Hey, everyone! Sorry (again) for the horrifically long wait (again), I got stuck on some parts (again) and then it took me awhile to get the inspiration to continue after Saptosis came out and then I got stuck again. Not to mention, I've been focusing a lot on some of my original fiction since NaNoWriMo 2017, and I started college last August and... y'know, life kinda piles up. Hopefully, though, this chapter is a decent length and I can start balancing everything again!
Meanwhile, hope you enjoy the chapter! A lot happens. I'll leave you to it!
Nathanael woke up feeling like last night was a dream. He still felt like it was. Maybe this whole thing with the fox miraculous was just a really, really detailed dream. Maybe he was finally waking up after a really long night, and he'd be down a friend and just be an ordinary Joe again.
He was surprised at how happy he was to see the miraculous stone on the bedside table.
Trixx was nestled in the crook of his neck, sleeping quietly. Nathanael couldn't help but smile before getting up and getting ready for the day.
In the back of his mind, he was worried about something. But what? Did he forget to do a homework assignment or something? Oh well. Wouldn't be the first time he turned something in late, and probably wouldn't be the last either. He headed into the living room to fix himself and Trixx some breakfast.
He couldn't get that nagging feeling out of his head. And he couldn't think of a good reason why he was worried either… until he got to school.
Everyone was crowded around Lila and his' table, listening to Lila talk about something. He made his way to his seat and looked at everyone.
"What's going on?" He asked, noticing that Alya was recording everything Lila was saying.
"Lila met a new hero last night!" Rose gushed. Nathanael's heart dropped, and he had to remember to breathe.
"O-Oh! Wh-What was he like?"
"He was pretty cool, we didn't talk all that much." Lila shrugged.
"What all did he do? Was it exciting?" Alya asked, beaming, cameras absorbing everything.
"He said he stopped a bunch of those weird clowns from doing something, and then he took me home. It was amazing, going over the roofs on his flute and all!"
"Did he mention Ladybug and Chat Noir?" Nino asked
"What was his name?" Ivan added.
"Did you see him detransform?" Marinette asked. Nathanael couldn't help but notice that everyone seemed enchanted by all of this information, except for her and Adrien. They seemed skeptical.
"I asked him what his name was, but he kept changing the topic. And he said Ladybug and Chat Noir didn't know about him yet, but that they would eventually. I never saw him detransform, though - he did tell me to tell anyone who would listen that the clown story they were talking about on the news the other day, they're actually akumas, and they've been kidnapping kids left and right. And to not approach any clowns or look them in the eyes."
Everyone in the class looked surprised to hear that, beginning to mutter amongst themselves about what was going to happen. "Did he try to take care of them?!" Alya moved even closer to Lila, making her back up a bit uncomfortably.
"He said he can't purify akumas like Ladybug can. But he did - actually, I should tell you what happened. I was headed home from the coffee shop when one of the clowns grabbed me and took me into an alleyway, and everything got all woozy and then he dropped down and I'm pretty sure he kicked their asses bad because when I came to we were on a roof and he looked like he had just fought them."
"The clowns grabbed you?!" Nathanael blurted out, before realizing what he'd done.
"Yeah? Why, what else did you expect?"
"W-well, on the way back from the library, I ran into one luring some kids over with, like, hypnotism or some shi - something, and so I threw a rock at him and he ran off. And, about a day or two ago, two of them tried to nab me by hypnotising me too, but my phone buzzed both times and saved my ass. I punched one in the nose too."
"Oh shit! Why are they fucking targeting you, man?!" Kim exclaimed.
"Maybe he's so short they think he's a little kid. I'd make that mistake," Chloe scoffed, filing her nails. Nathanael scowled, about to mouth her off, but Alix intervened first.
"If they were targeting short teenagers, I would have seen one outside of that news report. He was just in the wrong place at the wrong time a lot this week or something."
"So, wait, let me get this straight. The clowns are taking children and people of a shorter stature, and more clowns keep popping up to take more people. Is the akuma turning people into clones of himself?! How are Ladybug and Chat Noir supposed to figure out which one is the real akuma?!"
