To all the beautiful women out there:
A very happy women's day! You're the true hero.
Thank you Rose Tiger and isabell.wint for your support!
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To mayuralover: Wow, that's probably the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me. THANK YOU! It means a lot. :-)
**IMPORTANT NOTE**
This story is going back to every-Sunday update because my holidays are over and I want to edit and polish the chapters finely.
!!Please leave your suggestions for LadyNoir ship in the reviews because I need them for Chapter 10. It's important.!!
The suggestion has to be about sweet friendship moments/their usual banter in which Ladybug is star-struck because of Cat Noir and not the other way around. So, basically an almost role reversal of feelings. It can even be a faint idea but, it shouldn't be a date or an akuma as that can mess up the flow of the story.
The normal akuma purification sequence in this story is 'no more evil doing for you little akuma', 'time to de-evilise!', 'bye-bye little butterfly'. And therefore you will read a different sequence by the mouse-themed heroine to prevent certain things from happening...
You will see what I mean later.
Chapter 8
We Push And Pull Like A Magnet Do
"And then you balance the hydrogen by adding H ions on the si--" Ms. Mendeleev was teaching her students when a sound startled them all.
CRASH!
They all looked up at the door.
A female figure, 5 feet 5, inch stood at the doorway, her eyes were terrifyingly red, her outfit was very fashionable and she wore various bracelets, necklaces, earrings and a nose ring. Her hair were dark purple. An akuma. She let out a dark aura, her face cold and full of hate.
"Where is Marinette Dupain-Cheng?" She growled in a voice that challenged to be disobeyed.
"What is the meaning of this? You can't disrupt my cla--" Whatever the science teacher wanted to say was cut off by a choking sound as the Couturière pinned her to the blackboard, grabbing her by her throat.
"Now listen here, four eyes, either you tell me where that girl is or I will make you. And you see the second way won't be pleasant... at least for you." She seethed and the terrified teacher as she tried to break out of the akuma's hold, her hands trying to pry off the pink hands of the villian.
The designer's classmates winced in their seats. They were afraid, mainly for their class representative.
"She is not here." A voice broke the silence.
Everyone gaped in shock at the source.
"Marinette didn't come to school today. She called in sick." Chloe said without any hesitation.
"Oh! Did she now?" The akuma asked in a suspicious tone as she let go of Ms. Mendeleev as she slid down to the floor, coughing vigorously as air made its way into her lungs again.
"Why are you lying Chloe? She just went to the girls' room."
The class glared at Lila.
"Oops! Sorry, tongue slip." She covered her mouth and smiled secretly to herself.
Adrien have had enough. First this akuma was after his princess. Then, Chloe covered up for her... actually no, he was quite happy with that one. But, Lie-la ruined it.
He rushed to his teacher and helped her up. "Everybody, run!" He commanded as he tried to take the poor science teacher out with him. Couturière moved her arms in a wave-like motion, summoning giant sharp needles but, before she could hurt him, she stopped. Hawkmoth was restraining her for some reasons. She seemed to get into a little disagreement with him and he used to moment of distraction to dash out of the class, along with Ms. Mendeleev.
Everyone followed suit. The akuma didn't harm them but, made her way to her prey.
Adrien went to a bathroom stall as Plagg flew out of his shirt pocket.
"Plagg-
A blood curling scream made him stop in his tracks. Both his and his kwami's eyes widened in fear.
No!
-Claws Out!"
The skintight black leather suit replaced his normal clothes. The leather clad superhero made his way to the girls' room, only to find a horrific scene play in front of him.
Marinette was wrapped tightly in threads, blood soaked her clothes as the thread was sharp enough to pierce her skin. Needles were making their way to her. More blood was dripping out from her mouth.
And there was Couturière, maliciously smiling.
How dare she touch her?Who is she, anyway?I am going to give her hell for going too far.
"Stop!" He yelled, his expression betraying his anger.
The akumatized woman looked at him. "Look what the cat dragged in." She smirked.
"Why are you doing this?" He hissed.
"What? Oh this! This is just a payback, kitty cat. I am destined to be world's best designer and no one but me can win. After I am done with her, I will come for your Miraculous and then for that nasty bug's." She smiled wickedly.
