"So…" Marinette began, pulling back a little but not leaving Adrien's embrace. "How did you find out who I was? I've always been so careful, so I'm curious where I slipped up."
Adrien looked up at Plagg for a moment, both of their faces taking a grim composure. "Remember how I said I had a lead on Hawkmoth's identity?" Marinette and Tiki both nod. Adrien took a deep breath to compose himself, then began telling his story.
Another day passed. Another akuma beaten. Paris restored once again from the damage done by the same spotted hero…. the hero that Adrien loved. He watched as that beautiful smile graced her face, stretching the corners of her mouth and seeing the cute little dimple that would form on one side. Ah, how he absolutely adored her.
He watched the love of his life heading off to who-knows-where as their job was done for the day, but was stopped by a sudden thought that kept him from leaving the roof they had landed on. 'Is this really love?'
It was something he had thought of before, but was always quickly dismissed by his younger self-assurance. But now, after two years of working together to keep the city safe, he wanted to be sure it wasn't some passing fancy he's held on to. Taking a quick look around he dropped his transformation to give his kwami rest.
"Maaaan!" Plagg whined as he reappeared, "Why do these guys have to ruin my wonderful nap time?! It's not everyday things are so quiet for us in your life." They had been taking a walk around town to get away from the stiffness and constraints that were ever-present at home when they heard the akuma attacking, and Plagg was sound asleep in Adrien's coat pocket.
Adrien laughed, "Cause then it would be too boring, and you might actually get fat from all the cheese you eat if you didn't get any exercise."
The kwami turned, mouth open, but nothing came out for a moment. Adrien looked up at the little cheese gobbler, noting the slightly frustrated look on his face. "Alright kid, what's eating ya?"
Adrien turned away from the discerning eyes of his partner to stare at the city around them, continuing its normal Saturday afternoon as if nothing had attempted to destroy it just moments ago. "Am I really that easy to read?"
"Well, for someone who has practice at never showing any emotion… Yes, yes you are."
"It's nothing you'd care to hear, I'm sure. I know how you are about romance and love." Adrien sighed, making a dramatic pose.
The little black deity rolled his eyes, "I'll never understand why you humans are so complicated when it comes to loving another."
"It's not like you understand how I feel. The only thing you show much emotion for is cheese," Adrien returned coldly.
"Actually," Plagg started in a calm and almost wistful tone, instantly catching Adrien's attention, "I do have someone I care about. She's even better than the stinkiest cheese you could buy. And I love the way she always smells so warm and sweet, almost like a freshly baked loaf of bread." He sighed, a small smile turning up a corner of his mouth. Then he noticed his slip and the usual scowl quickly returned. "So don't go saying I don't know what you're talking about," he flew close to Adrien's face with a glare more harsh than usual, "got it?"
Adrien leaned back a bit, "Alright, alright. Geez Plagg, I've never seen you so worked up abo-"
"Because you know by now that I hate all that mushy crap. Now are you going to talk to me about it, or just brood about it for a while and tell me later anyway?"
Adrien turned once more at the passing people below then back to his companion. "Fine," he huffed, "I was just wondering to myself if what I feel for Ladybug is real, or just some teenage infatuation that I've built up."
Plagg stared at him for a moment, a dumbfounded look on his face. "That's what's got you so upset?!"
"I'm serious Plagg. I know I like her. I know she's strong, confident, brave, beautiful, and all around amazing; but do I think that because I love her, or because it's me idolizing her from our first encounter?"
Plagg brought a paw up to pinch the space between his eyes, "Maybe you should try to talk to her more. I know she tries to keep things professional, but that seems to have lessened over the time you've known each other. I mean, you guys spend more time together than you realize, and I think it's made an impression on both of you."
Adrien looked up at the floating cat with overt skepticism, "You really think she'll agree?" But the kwami only shrugged in response. 'It might be worth a shot.'
After another few moments, they transformed and made their way close to home, dropping back down to street level a few blocks away. Adrien made his way inside the mansion, heading to his room when he heard his father's angry voice barely escaping from behind the door to the parlor. Quiet as his skills allowed, he sidled up to the door to hear what he was so upset about.
