After Ladybug had disappeared from view, Jean Luc began pacing the length of his room. Everything was happening so fast! In this very day alone, he'd saved Ladybug, had some kind of vision, found out Ladybug's secret identity, and become the new Chat Noir. He'd also made Ladybug run away at the very sight of his familiar, transformed self, he added to himself gloomily. Some Chat Noir he was turning out to be…
He sighed, thinking about the memory-vision. The former Chat Noir had been very, very young when he was first given the Miraculous. It was easy to miss in the fan-vids online because his manners were so confident, charming, and carefree. But in reality, both the young Chat and Ladybug herself had just been kids. That had to be a huge weight to put on someone that young. And he couldn't even fathom how they'd been able to keep it from their families. And what about school? It seemed it would be so much easier for an adult to handle superhero-ing…schedule-wise, at least. There would probably be less people they had to give an accounting to for their time, too.
He wondered again where the vision had come from? If it was a side effect of wearing the Miraculous, Plagg would be sure to know. But the tiny black kwami had disappeared without a trace when he'd activated the ring. Now that he'd thought on it-
His thought were interrupted by a soft knock on his door.
"Jean Luc?" he heard Sabine call through the trap door. "Dinner is ready."
His mind was panicking. He couldn't let her see him like this!
"Uh…thanks, but I'm- I'm not hungry," he called back as he jumped behind the chaise, hoping she wouldn't press the issue, or worse, come up to check on him.
He sighed in relief as he heard her say, "Oh, well, if you change your mind, you can come down whenever you would like. We'll save some for you," before she began to retreat down the stairs.
"Umm.. Alright! Thank you!" he answered, holding his breath until he could no longer make our her receding footsteps. He let it out in a puff. That had been close.
He had to talk to Plagg. How on earth did he get out of this suit? In all the commotion, Ladybug and Plagg had both forgotten to instruct him on that tiny detail, he thought, rolling his eyes. He paced again, trying to think of something. Maybe the transformation would wear off on its own after a while. Or maybe…maybe he would stay stuck in it until he said the password, like before to get the suit on. But he didn't know the password.
Chat Noir sighed, sitting down. He jumped back up again as he realized there was something hanging at the small of his back. Reaching back, he pulled out the silver baton he'd Chat Noir use in the fan videos. He pressed one of the buttons, which revealed a small screen and more buttons- like a phone.
Perfect, he thought, quickly dialing Ladybug. Hopefully she'd pick up and he'd be able to figure out what to do next. But, no luck. The phone went to voicemail. He ended the call, throwing the baton aside in frustration. Great. Now what? Looking around, he made a decision, slipping the baton back into its holder on his back as he climbed up onto the balcony. Without thinking, he nimbly hopped up onto the railing, sitting back in that familiar cat-pose position. He looked out over the lights of Paris, hoping the beautiful scene would calm his racing mind.
Without warning, an unfamiliar beeping sound made him jump so badly that he had to grab onto the rail with his claws to stop himself falling off the rooftop. Climbing back to solid ground on the balcony, he located the source of the beeping- his baton. Evidently, Ladybug was returning his call. He hadn't realized it would be a video call- her eyes and face were red from crying. He steeled himself as he realized her eyes were glistening again at the sight of him, wishing it just did normal phone calls instead. That would make this much easier…
"Hi, Ladybug," he said timidly. "Is…is this a bad time?"
She just shrugged, blinking the tears away. "It's fine Ki-, um…Chat Noir," she mumbled, before taking a breath to steady herself. "Did you need something?"
He looked at her sheepishly. "Yeah, uh…would you mind telling me how.. how to get the suit off?" Her eyes widened for a moment, and after a split-second, his did, too. "Not- not like that!" he spluttered. "I mean, is there a password or something to de-transform? I really need to talk to Plagg." Her face relaxed slightly in relief.
"O-of course. Your de-transformation phrase is, 'Claws in.' Don't say it until you're ready to de-transform though," she gave him a look that he supposed she meant to be a smile, but it never quite managed to get there. He nodded.
"Got it," he replied, looking her over once more. She really looked worse for the wear. "Are you sure you're alright Mi- Ladybug?" he asked, tripping over former-Chat's pet name for his Lady before correcting himself.
She shrugged tiredly. "I already got the akuma Hawkmoth sent for me, so I should be safe enough now." Chat Noir's eyes widened. He was surprised she was so blasé about an akuma tailing her. He put on a determined expression.
"Ladybug-"
"Good night, Chat Noir," she cut him off shortly, quickly ending the call. A second later left him staring dumbly at his baton screen.
Great. So now she was back to refusing his help. And she was being tailed by akumas. And if she got turned, Paris was doomed. He sighed as he stowed his baton, equal parts anger, frustration, and annoyance flooded through him, along with overtones of concern for her well-being. She really needed to be more careful… and he really should be out there with her. He roughly shoved that idea away. His gut was telling him that would probably be more likely to get him punched in the face than actually help Ladybug feel better at the moment.
