Adrien's worst day was something he barely remembered. It was a foggy memory of tears and shock. He was 8 at the time, maybe a little younger. All he remembers was that one day his Mother was alive, and the next day she was dead. He didn't know if he saw her the day she died, or even the day before. He thinks he must have because he remembers playing go fish with her, but he also remembers her coming home that day.
It was a long time ago and most of his memories of her have faded together and he can't really put them in chronological order, but they're there. The memories of his mother are clear to him.
Sometimes he sit's and thinks about his worst day. He tries to map it out and piece together the information he no longer remembers with the memories that are clear.
Most of the time he lets himself forget that day and the years that followed it.
He thinks that his Father must have been happier when his Mother was alive. He has memories with him and his mother and the staff of the mansion. They were all happy memories. Sometimes Adrien wonders what happened.
...
Ladybug was doing a patrol. Despite half of Paris thinking Hawkmoth was gone, she wouldn't be fooled so easily.
Why on earth would Hawkmoth just stop suddenly? He hadn't let up for 5 years he wasn't going to start now. Ladybug attributed it all to wishful thinking.
She swung through the streets enjoying the way the wind rushed through her hair and chilled her, even though the days were still hot.
4 months of being idle. It was the longest vacation Ladybug had had for a long time. But all she could think about was a sudden attack that would catch her by surprise. A fight she wouldn't be prepared for because she spent the idle time waiting around instead of training like Hawkmoth had been.
The thought kept her up at night. It made her feel guilty every time she slept in, and it's what forced her out of bed in the early morning to go on runs.
The night seemed calm, and gentle, like a picturesque film of Paris they showed tourists. The small cafe's lights were a soft glow against the dark of the night. The eiffel tower could be seen from the rooftops, shining above the city of love.
It broke her heart that she couldn't enjoy the sight. It was too perfect. Something had to go wrong.
Stopping on a roof of an ice cream parlor she searched the skyline for any sign of danger and instead, spotted a familiar shape leaping across the rooftops of Paris.
At first the sight of Chat Noir made her jump, her brain immediately sending warning signals that the mysterious shadow running around the city could mean danger. But after 5 years of working by his side, she could recognise her partner's shape with ease and she let herself relax.
It frightened her that she didn't recognise him at first. Maybe it had been too long and her senses were a little dull.
She waited for him to join her, circling around the TV antenna.
"M'lady." He bowed and she rolled her eyes, "What a catencidence to find you out here?"
Ladybug gave him a flat look, "I think that was the worst one yet."
He shrugged his shoulders, the smirk still dancing across his features like a cheshire cat. "What can I say? 4 months vacation has made me sloppy."
She sighed trying not to let her anxiety spike at the thought of how unprepared they were for battle. "I wanted to talk to you about that."
Chat raised an eyebrow, "About what exactly?"
"I think we should go on the offensive." Ladybug said, her hands on her hips, "It's been 5 years Chat, and we're only ever stopping akumas. We don't even know why Hawkmoth stopped the attacks. I think we should be using this time to train and find him."
"Find him?" Chat stared at Ladybug shocked, "You want to find Hawkmoth?"
"Is it really that hard to believe?"
Chat shook his head quickly, "No! It's just- Where would we even begin LB? We don't have any idea who he is or what his plan is. What makes you think we're going to magically find out now?"
Ladybug opened her mouth to retort, but Chat brought up some good points. Where would they even begin? Her and her partner had been forced to learn their superhero duties on the fly as teenagers. The attacks were so constant that they hadn't really had time to work on stopping the main problem. Sure she had gone to Master Fu when things had seemed particularly bad, but the old man had only ever responded in strange and cryptic answers.
Dropping down on the edge of the roof to sit, Ladybug started to think, not for the first time that day, about how to go about defeating Hawkmoth.
Chat gave her a worried glance and lowered himself down next to her, "I didn't mean to put you out M'lady..."
"No, it's not that Chat." She looked out across Paris, willing the world to throw her a clue. "I just can't handle this silence. This has never happened before. Where the Akuma attacks just stopped. If Hawkmoth is changing his plan then... we should too."
"I understand." Chat's brow's furrowed, "But we still don't even know where to begin."
"We could train more." Ladybug shot back. She refused to sit idly any longer.
"Training? We've never done that before."
"We never had time to before."
Chat looked like he was thinking it over, "What do you mean by training? We can't exactly meet up at a gym."
Ladybug frowned in thought again. Chat was right, unless she wanted to reveal her identity to him, they couldn't go and train in public. So where could they go then? Abandoned buildings? Parking lots? In the woods?
"I guess it would have to be more individual. We'd just agree to train as civilians." Ladybug forfeited feeling a little defeated.
