This one needed a little more reworking than I first thought. Enjoy!
Chapter One
Is He An Ally?
"Is Andrew Hendrol Dragonus?" they both asked at the same time.
"Maybe he could be," Tikki said in Marinette's loft. "Maybe Vorath was the dark presence I sensed around Andrew."
Marinette thought for a moment. "He certainly could be. Alya showed me the picture of Dragonus. And now that I think about it, Alya mentioned something about Andrew disappearing whenever a villain shows up, just like I do. Only thing is, he must always end up back wherever we were before I get back. But other than that, he's the only real lead we have."
"Makes sense," Plagg says in Adrien's room.
Adrien thought for a moment. "No, he can't be. Andrew's just too good of a person to be… well, Dragonus."
Plagg floated in front of his face. "He didn't seem too good when he blew up at Chloé," he recalled.
Adrien shrugged. "He's the only person I know with enough guts to do that."
Plagg just gave him an exasperated look. "Probably because he has a powerful Miraculous which could protect him!"
Adrien sat for a moment. "He might be the one." He looked at his clock, and yawned. It was nearly one o'clock. "We'll find out tomorrow."
Tuesday morning. Marinette had decided to keep a close eye on Andrew. If she was going to end up accusing him of being a supervillain, she needed some proof. If she had learned anything from the big Lila debacle, it was that people would only believe you if you had "strong connections" or really good evidence. Neither of which she had. So far, there hadn't been any akumatized villains yet, because Chloé was out sick and Lila had a "party with a few famous friends."
The only problem was class. Even though he was in her classes, he sat in the rows directly behind her and on the outer side. Marinette had to crane her neck around to get a glimpse at what he was doing, to see if he was talking to a kwami. Nothing. Mostly he was dutifully taking notes or reading. Marinette knew there would be questions if one of her teachers spotted her, but she thought that she was being sneaky enough.
She wasn't. Andrew noticed each time. He was starting to get suspicious. During lunch period, he headed to the restroom.
"I think she's onto you, boss," Vorath said. "Those glances aren't exactly inconspicuous."
Andrew nodded. "Yes, she is. But I think I have a plan that might throw her train off the rails." He reached into his pocket and pulled out the Double minifig. "This is exactly why I made Double. He's a cover-up." He slipped the minifig back in his pocket. "I'll tell Marinette that I'll meet with her to help figure out who Dragonus is, and give a somewhat convincing excuse for why. Double will then go to the meeting, while I, as Dragonus, wreak some havoc or something like that."
Vorath shrugged. "You could absorb the power grid," he said lazily. Andrew snapped his fingers. "That's not a bad idea."
Adrien wasn't checking nearly as much as Marinette. He still stood by his belief that Andrew and Dragonus were two different people. After all, Andrew was like Adrien in a way. He would never turn evil voluntarily. So Andrew wouldn't turn evil, either.
"I'm telling you, Adrien, he has to be Dragonus! The evidence is there!" Plagg said for the fifth time.
"I'm sure they're just coincidences," Adrien said.
"Like how you disappear whenever there's a villain!" Plagg nearly yelled. "There's only so many people he could be!"
"Plagg, I know Pompeii was traumatizing, but Vorath isn't… probably isn't here. He won't jump out and attack you."
"That's what the supervillains always do," Plagg complained. Adrien shrugged. "The akumatized ones, Plagg. Hawk Moth hasn't come out since Miracle Queen."
It was nearing the end of the day when Marinette bumped into Andrew.
"Oh, hey," he said. "I saw you kept glancing at me. Something wrong that I don't see?"
Marinette nearly yelped. How? I was so sneaky! "Oh, it's nothing. Just wanted to see-" she paused, searching for an excuse. "Your shirt design! Is that like an album cover?" she asked.
Andrew looked down. "Oh, this. Yeah, I picked it up at a concert back home. A little sentimental thing from one of my dad's favorite bands and the first concert I'd ever been to."
Marinette didn't say anything. She was thinking too fast for words. "Something wrong?" Andrew asked.
"Oh, nothing. Just thinking about who the new villain in Paris might be," Marinette replied.
To her surprise, Andrew nodded. "I've been thinking about that, too. See, my dad owns Hendrol Motors, and I figured this Dragonus guy would be bad for business if he decides to attack the building site for the new plant. I'm thinking if I can expose him, maybe to either the news or the Ladyblog, the heroes can swoop in and take him out. Wanna meet up and compare notes?"
Marinette nodded quickly. "Sure! That's a great idea! See you at the park after school?" Andrew checked his phone. "Yeah, I'm free then. See you there!" He walked off.
"If he's Dragonus, why would he expose himself?" Marinette asked Tikki after Andrew left.