"Not on my watch!" He leapt into action, hitting her head hard repeatedly with his baton, catching her off-guard.
"Cataclysm!" He called out and used it on Marinette's bonds. She immediately dropped on the ground, only to be caught by two muscular arms.
Cat's eyes glistened with tears as he saw her bloodied wounds. She had a faint pulse, she was still breathing, thankfully. He lifted her bridal style and quickly made a run for it.
Cat Noir hugged Marinette's nearly unconscious body close to his chest, running over the rooftops as fast as his legs could carry him. He had to hurry, his eyesight was still blurry due to all the tears stinging his eyes.
Why are her clothes so wet?Why is there so much red?Why can't I see her lively eyes?WHY IS THERE SO MUCH RED?!
He tried to focus and get his mind straight. It took his panicked mind to realise that during these conditions it was best to keep the person awake.
She can still hear me, right?
"Say, princess, want to hear a story?" His voice was shaky, he didn't stop running. He had to keep her concious till they reached the hospital.
"I-I w-wa-wanna s-sleep."
"No no no no, Marinette! Don't sleep. Okay, there was a little kid," he sniffed, "He used to have really wierd theories. He believed that snow was icing sugar and always tried to eat it till he was eight."
Marinette snorted weakly.
"Once he tried to dress up like his Mother. So, he took her poofiest dress, fanciest shoes, put on makeup and since his hair were long enough for him to tie in a ponytail, he wore them just like that. And, you know what? He-He even wore his Mother's hoop earrings."
"He wasss ssuch an idiot." Her voice was slurry.
"Yes, he still is, Mari." He agreed. "And you know what else amusing happened? When he was around 5, he ate so much beetroot that his pee came out red and his parents rushed him to the hospital."
He saw her smiling faintly.
"And when he was seven, he jumped from the living room balcony and landed on the sofa below. Do you want to know what he said next?"
"Y-Ye-Yes."
"He said, Must not have been enough pixie dust."
Marinette giggled and winced. The burning pain was increasing at a high pace.
Cat Noir was nearing the hospital building every passing moment. Just a few more seconds. "Okay, chérie, do you know who that kid was?"
She smiled and pointed a shaky finger at him, "Youuu 'causse you arrre a d-dorkk."
"Ding ding ding, princess. We have a winner."
Why is she panting so much?Why is there so much red?
"Help! Someone get a doctor, please!" Cat Noir yelled at the top of his lungs, as he entered the hospital.
"Oh my god! What happened to her?" A nurse rushed to them.
"Akuma attack."
The nurse nodded as she tried to take Marinette from his hold to shift her to a gurney. He didn't let go of her. "Sir, please let us do our job," she insisted.
He didn't want to let go, he huged her tightly, no one could take her away from him. His grief-stricken brain didn't even realise his hindrance in his princess' treatment, tears ran down his cheeks.
A doctor placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, "Cat Noir, she will be alright, we need to give her the treatment in time."
The distraught hero reluctantly let go of her and saw as she was hurried to the operation theatre.
"Uh, Mr. Noir? We need some information regarding the patient for her treatment and form." The receptionist asked, breaking his trance.
"I can tell you." Cat said.
"Name?"
"Marinette Dupain-Cheng."
"Blood group?"
"AB positive."
"Any chronic diseases?"
Cat shook his head.
"Allergies?"
He shooked his head again.
"Age?"
"16 years and 10 months." He answered impatiently.
The receptionist looked at him, suspicious of his knowledge about the patient but, shrugged it off.
"Will she be okay?"
The girl nodded. "The doctors are cleaning her wounds and she has stopped bleeding, there isn't any need for transfusion just yet. She just needs some stitches, rest and glucose for now. You've called her parents, right?
Cat nodded. "Well there's an akuma on loose out there, I better get going. Take good care of her." He reluctantly left. He wanted to be by her side when she woke up but, he had no choice. He had to get that akuma.
"M'Lady! What took you so long?" The feline superhero looked relieved to see the spotted heroine.
He had recharged his kwami twice now and the city was in a mess. It wasn't like he couldn't handle an akuma on his own but, he was distracted as memory of Marinette's bloodied figure kept coming back to his mind, haunting him. He desparately wanted to cataclysm Couturière but, everything was Hawkmoth's doing, not hers.
