Accidentally deleted chapter instead of replacing it. Sorry.

AngelT-chanNekoi... Thanks for pointing out Julekas name. My dam computer was auto-correcting it? Idk how or why but whatever... Its fixed.

wolfrunnerable12... She didn't see him use cataclysm this time but she will eventually.

Guess who is going Kyanite mining! Whoo! I'm really excited and I should have more free time coming up which means more time for writing! I'm gonna be hanging out on a mountain in my hammock and tip tapping away. Also someone dumped another pregnant cat on our property which means I have FIVE little black kittens running around. They are cute and all but I'm highly allergic and my hands look as if I've lost a war to supper thin razor blades... Also momma has green eyes so in my mind they are all named Chat for now.

Bananarock509... Ladybug in all her glory will not appear for a while yet. If I had to put a label on it this story would be more Marichat than anything. Sorry if that makes it less interesting but I like the idea Marinette kicking butt and having confidence without powers.

LilactheDryad... Its a bit less cut and dry than what you asked but the easy answer is yes. I have created a fairly in depth lore for this story which I will fully get too hopefully soon. I cant explain much without giving the story away.

Marinette is a detective who can't keep a partner while hunting down the notorious Hawkmoth gang. Chat is the new cat burglar on the streets who never gets caught. After Marinette gets handed his case it's it won't be long before their fates collide especially when monsters start roaming the streets.


Running Ragged

The rest of the day passed relatively smooth for Marinette and she even got to eat lunch with Adrien at her house. She had been heading home to get his bag out of her office and happened to run into him. Adrien had jumped at the chance to eat with her and the two of them ordered sandwiches at a café that was on the way back to her apartment. Adrien had enjoyed being in Marinette's company and had told Marinette that he would be happy to hang out with her in her office if his father left like he was supposed to later that night. It would be better for him to hear the case files from her anyways and Adrien could ask some questions that had come up while reviewing the Hawkmoth case. Lunch had passed far too quickly for the both of them and soon they were back in the precinct having to go to their separate stations again. Adrien walked towards the archives wondering how soon he could finish up his dinner with his father. Marinette had told him she was going out to the running zone early and he half wondered if he would be able to find it on his own.

"Think we can find it on our own Plagg?" Adrien asked his lips hardly moving and his voice a sub vocal murmur only Plagg could hear.

Plagg wiggled in his pocket. "I think you will find trouble if you do. From what you've told me, that place sounds like an invitation only kind of deal and while you can take care of yourself you don't want to go getting into fight with anyone out there just yet."

Adrien snorted "You just don't want me running while you're in my pocket. Don't worry bud they have lockers and things I can stash you in."

Plagg grumbled but chose to remain silent. Not that he would admit it but he had been worried about his stupid kit, especially when he hadn't returned the night before. The only reason he hadn't sought Adrien out was because bond that connected them hadn't given off any feelings of distress. In fact the bond had been downright peaceful if a little jazzed with excitement. Then when the kid had showed up this morning he had been practically glowing, making Plagg wonder if Adrien had actually slept with Marinette. His pointed questions and Adrien's flustered responses made Plagg realize his kit hadn't made his move but he had stayed the night in a separate room.

It was a good step in a good direction though. Adrien's mood and temper were coming to an even keel which was a good thing since Plagg had worried more than once that Adrien would lose himself in being Chat Noir. It was all thanks to this Marinette, Tiki's last partner. Plagg wanted to ask about her, wanted to know exactly what had happened to cause Tikis death, but it was still too soon and it wasn't like he could fly out of Adrien's pocket and demand answers from the girl. Well he could, and the reactions he would get would be totally worth the downsides, but even Plagg wasn't dumb enough to expose his boy on a lark. Adrien's hand patted the pocket snapping Plagg from his reverie.

"Ah here it is!" Adrien murmured pulling a folded Ladybug from his other pocket and handing it to Juleka.

Julekas eyebrow rose a fraction as she took it and she peered at him seeming to search for something. "What is this for?" She asked her quiet voice making Adrien shimmy closer to her.

Adrien's expression didn't change but he sensed the challenge in her words. Moving a touch closer since he knew she wouldn't hear him otherwise he said in an undertone "Marinette's allowing me access to the Hawkmoth case. The version my father and her only have access to."