"Maybe he's not Dragonus. Maybe he is a genuinely good guy who wants to help," Tikki replied, though the doubt in her voice was heavy.
Marinette thought for a moment. I have to be ready in case he tries to pull a fast one. Guess I'm going to the park!
"There's a little something off about him, though. You might not be entirely wrong about his lies. Why would he be so specific?" Tikki asked. Curiosity now getting to her, Marinette opened her phone and typed Hendrol Motors CEO in the search bar.
"Hendrol Motors is currently owned and managed by Everett Hendrol, the second son of former CEO Arthur Hendrol, after he was promoted by his father." she read. "Guess he wasn't."
"What did I tell you, Vorath? She took the bait," Andrew said in the restroom. His kwami scoffed.
"She's desperate for evidence, of course she would buy it," Vorath replied. Andrew checked his phone again.
"One o'clock. Double has about two hours before he needs to be there. I'll continue for now," he said, a slightly sinister smirk on his face as he left the restroom and headed towards his class, hands in his pockets, whistling one of his favorite songs on the way.
The final bell rang as Marinette left the school with Alya. She had run her theory on who Dragonus might be, and Alya quietly laughed.
"Girl, if you think Andrew Hendrol is Dragonus, you might want to get your head checked. Next thing you know, you'll be saying I'm Rena Rouge," she said, a small smirk on her face at the last part.
Marinette tilted your head playfully. "You? Rena Rouge? Come on, that's crazy. Maybe you need to get your head checked." The two girls laughed. "Anyway, I'm headed to the park. Meeting up with Andrew. He says he has an idea on who Dragonus might be," Marinette replied.
"Just make sure he doesn't turn into a big scary dragon while you're there," Alya said, a small smile on her face. "Catch ya later!"
Tikki popped out after Alya left. "Maybe we shouldn't go," she said.
"Come on, Tikki. What's the worst that could happen?" Marinette asked.
"Suppose you have to transform and Andrew figures you out?"
Marinette narrowed her eyes. "I think I have an excuse for that. Come on, we don't want to be late." Tikki jumped back into Marinette's purse, and she headed for the park.
Andrew was in the restroom. Confident no one was going to hear, he placed the Double figure on the sink and transformed into Dragonus. He took the one and a half inch figure between his thumb and forefinger. Focusing his will into the nanobots on his suit, he pushed down the figure's head with a flash of golden light and released it. Double grew to full size in front of Dragonus.
"Hello, me," Double said, bored. He didn't know why he was so crucial to the plan.
Dragonus charged his hand with golden energy. "Hold still," he said, and he pressed his palm to Double's forehead. Memories of the day flashed through his skull, and Double saw Dragonus's whole plan for the day.
"That's a stupid idea," Double said. Dragonus looked offended. "It's the icing on the cake," he replied. "If we're on opposite sides of town, and then we're seen next to each other, no one on Earth will ever think Andrew Hendrol and Dragonus are the same person."
"I don't know why I have to be held by the collar," Double said coolly. "Certainly, ranged threats would be just as good."
Dragonus shook his head. "It's supposed to be up close and personal, which is my style. You know that."
Double sighed. "Fine. Now, if you will excuse me, I'm late for a meeting. Goodbye." Double walked out of the bathroom.
Dragonus sighed in exasperation. "Is that what I'm like?" he asked Vorath.
"Not always, but you can be like that, and somehow worse," Vorath said inside Dragonus's mind.
"Guess what they say is true. We'd be horrified to meet ourselves," Dragonus mused as he opened a portal to the top of the school. Looking along the skyline for a minute, he swooped down and flew in the direction of the power plant.
A thought struck him on the way there. "Did I make notes on Dragonus?" he asked.
"I think Double has something figured out. He's you, always two steps ahead. If you can't think of something on the spot, no one can," the kwami replied. Dragonus could only agree. "Yes, two steps ahead. Perhaps a few more steps ahead than one would think," he said cryptically.
"I don't like how that sounds," Vorath muttered. Dragonus shrugged, brushing his kwami's comment aside. "I've thought this entire thing out. I've left plenty of wiggle room if the plan goes off the rails. Right now, phase three, part two, this is going to be a bit boring. A little button-pushing here, a little absorbing there, and a little secret identity protection if the need arises," he explained.
"And if she sees through Double?"
"She doesn't have any reason to. But if she does… well, that's what that fun little power I absorbed on the grand trip is for."
Yeah, this one is light on the action. Fun fact: this came out roughly around the same time as my PR/Miraculous crossover ended, so that's a fun tidbit if anyone's making a trivia game. As always, tell me what you think, stay safe, healthy, and I'll see you next week!