I Do Not Own Miraculous or Avatar.
Chapter Twenty-Eight: Paranoia.
Adrien stared at the ceiling that night. His face beaded in sweat. Tonight was the deadline. If he didn't show up at the upper ring that night, Long Feng and his Dai Li would come after him, capture him, and force him to be their puppet. He couldn't go, though. He knew that. As terrified as he was of Long Feng capturing him and discovering his Miraculous, he was simply more afraid of never seeing his Lady again. He didn't dare close his eyes, for fear that the Dai Li would magically know he was living in the baker's house and would come for him at night. He wasn't sure if he'd get a wink of sleep at all for a long, long time. So that entire night, Adrien stayed there, frozen awake, completely expecting to hear the Dai Li come in when he was vulnerable. Plagg had already drifted to sleep, curled up and snuggling in Adrien's messy blonde hair. Lazy cat…
When Adrien finally saw the warm beams of sun rising in his window, he relaxed completely before getting up to start the day. He made extra certain his hat covered all of his blonde hair and tested out his injured foot a little to see if he would need crutches that day. Lately, he'd been healing pretty well. Talo had suggested Adrien try and put pressure on his injury more. Plagg had agreed. Of course, he knew if he were patrolling and he was forced to detransform while the Dai Li were on his tail, he still wouldn't have been able to run away, especially if he wasn't using the crutches. He opted to try and use only one crutch for the day, just to test it out. He tucked the crutch under his arm and limped out for breakfast. Immediately, he felt the exhaustion of not sleeping that night hit him like a train. He managed to make it to the tiny kitchen where Talo was already eating, despite the subtle pain in his foot and utter exhaustion he felt. He sat down slowly, because moving to fast made him dizzy.
"Are you okay Adin?" Talo asked in concern. Adin nodded numbly as Talo's wife placed a warm bowl of rice in front of him. She too noticed his exhaustion.
"Adin? Are you okay?" Seng asked. He gripped his bowl tightly, annoyed with the question.
"I'm fine." He grumbled. Only he didn't feel fine. He was scared the Dai Li would see him or someone would find one of the wanted posters and turned him in. He didn't want to go to work that day at all, but he had to. These people had been so kind to him for him to not go.
Before he could object, Seng leaned over and placed her hand firmly on Adrien's forehead.
"You don't have a fever… have you been sleeping well?" She asked.
"I slept fine, thank you." Adrien replied, "I'm fine."
"Are you sure? You don't have to go in and work today if you don't I can cover for you if I need to. You can stay here with Jeng." Seng offered.
"I'm fine." He insisted, picking up his chopsticks so he could eat the rice. He began to eat, as he did, spots danced across his eyes, threatening to draw him into unconsciousness. He was used to pulling a few all nighters with Ladybug, but never so many nights of sleeplessness in a row. Ever since Long Feng cornered him, he hadn't slept well at all. Especially since the night after he went to search the middle ring for Ladybug and he found Dai Li guards watching the entire middle wall. He was trapped in the lower ring. They were already closing in on him. Suddenly, his vision went dark and he slumped forwards into a dream.
Adrien! Adrien! Why didn't you tell me you were Cat? He heard his father whisper in his second of sleep. The split second of a dream was enough to snap him awake, but it was too late, the damage was done. Seng and Talo stared at him in concern.
"Son, you aren't working today." Talo announced, "That's final. You clearly aren't well."
"But I'm fine…" Adrien muttered sleeply as he started to doze off again.
"No you aren't. I'm not sure what is wrong, but I think you just need to take it easy for today, you've been helping our family so much already." Seng said. She helped him up and led him into the living area, a small room that Jeng did her homeschooling in. It had a few soft cushions for sitting that Seng quickly arranged into a bed before forcing him to lay down.
"You stay here. If you need anything at all, Jeng will get it for you. Just make sure she does her reading for today and stays inside until Talo and I get home, okay. Other than that, rest. You are obviously exhausted and in need of it. Don't deny it. We will be back at dinner." Adrien sighed, not objecting the matter any further. He lay there trying to sleep some. He drifted off a few times, but still was afraid to really let his guard down.
