not wearing a ring, Marinette…"
Marinette immediately tore herself out of Adrien's arms, even though he made it almost impossible to do so. Did he actually want their embrace to last a little longer?
Though… surely, it was for him merely a friendly, little hug to come back to this very realm of reality. Not more. And he had just needed his time to be drawn outside of this dark hole, where he had hidden himself in.
Nothing more.
But… thankfully it seemed to have an effect on him nonetheless. The dark look in his eyes was gone and he was very able to put a smile back on, before he knelt down in front off Emma once more.
"We are not married…", Adrien said, when Marinette's voice was still failing. "Though we both can surely agree, that the man, who will one day marry Marinette, will be the luckiest guy out there, right?"
Emma giggled.
"Yes! Marinette is a real Princess and her husband will be the King!"
"A Princess?" He looked up to the young woman, a slight, almost cat-like smirk playing on his lips, before he faced Emma, again. "Oh, Marinette is indeed a Princess – I can agree to that with my whole heart!"
They way he said this word. Princess. It made her spine tingle and goosebumps were rising on her whole body and for a mere moment, she was standing in front of the teasing Chat Noir, instead of the loving Adrien Agreste.
… but that was surely just a mean trick, that was playing with her mind.
"Can we look at the stingray now? Please?", Emma asked most innocently, as if nothing had happened out of the ordinary. "They always look, as if they were flying in the water! It's so much fun!"
"Oh – so you have found the Dory-fish already?"
"The Regal Blue Tang. And we found it together. Have you really forgotten about that?"
"Oh – true! I told you – I am bad at remembering things~"
"You truly are like Dory, aren't you? Now come you two! I wanna see the stingray!"
Emma jumped up and down and over to a round basin in the middle of the aquarium, yet both adults still hesitated to walk after her.
… also Marinette was very much afraid to make a tiny move at all, for she feared, that she would stumble and fall. Her legs felt like gummy. Weak. Melted. And she had embarrassed herself many times in front of Adrien – another time was too much.
And – above all – Adrien should make a move instead. He was her father and every second together with his daughter was very precious to them.
Therefore she turned around once more, even though every move she made felt like a blur of colors. All that mattered were his touches only a few moments ago and she had to find a way to shake of this feeling.
For… friends shouldn't feel that way about the other…
She packed her small sketchbook and her pencil back in her purse – Tikki taking it inside her hiding place with wide, surpised eyes and about a billion questions on her lips. But she stayed quiet – she had to after all, for there were to many people around, that could hear her as well.
… Adrien could hear her…
Finished, she turned around, again and saw Adrien still in the same spot, as before. Indecisive. Looking between Emma and Marinette. Waiting and hesitant.
The young woman forced a wide smile back on her features, faking it completely, before she stepped closer once more.
"Go to her. Talk to her. You are smart and know about so many things. She will listen to all of them. It helps you to let your relationship with her grow. Believe me…"
"What about you?", he asked hurriedly, panic edging in his voice as she tried to walk past him – but Marinette was stopped by his soft grip on her hand. "Where are you going? Are you leaving?"
A slight touch, gentle in its nature, kept her from moving any further. And it took her breath away once more.
But she tried to play over it, even though she wanted nothing more, but to lace her fingers with his, pull him closer and to lay her lips on his waiting ones.
No! She warned herself once more, knowing very well, that this certainly was not the one thing, he wanted from their friendship…
… also… dating him would just put him into direct danger…
"Just looking for the bathroom, Silly…" she said as jokingly, as she could, while she pulled her wrist out his grip. "I'll be back any minute – depending on the line in front of the ladies room!"
He exhaled in relief upon hearing that and for a tiny moment Marinette wondered, if he had actually feared, that she would leave them.
Him…
But she would never do that – she just needed a moment for herself, to take a deep breath and to focus once more.
"Okay… Good!", he said, chuckling about some silly thought himself, before he nodded in acceptance, waving a tiny wave, before he left her side to walk to Emma instead.
And Marinette walked into the other direction, clutching her purse with Tikki inside tightly to her side, while her eyes tried to find the bathroom – which was located in the very back of the aquarium.
By the time she reached this small room, that smelled like artificial flowers and hand sanitizer, it was thankfully empty. Well – apart from the cleaning lady, that walked past her with a bucket in her hand and a mop in the other – but she was gone, when she had finished mopping the floor.
