Let's Take It From The Top, Chapter 13: A Building Crescendo
Adrien Agreste clutched Ladybug tightly as she carried him across the rooftops of Paris. If he didn't want to either transform or drop like a stone, he didn't have a lot of choice in the matter... but he wasn't really complaining, either.
I don't know Ladybug all that well, either as myself or as Chat Noir, he thought, but there's something so genuine about her. She seems to really want to help me, and it's sweet that she's helping Marinette as well. I knew they'd met each other, but I didn't know they'd gotten particularly close...
"So, Ladybug..." he began. "Obviously, you must be getting to know Marinette pretty well. How did you know that she needed your help?"
Oh, here we go, Ladybug smiled to herself. If I want to keep my identity secret, which Tikki says that I should for now, I'd better be careful... and keep it as simple as I can. I don't want to have to keep a complicated story straight!
"She texted me," said Ladybug. "It's a great, modern invention! You should try it."
"Oh?" Adrien looked surprised. "Does she know you when you're out of costume?"
"It's hard to say if she KNOWS..." evaded Ladybug. In fact, so hard that it'd give everything away! "I gave her the number of a burner phone I keep around, in case of emergencies."
"Nice," admired Adrien. "Can I get that number, too?"
"Hey!" Ladybug admonished him, playfully. "You have a girlfriend now, remember?"
"Oh! I didn't mean it like THAT!" Adrien blushed. "Of course I have a... she told you that?"
"Of course she did!" Ladybug laughed. "Honey, she's happy enough that it came bubbling right out of her! She may be out telling strangers at the bus stop right now."
"Good," smiled Adrien. "I want so much to make her happy. She's been so good to me."
Ladybug tried to keep her face from matching her costume's base color. "Well, then, maybe don't run off like this and make her worry her head off?" she chided him.
"I'll try to remember that." Adrien thought for a moment. "What else has she told you about me?"
"Oh... not THAT much. We don't sit up all night and gossip," offered Ladybug. "Enough that I know who you are, and I can tell that she chose very well! I think you two will make a great couple."
Heh, Adrien thought. I know I've been a little careless with my secret identity, but I guess Ladybug doesn't know yet or she'd have at least hinted at that. For now, I'll make sure that Marinette knows not to tell her. At least there's SOMEONE in Paris who doesn't know my secret!
Nathalie Sancoeur drove as fast as she dared, steering away from the Agreste mansion, needing to put some distance between her and what she had nearly just done.
I can't go much further... moaned Nathalie to herself. This hunger is CONSUMING me. In fact...
Quickly, she pulled her car over to the side of the road, got out and started running instead. My concentration is so shot that if I keep driving, I'm going to kill someone.
So, what the heck AM I doing, anyway? she wondered. I had to get away from the house, or I would've... that was so selfless of our bodyguard to offer himself to me like that! And so impossible for me to accept... But now that I'm safely out of his reach, what... am I looking for, exactly?
I feel like I'm going to die if I don't drain SOMEONE. But how do I do that and not kill them in the process?
She stumbled off into the evening, looking for an answer - ANY answer - to throw itself in her path.
Not too far away, a young couple debated how to spend their Friday evening together.
"What do you think, Mylenè?" Ivan asked her. "We could either just hang out here, or Juleka and Rose said they wouldn't mind company on her mother's boat tonight, or Mecha Monkey vs. Cyber Shark 3 is playing down at the theater..."
"How romantic!" cooed Mylenè, playfully. "Every girl's heart leaps at the thought of a romantic night out with a mecha monkey."
"AND a cyber shark!" laughed Ivan. "For the third time! They each won once in a previous movie, so this one's the rubber match. We totally don't have to do that tonight, though. We can go for a walk together, or something..."
"Hmmm," smiled Mylenè. "You really like your movie monsters, don't you? The bigger, the better?"
"Like you wouldn't believe," Ivan confirmed. "It's encoded into Guy DNA. Mylenè... why are you grinning at me like that?"
"Let me ask you something, honey. If I shared a completely ridiculous secret with you... could you keep it to yourself?" Mylenè asked him. "Something wonderful and amazing, but completely unbelievable at the same time?"
"Um..." Ivan pondered. "I... guess so?"
"C'mon," Mylenè gestured. "If I'm going to do this, I'll do it outside. I don't want to chance messing up your room or busting your ceiling."
Ivan followed her, his head spinning. Busting my ceiling? Just who and what am I dating now, anyway? They say that it's the quiet ones you have to watch...