Calm down Adrien. He scolded himself. Hawkmoth was searching the city of Paris for you for two years and he never once figured out the famous Adrien Agreste was Cat Noir. Just do all you can to stay out of the spotlight, and you'll be fine until Ladybug shows up. With that thought in mind, Adrien once more tried to get some sleep. This time he drifted off into a dream that quickly turned into a nightmare.
In his dream he was in Paris, running for dear life. He wasn't in Cat Noir form, but moving as if he were. There was a dark shadow chasing him, bleeding into every wall and each corner that was behind him. Sunlight slowly was drained from the sky until an ominous moon, the color of crimson, was all that was visible in the starless, dark sky. He felt the air go cold as the shadows slowly surrounded him.
Hello Adrien. A voice said in his head. It sounded like man voices in one. His mother, Labybug, Marinette, Nino, Alya, Chloe's, Nathalie, his father, and Hawkmoth's voice all rolled into one. He stopped running, clearly unable to escape. Instead, he stood to face the shadows alone.
Who are you? The shadow formed into Hawkmoth, just as terrible and powerful as he'd been the day Adrien used Jinx. Adrien slinked back in fear, feeling completely vulnerable outside of his costume and more than aware of what had happened the last time he'd faced the man alone. He was a little wary to face the villain this time.
Give me your Miraculous, Adrien. And I will give you the one you love most! Adrien snarled.
Where's Ladybug? He growled.
Oh, no, not Ladybug… Hawkmoth chuckled, he waved his hand and a flurry of black butterflies made out the shape of Emilie Agreste, But her.
Mom? Adrien said, wide eyed. Hawkmoth cackled.
Do you know what happened to this woman? Do you know that I have the power to bring her back, so long as I have the Miraculous? Hamkmoth asked. Adrien looked down. He was more than aware of what his and Ladybug's Miraculous could do. He knew it could bring Emilie back… but at a terrible price. A price Adrien knew his mother would be horrified to know had been paid.
No. Mother wouldn't want me to. I won't let you take it. Adrien growled.
Ah… then I will merely have to take it for myself. If you will not give it to me willingly, I shall take it by force. Hamkmoth sent an Akuma at the terrified Adrien and it sunk into his Miraculous. A familiar purple butterfly mask appeared in front of his face.
No! Adrien objected as the shadows slowly crept over him. He sat in daze as he saw the faint out lines of all of his friends behind Hawkmoth. Already Akumatized.
The collector, aka his father was the hardest to look at.
Why didn't you tell me you were Cat Noir? The collector hissed.
Father I couldn't. Adrien said, desperately fighting his own transformation.
I tried to keep you safe! I tried to protect you and you betrayed me! The Collector roared. Hawkmoth grinned slyly as the emotions in Adrien began to plummet, making room for the Akuma.
No. I haven't betrayed anyone. Adrien whispered. So long as I have the ring, the I have betrayed no one. Not even you father. For I am the wielder of destruction. I am the Cat Noir of Paris. I am the protector of the black cat ring. And Hawkmoth will never win. I promise it! In a flash of green light, the shadows vanished. The sunlight returned and the red moon was gone. Hawkmoth stumbled back in fear as a fully transformed Cat Noir stood before him in ancient Chinese attire. Adrien smiled cruelly.
Now to take what was never yours to begin with! Adrien growled, attacking the man. But before Adrien's claws could reach the moth Miraculous, the sound of a sword unsheathing was heard. Spots filled his vision and he crumbled. Hawkmoth's laughter echoed loudly in Adrien's ears until it morphed into the laughter of Long Feng who stood over him.
You can't win, Chaton. No matter what you do!
That's when he felt two tiny hands shaking him frantically out of the nightmare and snapping him back into the real world. He opened his eyes to the terrified Jeng.
"Adin! Wake up!" She said in fear. He moaned, sitting up and rubbing his forehead. She backed up, her green eyes full of panic.
"Y-you were having a nightmare… You keep yelling Ladybug and mother and father. I was scared." Jeng said softly. Adrien took a second to come out of the daze of waking up.
"I… I'm sorry. I was just remembering my life before…" Adrien said softly. Jeng relaxed a little, putting her tiny hand onto his shoulder.
