Scotty's POV
My head was clashing against a wall. Like a battle and the two emperors clashed swords and the sound the metal made was on replay. I heard voices, unknown. I lost my balance and opened my eyes before I hit the ground, but I didn't. Instead, I'm pulled up again and when I open my eyes I see a beautiful girl with luscious midnight locks.
"Hey, stay with me okay?" Her voice, I know that voice. Ladybug?
Third Person POV
Scotty passed out. Marinette tried to wake him up again or get him to flutter an eye open at least, it didn't work.
"What happened?" Adrien picked up the other side of Scotty.
"We need to get them to a hospital." Marinette replied ignoring Adrien's question. Adrien nodded his head in agreement. Nino helped Alya and asked the woman a group of questions.
"Whats your name?"
"Angela." She wasn't as hazy or even near unconsciousness but she needed support, she was still a bit shocked and in panic from the previous events.
"Somebody help!" Nino shouted when Adrien kicked the doors open. Patients turned their heads at the alarming noises and when they saw a blonde teenage boy in a green dress some just thought it was drunken teenagers after a wild party. Others paid close attention to the event in front of their eyes. And were all wondering one thing. What the hell is going on?
Nurses and doctors came to the aid of Angela and Scotty. When doctors took them to a room Adrien went with them to see if they were going to be okay and get a better understanding of why they were on the streets like that. No excuse for him. A nurse asked the other three, who they were and how they know them.
"We just found them beaten up like that. The boy's name is Scotty." Mariette answered.
"The woman, who I'm guessing is his mum is Angela." Nino finished his arm wrapped around Alya rubbing her shoulder.
"Are they gonna be okay?" Alya blurted out.
"They should be fine. It seems Scotty just has a concussion and needs stitches to the back of his head. Angela just has a few bruises on her face as well as her knuckles. We're guessing from self-defence." They nodded and the nurse returned to the room Adrien walked out of.
"How are they, dude?"
"They're fine. Angela hasn't passed out, but Scotty still is unconscious."
"Did Angela tell you what happened?"
"No, but I heard her over-talking to the doctor about an abusive husband and something about him not accepting his son."
"Accepting his son?" Marinette muttered and furrowed her eyebrows in confusion.
"Did you hear anything else?"
"No." Adrien shook his head leaving Marinette to her thoughts.
"Well, what should we do now?" Nino asked the group.
"I, particularly want to change." Adrien rose his hand and stepped closer to Marinette gesturing for them to leave.
"I bet you do your highness." A smirk played on Nino's lips.
"Uh-yeah, I bet you do." Marinette walked closer to Alya leaving Nino and Adrien to have a small chit-chat.
"Pay up bro." Adrien made a 'give me' gesture with his left hand.
"You've got balls, dude." Nino reached into his pocket to grab his wallet and pulled out the cash.
"Ones that might be bruised for life." The two laughed. Adrien scrunched up the money in his hand.
"Do you want to change or what?" Marinette hollered impatiently.
"Yeah, yeah. I don't know how long I can stay in these heels."
"I don't know how long my heels can stand you." Marinette looked at her poor black pumps.
The duo left and walked back to the girl's apartment. A comfortable silence fell between them. Adrien wobbling every now and then from sore feet letting out a groan and curse. They got to Marinette's apartment building, entered and walked up the stairs. Marinette got her keys out and unlocked the door. Immediately Adrien kicked off the pumps throwing a pump at a table in the process. Marinette raised an eyebrow at him with a slight glare.
"Sorry." He smiled sheepishly. She shook her head.
"Come on let's get you out of that dress."
"Good idea." Adrien followed Marinette to her room. He stood at the position he once was in when Marinette adjusted the fabric.
"Okay, I'm just going to adjust the material to the design I have in mind, so this little fashion show wasn't for nothing." Marinette grabbed a pair of scissors from her desk.
"Fine with me."
"Okay, stay still so I don't cut an arm off."
"There's too much muscle to get through." Adrien flexed.
