Marinette left the Agreste building that evening on her own.
Marinette had plans that night to stay home.
Marinette walked casually listening to music through her ear phones.
Or so it seemed.
Unfortunately Adrien was required to complete paperwork and reply to emails that afternoon, so had been unable to steal himself away to speak to Marinette. He had text her instead to inform her about the message he had received, a message which unnerved Marinette greatly. Telling him not to worry, and saying they could talk later, Marinette had conjured a plan with Alya.
Marinette felt exposed and trapped as she made her way home, not knowing if there was someone watching her right this moment, she was glad to have a fellow super heroine following her.
Or was she?
From the roof tops, Ladybug watched Marinette take the usual route home, noting a figure following about fifty paces behind. There were people out on the street, but this figure caught her eye nonetheless, they were following Marinette. Ladybug waited patiently, as Marinette entered the bakery and appeared on her roof top, noting the figure disappearing inconspicuously into heavy foliage in the park opposite.
Scanning the area from a neighbouring roof, Ladybug saw her fellow team mate Rena Rouge, who was also on the lookout. Similarly to Ladybug, she was crouched out of sight behind a chimney breast, perched overlooking the park. It was still rather busy in the park by the bakery, but the rustling in the bushes caught the attention of both spandex wearing heroes.
As Marinette was leaning over the railing in her balcony, clutching a mug and looking over the city, the tip of a high end camera lens poked out from the bush in the park opposite. Ladybug flicked open her yo-yo and uncharacteristically lurched forward, landing in full view of the photographer. Marinette's eyes widened as she looked down to Ladybug, as Ladybug regained her composure and muttered to herself about being more careful while on patrol. With a sweeping look over the park she swung away on her yo-yo into the distance, with Marinette staring after her, before she too disappeared from view into her bedroom.
Rena Rouge was satisfied with a job well done. "Reality." She whispered, knowing that her illusion, had done its job.
Once Marinette had slipped down a side street and Rena Rouge had fabricated the illusion seamlessly, she had covered herself with a blue cloak from her bag, which had been put together quickly using some of the fabrics laying around the studio. Effortlessly she joined the pedestrians on the other end of the side street, heading for the café. With one stop to make on the way.
Turning a corner, Marinette seen Nino holding a backpack which she switched with hers, and dove into an alleyway just behind where he was standing. Opening it up, Marinette mentally congratulated her truly best friend as Alya really had thought of everything.
Taking a wet wipe to her face, Marinette cleared her face of makeup. She then pulled out an over sized orange hoodie, pulling it over her dress. Next, Marininette took off her heels and deftly slipped into a pair of blue denim ripped jeans, tucking her dress into them, and put the white trainers on which had been sitting at the bottom of the bag. The last additions to disguise herself, were a pair of men's over sized sunglasses, a white beanie which she tucked her hair into, and a pair of Nino's headphones resting on her neck.
Hollering to Nino, he cautiously handed Marinette's bag to her, for her to put in the back pack, and she emerged unrecognisable.
"Dude!" Nino nodded his head in approval, "I don't even think your parents would recognise you!"
"Let's get going, we haven't got much time." Marinette said, attempting and failing at trying to alter her voice.
"Ha! Just don't talk while we're there and you'll be ok."
Rounding the corner, Adrien casually walked to Le Peloton Café twiddling his ring in anticipation. Entering the quaint surroundings, Adrien observed the cycles dotted around the space and took a seat at the bar where he could see the entrance. There was only a handful of people inside the café, glad this was in a public place, Adrien relaxed slightly at the probability of this being a trap seemed to reduce. Ordering a coffee and a waffle, he sat waiting for the familiar face of Chase to enter the establishment.
As the customers started to thin out, Adrien noticed the arrival of Nino and a friend. Nino came to the bar as his friend sat down in the corner and took out an iPad. Nino nodded at Adrien while he ordered, not wanting to give too much away, in case they were already being observed. He took his drinks back to the table where his friend was sitting and settled down, taking out his own device.
A gentleman came to the bar to order, as he did, he tapped Adrien's arm to get his attention.
"Good evening Mr Agreste, I believe you are expecting Chase Brodeur." The portly, fairly haired gentleman said in hushed tones. He got out a small black wallet and unfolded it to show an official badge as he continued, "I am with the Gendarmerie Nationale, and my colleague is using the alias Chase Brodeur." He gestured to the empty table he had just arose from, "we are currently investigating the terrorist activity which has plagued Paris for many years, would you like to join me?"