"Adin… Are you okay?" She asked softly, just as her parents had done that morning. Unlike with them, her concerned stare wasn't so easily shrugged off.
"...no." He said softly. She straightened up.
"Well, then, tell me what's wrong! Maybe I can help?" Adrien shook his head, ruffling her hair playfully.
"I don't think you can, Jeng. This is something I need to figure out on my own." He said.
"Why? It doesn't hurt to have someone to talk to." Adrien paused, studying the eight year old.
"You are a lot like my friend Marinette. Yah know, the baker's daughter I knew in Paris. She stuttered a lot, but when she did manage to talk to me, she said some pretty wise stuff and gave me great advice." Adrien said.
"So tell me what's wrong!" Jeng insisted. He looked away.
"I've just been a little jumpy since I was attacked an broke my ankle. I keep on dreaming that the guy who attacked me will come back and hurt me again… and I feel… unsafe here… like something bad could find me here at anytime. I guess breaking my ankle and getting hurt by that guy shook me up more than I realised. Back home, I was one of the best fencers in my village. Fencing was a sword practice we had there that was traditional to our people. When I got attacked, I was being pretty cocky. I thought I was invincible and brave…" Adrien shrugged helplessly, motioning to his injured foot, "Clearly I was wrong. I've just been processing that… I'm not as brave or as strong as I thought. I can get hurt too. It's been hard to come to terms with that. It's also been hard being away from my best friend, Ladybug, because she used to help me up when I was down and was part of the reason I felt so invincible. Without her?" He shook his head, "I'm nothing." Jeng smiled.
"No you aren't. You helped me understand my play and find my mom. That was very nice of you. You didn't have to, but you did. Your a really nice person. You are kind to everyone, even people who give you a hard time, and your really polite. And you make funny jokes!" She said happily.
"Yeah, but Ladybug? She's my other half. Without her, I feel incomplete. I used to think we were made to be together forever, whether as partners, friends, or even something more. This whole experience has just proved that we were never meant to be separated. Being away from Milady has been… difficult. Every night I lay awake wondering if I'll ever see her again."
"Are you in love with her like my daddy is in love with my mommy?" Jeng asked.
"Oh, I fell in love with Milady the day I met her. She's amazing, but she never really returned the feelings. Still, I could count on her to be there for me. I miss her a lot." Jeng giggled.
"Oh, don't worry, you'll see her again. In all my books, the girl and boy always get together and live happily."
"Except in The Final Chronicles of the Dragons." Adrien pointed out. Jeng faltered.
"Er... yeah… Except that. But that was one time." Jeng said, "Most of the time it works out. You'd have to be really unlucky for it not to work out." Adrien frowned. He was the literal symbol of bad luck. He would probably never win Ladybug's heart. And the boy his Lady had fallen in love with? She would probably wind up with him, because she was luck itself. He was okay with that though. As long as his Lady was safe and happy and continued to be his partner, he didn't mind. He did wish she loved him back, but he wouldn't force her.
"Yeah Jeng, you're right. No one could be that unlucky." He said softly. Jeng grinned up at him, pleased to have helped her friend. Only now he seemed less certain he would ever see Ladybug again. He was just that unlucky. Even if he had all the riches and wealth in the world, he was still the most unlucky guy in the world. No one really loved him. Not his father nor his Lady. Sure, he had friends who cared for him, but no one loved him in the way that seemed to matter the most. The love of a father and the love of a lady. Two things he'd probably never get.
"Shouldn't you be reading you book for today?" Adrien asked weakly. Jeng jumped up in surprise.
"Oh yeah! That!" She said before racing off to get the book her mother had gotten her to read. Adrien chuckled lightly at the child's antics before laying back down and staring at the ceiling.
"Plagg?" Adrien whispered.
"Yeah kid?" The kwami said from Adrien's bag.
"Am I really that unlucky?" He asked. Plagg went silent for a second, before cackling softly.
"No, kid. You are one of the luckiest Kittens in the world, you just don't know it yet. Give it time. You'll see. Now… since you're awake, I am in desperate need of cheese." Adrien rolled his eyes.
"Only you, Plagg… only you."