This morning the sky was grey. Every days are the same in Paris. Let's immediately break the cliché of the city and it's big blue sky above our eyes, the bright sun in the corner of the page, or even the green juicy grass of the park at the end of the street. There are no parks in this city, only concrete everywhere.
I was perched on a tiled roof looking at the distance, before running my hand through my hair to tie them. Flying long hairs suck when it's windy, especially at this height.
I saw a red spot appearing in the distance, jumping from rooftops to rooftops. It was Ladybug, swinging with her yo-yo, who had obviously noticed me a moment before.
She put her feet on the roof in front of me, and walked towards my position as I looked straight into her eyes.
« Is everything okay kitty? You seems a bit.. Sad.
- You noticed? »
I rubbed my eyes between thumb and forefinger, tired, before sighing deeply while looking back into the horizon. It was really a shitty day.
« Let me guess, your dad? »
I feigned a smile as I glanced towards Ladybug who had put her hand on my shoulder, looking at me with her usual compassionate face.
« Yup. He gave me another one of his famous exhausting speeches saying that if i don't stop hurting myself everywhere i'll have to stop being a mod-
- Hey, no clue about our personal identity! »
I almost forgot it. I stopped and looked away.
« What's the point? We're not even superheroes anymore. There's so many people we didn't managed to save, and I…
- Kitten, have you taken your antidepressants recently?
- ... »
I didn't answer.
« You know how important it is that we take care of ourselves. You won't save this city by avoiding taking your meds, that's truth. »
She warmly took me in her arms to try to comfort me, but I don't have enough strength to face reality. Accepting this embrace would be accepting her pitty. I'm not sick, I'm not depressed, I'm just realistic.
« If you feel like you need to, you can skip guard today. Go home and get some rest, I'll ask Magma Doll to replace you for today.
- No, I do not want this dumb ass to take my place.
- Don't say that, he's very talented! You know, he's been helping me a lot lately. And it pleases him to take your place when you don't feel well.
- That's the point. »
I knew how Magma Doll felt was for Ladybug. I don't want him to take her from me, not after all these years trying to get closer to her in vain. My love for her was still the only reliable thing that I had in my life, despite all these hardships.
« Are you sure?
- Yes. »
I got up gritting my teeth before taking a big breath of polluted air and displaying a false smile on my lips to please my sweet Ladybug.
« Let's do this patrol now! »
She looked satisfied, and that was all that mattered for now. I held out my hand to help her getting up, and then jumped towards another roof while wincing. My wound on the chest from last night was still terribly hurting, but I had known much worse. It was the kind of injury that was healed in less than a week.
Fortunately and with experience, I had learned that Hawk Moth only rarely made appear Akumas on Tuesdays. There should be no problem for today, except maybe some street fights and bank robberies. Routine.
And indeed, as I had expected, the afternoon was rather quiet. We had to stop a bus from crushing a little old woman, we arrested a thief, and that was almost everything. The day was already over and we had to go back to our lives even if I didn't really wanted to. Going home meant facing my dad, and that really was the last thing I needed right now.
These last years have been disastrous with him. As my grades dropped, my father kept giving me more catch-up hours. He also insisted a lot on my career in fashion, piano, Mandarin, fencing, and all those things that make people so "high" and "well-seen" in society. He was trying to forge my identity himself, whereas I never had any for all those years.
Oh, and of course I couldn't leave home and live by myself as Ladybug and the others had done, since my father won't pay me anything that is not needed to meet his expectations. In this case, an apartment was obviously not part of it.
« Ladybug?
- Yes, cat?
- Can I... Spend the night at your house? If you want you can blindfold me until tomorrow morning. I beg you, I can not really go home right now... »
She then turned quickly after my answer, and jumped on another roof to take a swing and fly into the void of the night. I just followed her guessing she was leading me to her place, looking nostalgically at the gray buildings piling up on top of each other, trapped in the shadow of the sky.
