Chapter 23: Animosity and revelations

This was it. Glorious years of being a hero with the amazing Ladybug have culminated in this. Chat closed his eyes and waited to reach the apex of his ascent, ready for his descent to the city far below. His own life has already passed the apex, free falling to his decimation. It was only right for his body to follow the same path. He should rid himself of the ring right now, take it off and throw it away. It will bring a stop to all his pain.

Earlier that day

There were a dozen men and two women standing outside the Bichat - Claude Bernard hospital. They stood in two lines facing the visitors walking in the main entrance, holding homemade signs. Every few minutes, a few would call out their slogan once or twice, then quiet down again. It was a hospital, after all. The reaction of passersby varied from ignoring the group to stopping to talk. The majority did nothing more than read the messages and comment to their companions as they continue to walk past.

'Stop the violence,' one sign read.

'We do not tolerate violence,' a big red sign hovered above the group.

The protestors proudly held signs with 'Ladybug - face the consequences', 'No Ladybug - No violence' and 'Unmask Ladybug'.

Chat spent half an hour on the roof across the street. At first he felt shock at finding people protest against Ladybug. This quickly turned to anger at the audacity of these people, of what they were saying and the location they chose. Over time, he noticed the Parisians were not of the same mind as the protestors. The looks and comments they received were not friendly. The few who stopped spent more time arguing than agreeing. Further proof they were very few citizens who held that skewed opinion. He wished Ladybug would realize Paris supported her.

His thoughts went back to his partner, sighing. Paris was losing her. He was losing her. He could not understand what happened to her, why she acted so differently. And Saturday night? He's never seen her affected like that by an akuma, taking it so personally. For the first time in all the years they've been together, she scared him. Even when she hit him the previous week, he was shocked, surprised, but not scared. Where did that anger come from? He thought she made a mistake, not realizing the akuma reverted to human when she knocked him out. She set Chat straight - she meant to hurt the guy. She believed he deserved it, being a woman abuser. Even then, his partner of five years would never have behaved that way. Maybe Plagg was right.

Not that he was himself that night either, with Marinette filling his thoughts. He spent Sunday in his room flipping from fretting about his blue-eyed partner to hating himself over the other blue-eyed woman in his life. On Monday he was astounded there was no blow up at school. His friends showed surprise he didn't spend time with Marinette and suspected something happened. More surprising, Marinette never told Alya. The amateur reporter attempted to pry out of him what happened between them, knowing something was wrong. Marinette herself behaved as if nothing happened, ignoring his existence. He would have preferred that she shout at him, call him names and put him in his place. Even if it meant his friends would find out and hate him, it would be less painful than being ignored. He was losing Ladybug. He lost Marinette. He could not decide which pained him more.

Now he had to deal with idiotic people who are doing their best to drive his partner against Paris. She said she won't do it for them anymore, only continue because of their partnership. It thrilled him to hear she cared enough about him to make him the sole reason to fight akumas. But the realization he was the only thread holding Ladybug in this fight kept him up at night. Was he going to fail Ladybug like he failed Marinette?

Chat debated avoiding the protestors by entering via another entrance. Adrien would have done so, but Chat does not avoid confrontations - unless they were with Ladybug. Spinning the baton above him, he sailed across the street to land among the protestors, sending them sprawling, breaking up their group.

"Chat Noir!" The call came from a man Chat previously identified as their leader. Unlike the ragtag team of followers, he wore a freshly pressed black suit with a green tie. The hate in his eyes implied the color scheme was purely coincidental.

"In the flesh," Chat bowed without breaking eye contact.

"Are you coming here to finish the job Ladybug started? Is it not enough that Ladybug is terrorizing the people, you need to be her partner in this too?"

Chat raised an eyebrow, unseen under his mask, otherwise gave no reaction. He walked closer to the man, invading his personal space. At eighteen, Chat was no longer a scrawny teenager running around the adults. At six foot with broad shoulders, baton casually held at his side - he radiated power. Suit guy gulped and took a step back.

Chat stepped past him among the rest of the group. Most flinched, only a few holding his gaze.

"You think I'll hurt you?" he asked, a few heads nodded. "You believe Paris's hero, who's spent years protecting you from akumas will beat you up because you stand here spreading your ridiculous campaign?"

The heads stopped nodding as they contemplated his words.

"Now listen here…" Suit guy wanted some attention.

