This is a fun one to write! I love it – so much really. I'm really enjoying writing Nino and Rose's interactions and of course, Adrinette are adorable as always.
Chapter 2: Questions and Answers
Rose pouted at the fact that they were starting the next episode. "I thought we could ask Marinette and Adrien about what it's like to be Ladybug and Cat Noir and all."
Emily sighed a little. "I suppose but only one question each for both of them." She glanced at Adrien and Marinette. "Is that okay?"
Marinette smiled. "Of course…but I have a question for you too, Emily. You called Chloe 'Mom' earlier so I was wondering…"
Emily sighed, knowing she had screwed up back then and hid her face for a few moments before she looked up. "Yeah…I'm Chloe's daughter. Nathaniel's my Dad."
"What?!" Chloe shouted, surprised. "I married that crummy artist?! No way, Adriekins and I were meant to be…"
Nathaniel flushed then frowned at that. He wondered how that had happened. Not that Chloe wasn't pretty but still…she wasn't as nice as Marinette even if she'd never be interested in him.
"Well, you still have a long way to go, Mom," Emily said with a small frown. "But you change. Uncle Adrien and Dad both have a hand in that actually and so does Aunt Sabrina. I'm also the superheroine, Honeybee with the Bee Miraculous." She was honestly a little disappointed in her mother right now but tried to hide it. She glanced at Adrien. "By the way, thank you for never reclaiming your friendship with Mom despite how bad she got."
Adrien smiled at the girl softly. "I wouldn't…and I'm glad Chloe changes in the future. And don't worry, your secret's safe with us." He glanced at Chloe. "Chlo, I know you don't mean that. If you fell for Nathaniel, something must have changed. Maybe you became the Chloe I used to know back then. I really hope so. Because my childhood friend was never this mean to anyone. I think you can be better than you are."
"Adrien…" Chloe said softly looking away unsure of what to say to him and looked away as Emily clapped her hands.
"Okay, so one question each to either Mari or Adrien," Emily said shrugging. "Nino, Alya being the BFFs you get to go first."
"We go to the same school," Alya began incredulously. "How have you never been caught transforming, Mari? I mean incidents have happened at our school."
Marinette blinked and thought about it. "I guess I just get lucky or find a place to hide in order to transform into Ladybug so that no one saw me."
Alya nodded. She supposed that made sense.
Nino thought about it. "What's it like being Cat Noir? I mean, you seem a lot more relaxed with the mask then without."
"It's relaxing being able to be myself," Adrien admitted. "I mean, around you I can usually be myself Nino, but being Gabriel Agreste's son, I'm expected to behave in a certain way. As Cat Noir, I don't really need to. I think it's why I'm always making jokes and puns because I feel free. As Adrien, I feel trapped sometimes. It's also a responsibility though, having those powers so I have to be careful not to misuse them." He felt Marinette grab his hand when he spoke about feeling trapped but what was more surprising when Plagg nuzzled his neck.
"We're here for you," Plagg said quietly so only Adrien could hear.
"Always," Marinette added and Adrien smiled at both of them, glad to have them both there.
"Me too dude," Nino added as well wanting Adrien to know he was there and his best friend smiled at him.
Alix was next and looked to Marinette. "Is it hard balancing being Marinette and Ladybug?"
"Yes," Marinette replied simply. "Sometimes it's impossible to balance having a double life but I wouldn't stop being Ladybug for anything."
Kim thought about it. "The whole camembert thing? Does it help with giving you powers?" He looked at Adrien.
"Our kwamis need energy to transform," Adrien explained. "Unfortunately, Plagg likes stinky cheese but yeah it gives him energy to be able to transform me into Cat Noir."
"Tikki likes sweets so they help her recharge and get energy," Marinette added to that with a small smile.
Max decided to go next. "This is for both of you but either of you can answer – have you guys figured out where Hawkmoth is yet?"
Marinette's expression became downcast as she thought of this. "No but I'm hoping now that we know each other's identities, we can work together and figure it out even in our civilian forms."
"They can use that excuse to hang out and flirt," Plagg said teasingly causing both Adrien and Marinette to flush.
Tikki frowned at Plagg. "I don't know about Adrien but Marinette will work hard to find Hawkmoth's lair. Aren't you worried about Nooroo at all, Plagg? Who knows how Hawkmoth treats him?"
"Whose Nooroo?" Mylene asked, deciding to pop that in as a question.
"Hawkmoth's kwami," Marinette explained a little sadly as she cuddled Tikki close to her. "Tikki, I promise. We're going to defeat Hawkmoth and save Nooroo from his clutches. Come on, cheer up." She hated seeing Tikki so down especially considering how hard she always tried to cheer her up.