"Sure, sure big guy." Marinette tapped his chest. She grabbed the edge of the fabric and cut it, an inch from his waist. She cut straight down his chest and unwrapped the fabric. He now stood there in his white boxers, with little black Eiffel towers as a pattern. Marinette walked to her desk, picked up his clothes and threw them in his face.
"Thanks." He slipped on his pants and so. She laid the fabric and positioned it to her liking, glancing at Adrien. She had to admit he was more buff than the last time she saw him. He had broader chest, his biceps increased in size and he had a quite defined six pack.
'Okay, he's a bit hot.' She stared at Adrien, he was fixing his shirt front inside-out to outside-in. He fixed his shirt and put it on. Marinette let out a sigh of relief, she didn't want to be caught staring. She took the fabric and made sewing adjustments and marked spots with a fabric pencil. Adrien finished getting dressed.
"You ready to go? I'm sure Alya's anxious." Adrien was now leaning on Marinette's desk with arms crossed. Marinette a little startled took awhile to reply.
"Yeah, um, let's go." She nodded.
Marinette left the fabric on her desk and exited her room, Adrien close behind. She scanned the apartment to make sure everything was in place and grabbed her bag, that was on the couch. She grabbed her keys and locked the door when she closed it. They started down the narrow hallway to the stairs. The complex didn't have an elevator and they didn't need one it was only a four-story building and the apartment was on the third. It was quite the trip, but it was doable and a good workout. Guaranteed they were puffed out when they reached ground level. Adrien opened the building's doors for Marinette and she nodded to say 'thank you'.
They started out on their trip to the hospital, which wasn't that far, they would probably reach it within half an hour. Adrien stuffed his hands into his pockets and Marinette clung to her bag. She wondered how Tikki was doing. Tikki must have heard when they found Angela and Scotty so maybe she's worried.
Adrien, on the other hand, left Plagg at the manner in his room with, hopefully, enough cheese to last him until he got back.
The walk was comfortable but was filled with different types of stress and anxiety. Marinette was worried about Scotty and how he ended up that way, or even why. Why would someone do something like that? He looked about 16 probably a year older, so what intention would someone have, to do something like that to a boy like him? He had multiple bruises on his face and collar bones, a few on his wrists and arms too. The ones on his arms looked like hand marks, big ones. Most likely his attacker was male. She would have to find out more as Ladybug. She was also worried about Tikki. Does Tikki think she got attacked? Was she okay with being in the bag for so long? Tikki could sense the negative emotions from Marinette and nudged the bag with her tiny body, to reassure Marinette. Marinette let out a relieved sigh as she felt the action. Adrien looked down, he was slightly taller by 3 inches and asked.
"You okay?" Marinette looked up.
"Mh? Oh, yeah I'm fine. Just worried about Scotty. Why would someone do that to him? Whatever their motive, it's no excuse." Adrien nodded his head in agreement.
"I agree. But he's safe now. He's in the hospital I'm sure he'll be fine."
"You're right."
They were now 10 minutes away from the hospital. The rest of the walk was less tense and relieved of stress. They soon reached the hospital. They entered the building and went to the front desk to ask which room Scotty was in. The two were appointed to a room and when they reached it they saw Alya talking to Angela with Nino at their side. Adrien and Marinette approach them slowly.
"Hey." Marinette said rubbing her arm. Gaining the three's attention Adrien asked.
"How are you, Angela? Are you okay?" He looked at her with worry. Angela looked up at him with surprise and smiled.
"Such a caring boy. Yes, I am fine. Umm, what's your name sweetheart?" Adrien widened his eyes realising he hadn't introduced himself yet.
"Oh, I'm Adrien and this is my friend Marinette." He gestured. Marinette gave her a warm smile. Angela drew attention to Marinette.
"I believe you're the girl that helped me?"
"Ah, well we all did."
"If it wasn't for you, my son would've been in a worse condition. Thank you." Marinette eyed her friends, as well as if asking for permission when she would be intruding on into Angela's life. It seemed they were all curious. Marinette took a deep breath of bravery.
