A dozen things were flying through her mind. What was she doing? Did she really want to go with him? He had given her no reason to distrust him, but Chat Noir was a criminal. Papillion's voice had startled Marinette and changed her thought patterns. Papillion had cursed Chat's name over and over for ruining his business transactions. Papillion hated Chat. Chat Noir was wanted. Papillion wanted to put him away. A gasp came out of her mouth as quick connections were made. She had to get him out of here before silver eyes caught his black coat.

"Hide!" Marinette's words left her mouth, her head swivelling back to Chat Noir. Chat's face was as white as cotton sheets, granted her face was probably no better. He wasn't moving, frozen stiff where he stood. They didn't have much time, it would only be a minute or two before Papillion would suspect something and start questioning her. Quickly, she grabbed his arm and pulled him downstairs. A noise similar to a cat yowl came out of him, but Mari wasn't paying attention. Swiftly, she pushed him into a closet, closing the doors behind her.

"Ladybug?" Papillion's voice called from below once more, sounding a bit worried. Hurrying, she hid most of the evidence that anyone was in her room, unwrapping her hair from her bed and tossing it out the window. After a while of using Mari's hair as a rope, Papillion came in through the window, with a small smile on his face. Mari could tell it was fake and he was worried. He liked to be strong and seem strong, even if he was hurting.

But in light of recent events, Mari wondered. How much of Papillion was fake? She had always known and understood that he had a life aside from her. Yet as she talked with Chat, Mari noticed how little Papillion had said throughout her life. It was as if he had always told her as little as possible, but always enough to satisfy her. In doing that, Marinette found now that she didn't know anything she thought she knew.

"Good Afternoon, Papillion." Her smile was bright and her voice polite. He, however, did not respond in kind, nor did he make to fake it.

"Afternoon, little bug." He grunted and sighed as he came through, rubbing his face with his hands. He was sweating, eyes darting all over the room. He was paranoid, she could tell, looking for things that he thinks weren't there before. Mari knew if she didn't distract him soon, he would have found something worth investigating. He had no reason to suspect anything, but avoiding conflict was a good idea. Marinette was, after all, hiding a fugitive she had previously wanted to turn into the law. Going behind him, She guided him slowly to the bed, keeping his mind occupied. Mari noticed the absence of food in a basket that didn't exist on Papillion's person.

"How was your week?" She heard him groan, his face going into his hands. "That doesn't sound very g-" He cut her off before she could express more of her sympathies.

"Adrien is missing." Mari's eyes widened. Her head went blank. Only two words remained. Adrien. Missing. He was the only person she knew absolutely existed in the unknown world. A potential friend for her to meet and get along with. Gone in a matter of days. "No one had seen him in three days. Some claim he left on an order of business but-" Her nose scrunched up at that thought, mind returning at the sound of false information.

"Adrien hates business." Papillion sighed and grumbled a response that sounded a bit more exasperated and less worried. Blue eyes darted around the room, trying to find something to occupy her or Papillion. It didn't take more than a glance at her bookshelf to give her an Idea. The wheels in Mari's head began turning. Her thoughts about the floating lights and black cats dissipating for a small moment to make room for Adrien. "We could form a search party to look for him!" Mari exclaimed ecstatically.

"Ladybug that is not nes-" She cut him off, rambling, pacing back and forth across the room. Her teeth held her bottom lip and her hands were twangling in her hair and she waved them about.

"We could send one to the north, another to the East, a third to the south, and we can search west of here," Papillon tried against to get a word in edgewise, but Marinette was hardly listening to anything but her fleeting thoughts.

"Mari-"

"I could go and ask around town! People wouldn't know me so I can easily slip by and collect information about him and is people saw him without raising suspicion- I read about that in a book once- And I can-"

"Marinette!" Papillion snapped from where he stood. In his frustration, he had gotten up rather quickly, leaving a small clay pot on her side table to teeter, just before meeting the ground with a rining shatter. She went quiet, her eyes looking at the floor. A guilty look and heavy sigh came from Papillion. "I do not like yelling at you, and I know you are upset, but I am sure it'll be alright. And you know how I feel about you leaving the tower. It isn't safe, and you could get hurt easily." A twinge of doubt rose in her chest, reminding herself of the words she had heard from Chat. Marinette began to realize a very important thing. There was no way she was ever going to leave with permission. Tuning back into reality, she found that Papillion was still talking. "Besides, I already have my suspicions as to who is behind all this."

"Who do you think is responsible?" Her head tilted a bit, eyebrows crinkling.

"Chat Noir." A passing wave of confusion hit her. Chat Noir couldn't have done it, he had been with her the entire time said disappearance was. Not only that but he had been alone, probably completing another crime. Her face scrunched in thought as Papillion kept explaining his theory on ransom. Marinette was sure he was talking about other things, but she couldn't tell as her mind clouded and stormed.

While she may not have fully trusted Chat Noir, but it was obvious that he wouldn't kidnap a boy, let alone a teenager. He was a boy himself. Yet, Marinette also knew nothing about the world outside. She didn't know what the ocean sounded like, She didn't understand the taste of chocolate, and didn't know the fashion formalities of her time; Chat Noir, she knew, wasn't capable of it. Marinette didn't know what made her think this, perhaps it was the look in his eyes or the sad smile he had, but she knew it nonetheless.

