Chapter 15
Marinette's Room – Late Afternoon
Back in her room, Tikki was munching on a cookie to regain her strength as Marinette sat at her computer, watching news updates on the fire. She was soon able to find a video from the local news station where Nadja Chamack reported for.
"As of now the fire is under control. Currently it is unknown what caused the fire to break out. The owner of the store and his daughter were able to get out safely, and it is believed no one else was in the building at the time of the fire. The store is a total loss."
Marinette groaned and got up from her chair and collapsed onto her bed.
"But they were not the only ones in there! Tikki we have to go back and look." -Marinette said in frustration.
"Marinette, going back there now will not do any good. Let's look tonight on our evening patrol when there are a lot less people." -Tikki replied with renewed energy. "Plus, we need to get something on you from that burn you got battling Flashfire."
Marinette placed her hand on her burn and groaned, placing a pillow over her head. She was frustrated but knew Tikki was right.
Early Evening*
Several hours passed before nightfall came. After telling her parents she was going to bed, Marinette transformed into Ladybug and leapt from her balcony and headed back to the scene of the fire. When she arrived, there was no one else around but the area had been blocked off by police tape and road blocks.
She got out her yoyo and used it to call Cat Noir. It started to ring, but there was no reply. She tried again but this time not only did she hear ringing in her ear, but she also heard ringing behind her. She turned to see Cat Noir standing there, smiling at her.
"Hey, bugaboo." -He said.
Ladybug got teary eyed as she ran over to Cat Noir and wrapped her arms around him. She held him tight in a hug, causing him to blush. Ladybug let go and stepped back, then immediately took her hand and SLAPPED Cat Noir across the face!
"Don't you ever do something so stupid again! We are partners! We are supposed to help each other! There can be no other kitty than you." -Ladybug yelled with tears in her eyes.
Cat Noir stood there for a moment, sad that he made Ladybug angry, but also confident in the decision he made.
"I know, but I wanted to make sure your identity was protected, because that is what you would have wanted. I am your partner, and I will do whatever I can to keep you safe." -Cat Noir replied in a confident tone.
Ladybug, still looking mad, walked up to Cat Noir. He thought he was going to get hit again, but Ladybug stood up and kissed him on the cheek. His face turned red in a flash.
"But thank you for coming back safely." -She said in a soft voice.
For the next minute it was an awkward moment for them both. Ladybug was feeling mixed on her feelings for Adrien but also for Cat Noir. Cat Noir was mixed in his feelings for Ladybug but also the desire to keep her safe. For a moment they looked at each other as if they both wanted to kiss, but the atmosphere was broken when a helicopter flew nearby.
After the helicopter flew by, both heroes stepped back in embarrassment and regained their composure.
"Did you find out who Hawk Moth was?" -Ladybug asked.
"No. When I was able to get past the burning debris he was gone, and it looked like he was able to get the Butterfly miraculous back too. He had to have escaped through a way in the back that wasn't on fire." -Cat Noir explained.
"And what about…" -Ladybug tried to ask, choked up from what she remembered seeing.
"I was able to get him out of the building, but he was in bad shape. I tried to get him to a nearby ambulance, but he grabbed me and told me to leave before I transformed back, then he passed out. I wanted to stay but he was right, so I laid him up against a wall then lept away. I don't know what happened to him after that."
Both heroes were silent for a moment before Cat Noir grabbed Ladybug's hands.
"Everything is going to be okay. You are Ladybug, you saved the day! Paris is always going to have you, and I hope I can continue to be your partner no matter what."
Ladybug looked up at Cat Noir and wiped away a tear from her eye. The two heroes look down again at the burnt out building then to the Paris skyline. Looking at each other again, they leapt from the roof to begin their night patrol.