Chat bumped his shoulder against hers. "Hey. Don't look so upset. I promise that I'll train."
"Thanks." She gave him a tiny smile, before turning back to Paris. "I just feel so anxious about this... We're used to the defensive... I don't know how to strike back."
There was silence for a moment and when Ladybug looked over at Chat Noir he was thinking, staring out at the city like she had. "It's like you said." He gave a nod of his head and a encouraging smile, "We need to find Hawkmoth."
"And it's like you said, Where do we even begin?"
He let out a laugh under his breathe.
"This isn't funny Chat." She reprimanded, but something about how calm he was started to wear off on her and she felt a little better than she had for the past week.
"It is a little," He bit his lip to hide his smile, "The time you're the most stressed is the 4 month span of no villains. I bet you're the worst on vacations."
She hit his arm trying to look offended, "I'm a delight on vacations."
Chat snickered recoiling from her slightly so she wouldn't hit him again.
"You still haven't answered the question, Chat." Ladybug crossed her arms.
"I don't know." He said with a slight shrug of his shoulders, "I don't know how to start looking for him... but now we have an objective. I think that might be a pretty good first step. And if you get really worried, we can talk to Master Fu about it."
She gave a nod and a sigh, "Alright."
...
Alya's worst day started at 2pm with a notification on her phone.
At first Alya was excited, because for the first time in 3 months the Ladyblog had a message sent to it.
Hastily she opened the blog and checked the inbox.
This blogs a waste of time. Everyone knows Hawkmoth's gone. This site is pointless and stupid. Thanks for the 10 minutes of my life I'm never getting back.
Alya read the message at least 4 times, and after she had stopped seeing red, typed out at least 12 different response, each varying in level of politeness.
"Cesaire, being productive?"
Alya snapped her head up to look at her boss and gave a sheepish grin. "Just searching something up."
The woman walked by with a roll of her eyes, "Stop wasting you time on that Ladybug crap."
Alya bit her lip to stop herself from muttering insults.
She turned back to her computer with an internal groan.
She was an intern for a local paper, and though she was very happy to be working somewhere that didn't just spew gossip, or write articles about every fad diet, she was starting to grasp the general atmosphere.
No one liked the new intern.
She went back to her task, fact checking articles so they could be sent back before they printed. She circled a quote in red ink and was about to write in her correction when he phone rang at full volume.
She dropped the pen and grabbed the device, quickly hanging up so the noise would stop. A couple other people gave her annoyed looks as she smiled apologetically. She looked down at the phone.
1 Missed Call: Nino
Alya frowned to herself. She had promised Adrien she would talk to him, but she still found herself running away every chance she got. It was terrible, and she was a coward, but she didn't know how she would face him, and the longer she waited the more awkward it became.
The phone went off again, this time Marinette's contact appeared.
Getting more annoyed glares from her coworkers she hurriedly answered the phone.
"What?" She snapped, leaning over her desk and speaking in a harsh whisper.
"You're ignoring Nino."
"Marinette..."
"Alya. You are. You need to fix it-"
Alya hung up. This time she turned the ringer off.
Blissfully she went back to work ignoring when the screen lit up again. She needed to focus. She was working on the quote about literature. The third sentence had a couple-
"Cesaire, either answer your phone or turn it off. It's driving the rest of us crazy."
Alya looked up to see the man in the cubicle next to her glaring at the device as it vibrated loudly on the desk. She smiled back at him mouthing a "Sorry", before turning back to the evil cell phone and answering the call.
"Marinette I'm at work."
"Not Marinette."
Alya wanted to swear out loud. "Nino. Listen. We'll talk this out, but right now-"
"You're really busy I know. But Alya I've been trying to talk to you all week and you haven't let me say a word."
"I was sick." It was a lame excuse and Alya cringed as she said it outloud.
"Alya come on."
"Nino listen I'd really love to chat-"
"Cesaire. I hope that isn't a personal call."
Alya cringed. "No. Just checking with someone we interviewed. Fact checking."
"Good. I hope that those articles will be done by the end of the day?"
Alya nodded, "Of course." Her boss walked away, a satisfied smirk on her lips.
Alya hung up the phone and turned it off, shoving it into her purse.
The rest of the day was uneventful. She was asked to fix 3 different computers, run 2 different coffee orders, and resisted strangling anyone.
And at 5:30 she was back at her apartment. Rain was already there with her boyfriend and it did little to improve Alya's mood.
"Hey sweetie! How was your day?"
Alya threw her coat at the rack, watching it fall to the floor and not bothering to pick it up.
Rain cringed and stood up from the coach. "That bad?"