"If you don't mind me asking, what- how did you and Scotty get injured?" Everyone fell silent. Then Angela answered.
"Scotty had some news and when he told us, his father was furious."
"So, furious that he hurt you? What was so bad that he thought he could do that?" Marinette asked.
"Scotty. He said that he was gay." Nino's and Adrien's eyes widened.
"Oh." Alya's head fell. Marinette's jaw clenched. 'So, he beat his own son for being himself? What? What the hell?' Marinette was furious. People can be whatever they want to be, there shouldn't be any consequences.
"I'm sorry that your husband is an idiot." Marinette spat through clenched teeth. Angela's eyes widened but softened quickly and smiled a little.
"I am too. Thank you, again. But I'm sure you all have lives to get to. Thank you for helping me and my son." Nino put a hand on Angela's shoulder.
"No problem madam. We're just glad you're alright." Echoing of agreements went around the other three and Angela smiled. They bid her farewell. All four left the hospital knowing Scottie and Angela were safe. They all walked back to Alya and Marinette's apartment. No one spoke and then Adrien's phone started ringing.
"Oh, sorry." Adrien grabbed his phone and walked a little away from the three. Alya leaned to Nino.
"What do you think it's about?"
"Probably about his dad or something like that." Marinette hummed in agreement. Adrien nodded and talked to whoever was on the other side of the phone. He sighed and hanged up. Adrien walked back to the group.
"Nathalie said my father needed something to do with his new model show and he needs my help. I got to go." He rubbed the back of his neck.
"Nah, dude it's fine, go help your dad. We'll see you later."
"You sure?"
"Yeah go do what you need to do, text us if you need anything," Alya added, Adrien looked at Marinette and she nodded with a small smile.
"Okay, I'll see you guys later."
Adrien waved to his friends and shoved his hands in his pockets. They walked in the opposite direction and head to the apartment. Adrien just kept walking. He wasn't far from home and he certainly didn't want to be in his limo right now. He needed time to think. If a person was abused that means someone was mad and the topic of why is very serious. People should be their selves. He should know what that's like, to not be yourself, to have to hide from the public. He still does that, he hides his identity from everyone. This is different though, this is Scotty all together it's not a two-faced persona, it's not saving Paris. Adrien lived his whole life full of orders and he obeyed. Imagine the things Scotty was taught growing up in this society, all the hate and disappointment. More than that. Adrien needed to find out what happened to his dad, did he cool down? Is he still mad? Did he get akumatized? If so, what would he do to Scotty?
Adrien grew up being tutored by the best. He's smart and he knows his computers more than he'd admit. He pulled out his phone from his back pocket and searched up any recent news. A few arrest and assault but the one he was looking for wasn't public, yet. He searched through the police website, they're location and any public reports, if any. He got a bit of information of the public files, old famous arrests but enough to have him hack into the current reports. He checked today's reports. It was harder than he thought. He didn't know their last name, Scotty's father's name or any family history. But he knew what hospital he checked in and what kind of assault it was. He read through multiple reports, all similar to the one he was looking for. He found it. It wasn't the most recent case of today but it was a report filed today. Angela told the police what happened, the whole story, Adrien read through it and all the questions they asked her. He read over basic facts. Scotty and Angela's date of birth, hospital of birth, the hospital they were taken to and found their address.
He knew it mentally, it was near the famous Le Grand hotel, in the suburban area. He followed the mental map in his head, thanks to growing up and looking outside of a car window when travelling, he memorized almost every street he's been on. And he's been on this one a lot. Taking sharp turns and busy streets he found the house. The door was open and there was tape lining the front garden, fence and doorway. He walked as close as the police tape would let him and peered the area. From what he could see from the doorway and window there was quite a riot. Chairs on the floor toppled over, chips of the wall gone and drops of blood here and there. He heard footsteps and turned around, a police officer stood before him with her hands on her hips.
"What are you doing here young man?" She raised an eyebrow.
