Chapter 4:
The streets of Paris were painted in shades of gray. A black Cat, head bowed low, wandered lazily down the stone street, rows of featureless buildings rising toward the cloud-laden sky to form dark alleys on either side. A glint of red broke the monochromatic palette: a single Ladybug, flitting out from an unseen hiding place, glided through the ashen landscape before coming to rest on the Cat's nose. The Cat's lime green eyes opened wide, intrigued by this new visitor. Brandishing her wings as if issuing a challenge, the Ladybug took flight again, bobbing and weaving, enticing him to take chase. As the Ladybug danced through the sky, the Cat trotted after her, leaping and swatting as he tried to catch her in his grasp. As they continued their game of chase and dodge, the colors of the city began to emerge: the pinks and purples of the flowers boxes, the honey-golds of the fresh-baked pastries lining storefronts, the soft greens of the tree leaves, the azure blue of the clearing sky.
The pair had come upon bench, painted crisp white, and the Ladybug settled on it. With a faint glow, she transformed into a Girl with large crystal-blue eyes, her shoulder-length raven hair pulled into twin pigtails at the nape of her neck, and her blush-pink lips curving into a soft smile. The Cat, uncertain as to what to make of this creature or what had happened to his new friend, looked at the girl quizzically. The Cat's befuddled expression caused the Girl to giggle lightly. The Cat, sensing her friendly nature, leapt onto the bench beside the girl, nuzzling her elbow and emitting a soft purr. The Girl scratched his head, and behind his ears, and his chin, causing the delighted Cat to add a melodic quality to the purr. As she continued to affectionately stroke his ink-black fur, the cat stood on his hind legs to rub his whiskered cheek on the girl's shoulder. As he came to a seated position beside her again, his front paws landing with a soft thud, he became the image of a Boy, tall and lean, with emerald eyes and soft golden hair. The Boy and the Girl looked at each other with adoration.
But something was wrong. The Boy's eyebrows knitted in confusion, his eyes revealing a trace of fear. Suddenly, he doubled over in pain, his hands clasped tightly together against his chest. Shuddering for breath, he shakily released his hands, revealing a single rose bloom, deep crimson red, and opening impossibly large to have been contained in his grip moments before. He weakly offered the bloom to the Girl, the color draining from his face. The Girl was reaching for him, tears streaming down her face and her mouth wide in a silent scream, but the world was dissolving away from them, and the Boy was falling, falling into nothingness, his eyes slowly closing as he sank into the darkness.
Master Fu awoke from the dream in a cold sweat. His kwami, Wayzz, floated nearby, watching him with concern. Their eyes met with an unspoken understanding.
"Master," the turtle-like kwami chose his words carefully, "our duty is to protect the miraculouses, not their wielders. Do not forget what happened the last time we tried to intervene in fate's design."
"Yes Wayzz, I know," Master Fu replied solemnly, bowing his head slightly as the image of a beautiful woman, almond-shaped green eyes sparkling and waxen hair falling in soft waves to frame her face, passed through his memory. "The Peacock miraculous was lost." And what a terrible loss it was…
"They are strong, Master," Wayzz offered. "You have chosen well."
Master Fu gave a curt nod as he folded his legs under him, pressing his middle fingers into his thumbs and resting his hands in his lap. He believed Wayzz was right. Still, try as he might to clear his mind in meditation, he could not rid himself of the feeling that something very dark was looming, preparing to strike.
Marinette raced toward the school, her mother having awoken her from a deep sleep only moments before… and an hour after her alarm had started to go off.
She had no idea what she would say to Adrien. She had intended to come up with something clever, maybe a little flirtatious but not overly so, so she could gauge his reaction. After all, Chat had openly expressed his love for Ladybug from the very beginning, and he had never made similar gestures to Marinette. And he had left in a bit of a hurry… maybe he was regretting the whole thing? It had happened so suddenly…
But noooo, instead of planning out how to face the boy that she had drooled over for years and kinda-accidentally made out with so she wouldn't make a fool of herself, she had spent the night reveling in Chat Noir's (Adrien's!) kiss and… other things.
Flushed and out of breath from running (and her own provocative thoughts), she came barreling into the classroom moments before the bell rang.
"—didn't mean to say no, it was all, like, a ginormous misunderstanding," Nino was relating to Alya, brandishing 4 tickets to the prom. "He actually seemed kinda psyched at the idea after you guys left!"
"Well what do you know, just in time!" Alya beamed as Marinette entered the room with all the grace of a one-woman stampede, snatching two tickets from Nino's grasp and waving one in Marinette's direction. "It looks like someone found herself a prom date!"
Marinette's face went pale as her eyes darted around the room. She wasn't ready for this! Was it too late to run away?!
"I-Is he h-here—?" Marinette cleared her throat. "I mean, you talked to Adrien? He said he would-? W-with ME?" Marinette stammered again.
Nino scratched his head. "Actually I don't think he came in yet today… but don't worry dude, he seemed totally stoked yesterday!"
But yesterday and today are completely different days, Marinette thought as she accepted the ticket with a weak "Right, thanks," and found her seat.