"I don't want to talk about it." Alya went to the fridge and stared at it's contents as if to find the answer to all her problems in the leftover take out box. She didn't find any answers. Only week old pad thai that she had to throw away.
"Listen Alya... There's something I need to tell you." Rain approached, waiting by the doorway to the kitchen. Her boyfriend, followed suit and stood behind her.
Alya grabbed a beer and looked up at her roommate, quirking an eyebrow. "What?"
Rain looked between the man and herself, "William and I are living together."
Alya blinked a couple times in shock, "He's... He's moving in here?"
"Well no..." Rain trailed off.
William stepped forward an arm around his girlfriend's shoulders. "She's moving in with me."
Alya hated the entire world at that moment. It wasn't that she disliked William, or Rain for that matter. Sure the couple could get on her nerves when she wanted to have the apartment to herself, but they were both good people. Artsy and weird, but good people.
But even for all the good things Alya could say about them. She hated them both.
The happiness they both had about being in a relationship, a successful one as well, the fact that Alya's friend and roommate would soon be leaving her, and the fact that Alya had already had a frustrating day and week.
Any other day of the week she would be fine, but today she hated them.
"Fine." Alya cracked open the can of beer and took a long sip pushing past the couple to get to the couch.
"Alya. Don't be like that." Rain protested moving to her friend and grabbing her arms.
"Be like what? Annoyed that you didn't give me any notice about this? Or angry because now I have to suddenly find a new roommate." Alya folded her arms back, crossing them over her chest.
"Childish," Rain said with a roll of her eyes, "Because things aren't going your way and you won't deal with them."
"I am perfectly fine." Alya turned around and headed for her room.
"Alya! I'm not moving out yet! I'll help you find a new roommate! I promise! Please stop freaking out!"
"I'm fine!" Alya snapped, "I just had a rough day."
"More like a rough week."
"Which is why I'm upset. You really couldn't have waited to tell me?" Alya opened the door, "This is too much to think about right now. Just give me some time to sort everything out I'll be fine."
"I already waited a week!" Rain protested grabbing her arm. "Alya. I wanted to wait till you and Nino sorted this thing out, until you were in a better mind set or whatever, but clearly that's not going to happen."
"What do you mean it's not going to happen?"
"You're ignoring all your problems and just letting them fester and sit! You aren't doing anything to move past them!"
"I'm trying, ok?"
"Yeah you're trying alright."
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Alya snapped back pointing a finger at her roommate. "Just stop acting like you know everything and you've got life down to a science ok? Just because you've got a boyfriend and a steady job. It doesn't mean you know anything! So stop sticking your nose into other people's business!"
Rain stepped back hurt and immediately Alya wanted to take it all back. It wasn't true. Rain wasn't being nosy, she was worried. Alya knew that. She just couldn't help but feel jealous of a woman who had her whole life together. Who wasn't in school anymore, or working at an internship where everyone hated her. Who hadn't slept with one of their best friends and ruined everything.
Rain shook her head and turned on her heel, "Let's go Will." She grabbed the man's arm and dragged him to the door to grab her coat and her keys, "I'm sure Alya has a lot to do without us sticking our noses into it."
"Rain-"
But the door slammed before Alya could apologize. She swore loudly and hit the wall with the side of her arm. She really couldn't get anything right.
...
Marinette's worst day was when she was 17. It was during the summer, after they had all graduated. She had gotten together a birthday party for Alya. A surprise one at Marinette's house.
The whole class had come and hid in the kitchen, jumping out and yelling surprise when Alya showed up.
It was a lot of fun, and it was good to see the whole class again. She was surprised at how many people had showed up, seeing as how it was in the middle of summer vacation and everyone was traveling.
She was mostly surprised that one particular person had showed up.
Adrien arrived late after all the surprises and presents. He rang the bell and waited outside until Marinette opened the door. She froze meeting his green eyes, he didn't look so good.
"A-Adrien?"
He gave her a smile, but she could tell it was forced, "Can I come in?"
She numbly moved out of the way so he could come inside. Closing the door she used the moment to collect herself, "I didn't think you'd come."
"Surprise." He said with a little laugh. "Nino said I should try and be social."
She tried to match his chuckle, but couldn't. He looked upset, "Are you ok?"
Her question seemed to surprise them both. He met her gaze opening and closing his mouth, looking for a response.
"Dude! You made it!" Nino appeared and clapped his friend on the shoulder, "How'd you convince your dad?"
"He thinks Marinette's a good influence." Adrien answered, his smile coming back, and Marinette couldn't tell if it was real or not.
Nino seemed to tell the difference though and gave Adrien a sad smile, "Come in and stuff your face with cake."