To his surprise Rose popped up from under the desk a key in hand, saw the Ladybug in Julekas grip and cooed "Ohhh now that's rare! What did you bribe Marinette with to get that?"

"A kiss." Adrien deadpanned regretting his words even as they slipped out. Somehow his expression remained completely neutral although he really hoped that they wouldn't repeat his stupid answer to anyone.

Both girls blinked and Rose burst into tittering giggles as Juleka gave him a warm shy smile her shoulders trembling with suppressed laughter.

"Ok…ok We kind of deserved that." Rose gasped her voice still laced with amusement. "Oh Ju I can go you stay here."

Juleka had unfolded the Ladybug and handed the paper to Rose who glanced down at the words on the paper with a smile. "You know Adrien, I don't think Marinette has ever let anyone into these files before."

Adrien remained still, unsure as to what to say. Rose just grinned up at him then waved for him to follow her. Going through some different doors than he had been using and into a back filing area he followed Rose through what seemed to be an endless supply of different sized cabinets and shelves. Some of them were unmarked, others had odd names, and even more were just a combination of letters or numbers. Stopping at a seemingly random cabinet Rose inserted a key and opened the drawer revealing numerous files.

"It says you don't need supervision and that you can have access to it as much as you want. I'll have to make you a key or Marinette might have Tiki's still." Rose pursed her lips eyeing Adrien in a way that made him want to shuffle his feet. "Be careful Adrien. Our Marinette is special and is very good at protecting what she claims as her own. I'm not sure what you want from her but she is giving you a large portion of her trust with this. Don't break it."

Adrien raised an eyebrow at her wondering if she were part of the Whispers too. "Does her giving me permission to see these mean I've been claimed?"

Rose giggled covering her mouth "I kinda think you have claimed each other. Either way good luck!" she patted him on the shoulder then slipped past him in a literal skip as she bounced back out of the room.

Adrien watched her go, a warm almost affectionate feeling rising in his chest for not only Marinette but for these people that cared far more about her than she probably realized.

He stayed in the archives the rest of the day, working through the Hawkmoth file as well as some other files he had pulled from Marinette's secret stash. When the alarm on his phone rang out several hours later it startled him and Plagg both.

"Time for your Pops dinner?" Plagg asked stretching out on the table. He had come out of Adrien's pocket a while ago after making sure the room they were in had no cameras. Apparently the only camera was by the door and its sight didn't reach the corner they were using to read in.

"Yeah hopefully it wont take forever. I really would like to go back out to the running zone tonight." Adrien answered placing a marker on the file he was currently reading, before stacking everything back like he found it.

"Don't forget to call her if you do. She might come and sweep you off your feet!" Plagg cackled rolling onto his back as Adrien glared down at him. If anything his glare made Plagg laugh harder until he suddenly sat up darting for Adrien's jacket.

Adrien didn't have to ask why because a moment later he heard the soft footsteps that he identified as Juleka. She was quiet enough that if Adrien hadn't had super hearing he wouldn't have noticed her presence until she poked her head around a shelving unit a moment later. Clearly she wasn't used to being noticed quickly because she seemed surprised when Adrien waved at her. "I'm done for today. Are you guys closing down now?"

Juleka nodded and Adrien swept the neatly collected files together before following Juleka to the cabinet they belonged in. Placing everything back in the drawer, Adrien shut then locked it holding the key back out to Juleka when he was done.

"This goes back with you guys right? No one else has these keys." He stated even though he wanted to ask more questions.

"Just the people who are allowed access to the files have the correct keys. Although picking locks can be a useful talent at times." Juleka answered her voice soft even as she accepted the key and started to move away.

Adrien shook his head at the odd comment and followed her out of the office waving goodbye to Rose as she pranced out of a separate smaller office with two coats. Rose waved enthusiastically back at him and Adrien left the room glancing at his phone as it buzzed. It was a text from Natalie and Adrien felt his shoulders slump. He was to meet them outside in ten minutes.

Curious he sent a text off to Marinette asking if she had already left for the day and a few minutes later she replied that she had and was already at the running zone. They were going over the beam room boards so they could replace them in the daylight. They also saw how the kid had hung the net below and had shut down that side so they could hang a net properly under the whole floor.

