A/N: Everyone take in a deep breath! Here it is.
Take My Hand
Chapter 8
Marinette hid in an alleyway a few blocks from Nino's apartment where Plagg was still safely in hiding. Tikki had left her side to sneak in and say her good-bye's to the cat like Kwami. None of them knew what their future held, and no one knew if they would survive through to nightfall. Tikki, who was the most knowledgeable of the three, wished to talk to Plagg just in case they would never see each other again.
So when Marinette turned her head and saw the little red kwami flying back to her, with tears falling down her cheeks, it broke Marinette's heart. She reached out and let Tikki land in her hand. She brought the kwami to her chest and hugged her. Tikki began to cry harder now and grasped Marinette's shirt as she cried. Marinette squeezed her tightly. "You know…you can join Plagg, and just leave. Protect the Miraculous that way," Marinette told Tikki.
Tikki shook her head and looked up at Marinette with her sad blue eyes. "If I leave who will help you free Adrien!?"
Marinette tried to look brave for her friend, but in truth, she was terrified. "The Miraculous is more important."
"I'm not leaving you!" Tikki snapped. "Plagg will watch everything on TV. He's agreed that if we fail, he will take his miraculous and flee the city. Hawkmoth can't get Plagg's Miraculous or its game over! We have to try, no matter what!"
Marinette nodded at Tikki, and pulled out a tissue from her purse and began to try Tikki's big blue eyes. Tikki sent her a smile, even as the tears continued to fall down her cheeks. Marinette smiled at her and brought her up, and placed a kiss on Tikki's forehead. "We'll do our best."
Tikki nodded, and flew into Marinette's purse, looking up at her. "Let's go free him!"
Tikki pulled up the tiny bottle her mother had given her over a week ago now. Marinette nodded, remembering that she had left it in their for her mother's peace of mind. Marinette felt it could come in handy. Anything could come in handy tonight. Marinette reached over and clasped her purse closed. She fixed her purse on her strap, and then she pulled up the hood on her sweater. She took in a deep breath and began to head toward the tower.
8 8 8
Alya turned around and glared at Chloe who was following her. Nino and Alya had decided to try and chase after Marinette. Alya wasn't about to let her best friend face certain death without her. Chloe for some reason had decided to stick around. Even though clearly she was no longer a target, and Alya and Nino probably couldn't do much to protect her anyway if Chat Blanc had decided to show up again.
"Why are you following us?" Alya yelled back at Chloe.
"None of your business!" Chloe stated.
Nino caught up to Alya who was still walking at a speedy pace. "Does it matter? It's not like an extra set of eyes won't help us find her. We all know that if Marinette confronts Chat Blanc she's dead."
Alya cursed under her breath and turned to Chloe. "If you're going to insist on following us, you better be in it to the end. We don't need to run off like a coward when and if something happens."
"How dare you!" Chloe cried. "I may think that Marinette is pathetic, and a nobody, but I pay back my debts! She saved me back at the school, and she saved Sabrina before that."
Alya wasn't convinced. This wasn't the cold selfish Chloe they knew from school. Nino didn't seem as concerned as her, but Alya felt that Chloe couldn't have been in this for the long haul. And Alya wasn't going to let her get in her way. If she fell behind, she would leave her, even if that put Chloe in a dangerous situation. Marinette was all that was important right now. Alya turned back to the road ahead and then began to run in that direction. It was six o'clock. The vigil would be starting in an hour. They had until eight before Marinette's parents would be killed.
'Marinette, if there were ever going to be a time where you didn't do something foolish and stupid, now would be the time,' Alya thought. 'Please, please, don't confront him or reveal yourself.'
8 8 8
Chat Blanc was on a tall roof near the Eiffel Tower. It was in perfect view of the tower, and the park below where the Vigil would be taking place. He turned back to look at Marinette's parents who were tied together with chains around a chimney. He had gagged them to prevent them from screaming. It would be easy enough to spot by Ladybug or anyone else if they were actually looking for him on a rooftop. He wouldn't be surprised if that was the case. It didn't worry him, though. He had two hostages. And everyone feared him. Who would actually try and stop him?