Master Fu approached Gabriel carefully, once Gabriel had hung up his phone. "Gone, you say?" he inquired.
"Yes," Gabriel hissed. "My bodyguard was attending to her, and says that she was consumed by fear and dread... he even 'offered himself as a temporary salvation, but she vehemently declined to partake of his offer, and she then dashed out as if the devil himself was on her heels.'"
"Hmmph," mused Fu. "Your bodyguard has quite a way with words."
"Indeed," muttered Gabriel. "But that doesn't change the situation! We now have TWO affected people on the loose, putting all of Paris in danger!"
"For what it's worth, Gabriel... your son is likely far less of a threat than your assistant is. If he has the Black Cat Miraculous, he has its Kwami to guide him, and while that Kwami is not always the most... intellectual, he's seen such a state before." Master Fu rubbed his chin, thoughtfully. "And while he is keeping his own counsel for now, you've spoken well of your son's sense of compassion, yes?"
"He has much of his mother in him. Sometimes too much," sighed Gabriel. "And, yes, he wouldn't hurt a fly, at least intentionally."
That's interesting... thought Gabriel. This man has knowledge of the Black Cat and familiarity with its Kwami. I wonder how he obtained that?
"Then we should focus on recovering Nathalie." Fu thought about it, then asked, "You have a butterfly that's found a host right now, yes? That person might be our best hope for finding someone important to us - whether that's Nathalie, your son, or Ladybug."
"Ladybug?" Gabriel wondered. "She's not affected by the Cataclysm effect... is she?"
"No, but her powers of purification may help. She's a friendly contact for Chat Noir, and therefore for your son. And..." No, I won't mention that. I'm sure that he is aware of the Ladybug-Cat interaction - that's what got his son into this mess to begin with - but best not to discuss it as a possibility.
Gabriel noted his hesitation, but chose to let it lie. "Let me see if my host is active, then. Nooroo... spread your wings!"
Ladybug pondered the situation as she continued towards her house. This is a little awkward, she thought. I want to talk to him about WHY he ran off, and I did talk to him as Chat Noir before he did it! But as far as he knows, Ladybug doesn't know Chat is Adrien, so I can't bring it up right now.
"Are you going to be okay when you get back to Marinette's?" she ventured, cautiously. "Like, are you going to stay there this time? That hit her pretty hard when she found out you were gone."
"I... well, let me put it this way. If they'll have me, I'll stay a little longer... but I do need to figure out my exit strategy. For going home to my real home, I mean, not for Marinette! That, I hope, is for keeps." He smiled at Ladybug's sudden grin, and continued. "The thing that's wrong with me is dangerous no matter where I am, so while I want to spend as much time with her as I can, and her parents are just great people... I can't put them in danger. And one way or another, I do belong with my father."
"Do you want to talk about what's wrong with you? You don't have to if you don't want to," Ladybug offered. There! I opened the door. It's up to him if he wants to walk through it.
Adrien looked at her, clearly reluctant. "If I do... I'll be giving something away that I probably shouldn't. But I don't know that that matters any more..."
Her eyes were probing, looking for the right line of questioning to take. "Why is that?"
"It's hard to explain. Explaining it would give away what it is that I'm trying to hide. I'm sorry to be so difficult," Adrien responded.
"It's fine, Adrien. I just want to help however I can, if I can. If you ever do need to talk, you reach out, okay? However is convenient for you," she said.
"Easy for you to say. I asked for that phone number, and you shot that down!" he laughed. "How can I reach you?"
"How about this?" Ladybug gave him a warm look. "As you can tell by where you are right now, you're dating someone who knows me. Have her pass the word along."
"I'll do that," smiled Adrien.
Master Fu marveled at the revealed Papillon. "Pardon me if I stare," he said. "I have not seen this particular transformation before." At least not since... what, 1883, I think it was?
"I hope it is not too ostentatious," smiled Gabriel. "It would be ironic for someone like me to have an unfashionable costume, would it not?"
"Quite," the old man grinned. "Your sense of style is inarguable. Do you sense anything?"
Gabriel furrowed his brow momentarily and concentrated, then shook his head. "Not at this moment, but I will check back at intervals. Is there anything that I can do to signal a butterfly host, either as myself or as Papillon?"
"If you concentrate hard as Papillon and call out, the host might feel a tingle; the magic of the butterfly is still inside them, until its energy is used up," counseled Master Fu. "It's worth a try."