"Oh, I helped the victims of the attack and wanted to see if the attacker was still here." He shrugged.
"It's very nice of you to try and be a hero, but he isn't here. This place is restricted and unsafe of the attacker. Get going. Do you need a ride?"
"No ma'am, thank you for your offer." Adrien nodded to the policewoman and walked past her. She glanced at him until he was gone and went on with securing the area of the house. Adrien walked back the way he came. Unfortunately, that meant passing the hotel. Near the entrance of the hotel a limo pulled up and the door opened to a blonde girl.
"Adrien!" She called, jumping out of the vehicle.
"Hey." He said awkwardly as Chloe walked towards him.
"How have you been? We haven't had any time to catch up."
"I would love to but I have to meet up with my dad about so-"
"Oh, you and your father are joining me and daddy for dinner." Sha had a hand on her left hip and the right of her palm facing the sky as if holding something.
"Great." He rolled his eyes. 'That must've been what father wanted to talk about.' Adrien speculated. Chloe hooked her arm with Adrien's and they walked into the hotel into the elevator. The whole time reaching the hotel suite Adrien wore a bored expression. Chloe chatting about something that happened about her hairdresser and how she ruined her haircut. A question popped into Adrien's head.
"Where's Sabrina?" Chloe looked up at him and looked disgusted. The elevator door opened and they walked into the room suit.
"Why would you care?"
"Just asking." He shrugged. Chloe detangled their arms and she walked in front.
"She's on a date with Matt."
"Max?" Adrien raised an eyebrow unimpressed with the lack of knowledge Chloe had.
"Yeah, whatever." She waved it off like the whole idea was nothing. Of course, Adrien knew more than that. He could see that Chloe actually cared that Sabrina left her to hang out with another person, a boy in fact and with knowing he smiled a little in Chloe's presence.
"Wait for me?" She didn't pucker her lips, she didn't fold her hands together. She just put a hand on her left hip and fluttered her eyelashes.
"Of course." He replied.
Chloe walked into her room and closed the door. Adrien just stuffed his hands in his pockets, twirled around a bit and whistled. He turned looking at the designer leather couches and wool carpets. The fancy framed pictures and crystal vases filled with water and beautiful flowers. Colours decorated the suit.
Chloe defiantly changed. Her attitude was still cold but her personality changed. She was more confident, had more self-respect, stood a strong pose instead of a petty school girl. She even wore less makeup. Her usual popping eyeshadow was toned down to an orange-bronze tint, her highlighter wasn't overdone, she just wore lip gloss that and a tinted blush of pink but made her lips look glossy. And her bronzer didn't make her look like she overdid her suntan on the beach. 'Guess a lot of things did happen when I was gone.' Adrien finalized over realization. Ladybug, Paris, Marinette, Nino, Alya, even Chloe changed. Everyone, everything was different.
What about him, he still didn't know. He knew he was leaving his father. The house that turned cold after his mother disappeared. The cold house he grew up in receiving no love or affection. Looking back, he hasn't really changed. He might've been more mature and thought things through more and has eased up on people, but he couldn't find anything interesting about him even after all these years. Was he a good friend? Was he still a good hero? The last thing he doubts, he left Paris to fight for itself, he left Ladybug to fight by herself.
The doors to Choe's room opened and she came out with black tights, white flats and a frizzled yellow tank-top. Her hair was down laid on top of her shoulders and pulled back by a yellow hand band. She walked ahead of Adrien and waved him forward.
"Come on. We don't want to be late."
Adrien walked forward. He actually felt alright with Chloe. It wasn't as it was in high school. But why did she act like that in public? The thought popped into Adrien's head and nagged at him for a while. Now, that he thinks about it. She was quieter, she looked bored, she didn't cling to his arm or made any attempts to submerged their bodies as one. The thought dragged through his brain. Did he become dull, or did Chloe change so much he doesn't even know his long known childhood friend? Before he knew it he was seated across from Chloe at a long table with entree's of food on the table with the mayor, Chloe's father, sitting at the head of the table and Gabriel, Adrien's father, sitting at the other end.