Alya stood puzzled for a moment before joining her. Why wasn't her friend bouncing off the walls with excitement? Or at least falling over herself with her usual clumsy Adrien-induced shyness? Something was up with that girl…
Adrien awoke to the feeling of sunlight beaming heavily on his skin.
Ugh! What the-! He lifted an arm to shield his eyes from the glaring sunlight.
OH NO. He leapt to his feet when he remembered where he was. He had never returned home last night! What time was it? Judging from how high the sun had climbed, it was well passed the time for first bell. His father was gonna be pissed. Well… if he ever found out. He doubted his father had even noted his absence, as they rarely saw each other outside of pre-scheduled meetings. Hell, he could be gone for weeks and the only way his father would find out is—
Nathalie.
OH NO.
After ushering Plagg back into his shirt pocket, Adrien hurried down fire escape and made a mad dash for the school.
Luckily, he arrived just as morning session was letting out. The students came pouring out of the school: with afternoon classes cancelled to allow students time to prepare for prom, everyone was excited to enjoy an afternoon of freedom. Realizing he was still in his clothes from the day before, the rumpled white button-down doing a terrible job of hiding the fact that he had spent the night sleeping on a dirty roof, he ducked behind one of the bushes. Just then, his father's luxury sedan rounded the corner, the Gorilla at the wheel and a very worried-looking Nathalie peering out the back window. No doubt they were hoping to catch Adrien as he left.
He needed to talk to Nino. Nino was his only hope of not getting grounded for the rest of all eternity, and if he was still going to salvage that prom date with Marinette—the prom! The prom was TONIGHT! How did he manage to get himself into this mess?!
With an uncharacteristic bit of luck, Adrien found Nino strolling away from the girls, as the two friends sat on the steps discussing something seemingly important in animated whispers.
"Nino!" Adrien whisper-called from his hiding spot. "NINO!"
"Huh? Wha—Adrien?! Dude, where have you—" Nino broke into a smile, apparently oblivious to the haggard appearance of his best friend or the strangeness that he was currently hiding in some bushes.
In one swift motion, Adrien stood, grabbing his friend by the oversized earphones that he always wore around his neck, and dragged him down into hiding.
Nino laughed. "What's with the double-oh-seven stuff? Where have you been?"
"Listen Nino, I need a HUGE favor," Adrien spoke hurriedly. "I don't have time to explain, but I need you to tell Nathalie I spent the night at your place and then came directly to school. PLEASE. I'm dead if you don't!"
Nino's grin grew wider. "Stayed out all night did we?" Nino gasped as Adrien shrugged, blushing slightly. "No WAY bro, with a girl?! That is so epic!"
The silver sedan drew closer, slowing to a stop in front of the school, mere feet from where they were hiding.
"Please Nino, PLEASE!" Adrien was desperate. Knowing his father, he'd be forbidden from returning to school, maybe even sent to a boarding school somewhere far away, away from Marinette, away from Ladybug, away for the only friends he's ever had.
"No sweat bro, we're best buds after all! BUT—" Nino beamed, "You're giving me the WHOLE story tonight at the dance!"
Adrien nodded abruptly, darting out from his hiding place and into the passenger-side back seat of the waiting sedan, coming face-to-face with a startled Nathalie.
"Where did you—where were you?" Nathalie's surprise had hardened into a steely frown. "Your father is worried sick."
Yeah, right, Adrien thought, avoiding the temptation to roll his eyes. "I… uh… "
Right on cue, Nino came sauntering up to the car, rapping lightly on the window next to Adrien's head. The Gorilla grunted, lowering the window halfway.
"Hey Dude, don't forget, 7:00 at the Carrousel, I've got your ticket but don't be late!" Nino winked at Adrien, and turned his attention to the stern-faced Nathalie. "Oh by the way du- Ma'am, thanks a lot for letting Adrien spend the night. That Physics test would have had my hide without the last-minute study sesh! Later man!" Nino waved as he jogged back to join the girls for lunch. Something is definitely up with that dude…, he thought with a smile. And I'm gonna find out what!
Nathalie looked at Adrien with a disapproving sigh and shook her head.
"Next time, at least let me bring you a change of clothes. Let's get you home and cleaned up before your father sees this." Or he'll have MY hide, Nathalie thought grimly.
"Sure, you bet! And uh, sorry Nathalie," Adrien replied, relief washing over him.
Marinette waved to Nino as he approached. She couldn't help but notice a flashy silver sedan pulling away from the curb behind him, with a very familiar blond head momentarily visible as the window beside him glided closed. The scene hadn't gone unnoticed by Alya, either, who was now glaring at Nino for an explanation.
"Oh! Right,… "Nino thought fast. "He, uhh… had a last minute photo shoot, but wanted to stop by to say he'll definitely be at the dance tonight!" Nino flashed his most convincing grin, throwing two thumbs up in front of him for effect.
"See girl, I told you so!" Alya poked Marinette playfully as her expression softened. "Marinette and Adrien, sittin' in a tree—" she teased.
Marinette couldn't help but laugh at her friend's goofy antics. "Oh stop it, Alya! He's…" she hesitated. "He's just a friend!" Or maybe…
"Not for loooong!" Alya sing-songed, making kissy faces at Marinette, causing all 3 friends to break out in laughter.