I was careful not to look on the way so she wouldn't get angry at me, although all the streets are the same and I definitely would have a hard time finding her flat even knowing the direction.
We entered a small window, and I immediately realized that her apartment was very... Basic. Just a student apartment, yeah. It was simple, there only were two rooms. The living room had a kitchen and a mezzanine overlooking the bed, the other room was probably the bathroom.
« I don't think we should take off our suits, but it may be annoying to sleep...
- I really don't mind, no worries. It's already so nice of you to risk your identity to host me, I can't ask for more. »
She smiled again and i did the same. That smile is really something i wanna protect, it is the prettiest thing on Earth.
« Listen, i think we should go to sleep now. I'm so tired i could just fall in the middle of the room and sleep right here! »
I didn't have time to answer that she immediately climbed her mezzanine and dived into her soft and delightfully smooth bed.
« What are you waiting for kitty? »
She laughed while patting her hand on the blanket as an invitation for me to go up there. Her behavior amused me, i chuckled as i followed her ask.
« It looks like we're still in middle school. »
I laughed at those words, not waiting longer to get in the bed and throw myself next to her. I detached my hairs and dropped them on the pillow under my head as i saw her lying comfortable as if she was already sleeping, then closing my eyes too. I only realized then that sleeping in a leather suit was not really a good idea ; but all that mattered now was that I had nothing to fear for the evening and that I could now just fall asleep and leave all the problems to my self tomorrow.
Ladybug was starring next to me. I opened an eyes to look at her, questioning her.
« You know, I'm really glad of our team. We still form a beautiful pair despite all these years! It's going to be, what ... Five years now?
- Five years, yes. And you're still beautiful after all this time, my lady~
- Pff! I knew it, it's been a long time since you last tried to flirt! »
She laughed again, and I raised my head from the pillow to overhang her. I could take advantage of the situation right now. She was so gorgeous, looking at me straight in the eye with her sky blue pupils. All this little game of glance began to tease me, I suddenly moved above her to block her on the bed, framing her face between my hands on the mattress.
« You know Ladybug, I…
- Cat? What are you doing? »
She blushes. This time I was sure of it: her pale cheeks took on a pinkish color that suited her perfectly. I really felt again like the pitiful teenager Adrien Agreste that i was without my suit. The clumsy one who never know what to do with his feelings and emotions.
« I do not want to lose you. You're the most precious person in my life. »
I just hugged her. I couldn't do anything more without putting our team mates relationship in question as i did in the past. If only I knew her true identity, everything would be so much easier.
« Oh, Cat... You're just so cute. You count a lot for me too. »
I released her with a sigh, and collapsed beside her. My expression was seemingly so sad and tired, she must have felt pity. I felt a kiss on my cheek that made me thrill from head to toe before she whispered in my ear.
« Goodnight, kitty. »
At these words, she pressed her finger on a switch to her left and the light went out suddenly. I moved back in bed to get back to her, and closed my eyes to try to sleep.
In fact, was I in such a bad situation? I had Ladybug by my side who always supported me, but why do I always ask for more?
Maybe all those years of working as Cat Noir made me bitter and changed me since then. Did she really want a cynical and depressive Cat Noir?
I didn't wanted to think about it anymore, chasing these ideas out of my head to finally let myself succumb to sleep.
In the morning, a weird little swish awoke me in my back. I opened my eyes, and I saw the filtered sunlight through the damaged window of the apartment. There were no clouds in the skies, definitely a lucky day. I got up, still half asleep, to yawn at length.
« N-No, Ad-... Cat! »
I wanted to turn to Ladybug to find out what was happening, but she suddenly put her hands on my eyes, hiding them off before I could see her.
« Ladybug? What's the matter?
- O-Our suits…!
- What? »
I fumbled quickly for the clothes I was wearing, understanding Ladybug's thought. We had re-transformed during the night, and we were dressed again in civilian clothes, without the mask of course.