It sounded like hard fun work and he wished her was at her side rather than climbing into the car with his cold father. The Gorilla, a body guard assigned to his father opened the backseat door and he was surprised to find it empty.

"Has my father already gone ahead?" Adrien asked feeling himself perk up a bit at the prospect of having some time to prepare himself.

The Gorilla grunted waving a hand to the inside and Adrien raised a brow "Well now that was practically a sentence."

The flat look the man gave him made Adrien sigh feeling a touch of shame "Yeah I'm sorry I'm just not looking forward to this."

This time Adrien climbed into the backseat settling in for the ride since he had no idea how far they were going. His phone dinged again as the Gorilla shut the door behind him. Eyeing his phone Adrien stifled a chuckle as he saw a picture of Marinette holding her hand, a pained expression on her face. Below was the caption "Finally found something our dear Marinette is bad at!"

Several more pictures proceeded to blow up his phone, one of Alex making a ridiculous face, another of Marinette brandishing a hammer at a bent nail her tongue sticking out just so in concentration, and then a video popped up.

"So here we are fixing up the beam room and making it safer since Marinette was really the only one dumb enough to do this obstacle." Alex began moving towards Marinette. "And here is the lovely daredevil now smashing her fingers to bits since apparently she can't aim in super close quarters."

"I'd like to see you with a hammer helping Alex" Marinette growled as she glanced up. Suddenly her eyes narrowed. "Is that my phone? What are you doing now?!" She cried launching herself at Alex.

Somehow Alex managed to dodge letting Marinette practically face plant while calling "Nu uh ah! I'm keeping your new running partner up to date!"

Marinette was on her feet in a flash one hand out towards Alex. "Hand it over and I don't dangle you out a window."

Adrien couldn't see Alex's face but he could imagine the grin lighting it up at the threat. "Ohh a challenge! Lets go!"

The last piece of the video was a wild grin and a flustered Marinette yelling "Dammit Alex!"

He got several more pictures, several of them slightly blurred as the running group seemed to be having a game of keep away from Marinette. Adrien couldn't help but laugh his mood brightening considerably as he headed towards the restaurant. Minutes from arrival a final picture came through this one of a flustered Alex hanging below the floorboards on the end of a rope. Several other runners were looking rather pale although Adrien spied a highly amused Stormy in the shadowed background. Below the picture was the caption "Don't get any ideas!"

'Wouldn't dream of it princess.' Adrien sent back as the car slid to a stop.

Blinking Adrien realized they were at the restaurant and he sighed lifting his jacket into his lap as he waited for the gorilla to open his door. It only took the Gorilla a moment to get his door open and Adrien already had his professional stone look back into place.

"Thank you for the ride, I assume my father is already inside?" Adrien asked and the Gorilla made a sound of assent before shutting the door behind him.

"Right…" Adrien sighed slipping on his jacket and moving towards the entrance of the restaurant.

The restaurant was a fancy shindig and one that Adrien had been with his father to several times as a kid. Apparently his father was still a frequent customer because the instant he gave his name, a server was escorting him to a slightly more private table off to the side of the main floor. Within moments he was seated across from his father, being treated to a scrutinizing stare that Adrien simply ignored in favor of looking at the menu. After several minutes Adrien lowered the menu noting how no server even glanced their way. A glass of chilled water sat before him and a glass of wine sat before his father, who was now totally ignoring him in favor of some file. Even though he was used to it Adrien felt a pang arc through him making him suddenly weary and almost angry. His father had been cold towards him after his mother had disappeared, becoming a father in name only. Adrien knew it really had nothing to do with him personally, he just reminded his father of his mom too strongly. However there really was no reason to treat him as if he didn't exist until the man wanted something of him.

"Have you already ordered Sir?" Adrien asked keeping his tone even and his face blank.

Gabriel's eyes raised to his sons and one hand twitched into the air. For a brief absurd moment Adrien thought he was going to strike him then the hand lowered as a waiter came hurrying over to them.

"You may order Adrien." Gabriel said his voice frosty.