He chuckled. 'Besides that stupid girl.'
Marinette's attempts to free him were nothing short of amusing. Her speeches were like the ramblings of a stupid little girls love fantasy. Like she was expecting to spout words of love that it would magically free him. He didn't need freeing. He was as free as they came. As Ladybug's partner, he had been a slave to his feelings for her. As Adrien, he had been a slave to his father's whims and his everyday school life. As Chat Blanc, though, he was free to do and say whatever he wanted.
And he knew tonight she would show up. Ladybug would have to show up. The city was watching. They were holding this vigil to show support for her. Someone would notice him, and then she would have to come out. If she didn't, well then even her beloved fans would have something nasty to say about it. He knew that she would never let them down. Those were the ones she really only cared about.
The people were gathering, and candles were beginning to be passed out. He grinned. Anytime now.
8 8 8
Marinette could see him. She had been scanning the roofs from down in the park. At first, she had been studying the tower. She had expected him to destroy the tower once again, but when she saw all the guards up there and spotlights on the tower, she knew there was no way. So when she turned to look around at the roofs, it didn't take her long to see him.
Her heart raced in her chest as she saw him. She began to shift and move through the crowd. She had no idea how she was supposed to get on that roof as herself. She bit her lip nervously. She pushed herself through the growing crowds and headed down the alleyway nearby. When she got to the shop that he was on, she first felt relief. There was a fire escape on the side of the building. She felt a pit form in her stomach. He didn't pick this spot just because it was nearby. He picked it because he knew she would show up.
She took in a deep breath and stood under the ladder. There was a large industrial sized garbage bin nearby, and she climbed on top of it. She looked at the ladder, and took in a deep breath and then jumped off the large garbage bin, reaching out and grabbing the ladder. She first pulled herself up and began to climb up the fire escape. It was when she realized that she was rattling the escape that she looked up at the roof. Peering over was an ever amused Chat Blanc. Her eyes went wide. He chuckled.
"Better get up here quick, princess," he stated. He bent down and raised his hand to the top of the escape that was attached to the roof. She quickly saw that his hand was charged with his cataclysm and he was only centimetres away from touching her only route up.
She began to dash up the ladder, but to her horror, his grabbed the top of the ladder, and it began to riot away. She quickened her pace, but it was giving way. She dropped a little, but Marinette turned her body to the roof, and she leapt.
She could hear her conscious screaming at her telling her just how bad of an idea this was, but as usual, she ignored it, and she partly landed on the roof. She fell to her knees, and the friction cut her jeans open and ripped her knee's open. She gasped as the pain. She tried to stand, but there was nothing for her to grasp onto. As a civilian, she was much more uneasy on the roof. She looked down then the ladder crashed into the alley below. Then she looked to Chat Blanc.
He was grinning at her. "I'm impressed."
She wasn't flattered. She looked around the roof and she saw her parents, chained to the chimney. She turned back to him, clearing glaring. "I want my parents back."
He shrugged. "You'll get them back when Ladybug shows up." He pulled out his staff and looked at the time on the screen. "You have an hour. You're welcome to stick around as long as you don't piss me off."
She could hear her parents struggling as they saw her. She knew they were more concerned about her than their own safety. She had no choice, though. She was a hero. It was her job to save people. She had to be willing to risk her life for others.
"No promises," she told him. She was stern, and she knew she sounded angry because she was. "But you know me. I'm pathetic and I have a death wish."
He walked over to her, and grabbed her by her sweater's collar, and forced her to her feet. She groaned a little in pain as her knees throbbed. She felt little trickles of blood fall down her legs. "You're awfully cocky for someone who's going to get herself killed."
Marinette shrugged. "I don't care anymore. I just want my parents back."
He was smirking. "And here I thought you really loved me."
She glared at him. "I love Adrien Agreste and Chat Noir, not you."
She wasn't trying to confuse him or change his feelings, but she sensed something in him after her words. Did he just tense up? He stared at her, his face was free from any smirk, and his eyes seemed hollow. He released her, and she fell to her knees again. He growled and turned his back to her. "You knew nothing about either of them."
