Early update because I'm going river rafting! As always feel free to ask questions or message if you want an immediate answer. Enjoy!
sweetXDmelody... Yes Ladybug will have her time towards the end. we just have to make it there!
Chat-and-ladybug... If we go by my outline we have officially hit just about halfway. At this point I have about two months of buffer and each chapter is 4000+ words. In total (outline, blurbs I've written but haven't woven into the story, and miscellaneous comments or ideas id like to add later...) my word document has officially hit 500 pages. If my writing continues to be as dense (Which it probably will) the second half is probably going to be just as long.
Guest... Thank you for the kind words! I'm glad you have enjoyed the story so much. Mari will become Ladybug towards the end of the story. I have actually written parts of it but as for the how... No spoilers sorry!
(Slow Burn Detective AU!) Marinette is used to working alone on the streets of Paris as she strives to take down the Hawkmoth gang. When the thief Chat Noir comes crashing into her life things are bound to get magical, especially when co-detective Adrien returns to Paris and seems to want to be her new partner. Will their fated partnership end in a capture or a kiss?
Narrowing the Hunt
It took Marinette a few short minutes to arrive at Damocles office and she waited in a small alcove a few feet away, since from the sound of things Damocles wasn't alone inside. The minutes crawled by as raised voices echoed in the small room then the door burst open and Roger stormed out. Muttering something under his breath about old stuffy owls Roger didn't even notice Marinette as he thumped past. Remaining where she was Marinette waited another minute or two to make sure Roger didn't return because she did not need a confrontation with him this early. Patience swiftly dwindling Marinette moved to the wide open door, rapping sharply on the frame.
"Come in, come in Marinette. Just close the door as you do if you don't mind? The breeze tends to send everything a-flutter in here I'm afraid." Damocles called when he realized it was her.
The office Damocles had claimed appeared small and round due to the sheer amount of cabinets, papers, and books that covered the surfaces. Even the floor had a generous helping of papers and Marinette remembered a time where as punishment she had been forced to help Damocles reorganize his 'Nest'. Depending on who you asked Damocles's office was either nicknamed 'The Mini Archives or The Nest'. Since Damocles himself was nicknamed The Owl, Marinette referred to his office as The Nest.
"Did you get another bookcase?" Marinette demanded bending over to scoop some papers off the floor.
"Yes, yes I needed more space to organize some of my books. I don't suppose you would like to help me?" Damocles asked
"Ask one of the recruits to help, or next time I'm on punishment I can help I suppose…" Marinette answered shuddering at the thought of reorganizing his Nest mess.
"I suppose that will be sooner than later then!" Damocles laughed making Marinette pout at him. "Now then you don't usually come down here to idly chit chat. What do you need Marinette?"
"I was hoping you would share the Chloe sightings and reports."
"Off the record?" Damocles asked rubbing his chin as he gazed at her.
"Doesn't have to be. Gabriel gave me till the end of the day to finish up whatever I am doing then it's back to desk duty." Marinette admitted
Damocles shook his head sadly, "I wish you got along better with him Marinette. You have too much talent to be wasting it behind a desk."
"Thank you sir, I have a feeling I'll be let off my leash once I've turned gray and started using a cane to walk. Gabriel will be able to keep track of me then."
With a laugh Damocles moved some things around on his desk and pulled out a map of the city. It was laminated and had markings all across the surface. "Black are just tips, red are the crazy calls that I have to mark even if I don't believe them and blue are tips that came with photos, usually through email or one of the other messaging services."
Marinette nodded staring at the dot speckled map and noted how most of the sightings were clustered in higher end areas or the party districts. "Any outliers?"
"A few. Mostly the crazies though." Damocles stated tapping the map in a few spots.
Marinette noted the spots and with a slight chill realized that three of them were in the same general area the pudgy man had told Chat Chloe had been taken after the warehouse. That area was in the total opposite area where Chloe was constantly being seen and Marinette didn't have to wonder why.
"Penny for your thoughts?" Damocles interrupted as Marinette pulled out her phone to take a picture of the map.
"I don't think Chloe is partying it up and just avoiding going home. She might be selfish but she isn't stupid. That said I highly doubt whoever took her is dragging her around downtown either so the clusters are false leads or people are calling in every blond woman walking around the places Chloe frequented. As crazy as it sounds the outliers are probably a better venue to check than the clusters if you haven't already started." Marinette finally answered as she took careful pictures of the map where she had a feeling that Chloe was being held.
"I agree." Damocles sighed. "Unfortunately Roger doesn't feel the same way and he has decided to go check things out on his own."