Marinette was alone.
The young woman hurried inside a bathroom stall, closing it and sat weakly on the closed toilet seat behind her.
Letting out a shaking breath.
Closed her eyes.
Her fingers found her wrist – the feeling of Adrien's fingers still lingering there and a warm feeling crept up and down her spine. Making her shiver. Smile warmly…
Before she let out a heavy sigh.
"What do I do?", she whispered desperately and opened her purse, to let Tikki out for a tiny moment. "I have completely fallen for Adrien once more…"
" Once more?", Tikki asked back skeptically, holding Marinette's sketchbook in her paws and opened it – somewhere on a page, that had only sketches with Adrien on them. Well… and one of Emma, of course. "Your heart has always belonged to that man! And I think your drawings are most lovely! Did he see them? What did he say?"
Marinette huffed, turning the page to reveal sketches of a wide variety of fish, she had seen within this aquarium.
"Of course not! He had see this page and the one before that! So no stuff, that is not safe for him to see!"
She completely ignored Tikki's other comment. Of course – she hated to admit it to herself…
That she still loved one Adrien Agreste so dearly and deeply, that it almost hurt physically and mentally.
… more now that they were older…
"Talk to him, Marinette… you love him… you really do. And he sees you that way, too…"
"How can you be so sure?", she snapped back, taking the sketchbook back in her own hands. Turning the page back to be greeted by Adrien's gentle smile as a pencil drawing. Tracing it softly with her fingertip. Frowning. "We are friends…"
Tikki was silent for a moment. Shaking her head upon hearing the words of her Chosen.
"Yes… Marinette. Yes – you two are friends-" "And he would never-" "-but your hearts are connected. Woven together by fate. You shouldn't deny that, for this denial will break you. Both of you…"
Marinette let out a tiny sob and the Kwamis was immediately by her side, brushing that one tear, that dared to escape from her eyes away, before she cuddled the humans cheek.
"Trust me, Marinette… really – trust me with this one and-"
Marinette shrieked. Not because of the words, that the small goddess had chosen to say, but of the watery coldness, that had all to suddenly reached her toes and feet, creeping inside her sandals with ease.
Water.
Cold, cold water was coming from under the stall door, climbing higher and higher with each passing second. Up her ankles and her calves. Threatening her easily.
"What is happening?", Tikki squealed, flying up to look inside the restroom instead. "Marinette! The whole thing is filled with water! You have to get out of here now!"
She gulped.
That was true and the young woman knew right away, that this disaster had no natural causes.
An Akuma was there – somewhere and probably already close.
… which meant, that both Emma and Adrien could be in severe danger!
"Tikki! Spots On!", she shouted, as soon as this terrifying thought crossed her mind, letting the magical light wash over her whole body, as strength filled her every vein.
Ladybug was in charge now.
By now the water was already by her waist, making it hard to move at all. Opening the door for her stall was almost impossible now – unless she wanted to break it.
But she had to – grasping the top of the stall, while kicking the door open with both legs, breaking it in the process.
Yet, she didn't care – shouldn't care right now, for people were probably afraid and in danger. And her Lucky Charm would repair this harm later anyway.
Water came crashing down on her, pressing her against the wall behind her. She wanted to scream – but couldn't, for the water tried to press any air out of her lungs.
Ladybug didn't give in – she wouldn't be Ladybug after all and she had fought in water before. But the last times she had the magical enhanced macarons to boost Tikki's power…
…those recipes were not available now that Master Fu wasn't there to read the ancient writing and she could not make them herself.
So… she was basically on her own.
Therefore she pressed against the wall behind with her feet, pushing, until she was able to move away from it, with as much power as she could handle. Moving through the water in swift moves and up to the little bit of surface, that was between the water and the ceiling of the restroom.
Gasping for breath. Looking around for the door – finding it a moment later.
Good…
She dived down once more, and punched against this door with all power she could find in her muscles.
The suction was strong, pulling at her whole body to get her outside – though the situation here wasn't any better. The water here – for the aquarium was essentially bigger than the small bathroom, she had hidden herself in – was still not as high. Cold, nonetheless. A few people have made it outside – thankfully. Other's had saved themselves on anything high, they could find.
… for fish roamed these waters now – some might be of no harm, but other's were indeed dangerous. Poisonous, probably as well.