Marinette forced herself to stand once again and fought to keep her balance. She didn't care what he said. She knew the real Adrien. She knew Chat Noir. He was the real Adrien. She knew that now. "I know that Chat Noir was the real Adrien. He was everything Adrien couldn't be in his everyday life. Adrien was truly happy as Chat Noir."
This seemed to shut Chat Blanc down further, but Marinette couldn't tell if this was a good or bad thing. She closed her eyes and then looked down at the roof. There were stains of her blood on it. She looked at him again to find his eyes were wide.
"I don't care if you think I'm pathetic. What I do care about is if you hurt the people I love," Marinette told him. "I beg of you, let my parents go. They're good people."
He just stared at her. Nothing to say or any emotional reaction. He just stared. She turned to walk past him to get to her parents who were still flailing to get free. He grabbed her by the arm and yanked her back. She looked at him and saw that he looked angry once again. Not just that. Hawkmoth butterfly symbol was across his face.
"You don't fool me!" he yelled at her.
She glared back at him. She pulled her arm free from him and swiftly grabbed his face on either side. She shook her head. "Listen to me," she told him. "You may think you're free, but you aren't. You're a slave to him. If you were really free, why would you need him?" Marinette felt his body tensed again. "You're just like all the other Akuma. You're just a puppet. You aren't free," Marinette reassured.
Suddenly his arms were around her. Not in an embrace, but he was holding onto her full support. He began to dig into her back with her claws, causing her to wince in pain. Her hands stayed on either side of his face. He seemed to be battling against Hawkmoth and she was trying to help him focus.
"I'm not good enough," he suddenly cried out.
"That's not true!" she cried. His green eyes flashed open and looked at her.
"I'm wasn't good enough for my father! I'm not good enough for you, and I'll never be good enough for her!"
Marinette knew he was talking about Ladybug. She also knew that he was in a lot of pain. He was suffering so much and she knew that Hawkmoth was filling his head with lies once again. Marinette shook her head. "That's not true!"
"They hate me! You hate me!"
Marinette tried to caress his cheek with her thumb. He grabbed her hand to stop her. The little bit of affection was clearly too much for him to bare. Her other hand dropped down, but she held it out to him. She smiled at him. "No one hates you," she told him. He shook his head so she sent him another smile. "I know I don't hate you. And I know Ladybug doesn't." She held her free hand up higher in front of him. "Take my hand."
She had said these words to him before. She had held her hand out to him. He had rejected her hand and words. He stared, looking like a lost child. Unlike last him, he reached out to her and he grasped her hand in his. "Marinette…how do you know that?" he asked.
"Trust me," she said, not above a whisper. "She's scared to face you. Not because you could kill her, but because she doesn't want to hurt you. She never did."
"But how do you know that?" he asked again. Hawkmoth's symbol was still across his face, but he didn't seem to be listening to the villain.
"I know because that's how I feel. I'm terrified right now. More than I've ever been before," she confessed.
She could see his eyes begin to water. "I miss her. I want to make things right."
She nodded. She was about to open her mouth again, but suddenly he winced and she knew Hawkmoth was trying to take him over again. Marinette tightened her grip on his hand. "I want you to think about the last time you saw her."
She blurted it out without thinking. She meant to say the first time he saw her, but she had gotten ahead of herself. She expected this request to make things worse. Much worse. She heard a helicopter nearby and she could hear the vigil nearby in the distance. They had all noticed Chat Blanc and her. She knew this as the vigil was louder than it should have been. Rowdier and more fearful than peaceful. She did her best to ignore them. He was way more important.
"She looked beautiful as always," she heard him whisper. She blushed slightly, but she caressed his cheek with her thumb again. He didn't stop her. "I wanted to tell her how I feel."
His grip on her tightened and she knew he was thinking about the rejection. "If you could do it again, the way you wanted, how would you have told her?"