And you know the Moth as well, obviously. And yet I'm the one with the book of lore, and who uncovered two Miraculouses after they'd been lost for decades... Wang Fu, just who ARE you, anyway? mused Gabriel.
"Indeed, it is. Let's see..." Papillon gathered his thoughts and sent out a mental beacon. Mylenè? This is Papillon. Are you listening tonight?
Nothing... left.
Nathalie could not walk another step. She slumped over onto a streetside bench and curled up in a ball, in internal agony.
I will have to call Gabriel... and tell him where I am... once I figure out where I am... and what he can do when he finds me.
She closed her eyes and tried to gather enough strength to think, let alone act. Whatever I do, I'll have to do it soon, she thought. I am running on fumes.
As she drifted into semiconsciousness, her will faded... and her Cataclysmic energies did the opposite.
The cutest taxi service in all of Paris plopped down on Marinette's balcony, releasing her cargo onto one of the lounge chairs therein.
"Last chance, Mister," smiled Ladybug. "Anything you need to get off your chest or ask before I go?"
"Just... thank you," Adrien replied. "You are very kind to take care of me like this. I'm lucky to know you."
"My pleasure. But maybe meet me somewhere a little warmer and drier next time? And closer to the ground?" Ladybug waved as she moved over to the balcony railing. "I'll go down and let Marinette know you're here, okay? Have a good night."
She flipped over the railing and down to street level, then darted behind her house on the other side. "Spots off!" she whispered, then dashed through the front door as Marinette.
When she reached the second floor, her parents met her with visible relief. "You found him?" Sabine asked.
"Yep, he's up on the balcony. Shall I bring him down for a talk?" replied Marinette.
"When you're ready. I figure you two have some small things to work out between yourselves first," Tom smiled. "We'll be down here."
Adrien turned towards the balcony hatch as he heard it opening, and watched Marinette climb up to meet him. She stopped a couple of steps away from him, eyeing him up and down.
"For the record..." Marinette began, "I'm still deciding whether I want to cover you in kisses or smack you right now."
"I know which one I'd prefer... but I also know which one I deserve," stammered Adrien. "I'm so sorry, Marinette."
"Start there," she replied, evenly. "Tell me what it is you're sorry for."
"I'm sorry that I ran off without explaining myself or saying goodbye," he began. "I'm sorry that I worried you so much. I'm VERY sorry that I put you and your mother in danger today by being so careless. I don't know how you're forgiving me for that. I'm not sorry that what I did afterwards, I did in order to try to protect you and your family..."
Adrien's eyes watered up. "But I know that I hurt you by doing that. And for that, I apologize most of all."
Marinette stepped forward. "That's a good answer," she said. As she wrapped her arms around Adrien, she whispered in his ear, "Tell me some more good answers."
"I'll try," Adrien said. "What's your next question?"
"How are you going to make all of this up to me?" asked Marinette, snuggling closer. "Be very specific."
"Well, if you MUST know... I do have a few ideas that might interest you..."
Mylenè grinned at Ivan, as they stood in his backyard. "You are not going to believe this," she smiled. "I..."
Her face went slack, momentarily, as if she was listening to something that Ivan couldn't hear. "Hmmm," she noted. "We might not get to do the date thing tonight after all. The person who gave me what I'm about to show you... I think he's calling me."
Ivan looked quite confused. "I don't get any of this, Mylenè. What is it that's such a big surprise?"
"Just watch," she grinned. "TRANSFORM ME!"
The look on Ivan's face as his girlfriend changed from a short, chubby young woman to a gigantic living statue was priceless.
"WHAT THE HECK?" he yelled up at her. "How... what... I DON'T EVEN! Are you IN THERE, Mylenè?"
"It's still me," the golem replied. "You like?"
"That is AMAZING!" Ivan cried out. "How did this happen? Can I get one?"
"Hang on, honey," she said, seeing Papillon's energy signature flare up on her face. "The boss is calling."
Papillon grinned, abruptly, as contact was made. "Greetings, Dreadnaught!" he began, with a smile for Fu's benefit. "I hope I have not caught you out at a bad time."
"I'm fine, Papillon," Dreadnaught replied. "In fact, I had just been thinking of transforming anyway, to show my boyfriend what I can do now. I'm guessing you've got something else in mind, though?"
"I do. Again, I am hoping this will go without a fight, but I have a needle-in-a-haystack search for you. Would you be willing to see if you can hunt down some people for me?" asked Papillon.
"Do I have any kind of... senses, or anything, to help me find them?" wondered Dreadnaught.