"Ladybug!", came shouts to her ears, once people had taken notice of her. Just like Adrien and Emma, who had climbed on her father's back, to keep out of the water. They looked at her and she was drawn to them – but there were other civilians around as well.
She had to take care of all of them… and going straight to the young man and his daughter might cause some suspiciousness.
Though – she wasn't able to do anything – warning shouts already tried to reach her, but it was to late.
Something had wrapped itself around her ankle, hoisted her up with ease and towards the other end of the aquarium. Away from these people…
… away from Adrien and Emma as well…
Her fall hadn't been hard. She landed on the water, but something had taken hold on her once more, pressing her down to the floor. Under the surface.
Inside the water…
" ALL HAIL KING POSEIDON!", a deep, pressuring voice reached her ears. "Savior of the seas! Sheppard of the fish! Bow in front of me you peasant and give me your Miraculous!"
A grim, dark version of a Merman was towering over her. Blue skin, icy blue eyes, shark like teeth. A grim smile forming around them. But he hadn't a fishtail. No. Instead he had eight tentacles, that moved around him. One holding her down by her neck, another wrapped around her waist.
Her eyes were wide. Grasping onto the slippery thing on her neck in hopes it would loosen.
When it didn't help, she tried to reach for her yo-yo.
King Poseidon merely laughed upon seeing that, using a third tentacle to throw her out of the water instead.
Playing with her.
Thankfully she landed not inside the water this time. Somewhere hard instead. Dry. Warm hands pulled her away, until her feet weren't touching the dangerous wetness anymore.
For a mere moment she believed it to be Chat Noir. That he had made it in time – to save his Lady and everybody around.
But when she looked up, coughing and trying to get some air back into her lungs, she made out another blond man – Adrien – instead.
He looked pale in this blue lightning, the silence eerie around them.
Of course – the speakers weren't playing music anymore and it was only a matter of time, before the lights would go out as well.
She needed to get everybody out before that happened.
"Does he leave the water?", Ladybug asked, trying to sound as casual as possible, even though her worries made it hard to focus on anything around her. " King Poseidon? Does… does he leave the water?"
She was breathless. Sure. But she needed to stay strong – for these people and for everybody else in Paris as well.
It was Emma, who shook her head, looking down at Ladybug with wide and frightened eyes, while it was Adrien, who held out one helping hand, to help the heroine up on her feet again, while trying to keep his balance on this rocky formation, where they were standing on – some piece of decoration inside one of those tanks. It was big enough for a few people to find shelter on, but slippery.
But for now it worked…
"He stays inside the water for the whole time… He is like a fish. A big, dangerous one…", Emma's tiny voice echoed through the silence around them, clutching a little more tightly Adrien's shoulder. "He's scary…"
"I'll keep you save…", He mumbled and smiled up to her – even though the girl wasn't able to see it – before he locked eyes with Ladybug once more. "It all happened too fast, Ladybug. Those by the entrance could flee, when the glass of the tanks started to break. Others took shelter on things nearby. But now you are here! Ladybug will save us, Emma!"
Emma nodded in agreement and this sight was probably the cutest thing the young woman had seen all day.
… if it wasn't for the fact, that they were in the middle of an Akuma attack.
"Chat Noir will be here any minute! Don't worry – we will have the butterfly purified before my partner could have made any silly pun about it!"
Emma nodded eagerly upon hearing that.
But it was Adrien's widened eyes, that confused Ladybug immediately. And the tiny gasp, that left his lips.
… and the quiet question, that followed a moment later:
"What if he won't make it this time?"
Ladybug blinked. Shaking her head.
"Why wouldn't he make it? He always was there in time! We always fight together!"
Emma giggled once more.
"But there is water everywhere! And he is a cat! Cats don't like water – it's in their nature!"
Ladybug smiled upon hearing this carefree explanation – though she was worried upon seeing Adrien's thoughtful and lingering gaze.
"But-"
Adrien couldn't finish his sentence. Tentacles busted through the waters surface. Not far away from them. Searching for anything to grasp and to drag into the depth of the water. Down to him. To crush it and drown it.
People screamed and shrieked. Tried to climb higher on anything they could find.
And Ladybug immediately knew, that she hadn't anymore time to wait for her leather wearing partner. He would come – that was for sure! Maybe he was already close, but couldn't find a place to hide and to transform.
