Author's Note: Right, so I edited the first chapter a bit. Not that it would be any better so here's the second and third one. I have nothing to say except I am so self-indulgent, lol

Disclaimer: I do not own Miraculous.

Chapter 2: Shusher

Alya walked with her boyfriend towards the Dupain-Cheng's bakery and noticed Nino's worried expression. "Did something happen to you and Adrien?"

Nino crossed his arms, grunting, "He's upset at me for not telling him about Marinette."

"Our Sunshine can get angry?" Alya whistled, "Maybe Marinette finally can break through that dense wall of his."

"You know. I think he's upset but not really? My boy doesn't show much outwardly, you know."

"But he's still not talking to you." Alya guessed, shaking her head at Adrien's stubbornness.

Nino threw up his hands, "That's why I'm getting worried!"

Both sighed, Nino mumbled, "Being their babysitters are so tough."

"And yet we do it anyway," Alya smirked, hooking her arm through Nino's. "They might be Idiots but they're still our kids."

"Please stop making it sound like I'm Adrien's dad." Nino groaned.

"Better than his actual one." Alya shot back, growling just thinking about it.

"I can never win against you." Nino shook his head and pushed open the door. "Hey, Marinette. I'm here to get your famous apology desserts."

"For Adrien?" Marinette asked, smiling sympathetically.

"Does everyone know that we fought or something?!" Nino exclaimed.

"It's obvious." Marinette laughed, high fiving Alya before handing over the box of desserts. "Besides I keep constant surveillance on Adrien every day."

Nino raised his gift, appraising it before paying Marinette for the sweets. "I bet these are all Adrien's favourites."

The resulting blush from Marinette was all he needed to know.

"Thanks, dudette. Appreciate it!"

"Then give some good words about me to Adrien!" Marinette hurried to say, blushing deeper.

"I'm sure he already knows." Nino responded and Alya reached over, to whisper, "Don't be late for our study date at the library in..." Alya checked her phone, "Fifteen minutes."

"Of course I won't be!" She squeaked, "And thank you! I will be over in a bit!"

And the two waved goodbye, leaving the shop to return to the street. Nino was looking at the box critically.

"It's fine, Nino."

"What if he can't eat it? You know he's a model or maybe he doesn't actually like this but Marinette is usually-" He stopped, staring cross-eyed at the finger over his lips.

"Relax. You are not Marinette and one down spiral regularly is enough for me. Adrien is our sweet, naive boy, I'm sure he will accept it."

Nino smiled and reached down to peck her on the lips, "What would I do without you?"

"End up single and in the trash." Alya lightheartedly teased.

"Women are so cruel." Nino mock-reeled, channelling what Adrien does sometimes.

"But you love me." Alya smiled.

"But I love you." Nino agreed, grinning back.

"Oh my god, Alya! If you are going to do this, not in front of the bakery's windows!"

Alya shared a look with Nino, both of them laughing, they ran away towards the library.

Loud. Noisy. Alive.

Those Were the many things Adrien thought as soon as he entered the library because weren't libraries supposed to be quiet?

Well, he supposed it was quiet when he visited by himself or when the class had to take a lesson here. But this was a study date. What do you even do on a study date? Study? Then why were the only classmates he saw not studying and playing… What was that?

He watched silently as Kim and Alix rallied with their hands smacking a crumpled paper ball over a makeshift net made out of books.

Was that normal?

"10-6, game point to Alix." Max intoned, causing the short girl to whoop louder, taunting Kim in glee.

"Woah, they already started!" An arm slipped on his shoulder and Adrien immediately knew it was Nino so he kept quiet.

Because hey, Adrien could feel upset too.

"Here." And a box fell into his hands, "As an apology. I know you want to be friends with Marinette and I would help in any way possible. But I really cannot tell you about it. So uh… we are bros, right?" Nino asked nervously.

Adrien stared at the logo of Marinette's bakery and could almost taste the delicious desserts through smell alone, suddenly he was very very aware of the emptiness in his stomach. "...Thanks, Nino."

Nino beamed, "Good talk!"

Alya came up to him when Nino left to crow over Alix's total beatdown. "You know, you had him panicky."

"Nino is really nice." Adrien muttered, holding the box as if it was some kind of treasure, still in awe.

