Chapter 4:The calm before the storm

"Don't be bemused, it's just the news.", said Nadja Chamack sober to the camera in front of her and to the thousand and more citizens of Paris, who were watching the news. "Today, my dear watchers something happened in our beloved city which opened the eyes of many, including myself."

You were chewing your french fries and leaned on Luka's shoulder to look better at his phone screen. You both were currently at one of the McDonalds, celebrating the successful start of your blog.

"Why are we watching this?", you asked Luka and took a sip from your drink.

Your best friend paused the live stream to answer you.

"I have a feeling our blog will be featured today. Remember? We reach 1000000 views in not even 24 hours, and the number is still growing, I bet with you that somehow Nadja heard about it.", explained Luka and put his head over yours to rest.

"Well, then we should probably check this."

Luka unpaused the live stream, curious you watched what Nadja had to say.

"A new blog about one of our supposed heroes of Paris came online and reached with the help of the Ladyblog an incredibly amount of views. Which hero I'm talking about? I'm talking about Chat Noir, but after we show you the photos and videos from the blog run by Miss [L/N] and Mister Couffaine you surely will change your mind about him. I did."

Marinette sat on her desk chair, wrapped up in her fluffy blanket and Tikki cuddle up to her. She had talked with her friends, and Alya had shown her the video, but she still couldn't believe it.

It was like she was in a nightmare and she couldn't wake up.

Because if this was really true if all of this was true…

She felt again how bile came up from her stomach, so she reached for her trash bin to throw up.

How often did she do it today? She lost count.

"Marinette, don't do this to yourself.", cried Tikki in sorrow for her beloved chosen. "You have watched the video enough times. We will talk with Master Fu and fix this, please don't torture yourself like this."

Marinette felt how tears were streaming down her face. She barely could see her computer screen, but she had to go on.

"I have to Tikki. I have to! If it's even in the news, then…then there is really no other explanation that all of this is true. That Chat is really that bad and I told Master Fu to trust him and give him new powers! That would mean I ignored all the warning signs and I'm responsible for all the bad he did."

"Marinette, no! Only Chat is responsible for the choices he made, you are here a victim too!", tried Tikki to reason with her.

If she got a hold of Plagg she would slap him for not stopping his chosen! Her poor Marinette was having a panic attack and couldn't calm down.

"I have to, Tikki, I will not rest, if I don't see it.", said Marinette, shaking from head to toe.

Tikki cuddle up to her cheek and gave it a lot of kisses.

How she wished she could get Chat Noir between her flippers and teach him a lesson!

"I'm deeply sorry that I only realized now that I was a part of the problem too. Ladybug I want to say sorry to you because I enabled this behavior of Chat Noir and searched for any kind of LadyNoir content to get higher views. I'm ashamed and disgusted at myself. But I will leave you now to the video, so you all can see for yourself."

"Finally.", mumbled Adrien and crossed his arms.

He was in his room watching TV. He could have searched early for this strange new blog that made anybody act weird, but he thought that it was just a fluke.

But as even his father apologized to him for making him act as Chat Noir in Clara's music video, he know he needed to see it.

Plagg was untypical silent and didn't demand any stinky camembert from him, which at least was good for him.

"…This video is already a minute long and that fucker over there is still sitting and mopey about something! If I was Ladybug I would kick his ass and take his ring! What do you guys think, is someone like him really a hero?!"

Nathalie Sancoeur watched silently and behind Mr. Agreste the now famous video which showed Chat Noir doing absolutely nothing to help Paris citizens from drowning in Syren's ocean.

Her boss stopped the video and had a thoughtful look on his face.

"Sir, why did you not create an Akuma today?", she asked monotone, even if she was a bit curious. "A lot of people had to be angry. This was the chance to create a powerful Akuma to take down Chat Noir and Ladybug."

"Indeed, but I sensed too much of the same emotions and I worried that the Akuma would just straight up kill Chat Noir and not even care for the ring and earrings.", explained Gabriel.

Nathalie eyes wideden a bit.

"You feared it would get out of control, so even you couldn't give him orders?"

Gabriel nodded and turned to the picture of his wife.

"It's a risk I couldn't take. I need to still have control over the Akuma."

Then a little evil grin sprouted from his lips.

"What do you think Nathalie?", he asked her. "Wouldn't Miss [Y/N] [L/N] be a wonderful Akuma?"

It was a rhetorical question, Nathalie knew, so she just said: "What plan do you have in mind, sir?"