One more time she looked over to Adrien. Then Emma, knowing, that she had to do just something.
Now!
Get them out of here, before King Poseidon could get a hold on just anybody around.
Searching, blue eyes looked around – finding the broken bathroom door not too far away from them, floating there without a care. A bench nearby. She climbed past Adrien and Emma and past two other civilians, leaning over to get the bench closer. Breaking it in hurry and until she had three, usable wooden slats, handing one to the woman behind her and one to Adrien himself. She held the third in her hand.
"Can you row?"
The woman was too scared and too confused to answer.
Adrien on the other hand followed her gaze towards to door, nodding immediately.
"Might work…", he mumbled, before he let Emma slowly down, weighting the slat in his hand. "Will be fun, Emma, right?"
She giggled, nodded and held onto Adrien's hand tightly.
Ladybug smiled upon seeing that, before she used her yo-yo to swing herself across the room and onto the door. It wasn't exactly the best boat out there, but it would help to get these people outside – after that she would think about a way to fight against King Poseidon.
To find the hidden butterfly…
Hopefully Chat Noir would be around by then – fighting a villain alone was an absolute absurd thought…
She knelt, carefully looking over the edge of her makeshift boat. Seeing only darkness underneath her. Sometimes a swarm of fish would swim by, close enough to the surface for her to see. But the akumatized victim was nowhere to be seen.
… for now…
Not hesitating any longer she sank the broader side of the slat in her hands in the water. Balancing on the door most carefully, while she tried to row it across the water. Closer to the rocky formation with every move – her eyes looking around the remainder of the aquarium – counting ten people to save in total. Good – everybody else made it outside…
"Be careful!" Ladybug said in a hushed voice, helping the men and woman on the door first, holding out her hand for Adrien and Emma next. "Four should be doable on this boat…"
But the young man fixed her hand for a moment. Then lowered his eyes to his daughter. Bringing her to his front.
"Doubt it. Don't want it to sink…", he said calmly and without a hint of fear. "Emma, you go first. I'll wait for the next round…"
"No! I'll stay with you!" She then gasped, looking up to her father's face with wide eyes. "And where is Marinette? We should not forget about Marinette!"
Ladybug's heart made a painful little jump in her chest – especially when she saw Adrien paling for a second or two, when his eyes followed the way towards the restrooms – probably worried for her well-being as well.
"She made it outside!", Ladybug hurriedly answered and with a confident smile. "Ran past me and is waiting for your guys outside! Don't worry about her!"
She hated lying. True – but this was one of the few rare cases, where it was absolutely necessary.
"Now, come!"
Yet both Emma and Adrien were not able to move – for one slimy tentacle made it to the surface – directly between the boat and rocky formation. Directly between them, searching for a prey. Ladybug hit it with the slat and it dove down, again.
… for a moment…
She knew that time was running out and that she needed to save these people, before King Poseidon started to get impatient.
Really impatient.
Therefore she took her yo-yo in one hand once more, spinning it only a few times and letting it fly towards Adrien's and Emma's direction. Trapping them easily and pulling them on the boat with ease – making way for them by jumping into the water herself.
As planned and as part of the distraction – otherwise this whole ordeal would be far too dangerous for all participants.
The monstrous figure of the akumatized victim was already there. By her side. Laughing maniacally, before wrapping his tentacles around her once more. Pulling her down.
Down.
Wrapping his extra limps around her chest and stomach, trying to crush her ribcage. Trying to break her bones. Trying to actually hurt her in any way…
But Ladybug reacted fast, before her screaming lungs and the pain started to become too overwhelming for her to stay focused. Before she started to become powerless…
With all her power she swung the slat – thanks to the powers and enhanced strength of her Miraculous she was able to get some damage out of it. Hitting King Poseidon straight in the face, who swam back and loosened his grip around her, mumbling curses under his breath.
The heroine on the other hand started to kick the water – navigating past the waiting tentacles and swam back up to the surface, gasping for air, as she broke through it – looking around frantically and thankfully seeing the boat already close to the entrance.
If they were brave enough, then they could already jump across the gap between staircase and wood and they would be outside within the next moment. Then she would take care of the other civilians around and-
But King Poseidon had other plans…
He let his tentacles spring outside of the water. Two, three, four. Five of them. Making everybody shout in panic and in fear. The woman on the boat jumped over to the staircase. Making it waver with that move. The other man fell, but swam panicked past those extra, slimy limbs – the woman pulled him out.