Adrien was distant the whole time, only really talking when someone else started a conversation. Marinette was worried, but other than her and Nino, no one else seemed to notice Adrien's mood. She wondered if she was imagining it.
She had been sent to grab some more chips and when she came back into the room Nino and Alya were kissing. She threw a chip at them, "Gross get a room."
The rest of her classmates were laughing, or teasing the couple.
Nino only rolled his eyes and smiled at Alya, "I love you Babe."
She grinned, "Of course who wouldn't love me?" When Nino gave her a pout she kissed his cheek, "I love you too."
"Keep it PG you two." Marinette grinned walking past them.
"Oh Mari!" Alya called, "Goldy locks was heading upstairs last I saw him. Maybe make sure your bedroom doors closed."
Marinette practically bolted up the stairs two at a time, but unfortunately luck didn't come as readily when she was her civilian self.
"Why are you in my room?" She asked with a huff of annoyance as she caught her breath.
Adrien was standing in the middle of her room staring at the posters of himself on her wall. Her face flamed up and she hid it in her hands.
"You must be a fan of my Father's." He said staring sadly at the pictures of himself modeling and smiling.
"I am." She said, hopeful that he only saw it as putting up designs she liked. He had been oblivious for the last 2 years, what would change now? Nothing. If Marinette played it off as something normal, that she hadn't even noticed he was in the photos, he would most likely never know. He would never notice.
Adrien stared at the pictures, still stuck in the same place he stood when she first came in the room. He turned to her, "His designs are beautiful." He moved towards the door, "We should head back."
He was almost past her already. Part of her was relieved. Adrien didn't look like he was mad at her, in fact he understood her made up excuse perfectly. If she just let him walk out the door he would never know.
She was a coward.
As Ladybug she could get through it because it was her job, but as Marinette? Here she stood with the boy who had occupied her every thought for the last 2 years, in her room, by themselves, and all she could think was how good it was that she hadn't had to confess.
"Wait-" She called before she could change her mind.
Adrien turned back to her. "Yes?"
"There's something I need to tell you."
He looked at her as if she were about to tell him he was dying. He was frightened and upset as she met his gaze, heart beating fast, not sure how to tell him how she felt.
"Marinette?"
She had been staring for a while and his expression had changed from sad to worried.
"I love you."
Adrie looked surprised at first before he looked away. "Why?"
She blinked in shock, "Wh-What do you mean-"
"Why do you love me?" Adrien interrupted her, he met her gaze. He looked hurt and Marinette couldn't imagine why. "Because of my Father? Because I have a nice smile."
Marinette took a step back, "I-"
"You don't know do you? Because you don't know me." He snapped, he looked like he was going to cry. "Everyone has an image of me in their head. My Father, Chloe, you-"
"Don't compare me with Chloe-"
"Why? You both like me for the same reason!" His voice cracked as it got louder, "I'm not what you think I am Marinette! I'm not the perfect image my Father created! And if you knew who I really was you wouldn't love me!"
Marinette felt tears roll down her cheeks and she watched as Adrien's did the same. "Because you have kind eyes."
Adrien looked up surprised and she saw a flash of regret on his face as he saw her crying. "What-"
"That's what I love about you." She said trying not to let her tears affect her, "I love your kind eyes, and when you smile it makes me happy. You're right. I don't know you very well... But I know you enough to know when you fake a smile, and that you aren't just kind for your Father's name."
Adrien looked away, "I'm sorry... You just... You've fallen for the wrong me."
He left her room, and she watched, trying her hardest not to simply fall on the floor and cry. She knew she should be mad at him for reacting so poorly, but the look of hurt he had when she told him... He knew what she was going to say before she had said it, he had braced himself for the news as if it had already hurt him before.
You've fallen for the wrong me. He would be surprised how well she could relate to those words.
She didn't tell Alya, she let herself calm down and returned to the party. Her friend had asked later what had happened upstairs.
She lied. She told Alya Adrien had seen the pictures and she was simply too embarrassed to confess.
Other than occasionally teasing her over her cowardice, Alya didn't bring it up that often. Something Marinette was grateful for.
...
Alya's worst day had started at 2 pm on a Tuesday and continued into the night.
She woke up at 2 am, sitting straight up in bed panting. Cold sweat dripped down her back and made her hair stick to her neck. She threw off the blanket and her shirt. Her clothing was drenched and she calmed down slightly once the fabric was off of her.
After a moment her pulse slowed and her breathing became regular again. It must have been a bad dream, though she couldn't remember what it was about.
But it was a dream. It was over now. She stood and grabbed her bathrobe throwing it on to leave her room. She got a glass from the cupboard and filled it up from the tap.
She gulped it down and placed the cup blindly in the sink. She heard it clink against another dish.
