Disclaimer: I do not own any characters or elements relating to Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir.

Miraculous: Borderline

Chapter 13: On the Defense

Marinette stared in shock, her tongue barely able to move.

She felt half-paralyzed seeing his face up close.

His mask was a brilliant silver that seemed to absorb all the light around him and mute it so that he was cloaked in a slight darkness. His eyes were cold and shone a harsh slate-blue. His smile was smug and confident and seemed to serve just one purpose—

To make her really really angry.

"Hawk Moth? How did you—What are you—" Marinette stopped. She drew herself up and felt red-hot anger course through her, as well as a fierce resolve.

"Get away from me," Marinette commanded.

"Oh, I can't do that, my child," Hawk Moth said in a low menacing voice.

He stopped a few feet away from Marinette and leaned on his cane, looking down her expressionlessly.

"You see, you are the key to this battle that I'm fighting," Hawk Moth continued. He held out a silver-gloved hand. "And I'm asking you to join me."

Marinette didn't say anything for a moment. She stared at his proffered hand as if he'd just offered her a tarantula to swallow, and she felt nausea rise up in her stomach.

How dare he just ask her to—

Marinette looked up and her expression was deadly, cold and hard and promising to sear off Hawk Moth's head if she could.

"I don't want to have anything to do with you, Hawk Moth," Marinette spat. "You are a monster, and all you want is Ladybug's and Cat Noir's miraculous. And I will not help you get them."

Hawk Moth smiled slowly. "Who says I'm a monster, child? I only want the miraculous so I can grant a beautiful wish."

Marinette's eyes narrowed. "There's nothing beautiful when it comes to you."

In one smooth move, Marinette whipped open her purse and brought out the Bee miraculous. She pinned it up in her hair, and as soon as Pollen appeared, Marinette commanded, "Pollen, buzz on!"

Hawk Moth stared in shock as Marinette transformed in front of his eyes into Queen Bee.

Queen Bee smiled deviously. "Surprised?" she asked sweetly before she launched into a spinning swing kick.

Hawk Moth stumbled back and raised his cane.

"Master Fu?" Adrien said as he entered Master's Fu's apartment.

"Come in, Adrien," Master Fu said.

Adrien entered Master Fu's room and found Master Fu waiting for him.

"You knew I'd come?" Adrien asked as he kneeled down in front of Master Fu.

Master Fu slowly nodded. "It was only a matter of time."

Adrien hesitated. "Master Fu—" he started, but found that he was at a loss for words.

Master Fu sighed. "You're wondering who Ladybug is."

Adrien let out a sign of relief. "Yes, and—"

"I'm sorry, Adrien, but you know I cannot tell you that," Master Fu interrupted. He looked regretful even as he said this. "I will tell you, however, that you should trust your instinct."

Master Fu leaned back. "It's almost always right."

Adrien frowned.

My instinct?

Master Fu smiled knowingly. "You'll know her when you see her." His eyes sharpened. "Now, is that all?"

Adrien slowly shook his head. He opened his mouth to tell him about his father when he suddenly hesitated again.

Do I really want to tell Master Fu about my intuition when it could be nothing?

Adrien didn't feel that it was right to call out his father when he had no proof that his father was doing something bad—other than a tingling feeling that Adrien got whenever he felt as if he was about to slip up.

"No, Master Fu," Adrien said slowly. He stood up and forced a smile. "Thanks for everything."

"My pleasure, Adrien," Master Fu said, and he watched as Adrien took his leave.

Wayzz flew out from behind Master Fu and looked at the doorway that Adrien had just left through.

"Master, do you think he'll find out in time?" Wayzz asked.

Master Fu sighed. "There is no way of telling, Wayzz, but I cannot tell him anymore without upsetting the balance of the universe."

Wayzz looked worried. "What if it is too late?"

Master Fu frowned. "Let's hope that it is not."

Wayzz hesitated then blurted out, "Master, if it's going to be too late, we should do something to stop it. Otherwise this is getting out of hand!"

Master Fu looked pained. "I've never wanted to be on the sidelines, Wayzz, but I am too old to do anything other than give advice. Maybe I should've been more forward with Adrien, I don't know."

Master Fu looked out the window in time to see Cat Noir leap from rooftop to rooftop, heading home.

"Only time will tell," Master Fu murmured to himself.

End of Chapter 13: On the Defense