"You know what? The way you behave, you deserve a beating." Chat directed his words at the assembled minions, ignoring the leader. "But I won't hurt you, neither will Ladybug. We are too busy chasing akumas, protecting you, your wives, husbands, children, parents, friends, and neighbors. Ladybug has dedicated her life to you at the cost of her own personal life. When you," Chat pointed at one woman, "stay safe at home with your husband and kids, Ladybug leaves her family behind to stop the akuma from turning you and your family into a painting. And you," Chap shifted his arm to a man, "you go out for supper with your wife or girlfriend, Ladybug cannot go on a date. She is busy stopping some maniac from brainwashing your wife into leaving you to run after him while tearing her clothes off."

The assembled cowed before him, eyes like saucers. The woman he singled out teared, whether from fright or guilt Chat was not sure.

"You gather here to take down the only protection you have. The kindest, most caring person in Paris who gave up more than anyone else for the safety of all Parisians. This is how you thank her? I'm ashamed of you."

Chat turned his back to them and walked into the hospital.

The acrid smell of medicine, bleach and the sick slammed into Chat's nostrils. He froze in the doorway concentrating on shutting out the abuse to his sense of smell. These were the few times he disliked this super ability, like the one time they had a garbage truck driver for an akuma. An experience he longed to forget. Chat walked to the reception, ignoring the many stares from the hospital staff, patients, and visitors. The woman at the counter stumbled over her words while Chat calmly waited. With a red face, she directed him to the fifth floor. After a few steps, he turned back to her with a wink. It was amazing her face could go redder. It's possible Chat has more admirers than Adrien. The difference was Chat was happy they were his fans. They admired him because of the good he did, not how good he looked.

The fifth floor produced a set of infinitely long and complex corridors, forcing him to embarrass two more nice women who struggled to get back to work afterward. Arriving at last to room 528, Chat knocked on the open door and peered inside. Unsure of what reception he would receive, he planned to remain at the door until told otherwise.

The room was not big, the two beds taking up most of the space. A myriad of instruments covered the white wall, and a curtain hung next to each bed. The first bed was empty, covered by a simple sheet bearing the hospital's logo, neatly tucked around the mattress, a white pillow laying at the top. The bed by the window was just as neat, the blanket draped over the bed had neither folds nor wrinkles, belying there was a person underneath. Tubes and cables stretched from the wall, one wrapped around his face, the rest disappearing under the blanket.

A woman sat in an adjacent couch, facing the bed, reading a book. Long brown hair cascading to her shoulders hid her face from view. She wore a red jacket and black jeans, confirming she was not a hospital employee. A surprising sense of calm enveloped the room.

Chat knocked again and cleared his throat. The woman turned at the sound, surprised to find Paris's black-clad hero in the room. She was a young woman, possibly late twenties, although Chat found it difficult to estimate a woman's age.

"I am sorry to disturb," Chat said with a hesitant smile.

"Chat Noir!" The woman rose to her feet, the book carelessly dropping to the floor. "Oh, wow."

"Em, yes. I just wanted to wish him a full recovery. I don't want to take any of your time. I'll just go."

"No, no," the lady raised her hand as if to grab him from across the room. "Come in, come in. Wow. Thank you so much for coming."

Chat stood for a few seconds before stepping into the room. Standing by the bed, he looked at the sleeping man. He knew it was the same man but still found it difficult to relate that peaceful face with the akuma he fought, or even the few minutes he checked him while unconscious.

"He looks so peaceful," he murmured without thinking.

"He does, doesn't he?" the lady confirmed. "I do not remember him looking like that for a few years. I wish he was awake to enjoy it."

Chat flinched, even though her tone was light. "I'm sorry. I apologize for what happened to him."

"Oh! I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. I wasn't trying to make you feel bad or anything. It was a light joke."

"A joke?" Chat looked up in shock, meeting her brown eyes. Her smile was real, open and friendly, bringing a sparkle to her eyes.

"Yes, a joke. We must look at the lighter side of everything, even faced with difficult situations. I'm Margo," she put out her hand.

"Chat," he took her hand. She gave him a comforting squeeze before letting go.

"This is my father, Mayne. Not exactly living up to his name at the moment, is he?"

"Oh!" Chat paled. "I'm really sorry."

"There you go again. Relax. I don't blame you or Ladybug. No reason to be all uptight."

"You don't?" Chat could not help gawking at Margo.