She frowned in confusion. She had already washed all the dishes. She ran her hand against the wall looking for a light switch.
Alya squinted against the sudden brightness that blinded her. Peering into the sink she saw it was full of glasses and cups.
She stared at the dishes confused, but shrugged it off as something Rain and her boyfriend must have done before bed.
She flicked the light off again and headed back into her room. She took off the robe and dug through her dresser to find another sleep shirt.
The drawer was almost empty, which was strange because she had just done laundry yesterday. Maybe she had forgotten to put everything away.
She wrapped herself up in the blankets and tried to fall back asleep. She'd find all her shirts in the morning.
She was standing at the back of her old highschool classroom. She walked forward looking down at a class filled with Akuma.
They were frozen facing forward, completely oblivious to her as she wandered around them. She felt like she had been here before. In this situation.
She waited for something to happen, but all of her old classmates simply sat there, unmoving. Her feet left an echo when she walked. She looked at the spot she used to sit at and there sat Lady Wifi, with an empty seat in front of her and behind her.
Who sits there? She thought.
"Don't tell him." She looked towards the voice. In the front row in front of Lady Wifi sat the unakumitized Nino.
"Nino?"
"Don't remember that." He said frowning at her. He looked concerned, he was always concerned about her.
"But I want to know the truth." She said. She felt angry. Why wouldn't Nino let her figure it out? Why was he trying to keep the truth from her?
What is Nino hiding? Why doesn't he want me to remember? She thought the anger growing stronger and stronger within her.
Out of the corner of her eye she saw Lady Wifi smile, a motion that stood out in the frozen room.
"That's not your voice Alya." Nino said. "You don't sound like that."
What is he saying? Don't listen to him! He wants to keep you from the truth!
"Who is it then?" She asked ignoring the angry voice in the back of her head.
"Guess."
She saw Lady Wifi stand up furious. She leapt forwards towards Nino hands tensed like claws.
Alya watched as the villain passed right through the boy.
"It's a dream." Alya looked up to see Ladybug with a hand on her shoulder, "You can control it."
Take off her mask. You're so close. You can finally find the truth! You can know who Ladybug is!
"Hawkmoth." Alya put the voice to name and before her eyes Lady Wifi morphed into the tall dark suited man.
Tell me! Tell me who they are! He got closer, he looked like he was going to strike her.
She punched him right in the jaw, "Get the fuck out of my head!"
She woke up at 3:30 am, sitting straight up in bed panting. Cold sweat dripped down her back and made her hair stick to her neck. She threw off the blanket and her shirt. Her clothing was drenched and she calmed down slightly once the fabric was off of her.
It had been a dream. She couldn't remember what it had been about, but it was over now. It was only a dream.
She got a glass of water after throwing on her bathrobe. She heard the glass clink against something in the sink. She turned the light on and found a sink of dirty dishes in front of her.
She turned the light off and went to go look for a sleep shirt. The drawer was almost empty even though she had just done laundry.
She found one and climbed back into bed with it on. Wrapped up in her blankets she fell asleep.
She would find her shirts in the morning.
...
Alya did find all her shirts the next morning.
She awoke at 5:50 am, 10 minutes before her alarm would go off, drenched in a cold sweat and trying to calm herself down.
She felt like she hadn't slept at all the night before, but she supposed waking up from a bad dream could do that to you.
But it was only a dream, and it was over now.
She threw off the blankets and flicked on the lightswitch. The first thing she noticed were the insane amount of sleep shirts littering the ground.
It was an odd sight to see, but because she had just woken up, she didn't really register what it could mean. Instead she just picked them all up and shoved them into the clothes hamper.
She must have forgotten to do laundry again.
She threw on her bathrobe and went to shower. She caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror and groaned. She looked like hell.
With a sigh she stepped into the tub and turned the water to it's hottest setting. She'd stop and get coffee before work, she had pulled all nighters plenty of times.
Leaving early for work, she stopped at the coffee shop that was a block away from her apartment. The barista gave her a smile and her regular order, and she found her way to the office running on autopilot.
Standing in the elevator she gulped down half of her coffee letting her tired mind relax for the few minutes of peace she had. It was going to be a long day.
It was a long day. A very long day.
Alya spent the greater half of the morning alternatively researching the article in front of her, accidently falling asleep on her desk, and checking her email and relieving her anger at the only comment on the Ladybug.
"Cesaire?" Came a call from the cubicle beside her.
Alya sat up with a sudden intake of air, "Hmm?" She looked around frantically.
"What the hell happened to you?"
"Didn't get much sleep." She rubbed her eyes, stopping herself so that she wouldn't smudge her makeup.