"Well, maybe - "
"Alright class!" Mme. Bustier declared as she walked into the classroom. "Everyone to your seats, please, and get ready to take notes!"
Nathanael let out a breath he didn't know he was holding, finally able to breathe and think without more than a dozen eyes on him. He hoped he didn't reveal too much about his secret identity. Though, if that video Alya was taking was a livestream, then all of Paris was going to know of his existence before Lunchtime even rolled around probably.
Including Ladybug and Chat Noir.
He let out a groan and let his head fall onto his desk. God, he was fucked.
He tried to draw to calm himself down once he got home, but it didn't much work. Listening to an audiobook of The Three Musketeers made him frustrated, and there was nothing to do with his frustration but get nervous.
"I promise you, Nathan, it'll be fine!" Trixx said, patting the top of his head.
"Maybe I shouldn't train today. They'll definitely be out looking for me." Nathanael fiddled with the pencil in his hands. "I'll just go Friday!"
"They'll sense you're a real miraculous holder before anything bad happens that I can't fix."
"No no no, they'll still be looking for me then. I'll train Saturday, no, next Monday!"
"Nathanael. If these heroes are going to be as determined to fight you as you think they are, you know they won't stop looking for you. The problem lies in this - if the two heroes of Paris are running around at night trying to pick a fight with you, that leaves the real akuma and his clones to do as they please. What if you wait until next week to talk it out, and they do something big that day? You'd have no training, out there trying to work with well-experienced veterans, against an evil that won't stop until its purified. There's no time to waste - you have to go by tomorrow."
"But, Trixx, I-"
"Did I stutter, Nathanael?" The redhead let out a weary sigh, slumping forwards.
"Are you sure this is a good idea, Trixx?" He mumbled into his book
"I'm positive."
"Aaaaaalriiiiiiiight. I'll go later."
"How much later."
"I dunno? Eight? Tomorrow night?"
"Good."
Nathanael tried his best to focus on the audiobook, instead of his impending doom.
Nathanael's chest burned as he stood in a darkened room, struggling to get in air. He gripped his flute tight in one hand, the other hanging limp at his side. Beside him was Chat Noir and Ladybug, and both weren't faring too well either. Before them was Hawkmoth - or at least, he supposed it was.
The dark room began to grow even darker as the man stepped forward, his shoes clicking on the floor. The only sounds he could hear was his own ragged breathing, his pounding heart, and the click of the shoes. Each step only brought more and more darkness. The only signs he had that his partners were even still there was Chat's glowing green eyes and Ladybug's whirring yo-yo making arcs of pink light, and then even those were lost to the dark. Hawkmoth was standing right in front of him.
Nathanael took a step back, trying to raise his flute to his lips, but he couldn't really - not with a dislocated shoulder. Hawkmoth laughed at his plight, stepping forwards again. Another step back, another step forwards.
"Nathanael, really," he chuckled, a nasty smirk spreading across his face. "You can't possibly believe you're free from me, can you?"
"I'm… I…"
"I've controlled you once before already. I can do it again. And you'll be the one retrieving the miraculouses for me." Hawkmoth's staff glew a moment, and Nathanael found himself shaking. His back hit a wall, and he held up his flute to try to block any hits. But then he realized… instead of the inky black of his usual hero attire, he was looking at a pure white sleeve, devolving into a pattern of zig zags approaching his shoulders. Everything started to hurt, to burn, to fade away. His heart was pounding too fast, it felt like he was going to give out any second, Hawkmoth's wicked grin was the last thing he could see before everything went dark and-
"Gaah! Aaah!" Nathanael screamed as he woke up in a panic. His heart still beat in his chest, his shirt clung to his body, and his mouth was far too dry. Trixx, nestled on his pillow, only shifted slightly but didn't wake up at all. He looked at the clock. 1:45 burned back at him in angry red lights.