"I'm not happy. I wish he was up and walking around. He isn't a bad man. He's been unhappy for a while, trying to recapture his youth. I think he's lonely. It's a few years since my parents divorced. I've been telling him he's going about it the wrong way, hanging out in gyms, trying to attract female attention. It must have backfired, and he ended up an akuma and did some terrible things. Ladybug hurting him during the fight is upsetting, but probably unavoidable. I don't blame her."

"Wow, I wish Ladybug could hear you." He elected not to share Ladybug's opinion on the matter.

"She can come if she wants. In fact, I would very much like to meet her." her smile grew bigger.

"You would?"

"Yes, I'm a big fan. I love her and I need to thank her. Not for my dad, but for my daughter. She saved her almost a year ago during an akuma attack. The akuma was rampaging in the street, throwing cars around. One was heading at my daughter. I was sure I would lose her. A red blur swooped down from above, pulling Marveille away just in time. I was still screaming with tears dripping down my face when Ladybug handing her to me. I would never forget her bright eyes and a kind smile. 'She's very beautiful', Ladybug told me, 'she's a wonderful treasure'. She kissed Marveille on her head and ran back to the fight."

Margo's eyes were glossy, tears pooling, ready to drip down. Chat could feel his own eyes watering. That sounded like the Ladybug he loved.

"A year ago, you said?"

"Almost."

"Yeah," Chat could not help smiling. "I'm also a big Ladybug fan."

"So, Ladybug saved my daughter and then put my father in a coma. If I think about it too much, I would drive myself insane. I would rather smile and pray everything will work out."

"You know what?" Chat grinned. "Now I'm a big Margo fan."

"Wow," Margo plopped down on the chair, "Chat Noir is my fan. I can now die knowing I lived life to its fullest."

"Oh no. Please don't die. I don't have many people I'm a fan of. Only two. Wait," Marinette's face filled his vision, "make that three."

It was surprising how quickly his feelings for Marinette developed. Less than a week ago she was just a friend, and now she was so much more. Thinking back, he realized he's been her fan for many years, considered her the Ladybug of his civilian life. She was a great friend, he even had a bit of a crush on her, relishing every moment spent with her, even as Chat. She was amazing; he enjoyed watching her do all those amazing things.

He loved watching her. He's always loved watching her, no matter what she was doing. He took great joy in her achievements, proud when she defended others and gave of herself in ways that only Marinette knew how. He loved all things about her.

Could he have loved her all this time and never realized it? Only realizing it when Ladybug changed her behavior, stopped caring and being kind. Stopped, Chat realized, behaving like Marinette. The parts he loved most about Ladybug were the ones which resembled Marinette.

"I'm in love," Chat said with wonder.

"I can see. Ladybug is lucky to have you."

Chat, lost in thought, had forgotten Margo was there. He looked at her in confusion. "Ladybug?"

"Oh!" Margo's hand came to her mouth. "You're talking about someone else."

Her words registered, overloaded his brain, which promptly shut down. Chat fell back onto the neighboring bed, covering his face with his hands.

"I'm so confused. I don't know what to do."

The room was silent. The only sound came from the machines attached to Mayne.

"Love can be very confusing. Add the stressful activities you have, it creates a special bond with your partner. A bond which feels like love. It might be love, or it might not. I don't know who this other girl is, but she must be really special to give Ladybug a challenge over your heart. I'm sorry you're going through this."

"I love Ladybug," Chat felt he had to explain himself, "but I don't know her real identity, and that would always create a barrier between us."

"You don't! I thought you knew. Especially since you're dating."

"It's very difficult being a superhero. Secret identities are a serious thing."

"This other girl, she knows your identity?"

"It's the other way around. She doesn't know I'm Chat."

"I understand." Margo looked out the window. "I have no experience in your situation, so I won't pretend to know what you should do. I will say, after a battle, when you hang up your mask, you should have someone to go home to. As much as I adore Ladybug, if she cannot be there for you without the mask, it might be better for the two of you to go back to being just partners. If that is even possible. Oh, this is so complicated. I'm so sorry."

Go home to Marinette. That felt so right. She's perfect for him. But he lost her before he even realized she was what he wanted.

The sound of screeching tires followed by a crash disturbed his thoughts.

A car crash. I should go see if I can help.

Then, the screaming started.

A/N Next Chapter: More Animosity