"Right well, make sure you don't forget to do the lunch run. You're going to be cutting it pretty fine soon and you know Jane isn't the most agreeable when she's hungry."
Alya yawned, "Yeah. I'll head out now. Thanks Clio."
The man shrugged, "Mostly just wanted to make sure my lunch would be here on time."
Alya rolled her eyes, "Great to know I have such good friends here."
He gave her a smirk, "I happen to think I'm quite nice to you." The smile softened slightly, "The others'll come around."
Alya grabbed her purse and her jacket heading back to the elevator.
She didn't really mind doing the lunch run on a normal day. It was a right of passage for an intern, but today she was so brain dead she couldn't stand the thought of carrying all the food back by herself.
She knew where she was getting the sandwiches today, she needed a bit of comfort and it happened to be closer. The Boulangerie Patisserie made the best bread in Paris anyway.
She walked as fast as she could, which ended up being a very slow speed. Looks like Clio was getting his lunch late. Still it gave her a chance to take in the sights of Paris. She read all the signs on the strange shops she passed, a new clothing boutique she would have to show Mari, then a couple doors down a tattoo place, and then a massage parlor. Alya gave a wistful sigh. She could use a massage.
She was about to look away when she saw a familiar figure approaching the massage parlor.
"Marinette?" Alya couldn't stop herself from crossing the street to go say hi, when Marinette looked around nervously and ducked inside the shop.
Alya frowned and leaned against the wall as inconspicuously as possible. Maybe Marinette had a coupon or something. She could easily just be going to get a massage, but why did she look so worried when she went inside. She couldn't help but feel anxious for her friend, why would Marinette be checking over her shoulder before she went anywhere?
She stepped out a little and tried to peek through the window, but all the blinds were down., and the sign on the door had been flipped to closed. The way Alya saw it, she didn't have a choice. She needed to stay outside and make sure if she heard any screams she could burst in and help. Or call the police, which ever came to mind first really.
She waited outside for a while before it was evident that Marinette was not coming out anytime soon. Maybe she was just having a long massage.
But then why was the shop closed.
Alya sighed and gave in. She had to be back at work and she couldn't return empty handed. She headed towards Marinette's parent's bakery, promising herself that she'd check in after.
...
Marinette had gone to Fu the next day after her and Chat's talk. She couldn't help but feel anxious despite her and Chat's agreement to focus their energy offensively.
She walked to the massage parlor trying to shake the feeling of paranoia off. She felt like she was being watched as she entered the shop and couldn't restrain the look she threw over either shoulder, scanning the tops of the roofs. Nothing. She guessed the coast was clear.
Master Fu greeted her with a smile and turned over the sign on the door so they wouldn't be interrupted.
"How can I help you Ladybug?" He gestured to the table which already had a teapot and cups set up on it.
"Did you know I was coming?" Marinette asked taking a seat on the floor and waiting for Master Fu to pour her a glass.
"No," The man laughed as he sat down across from her, pouring her a cup of green tea as Wayzz flew over to join them, "But you never know who might need a cup of tea."
Marinette quirked an eyebrow, but gave up on trying to understand and instead took a long sip of her drink. Tikki flew out of her purse resting in Marinette's hand. Master Fu gave her a smile and a nodd. Wayzz joined them as well, Master Fu placed a bowl of croutons on the table for him.
"Chat and I have decided to find Hawkmoth." Marinette said, putting her cup gently back on the saucer. "We're going to end this once and for all."
It was Fu's turn to raise and eyebrow, "What has made you change your mind?"
"We've spent too long responding to Hawkmoth after he's already caused damage. Since his disappearance I can't help but feel... Feel that he has a plan, an ultimate goal, that he has a strategy to complete. Chat and I have no goal other than to fight the akuma." She shook her head meeting her master's gaze, "We need to put an end to this instead of fighting the same battle over and over again."
Marinette looked down at her Kwami who had made herself comfortable in her chosen's hand. She would have to remember to buy another box of cookies on her way home.
Master Fu nodded standing and looking towards the old gramophone in the corner. "It is strange that the attacks have just stopped." He turned back to Marinette, "Unfortunately defeating Hawkmoth will not be easy. Although we have the Ladybug and Black cat Miraculous, we still do not posses all that we need to properly defeat Hawkmoth."
Marinette frowned confused, "What do you mean-"
"Master Fu?" came a voice from outside the room.
Marinette froze, "Is that Chat Noir?"
"Let me check." Wayzz spoke up and flew into the hallway. He said something to the person on the other side of the door and there was a flash of green light. Fazing through the door again he turned to Marinette, "Ladybug, you should transform as well. I think Chat Noir should join us for this conversation."
Fu nodded, "Wayzz is right. There are important things you two need to learn about."