"Not that I am aware of. Hence, this might not be easy. But, much like before, super-people tend to attract super-people... which may help you with two of them," Papillon noted, "Ladybug and Chat Noir. Be persuasive and gentle with Ladybug; she is an ally and we should keep her that way. If you encounter Chat Noir, try to convince him to follow you to me; if he resists, you might have to simply grab him. I will guide you if that becomes a possibility."
"Okay. I hope I do see Ladybug again; she was really nice! And if I get these hands around Chat Noir, I don't think he's getting loose. Who are the other two?"
"The third is... well, an unusual request." Papillon considered how to phrase this. "There is a young fashion model named Adrien Agreste..."
"ADRIEN?" Dreadnaught gasped, startled. "Sure, I know him! He's in some of my classes in school! Or was, at least, before he disappeared. What would you want with him?" she asked, a little suspiciously.
"That's... somewhat of a long story. Word has reached me that he is missing, and I would like to bring him home if I can. If you encounter him, same protocol as Chat Noir; persuade him if possible, scoop him up if not."
"And the fourth?" the golem asked, a little less sure about this whole operation than before.
"Actually my highest priority at the moment. A woman named Nathalie, who is currently lost in Paris somewhere, and I would desperately like to bring her safely home. She is an acquaintance of Adrien's, so if you find him, he may be interested in and able to help you find her." Papillon gave Dreadnaught a rough description of Nathalie, her clothing and her most recent whereabouts. "The two heroes might be able to help in that search, as well. She is ill, and in need of special care."
From behind him, Master Fu coughed. "Are you going to tell her about the danger inherent in Nathalie and your son?" he said, quietly.
"Of course," Papillon muttered in his direction. I was getting to that! he grumbled, internally. "Be warned; Nathalie has something magical and dangerous possessing her at the moment. Her hands can drain energy at a frightening rate! So if you do find her... keep a little distance. Let me speak with her."
"Sure. So... If I find Ladybug, see if she can help me. If I find Chat Noir or Adrien Agreste, try to talk them into helping me, otherwise scoop them up. If I find this Nathalie woman, be careful and don't get grabby. Have I got it?" asked Dreadnaught.
"Yes. Please be careful, and I am thankful once again for your help." Papillon broke contact for the moment and turned to Master Fu. "I'm not sending a child into a lion's den, am I?" he wondered aloud.
"I certainly hope not... but do not underestimate the damage Cataclysm can do. Your butterfly might protect her to some degree... and it might not," the old man cautioned. "Do not put your young friend in harm's way lightly."
"I don't intend to," said Papillon.
Two young lovers embraced on Marinette's balcony, stealing a few moments for themselves while they could.
"This has been quite... a day," giggled Marinette, sneaking words in between kisses. "I've become your girlfriend, had our first... fight, and now our first make-up make-out, all... in a matter of hours!"
"Yeah," Adrien replied, "we might... want to... slow that pace a bit."
"It's an... option," she grinned. "Maybe a day or two... where we can just... be us."
"I like that... idea."
Marinette and Adrien slowly returned to a simmer, catching their breath... until Marinette's ringing phone disturbed their bliss.
"It's Alya," Marinette said, looking at it without answering it yet. "I don't know that I should answer that."
"No?" asked Adrien. "Why not?"
"Well, think about it," she said, quickly. "You've been gone without a trace for a week. They've been asking at school if anyone's seen you. No one has. If I answer my phone right now and you're standing right next to me..."
The phone continued to ring. Adrien offered, "Are we keeping this a secret? Us, I mean?"
"I sure hope not! But you know how Girl Talk is; it moves like lightning. If Alya finds out that you're here, or that you've been living here this week, or that we're a couple now, it might be all over town in a flash. Do we need to talk about how to handle any of that?" wondered Marinette. "What if word gets to your father?"
"On the one hand, I definitely get what you're saying," mused Adrien. "On the other hand, if we're going to cause a scandal... we might as well go big."
"What happened to 'slow that pace a bit?'" asked Marinette, with a wry grin.
"Point taken."
"How about this?" she suggested. "I'll stall Alya and play with her expectations a little bit. My parents will want to talk with us soon, anyway. When we're ready, we'll blow some minds."
At her house, Alya was about to redial Marinette when a text message arrived:
[Marinette] Hi, sorry about that. Can't talk long right now...
[Alya] No problem, I was just going to see if you wanted to do anything tonight. What's up?
[Marinette] Oh... I have company. :)
[Alya] Oh? Do tell! Anyone I know?