Marinette patted Damocles on the back slipping her phone back into her pocket. "Just keep doing you Damocles. We will find Chloe and bring her home."
"I believe you and Adrien will Marinette. Keep your chin up is all I can say."
Marinette smiled at the man and she stayed for several minutes longer helping him shift some of the stacks of paper around and throwing what amounted to be almost a ream of paper into the shredder box when she left. Returning to the Archives Marinette sent pictures of the map to Stormy who promised to set watchers out and she also sent a text to Adrien telling him where she was. Then she sat down at the table trying and failing to concentrate on the blueprints before her. Too little sleep in several days had her mind feeling like it was stuffed with cotton and with an annoyed groan she dropped her head to the table. She didn't even realize she had fallen asleep until her phone vibrated sharply jolting her back to consciousness. Adrien sat across her in another chair head tilted back and legs propped up on the table passed out. It looked as if he had been reading something before he lost the battle for consciousness and Marinette yawned as she sat up looking at her phone. She had been asleep for over an hour and to her surprise she actually felt a little better. More sleep would make her feel even better but Marinette decided to give the files she had been neglecting a look over before Gabriel discovered their neglect. Silently Marinette went to her office to collect the papers needed then returned to the table in the Archives. Adrien remained sleeping through the whole thing and Marinette was loathe to wake him unless she had to. Two solid hours passed before Adrien finally stirred on his own and Marinette was putting the finishing touches on her neglected paperwork as he groaned unhappily.
"How long?" Adrien grimaced as he shifted slightly kinked muscles and realized that Marinette was working studiously away.
"At least two and a half hours."
Adrien groaned again "Next time wake me up so I can crash on your office cot… I'm getting to old to be sleeping in chairs like this."
Marinette laughed "Well its lunch time so if you want to go eat…"
"Oh yes definitely!" Adrien remarked standing as he did.
They collected the paperwork they had scattered about and moved it back to Marinettes office since they decided to work on their Chloe reports together. That way they would have mostly matching reports and could decide what information was better left out. They left to eat a swift lunch and Alya along with Nino crashed their outing before they even managed to sit down at a table.
"I need to talk to you. Both of you actually." Alya said hauling them towards the back booth they used when they didn't want to be overheard by other patrons.
Marinette sat on her normal side so she could keep an eye on the room and Adrien sat beside her. Alya and Nino sat on the other side across the table. The waiter came by, took their drink orders, and left menus to peruse in their absence.
"First off how did you know we were coming to eat? Second can we order or do you want to talk first?" Marinette asked and Adrien could detect a hint of weariness in her voice.
"My fault… Adrien told me earlier today he was taking you to lunch and Alya saw my phone when I went in to bring her more coffee. To answer your other question, food… definitely food first." Nino broke in before Alya could make a peep. "She hasn't been to sleep yet and I doubt you two have ate or slept much more than her."
"Lacking sleep but I made breakfast this morning since I knew it was going to be a really long day." Marinette groused as the waiter dropped off drinks and took their food orders.
Everyone had already known what they wanted before they had even sat and they requested to not be bothered till the food came out. The waiters at the restaurant were used to such requests from them and the waiter nodded before leaving them in peace.
"Alright Alya… what's wrong?" Marinette wearily asked.
"When are you doing a run to pull Chloe out of danger?"
Adrien coughed on a sip of his drink and Marinette raised an eyebrow. "Uh… we haven't even found Chloe yet… Is your boss putting pressure on you or something?"
Alya crossed her arms looking put out or maybe even a little disappointed. "Gabriel's back in town and I know that he didn't assign you as the cases head. I know for a fact you two are going to find her first so when you do find her you will have to do a run… or are you going to set up a raid? Can I come if you do?"
Wanting to bang her head on the table Marinette instead took a long sip of her drink. "Like I said we haven't found Chloe yet. Hopefully when we do we can set up a proper raid and get her out. If a raid does happen I will ask if you can be included but don't get your hopes up. They are dangerous you know."
Alya nodded looking pleased then pointed a finger at them. "If you guys do have to do a run Nino and I are helping. You don't have to give me the story if you want to keep your name out of the press but I am helping you or so help me I will tattle."
"Babe, Marinette knows we are here to help her no need to threaten… "Nino chided wrapping an arm around her, "Sorry Marinette, Adrien, she is super tired."
"I know the feeling." Marinette sighed and gently steered the conversation to safer topics.