"Master... What exactly do you want to tell them?" Tikki piped up, suspicious.
"Do not worry Ladybug. I will reveal nothing to them that they aren't ready to know."
Tikki seemed satisfied by that answer and flew up to Marinette. "Whenever you're ready."
Marinette nodded, "Tikki, spots on."
The red light faded and Fu opened the door for Chat. "M'Lady? Did we have the same idea?" He grinned, "We must be made for each other."
She crossed her arms over her chest, "It was a perfectly normal coincidence Chat."
"How you wound me Bugaboo."
"That is not my name." She huffed, looking the cat up and down, "You don't see me calling you Cataboo."
"Oh how I wish you would." Chat said with a wink.
Master Fu seemed to be containing his amusement. He let out a small cough to remind the two he was still there.
Ladybug flushed and looked away, "Sorry Master..."
Fu waved off the apologie, "I find it endearing. It reminds me of the other Chat Noirs and Ladybugs."
Chat gave a bright smile, "Really?"
Fu nodded, "Although the last two were a touch more dramatic than you." He laughed a little at the memory of Ladybug holding Plagg captive until Chat apologized. He shook his head fondly. "However that is not what we are here to discuss. I need to tell you about some information you might not know."
Ladybug nodded eagerly, sitting down as Master Fu gestured to the table with tea again.
"Tikki and Plag would not want me telling you this, but it is not a secret guarded by the Kwami's. The Kwami come from a different world. A different universe. They are magical creatures, and a long time ago many of them came to our world and caused Mayhem, one of them being Plagg, Chat Noir's Kwami."
Chat frowned, "What did Plagg do?"
"It's not of great importance, and I know very little about it. What I do know is that a hero emerged. She learned about the Kwami and was able to combine the powers of the Black Cat and the Ladybug in order to firmly divide the two worlds."
"But if the two worlds are divided, then why are there miraculous users in our world?" Ladybug asked.
"That was the deal the hero made. In order to separate the worlds, she agreed to let a few Kwami bond with objects in our world until they could find a suitable host."
Ladybug raised an eyebrow, "What? Host? You say that like the Kwami are a parasite."
"The Kwami do more then lend you power Ladybug. The share your power and theirs. Not so long ago it was a regular occurrence for Tikki or Plagg to use their chosen's energy."
"What do you mean use their chosen's energy?" Chat Noir asked, concerned. He trusted Plagg, but the tiny creature was a very mischievous one.
"A Kwami and it's chosen's energy are linked. The same as you can use their power to transform," He gestured at their current appearance, "Your Kwami could also change shape or form by using their or your energy."
It took a moment for the new information to sink in. Chat spoke first, "Why don't they then?"
Master Fu sighed, "It is likely because Tikki and Plagg are frightened to. 12 years ago an accident happened that caused the death of a Kwami and a Miraculous holder."
The room fell silent as the weight of their powers sank in. Ladybug was always aware of how dangerous their job was, but it didn't always hit them this hard. They could die doing this. She had to remember that.
Ladybug broke the silence. "What happened?"
"I don't know the details," Master Fu looked over at Wayzz, sadness evident in his eyes. "But the Kwami and her chosen we're trying to push the limits of their energy sharing." He looked up to see the worried expressions of the two heros, "I am not trying to scare you. I only wanted to make sure you know all that you can know about the miraculous. If you're goal is to take down Hawkmoth there is still a great deal you need to learn."
"Thank you Master we-" Ladybug was cut short as the power went off.
"Someone's in here." Chat Noir muttered, "Their hidden though."
Ladybug could only trust in Chat Noir's night vision having no sight of her own at the moment. The whole room as quiet, the two heros holding their breath. Instinctively Ladybug's hands went up to cover her earrings.
Chat dove suddenly forward knocking over the teapot as he did. Ladybug could hear a commotion. The sound of something breaking, a grunt as someone was hit. She heard something slam into the wall behind her and Chat moan.
"Master lookout!" Chat yelled.
Ladybug threw herself at Master Fu hoping to take any blow that was aimed at the old man.
Suddenly the lights came back on and the two heroes jumped back to their feet weapons out and ready to strike.
"What was that." Ladybug surveyed the room a sense of panic washing over her.
"I don't know. That darkness wasn't natural, I couldn't even see it clearly."
Finally Ladybug's eyes landed on the damage in the room. The teapot and cups were broken on the floor, and the table was flipped over. Chairs had been knocked over and something in the corner had been smashed to bits.
"Master are you alright?" Chat bent down next to the smaller man.
"Yes I am fine..." The old man stood up and walked over to the broken furniture in the corner, "However it is not me we should be worried about. You must go after the thief."
"Thief?"