[Marinette] Mmmmmmaybe.
[Marinette] I'll ping you when I'm alone again, okay?
[Alya] You'd BETTER!
WHAT is that girl up to? wondered Alya. I may have to come bend her ear in person tomorrow and find out...
"Do you need any help?" Ivan asked his transformed girlfriend. "I mean, I don't know what I can do, but..."
"Do I look like I need help?" laughed the Dreadnaught. "You're sweet. I'm not expecting any trouble, though. How about this; if you hear anything about Adrien, let me know when I get back."
"I don't expect to, but if I do, I will. Be safe," said Ivan.
"From what Papillon's told me, I could get hit by a truck and not feel it. But I will be careful," she assured him. "A kiss for good luck?"
"You'll have to help me, I can't reach your lips from here."
Mylenè laughed as she lifted Ivan up, then sat him back down and stomped off in the direction Papillon had directed her to try first. I am a little anxious about Papillon's warning about this Nathalie... she thought. If he told me that she could hurt me, he probably means it! But she wouldn't do that on purpose, would she?
Tom and Sabine heard footsteps on the stairs and turned to greet Marinette and Adrien. "Hello, Adrien," called Sabine. "Come in and get comfortable. It's good to have you back here."
"H-hi," Adrien stammered. "Are you feeling okay, Sabine?"
"I'm fine, I promise. I mean, don't try it again on me to make sure," she laughed. "But it startled me more than anything else."
"Everyone is fine, Adrien. But let's sit down and talk this out for a few minutes, okay?" Tom said, beckoning the kids over to the sofa. "No hard feelings from anyone, but we need to be all on the same page here."
Adrien and Marinette sat down together, his left hand in her right. "That's more than fair," Adrien said. "I know that Marinette knows my secrets, and I don't mind sharing them with you two, if you'll promise to keep them between the four of us."
"Scout's honor," Tom said, holding his hand up.
"You were never a Scout," Sabine smirked.
"I didn't say which Scout's honor, did I?" quipped Tom. "Let's start at the beginning. You have something in your right hand that's very dangerous. Where did that come from?"
Adrien began the long story of how he'd ended up in his present situation: his discovery, his Miraculous identity, his accident, his time on the run. Sabine gasped a bit at a few parts, but let him continue. Tom remained stone-faced.
"You poor boy! How long have you been without your mother?" Sabine asked, looking concerned.
"It's been about a year and a half," Adrien replied. "A very long year and a half. My father has been keeping up appearances, but he's taken it hard, I can tell. And now he thinks he's lost me, too."
"All the more reason for you to at least get back in contact with him, Adrien. I don't know how I would react if I was in your shoes; how could I? This is all ten steps past crazy," Tom said. "But I can't imagine that he doesn't need you very much, or that you don't need him."
"I know, and I agree," said Adrien. "I will call him tomorrow... and then I'll figure out if I'm comfortable going home or not. This," he added, holding up his silver ring, "changes things quite a bit."
"How so?" Sabine asked, more than a little curious.
Marinette squirmed a little; it sounded strange to hear Adrien relate his conversation with Ladybug when she was sitting right next to him. She looked at her parents, pleadingly, and was relieved when they betrayed no knowledge of her secret.
"So that's my dilemma," Adrien concluded. "The Cat and the Ladybug together could bring incredible things into the world... but at a huge price. I tried to play with that magic, only half-understanding it, and it caused all of this insanity. The only other person in Paris who understands the magic enough to attempt it is my father... and I don't know that I trust him enough right now to put half of that combination back into his house. But as long as my energies are all messed up, I don't think I can be without it for too long, so I can't give it to someone or hide it and go home without it!"
Adrien's head sank, and he held it with both hands. "And here I thought being a superhero would be fun and games and adventure..."
Tom looked at Adrien carefully, then at his wife and daughter, then back at Adrien. "Son," he said, "you are a fine young man with a very remarkable gift. And I don't mean your Miraculous." He watched Adrien lift his head back up and meet his gaze, and continued, "You have a heart as big as all outdoors, and I see that in everything you do and say. You do realize that that's the main reason why after all of this, you're in my house right now, holding my daughter's hand, with my approval."
"I'm more than a little surprised that I have that approval," Adrien responded.
"I know that you will be more careful around all of us, and let us know when you're feeling like you're dangerous. I don't know what you'd do to FIX that..." puzzled Tom, "and perhaps your father's research will be part of that. One way or another, he's going to be part of your life again. I can't take his place and I'm not going to try to! But as long as you need us... and especially as long as you and Marinette need each other... you will have a place here that you can count on. Just be honest with us, and we'll do the same."