Adrien clutched Emma tightly with one arm, the other holding tightly onto the slat. Growling dangerously, standing, ready to fight King Poseidon to protect his daughter with everything he had.
The young heroine almost couldn't bare it. Took a deep breath, before she dived down once more. Swimming towards the Kraken-like creature with swift moves. Hitting his back with the slat. Then his head. Taking her yo-yo, binding the remaining three tentacles together, before she surfaced once more.
"Jump!", she shouted, keeping King Poseidon distracted as she pleaded. "Adrien, jump! Now!"
Ladybug pulled a little more on her yo-yo, getting the creature and his tentacles away from them. Making way for them.
The blond man immediately took action – grabbing the young girl by his side once more, holding her tightly, leaping off the wooden board and landing on the stairs. In safety.
Ladybug felt instant relief, already looking for the next civilians to take care of – but her very own prey used this tiny ounce of distraction – freeing himself with one of his tentacles from the tear proof rope of the magical weapon.
Launching himself onto Ladybug once more. Hitting her straight in the stomach, throwing her out of the water. Across the room.
She groaned upon hitting the hard wall behind her first, then falling onto something hard. Hitting her head most painfully. And she couldn't make it up. Not open her eyes. His tentacles were there once more. Pulling at her foot, throwing her into the other direction instead.
Towards the stairs.
Ladybug felt weak. Thankfully her suit could hold much damage – but when would it be too much? Her bones hurt. Her head was throbbing. Every move was almost too much. But she had to continue fighting. For those people… for Paris…
… and Chat… he would come. Come to save her…
… wouldn't he?
She tried to get to her knees before the next attack. Tried to reach for her yo-yo. Hoped for a good Lucky Charm – but she was pulled out of the way.
"Behind me, Ladybug!"
Her eyes weren't yet able to focus on just anything around her. She heard something hard crashing down on something else. Heard King Poseidon's cursing and screaming. And felt the hard, dry stairs underneath her.
"Ladybug…", whimpered the voice of a girl. And somebody else advised to stay careful.
She closed her eyes once more. Shook her head. And stood up.
Adrien was in front of her. Protecting her with the slat in his hand, aiming for any tentacle, that tried to make its way towards her. Emma stood a little farther away, a few steps above her, crouching in fear, while she watched her father and her favorite heroine. The man and woman she saved were somewhere in between – afraid and shocked themselves.
"Any idea would help My La- my dearest heroine!" came it from Adrien, who yet hit another slimy limb, not daring to look at Ladybug right now. "I don't know how much longer I will be able to-"
And this very annoyed tentacle tore the slat out of Adrien's hand, throwing it back into the water instead.
The tentacles slowly emerged from the water the next moment, climbing out of it like a dead body from it's grave. The woman screamed behind her and ran up the stairs. The man followed the moment one of this slithering things wrapped itself around Adrien's leg, pulling lightly until he fell. Emma shrieked, shouted for Adrien and tried to make it past Ladybug – who held her back.
And then King Poseidon surfaced. Grinning. Surrounded by the tentacles. Arms raised. Laughing at the sight in front of him.
" I am King Poseidon and I am here to get the Miraculous! And-" Those shining blue eyes all too suddenly widened. He choked on his own words. Almost tumbling back.
Holding onto his head with both, clawed hands.
" No… I will not…" he whimpered, shaking his head, throwing it from one side to the other, as if he wanted to get rid of a bad thought, that was spreading inside his brain.
… or of the voice, that wanted to take over, trying to gain control.
Lady Titalee…
Ladybug hurriedly stepped down, pulling Adrien out of the victim's grip. Up the stairs and towards Emma. Kneeling by his side. Watching breathlessly and with a furiously, beating heart – until King Poseidon opened his eyes once more – focusing on them.
Smirking this time, head cocked to the side.
" Lady… bug…", came it from his lips in a raspy voice. A female voice. One, that could only belong to-
" Lady Titalee!", she hissed, clutching onto Adrien's shoulder, when the being moved closer.
And he reached up with one hand, covering hers.
… but she barely noticed it.
And now was the time – she called for the Lucky Charm in hurry, for the victim in front of her seemed to by distracted enough to attack anytime soon. She had to – the fight would start soon, again.