« Shit! »
I turned back to prevent myself from seeing her true appearance, despite how much i wanted to actually discover who she was.
« Hey, wait, that means you saw me!
- I-I'm so sorry i didn't wanted to!
- If you saw me i should be able to see you back!
- N-No, stop! »
I then turned back, holding my breath, looking at her face she was trying to hide in her hands for a few seconds and that I was having trouble to recognize.
« P-Please don't look at me and just go! »
She really did not want me to recognize her, and the sad tone of her voice hurt me deeply. I couldn't bring myself to betray her trust and abuse the situation.
« Okay, I… I will go. I won't look at you. »
Sighing, I quickly descended from the mezzanine and took the front door to find myself in the hallway of the building, pressing my back against the wall that separated us after closing the door.
I heard Ladybug approaching, and speaking through the door.
«C-Cat, it's not against you i swear... You'd be disappointed to find out who I am...
- Who told you that I would?
- We know each other in real life, and… We do not belong to the same world… »
I glanced down my feet. That's all I feared from the beginning about the moment she would discover my identity: she rejected me.
« Sure… I guess we'll see at the next patrol then.»
I left without waiting, running down the stairs. Plagg came out of my pocket after all this time, but he didn't said anything. i didn't wanted to talk anyway. I was just going to wait for next patrol wisely and i won't ask any questions.
When leaving the building, I kinda recognized the place. I think it was a hundred yards from where Marinette lived, my former classmate. We still see each other from time to time as Nino is still with Alya who is still her best friend despite the years. Oh, I even heard they were about to get married. Nineteen may be a little young to get married tho. But I'm probably just a bit jealous that they found their soulmate before i do.
The streets were silent, and the clouds already had taken over the sun in such a short time.
I suddenly realized that I had forgotten my hair elastic at Ladybug's house; I'll have to do without it for it. It's just a detail anyway.
« Plagg, claws out! »
It was already noon but the sky was still dull. I sat on a roof, realizing that it was becoming a very recurring habit for me to just transform myself for no reason, and it was maybe exhausting for both Plagg and me to keep doing it constantly. Well, i just couldn't help it anyway. When i'm being Chat Noir i feel like i can be myself. My true self. Why deprive me of this pleasure afterall?
The only sounds coming to my ears were the one of the cars down the street. I had the feeling that today would be a trivial day exactly like yesterday, and my instinct rarely get me wrong. I relaxed a bit, looking at the sky for some minutes.
I got up with difficulty seeing Ladybug appearing on the roof.
« Kitty? »
I looked at her briefly before looking down again.
« I hope you're not mad against me, hm?
- No, I don't think I am. »
She smiled at me and did a step in my direction, but i immediatly moved back.
« Oh... »
She shrugged while sighing, before changing subject.
« I heard screams near the Champs Elysees earlier, I think we should go see what's going on.
- Okay. »
I didn't wait a second, threwing myself into the street and unfolding my stick to jump on it and go a bit higher. I believe Ladybug followed me quickly, since she arrived no long after me on the roof of the Triumphal Arch under the gaze of the visitors who were scrutinizing us.
« I don't see anything weird.
- Me neither, probably just a false alarm. »
Ladybug stepped to the edge and stared into the crowd on the wide avenue below her.
« They looks like ants. »
I quickly joined her, more or less relieved that there was no Akumas today again, although it worried me a lot too.
« I wonder what the Hawk Moth is doing. It's been three days since none of our patrols gave any results, it looks like he's preparing something more... dangerous? »
As I uttered these words, a huge explosion from my right dazzled me. A building two blocks away had just disappeared into flames and smoke in less than a second. Shouts echoed in my ears, and it made me lose focus. I hate deaf noises and cries, they sound so loud in my ears. Ladybug didn't lose any second. Without waiting for me to recover from the shock, she jumped from the roof of the arch to sprint towards the epicenter of the explosion.