Plaggs claws prickled at Adrien's chest making him want to sigh and roll his eyes. Not even two minutes at the table with his father and he had already pissed him off. That had to be a record. The waiter on the other hand seemed to be rather nervous and Adrien ordered quickly so the man could once again scurry back to safety. Once he was completely out of earshot Gabriel reached beside himself and one at a time piled a stack of files up. Adrien watched a bit morbidly since he had a feeling that these files were meant to be his and that he wouldn't enjoy any of them.

Having finished piling up files and large envelopes Gabriel pushed the entire stack over to Adrien. "These are for you to memorize and return." Gabriel began taking in how Adrien's jaw clenched a bit. "I have already told you about the dance. It is eight days from now and I expect you to be fully prepared for the occasion. You will be giving a speech which has already been written and is located within the top file. I am placing a lot of trust in you with this. Do not adlib or stray from the speech and try to have it memorized before you approach the stand. Regardless of what our bumbling mayor believes, it is rather unprofessional looking to have to drag papers with you everywhere." Pausing for a moment Gabriel took a sip of wine, his cold eyes analyzing Adrien for any hint of annoyance.

Adrien wanted to sigh since he had hoped that all his duties would be confined to simple meet and greet. Hopes annoyingly crushed and realizing his deadline was coming up quick Adrien briefly wondered if he should just decline his fathers assignment. After all, he hadn't even asked Marinette to the dance yet! With these thought spinning through his head Adrien almost missed the rest of what his father had to say.

"Within the rest of these files is all the information you should have to know for the paparazzi as well as any nosy fools that come your way. If they ask you a question outside of these files tell them no comment or simply decline to answer in some other polite fashion. Your date should practice ways to get out of answering uncomfortable questions, or being able to divert any unwelcome advances. Chloe is quite good at drawing attention to herself and might be willing to help you here."

Adrien shook his head his stone face perfectly in place as he answered "Chloe is dating Roger now and isn't a viable option in my mind anyways."

Gabriel's eyebrows rose several centimeters which equated to a practical shout of disbelief in a normal person.

"I'm not making this up, I was on the floor earlier today and Chloe was hanging all over Roger. She said she was dating him herself." Adrien continued even as he pulled the first file off the pile. "It seems they met in a bar somewhere and found each other to be good company."

The file was filled with dossiers on higher ranked individuals that would be attending the dance and in the pocket was the apparent speech. Ignoring the speech for now Adrien skimmed the names as he kept an eye on his father who seemed to be having a hard time digesting the idea of Chloe and Roger together. Then all at once an almost thoughtful expression flitted across his features before falling into its normal indifferent stony appearance.

"Have you decided to move closer into the city yet?" Gabriel asked sipping at his wine and noticing the oddly happy light that seemed to come into his sons eyes.

"Yes Sir I was going to tour a few spaces on my next day off." Adrien answered deciding it wasn't really a lie even though he knew exactly where he wanted to live.

"Take tomorrow then." Gabriel stated feeling rather satisfied as his son blinked at him in shock. "Any file you are studying will continue to be there in coming days, besides the files I just gave you should take precedence. I'm sure you would rather have a closer apartment to our precinct now that you have a permanent position."

"Ah yes, thank you sir." Adrien answered wondering if Gabriel was going to ask him to do something else on his day off for him.

To his surprise Gabriel mentioned nothing else and continued to study whatever file was before him. Most of the files were placed neatly away when their food came along moments later and while the rest of dinner was rather boring it was actually semi pleasant for once. Usually these things didn't run so well and the past few times Adrien swore his father had intentionally tried to rile him up. This time however Gabriel was silent and hardly even looked up from whatever file he was studying even as he ate. Adrien was honestly glad for the silence that stretched the distance between him and his father, so it was a bit jolting when Gabriels phone suddenly rang out loud. His phone never rang out loud, especially when in public and from the look his father shot at the device, Adrien felt bad for whoever was on the other end.

Slowly Gabriel patted his lips and slid from his seat his other hand lifting his briefcase from the floor. "I have to take this call. Do try and get through some of those files tonight since you are not required to come in tomorrow. If you have any questions ask a senior member or contact Natalie."

Adrien remained seated faintly surprised at his fathers sudden decision to depart over a phone call. "Of course father." Adrien managed mostly out of habit but Gabriel was already turning away his fingers thumbing the answer key.

"What is it this time?" Adrien heard Gabriel hiss before he was officially too far to hear anything over the background noise of the restaurant.