"Sorry, chaton. I got caught up with something." She stopped in her steps, clutched her stomach and winced.
"Bugaboo, you okay?" Cat Noir approached her.
"Just peachy, kitty. Let's get this over with." She lied. She had been able to escape from the hospital as soon as she regained consciousness. No one knew she was out here. If it weren't for Tikki and the magic of her suit then she wouldn't have been able to even stand properly, much less fight an akuma. She had to be quick.
"Lucky Charm!" She called out.
A photo of her civilian self landed in her hands.
Cat gulped. "That's the girl the akuma is after." His voice cracked, tears welled up his eyes as he remembered her condition.
Ladybug's heart broke seeing him like this but, her lucky charm was telling her to do something that would totally freak him out.
"Cat, it's time to bring Multimouse back."
Cat looked at her partner in horror. He gripped her wrist, preventing her from moving.
"No, please don't do it, LB. S-She is hurt a-and has suffered blood loss. She n-needs rest to recover. Wearing all those Miraculouses won't help her case. P-Please not her." He pleaded.
"Cat, we have to. We have no other option..." She freed herself from his hold and swung across the city to her house for the Miraculous box.
"Hey Kitty!" Multimouse dropped next to the black cat. She was shocked when she saw him, his ears were flat against his head and his face looked pained.
"What is it chaton? Why aren't you focusing on the akuma?"
"I am so sorry, princess. First I couldn't protect you and now this. Wearing all those Miraculouses at once will drain your ener-" He was silenced as she put a finger on his lips to shush him.
"You did all you could to save me kitty. It's not your fault. Now, let's save Paris."
Cat looked at her. "Where's Ladybug?"
Multimouse's heartbeat quickened.
Think Marinette! Think!
"Uh... S-She had a car crash before the akuma attack that gave her some injuries. Her condition was no better than mine. She's in the hospital." Her heart pained even more as she saw the expression on Cat's face but she couldn't tell him the truth, if only he would become more protective of her than he already was.
"Let's do this, Cat. I have no time to lose."
"Do you know where the akuma is, Cat?" Marinette asked her partner as they jumped across the rooftops.
"Probably in her brooch, princess. She keeps touching it protectively."
Multimouse nodded.
"Multitude!" The heroine called out her powers. She split herself into smaller parts.
"Tikki, Mullo Unify."
"Trixx, Mullo Unify." Multi-Bug and Multi-Fox transformed. "Try to distract her while I get there."
Cat nodded.
"Hey! Stitching maniac, over here!" He called out as he jumped in front of the angered akuma, waving his arms wildly.
"The name's Couturière, dumb cat." She yelled as she tried to hit him with her weapon but failed miserably as he jumped back and forth and cartwheeled himself out of her hitting range.
"Is that all you have got?" He chuckled and saw Multi-Fox positioned with her flute with the corner of his eye.
Couturière was about to target him with her needles again but the sight of Marinette, covered with blood, trying to run away caught her attention.
"Seems like you didn't protect the civilian after all." She made her way to Marinette.
"No!" Cat yelled dramatically. He was a natural.
Marinette looked back to see the akuma behind her and increased her speed.
Couturière tried to follow her but tripped herself over the red and black spotted rolling pin, getting herself tangled in those dangerously sharp threads that lay all around the city.
"Reality!" She heard someone call out.
The Marinette in front of her puffed into smoke.
Before she could even react, Cat catyclysmed her brooch and the akuma flew out.
Multimouse returned to her normal bigger self.
"You've done enough harm akuma." She brought out her yo-yo, careful not to use her regular words. "I free you from evil, Couturière." She caught the akuma. "Gotcha." She said in the most non- Ladybug like style. She released the butterfly.
"Miraculous Multi-Bug!" She threw the rolling pin in the air. Thousands of ladybugs flew by, getting everything back to normal.
"Pound it!" The superheroes fist-bumped.
Lydia Wong appeared where Couturière earlier sat.
"Cat, can you please deal with her? I need to leave, to give back the Miraculous and I have to get to the hospital before anyone realises that I am missing."