They all ate and Adrien picked up Marinette's half of the bill as threatened. While the boys paid Alya leaned across the table "Soooo you didn't throw a fit when Adrien picked up your tab…"
"I fed him breakfast and he warned me that he was going to." Marinette sighed not really wanting to get into this conversation with Alya yet. Alya always meant well, but so far she hadn't even sorted through all her feelings yet. The last thing she wanted was Alya trying to psychoanalyze her.
Alya as tired as she was realized this and she frowned. "So no talking about work and no talking about love life… what else is there to talk about?"
"Um… I made some apple pies?" Marinette tried making Alya laugh.
"Now that is worth a story. How to manage a life, love, and making apple pies without going insane."
"I'll give you a hint. You don't get to sleep often." Marinette said wryly as the boys returned to the table.
Alya laughed again and the two of them promised to get some girl time in the next few weeks as the boys watched wearing matching looks of indulgence. At the door of the restaurant they parted ways with Nino dragging Alya home to get some sleep while Marinette and Adrien headed back to work.
"Would you really do a run to save Chloe?" Adrien asked "I mean I know doing them risks your job."
Marinette shrugged "I only do runs when I know there are no other options. Tiki and I used to do them more together since Gabriel trusted us… or rather Tiki to make the right decisions as we saw fit. I did two on my own only because they were low risk and I got into heaps of trouble for both of them. Chloe is a different matter though. Practically all of Paris is looking for her and all the precincts are working the case thanks to mayors orders. The chances of us having to make a run are fairly small and I really hope it won't come to that. With Roger leading the case and the fact that he doesn't listen to anyone on a good day one of the other precincts should call dibs on pulling her out first. Then we won't have to worry about it at all. I know you are worried about her Adrien but in the long run it's better if we don't find her first. The two of us are too close to this case and so is Roger. "
Adrien was silent and Marinette could feel the hurt radiating off him. With a bit of a sigh Marinette continued. "Fortunately for you my luck never works the way it should. In the end we will probably find her first BUT when we do we pursue the proper avenues before jumping in. Understand?"
This time Adrien nodded their eyes making contact even as they walked forwards. "I will follow your lead Marinette."
For some reason his words made Marinette blush even as they made her insides melt. "R-right… good… I'm talked… glad we talked."
Adrien hid a smile and he could feel Plagg sniggering against his chest. It made him happy his words had such an effect on her. Number one it was adorable, and two it reaffirmed the idea that Marinette liked him… like really liked him. He would have teased her for it a little bit but every time he did it seemed to come back and bite him in the butt one way or another. They were almost to the precinct anyways so he decided to tease her later in private as they arrived. Together they returned to her office and leaving the door open they both worked on their separate reports on Chloe. As the day got later and they turned in their reports Adrien told Marinette what his father had discussed with him. Apparently he was to work with other people so starting tomorrow he wouldn't be able to hang out with her and help on the case. Marinette had expected as much but the sting was lessened by the fact that they would be able to walk to work together and eat lunch if they wished plus the evenings were theirs entirely. The end of the day finally arrived and the two of them slipped out of the precinct so they could start searching their areas in the meager daylight that was left. Stormy had texted several times saying how the search was going in her spots and Marinette had given her one of the Chloe sightings that was closest to the area she was already in. Adrien had been given one of the spots too and he knew to stay in close contact while searching. Marinette hated splitting up but she knew that they would cover more ground this way. Most of the Whisperers were searching in their own ways and Marinette hoped that they would locate Chloe soon. She was just slipping out of a rundown building when a cane came slashing down at her side. Marinette blocked the cane and grabbed hold ready to toss whatever idiot that dared attack her. A breath before she did Marinette realized an elderly man was on the other end of the cane rather than someone young and fit.
"I'll not be kicked out again!" the elderly man shrieked tugging uselessly at his cane. "Don't care what you's think you can't kick me from my spot again! I'll call the police I will!"
"Sir I'm not here to kick you out I'm actually a detective looking into some things around here. Has someone been causing trouble for you?" Marinette released the end of the cane before the old man toppled himself and the man stumbled back off balance anyways forcing Marinette to catch his arm so he didn't hit the ground. As soon as he had his footing she backed off and instead of yelling at her more the old man eyed her, his gaze calculating.
"There's always trouble. Some fools were clearing people out of buildings up round 64th to help 'clean up the city' they said. Bunch of lying thugs is what they are. Left the place a worse mess than when they first came and been bouncing around to different spots every other night it seems."
That caught her attention since Chat had told her they moved Chloe almost every night and 64th was one of the places they had planned to use. Marinette got that zing of energy running up her spine and trying not to sound too eager asked "Do you know where they are now? I could tell them to knock it off."
