The story below is based on the characters from Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir. I own nothing of the show. This is purely fictitious and written for the enjoyment of my readers and myself. All rights go to the proper parties.
Sorry this one took a bit longer than the other chapters. I've had a bit of a busy day and will be busy again tonight, so the next chapter won't show up until tomorrow. Thank you for all the feedback you have given me so far. I am enjoying writing this story and I love reading your comments. I hope it lives up to your expectations as I continue with it.
Cat Noir's panic courses through him. Why were they illusions? Are they okay? Where did they go?
The multimice panic. They flee to an alley, leaving Cat Noir to his panic. His miraculous will time out soon and he isn't in any state to conceal himself. He seems to be blinded by pure panic. Marinette returns to being plain ladybug before returning the miraculous to her yo-yo and calling Cat Noir.
Cat Noir answers his baton, the panic still eating at him, but seeing Ladybug's face on his screen relieves him a bit. "Ladybug? What's going on? Why were you and Multimouse illusions?" He asks.
"I'll explain at patrol tonight, Kitty. Right now I need you to go hide so you can let your transformation go. My transformation will wear out any minute and yours will soon after. Multimouse is okay and home safe. I returned her myself. There's no need to worry. I'll see you tonight," Ladybug says as she ends the call. Not a moment too soon as her transformation falls.
Cat Noir swallows hard and batons away to detransform. The shock of seeing both Ladybug and Multimouse disappear sticks with him. Why would there need to be an illusion of them? Marinette had to have been the one to create it since she was Multifox. What could be the reason for her to use it? What is Ladybug keeping from him?
~Marinette~
Marinette paces her room ranting to her kwami, "Tikki, what am I going to do? Cat Noir broke the illusion. He knows that both Ladybug and Multimouse were illusions. He's going to demand answers, and I don't have them. What am I going to do, Tikki?" Marinette collapses on her chaise groaning.
"Everything will be okay, Marinette. I'm sure you'll think of something. School was canceled after the akuma attack, and your parents don't need any help in the bakery. You can take all day to think of what to say to him." Tikki reassures.
Marinette sighs in relief, she has hours before patrol, she can think of something before then. "You're right, Tikki. I have all day-," she begins before a knock comes from her trap door. Her heart drops.
"Princess? May I come in?" Cat Noir calls from behind the trap door.
Marinette panics as she jumps to her feet. Tikki flies to the miracle box as Marinette makes her way to the trap door. Her breathing is shallow and her heart is beating out of her chest. She reaches the trap door with a shaking hand and let's Cat Noir in.
Before she has a chance to speak, Cat Noir wraps her in an embrace. He holds her tight and says, "I was so worried about you, Princess."
He hugs her tighter. Marinette's stomach ties in knots. His concern for her is heart warming, but her guilt is overwhelming. Still, she hugs him back just as tightly. "I'm okay, Kitty," she reassures.
"You were great today, Marinette," He says as he tightens his hold on her. "But please, don't ever accept so many miraculous again. I don't know what I would do without you," he pleads.
Marinette hides her face in his shoulder, shame shooting through her, she can't promise him she won't do it again. She doesn't want to lie to him anymore and she can't make a promise she knows she will never be able to keep. She's Ladybug, the guardian of the miraculous, and that comes with certain sacrifices. She will more than likely have to use many miraculous at the same time again. It's a near guarantee.
She doesn't respond to Cat Noir, he speaks up once again, "How are you feeling, Marinette?" He asks as he pulls away enough to look at her. They sit on her bed, knees touching and arms entwined. Cat Noir moves to cup her cheek. Watching her with concern as he worries about her health.
Marinette blushes at the contact, "I'm okay, Kitty. Just a bit tired is all." She responds as he inches closer to her.
"You did too much Marinette. You used three miraculous and their powers." He presses his forehead to hers, "my kwami says there's no telling how it may effect you, and you said that using three or more may have serious consequences. I'm angry that Ladybug gave you so many and made you use them all. I'm scared of what might happen to you," he admits. "I accepted the miraculous myself, Ladybug didn't force me to. I'm aware of the potential consequences. I feel fine though. Better than I did after kwamibuster. I'm just tired." She reassures.
Their eyes meet as Cat Noir speaks, "why did you use the fox miraculous?" He asks, unable to stop himself.