"-ry time it turns out the SAME!" he exclaimed, Gabriel's fist pounding on to the pedestal before him, "Damn that Ladybug and Chat Noir!" Adrien held back a gasp at hearing his father curse his alter ego. What could we have done to upset him so much? He focused again as another voice entered the mix, more calm… almost robotic.
"Sir, you mustn't be so hard on yourself." Was that Nathalie?! "They have always been difficult to defeat, but you will retrieve their miraculous. It will ta-"
Adrien couldn't listen anymore. The implications of what he was hearing were impossible to deny….. His father was- and Nathalie was- 'My god, is the gorilla in on it too?'
He shook his head before freaking out too much, quietly stalking to his room. He had to get some privacy and calm himself down, or at least give himself a place to freak out in peace. Once he made it up the stairs and around the corner to his door, he slipped inside and b-lined for the shower- turning it on to provide noise - then sat down and brought his knees to his chest. "Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god…." repeating it over and over again, clutching his head and rocking back and forth.
Plagg flew out of Adrien's jacket and turned to the boy. Seeing him in such a state of fear and anxiety, he didn't know what to do. So he did the only thing that came natural to him. Slowly he floated down to Adrien's shoulder, making sure not to startle him, and nestled close to the crook of his neck.
Adrien jumped at the unexpected contact but noticed it was just Plagg and went back to his rocking. Once Adrien settled back into it, He started purring.
It was soft at first and gradually started to become louder, the sound and vibrations becoming stronger. He hoped that the steady noise and vibrations would be enough to help settle his kitten.
Adrien became aware of the slowly growing vibrations, the consistent and steady sound and began to calm….. Somewhat. Slowly his rocking stopped and he was able to lower one hand and straighten his legs out of their rigid position. The other hand came to shakily rest on Plagg, scratching behind his left ear, the way he always liked. He took a few deep breaths to try and collect himself and focus on his current elephant-sized predicament.
His first thought was to tell ladybug, but after the fighting they had today, he figured she could use some rest. This wasn't something you just drop out of the blue. He had to approach her on one of their patrol nights. The only thing is that it wasn't for another few days, so he would have to wait till then. Maybe he could collect some evidence to show her, or find where he hides himself away.
But that could wait for a later time. For now, he needed to stretch and get himself calm… and he knew just what to do.
Marinette was so tired. Today's Akuma was one of the many in the past two months, and it was a lot tougher than the others they had fought. As soon as she made it onto her rooftop patio she dropped her transformation and collapsed into one of the nearby chairs.
Tiki had flown over and landed on her shoulder, looking at her charge with a little worry. The last few weeks have been hard on the conquering duo, giving them very little time for rest and recovery. She was hoping that Hawkmoth would settle down for a while, and wondered how Nooroo was able to keep up with all this activity.
"What am I gonna do Tiki?" Marinette moaned while her head lolled back onto the chair, staring up into the night sky.
"What do you mean?"
"The akuma have been getting stronger, and we aren't any closer to figuring out Hawkmoth's identity. We've been at this for two years now!" Marinette whimpered and covered her face with her hands.
"I'm getting worried about Nooroo as well. Hawkmoth has been very persistent, and I worry that he is pushing Nooroo's power too far." Tiki admits, looking up into the sky as the stars begin to appear and the setting sun lights the horizon in gradients of pinks, oranges, and reds.
"Is it possible to kill his kwami by overdoing it?"
"No. The only way to truly destroy us is by destroying the objects we inhabit. Our powers on their own are far too unstable, and without having a focus, it could tear our forms apart."
Marinette gapes at how calmly the little god tells this to her. She's certain it's because of the length of time Tiki's existed, but is still at a loss over how something so fragile could hold the being's very essence. And she suddenly becomes very protective of the now plain, black earrings situated snuggly on her ears, cupping them as if they could fall any minute and shatter on the ground.
Tikki sees her and a soft smile spreads over her face. She floats up to Marinette's hand and pulls it away from her ear. "It's okay Marinette. As fragile as they seem, it actually takes quite a bit to destroy a miraculous." Then she gives her holder a devious look before continuing, "And besides, you have a knight in midnight armor to protect you." Only to receive a scoff and rolled eyes in return….. Until a gentle smile spreads as she looks at her hands wistfully.