The old man spat off to the side. "No girly but I thought that you's was one of em since they like to scout out spots first."
Nodding to the man she sidestepped out of his way. "Well thank you for the info. I've got some other things to check tonight. Sleep well."
The old man watched her go and before she could she could get too far she heard him say "Look west."
Marinette turned the question of "West where?" already on her lips but the old man had moved surprisingly fast and vanished inside. She could follow since she knew he couldn't have gotten too far but Marinette had a feeling that he would only attack her again if she tried. The old man had seemed a little out of touch with the world and getting whacked with that cane wouldn't feel good at all.
"West huh?" Marinette muttered to herself and headed in that general direction. Almost an hour passed and the sun was starting to get low as Marinette climbed to the top of a building and sat down on the edge. She had trailed back towards more livable areas and had collected a few more clues as well as talked to Adrien. He at least had a bit of luck if you could call it that. A Hawkmoth member had jumped him… at least they tried to… Adrien had contained the man and found that Chloe was supposedly still in the area although the member didn't know exactly where. The Whisperers had come to collect the man since Adrien hadn't wanted to write another report to the police and Marinette had Stormys word that the man wouldn't be killed. He was simply going to be held until the case with Chloe was over. So now she sat studying a map on her phone in the dying sunlight until she felt the slightest purr like buzz coming from her waistband. Glancing over her shoulder she found herself staring at Chat a few feet back, half hidden in the shadows made by the setting sun. Because of the stone Marinette had known that he would be there somewhere, but it was still startling to turn and find piercing green eyes gazing at you from the darkness.
"What are you doing out so early?" Marinette called climbing down off the ledge.
Chat grinned "Watching an angel sun herself. Red is a very becoming color on you My Lady."
Marinette crossed her arms attempting to look imposing but she could feel the heat in her cheeks spread. "Behave Chat. I'm not in the mood for flirting felines today."
Chats tail danced behind him as his eyes lit up "Ohhh flirting felines… I like it. Maybe I should get a fedora and a rose…"
"Chat…" Marinette complained her tone between exasperation and amusement.
"If I behave do I get a reward? Oh! How about a kiss for good behavior?" Chat asked wiggling his eyebrows
"Not on your life Chat…" Marinette replied off hand even as she turned her attention back to her phone.
"Then I guess it's a good thing I have nine, My Lady." Chat quipped making Marinette level a glare at him.
This time Chat laughed and Marinette couldn't quite suppress the thin genuine smile that flirted with her lips. Holding up his clawed hands in defeat Chat moved out of the shadows looking like liquid smoke as he padded to her side.
"So how can I be of assistance?" Chat asked glancing at her phone as he stopped a foot or so away. "I had a feeline that you might need me."
Marinette rolled her eyes at his pun but she just knew that if she called him on it he would only crack more. "We are searching for Chloe as you have probably figured out. Stormy and the others are further east, a partner of mine is further south but he got confirmation a little while ago that Chloe is in this area somewhere. An old man said she was west which is why I came this way but I'm pretty sure I've overshot since they won't have her too near population centers." Tapping her phone she brought up a picture of some two story buildings. "Chloe might be around here since it is further west like the old man said but still in close proximity of where the guy Adrien took down claimed. What do you think?"
Chat nodded even as he eyed the map. "I agree. Do you want to take the streets or the rooftops?"
"Streets, I am not being carried even if it is only for a second as we clear too large gaps." Marinette answered already heading for the fire escape.
Chat rolled his eyes but understood. "I'll stay up here then and alert you if I spot trouble."
Pausing by the ladder Marinette turned back to face him. "You really are a good guy Chat. Thank you. If there is something legal I can do for you…" She left the statement open and Chat had a feeling that it wasn't something she offered often or lightly.
Chat waved a hand at her deciding to test the waters since what he really wanted was along the lines of a kiss or even pets. Well maybe he could ask for pets, if anything she might find if funny but the kiss was probably unwise. "That's quite a dangerous offer My Lady buuut… I wouldn't mind a head scratch or two…"
Marinette blinked at him in confusion until Chat raised a hand to scratch lightly behind his cat ear. Confusion quickly blead into amusement and she just barely managed to contain a giggle, "You want me to scratch behind your ears?"
Chat chuckled at the fact that she hadn't said no and darted to her side grinning widely. "I know you're curious My Lady and besides I took a shower this morning so I'm squeaky clean!"