Marinette winces, she pulls away from Cat Noir and looks to the side. He watches her retreat, his heart feels heavy, but he needs to know why she used it. He continues to probe, "Ladybug said she'd explain tonight, but I'm afraid she'll just come up with an excuse. I need to know the truth, Marinette. I need to know why she put you in more danger by having you use another miraculous on top of the two you already used, and why you agreed to do it when you know the consequences."
"I can't tell you, Cat. Ladybug told you she would. Please just wait to hear it from her." Marinette pleads as she attempts to buy herself more time to figure out what to say to her partner.
Cat Noir grabs her hand and entwines his fingers with hers. "Please Marinette," he begs.
She looks to him again, squeezing his hand in hers, "I can't, Kitty," she says simply.
Cat Noir sighs, he pulls her to another embrace and tucks her head under his chin, "I don't know what you're hiding from me, Marinette, but I'll let it go for now."
Marinette relaxes in his arms. She nuzzles close, inhaling his scent, "thank you," she breathes.
He smiles softly as he holds her close to him. They sit there in silence for a long time. Marinette falling asleep in his arms and drifting off to dreamland. Cat Noir holds her close to him before laying her on her bed and covering her up. He brushes a stray strand of hair back from her face and kisses her forehead softly.
"Sleep well, Princess," he whispers before climbing on to her balcony. A few hours have passed since he first arrived at the bakery to check on Marinette. He needs to get home before anyone notices his absence. Cat Noir takes out his baton and vaults towards home.
~Patrol~
Marinette wakes to Tikki's voice, "Marinette? It's time for patrol. Marinette?" She calls, trying to wake the sleeping girl.
Marinette groans, "five more minutes, Tikki."
"Marinette, patrol started ten minutes ago. Cat Noir is probably already waiting for you. You need to go now. You promised to explain things to him," Tikki reminds.
Marinette shoots out of bed. "Oh no! I fell asleep before I could think of an excuse to tell him. Tikki, what am I going to do?" She exclaims, panicking.
"I don't know, Marinette, but you need to go now." She states.
"R-right, I'm sure I'll think of something. Tikki, spots on," she calls.
Ladybug swings across Paris and stops on the rooftop she and Cat Noir use as a meeting place for patrols. She finds him sitting on the edge lost in thought. "Sorry I'm late, Kitty." She says.
Cat Noir turns around and stands to meet Ladybug, "It's time for an explanation, Ladybug. No beating around the bush. Why did you have Marinette use the fox miraculous?" He demands.
Ladybug flinches, taken aback by Cat Noir's directness, "I-I um." She stutters, still unsure what to say to him.
"You what, Ladybug?" He probes.
"I don't know what to tell you." She admits before wincing at her admission.
"You don't know what to tell me?" He seethes, "what is that supposed to mean?"
"Cat, calm down." She responds.
"How can I calm down when you promised to explain things only to come here and say you don't know what to tell me?" He demands.
"I-I I'm sorry Cat." Ladybug pleads.
"You're sorry? For what? Putting Marinette's life in danger? Forcing her to use not one but three miraculous? Having her create an illusion that I can only assume was created for me? Or maybe you're sorry that you couldn't think of a lie to tell me to make me let all this go? I'm not stupid, Ladybug. There's no other reason for you to make an illusion of you and Multimouse unless you were trying to trick me." Cat Noir yells, "I just wish I knew why!"
Ladybug shakes. Her stomach churns. Her eyes fill with tears. They're both in a dangerous state for Shadowmoth to take advantage of. She needs to tell him some of the truth. Even if she can't tell him everything. He deserves this.
"You're right," she says, "I did all those things and the illusion was meant for you. I tried to come up with a plausible lie for the illusion and I couldn't. I'm sorry that I can't tell you the full truth behind it. I'm sorry I tricked you. I'm sorry I can't tell you why either." Ladybug finishes.
Cat Noir stares at her. His anger ebbing from the surprise of her admitting to the illusion being for him. He watches her fall to her knees, shame clearly written on her face. She's pale and tired. He sees it and wants to comfort her, but he can't. Instead he says, "Thank you for telling me. I need some time to think." With those words he leaves her behind on the roof. Ending their patrol before it even began.
