Ladybug was fending off a barrage of glowing projectiles with her yo-yo shield when Adrien's voice came from behind her,"Another soldier Akuma M'Lady? I've never been much for the service though I did consider joining the French Furrin Legion."
Not Adrien, Cat Noir. It was impossible to not hear it now that the masking was broken. Or was it the other? She glanced over her shoulder, it really was Cat Noir, with his usual uniform and grin. The real Cat Noir, the real Adrien.
Ladybug turned her head back quickly, hiding the blush rising in her cheeks. It's just Cat Noir. It's Just Cat Noir. It's just Cat Noir; don't think about anything else. "Got it in one Cat Noir. Whoever thought hosting a pro-gamer tournament in Paris was a good idea needs their head examined!" She began closing the distance to the Akuma; a ridiculously over muscled soldier stripped to the waist except for an obnoxiously large medal pinned directly to his chest and toting an improbably large weapon that fired pulses of energy. The akuma just kept repeating 'Get some!' over and over.
Cat Noir followed in her wake, "Aww c'mon bugaboo." Ladybug's heart skipped a beat hearing those words, all the times he'd called her that,"It's not a bad idea. Gabriel Agreste designed some new skins for the game. There's always a few jokers who can't take losing though."
It wasn't fair that he didn't know. She had to hold this secret one sided now. Ladybug would adapt, she had to adapt. "Would you mind? I seem to have his attention."
"Anything you wish M'Lady, your black ops cat will provide." Cat Noir dashed out from behind her, circling behind parked cars. Ladybug continued to advance and the Akuma continued its single minded assault on her, until Cat Noir dashed out at the Akuma from the side.
Ladybug threw her lucky charm at Cat Noir just as the Akuma began to shift his aim. Cat swung his staff, knocking the charm directly into the barrel of the akuma's weapon. The red and black cork stuck fast and when the akuma pulled the trigger again the weapon blew up in his face. He blinked in sooty confusion and Cat Noir dashed in, snatching the metal from his chest and crumbling it with a cataclysm.
Ladybug was already in position to catch the butterfly, and one quick purification later She was fistbumping Cat,"Pound it."
They both looked down at the befuddled teen sitting on the pavement. Cat shouldered his staff,"Maybe stick to co-ops or RPGs until you get those anger issues in check hey buddy?" then offered the kid a hand up.
Ladybug picked up her fallen lucky charm and pitched it into the air to summon the miraculous ladybugs. The damage was minor, it had been with these recent akumas. Less damage than even Mr. Pigeon had inflicted. Was Hawkmoth running out of ideas or power? As the red wave spun off into the sky, Cat came up beside her,"While I'm never sorry to see you again M'Lady, I do wish these akumas provided a bit more excitement lately." He leaned his chin on top of his hands, folded on the end of his staff.
He had stood close, Cat Noir always did. Always in her space, in perfect range for a good shove and a laugh. He wasn't Cat Noir though, he was Adrien under that suit. Those eyes though, and that cheshire grin, those were so completely Cat Noir. She couldn't see them on Adrien's face. Ladybug gave him the expected push and rolled her eyes,"Just consider it practice kitty. You could use it."
"Awww come on M'Lady." Cat complained dramatically. He spun around in front of her, leaning across her path with his staff,"We've been working together so long I can practically read your mind by now."
"Oh really?" Ladybug gave him the side-eye with hand on hip and when he nodded in his usual self satisfied way she leaned in,"then how come you didn't see this coming?" Kick the staff, that's what she should have done, it was what he was expecting. Instead she reached out and scritched under his chin, eliciting one of his rare purrs before he blinked into realization and flailed, standing stiff as a board, tail clutched in his hands.
"I umm…" Cat Noir scratched nervously at his hair,"Okay, maybe I need a little more practice?" he flashed a toothy grin.
Ladybug turned away before he could see her own reaction. Why had she done that? The honest question was why hadn't she stopped herself this time. There'd been dozens of times she'd wanted to by now. She knew the answer too, but knowing it didn't help. She felt herself blushing under the mask,"Well, I uh, don't doubt we'll get plenty of opportunities before this tournament is over. See you soon Cat Noir, I have to get going."