"Claws in," he intoned, and a moment later, Plagg was floating next to him, turning excited flips in the air. He caught sight of his reflection- his hair was once again brown. Plagg was looking at him joyfully, quivering in excitement. That seemed an odd reaction… He suddenly remembered why he'd wanted to see the tiny cat got in the first place.
"Plagg," he asked quickly, "how likely is it that I saw a memory that belonged to a different Chosen?" Plagg's eyes widened a moment -clearly, that's not what he'd been expecting- before they narrowed in thought.
"I can't recall that ever happening before," he said finally. "I mean, I remember everything each Chosen sees while transformed, but I can't communicate those memories to other Chosens while transformed that I'm aware of."
Jean Luc collapsed to his knees, dropping his glasses on the floor in front of him and putting his head in his hands, trying to figure it all out. If it wasn't Plagg's memory, and it wasn't a different Chat Noir's memory…that could only mean…
"I'm Chat Noir," he whispered aloud, his wide eyes trained on the floor. "It was my memory."
"Yes!" Plagg squealed, unable to contain himself any longer. "You're alive! …," He bubbled incoherently, "I'm so glad you're alright!" He zoomed toward his Chosen's face, hugging his nose tightly. "Your transformation showed your true self, and…" Jean Luc was taken aback as Plagg rambled on in his happiness and relief. Jean Luc tuned him out for a moment.
He was Chat Noir. The one who'd been missing all this time.
He'd left his Lady alone! He was the Chat Noir who'd left Ladybug to fight the villains without him! He knew that he'd had no way to know that he was supposed to be helping her, but it didn't stop him from being angry with himself. A thought struck him.
"Wait. Plagg, you said my transformation reflects my true self. That's how you recognized me?" Plagg nodded his tiny head.
"The transformation shows you who and what you really are. Each element of it, from the details on your costume to your hair and eyes shows a bit about yourself. It will always show that true self, even if you…dye or cut your hair, for example," the kwami explained. He zoomed circles around Jean Luc's head. "Hey, you got any Camembert? I'm starving!"
Jean Luc looked at him, exasperated. "You really want to talk about food at a time like this? Really?"
Plagg nodded, a sneaky look stealing over his face. "I'd say you owe me, … ," green bubbles spewed from his mouth again, and he stared at them, disgruntled, cutting himself off. "I'd say you owe me for the past few months being worried sick about you and having to watch over your girlfriend so she didn't get herself akumatized, kid," he finished, looking proud of himself.
Jean Luc's eyes narrowed. "She's not my girlfriend. And-"
"That's what you said last time," Plagg muttered, though Jean Luc heard every word. He glared at Plagg, but continued.
"And…what's with the bubbles?" This time, Plagg heaved a heavy sigh, a sad look flashing across his tiny features.
"A kwami can only speak their Chosen's name to people who already know it. I tried to call you by your real name, but the kwami magic prevents me from saying your name…even to you, since you still don't know your real name." The kwami paused for a moment before he smirked. "Now…about my cheese…"
When he entered the main living area, Jean Luc was not surprised to see that Tom and Sabine were cuddled up on the couch watching a movie. Sabine looked up as he came in.
"Jean Luc! There you are, dear. Are you feeling better?"
Oh. Yeah. He'd been in a horrible mood when he'd come home. Right.
"Yes Mad- um…Sabine. I'm doing a little better," he replied, giving her a small smile.
She stood and walked to where he stood. "Can I get you anything? You skipped dinner."
He shook his head. "I'll just grab something to take back upstairs. Don't let me interrupt." He gathered a plate full of leftover spinach quiche from dinner, a croissant, some cheese for Plagg- there wasn't any Camembert, but he found some Brie instead-, and a couple cookies. It was then that he noticed Sabine still watching him, a smirk on her face.
"What?" he asked innocently, though perhaps not innocently enough.
"Please, dear, I wasn't born yesterday," she deadpanned. Then she smiled, as though at some inside joke, then she leaned in to whisper, "You know, if you want to have a girlfriend over, you don't have to sneak her in. We don't mind."
His cheeks and ears turned bright red. "N-no, I don't…What I mean is…" he spluttered incoherently. Sabine just smiled, turning back to her husband and the movie without another word. He wondered vaguely what she'd think if she knew that the 'girlfriend' in question was her own daughter? Or that she was a superhero? Or that she wasn't technically his girlfriend at all?
Marinette was finally home. She had alternated between running the rooftops and sitting gazing out over the lights on the Seine, trying to calm her racing mind and jittery feelings, for hours. She had been thrown off when she saw Jean Luc looking exactly the same as her Chat Noir. Even his voice sounded the same! She couldn't believe her eyes- she was sure that the magic or her own mind were playing tricks on her.
Eventually, she'd tired herself out, almost so much that she couldn't get herself upright enough to make it home. She'd dropped into bed wearily.
"Marinette!" Tikki squeaked excitedly.
"Not now, Tikki," she moaned, rolling over and putting her pillow over her head.
"But Marinette-"
"Not. Now!" she repeated in frustration. Tikki sighed, looking offended, before zooming off to find a cookie and settle down for the night.