"As you have seen for yourself, Chat Noir didn't do anything to prevent more casualty! He just sit there and did nothing.", said Nadja Chamack grimly to her viewers. "I will answer Miss [L/N]question. A hero is a person who helps when there are people in danger. A hero doesn't stand or sit around when there is a catastrophe happening. He rescues people. A hero is someone who takes his job seriously and doesn't see it as a game. A hero is someone who respects the boundaries of others and doesn't torment his superhero partner with unwelcoming flirting and doesn't understand no. So, Chat Noir isn't a hero. He is a brat and nothing else. We, as citizens of Paris, have now to help our beloved Ladybug! We will not tolerate this kind of behavior from Chat Noir. We demand he gives up his ring and Ladybug get a new and better partner!"

"Meh, never thought I would see the day that Nadja Chamack would make a good reporter.", you told Luka.

You still were leaning on his shoulder and trying to steal a bit of his McFlurry. He knew what you were planning and hold it above his head.

"If people want they can change and you stop stealing my food!"

"Aww, you won't give your best girl a little morsel?"

"That's Jules, not you, you are a food destroyer like I never knew someone like you. You take a bit and half of the food is gone."

"So mean!"

You looked into each other eyes and then laughed together.

In the end, Luka gave you a bit of his McFlurry.

Marinette cried and cried and cried and it seemed she couldn't stop anymore.

So all was true.

Deep down she always knew that something was wrong, that something wasn't right, but she ignored it for Paris.

For her beloved city.

But now her people wanted to help HER.

Do give her a partner who wouldn't constantly ask her out on dates, who would take the job seriously, who would act like a true partner.

"Do you see, Marinette? Everybody wants to help you, you are not alone. You don't have to be afraid.", cooed Tikki with little kisses all over her face.

Marinette laughed and felt like a huge weight fall down from her shoulders.

"We…we will talk to the Master…", she began.

"And show him the video if he doesn't have seen it already. He will help you and give you a partner that you deserve!", added Tikki.

The girl just cried harder in relief.

"This plan, sir.", Nathalie said thoughtfully. "Playing it so long, will it really be beneficial?"

"I know so, Nathalie, Miss [L/N], will be my masterpiece!"

Nooroo who was watching all this, couldn't help but cry silent tears. You didn't know what was coming for you.

Adrien stared and stared at his TV and just couldn't believe what he had to saw and heard.

Him, not being a hero?

Was anybody going crazy or what?

"Can you believe this, Plagg? Why is anybody so dramatic? Miraculous Cure fixes anything, why was it so bad that I stayed on the rooftop? I mean, M'Lady didn't want to tell me what was going on, how can I be a good hero without knowing anything?", asked Adrien.

He didn't expect an answer.

But he got one.

"Geez, Adrien, I think because you just help people if you are a good person."

That froze Adrien. Confused he turned to his Kwami, who was just sitting on his bed and not even looking him in the eyes.

"What do you mean? Plagg, it was my right to know anything! I at least know now Master Fu, if M'Lady just would tell me who the other temp heroes are then there wouldn't be any secrets between us and we could be together finally."

"Are you even listing what I'm saying?", wondered Plagg.

How he could have been so blind all the time shocked and worried him. Something was not right, he felt it in his gut.

"You know what, I'm going to talk to this [Y/N] [L/N]. Maybe if I explain to her my reasons she will take down her silly blog. I mean, Ladybug and I are meant to be together, she will surely understand.", said Adrien totally sure of himself.

"Kid, are you actually thinking? That's so not a good plan. You should do nothing. No wait, change your ways, and then maybe, MAYBE, you can still be a hero.", tried Plagg to reason with his holder, but Adrien just ignored him.

The blond boy nodded to himself and grinned.

"I'm sure anything will turn out okay and we can forget all of this."

Luka was walking you home as you both felt how out of nowhere a cold wind came up.

"Geez, where did this come from?", you asked shaking a bit and rubbing your arms to warm you up.

Your best friend stopped and looked worried around.

"I have got a strange feeling right now…"

"Really, what kind of?"

Luka wrapped an arm around your shoulder and you both started to walk again.

"Don't know…just be careful…something is in the air."

You giggled.

He was so cute, all worried for you.

"Like a storm?"

"Exactly like one."

The tone in his voice made you alert. You started to look around, but couldn't find anything weird.

But…you had to admit…something was defiantly in the air…you could feel it now too.

And it made you wary of what would happen next.