"I feel bad for whoever is on the other end of that call." Adrien murmured feeling Plaggs hum of acquiescence against his chest.

Still though Adrien wished his father showed him even a quarter of attention he did with his cases. Slowly Adrien took a bite of his food and dropped his fork to the plate. He didn't remember what he had ordered and since it was tasteless anyways Adrien stood. By now his father should be in the car and speeding off so he could catch a taxi without being seen by him.

"You should finish eating Adrien." Plagg muttered.

His kit had eaten with Marinette for lunch, but Adrien honestly wasn't eating enough to support his level of activity. Plus considering the idiotic situations he managed to get himself into, Plagg knew Adrien would need all the energy he could muster.

"I'm no longer hungry and compared to Marinette's food its rather tasteless anyways." Adrien huffed glancing around to make sure no one was close enough to hear.

Plagg sighed, it wasn't the food that was tasteless rather than the company that his kit was forced to keep. Not that he could say as much to Adrien. Plagg had never met Gabriel as a human and he was quite glad he never had since he might have punched the man out. Gabriel was an idiot when it came to being a father and a basterd when it came to having anything to do with Adrien on an emotional level. When Plagg had adopted Adrien as his pseudo partner in America, he had quickly found Adrien needed someone closer to a father figure than a buddy to fight crime with. Plagg would never admit it but even though it had taken Tiki prodding him to take Adrien under his wing, in all honestly Plagg probably would have taken him in either way. The stupid kit had needed guidance, hell he still needed guidance and fortunately Plagg was there to help him grumpily or not. As a fresh breeze denoted their arrival outside Plagg wondered why in the hell he spoiled his stupid kit. Letting Adrien stew in silence Plagg waited until they were safely in the apartment before flying out of his pocket.

"So how soon are we leaving?" Plagg asked as Adrien stripped off his suit and changed into a pair of soft sweat pants. The suit remained crumpled on the floor instead of being hung in the closet and Plagg knew it was an unconscious defiant action.

Adrien blinked at Plagg looking clueless as ever. "Leaving where?"

Plagg rolled his eyes even as he accepted a large piece of camembert. "Leaving to see your girlfriend and play on the obstacles you were so enthusiastically telling me about."

Adrien's face lit up and Plagg tossed the camembert into his mouth to keep from smiling. The poor kit was like an over excited kitten that was just given catnip for the first time.

"Really Plagg?" Adrien asked waiting for the kwami to nod and wave in a, get it on then sort of motion. It crossed through his mind that he might should change into real clothes and shoes but then dismissed it. Marinette wouldn't be out for very much longer and he didn't trust the streets to not have eyes once he got close to the running zone. "I promise I'll get you some more camembert as soon as we get back home Plagg. Claws out!"

With a flash of green light he was encased in leather and moments later he was out a side window that was unreachable to anyone but him. It didn't take him long vaulting and going at his top speed to reach the area where Marinette had taken him the night before. It looked a bit different from the rooftops and he paused at a junction taking a deep breath as he did. Marinette's scent was hours old but she had transversed this path enough that he could tell where he needed to go. Unlike his initial mad dash Chat decided to take it a bit slower as he neared the final destination. After a few short minutes he could hear the sound of music, yelling, and laughter drifting through the night and he grinned knowing he was almost there. The only question now was did he want to go in through the front, or some back way. Moving around the perimeter Chat hummed in thought until Plagg interrupted him.

"She might not take you pouncing on her from the shadows real well." Plagg stated and Chat froze on the edge of one of the surrounding buildings realizing that Plagg was right.

He really didn't feel like getting the stuffing kicked out of him tonight and he really didn't want to freak any of the normal runners out here either. Suddenly Chat realized his idea had been a bit foolish to start with and he wondered why Plagg had agreed to it in the first place.

"Hmmm maybe…" Chat began only to spin around as the air near him shifted.

He dodged instictivley his claws smashing something hard and cylindrical away from his face even though he didn't quite see what it was. Throwing himself to the side Chat stayed low circling through the shadows as he caught sight of who had attacked him. The stripes on the costume helped Chat identify him almost immeadietly even though he had only met the man once.