His body still shook as he slid his way out of bed. The wood floors sent chills up his exposed feet as he made his way to the kitchen to get a cup of water. The note from his parents, saying they'd have to be out late again and how oh-so-sorry they were, still sat taped to the fridge. Everything was too dark, it sent his mind on edge. He was almost expecting Hawkmoth himself to be there waiting to turn him into that thing around every corner, to pop out the refrigerator and grab him, yank him in and close the door, leaving him there for eternity. Of course, he didn't. But he couldn't shake the feeling.
His trembling hands calmed a bit as the cool water hit his stomach, and he was finally able to think again. The dark wasn't so scary anymore, now that he could reason to himself that Hawkmoth wasn't just sitting around his house. He took a few deep breaths and let himself relax, think things over.
What was that about? Was it an actual message from Hawkmoth - did he somehow know who he was already? He hadn't even made his first public appearance, how would he - no. There's no way that was right. It must have been just a crazy dream, Trixx did say his dreams would get more vivid, thanks to his powers. All he needed to do was take a moment, relax, and go back to bed.
He was back where Lila had said she'd met the clowns, but Chat Noir still had no idea where that fox could have gone from there. Granted, it had been two days, but still-he felt like he should have at least some sort of a clue. Something in his chest tugging him in the right direction, dried muddy footprints, something.
"Hey! Chat Noir!"
Chat Noir peeked down from the rooftop, looking at the group of teens waving him down. He really needed to find that fox Lila had mentioned, figure out if he was a real hero or another trick-based akuma. He supposed he didn't have much time to stop - but this could be important.
"Chat Noir!" One of them shouted, waving his phone as he landed. "We saw-"
"Why are you guys out in this area?" Chat asked. Indeed, they weren't exactly in the safest part of Paris. It was one of the reasons he'd looked here, and one of the reasons he'd stopped for them.
"We saw the Ladyblog's post from yesterday and went looking for the new guy!"
"And we saw him headed that way, towards the old tracks!" Another teen said, pointing off in the distance.
"Is he dangerous? Is he an akuma?"
"I… I don't know yet. But-"
"With your tip, we can definitely figure out tonight what fox boy is up to." Chat turned to find Ladybug standing on the roof, swinging her yoyo beside her hip, smiling at him. The smile was a bit tense, Chat noticed, but the growing crowd was eating it all up.
"Exactly. By this time tomorrow, we'll know exactly what's up and will be able to tell you anything and everything you need to know to stay safe. So, while we appreciate your help finding him, we don't want anyone following us. If Alya swings by here, tell her the same thing."
"We don't want anyone getting hurt, so we would definitely appreciate if everyone went home for the night and stayed calm. Bug out!" Ladybug held up a peace V before hooking her yoyo onto something in the distance and swinging off. Chat quickly followed suit, using his staff.
"You're tense, my lady. Worried about the fox boy?"
"How could I not be? The last fox we met up with nearly got the best of us."
"The best of you, if I may remind you. But that's the thing - Hawkmoth's never really repeated themes for his akumas. Two foxes in a row seems out of character - maybe this guy is the real deal?"
"That's the exact thought process that lead us right into Volpina's trap. Until he proves he's not an akuma, I'm not trusting him for an instant."
"Come on, Bugaboo. I'm sure everything will be purrfectly fine." Ladybug groaned and shook her head in faux disappointment before turning to him again.
"Let's hope so…"
Nathanael finally landed in his training area, flute clenched tight in his hands. Had Ladybug and Chat Noir beaten him there? Were they about to jump out and attack him?
After standing there for a good minute he deduced that, no, they weren't here yet. But they were bound to show up sooner or later. He just needed to relax and figure out what to say.
He paced back and forth, trying to force himself to think more than panic. Trixx wasn't helping, she was being quiet today. She had told him they don't usually talk while transformed, but he could really use it right now… but he'd have to adjust and get used to it. At least Ladybug and Chat Noir wouldn't try to kill him... right?