"Yes, he is." Alya patted him on the back, "And about the Boyfriend-Girlfriend Code… since you are usually clueless about it, it kinda means we just have things we promised to keep between us. I mean, we girls have a code too."

"Really? Even the guys?"

"What? Nino hasn't brought you into the Bro Code?" Alya frowned teasingly, "Oh he is so getting it!" She walked over to him but paused and glanced back, "Marinette is coming soon, escort her!"

She winked and hurried away before Adrien could protest that Marinette is not comfortable around him.

"So, is there any cheese in that?" The little black kwami pushed the jacket forward enough to peek up at Adrien.

"No, Plagg." Adrien held the box tighter, "This is mine."

"Good. Eat them all." Plagg huffed, acting aloof as if he hadn't been drooling over the possibility of cheese a moment ago, "You are too skinny!"

"I am not." Adrien refuted, even though he knew he had been losing weight due to all the running around as Chat Noir. The strict diet of a model didn't help. But he was definitely not underfed! He could eat more if he wanted to, he just needed to tell his father he would work it off. (which he actually wouldn't until an akuma struck).

"EEP!" A loud familiar voice let out a flustered shriek, interrupting Adrien's thoughts.

Ah, Marinette had arrived. Pasting on a smile, hopefully not too scary (could his smiles actually be scary?), he greeted Marinette, "Hello. You are on time today. Um…" He gestured to the group of growing students cheering on the battle of… wait, are they playing doubles? "Is that normally… normal?"

Wow, smooth, Agreste.

"Yes! I mean, no! Wait!" Marinette turned around, lifting her purse and seemed to be having a… moment? She sucked in a breath and turned around with a shaky smile, "Yeah. They are usually really rowdy, it takes time to cool their heads off to study."

"Oh." More for Marinette's composure then the game playing behind him… though he was interested. "So I guess we either participate or wait?"

"Whatever you do will be amazing…" She sighed dreamily and Adrien's eyes snapped to her.

"What?" He asked, confused.

Marinette yelped, waving her hands madly, in a flustered excitement, "Nothing! Let's just go over there!"

"Damn it, she ran again," Adrien muttered under his breath.

"You make it so easy." Plagg sassed him from his jacket.

Adrien glared at his kwami, pushing him back into the jacket. "I blame the cheese smell you leave on me!"

Plagg only snickered.

Noisy brats. The librarian internally growled to herself, trying to focus on her own business.

She grumbled, texting furiously on her phone. "I. Am. Busy!"

It had to be that damn class. Normally the librarian wouldn't mind, their class president was a sweet and responsible girl but today was driving her insane. She had to deal with loud idiots at home, with not even one brain cell shared among them and they blamed her!

Arguing all day long, arguing on text, their voices never stopping but only growing louder and louder…

"HA! Match point!" One of the boys shouted, a sickening grin of victory that reminded her of her own stupid brothers present on his face. "Beat that, Alix!"

"You are so going down, Lahiffe!"

"Hey, I have dibs on my boy!"

"Did everyone forget about me?"

A chorus of laughter.

Noise, noise, noise!

Why can't people be quiet?! This. Is. A. Library!

A ping from her phone. And she promptly slammed it to the ground, covering her ears.

She did not see the butterfly landing on her library tag.

"I am Hawkmoth, I grant you the name Shusher and the powers to silence anyone you wish. All I ask for return are Ladybug and Chat Noir's Miraculous."

"I accept!"

"Alright! Guys!" Marinette shouted over the excited din, "Good job Alya, Alix! But we really should start to study-!"

Her senses screamed and she yelled, "Everyone! DUCK!"

"Duck? What duck?" Kim mumbled before being pulled down by Max.

"Statistics are right. Someone would always make that joke." Max droned as everyone huddled under the table.

"Well, sorry for being slow!"

"What happened out there?" Mylene asked softly and everyone turned to Marinette who was already inching out from under the table to peek.

"Oh no…"

"Akuma?" Juleka asked next, scooting slightly to see as well if Marinette hadn't stopped her.

"It's the librarian!" Marinette informed her classmates, skulking back under the table, "I think we were too loud!"

"She's usually okay with it!" Kim stage whispered, "Why today?"

"Everyone has a breaking point," Ivan said, his form too tight for their small hiding place.

"Come out, you brats. You need to understand the rules!" The akuma growled.

"And she is after us…" Nathaniel said next, "How does she not know we are under here?"