"Mime" Chat huffed to himself realizing the thing he had batted away was probably one of his colorless weapons Stormy had spoken of. "Is there a reason you are attacking me?" Chat called from the shadows making Mime turn and glare as he finally spotted him.

"Simple." Mime intoned with absolutely no emotion "You do not belong here Chat. In fact you seem to be a curse wherever you tread. My boss Hawkmoth in particular doesn't like you."

Chat grinned "I'm purrrfectly pleased my name is a curse amongst your gang. It gives me the same warm fuzzies a cool glass of milk does. Also aren't you supposed to be silent? I thought Mimes didn't speak."

Mimes eye brow raised and he moved one hand darting out as he other whipped a long clear staff like object behind him. With a Cheshire grin Chat plucked the clear knife from the air before it slammed into his chest and he dropped on his haunches as he peered at the clear weapon.

"Oooh whats this made out of? Did you make it yourself or find someone to make it for you? Its really well balanced does it throw like a normal blade?" Chat asked flipping the clear weapon in his hands. On the handle was a splotch of purple probably to make it easier to find the weapons when they hit the ground.

Mime however was not pleased and he launched himself at Chat, staff spinning through the darkness making it rather hard to see. Gripping the blade of the knife since it couldn't cut through his suit Chat used the handle to block the downward motion of the staff. Mime jerked back his eyes wide as he peered at Chats hand and the blade encased within it. He didn't linger in his shock for very long, deciding to try a blow to the ribs since Chat seemed to not be in a fighting mood. This time Chat caught the staff and in a single move yanked Mime forward. Releasing the staff Mime faltered as he tried to catch his balance then choked as Chat was suddenly right in his face. Claws caught his shirt easily lifting him off his feet and in the next instant Mime found himself on his back his clear collapsible staff pinning him in place.

"You are nowhere near my level Mr. Mime and nowhere near the challenge Marinette was." Chat chuckled then had to dodge as Mime threw another clear knife, this time at his face.

Easily dodging Chat backed off a few steps allowing Mime to gather himself and Mime snarled "What did you do to Marinette?" another blade in hand as he gained his feet.

Chat blinked then realized Mime had misinterpreted his words. "Uh nothing? She bruised the hell out of me with her little chain weapon and kicked my ass at sparing the other night when I made the mistake of following her. I actually caught her scent a while back and was curious when I heard music. Besides why would you care if I did anything to Marinette? Aren't you two enemies on opposite sides of the law?"

The soft scrape of shoes behind Chat alerted him to another presence but before he could spin to see who had tried to sneak up on him Stormy spoke giving her presence away. "Aren't you calling the kettle black with a question like that?"

Chat shrugged not bothering to turn and look at her "I'm called Noir for a reason."

Neither Mime nor Stormy found his comment amusing and Chat sniffed clearly put out that neither of them had a sense of humor. "Well since neither of you are punny people can I go play with Marinette or do you still want to dance Mr. Mime?"

Mime flipped yet another clear knife in his hands and Chat could feel that Stormy was about to move when a third but this time welcome voice broke in. "Mime do not throw that knife. It won't go through his suit if what I saw earlier was any kind of hint. Chat what have I said about stalking me?"

All three of them turned to see Marinette step from the shadows and Chat wondered how she knew they were over here. Hell he wondered several things about her, including how she got to her position without making any noise and giving herself away. Although Chat realized he shouldn't be too surprised since he had seen how quiet she could move playing tag just the night before. Seeing that skill on display again made a shiver run through him, although Chat smiled while his tail traced the air happily behind him. Mime glowered at her but he slipped the blade in his hand back into a sheath that rested against his side then held his hand out towards Chat.

"My other weapons?" Mime demanded and Chat tossed him his staff since their fight was now on hold. Mime fumbled the staff since it was rather hard to see in this half light and Chat suppressed a chuckle not wanting to anger him unnecessarily.

"His knife too Chat." Marinette called moving to his side after picking up the other blade Mime had thrown at Chats head.

Chat grumbled, his ears falling a little flat but he relinquished the blade to Marinette who moved towards Mime and put Chat on high alert.

"Don't worry Chat. Mime is a good guy even if he is part of the Hawkmoth gang. Only trusted people are given sentry duty around here." Stormy said softly patting Chat on the shoulder.