The hue from the butterfly symbol brightened and she knew Hawkmoth was trying harder than ever to possess him again. "No…I can't!" he cried. He shut his eyes slightly and let out a painful groan.
"Focus on my voice," she told him. She pressed her forehead against his, and she tightened her hold on his hand. "How did you want to tell her your feelings?! Focus on that! Not him!"
She could see him struggling. She knew that Hawkmoth was struggling to keep control. She also knew he was whispering every lie he could think of to Adrien. Adrien was struggling with the truth and the lies. "Focus on my voice. How did you want to tell her?" she repeated.
"I…I…was…going to tell her that…I l-loved her," he stated. He was still whispering, but she heard every word. "Tell her, she was brave, strong, kind and that…she was the only one for me."
Marinette flushed and went red, but she kept her place. She nodded as she rested her head against his again. "And then?"
He shifted forward and place a kiss on her hand while their hands were still interlocked. "I'd kiss her hand," he said as he drew away.
He released her hand that was caressing her cheek. His eyes were still closed. He was imagining this in his head and she knew she had to let him play this out. His hand drew down to his pocket and he unzipped it. Marinette held in a gasp that wanted to escape her lips. She knew exactly what he was doing. She held her breath as he reached in and pulled out the necklace. She watched as he brought it up between them. She glanced at it and then him.
She was about to reach for it. This was it. This was her chance. Excitement filled her. Her hand moved to take the necklace, but then something unexpected happened. The thought had never even crossed her mind.
He had learned in.
And he had captured her lips.
Her eyes went wide. He had been playing out his perfect fantasy of his love confession to her. And yet she hadn't even considered this a possibility. How could she have been stupid enough to not consider this before? She still raised her hand, ready to snatch the necklace. Then his lips moved across hers. And she felt a chill run up her spine. And then her lips moved across his. She heard him lightly moan at the sensation that she was sure moved up his spine just as it had hers. Their lips moved across the others together, and Marinette closed her eyes, falling into the moment.
Her mind screamed at her to not get distracted. She was right there. She could get the necklace, but he was right there. Kissing her just like she always imagined Adrien had in her dreams. She felt something poke at her leg. And she knew that it was Tikki trying to get her attention. It broke her from her oh so delightful trance. Her lips remained on his, but she opened her eyes again, and she began to reach over once again, ready to take the necklace.
Her hands just touched the necklace when suddenly he drew away, and within a second his other hand was on her throat, choking her. She gasped, and she now was face to face with a face filled with more anger than she had ever seen, even on Chat Blanc. It was twisted in so much anger that Marinette knew instantly that this wasn't him. This was Hawkmoth. He had taken full control of his physical body.
He was choking her, to the point where she thought it would be possible and easy for him to snap her neck like a twig. Her hand still grasped the necklace, but that hand was closed around her hand, keeping her hand and the necklace trapped.
"You pathetic excuse," the voice escaped, and she knew this was entirely Hawkmoth in control. This wasn't even Adrien's voice. She couldn't breathe and she was beginning to see spots. She was so scared. She had no idea what to do. She felt Tikki poke at her again, and suddenly she remembered the object in her purse from earlier.
Her hand on the side of her purse was free, and she quickly reached for her purse. Tikki who could read her so easily opened the purse and easily passed the object to Marinette. 'Adrien, I am so sorry about this.'
She pulled the object out and brought it up to Chat Blanc's face and she pressed down on the cover, and a chemical spray came out, hitting the possessed hero in the face. She was released instantly as Chat Blanc jumped to his feet as the pepper spray burned his eyes. Marinette felt relief fall over her as she saw the small precious object in her hand. She suddenly realized she was on such a small roof, and she wasn't terribly far away from Chat Blanc. He was blinded for the time being. She turned to her parents who were watching on in horror. The helicopter was hovering a few roofs away. She could see people gathering and she could hear sirens.
She was so scared, but she knew she had to do this. Tikki told her she had to be ready to risk everything if she wanted to save him. And she was. "Tikki, transform me!"