Something landed in a tree behind him. He turned around to see glowing green eyes amongst the leaves. It had to be Chat Noir. They were here. What was he going to say?
"Hello there," Chat said. No jokes, no quips, no banter, just straight to business. Fuck, Nathanael had never seen him so serious. What few things he had in mind to say blanked from his mind.
"Uh. I'm totally not trying to steal your miraculouses, that'd be weird."
What the fuck, Nathanael?
"Sure you aren't," Nathanael jumped and spun to see Ladybug standing behind him, yoyo sending pink arcs through the air as she spun it at her hip. "You won't get the chance, akuma."
"I-I'm not an akuma! I'm the actual fox miraculous holder!" Chat took a step towards him, and the red head felt himself backing away.
"Yeah, sure. Like the last 'miraculous holder,' who ended up being a liar. Game's over." Ladybug threw her yoyo his way. Time seemed to slow. Nathanael jumped out of its way, rolled, and ran. The two heroes followed, chasing him through the trees.
"If you're one of us, why are you running away?" Chat teased.
"Because you guys are attacking me!" Nathanael raised his flute to his lips and played a short tune, resulting in a handful of copies appearing. Ladybug and Chat Noir stopped, looking at all of them. Their confusion gave him a bit of time to think before they tore through them all...
What in the everlasting fuck was he supposed to do?! They weren't listening to him, they weren't giving him a chance! And he knew if he fought them, he'd lose badly and they might take his miraculous away!
But then something inside him burned, deep inside, and he found himself turning. He was tired of being afraid.
"Hey!" he shouted, just as Ladybug and Chat Noir finished fighting off the last illusion. "You want a fight? Come and get it!"
The two immediately surged forwards to attack, and Nathanael braced himself. At the last second, he leaped into the air and landed behind them. Chat turned and gasped.
"What the-"
"Come on, you two, you gotta catch me first!" Ladybug narrowed her eyes and cast out her yo-yo again. Nathanael dodged it and immediately found himself face-to-face with Chat Noir's claws. They scratched against his face, the mask protecting most of him but his cheek still getting cut. The flash of pain made him stagger back, but the black cat dove to strike again. Nathanael barely managed to block him with his flute, jumping back and slashing with the sharpened end to keep them back.
"Where's the akuma, we need to get this over with!" Ladybug said.
"Easy; I don't have one! So can you guys please chill out and-" Ladybug's yoyo caught onto a tree branch and she swung around, kicking him in the face. Before he could recover, he found himself wrapped tightly with cord. A harsh yank brought him to his knees as the two heroes of Paris approached.
"That was easy. I didn't even need my Lucky Charm, or your Cataclysm,"
"That's because I'm not even an akuma! I'm just a - I'm just a kid with a Miraculous, okay?! You're going after the wrong guy!"
"And how can we trust you?" the spotted heroine lifted the charm to his miraculous off his chest, analyzing it. She glanced up at him and gasped. "You're bleeding?"
"Uh… yes. You scratched me."
"Akumas don't bleed, milady. Maybe we did make a mistake…" Chat Noir sighed.
"I - you - the clowns! The clowns are the akuma, we need to stop them instead of fighting each other!"
Ladybug and Chat Noir sent each other a wide-eyed look. "Oh no, I almost forgot about them! Okay - Lila said you know a bit about them. What all do you know?" the spotted heroine asked, letting the yo-yo loose from around him.
"I-I told Lila basically everything I know about them; they're akumas, they hypnotize people, and the more people they kidnap the more clowns are appearing around the city. At first there were three, now there's - there's - who knows how many?! I think they're turning the people they kidnap into copies, a-and this is so much to handle, how are we gonna—"
"Hey hey hey," Ladybug put a hand on his shoulder. "It's going to be alright. We'll get to the bottom of this and purify the akuma!"
"Yeah! Together!" Chat grinned. Then he gave him a look. "But you'll need some training work, first."
