Chapter 30: Saviour of Paris
"Should we leave Paris?" Tom asked. "We considered it this morning before you went missing. Now that you're here…"
"We can't leave," Sabine interrupted. "There are still many people left in Paris. They need to eat. We must keep our doors open."
For Marinette, leaving was not an option. Leaving would take Ladybug away from Paris and Paris needed Ladybug. She had no option. Paris had no option. It needed Ladybug. The problem was, she did not know how to get Ladybug to come out. She thought the moment Hawkmoth showed himself Ladybug would go fight him. Instead, Ladybug was content hiding dormant while Marinette sat restlessly in front of the television.
"We apologize we cannot get a closer picture of Hawkmoth and The Protestor," Nadja Chamack spoke to the camera. Behind her, the head of a police officer covered most of the Eiffel tower. "The police have pushed back everyone away from the grounds around the Eiffel tower, blocking most of the view. They have evacuated all the buildings close to the tower. There is no aerial view since The Protestor has dropped any helicopter which came close."
The camera zoomed in over the police officer's shoulder, honing in on the men standing on the tower. Hawkmoth's purple and black attire contrasting with The Protestor's vibrant green hair. The image flickered as something passed before the camera.
"Wait!" Nadia called out. "Is that? Yes, Chat Noir has just entered the scene."
The camera zoomed out to focus on Chat Noir standing in front of the tower.
"He has stopped some distance from Hawkmoth and The Protestor," Nadia described the scene. "I cannot be sure, but it looks like Chat Noir is injured. Yesterday's fight with the akuma has left its mark and a new battle is about to begin. Ladybug has not arrived. The last confirmed sighting of Ladybug was yesterday when she caught Chat Noir out of the air. Since then, there have only been unconfirmed sightings of Ladybug earlier today."
While Nadja spoke of Ladybug, Chat walked towards the tower.
"Speculation about Ladybug has been rampant following her attack on an akuma victim Saturday night. Yesterday's no-show left Chat Noir to fight by himself until Ladybug saved him at the last moment. Even then she did not fight the akuma rampaging-"
The image shook and veered up to the blue sky, covered for a split second by something moving across the view. A loud crash sounded in the background. Nadja moved onto the screen, looking down, standing over the cameraman.
"Oh my god! I'm not sure if you saw that. A car just flew and crashed into a building right near us. Some people got hit by falling debris. Looks like no one-" The television screen filled with the underside of a car passing above her head followed by another loud crash.
"God damn! That was close. I'm sorry, but I'm getting out of here. May we all be safe."
The image changed to a view of the ground, feet scrambling around. The anchor was back on screen. His words did not reach Marinette's ears.
No! No! No! No! No! Chat! What are you thinking?
"Marinette? Are you ok?" Marinette stopped pacing and looked at her mom. She could not recall getting out of her seat?
"This is too much. I'm going up to my room."
Once in her room, she threw her bag on the floor and resumed her pacing.
"You need to go fight," Marinette said to her empty room.
"You can't leave him like this. He could get seriously hurt, even killed."
Silence.
"I know you're listening. You cannot hide away forever."
Marinette stared at the photos on the wall, looked up to the skylight, checked herself in the mirror - nothing happened. Ladybug was not showing up.
"Strange," Marinette told her reflection. "I've had issues with you for a while. I believed you're fake, the way you treat people. Especially the way you treated Chat. But I never thought of you as a coward. I believed you were strong, brave, and confident, while I was the scared one. I never expected you to shy away from even showing your face."
Marinette knew Ladybug shared her body. Still, it was a surprise to see the light spread over herself. Ladybug stood in the mirror, looking her in the eye.
"It isn't about being scared. I'm not willing to fight for those who do not deserve it. Also, you forget this is your body. I will not put you unwillingly in danger."
"Unwillingly?" Marinette cocked her head to the side. "I'm willing, alright. I wish I could go out there myself and help Paris. Help Chat."
"You don't learn," Ladybug sneered. "You still want to help him, after how he behaved. I don't understand you."
"You're right. You don't understand me, and I don't understand you. I thought you were a hero, the protector of Paris. How could you not care about them?"
"My job was not to care about people."
"Your job," Marinette pointed at Ladybug in the mirror, the familiar words echoing in her head, "was to fight the akumas and protect the Parisians - even from themselves."
A dark rooftop flashed in her mind.
"To be strong, brave and confident."
She could picture Chat pleading with her while she leaned against the wall.
"You were going to go out, hand in hand with Chat Noir, as a couple," tears were building up in Marinette's eyes.
She remembered her reluctance to his plan. Not wanting to hurt him, or Adrien, or the people of Paris. She had to put her feelings aside - into a box.
"To show Paris your love."
Ladybug did not respond. Shoulders set, she faced Marinette and did not budge.
"You were supposed to be the Saviour of Paris," Marinette, cheeks wet, accused Ladybug. "You are no longer the savior of Paris. You have lost that right."
"And what exactly could you do about it?" Ladybug spat back.
Marinette held Ladybug's eyes, then nodded to herself. Recalling Chat's words, she picked her bag off the floor and looked inside. Among her usual items was a red box with black polka dots. She took out the box, letting the bag drop. The box was smooth on all sides, with no visible way of opening it. She held the box with both hands, holding it in front of her.
"Don't you dare, you spineless being." Ladybug shouted at her. "What are you going to do without me? You have too many hang-ups to do things properly. You let your 'kindness' cloud your responsibility. You forgive too quickly and never learn that you cannot trust others. You could have stopped Hawkmoth long ago if you did things my way. Even now, Hawkmoth is only showing up because of me."
"You're right," Marinette lifted the box above her head. "The current destruction of Paris is because of you. Chat is throwing his life away because of you. You destroyed Paris, you destroyed Chat. You are no longer needed or wanted. I will manage without you."
Channeling all her rage, Marinette threw the box against the floor, shattering it. Red and black slivers bounced up into the air, rising high only to fall back down in seemingly slow motion. The pieces landed on the floor with a soft pitter-patter like metallic rain. The silence which followed was deafening. Between the broken pieces lay a small red creature with black spots on her body.
"Marinette," the creature whispered in a weak voice.
The momentum of her throw left Marinette bent over at the waist, her hair flung over her head covering her face, her arms dangling. She lifted her head, blue eyes blazing between the black strands of her hair.
"Tikki!" she cried out, tears freely flowing down her face. "Chat needs us. Paris needs us." With a voice hard as steel she called out: "Tikki, spots on!"
A/N Next Chapter: The Essence of a hero