"Maybe I do." Marinette responded with such a sincere smile that surprised Tiki. All the kwami can do in response is return the smile, and hope that it means what she thinks it does. Marinette stood up and moved to the edge of her balcony. "Hey Tiki?" She began, turning back to her, "Do you mind if we go for a run later? I feel like getting out for a bit."
Tiki nodded and they made their way into their room.
Adrien, clad in leather and eyes aglow as the now feline iris' reflected the streetlights, landed on the building across the street of a certain baker's daughter. It seemed to him that she always had a way to make him feel better about things. A sweet breath of fresh air to what seemed to him was a constantly arid desert wind. But just as he was about to close the last bit of distance, he saw an unexpected burst of rosy light.
Adrien hid as a familiar spotted heroine launched out of the trap door and began zipping into the night. To say he was confused was a gross understatement. He blinked a few times, shook his head, then made to follow Ladybug to wherever she may be going.
It took a moment to catch up with her, landing softly close to the peak of the Eiffel tower. It was one of our favorite places to meet up for patrol, or to just hang out. Adrien took a moment to observe her. Ladybug's shoulders were slightly tensed, but as she took some deep breaths and looked out onto the city below, she began to relax.
It must have been pure coincidence that Adrien ran into her at Marinette's, but something kept nagging at the back of his mind. "What brings the lovely Lady Luck out to our favorite haunt?" He said, as he stepped out of the shadows.
Ladybug jumped, turning quickly with a hand at her chest. "Goodness Chat, you scared me!"
As they made eye contact, something seemed to click in Adrien's mind. Her sparkling cerulean eyes were the same; the freckles that just peeked out under her mask as they dusted her cheeks were the same; her soft and warming smile she gave him now was the same. He wasn't sure how he hadn't noticed it before, probably something to do with the miraculous.
"Chat?" Lad- Marinette called, a look of concern crossing her face. He must have been staring for too long. Adrien shook himself and donned his signature smirk again, making sure he didn't give anything away of his sudden realization.
"Sorry M'lady, your stunning beauty made me lose my train of thought." She rolled her eyes and turned back to the city below. "Seriously though, is everything alright?"
Marinette turned back to him with another gentle smile, "I'm okay Chaton, I'm just trying to take a breather from all this insanity we've been in lately. A moment of peace." He nodded in understanding. And in an act that took him by surprise, when he went to sit beside her, she leaned over and laid her head on his shoulder.
Uncertain of what to do, he went on instinct and wrapped an arm around her shoulder, holding her close and giving off as much comfort as he could muster in the gesture. Adrien knew he needed to talk with her about Hawkmoth, and about his sudden epiphany regarding her identity, but now was not the time. Instead, he made the choice to try and protect her as much as he could, in and out of the mask.
"Wait, so you're telling me your father, Gabriel Agreste is HAWKMOTH!" Marinette exclaimed, staring at the object of her affection with wide eyes. Adrien's grip tightened slightly on her arms. He was afraid that telling her might distance her from him, or that she might think he's secretly working for him, or something crazy.
Marinette seemed to pick up on his anxiety and moved back into his embrace. The effect was instant as he relaxed and all but engulfed her in a hug. Marinette looked back up to Adrien, "What can I do to help?"
Adrien huffed out a laugh, "I'm not sure there's anything that can." He noticed Plagg began purring again, probably to keep him from having another panic attack. Even Tiki seemed to be somehow getting a little warmer,her little form emanated peace and life.
"It's going to be okay Adrien," Tiki assured him, "You'll never be alone, not with all of us. And if you two decide to become closer, there's no telling how much stronger you can become!"
"What do you mean Tikit?" Marinette asked, raising her eyebrow.
Plagg chimed this time, "Our forces of creation and destruction are ones that work best when in unison. When a Ladybug and Chat Noir begin coexisting in some form and truly bonding together, it can manifest in new powers and abilities."
"I think that's the most information I've ever heard from you Plagg." Adrien declared in surprise, but also slightly with sarcasm. Marinette and Tiki both chuckled.
"Don't get used to it kid. I may be old and wise, but I don't like showing it."
They all laughed for another moment, and Adrien was soaking up every bit that he could. But he knew they had to get back soon. "We should take you back home Marinette. I'm sure your parents are worried about you."