"Yes. He has stolen the Turtle and Fox miraculous."
...
Alya waited in line at the bakery, trying not to fall asleep where she stood. She felt like she hadn't slept at all that night. She remembered waking up a couple times, but that was nothing abnormal.
"Alya?"
Alya snapped back into the present meeting the gaze of a concerned Sabine Cheng.
"Are you alright?" The woman asked raising an eyebrow.
"I'm fine. Just a little tired. I didn't sleep a lot last night." She dug through her purse looking for the lunch orders. "Everything's on there." She handed the paper to the woman with a smile.
"Alright let me just get that to Tom," She glanced over the paper, "It might take a while Alya."
Alya just nodded, "It's alright." She found herself glancing back at where the massage parlor was. "Mrs. Cheng, do you know anything about the massage parlor down the street?"
"Yes," Sabine frowned, "Why do you ask?"
"Oh," Alya laughed awkwardly, "Just thinking of getting a massage that's all."
"Well the man who owns it is very good. If we weren't always so busy I'd go see him again." Sabine got an odd look in her eye as she rang up Alya's order, as if she knew something Alya didn't, "He's a very kind man, and a very wise one. If you ever need to talk and have some tea his door is always open. At least, that's what he always told me."
Alya frowned as Sabine kept smiling to herself. She pulled out her debit card to pay and waited for her order to be completed.
She stood off to the side so another customer could order, and kept looking at the massage shop. She hadn't seen Mari leave, but if her mother knew the owner maybe there was no need to worry.
She was about to let the whole thing go when she saw a familiar blonde walk up to the same massage parlor. Stopping at the door and reading the closed sign, Adrien opened the door anyway. Like Mari had done he checked over his shoulder before letting the door swing closed behind him.
What were they up to...
While thinking up all the possible reasons her two friends would go into the closed massage parlor she barely registered her name being called.
"Alya?"
She was startled back into the real world when another customer tapped her shoulder gently. The woman gestured towards Sabine who had Alya's food already to go in bags.
"Are you sure you're alright Alya?"
"I'll be fine." She smiled and took the food from Marinette's mother saying thank you and apologizing for being so out of it.
Crossing the street she decided to walk in front of the massage parlor and see if she could find out anything.
She was one shop away when she heard a crash from inside the chinese shop. She picked up her pace throwing herself at the window and trying to get a glimpse inside. The shop was dark, eerily dark, as if the light from the window wasn't even getting in between the blinds.
She heard another crash and a yell that she couldn't pick out any words from. Suddenly the lights came back on and Alya heard something above her.
On the roof of the shop stood a shadowy figure. It peered down at her before taking off, leaping across the rooftops.
Without thinking Alya chased after it. Pushing past people on the sidewalk she followed the figure as it darted away from her. She dropped her bags trying to keep up with it.
She saw the person drop down from the roofs and into an alley. Turning sharply, Alya sprinted into the alley as well. She followed them until she reached a dead end.
Coming to an abrupt halt she looked around panting. Where had the figure gone? She had seen them run into this alley. They had to be there!
Maybe I'm just over exhausted. I might not have seen anything. She thought. With a sigh she exited the alley. I must be going crazy. Who would be running over the roofs?
"That's not your voice."
Nino's voice rang in her head. She frowned, why would he say that?
Alya stopped dead in her tracks. She had a dream last night. She had a dream with Nino in it. She couldn't remember anything else, but Nino was there.
"That's not your voice." She said out loud.
She couldn't hear anything over her heartbeat. Cold sweat dripped down the side of her face. She had had more than one dream last night.
Whose voice was it? She knew that voice! She had to remember-
Remember! Remember! The words from her first dream came back to her with the memories of it.
How could she have forgotten them? How did she wake up and forget hearing Hawkmoth?
"Hawkmoth!"
Just like in her dreams, his name made him visible. He stood at the end of the the alley. He was the same man from her dreams, and despite never having seen him before, she knew he was Hawkmoth.
"You... You've been talking to me.."
I have.
"Last night... and a week ago at the bar..." Alya felt herself step back, putting more distance between herself and the villain.
Yes. Hawkmoth got closer.
Alya's hand flew to her purse grabbing her phone. She tried to take a picture but the device was turned off. Hawkmoth seemed to read her thoughts and as her hand gripped her cellphone, the world went black.
Alya was still conscious, but the world had gone completely dark.
We will meet again. She felt something tiny and sharp hit her, But for now go to sleep.
Alya reached up to the back of her neck and pulled out the thing that had hit her. She felt herself start to fall to her knees.
Alya's worst day had started at 2 pm on a Tuesday, and ended at 2 pm on a Wednesday, with her lying unconscious on the ground.
