Chapter Five

Five weeks later...

One might assume that modelling was something of a cruisy job. Anyone who thought as much would be wrong. While holding a pose wasn't necessarily a skillset to be considered hard, it was the period of time said model had to hold the pose while being blinded and roasted under optimal lighting which really made it difficult. Then there was all the fussing over hair, makeup and the clothing being displayed.

Adrien was tempted to run a frustrated hand through his own hair except it was too much bother to do so. For one, he'd be scolded for messing up the artwork currently styled. Secondly, was the fact that it was plied with so much hairspray and gel that his hair's consistency matched that of boiled candy. The desire to shower and wash it all away was almost overwhelming. However, the option to do so was out of the question.

Posing for the final shots, the model was glad that he didn't need to smile. Instead they simply wanted him looking intense and mysterious. Adrien suspected his expression matched his mood, bored. Regardless, the photographer seemed happy with what he was doing and wrapped up the day's shoot.

With that out of the way, Adrien was ushered back to the change rooms to disrobe and put on his regular clothes. Having done this for most of his life, the blonde was far from shy and wasn't particularly fussed that Nathalie walked into the room when he was bare chested. The woman might as well have been an android as she showed as much emotion as a machine.

"Due to the lateness of today's shoot, your father has organised dinner at the mansion."

Adrien nodded in acknowledgement as he pulled his t-shirt over his head. "I could have got something at home."

"Mr Agreste wanted to ensure that you're consuming a balanced diet." Nathalie stated as she adjusted her glasses with a single finger.

"I can assure you, since moving into my own place I'm not living on take out. Nor have I put on any weight," Adrien smirked as he patted his toned belly. "Although I may have added some additional muscle tone." It was one of the perks of being Chat Noir, regular exercise and the physique of a superhero. Well, a lanky well-defined superhero. Not that he could tell Nathalie as much.

Besides, Adrien thought it more likely he'd die from overexposure to hairspray fumes than high cholesterol. But he didn't mention it. Nathalie's sense of humour was well repressed. It had to be, his father was certainly lacking one and wouldn't appreciate such from his assistant. It was a miracle that she hadn't looked for employment elsewhere.

While he longed to return to his own personal space at the apartment he'd recently purchased, Adrien resigned himself to the fate of returning to his childhood home. He was tired and didn't want to deal with the potential fallout when Gabriel threw a tantrum.

"Your meal can be brought to your room, if you prefer."

"Thanks, Nathalie. That would be great." So, he was eating alone. As usual. Shock horror.

Slipping on his denim jacket, one Marinette had made for him a few birthdays ago, Adrien followed Nathalie to the waiting sedan and slid into the backseat when his bodyguard opened the door. With his seatbelt in place, the model laid back his head and exhaled heavily.

The ride was short, yet Adrien felt a sense of trepidation as the car drove through the massive gates leading to the Agreste mansion. Adrien was hopeful that he wouldn't run into his father, he really didn't feel like another lecture on how he should be living his life, etc, etc. The man would have an aneurism if he knew what extracurricular activities his son participated in.

Thankfully, there was no run-in with the senior Agreste. Adrien strode into his bedroom, where his meal awaited under a silver cloche, and plopped himself down on his white leather sofa. There he mindlessly devoured the gourmet meal before him. If anyone had asked him what he'd eaten, he really would have been in a quandary to answer.

With that task out of the way, Adrien dragged his tired carcass to the one place he'd been longing for, his shower. He'd just shucked the jacket when his phone began ringing. "Go away," he muttered to himself as he moved to undo his belt.

Plagg floated through the door, carrying the phone. "It's your girlfriend."

"I don't have a girlfriend, Plagg."

"Tell Kagami that."

"She knows."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes! I'm just helping her out."

"For five weeks? That seems a little excessive."

Adrien groaned. Had it really been that long? He automatically raised his hand to rake through his hair and winced as it caught and stuck. With a growl he yanked his fingers free. "Let it go to voicemail."

No sooner had he spoken the words than the phone stopped ringing. Instead it pinged with a text message. Plagg read it out. "Adrien, call me. ASAP."

"I'm having a shower first."

"Fair enough. Your hair looks like plastic again. I could cataclysm it. No hair, no problem."

"Thanks, but no thanks, Plagg."

The black kwami merely shrugged. "Just saying, it would make your life easier."

"Except for when my father explodes."

"Meh, it's your hair."

"You tell him that."

But Plagg was already gone.

Fifteen minutes later and Adrien had managed to restore his hair to some of its former untouched glory. At least it moved when he did, unlike before when it sat frozen as if made from fine wire. As he was towelling himself dry there was another ping on his phone. However, the tone was completely different to his earlier message and this one made his heartrate spike.

"Akuma alert," he muttered to himself as he quickly tossed on clean clothes and raced into his bedroom.

Plagg had the TV on which displayed the latest chaos. Adrien dropped heavily to sit on the sofa as he laced up his shoes. "I think I know where that is."

The cat kwami crossed his arms. "Good, I have no clue. There's no cheese shops in sight."

Adrien snorted in amusement as he finished with his shoes and stood. "Plagg, claws out!"