"Mari," Tikki whispered softly. "What if we're too late and by the time, we defeat Hawkmoth, Nooroo is too weak to survive?"
Marinette's eyes watered at the thought of a kwami dying because they were too late to find Hawkmoth. "N-no way. You always encourage me, Tikki so please save some of that faith for Nooroo ok?" Her voice shook a little. "We'll save him…right Adrien?" She looked up at the boy as he moved besides her, taking her hand.
"For sure," Adrien said reassuringly. "Plagg was just teasing and being insensitive, I'm sorry about him, Tikki. I promise we're going to save Nooroo and defeat Hawkmoth. Ladybug and Cat Noir won't let you down." He sent Plagg a scolding look while he squeezed Marinette's hand again and reached to hug Tikki.
"I'm really sorry, Tikki," Plagg said looking genuinely apologetic. "I know Adrien and Mari will be able to find out where Hawkmoth is staying, I was just trying to embarrass them." He pulled Tikki out of Adrien's grip, hugging her himself, hating to see her so sad.
Tikki sniffed. "It's ok…I'm sorry guys. I just hate Hawkmoth so much…"
"We all do," Marinette said managing a weak smile at Tikki. "We'll get him. For now, let's continue with the questions."
"I had one," Ivan said. "Before I became Stoneheart, Marinette, you tried getting rid of the negative feelings in my heart. Can't you do that after a person becomes akumatised?"
"We can try," Marinette admitted. "I have a fair few times but it hasn't worked. I think if we tried that as our civilian selves it might have had more of an impact. Like Adrien and Bubbler."
Nino paled at the thought. "I could have really hurt him, Marinette."
Marinette managed a smile. "Maybe, but there's also a chance you might have changed back without deevilising the akuma because if you saw Adrien happy, it'd take away the reason. We've never really put that into action though."
Adrien smiled a bit. "Besides, you wouldn't have hurt me, Nino. I just thought helping you as Cat Noir was more effective." 'Even if I did take forever to realise that'
"Dad, don't you have any questions?" Emily asked her father.
Nathaniel shifted a little, flushing before handing his sketchbook to Adrien and Marinette. On the page, there is a drawing of Ladybug and Cat Noir in a fighting stance. "C-can I have your autographs?"
Marinette smiled. "Wow Nathaniel, these drawings of us are really good." She signed it before giving it to Adrien.
Adrien let out a whistle, impressed. "You got it down perfectly." He also signed it as well, giving it back to Nathaniel.
"Dad's the best artist," Emily said happily. "He's drawn so many amazing sketches of Mom in the future."
Chloe huffed a little bit, although had to admit the sketches were quite good. She'd like to see those ones of herself though.
"I wanted to ask, why do you always forgive us for the things we do as our akumatised selves?" Rose said softly, looking down. "I mean, it isn't always our fault…but we are responsible for the negative emotions we feel."
"But that's just it," Adrien said softly. "Negative emotions are natural. God knows I feel them plenty of times because of my father – I'm just protected from being akumatised cause of Plagg and it's been proven that sometimes intentions are good – like with Nino trying to throw me a birthday party but Hawkmoth just screws them up." He glanced at his best friend, still feeling bad about that. "I'm sorry about that, bro."
Nino shook his head. "It wasn't your fault. I think I shouldn't have gone out alone at that time…I should have called Alya or something and distracted myself. Being alone might have made me an easier target at the time."
"Does that really have anything to do with it?" Rose wondered. "I mean, I was alone when I was akumatised too…"
"Same here," Alya recalled. "I was trying to call Mari and when she didn't answer, the negative emotions grew…"
Marinette felt slight guilt at that before focusing on Rose's question. "I think so. I mean we're more vulnerable when we're alone and Hawkmoth finds it easier to target moments of weakness when we're lonely."
"That actually makes sense too," Adrien murmured, scowling a little as he thought of Hawkmoth. "I swear when we do find Hawkmoth…Chloe, Lila do you have any questions?" They were the only two left.
Lila scoffed. "No but I was way prettier as Volpina than Marinette is as Ladybug."
Marinette rolled her eyes. "Get over it, Lila. Adrien is my kitty and mine only." A tinge of pride entered her voice at that, giggling as Adrien flushed. "Chloe, are you okay?"
"Can we continue?" Chloe said, not really replying to Marinette's question.
"Sure, of course," Emily said glancing at her mother in concern before pressing play and everyone turned back to the screen.