Marinette hesitated her hand rising slightly since she really was curious. He had cat ears attached to his skull for goodness sakes and they did look super soft, but he was taller than her and she really didn't want to go up on her tiptoes. Somehow Chat seemed to realize this and he bent at the waist so she could reach his head easier. Waiting patiently Chat was rewarded when he felt the lightest of touches to the top of his cat ear. The ear flicked out from under the touch instinctively and Marinette snickered almost silently before catching the ear between two fingertips.
"It's so soft…" Marinette murmured to herself and Chat thought about answering her in a funny yet slightly inappropriate way but her fingers rubbed little circles on his ears as she moved into his hair and Chat felt his brain haze.
Coherency was totally lost on Chat as a purr rumbled to life in his chest and Marinette giggled as he tried to press further into her hand. "You really are like an over grown cat aren't you?" Marinette commented scratching at the base of the ears where they joined his skull.
Chat just purred harder tilting his head a little as she continued her ministrations with both hands. Tension she hadn't seen in his shoulders and body eased as he pressed closer to her, the rumbling purr in his chest becoming louder. His hair was soft, silky and had a surprising weight to it. It reminded her someone else's but every time she tried to think of who's, it was like her brain slipped to the side losing the information as it did. It was an unpleasant feeling so she stopped trying to figure it out and simply marveled at how soft Chats cat ears were.
Marinette wasn't sure how long they stood there with her rubbing a hand through his hair but it couldn't have been longer than ten minutes before her watch beeped interrupting the oddly peaceful moment. They were running out of time to find Chloe and reluctantly she pulled back from Chat. An odd questioning sound slipped out of him as he tried to follow her and with a gentle smile in place Marinette braced two fingers under his chin making him look up at her. Chats eyes were half lidded and slightly glazed making Marinette's grin grow a little wider.
"Alright kitty… You've had your pets time to get to work."
Chat let out a slight whine his purr fading then he blinked seeming to come back into himself properly. A blush spread into his cheeks. "Ah… right… thank you." He stood pulling away from her and Marinette forced herself to take a breath. She… liked petting him and good lord that sounded all kinds of wrong even as the thought ricocheted around her brain.
"T-time to get to work." Marinette coughed covering her sudden embarrassment as she swung around towards the ladder.
"Y-yeah…" Chat answered in kind, even though he wanted to wrap her up in his arms and carry her off. Perhaps it had been a bad idea to ask for the pets because he just wanted her hands on him again even more now. Marinette seemed to have the hands of a goddess and it took quite a bit of willpower to allow her to leave the rooftop without him at her side.
"Oh man she is amazing." Chat murmured following her with his eyes as Marinette made it to the ground and started off at a light jog.
"She is calling Adrien you idiot." Plagg snapped even as his pocket vibrated.
"Oh shoot." Chat hissed as he unzipped the pocket and yanked his cell out hitting the answer button as he held it up to his mouth. "Adrien…"
"How's your side of the search going?" Marinette asked cutting right to the point.
"It's going nowhere fast." Chat reported wincing a little at the lie since he was following her "Other than the one idiot that tried to jump me it's been quiet and boring."
"Well I might have a lead but I'm not sure. I'm moving to check it out now so I will call you as soon as I know anything. If you don't hear from me in an hour ring Stormy and tell her to look west."
"You walking into a dangerous situation without me again?" Chat asked able to hear her even though the phone wasn't to his ear.
"I shouldn't be. It's just a precaution since Hawkmoth has already made one attempt tonight with no warning." Marinette answered glancing up at Chat who was leaping a gap to keep up with her pace down below.
Chat glanced back down at her careful to keep the phone hidden then ducked back onto the roof as she kept going. "I'm sure you will be fine Marinette. I'll catch up with you in an hour. Maybe we can catch dinner or something."
"That sounds nice Adrien. We can get some takeout and eat at my place… or yours… I suppose it really doesn't matter." Marinette chirped and Adrien could hear the smile in her voice.
"We can call in food too. Hopefully we will have a location and be able to plan our next step. See you soon Marinette." Chat murmured glancing over the side of the building and spotting Marinette as she nodded to herself.
"Yep soon!" was all she said and they hung up at the same time.
Slipping the phone into his pocket Chat was thrilled to see Marinette do a happy little dance complete with butt wiggle. Doing a little twirl she happened to look up and froze as she realized he was watching.
"Not a word." She hissed menacingly loud enough for Chats ears to pick up.
Chat grinned as her face turned a rosy color and lounged along the edge of the roof. "Please continue My Lady. Your quite adorable when you do that little butt wiggle."
Marinette's face flushed darker as she stuffed her phone away into her pocket. "Don't make me come up there and kick your a-"
The sound of screeching tires cut her off and she spun towards the alleyways exit as the front of a car came just barely into view.
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