"Well…" Adrien spoke up, "The akumas are never really smart?"

Despite the whole class having been akumatised before, they couldn't find fault or the strength to feel insulted about it. Instead, they all sighed collectively.

"Alright." Alya whipped her phone out, and Nino reached to stop her, shaking his head. "But-!" She protested, looking like she wanted to argue so she could go get a scoop for her blog.

"Not today. Please." Nino whispered, "We should get out first, get to safety that isn't under a conspicuous table!"

"Nino's right." Marinette cut in, she could feel Tikki moving around, urging her to hurry. "We need to escape."

"You are the planner of our class, any ideas?"

"Actually, I do." Marinette's smile tilted upwards, quickly laying down the plan.

"You are crazy." The small Kwami of Destruction told Adrien.

"A distraction is needed, Plagg. So we can transform and get everyone out."

"She clearly didn't like it." Plagg huffed.

Adrien groaned inwardly, "She already doesn't seem to like me! Okay, honestly, she gives weird signals."

"That's why cheese is better." The Kwami sighed, wondering when Adrien would come to his senses and realize the wonders of cheese.

Adrien groaned out loud this time as he crouched behind a bookshelf, the akuma still calling for them. At least he found out her name was Shusher. He swore Hawkmoth wasn't even trying anymore.

Marinette watched him and he turned to her, her lips moved, 'Ready?'

'Always.' he mouthed back. She nodded and retreated to tell the others.

The akuma had on a long vest over a professional suit, with gloves reminiscent of a scientist and held a giant book in her hand.

She held up her hand, counting down her fingers and when it hit zero, Adrien leapt out of his hiding spot, shouting with all his might, "Hey, bookface, over here!"

Adrien waved his hands crazily, shouting out as many insults as he could, "Your books are so stupid, they need people to write in them!"

"That is more terrible than cheese." Plagg softly muttered.

"I'm trying, damn it!"

From his peripheral vision, he saw the class hurrying away, even Alya who Nino had a strong grip on. Marinette lingered, waiting for him but Adrien gestured that he was fine and Marinette still looked apprehensive but from the way her eyes darted to her pouch and then up to him with a steely glow in her eyes that reminded him of Ladybug, she nodded, darting away.

Alright. Time to book it.

Now that he had no spectators, he climbed the bookshelf, jumping over the akuma. He landed on another bookshelf and then when jumping off caused it to fall over the akuma. As the Shusher struggled under the weight, he cried, "Plagg, Claws Out!"

She left Adrien in there! She left Adrien in there!

"Calm down, Marinette!" Tikki floated up to her face, "If you want to protect Adrien, you have to transform!"

"R-Right! I hope he's okay!" Marinette quickly slid her hand over her earrings, shouting, "Tikki, Spots On!"

She swung into the library and nearly surprised herself to see Chat Noir already there, making a complete mess of the library at the same time. He spotted her in the same moment, his staff growing as he used it to vault to her side on one of the remaining standing bookshelves.

"A good day for a book, don't you think, Milady?"

"Is Adrien alright?"

Chat suddenly looked everywhere but at her, "Y-Yeah. I saw him bravely distracting the akuma, I carried him out."

"Good." Ladybug begins to swing her yoyo in the usual circular manner. "Any idea where the akuma is? Or her powers?"

"Not at all. Maybe the book, her powers..." Chat Noir answered guiltily. "I'm sorry but she hasn't really attacked with something yet?"

Ladybug contained her annoyance, "We are going to lure it out."

"About time! We were overdue for a location change!"

Ladybug tried very hard to not roll her eyes, she really was trying. "Hey, your pages seemed to be torn at the edges!"

"I will shut you up by taking away your Miraculous!" Shusher growled and charged at Ladybug.

"Another time, bookworm!" Ladybug hurried out of the library, hooking her yoyo to swing. Chat Noir had batted at the akuma to irritate her, even loudly making stupid sounds to rile her up, leading the akuma to where Ladybug is heading.

The park would be a good place.

She angled her head to Chat who instantly understood, bouncing away and poking Shusher to where they needed to go. As they drew nearer, Chat hooked his baton to the back of her vest and tossed her into the park where she landed with a thump.

"Sorry! Books are all rented out. Wait for new stock." Chat quipped, lowering himself down with the staff, Ladybug landing beside him a second later.

"Is the akuma really in the book, Milady?"