Soundlessly, Adrien stood up and followed the man, taking his items with him. The table was only separated from where Nino was sitting by another empty table, so Adrien was conscious he was likely going to be trying to listen. Thinking about positioning, Adrien took the seat facing where Nino was sitting, causing the gentleman to sit with his back to him.
"I'm guessing Chase won't be joining us?" Adrien questioned suspiciously in a quite voice. Eyeing up the man, he could see he was armed and that his appearance was a disguise, members of the GIGN are top secret, Adrien knew the risk this man had taken. He was also suspicious as to what this had to do with Marinette being followed.
"No, and for all intents and purposes you can can me Jacques." He sipped his coffee, causing his tan over coat to hitch up his arm slightly revealing a seemingly plain black watch. Seeing Adrien's eyes lingering, Jaques told him, "this conversation is being recorded, and I have people scattered around also." He leaned in closer to Adrien, "this is a very delicate subject, and I require your full discretion and cooperation. Do you understand?"
Adrien nodded in acceptance, Jaques eyes were firm and calculating, he was obviously as suspicious of Adrien, as Adrien was about him.
"What can you tell me?" Adrien asked as he took a bite of his waffle, trying to appear normal and not anxious in any way.
Solemnly, Jaques looked at Adrien while contemplating his answer. "I think it would be best that we start at the beginning."
Adrien noticed the man before him was glancing in the direction of the other people within the café, his shifting eyes made him feel uncomfortable, but was not wanting to show this to Jaques. Knowing that he also had someone in the facility was not helping, as he started to become nervous for Nino and his friend's safety. The organisation this man was with was extremely secretive, he was not surprised that there would be others around after learning the extremity of this encounter. He was surprised though, that it was happening in such a public setting, why had they not unexpectedly pulled him off the street, and taken him to a secret location? Adrien must have given his thoughts away, as the barista came from behind the counter, and locked the entrance, pulling the blinds down to hide the inside from any spectators outside.
Adrien immediately became aware of the lack of people around, and shot a look to Nino's back. Nino kept his head down but his friend peered over and looked around to the man and woman who were swiftly approaching them.
"What's going on?" Adrien demanded loudly, figuring that the other people left in the vicinity were also agents.
"Mr Agreste," Jaques answered, "we are aware that you sent a message to a number registered to a Miss Dupain-Chang." Adrien gawped at Jaques, as his ability to talk disappeared. "We are also aware that Mis Dupain-Cheng then sent a series of messages to numbers matching a Miss Césaire and a Mr Lahiffe, so naturally it would make sense that someone would show up to listen in on our private conversation." Jaques raised his brow accusingly at Adrien, who to be fair, was not aware of the plan until he had seen Nino at the Café.
Jaques turned in his seat to face Nino and his friend, "as this also concerns you, would you care to join us?" He asked blasé, while turning back to sip his coffee once more.
The two soundlessly rose out of their chairs, nervously moving past the man and woman who had approached them and took the empty seats at the table with Adrien and Jaques. Jaques motioned for their coffee to be brought over, which the man complied to and set them in front of the new arrivals at the table.
"Now," Jaques started matter of factly, "I know who you both are, so could you please remove your disguise Miss Dupain-Cheng."
Marinette did so, as Adrien raised his eyebrows at her, half impressed with her efforts and half annoyed that she had put herself in this position when she had been told to stay away.
"You weren't meant to be here!" Adrien chastised Marinette, who responded with a sheepish grin and a shrug. Turning her attention to Jaques, Marininette sat ready to hear what he had to say.
"I wouldn't worry about that now," Jaques waved off Adrien's glare at her. "It would appear that your diversion, Miss Dupain-Cheng, even managed to dupe two of our agents into believing Marinette here went home. The person trailing her followed her there, and is still outside the bakery."
Marinette shifted uncomfortably, she and Nino thought they were coming about someone following her, and she was worried about her identity. The mention of Hawkmoth and this anti-terrorism organisation, told her it was much bigger than just her being followed. Marinette, still cautious of a second photographer, sat bolt upright, looking for any gaps which could be exploited by a surveyor.
"Miss Dupain-Cheng, I can assure you we have taken the required steps to ensure we are not being watched." Jaques had an irritated edge to his voice before he addressed all of them. "So, I'll start at the beginning." Jaques took in the sight of the unnerved young adults before him, before choosing how much information to divulge. Knowing what he and his team had already deciphered, he was aware they were wanting to catch Hawkmoth, just as much as he did.