"So, Ladybug," Marinette returned to Earth and turned her attention toward Papillion. She hoped this was the start of a new topic and not a question about what he had been talking about. "I was wondering, your birthday is almost a week away, and while I can't be here on that day, I'd still like to get you the present you wish for. Tell me, what is it you want this year?" At that moment, Marinette knew exactly what she wanted. And how long it would take to obtain it.

"I want a few lengths of silk fabric." Marinette watched Papillion stiffen.

"My dear, that is a long trip, almost a week, and to have it dyed with the proper colors-"

"I can color it. I want it for a new dress I am making. I thought it could use a bit of flare, but I am all out of the ones you gave me." For good measure, she sighed and turned her head, tilting it to the ground. "I suppose it's alright if you don't want to..." Marinette heard him inhale slowly and let it out even slower. She had won. Minutes later, Papillion was out the window and down the tower, off to buy a fabric that was kingdoms over.

A moment of relief washed over her as he disappeared from sight. She sat on the ledge, hair in her hands and in her lap. The sky was so blue. The grass, a poignant green. The wildflowers, so tiny from where she sat in thought. A breeze brushed her loose hairs across her face, carrying the scent of nature. The sun was setting on the other side of the waterfall, tiny droplets catching the firey light. She caught the ivy entrance sway in waves. They beckoned her, begging her to come and part them, to see what was on the other side.

Somewhere, out there, there was a world she had never seen. Somewhere, there was a boy with Blonde hair that needed to be found. Somewhere, there was a thing called chocolate, that was apparently edible. There was so much to discover. But there was also so many things she didn't know. So many things that plagued her mind and kept her afraid in her tower. She needed a person who knew the in's and out's of the town and every nook and cranny. She needed a person who knew his stuff and someone she could moderately trust.

With purpose, Marinette glided downstairs. With a flick of the wrist, she opened the doors that hid Chat Noir to find him sitting on the floor, legs crossed, petting Plagg who sat in his lap. She giggled a bit, wishing she had some way to capture this moment in time. Mari also could have sworn she saw his ears flatten as she opened the door.

Marinette stared at him for a bit, her mind made up, dauntlessness unwavering.

"How did you manage to escape my hair?" He looked at the floor, seemingly guilty. Quietly, she sat on the edge of her duvet, looking at him, waiting. He bit his lip in thought, but she assumed he thought better than to lie.

"A lot of late night wiggling. I've been free since yesterday night." A momentary silence fell. There were so many things she wanted to say. Marinette noticed Chat looking at her curiously. No doubt he had heard Papillion yell at her, but she doubted he had heard much else. The hidden question of 'are you okay?' hidden beneath his green irises. Questions also nagged at her own mind, but only one escaped her lips.

"Why did you stay here, if you could leave?" As she waited for his answer, Mari could sense the silent battle that rattled inside of him. His ears seemed to drooped at his expression turned sheepish.

"I didn't want to leave you here." Mari's eyebrow raised and Chat grumbled. "I may be a thief, but I'm not malicious." She didn't know when it happened, or if it had been brewing for a while, but a prospect fluttered through her mind. It was dangerous. It was reckless. She could possibly die or be captured and tortured. But it was a chance. It was her choice.

"I will leave with you and give you back the crown on two conditions." Mari saw him look at her in confusion for a moment when she mentioned the crown. Had he really forgotten about the reason he was here in the first place? She watched the wheels turn in his eyes and his grin slowly rise onto his face.

"You've got yourself a deal, Princess."

A/N: California testing is the most ridiculous thing I have ever done. I really wonder if the teat makers take their own tests, or even look them over for errors before sending them out.

But here is the next chapter. Now things really are gonna kick off. No more dusty tower! I have a few ideas, and for anyone wondering, do not worry, MARINETTE'S HAIR HAS A FUNCTION. I did not forget that. I am simply... waiting.

As for how I am doing, ruff. I just received a baby brother. I hat myself for this, but I have to say this with honesty. I do not like him. I've always wanted a brother. But when I got him, he stripped away the last pieces if my father I will ever have. I know it isn't his fault, and I understand that he is just a baby... but that doesn't mean it doesn't hurt any less, I just mean that I hardly have an excuse to blame him for my father's doing.

Back to a chipper note. I've been thinking a lot about what society is lacking nowadays and it boggles my mind that it was forgotten by the masses. Manners and common courtesy. Like elbows off the table, "pardon my reach", "excuse me", people holding the door behind them if someone is there, and even a simple bless you after a sneeze. If it were up to me, even though it isn't, chivalry and decency would not be going out of style.

A special thanks to everyone who reviewed! I know I say this so many times, but I write for you all to enjoy, to make people laugh and be happy. I know this chapter wasn't that happy, but I still hope it left you with anticipation.

Thank You so Much for Reading and Stay Tuned!

~Pheonix

P.S. Have a Nice Day c=