"They never gave any evidence of what they claimed to know though right?"
Once Alya had been caught up on the situation, the four heroes had sat, still not entirely out of the dark of each other's masked counterparts. Alya was in reporter mode, asking questions, going through the information that was given to them with a fine tooth comb. Alya's attention to detail was second to none, and her thirst for the truth was never quenched.
"I'm going to come clean..." Marinette knew she had to bite the bullet and get it out there. She would deal with the consequences later. "I know everyone in this room is trustworthy. I know you are all capable of keeping a secret, so I am wanting to share mine with you." She looked at her lap, feeling nervous about how Adrien would react, given the history between Ladybug, Marinette and Chat Noir.
"I'm Ladybug."
Silence.
Alya already knew, so Marinette was not expecting much of a reaction from her. Nino didn't know who she was, as his shocked open mouth and wide eyes showed when he gaped at her. Adrien was the one she was concerned about, but he surprised her. He was calm, indifferent yet thoughtful.
Pursing his lips, Adrien turned to her, "can we talk later?" He asked evenly.
Taken aback by his calm demeanour, Marinette simply replied, "Yeah, o-of course." With a shrug she looked back to the others, hoping they would follow suit.
"Anyone else have anything they would like to share with the class?" Alya smirked at a still stunned Nino.
"Let me take a guess Alya," Adrien looked at her with a lopsided smirk. "Rena Rouge," he pointed at her, then turned his gaze to Nino, "Carapace."
"The one and only dude!" Nino affirmed smugly, forgetting about his previous shock as Alya nodded knowingly next to him.
"Wow. Welcome to the first official superheroes not-so-anonymous meeting." He commented with a mock seriousness in his mannerisms. "I'm Adrien,"
To which they all monotoned, "hi Adrien," followed by a soft snort from Alya.
"And I am, The Chat Noir!" He said with confidence, flexing his arms to show of his muscles. "And my father is Hawkmoth...Fucked up right?" He concluded with an ironic raise of his eyebrows.
A sombre air descended at his summary of the situation, Alya started to fiddle with the computer, while Nino looked away awkwardly. Marinette sucked her bottom lip under her teeth, wanting to comfort him, but feeling uneasy about doing so in front of Alya and Nino.
"Guys I need some air," not waiting for a response, Adrien stood up and walked through the door out of Alya's room onto her balcony. Leaving the other recently unmasked superheroes to go over the evenings events. Jaques was not the only one recording the meeting as it happened, Marinette and Nino had accumulated recordings on their devices along with an obscure video which unfortunately only caught glimpses of the other people in the Café.
Marinette stared after Adrien as he left the room, spotting the opportunity, she looked to Alya who simply nodded with an encouraging smile and understanding gaze. She made her way to the door and, on her way out, pulled the curtain behind the door to give them some privacy.
Adrien stood resting his elbows on the railings overlooking the deserted street below. It was late, no one on any of the neighbouring balconies, with a dog walker at the end of the street, seemingly being the only other person around. Marinette had taken the warning from Jaques seriously, so was cautious of any concealed onlookers, as she scanned the unlikeliest of places.
"Hey," she placed her hand on his back, rubbing him gently between his shoulder blades. "Do you want to talk about it?"
"Which part?" He had a hint of sarcasm in his voice as he glanced up and down the street four stories below.
The feel of Marinette's hand on his back was sending a low electric tingle down his spine and warmed his chest. He knew who she was, he was bitter about it. He could not hold it against her though, they had agreed to keep it casual, but he had also fallen for her outside of the mask. He had initiated that, he had visited her, he had made that connection. The reason he felt drawn to her was now slapping him in the face, hard. They were the same person, two halves of a whole that he did not want to be without.
"All of it." She said softly but firmly. Her hand stilling momentarily as his muscles tensed under her palm with her words.
He abruptly turned around and walked her back to the closed door with his stature. "I can't do this here."