The light surrounded her, and she was transformed. When she was fully transformed, she looked at Chat Blanc first. His eyes were red and swollen, and she knew he was still partly blinded, but he was still looking at her. He at least knew who was in front of him. She took a step back and jumped backwards, landing on the roof behind her. Once she was comfortable at their distance, she picked up the necklace in the air.
She heard Hawkmoth's voice. "Don't you dare!"
She grinned. "Oh, I dare." She threw the necklace down on the ground, and stomped on it, snapping the ladybug charm. She looked up at him and grinned. The moment she had, Chat Blanc's body froze. She took out her yo-yo and looked up at the black Akuma that was flying away. Her heart raced, and she felt a hope fill her in a way that she had never felt before. She was actually going to do it.
"Come out you vile creature," she stated. She began to twirl her yo-yo around, and she swung it around, and up towards the Akuma. Her yo-yo captured the cursed butterfly. "Time to cleanse evil!" She pulled the yo-yo back and caught it in her hand. She opened the yo-yo, releasing the now pure white butterfly. "Bye, bye little butterfly."
The butterfly floated away, and Marinette smiled. Relief fell over her. She had done it. She looked at the crowds that were below. They were watching. Though they were high enough up she couldn't have been sure if they could have made out who she was. And as for the helicopter, they had maintained their distance, so she wasn't sure about them either. She looked below, and she saw Nino and Alya near the front of the crowd, waving and smiling up at her. She grinned and waved a little.
Her eyes were then drawn to the roof, where she could see a freed Adrien. He was on his knees and he was rubbing his eyes. She felt a little twinge of regret. He was still feeling the effects of the pepper spray. She had only done what was needed, but she had still caused him pain. She leapt back to the roof and landed in front of him. She knelt down beside him and took his hand. He looked up to look at her. He couldn't really focus on her, but he smiled and nodded. "Thank you."
She flushed a little, but she nodded. "I told you before, you're my partner and my friend. I never leave my friends when they need me."
She saw movement to her right and looked and smiled. She reached her hand out, and Plagg popped down in her hand. She brought him over to face Adrien. Adrien at first wasn't sure what Marinette was holding in front of him, but when Plagg began to laugh, Adrien snatched him up and held him close.
"You have no idea how glad I am to see you!" Adrien cried.
Plagg laughed. "Yeah, I know I'm pretty cool."
"He's the reason I was able to save you," Marinette explained. "He found me."
Adrien looked around, and he seemed confused. "L-Ladybug, where is Marinette. I assume she got away. She's alright, isn't she?"
Marinette's eyes went wide. Had he not noticed? "You don't remember?"
He shook his head. "I didn't see anything after Hawkmoth took control. I remember hearing her voice…I held out my hand to her with the necklace…and then…I kissed…she got away right?"
Marinette giggled a little. "She's fine. I'll explain later."
Plagg nodded. "All of Paris is around, we should get out of here."
"What about Marinette's parents?" Adrien asked.
"They are fine," Marinette explained to him. "I could use your help freeing them, though."
"I can't see, though!" Adrien explained.
"I can fix that," Plagg stated. He magically made Adrien's ring appear, and he gave it to the eager teenager, who gladly out the ring on. She could tell he felt like a missing piece of him had finally been returned.
"Plagg, transform me," Adrien cried. With a bright green light, he was transformed. Marinette smiled as she saw the usual Chat Noir appear in front of her. His red eyes were now cured, and he was smiled at her. He playfully bowed. "My Lady."
She never thought she'd be so glad to hear that nickname. She said nothing though and she turned to face her parents, who were still chained. "Care to do the honours for me kitty?"
"I'd be glad to," he told her. He approached Sabine and Tom, who had calmed down a lot considering the turn of events they had just witnessed. He reached over to the chain, using his strength snapped the chains. They were thinner chains, and not as strong as the ones Copycat had trapped him in, and so he easily freed the couple. Once free, they freed themselves from the gags, and they grabbed onto Marinette when she reached them. They embraced her, which left Adrien a little confused. She giggled a little as she embraced them. Then she watched as the lightbulb went off.
"M-Marinette!" he cried.