Chat could feel the slight zing of electricity coming from the band that pressed into his suit and he shifted so her hand fell off while giving her a pointed look. Stormy gave him a beguiling smile and Chat decided to ignore the electrified brass knuckles for now since she was clearly testing for something.

"You actually have sentries placed around here? What is this place?" Chat asked having to feint ignorance since he had never been out here as Chat.

Stormy chuckled not buying the ignorance, but decided to indulge him a bit. "This is a neutral running zone once you hit the fence, but outside of the fence we are in the middle of several different gang trading territories. The ground route to the zone is technically neutral as well but the rooftops are patrolled by different well versed fighters in case an idiot decides to show up and mess with the balance."

Chat sighed "I guess I'm the idiot tonight?" making Stormy grin

"Something like that. If you wanted to come out this way you should have told someone."

With a bit of a huff Chat shrugged. "I was just out roaming. I'm starting to get the feeling that if I want to run around without running into trouble I should avoid Marinette's scent though."

This time Stormy laughed out loud making Marinette glance over her shoulder to make sure Chat was still on his feet. Chat waved at her to reassure her that everything was fine before asking "If Mime is a sentry tonight why are you out here? You guys haven't slipped a tracker on me somewhere have you?"

Stormy shrugged "I was coming to give Mime some downtime since he said he had somewhere to be later and when I heard you voice I knew I needed to step in. I've seen you fight with Marinette and I didn't want you damaging his pride too much. You were so going easy on him and he probably didn't appreciate it. Although now that I think about it I'm not sure how Marinette knew to come out this way. Last I saw her she was helping go over Dangers Run."

"It was probably the miraculous stone." Plagg informed Adrien making him tense just the slightest bit since he hadn't expect to hear anything from him. "A miraculous stone will let you know if another user is in the area whether its fully active or not. Marinette's stone is in the process of activating so you probably won't be able to sneak up on her as Chat anymore. Maybe not even Adrien."

"Ah…" Chat murmured in acknowledgement even though he couldn't ask any further questions like how in the hell Plagg even knew that. To Stormy he said "Maybe she needed to talk to you or something?"

Stormy shrugged eyeing Chat strangely and Chat ignored her as he looked around the rooftop, his instincts starting to nudge at him. He wasn't sure why but suddenly he wanted Marinette over next to him and at that moment the wind blew, tossing the scent of decay mixed with an odd dusty smell at him.

He already knew what was happening even as Plagg hissed "Adrien something is coming!"

Halting mid-reply Stormy noticed Chats alert especially when he snapped "Marinette get down!" and burst into a dead sprint for her.

It was then that Chat really knew that Marinette trusted him because she took Mime to the rooftop as a shape flew from the darkness, charging right at them. In a heartbeat the Akuma launched itself at Marinette and Chat met the beast midair his claws slashing into its chest as he knocked it away from Marinette and Mime. The Akuma squalled as Mime cried from his prone position "What in the 7 hells is that thing?!"

The akuma slammed into the roof on its back letting another shrill squall out as Chat landed on all fours before them. To Chats surprise the Akuma scrambled to its feet and Chat let a full throated roar out in hopes that the Akuma would back off. Claws sliced out of misshapen paws instead and Chat snarled "All of you run and get the zone evacuated. These things are getting harder to contain lately!"

"Dammit Chat be safe!" Marinette snapped and Chat didn't dare look over his shoulder to try and reassure her since in the next second the akuma was charging at him again.

It was a smaller akuma than the ones previously although it was still probably close to the size of a large tiger as it leaped for Chats throat. Staff in hand Chat batted the thing back to the ground dodging claws as they struck out willi nilly in an attempt to clip him.

"Its not human based, wipe it off the map!" Plagg snapped in his mind and Chat dodged back ready to call cataclysm when a cry of pain instantly tore his attention away.

Claws slashed across the outside of his thigh making Chat snarl "Cataclysm!" even as the idiot Akuma tried slash him again in the same place. His legs were no longer there however and the akuma managed to just start looking up as Chat slammed down onto its back, his bubbling black clawed hand smashing into its skull. The beast went limp under him the slime starting to bubble off whatever poor creature it had once been, but Chat was already leaping off. Two bounds later he cleared the half wall that blocked his view from Marinette.