Despite the long day in front the camera and the weariness which resulted from it, no one would have had a clue that Chat Noir was tired. That state of being was temporarily put on hiatus due to adrenaline as he raced across the rooftops with impressive speed. He'd once been told that all emergency response personnel felt the same rush when called into action. Having only ever been in such situations as a superhero, Chat Noir could only assume the theory was correct.

Feline eyes scanned the horizon for the tell-tale chaos from an akuma. Meaning something weird and out of place. With the sun almost gone, the most obvious oddity was the flashing beams of bright light to the north of his position. It matched up to the description of the akuma from the TV reports. To quicken his travel, Chat Noir shifted to pole vaulting and in no time he reached the scene of pandemonium.

Ladybug was already there, busily racing about and deflecting beams of light shot her way. Her facial expression was hard, with jaw clenched in what appeared to be anger. An anger so concentrated that Chat Noir baulked as he stared at his partner. Was it the akuma causing such a response in his partner? Or was there something personal in this for Ladybug? Not that she'd ever tell him.

Extending his baton to staff length, Chat Noir quickly assessed the situation and moved in. From the TV newsflash he'd caught before leaving home, Chat Noir knew this akuma's name was Dark Eradicator. There was some talk of him being a literal walking flashlight, with the ability to shoot laser beams which turned people into glowing orbs of light. Whether or not this change made them an additional threat was yet to be ascertained. But Chat Noir wasn't taking any chances.

While Ladybug held the attention of the akuma, Chat Noir opted for stealth. Being clad in black meant the hero held an immediate advantage with the coming of night. He blended into the darkness far better than his partner.

Ladybug ducked and rolled away from another blast fired from the akuma's gauntlet. Meaning that the akuma turned to track her and caught sight of Chat Noir. With a hiss of annoyance, Chat dropped and rolled. But as he rose to his feet, Dark Eradicator began shooting beams at him in a quick succession.

Springing from building to building, Chat Noir managed to avoid the barrage but lost his footing. As he dropped, he prepared to extend his baton but the fall was short and he was caught by the arms of his lithe partner.

"Hi milady," he grinned.

An eyeroll was his return greeting as she set him back on his feet. "Let's get this over with."

Her terse response surprised him. "In a hurry to get somewhere?"

"Yes I am." She replied as she returned her yoyo into a spinning shield.

Chat Noir laid a hand over his heart. "And here I was hoping you'd sweep me off my feet."

Ladybug eyed him and growled. "If you must know, I was on a date and I'd like to get back to him ASAP."

"Date?" All playfulness was obliterated from Chat Noir. This was the first time he'd been aware that she was dating someone. Normally Ladybug was open with him on such things, knowing that he still carried a torch for her. But this, this was enough to stagger him.

"Don't look so shocked. I was bound to get a boyfriend eventually."

"Boyfriend?" Chat Noir practically spat the word as his hackles rose. This was worse than just a date. Bristling, he found himself exclaiming, "That was a particular title I was hoping to claim."

Ladybug's annoyance was clear. "We don't have time for this conversation, Chat."

And he knew further discussion was pointless as she turned her attention back to their foe who was creeping towards them.

"There never is," he snapped as he extended his baton and rushed forward to unleash the sudden burst of aggression coursing through his veins.

With a volley of swift strikes, Chat Noir drove Dark Eradicator back and under a streetlight, rendering his power moot. During his offensive against the akuma, Ladybug had called up her lucky charm, being a compact of blusher. The heroine blew the makeup powder over Dark Eradicator's goggles as Chat Noir evoked his cataclysm and used it on the akuma's gauntlet, rendering the battle over.

With the shimmer of purple magic, the victim was revealed as a preteen boy who blinked in confusion while Ladybug tossed the lucky charm into the air. Miraculous Ladybug restored everything back to normal and there was nothing left by their ritual fist bump.

Chat Noir stood with his arms crossed as he tried to temper the emotional storm raging within him. Ladybug's gaze darted away from his as she neared him for their ritual fist bump. He studied her raised fist and reluctance to meet his eyes. After a brief hesitation he knocked his knuckles to hers and they called "Pound it" together.

Dropping his right hand, Chat Noir needed to calm his inner turmoil and act with maturity. His attention focussed on the boy they'd just rescued. "I'll sort him out. You get back to your boyfriend."

The distaste at that last word was obvious as Ladybug flinched. Then she reached out and gave an appreciative squeeze to her partner's shoulder. "Thanks."

His voice softened as he peered at her fingers curled over his suit. "Don't mention it."

"You're the best, Chat." She smiled, seeming more her usual self as she backed away.

"Then dump him and date me," he could resist calling out as she departed.

Ladybug didn't bother answering. Instead she rushed back from wherever it was from which she came. Leaving Chat Noir to stare after her as he tried to ignore the emotional wound to his heart.

Upfront, sorry for any typos or grammatical errors, I was tired while editing so it's likely I've missed something.

Next chapter, Luka awaits his girlfriend who has been in the toilet for an awfully long time during their dinner date. How will Marinette explain her prolonged absence and what excuses will she need to generate for future akuma attacks? Good question, I haven't written it yet.

Thanks for reading and feel free to leave a review in the box below :)