Ladybug was assessing the villain and she spotted a reflection near the chest, "Is that a librarian card?"

"Got it. I will-" He mewed in distress as Ladybug once again pulled on his tail to stop him.

"Stop rushing into it. It's under her vest, we have to think about-!" Ladybug stopped, seeing Chat's uncharacteristic solemn expression.

"You know, Milady, I am not that hopeless-." His green eyes widened and he pushed her away, "Ladybug, watch out!"

Ladybug watched the attack hit Chat Noir, just like many times before. She squared herself for whatever effect it had, she wasn't prepared for the mortified whimper coming from her partner.

"Chat?" She called tentatively, stepping towards him. "Are you okay?"

"No! Nonononononononononononono!" Chat Noir trembled, clutching his ears tightly as he curled into a ball. "I'm doing my best! Please!"

"Chat! Chat, listen-!" Ladybug yelped at the sudden whoosh of air, Shusher was standing above her, her hand hovered dangerously over her book. She was looking firmly at Chat Noir's ring. "You can't have it!" She unfurled her yoyo, knocking the book away and kicking the Shusher hard on the chest.

The akuma is the priority but… she glanced down at Chat. Ugh, fine. Ignoring his whimpers, Ladybug grabbed him and swung up and up. She scanned the rooftops and landed on one they frequently use, letting go of Chat at the same time.

As soon as she did, the cat scrambled to the corner of the roof, hiding his head in his knees as his hands planted firmly over his ears. He was slowly becoming quieter.

She stepped towards him and he flinched, "Chat. Chaton, look at me. Come on, it's alright."

Chat didn't respond.

It was screaming in Chat Noir's mind.

Hopeless. Hopeless. Hopeless. Hopeless.

No, that's not true!

"You're hopeless, Adrien. How many times did I have to correct your pose? My time is valuable! Now get back up and do it again."

Shut up.

"Dude, you are so hopeless! No wonder she is having a hard time!"

Shut up.

"Chat, for the last time, please think it through!"

Shut up! He's trying! He's always trying! Is nothing good enough?!

You're hopeless.

The word repeats, making him remember every single mistake, every screw-up.

Hopeless.

No…! He…

Hopeless. You will only be abandoned.

He froze up.

"Chat Noir! Can you not hear me? Chat, I'm here! Chat!" Ladybug was starting to get worried, it's unlike Chat Noir to just… lose it. His green eyes were blank and glassy and it's like he wasn't even here.

It's almost like he had been shushed permanently… Shit, she didn't know how the ability works but it clearly leaves someone in a catatonic state. Mental note: Don't get hit.

She took in a breath, prying his hand off his ear, she screamed, "CHAT!"

He winced, whimpering a soft 'no'.

"Chat, please, I'm here. Everything is alright."

Chat shook his head, pressing at his ear again as if desperate to not hear it. Ladybug kept a hold of his hands, "Chat, you are stronger than this. Come on, minou."

"I… can't." The voice was fragile and tired, practically choking out of him.

"You know I can't do this without you."

Chat finally looked up, his eyes misty, dark and hazy. "You can." And he pushed her, "Go."

"Chat!"

"Go. Please." Chat was pressing down his ears again, squeezing his eyes shut. "I can't… so go."

She didn't want to but she clearly cannot ignore the screams from the streets anymore, she glanced back at Chat. "You will be alright?"

"Used… to it. I will deal…" Chat Noir winced, hissing. "Just… get this out of my head!" And Chat's body grew rigid again, whatever consciousness he had managed to dig up was defeated by the akuma.

"Okay. Stay strong, chaton," She looped and vanished down to the street.

(line break)

She won't come back.

Yeah, probably.

You will just chase her.

He would.

You are really hopeless.

Yeah… He knows.

And yet he still held on to the kindness his Lady had shown him and let the words run.

Hopeless.

There!

Oh no, she shouldn't have left! The street is littered with people all staring blankly just like Chat Noir had, all holding their heads, covering their ears. One of them screaming, "Get out of my head!"

Whatever ability the akuma holds… it was truly dangerous.

Ladybug sent her yoyo high, using it to swing right into the Shusher's chest, tumbling to the ground and rolling to her feet to ride out the momentum. "Shusher! Retract your powers!"

Shusher laughed, "Is your cat a quivering mess? Perfect! After I get you, the Miraculous is mine!"