"I... promise," said Adrien, a bit choked up. "Thank you so much."
As the Dreadnaught, Mylenè stomped through a handful of neighborhoods, moving in the direction Papillon had suggested. It was slow going, and nothing out of the ordinary besides herself was immediately forthcoming.
Of course, her presence alone was enough to wake up the locals... Cars skidded away from her, pedestrians ran screaming, and Officer Roger's patrol car crept along behind her, keeping some distance but refusing to break off pursuit. I wonder what it is that he thinks he can do if I DID want to cause trouble? she thought, amused by the notion. Slap a bunch of tickets on me?
A news crew skidded into position and started filming her approach; she waved to them in what she hoped would seem a friendly gesture. "Hi, Dad!" she called, with a deep-voiced laugh. This is fun, and everything, but I'm not being very productive yet...
Up ahead a couple of blocks, she saw some sort of a commotion happening, and this one wasn't her doing. She saw some sort of strange glow in the distance. Maybe I should check that out, she thought.
"So... now that we're on the same page, are we looking at any new house rules?" Marinette asked, trying to look as innocent as possible.
Sabine chuckled at that. "Actually, yes. All kissing must be conducted between the hours of four and six o'clock, no exceptions, and either your father or I must be there to supervise."
Both parents cracked up at the looks on Marinette and Adrien's faces. "Or... we could go with common sense," Sabine continued. "Like, we won't demand that room doors stay open if you don't get caught at anything that'd make us want them open. Behave, and we don't need to do anything dramatic. Right, Tom?"
"Hmmph," Tom sniffed. "I'm the father of a teenage girl. I think BOTH of Adrien's hands can be dangerous." Satisfied with the mortified look that produced from Marinette, he added, "But of course that won't become a potential problem, right?"
"Right," Adrien said, a little too quickly. "I wouldn't... um..."
The family followed his gaze to the nearby television, which had a breaking news report of an animated golem stomping through Paris. "Looks like Dreadnaught's back in town," Marinette noted. She looked at Adrien and asked, "Do you think you're needed?"
"It's not doing anything particularly hostile, is it?" Sabine wondered. "It looks like it's just wandering more than anything else."
"True," replied Adrien, "but last time, she was out there looking for Ladybug or Chat Noir. I don't know if Ladybug has her ears on tonight, so... maybe I'll take this one. If you're good with that?" he asked, looking at Marinette.
"Just be safe, sweetie," she said, squeezing his hand. "I'll, um, text Ladybug and see if she's available."
"Speaking of... does that mean we get to meet our other mystery houseguest?" Tom grinned. "The reason our cheese keeps disappearing?"
Adrien blushed, a bit embarrassed by that. "Yes, he's around. Plagg, can you come out?" he called.
The tiny black cat floated down the stairs. "If it'll make you feel better about that, Mr. Dupain, it was really good cheese."
A small crowd had started to form around the woman on the bench... but not too closely. There had been footage of superheroes and villains in America, of course, and rumors of it popping up in Paris recently - the catboy, the winged girl, the giant statue, the girl in the ladybug suit - but this seemed like something different. If this was some kind of stunt show or live action role-playing skit, the special effects were AMAZING.
The woman didn't seem to be an active threat to anyone; in fact, not particularly active at all. She was dressed normally and lying fairly still. But the black energy pulsing around one of her hands, and increasingly around HER, was clearly out of the ordinary.
The bystanders, not experienced enough around superbeings to respond with "RUUUUUN!" at first glance, gawked at Nathalie and wondered what to do next. A wag in the back hollered "Poke her with a stick!" and was swiftly hooted down.
Thundering footsteps in the distance began to be heard, then became louder, and louder, and louder...
"RUUUUUN!" yelled someone, and most of the crowd did. "Giant hulking, walking statue" didn't require a lot of experience to process.
"Oh, come on, now! I'm not here to hurt anybody!" Dreadnaught yelled back. Sheesh, some people!
She peered down at the figure on the bench, warily. "Papillon?" she said. "Could this be the Nathalie you told me about?"
Papillon concentrated hard, visualizing what Dreadnaught was seeing... and turned white as a sheet.
"Yes! That's her... but the energy around her is like nothing I've seen before. DO NOT TOUCH HER!" he hollered to Dreadnaught. "Step back a bit." He turned to Fu and described the state Nathalie appeared to be in, and was not reassured when Fu became equally alarmed. "What should we do?" he asked Fu, holding up the vial of liquid Fu had prepared. "Will this help her at all?"