A replica – covered in red and black dots - from the Butterfly Miraculous landed in her hand. Making King Poseidon laugh mockingly upon seeing that. And Ladybug cursed under her breath.
" You… want to fight a God with that thing …?"
"I'll fight with everything I have!", Ladybug answered back, eyes narrowed with anger. "It's only a matter of time until I will bring you down, Lady Titalee! Now let go of this poor guy! You don't need him anymore! Why aren't you brave enough to face me in person?"
"… fine…", came it from her opponent, with a dangerous low and calm voice. " We will meet… soon…"
The smirk started to get wider. More devilish and evil to its core.
And it vanished within the next second – a shudder going through King Poseidon instead, before black smoke engulfed him.
… and a tiny, black butterfly flew away, up into the air…
Ladybug almost couldn't believe it – but acted fast. Catching it with her yo-yo and purified it until it was white as snow.
Yet she hesitated for another second. Looking at the Lucky Charm in her hand. Feeling it's power. Knowing of the danger, that inherits the real one.
Fearing all the things, that Lady Titalee has in her twisted mind for her…
Finally she threw the dotted thing up in the air. Cleaning the damage that was done. Repairing everything around. Water disappeared. Fish were back in their tanks.
Everybody was save, again… for now…
Yet… for one more moment she could only sit there.
… feeling utterly powerless. Fragile almost. And yes – scared, Lady Titalee's words replaying over and over again inside her head.
"Ladybug?", came a familiar voice, reaching her ears and for a brief moment she thought, that this had to be Chat Noir, who had just made it in time.
But… it wasn't.
It was Adrien Agreste, instead.
Immediately she put a smile back on her lips, standing up and helping up the young man as well. Brushing off any invisible dust from her, before she let out a shaking laugh.
"He was pretty scary, wasn't he?", she said and turned, bowing in front of Emma now. "But everybody is save now and I will make sure, that something like that won't be happening anytime soon, again! Okay?"
Emma could only stare.
Eventually nodded, and hugged the heroine tightly, nuzzling her head into her stomach and sobbed.
"Thank you for being here, Ladybug! You saved us!"
"I am always there to save Paris…", she breathlessly answered, her own emotions tried to get the best out of her. Gulping heavily. Tearing herself away from the young girl, when her earrings started to beep.
"Have to go!"
She took the yo-yo to launch herself up the stairs and out of the aquarium. Away. To hide…
The young woman found a restroom, not too far away. People still were too distracted by the happenings anyway and she slipped inside.
"Tikki, Spots Off!"
She gasped. Sobbed. Covered her lips with her hands and leaned against a nearby wall, once the bright, magical light was gone.
Feeling weak and defeated.
The red kwami saw it. Let out a tiny whimper as well, before she hugged Marinette's cheek as tightly as she could. Whispering words to calm her down, that the young woman couldn't even comprehend.
Wouldn't…, for she knew, that she needed to keep going…
Outside were voices to be heard anyway and Tikki had to hide in her purse – only a moment before the door opened and a small group of women walked inside.
Marinette hurriedly brushed away the tears that had dared to leave her eyes. Straightened her hair.
… put on a smile…
Then she walked outside, wanting to be brave. Wanting to be a mere civilian, that was saved by Ladybug as well – walking back to the entrance of the aquarium, where people, reporters and more had already gathered.
Finding Adrien and Emma not too far away.
And yes – she really wanted to behave, as if nothing had happened to her. As if she had made it just in time. As if she had been looking for the two of them for the whole time.
But when she saw Emma's frantic waving and heard Adrien's worried call, she almost lost her internal fight completely.
With a sob she landed in Adrien's strong arms and embraced him, as quiet tears started to stream down her cheeks. Hiding in his shoulder, until they dried out.
Thankfully soon – for Emma hugging her side and Adrien stroking her back felt like magic to her in this very long, painful moment.
A/N: … I so much enjoyed writing this chapter.
We have the broken boy, we have the girl, that is still so much in love, that it hurts and we have cute little Emma. We have a scary foe, we have a really threatening situation and no Chat Noir… Or… Have we… After all it's not only in our Cat's nature to stay out of the water, but also to protect those he dearly loves.
… And we have a Marinette, that is very slowly starting to break under all this pressure…
Next Chapter: Fears, that run deep…