"You're going to be shredded!" Ladybug threw her yoyo up into the sky, "Lucky Charm!"

Oh, of course she will get something ridiculous. A book receipt. A book receipt. What is she going to do with a book receipt!?

She took off running, circling the akuma as she tried to formulate a plan, swinging for leverage when she could not outrun the akuma. Putting in some kicks here and there was a sweet bonus.

Receipt, book, tag.

Oh, this was dumb.

Ladybug stopped swinging, landing right in front of the startled akuma, "Hey, Shusher. I have this overdue receipt and do I need to get a new one or can I still use this? How can I borrow more books like this? Tell me!"

"Keep quiet, you!" The Shusher… uh shushed, "Hand it over."

The purple mask flickered over her face but she didn't react. "Well, hurry up! We have no time-!" Ladybug handed over the receipt, at the same time, tearing the book away. Before she locked her legs around the akuma's arm, spun and slammed her to the ground. She reached over for the tag and tore it.

Getting up, her yoyo flew, "Time to de-evilize!" She caught the butterfly. "Gotcha! Bye bye little butterfly."

She ran frantically over to the confused librarian, picking up the receipt and throwing it into the sky. "Miraculous Ladybug!"

She nearly crumpled in relief when the people affected started to stir and despite the horror in their faces, she was so glad.

"Looks like you really didn't need my help. Good job, Milady." Ladybug whirled and enveloped her partner in a hug before letting go just as quickly.

"Are you…?"

"I'm fine. As preppy as I could be!" Chat Noir grinned brightly, too brightly, "But shouldn't you leave? Your earrings?"

"Yeah, but…"

"I'm really fine. Just bug out whenever. I will take the librarian back."

Ladybug searched his face but it was impeccably neutral and full of the Chat's mischievous glint so she reluctantly agreed. "O-Okay. Bug out."

She did not see the facade crumble.

"Hey, Adrien?"

The boy shifted, raising his head up to meet the blue eyes of his constant puzzle. His head hurts but thankfully it was clear. Now if he could stop thinking back to it… "Yes?"

"Are you alright?" Marinette was asking him so sweetly and so kindly… Too bad he had to lie.

"Yeah. I think the fear of acting as bait had just caught up to me."

"Next time, bro, you are not playing bait! What if Chat Noir never got to you? You could have ended up as one of the victims today!" Nino said, gesturing to where Kim was breaking down over losing his muscles and Alix being really silent, holding her watch close to her chest. Most of the class had managed to escape but those two… Were specifically targeted when Ladybug vanished. "It's scary. They said that the akuma either targets a word you just said or find a word to drive you crazy. Like, it echoes in your head constantly."

"...It does?" Marinette sounded small and terrified. Then louder, "Guys, therapy session, sleepover. I will bring sweets."

"You would do that?" Alix mumbled softly, looking like those fragile girls Alix claims to hate. They had gathered in their classroom because the library was not someplace they would like to go right now.

"Trauma is bad. And this akuma is terrifying. So…?"

"Thanks, Marinette. That… would be nice." Kim said and Alix nodded, both looking relieved.

"My house," Alya spoke up, herself looking a bit pale and Adrien had to wonder if she wasn't hit simply because Nino had made sure to keep her out of harm's way. "It's big enough and I already asked permission. You guys should too."

"Adrien, how about…?"

"No thanks." Adrien stood up, slinging his bag over his shoulder. "I should get home."

"Bro, what's wrong? Is it your dad? I will try to convince him again if-"

"Thanks, Nino. But I just need some time to myself." Adrien gave a smile, and glanced at Marinette, "A great idea. Sorry that I can't come. See you guys tomorrow."

Adrien left quickly, his steps heavy and weak.

"You should have gone. Sneak out of your house. They would help you." Plagg peeked out of his shirt, actually looking concerned. "It is a terrible experience, you can't hold it all in!"

Adrien pushed Plagg back into his pocket, shoving a slice of Camembert into his pocket, his voice came out more harshly than he thought, "Yes, I can. And you can't stop me."

Plagg held the cheese in his paws, tracking the contours of it and finding no interest. He snuggled closer to Adrien's rapid heart to try to at least be a source of warmth, "I'm sorry, Adrien."

Adrien must have heard him as Plagg felt a force holding him, "It's fine. I'm fine."

You can't keep lying to yourself, Adrien.