Cat nodded and picked up the exhausted woman. The two heroes parted ways.
"Is she okay?" Cat rushed to his best friend's parents.
He got more worried as he saw Tom and Sabine in tears with tense body language.
"Son, we don't know what happened. One moment, she was all good but, now her stitches have opened up and she has a case of over-exersion." Tom said.
Cat winced, knowing exactly what had happened. He blamed himself even more for not protecting her.
"It's all my fault..." He mumbled as a single tear slid down his cheek.
"We don't blame you, Cat Noir. You were the one to bring her here, if it wasn't for you, her condition would've been critical." Sabine comforted the poor boy.
A nurse came out of the operation theatre and walked towards the three.
"She's good now. We've re-stitched her wounds. The blood transfusion is complete. She'd be on glucose for a few days that means she would have to stay in the hospital for a week." She said as she led them to Marinette's room. "Please don't question her much, she might be in a slight trauma from what happened and that can worsen her condition."
"She will regain her consciousness in a few minutes. I will leave you guys to it now." She left shutting the door after her.
Tom and Sabine sat next to her one side of bed and Cat took his seat by the other side, clasping their hands together.
Marinette slowly opened her eyes.
"Mom, Dad?" She looked at her parents.
"Chaton?" She looked at the hero who smiled softly and apologetically at her.
"Oh honey! We were so worried. What happened? How are you feeling?" Sabine squeezed her daughter's hand.
"I am fine Mom. I don't quite remember what happened. All I remember is being in the girls' room when someone tied me tightly in sharp threads. I then passed out. I am a little hungry though." She smiled at her parents.
Tom chuckled. "I will take care of that. But, be careful next time though."
She nodded at her father.
"Well, I will let you kids talk and if you all will excuse me I need to follow your Dad to make sure he doesn't break his diet when he sees that vending machine." Sabine kissed Marinette's forehead and left.
Cat held Marinette's hand tightly and squeezed it gently and she squeezed back.
"Mari, princess, I am so so-" Cat started.
"Don't say it Chaton, you have nothing to feel sorry about." She cut him off.
"But it is my f-"
"No it's not. You got me here in time so I could get medical attention and you had absolutely no control over the fact that Multimouse was needed today. If it's anybody's fault then it's Hawkmoth's and not yours. So shush, and give me a hug."
Cat grinned and hugged her gently.
"Now that I can do, princess."
"This is so difficult, I don't understand a thing. Why do we need to rationalize imaginary numbers anyway? They aren't even real!" The bluenette groaned in frustration as she banged her head on her desk.
She had been released yesterday and it was still three days until she joined her class back. Her classmates had sent her gifts and cards, even Chloe.
She had a lot of schoolwork to catch up on and Cat Noir had volunteered to help her. They were doing maths for over two hours now and Marinette was getting really frustrated.
Cat chuckled at her. "You keep banging your head like that and you'll get a concussion."
"Cat, please, I am the queen of clumsiness. I do this all the time, no biggie." She rolled her eyes.
"Uh... Should I be worried?"
"I don't think so?" It came out more as a question. "Okay kitty, how about we take a break?" She shut the book close.
"Sure, chérie. What do you wanna do?" He grinned at her.
"Let's watch Princess Diaries." She smirked.
Cat's smile vanished.
"Come on Cat! You will like it." She opened his laptop and scooted closer to him.
He draped one arm over her shoulder and pressed her closer to himself.
"Nah... I know that I won't like that thing. But, I do like your company." He kissed the top of her head.
Marinette had no excuse as to why she blushed at this.
A/N: This is the end of the transition chapters.
Chapter 1-5 were the beginning chapters that depicted the depth of Marinette's and Cat Noir's relation with a little bit of Adrienette.
Chapter 6-8 are the transition chapters which depict recent developments that might not have a relevance right now but, they're important for the future chapters. Like this chapter plays an important role in the reveal.
The next two chapters are the pre-drama chapters while chapter 11 and 12 are the official start of angst in this story.
Don't worry, there would be some fluff in between too but, get ready 'cause this story is just getting started.
Until next time...
Peace,
I am out!
P.S: REMEMBER, LADYNOIR SUGGESTIONS!!