Adrien's bloodshot glistening eyes bore into Marinette's concerned blue ones. Her hand that was previously on his back, now occupying his chest above his heart. Feeling his pulse quicken, Marinette searched his eyes as his hair hung messily around his face. His hand wondered gingerly up to her jaw, tracing her cheek with his thumb as she closed her eyes and nuzzled into his palm. Her free hand placed deliberately on his waist scrunching his shirt underneath.
"I'm sorry," Marinette's voice was barely a whisper as Adrien snaked his other hand around the small of her back, closing the distance between them further.
"Don't be, just be here." He answered softly, capturing her gaze before putting his forehead to hers. A mere inch between their lips, noses nuzzled, as unspoken words crossed between them.
Shaky breaths escaped Adrien as he hesitated, before capturing her lips in a lustful hungry motion. No masks, no barriers stood between them, as they matched each other's passion. Grabbing at his chest, Marinette pulled him as close as possible as he pressed her back against the door with a soft thud, cupping her face, keeping her to him as if his life depended on her. Gasping between feverous kisses, Marinette plunged her hand into his blonde locks deepening the kiss, while the other made its way to his shoulder, holding him close.
Running his tongue along her bottom lip, Adrien sought entry. Granting his request, Marinette countered with hers, their kisses turning frantic as their tongues danced together, the heat pooling between her legs. One hand venturing down to find her hip, Adrien pressed his groin against her, revealing his want and need for her. Trailing kisses down her jaw to her exposed slender neck, Adrien licked and nipped his way down to her delicate collar bone. Panting heavily, Marinette clung his body to hers, reciprocating his want and desire before pulling his face back to hers and capturing his now swollen lips once more.
"Guys!" Alya's muffled voice came from inside, causing them to still, "not that we're not happy for you an' all, but can you come and look at this?"
Between heavy breaths, Adrien groaned at the interruption, while Marinette sighed out of frustration. "Fuck sake Alya!" Marinette grumbled as Adrien slowed his kisses against her lips, and released her from being pinned to the door.
"Just a minute!" Adrien called through the closed door, as he straightened up, subtly adjusting himself.
As the pair tried to look slightly less disheveled, they shared a coy look. Marinette brushed the loose strands behind her ears while Adrien tucked the dislodged areas of his shirt back into place.
"Ready Kitty?" Marinette looked at him understandably, as she reached for the door handle.
"Ready as I'll ever be M'Lady." He replied as they stepped back into the room, meeting Alya and Nino's knowing smirks.
"Do you recognise any of theses people?" Alya asked them as she showed them isolated images from the footage. The quality was bad, grainy and blurred, like low budget CCTV on a crime watch appeal. Unfortunately, Marinette had not been concentrating too well, given that Adrien was gently caressing her lower back, as they sat opposite a frustrated Alya, and an amused Nino. Marinette squirmed playfully as he tickled her, causing Alya to pinch the bridge of her nose and scrunch her eyes in annoyance. "Will you concentrate!"
"I'm sorry Alya, the fact that this is just a bit surreal is allowing me to be distracted, like a sort of defence mechanism...I guess?."Alya tilted her head understandingly as Adrien reluctantly stilled his hand and settled his arm around Marinette's waist. He sighed. "what are we looking at?" Marinette laced the fingers of his free hand in hers and gave him a gentle squeeze.
"We are looking at the pictures of the other, possible, agents," she glanced apprehensively at him, then pointed at the screen. "Have you seen these people before?"
"Why would we have seen these people before?" Marinette asked examining the images.
"Because I don't believe they know we are the holders are to be honest." Alya's sass was apparent with the animated use of her hands as she spoke, finally resting them on the table. "These people have said they have used all these methods of identifying us, but you and I both know, these are methods I have tried and tested in the past. Yes they supposedly have better resources, but come on, they said they had the proof, but they didn't confirm it. I think they have their suspicions, but they don't have solid evidence."