Nathanael nodded his agreement. He went down way too easily just then. Sure, he'd been up against seasoned veterans of the whole 'hero' thing, but still. Akumas could be bold, ruthless, and just as determined to take his miraculous. He needed to know how to hold his own.
"So, what are your abilities, what can you do?" Ladybug asked, clipping her yo-yo to her side.
Nathanael blew some hair out of his face. "Well…"
The night flew past them, until they were seeing the pinks of sunrise eeking through the treetops. They'd spent all night training. Nathanael had fumbled plenty of times, but the two heroes of Paris assured him that he was doing great so far, and not to get too down on himself. With that, they sent him off.
He went into the trees for a bit, crouching down and hiding when he realized Ladybug and Chat Noir weren't following. He tuned in to hear if anything was going on, only to hear them talking to each other.
"So, what do you think, my lady?" Chat Noir asked.
"Not sure yet. What about you?"
"I'm… not too big of a fan."
"You're just jealous because there's another furry competing with you."
"Excuse me! I am not a furry! Though I am willing to make some fur fly if he keeps acting suspicious. With your permission, my lady."
"Chaton, Chaton…" Ladybug sighed. "I'm not sure I trust him yet either. Wouldn't Master Fu tell us before he gave someone else a miraculous? What if it's stolen?"
"We'll find out soon enough. And if something's up, we know what to do."
"Right. See you for patrol."
"I think you mean, paw-trol, my lady?"
Ladybug sighed with a groan. "Chat Noir, really? It's too late for puns."
"It's sunrise."
"My point still stands. Let's head home, try and get some sleep tonight."
"Today, my lady?"
"Hush." then, a rustle in the trees, indicating that they were on their way back to the rest of Paris.
Nathanael tried his best to block out what he'd heard, at least until he got home. He climbed into his window and mumbled 'detransforme moi' before he'd even hit the bed. He stared up at the ceiling and sighed, Trixx flying to land on his chest.
"Nathanael…?"
"They don't trust me."
"Oh, Nathanael…"
"They don't even trust me, they think I stole the miraculous! Sure, I don't know who gave it to me, but I didn't steal it! You said it was given to me intentionally, right?!"
Trixx nodded, looking at him forlornly. "The same way they would have gotten theirs. Master Fu picked someone worthy of the miraculous and it's sent to them."
"Why won't they believe me, then?!"
"...you said they'd been tricked before, right? Maybe they're still a bit doubtful."
"But they know I'm not an akuma! Why won't they trust me, why won't they believe me?!"
"I… I can't say I know, Nathanael. But I can tell you that all this means is that you have to prove yourself to them! Show them the hero that you can be, that you can stand at their side and not be afraid! You can do this, Nathanael!"
Nathanael honestly couldn't stay mad, watching Trixx flit through the air and giving him encouragement. Before he knew it, he was smiling wide, his heart swelling. She was right, after all. He just had to push through this obstacle, and he could do anything.
The alarm clock buzzed beside him at the same time his phone's alarm went off. He looked down at the screen, horrified. "Oh god. I've been up a whole day. I'm going to suffer."
"At least you don't have school! You just have to finish some work, meet with your friend for the book report, and then the day is yours!"
"...I can wait until later to do work. I'm gonna take a nap."
"You could at least decide what you're going to call yourself." Nathanael turned and gave her a look, eliciting a giggle from the kwami. "What? I can tell when my user's picked a name, and you haven't! At least start thinking about it a little bit before you go to bed?"
Nathanael sighed, but she had a good point - he needed to know what to call himself. So he got out of bed and made his way to the computer to find something cool-sounding and fox-related.
I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter!
If you want to join a Nathaniel-Related discord server I run, you can hop in by using this link! discord. gg/ wD3Yf8c
This chapter was beta'ed by wishfulina, tbehartoo, flautist4ever, and disorganizedkitten, all of who can be found on tumblr with those usernames! Thanks a ton!
You can find me on tumblr at anipwrites, or if you're interested in that OC fic that's been holding my attention these past few years you can check out anip-ocs!
Have a nice day! Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day as well, by the way!