Without looking back she whipped her yo-yo up onto a rooftop and swung away, Cat's belated,"Wait M'Lady! Queen Bee is back!" following her.
Ladybug slipped down into an alleyway and dropped beside a dumpster. A brief flash and Marinette picked up her stashed backpack, stepping out around the dumpster then running for school.
She dashed into Ms. Bustier's class with a breathless,"Flour… explosion…" as her excuse. By now no one even blinked at the bizarre idea, Marinette ascended to her desk, passing Adrien much to her confusion. A quick wink and too-open grin clued her in on what was going on.
Alya leaned in as Marinette sat,"Busy morning?" She whispered.
"Just another easy run, but there's something else you need to know." Marinette turned her eyes down to the seats below them,"That's not Adrien."
Alya's gaze followed Marinette's. Once more her friend proved the right choice, making quick connections,"Chloé's back?"
"Not yet, but soon. We'll need someone to keep an eye out when akumas show up."
Alya grinned a little too eagerly,"You know Ladybug can always count on a foxy footpad to watch her back." The grin faded,"But what do we do about that?" She nodded down to where Adrikat sat.
"Him." Marinette corrected without thinking,"Nothing just yet. I'll see if I can figure out what's happening during the break. He didn't try to hide what he was when he spoke to Ladybug."
"But Marinette's not supposed to know."
Marinette grimaced. Alya's eyes went wide, her voice was loud enough to make heads turn when she blurted out,"How?!"
Ms. Bustier cleared her throat,"Good question Miss Cesaire, there were many factions allied during this revolution but they quickly fell out with each other…"
Marinette and Alya both faced diligently forward, but Alya was typing on her phone like a maniac.
Alya: How did he find out? Is he going to tell Chloé? Will she tell Hawkmoth? What are we going to do? If we find the amok we can take care of it before he spills the beans.
Marinette slapped a hand down on top of Alya's phone in self defense. Her friend snapped out of the panic-spell but shot a look at her demanding answers.
Marinette: It's complicated. He's not like a normal sentimonster. He's more like the Cat Noir she used last time. He guessed, and caught me off guard. It doesn't matter now, no undoing it. I don't think he'll tell. He might not be the original but he's still Adrien.
Alya's face went from shock through acceptance to skepticism.
Alya:Girl, things were going so well, now boom!
Marinette: If we can't get Chloé before she gets her footing then you might be more right then you know.
It was Alya's turn to grimace.
Alya: Did you at least pump him for info? Do you know what she's gonna try to pull? Is she after Ladybug again?
Marinette: No, it's Vesperia this time. I guess we were right with our bait last time. I doubt it will be that easy again though, and I'd like to avoid having to call for help. I'm considering forcing the issue. Trying to be careful ended up costing Paris a lot last time in damage. I just don't want anyone getting hurt on my watch.
Alya:Well, you know you got me here to back you up Buggabae.
Marinette peered at her phone.
Marinette: Buggawhat? Have you been hanging around Cat Noir again?
Alya:What? He's funny, and can be a gentleman when he wants to be. He's no Nino, but I can see why you like him, though I still think you're making a mistake giving up on Adrien. 😉
Marinette: Ugh, we've been over this. Cat needs someone right now, and Ladybug can't be that someone, but Marinette can. That's why I'm doing this. Duty as the Guardian comes first, even over Adrien.
Marinette paused. She had separated them again out of habit. But now duty and Adrien were the same. Not that she was being entirely honest with Alya anyway. Her time with Cat Noir had become precious to her even before discovering who he was, but Alya would never let her hear the end of it if she admitted that.
Alya nudged her and Marinette looked back down at her phone.
Alya: Maybe if you want me to believe that, don't wear your black cat socks so often.
Marinette blinked, and glanced at Alya, catching a smug look. Marinette eased back in her chair to peer down. She'd worn them again this morning. Marinette usually dressed in a panicked frenzy, relying on instinct. Now her instincts had betrayed her. Marinette let her head sink to the desk in defeat, hiding herself under her phone.