"Maybe? I have no idea... Remember that bit about two tablespoons every two hours? Forget that; give her the whole thing! Go, do it NOW, and do not hesitate!" Fu barked. "More lives than hers may be at stake."
"Dreadnaught... Mylenè... listen carefully. Do NOT touch Nathalie. Talk to her, gently, and see if she's responsive. Tell her that Gabriel is on his way, and he has medicine that may help her. Tell her not to move. If she just stays curled up in a ball, that's fine. But keep things calm for all our sakes. Understood?"
"Understood, Papillon," he heard in return.
I just blew my secret identity to her, in a big way... but, blast it, that doesn't matter right now. Nathalie and Mylenè's safety are more important.
"I am breaking contact now. Please be careful." He closed contact with Dreadnaught, then called out, "Fold your wings!" and reverted back to Gabriel in a white flash.
"Anything else I need to know?" Gabriel asked Fu, frantically.
"Not that I know of. If you can stabilize her, bring her here!" Fu replied. "And pray that this works," he called, as he watched Gabriel dash to his car.
Chat Noir ran and flipped across the rooftops of Paris, heading for the neighborhood where Dreadnaught had been sighted.
It's funny, he thought. Her hair reminds me a LOT of one of my classmates. Wouldn't that be funny if that was her, transformed? Maybe there's something in the air in my classroom. First me, then Mylenè...
An errant thought wandered across his brain. Now, HERE'S a funny thing, he pondered. For people who'd never seen anyone transform before... Tom and Sabine were awfully calm watching me show off Plagg and transform to Chat Noir just then. Maybe it's just the amount of sheer weirdness I've been throwing at them this week.
Or maybe...
He envisioned a laughing girl who'd captured his heart, with dark pigtails, a stubborn and warm heart, and a perfect smile. Then he layered a certain costume over her, made a small adjustment or two to his mental image, and gasped...
Oh, wow! I think Marinette and I need to chat tonight, he grinned. Because I think I MIGHT have figured a little something out!
Looking up ahead, he saw the unmistakable form of Dreadnaught up ahead. Head in the game, kittycat, he thought.
Nathalie opened her eyes, groggily, as she heard an odd voice speaking to her. The voice was deep and resonant, and she struggled to make out a strange, massive shape kneeling down beside her.
"Nathalie, can you hear me?" she heard the figure say. "Papillon sent me."
"Pa-papillon?" Nothing was making any sense to her. She struggled to get up...
"Stay still. Conserve your energy. He told me to tell you that Gabriel is on his way. He has medicine that may help you."
Gabriel! That rang a bell. She opened her eyes wider... and saw an enormous stone statue, animated and speaking to her, with multicolored dreadlocks on its head. Maybe I AM hallucinating, Nathalie thought. Because it's hard to imagine anyone sane dreaming that up...
"You're... real?" Nathalie managed.
"I am. I was transformed by the Moth Miraculous. Does that mean anything to you?" Dreadnaught said. "Normally I'm a regular person, just like you. Hang in there. We're going to fix this."
The MOTH! Papillon must be what Gabriel calls himself if he's using it. Things were starting to click in Nathalie's head. "Gabriel's coming?" she muttered.
"Gabriel's coming," confirmed Dreadnaught. "I'm here to comfort you and protect you until he does. Not that anyone with any sense would hassle you right now."
Nathalie breathed as much of a sigh of relief as she could manage, given the circumstances. About time that SOMETHING went right. I thought that this hunger would consume me before anyone found me.
A nearby thud made Dreadnaught turn, and Nathalie wobbled a bit as she turned to see what had made the noise.
"Good evening, ladies!" a young voice said. "The name's Chat Noir. How can I be of assistance toni..."
His voice trailed off as he saw Nathalie and their eyes met. "NATHALIE!" he gasped.
YOU!
A furious rage filled every pore of Nathalie's body in a heartbeat.
YOU did THIS to ME!
This is ALL YOUR FAULT!
Beyond rational thought, beyond all considerations of who might be under Chat's mask, she rose to her feet and stood angrily, clouds of ominous black energy swirling around her.
Ladybug swung across Paris as quickly as she could. I know that Chat Noir can handle himself well, she thought, but I'll feel better if I'm there to keep an eye on him. He's been through a lot this week. Besides, Dreadnaught knows I'm friendly; maybe she'll react better if I'm there!