The three got to the apartment safely. The walk being quiet besides the random questions Nino would just blurt out or the little disagreement about which game was better between the three.
Marinette head to her room and the couple to the couch.
"We're just going to be binge-watching on black and white movies. You can join if you want?" Alya offered.
"Nah, I think I'm just going to change into some comfy clothes, work on some designs and get some rest."
" 'Kay just don't overdo yourself." Alya plopped herself on the couch next to Nino after picking a movie.
"Will do. 'Night you two." The couple looked towards Marinette's room and bid her a good nights' rest.
Marinette opened her bag when the door was finally closed and sat on her bed.
"Sorry, that you had to stay in there for so long Tikki. I didn't expect that to happen today." Marinette slipped off her shoes rubbing her hills and cringing. Half tired, half in pain.
"No problem. It wasn't like you planned it Marinette. As long as they're okay, that's all that matters." Tikki went to her little apartment and nuzzled her big head into the soft cushions.
Of course, their safety is a top priority. Marinette knows that, she's learned that. Sure she has been Ladybug for so long, but in the recent events of last year, she finally realized how important the citizen's safety was, above her own. Marinette sighed and stretched her arms standing up doing so. She watched Tikki sleep and decided she would head out as Ladybug later.
She walked to her dresser and picked out some comfy clothes to sleep in. She picked black shorts with a lace trim at the bottom and a baby pink cotton tank-top and dropped them on her bed. She went to the bathroom that was linked to her room. Marinette turned on the shower. Soon steam fogged the mirror as Marinette stared at herself and untied her hair. She stripped the clothes she wore, threw them in the dirty laundry basket and hopped into the shower. Turning the knob she adjusted the temperature feeling the heat of the water before fully emerging her body into the streaming water. Sighing she rubbed her shoulders, closing her eyes. Feeling the heat of the water on her back relaxed her.
'Today was a big day.' She thought to herself. Marinette grabbed her loofa and applied some body wash. Scrubbing the filthy germs of sweat she hummed closing her eyes once again.
Chat landed on the balcony of the room. Not much has changed since the last time he was here. The decorations in the trees were still present but the chair and little coffee table were wiped of dust. The sketchbook still was in place. It hasn't been raining for, well he can't remember, that's how long. He walked over to the chair and took a seat. The bottom was cushioned with a pillow sewed in. He rested his right ankle on his left knee. Chat picked up the sketchbook and once again looked through it. It had all sorts of designs.
Dresses, pants, shirts, tuxedoes, comfy clothes and raincoats. Some designs were drawn differently. Some with brush pens with watercolours to colour them. Some done with colour pencils or crayons or texters but most were just sketches. A small smile graced Chat's lips as he turned the page and saw a landscape of the night. Beautiful dark blue contrasted with different shades of black. But the sky held no stars. Chat smiled sadly and placed the sketchbook back on the table. He got up, knocked on the glass doors and waited patiently. No one responded so he just opened the door. He shook his head that she left it unlocked. Then again, who would climb a building more than 25 feet?
Chat closed the door and looked into Marinette's room. He paused when he saw the girl he admired standing in front of him with a towel wrapped around her and another in her hand as she dried her hair.
"Chat?" She spoke softly. Chat blushed and felt his throat tighten.
"Sorry, I shouldn't have come. I'll leave." He turned quickly and opened the door.
"Wait!" Marinette spoke. "Just wait and don't turn around," Marinette spoke quickly. She got dressed. Having a little trouble with her shirt. Chat turned his head slightly hearing grunts from Marinette. Marinette pulled her shirt down finally wearing it properly. She looked up at Chat to see him staring at her. A light pink dusted her cheeks and averted her eyes from his.
"I-uh. Wanted to apologise." Marinette said after a while.
"For what?"
"The other night." Chat's eyes widened and he smiled a little. He started walking towards Marinette.