"We'll talk about this later," she said with a smile. "Help me get my parents down, will you."
"O-of course," he stated.
Marinette had helped Sabine down, while Adrien helped Tom down. Once they were on the ground, people began to swarm Ladybug. Marinette wasn't ready for people to ask her questions about the situation, and she was even less thrilled by the idea of them confronting Adrien right this moment. So she waved to her parents. They gave her a knowing and understanding smile. Alya and Nino showed up nearby, and she waved at them as well. Standing nearby was Chloe, who was staring at the two, with her mouth hung open. The look surprised Marinette, but she giggled a little. Enjoying the stunned look on her bratty school mate's face. She turned back to her partner.
"Shall we?" she stated.
He nodded. He looked a lot less comfortable with the situation, as people were looking at him a lot more than they had before. Ladybug had always been in the spotlight, but now people were staring at him and he didn't like it. "Y-yes," he agreed.
She used her yo-yo to pull herself back up to the roof, and he used his extending staff. He pulled himself up, and onto the roof. Side by side, the two carried over the rooftops, racing away from the prying eyes of the city. They hurried along and continued until they reached one of their hidden hangouts. This one was on the top of the Arc de Triomphe. Once they were landed, Marinette turned to face Adrien.
He seemed pretty down right at this moment. She knew that it was because he was remembering all that he had done as Chat Blanc. She didn't blame him for being upset. She would have been equally upset. She stepped towards her partner and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Chat, there is no reason to blame yourself. You were possessed. I forgive you for everything."
"I just feel awful. I said and did so many awful things to you," he stated as he looked down at his feet. "You didn't deserve that. Just because you like someone else. I'm sorry you had to force yourself like that to save me."
"Force myself?" she asked.
"You know…pretend," he said.
She smiled at him. "Who says I was pretending?"
His eyes drew up to look at her. They were wide. "W-What?"
"I told you I was in love with my classmate. One that I knew longer than I knew Chat Noir," she explained to him. "I just didn't know that my partner was that classmate."
"B-but that day in the hospital, you knew who I was!" he cried.
"I won't lie. I didn't figure it out. Plagg told me," she said. "I just used my knowledge about you to help me out. It helped I was a little stalkerish."
They were so close, and she could tell he was nervous being so close to her now. So she didn't push anything more on him. Just her presence. They looked at each other, and Marinette looked at him and sent him a smile.
"So the whole thing…that night?"
Marinette looked down in shame. "Really bad communication on both our parts. I always thought of Chat Noir as my partner and friend. I always knew that you were love with me, but I loved my classmate so much…I just always...I basically panicked. I didn't make it easy for you."
He nodded. "I was out of line too."
There was silence between the two again. They both didn't look at the other. They looked out over the darkened city. They were easily hidden now from the prying eyes of the city. After several moments, they both dared to look at the other. They stole glances, but it was all that was needed.
It was like they were protons and electrons. They were drawn together once again. This time it wasn't like the kiss they shared on the roof. This was only what Marinette could describe as two years' worth of pend up sexual tension between them. Her hands here in his messy hair as she tasted him, and his hands were wandering up and around her back. Their bodies were pressed up against each other, and their lips were hungrily and feverishly devouring each other. If there had been a vertical wall, Marinette was sure that she would have been pushed up against that wall, and she would have been just as perfectly happy.
They broke away, if only for some air. His head rested against hers, as they tried to catch their breaths. He was chuckling between breaths and smiling. Her own eyes were dancing with delight. "Third time's the charm," he stated. Before she could question this, he continued. "My Lady, I just have to let you know. There is a girl in my class. She drives me complete crazy. I never really noticed her until recently. She saved my entire class from an Akuma attack. I think I'm in love with her. What should I do?"
As Ladybug, Marinette was brave, and perhaps a little cocky. She grinned at him, and grabbed him by his collar, and pulled him toward her. "Kiss her again."
So he did.
A/N: I made a few tiny detail changes and grammar fixes. The Epilogue is what is next. It's going to be heavily changed, as a lot of you previously were right, it wasn't up to par with the rest of the story.