A few minutes into her pursuit, she cleared a tall building and landed on a slightly lower rooftop, and took in quite a scene beneath her. She saw Dreadnaught standing still in the street, Chat Noir near her, his hands up, backing away... but not from Dreadnaught, she's not doing anything... What is he...
NO!
She made out the humanoid figure inside the clouds of pulsing energy, staggering towards Chat Noir, and her heart fell into her shoes. "NO!" she screamed, as she dropped down to ground level. "DON'T HURT HIM!"
Without taking his eyes off of Nathalie, Chat Noir called out, "Nathalie, it's Adrien. I'm so sorry about all of this. Focus on me, not them."
Dreadnaught took another step back, trying to make sense of any of this. Chat Noir... is ADRIEN? she thought. I guess that helps explain where HE went!
"Sssssssorrrrry?" Nathalie hissed. Her movement speed increased, headed straight for Chat Noir.
Chat seemed nearly paralyzed, whether from fear or guilt. He walked backwards in halting steps, and covered up as Nathalie got closer... and closer...
Chat Noir expected the next moment to be the last one of his life. A yo-yo, wrapping itself around his waist and yanking him away roughly, had other ideas.
"Sorry, Nathalie, but I'm next on his dance card," Ladybug muttered. "Chat, wake up, already! That was too close."
She looked into his eyes and didn't see much of anyone home inside them. I know how guilty you feel, Adrien, but I'm going to LOSE YOU if you don't focus! Ladybug thought, tugging Chat farther away. The sound of a speeding car braking heavily and stopping registered somewhere in the deep background of Ladybug's mind, but she had no time for that now.
Dreadnaught yelled, "Ladybug! I don't know what to do! I told her that Gabriel is coming, he has medicine to help her... but Papillon told me not to touch her!"
THAT woke Chat up. "GABRIEL is coming?" he muttered, cowering in Ladybug's arms.
"Gabriel is HERE," called a voice. "Nathalie! It's me!"
Nathalie's attention seemed diverted for a moment; she turned and looked at Gabriel, then back at Chat Noir, then back at Gabriel.
"I told you... that I would find something that could help you... and I did," panted Gabriel, rushing towards the transformed Nathalie. "A Chinese herbalist who knows what Miraculouses are prepared this for me! It may not fix you entirely, but it should help! Nathalie, listen to me... please!"
Nathalie held her head in her hands for a moment... then dashed forwards, with a loud shout of unleashed rage and madness, reaching out desperately for Chat Noir!
It happened in an instant.
I know what they said, but I don't care... I'm not going to let her kill him!
"NO, YOU DON'T!" cried Dreadnaught. "Time for you to get DREADLOCKED!"
Her dreadlocks animated and shot forwards, like so many colorful giant anacondas, wrapping around Nathalie and stopping her short of Chat Noir and Ladybug.
Ladybug watched in horror as Nathalie struggled in their grasp... then turned around and lunged at Dreadnaught, instead!
*CRACK-A-THOOOOOM!*
A massive energy discharge knocked everyone present off their feet!
Chat Noir opened his eyes, somewhat reluctantly. The pounding in his head argued that doing so was a bad idea.
The first thing he saw was Ladybug on the ground, beside him, semiconscious. She was rubbing her head, trying to wake herself up, with partial success.
He looked past her, and saw his father cradling Nathalie's head in his lap, the pulsing energy gone from her body. He watched Gabriel pour an unidentified liquid into her mouth, saying "Don't move, Nathalie. Swallow this for me... Tell me if this helps. I have no idea what it tastes like, so I can't prepare you for that."
He watched her eyes open, her sanity apparently returned at least in part, and heard her mutter, "Needs... a little garlic."
Good, he thought. Dad had no protection, but it looks like he was far enough away not to get hurt. And Nathalie looks a little more like Nathalie now.
He looked around for Dreadnaught... and, strangely, didn't see her. A twelve-foot golem is pretty hard to lose, isn't it? I -
Oh!
Chat saw Mylenè's untransformed figure face down on the ground, lying quite still.
He screamed her name, and ran over to see if he could help her - she was breathing, at least, that much was right with the world - and tears ran down his mask.
Finally, Chat glanced over once more at his father, who was looking back at him...
...and they shared a very long, very intense stare at each other.
Next time:
* Cleaning up the mess, as much as it can be.
* "YOU... know a lot more than you've let on."
* Forgiveness is not easily given or received.
* Comparing lots of notes...
* "It's building again."