Like a true investigative journalist, Alya had analysed everything and was exploring different reasonings behind the meeting. "Now look at the pictures," she swung the lap top around so both Marinette and Adrien could both see them fully. "Do you recognise any of these people, because I do not believe they were being wholly truthful." She pondered her next sentenced while Adrien took a much closer look at the pictures. "What if, now hear me out, what if they do know Hawkmoth's identity, but they know it because they are working with him. What if, they wanted you to confirm your identities for them? So then they would know, and be able to lure you into a trap?"
"I don't know about that Alya," Marinette started, "it's a bit extreme don't you think?"
"Hey! This guy has been trying to get your Miraculous' for years and has always failed, he has the money, time and resources, if it is Gabriel Agreste...everything about him is extreme!" Alya finished triumphantly, her points were valid and definitely something they would have take into consideration.
"Guys, I recognise this man." Adrien pulled their attention to the picture on the screen.
Adrien was surprised that he had not noticed it sooner. The eyes were too grainy to be identified, but the square jaw and Grecian nose were plain as day. "That man works for my father," he pointed at the picture showing a tall slender male agent, who had been standing back during the conversation. "I'm sure that's Chase."
Marinette squinted at the picture, examining the image to see what Adrien could see that identified him. "That jaw and...the nose maybe?" She tilted her head to see if a new angle would help. "I've only met him the once, so you would have a better idea." Looking at Adrien, Marinette could see the certainty in his eyes.
"He's the one who gave me the note, why didn't he come and talk to us?"
"Who knows dude?" Nino rubbed his forehead in thought, "maybe he wanted to keep a low profile?"
"Hmm," Adrien looked at the screen again. "Jaques lied."
"What?" His three companions said in unison.
"That female agent is Agnès, I'm positive."
"Does she still work at the company?" Marinette questioned.
"Apparently she's been studying, so hasn't been around that much...I do see her occasionally leaving my father's office," Adrien replied with a furrowed brow. "I just thought she was checking in from time to time."
"This is getting way too complicated." Nino summed up as he stretched his back with a yawn. "I'm gonna get some sleep. Babe?" He turned to Alya.
"We've got forty-eight hours to contact Jaques, yes?" Alya confirmed to the others who nodded. "In that case, why don't we get some sleep and strategise tomorrow."
"Sounds like a good idea." Marinette also yawned as she leaned onto Adrien. "I'm shattered."
Nathalie sat up in her bed going over the last few pages of business reports, ready for Gabriel's meeting with the board on Friday. Turning the pages, she found a stray document, which was needing to be sent off that night in order to reach the finance department before the deadline was missed. Cursing herself, Nathalie quickly scanned the document to make sure everything was as it should be, when she noticed it was missing the signature of Gabriel Agreste.
Half tempted to forge his signature, Nathalie weighed up going to disturb him at this late hour. Knowing he barely made it into bed before three in the morning, Nathalie thought it was best she got his actual signature on his own expenses form.
Putting on her slippers, Nathalie reluctantly left the warm confines of her bedroom, and entered the cold hallways of the Agreste mansion. Walking to his office, Nathalie heard Gabriel's familiar voice coming through the slight opening where the door had been left ajar.
"...what do you mean it was not confirmed?!" His voice bellowed in hushed tones, causing Nathalie to stop in her tracks and strain to listen to his conversation. "You told me I would have confirmation by this evening...I do not care if there was unforeseen circumstances, we had a deal!...if you do not hold up your end of the bargain...well I can assure you I have enough evidence to land you in prison for aiding a well known terrorist, and you will never get the Miraculous. If I go down without my plan being executed I am taking you with me!" His voice was getting louder with each sentence. "I am a man of my word, just be ready when I send you the signal."
Nathalie retreated quickly to the staircase to make it seem that she had not been eavesdropping on his conversation. As she turned on her heel in the direction of the office, Gabriel emerged. Upon seeing her he startled, but when she explained why she was coming to see him, he merely grumbled about incompetence and signed using the pen she handed him.
Nathalie had not liked what she had heard coming from his office, and was even more worried for Adrien and what would happen.