Marinette tossed and turned for what seemed like forever. It wasn't fair, she thought. Just as she was beginning to accept that Chat was gone for good, the newbie with his powers basically transforms into him in front of her. How are things like that even allowed? If only his costume were different, or his hair color stayed brown. Something- anything- to denote that Chat Noir wasn't her Chaton. But there wasn't. Jean Luc's look in costume was a purr-fect match.
She rolled her eyes, chastising herself for talking like Chat inside her own head, before attempting to settle down again. It was what seemed like several more hours before Marinette was finally able to drift into slumber.
Jean Luc was in a similar position in that sleep was evading him. Now that he knew he was the missing Chat Noir, he supposed he should reveal himself to Ladybug. Like, yesterday. She needed to know…and yet, he wasn't excited to see her reaction when he told her. What if she was angry? What if she blamed him for leaving her? He certainly blamed himself, even though he knew that was irrational. He hated that his Lady had been hurting because he'd not even known who he was, let alone that he had any responsibilities as a superhero!
He also knew he would have a hard time getting her to listen if he tried to tell her while dressed in his Chat suit- she had seemed pretty shaken seeing him in it before. Not that he could blame her. Too many memories, most likely.
Where should he start? What should he say to her?
His exhausted mind finally gave up after a couple of hours. He decided he would try to come to a decision in the morning.
As it turned out, two days passed before Jean Luc dared make a move to contact Ladybug again. He was terrified that she would be furious with him for leaving her; he didn't know exactly what they had been to each other before, but he knew it would kill him to have her cut off contact with him.
"Kid," Plagg tried to reason with him on the second evening after Ladybug's last visit, "You have to tell her! The worst thing that could happen is for this to come out during a battle somehow. Neither of you can afford to be distracted in those moments! Just…just take care of the issue!" He finished, looking frustrated.
Jean Luc sighed. "You're right, Plagg. I just…I don't want her to be mad at me," he said in a very small voice.
Plagg shot him a look that clearly said, Really? "Get used to the idea, kid; she's going to be mad at you," he said bluntly. Jean Luc's face fell. "But don't worry. She'll get over it. She's missed you a lot, you know. She'll come around."
Jean Luc looked at his tiny kwami skeptically. "You really think so?" he asked. He could hear the hope in his voice, wondering exactly how desperate that made him…
Plagg smirked. "I know so. Tikki would probably kill me if she knew I told you any of this. But …," he cut himself off as bubbles flew from his mouth before he corrected himself, "Ladybug was a wreck for the past almost seven months. She talked about you all the time, and cried herself to sleep more nights than not. It got rather boring, actually," he said, picking at his tiny claws unconcernedly.
"Tikki?" Jean Luc asked, frowning.
"Ladybug's kwami. She's super big on rules. She'd probably go off on me about 'invasion of privacy' or some such nonsense."
Jean Luc absorbed this silently, twisting his familiar ring around his finger in agitation. Finally, he came to a decision; it was now or never.
"Plagg, claws out!"
Marinette was just getting home from her last design class when Tikki's voice sounded excitedly from her bag.
"Marinette! There's a message from Chat Noir!"
Marinette's heart skipped a beat. "Wh-what? That's impossible…"
Tikki wilted, realizing where Marinette's mind must have gone. In the past couple of days, despite Tiki's repeated attempts to help Marinette understand what she, Tikki, knew about Jean Luc, she hadn't gotten any farther than she had the other night. She'd finally stopped trying, realizing that without a proper explanation, Marinette would likely get angry and fly off the handle before understanding the whole story. And not even Tikki knew what the whole story was.
"No, Marinette, from Jean Luc. On your bug phone," she said. Marinette said nothing, trying to get her head around this.
"We're going to have to start calling Jean Luc's version of Chat something else," the aspiring designer finally muttered to herself. "I don't know how much more of this I can take."
She set down her things as Tikki studied her in concern, then called out half-heartedly, "Tikki, spots on."
Sitting down on her sofa, yo-yo in hand, she played the message. Chat's familiar face staticked into view in the video message. Her heart skipped another beat.
"Hey Mi- Ladybug," he said awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck in his nervousness. "I- uh…I had something I needed to talk to you about. It's urgent, but not an emergency…" he trailed off with a sigh, looking helplessly around his room. "I sound like an idiot," he muttered. "Believe it or not, this is the ninth time I've tried to record this. I promised myself I would finish this one." Chat Noir stared back into the camera, his eyes pleading. "Please meet me here at the bakery when you are free. I'm around all night, or if tonight isn't convenient, I can meet you on my lunch break tomorrow. But please, I really need to talk."
The picture flickered out. Ladybug released her transformation, leaving a bewildered-looking Marinette sitting on the couch, staring off into space.
"I wonder what's going on?" she wondered out loud. Tikki thought she had a pretty good idea what the topic of conversation was going to be.
"Why don't you go on and find out?" Tikki said simply. "It wouldn't be a good idea to keep him waiting. Maybe he's found something important." Marinette looked a little dazed, but nodded. When she'd finally summoned up enough courage, she transformed, swinging quickly out of her balcony window.