"You don't have to be sorry purrincess. You have a right not to trust me-"
"No that's not it-" Her eyes met with Chat's and paused. Neon green eyes that held a sincerity to them made her breath hitch in her throat.
"I want to earn your trust again, Marinette." They stood close almost 6 inches apart. "No matter what it takes." There were tears in Marinette's eyes now. The reason so peculiar but she cared deeply for Chat even though he hurt s much but the other night when he tried to make things right with her civilian persona she messed up. Knowing that she hurt him ate her at night. She stood there looking up at the smiling cat. She didn't know what came over her but she closed the space between them and jumped to wrap her arms around his neck. Chat smiled and wrapped his arms around her waist.
"It's not going to be easy," Marinette whispered into his ear a smile on her face and joy in her voice. Chat shuddered and closed his eyes in delight.
"I never expect it to be." He said.
They stood like that for awhile. Arms wrapped around each other tightly and Marinette's feet barely on the ground. Marinette slowly let go of Chat, her feet flat on the ground and grabbed his hand leading him to the bed.
"I want to show you something." She lightly grabbed his shoulders and pushed him down on the bed so he was seating on the edge. Marinette walked to her desk and grabbed a sketchbook. She sat down next to him and handed him the sketchbook. He eyed it and then looked up at Marinette.
"Open it."
Chat did so and the pages that were shown held fabulous designs. The first one on the left was titled 'Weird and Wonderful-Male'. The page had a male body wearing long suit pants with a black belt and gold buckle. They were white covered in coloured pastel dots and spots. The top was white with rolled up sleeves and a V neck with ruffles around the collar. The head was wearing a top hat with grey ribbon with two straps falling loosely. The hat was covered in pastels as well but the design was in strips.
The second page, on the right, was titled 'Weird and Wonderful-Female' with a female body wearing a dress with lots of layers. The dress was styled like an 1890's ball gown but with many more layers of different lengths. The main colour was black and different styles on each piece of fabric. One had rainbow dots on a short black piece of fabric, another was a long black piece with white thick stripes, a shorter one had the same design but the base colour was white and the stripes were black. Lengths of mesh fabric here and there. Styles of colour here and there on the skirt of the dress. Black base colour with rainbow swirls, numbers of black on a white fabric piece, a white layer with splashes of colour like paint thrown on a canvas and so many more following those styles. The chest was a black piece of fabric in a soft heart shape with thick black rings as sleeves.
"Woah." Chat's eyes were wide. Marinette smiled sheepishly and rubbed her forearm.
"I know. They may not be much but I'm really proud of those designs."
"And you should be, these are amazing!" Chat raised his voice. Marinette was shocked but was really happy someone liked her designs.
"Are there more?" He asked, soundly like a kid in a candy shop.
"Yeah, flip the page." Marinette nodded.
Chat flipped the page to see the left page 'Chat Noir-Male' and the right 'Chat Noir-Female'. The male design was a basic black suit with a green tie. The female design was a sleeveless black chest and a green skirt. They were simple but it was a good type of simple. He wasn't surprised how were you supposed to take inspiration when it was gone. Chat had no idea where she got her inspiration from. It would be obvious when it was Chat Noir but how and when he left.
"What inspires you?"
"What?" Marinette turned to Chat, his eyes still on the book.
"What inspires your designs?"
"I don't really know, actually. Some designs I do are inspired by recent events or people but these... I don't know." Chat felt there was more like she wasn't saying everything.
"What inspired you?" He asked again, his voice soft. Marinette looked up and into his eyes. They looked old, which was strange because she's only 21. Her eyes could tell a story. Not only one but multiple. But Chat didn't know what they were about even if he made them up.
"That's what I want to find out." She looked at him with kind eyes and sighed softly. She looked at him with eyes that he could never discover. They were so surreal and lively, he could drown in them. She smiled a true smile, one that didn't look pulled or forced but one that seemed like she wasn't trying. Chat didn't see that a lot but when he did he felt like his head was 6 feet under water.