I followed her as fast as I could, while everyone seemed to be running to the opposite side. Those are the kind of moments that scares me the most: the crowd in panic is the biggest obstacle to our mission.
A powerful voice then sounded, far away.
« Overwork is FINISHED! Now that I've killed my boss, I'll never have to get fired again! I can finally let my rage burst! »
The one who screamed these words was the creature that had been transformed by the Akuma. His deformed body swarmed with pustules of magma that exploded and reformed immediately on his arms. His voice was terribly deep and indescrying, it looked like it was suffocated beneath the shell of lava covering his body. Worried, I glanced at Ladybug who frowned at the monster.
I think we both knew that this poor guy was one of the "special cases". These people have such hatred in them that they can not be saved: the Akuma isn't linked to an object, but directly to their souls. The only way to protect the population is to eliminate them, in a very definitive way.
You see, when I told you that our work was very different from how you imagined it?
« You! Ladybug, Cat Noir, what are you going to do against my POWER? I will destroy you, exterminate you, crush you and dismember you after that! »
Ladybug had time to jump when a ball of fire thrown by the thing brushed her thigh, but she missed her landing and slumped to the ground. I immediately rushed to her to make sure she wasn't hurt as she was already getting up.
« Ladybug, are you okay?!
- Don't worry Kitty. I think we have to find its weak point and quickly exterminate it, otherwise it will cause even more damage. Take care to the civilians still in the buildings, I'm gonna distract him. Hurry up, I need you to defeat him! »
I nodded. I normally don't like to leave her alone in front of an enemy as deadly as him, but the people living in the neighborhood needed to be saved. I ran to the entrances of one of the nearest buildings, suddenly opening the door. A shouting crowd had hidden inside, and ran outside the moment I opened the door for them; it was really unbearable to hear. I was trying to block my ears with one hand while keeping an eye on Ladybug and her fight, while still watching after the crowd of frightened civilians i was pulling out of the buildings one after the others.
But my heart stopped when I saw Ladybug being hit roughly by another fireball. Not even a second passed that I had already given up the idea of helping civilians: my Ladybug was more important than EVERYTHING. I unfolded my weapon and slid on the back of the monster who was too busy weakening Ladybug on the ground. Suddenly and without hesitation I stabbed the stick in the throat of the creature who straightened up with its hands on its neck. Several liters of blood were dripping on the floor, not only staining my clothes but also those of Ladybug who seemed to be struggling to hold on her legs, two meters towards me. I had to finish this fight now if i wanted to help her.
To end the creature, I quickly removed my weapon from its throat and let it fall down on the bloody road. It had turned back facing me ; i could hear a muffled sound coming from the mouth of the monsters and which sounded like the voice of the man below. He thanked me in a last sigh of agony as I planted my staff in his skull. Blood was pouring on my face, but I didn't cared at all.
The Akuma escaped from the lifeless body without waiting another second. it was as black as obsidian, stanking death and eternal suffering. I glanced at Ladybug who grabbed it with her last strength before collapsing under her own weight once the Akuma was purified. The body of the creature vanished, leaving only a pierced man bathed in his own blood on the pavement. I decided to unearth my stick from the poor guy's forehead.
I quickly jumped to Ladybug to catch her in her fall and prevent her from hurting herself more than she already was. A few meters far, I could already see the police cars and the journalists running towards where we were. Although the mayor of Paris had officially decreed that he let us practice our mission for the good of the population, the police didn't really liked us and even had the bad habit to persecute us. The journalists, them... They've never been my cup of tea, especially in my current state.
« Cat... »
I heard Ladybug's pained voice in my arms trying to hold on to my neck. I didn't wanted to stay there was more second, so I slipped my arms under her legs and her back to carry her, and I used my stick to propel me through the air and jump onto a building next door. Now... I really didn't know where to go to let her rest: the hospital was too dangerous for us, the roofs were definitely not a good idea, and I had no idea what path i should take for her apartment. I had only one choice left: go home, and hide her until she gets better.