Saturday morning: A time for rest and rejuvenation.
The sun was shining, the birds were singing, and the air smelled fresh. It was a lovely morning for the citizens of Paris and would've been a lovely morning for Marinette too, except for the grainy photo that Alya was waiving in front of her face.
"I've got the biggest scoop!" she'd yelled when she ran into Marinette's room at 8 AM.
"You are never gonna believe this, girl!"
Marinette didn't believe it, although she was looking at the photo. She hadn't even had a day to enjoy it herself, before the news was all over the Ladyblog.
A very small, black-suited figure had its arms wrapped around a very small, red-suited figure. The photo quality wasn't great, but there was no denying what was going on in that picture. Someone captured Ladybug and Cat Noir's kiss on camera and sent it in to Alya.
And she was over the moon about it, along with the rest of the Internet.
"Do you know what this means?! Ladybug and Cat Noir really ARE in love!" she squealed like a girl at a concert, not noticing the groan that escaped Marinette.
Everyone wanted to know if Ladybug and Cat Noir were now a couple, how long they'd been dating, and all of the other details that really didn't exist yet. Marinette didn't even really know what would happen between her and Cat Noir from this point forward. Sure, they kissed and she said she was in love with him, but Hawk Moth still needed to be dealt with.
Marinette looked at the clock. 8:30 AM. There were twelve hours between then and when she'd be meeting with Cat Noir and Meg to learn the true identity of Hawk Moth. Then she and Cat Noir could go after him and return the Butterfly miraculous to Master Fu. Only then would she be able to start thinking about what would happen in her love life.
She glanced at Alya still typing away in response to all of the comments on her blog, and although she tried, she couldn't help but join everyone in wondering all the same questions about Ladybug and Cat Noir. Marinette remembered the kiss from the night before and how she'd wanted to see Cat Noir's face without the mask. Maybe once they defeated Hawk Moth it would be safe for them to share their identities with one another. Maybe they even already knew each other.
Before, Marinette had always avoided wondering about Cat Noir's identity, because she didn't want to risk putting him or herself in any danger. Then again, they'd never been this close to knowing Hawk Moth's identity. Suddenly it was a possibility that they'd be able to safely share those details. It would certainly make dating a lot easier, and they'd be able to kiss without all of the paparazzi around.
She turned her attention back to her friend, who was still consumed with her latest story, and smiled at the thought.
After a long day of listening to Alya's theories and helping her parents out in the bakery, Marinette went up to her room for bed. At least that's what she told her parents. Her poor bed would remain empty a few hours longer while she met with Meg and Cat Noir to discuss the fate of Paris.
Ladybug swung across town to the meeting point by the river. The night was colder tonight than any other nights had been that week, and the clouds covered the moon and the stars making it a dark night as well.
A chill ran up Ladybug's spine, and she got a bad feeling as she walked to where Meg and Cat Noir stood waiting for her.
"But he was akumatized!" Ladybug could not believe her ears. Gabriel Agreste?
"It was a cover." Meg explained to Ladybug what she'd earlier explained to Adrien about his father and the book.
"I can't believe we allowed ourselves to be so easily tricked. All this time and—oh no! Adrien!" Ladybug looked horrified, "He's going to be so hurt when he finds out."
Her hand was over her heart; as if she could feel the pain that Adrien would go through, and no doubt feeling some of her own. Her feelings for Adrien might have changed in nature, but he was still very dear to her. Adrien would need her to be there for him as Marinette. As his friend.
"I… already told him." Meg said cautiously, not sure how Ladybug would take it.
Her eyes widened, and then focused as she came to a realization, "That's the important thing that you needed to take care of. The reason you wouldn't tell us Hawk Moth's identity last night."
"I figured if Ladybug and Cat Noir were going to expose his father as Hawk Moth, then he should know about it first."
Ladybug was furious.
"Do you have any idea how much danger you put him in? He can't know something like that yet."
"Ladybug, relax. Adrien knows how important it is to keep this a secret."
"Do you realize how he must have felt when you told him? What if Hawk Moth had taken advantage of those feelings?" Ladybug was pacing, trying to calm herself down. "Cat Noir, aren't you going to say something?" she asked.
"I'm…just as shocked as you are, Ladybug."
"Gabriel would never hurt his own son," Meg glanced at Cat Noir, "Believe me, he's gone through great lengths to try to keep him safe. In his own way."
"In his own way?" Ladybug asked. Was Meg really trying to defend Hawk Moth?
Ladybug looked to Cat Noir for backup, but he wasn't looking.
"There's more, Ladybug." Meg said.
She told her about Nathalie, the Peacock miraculous, Emilie Agreste being kept under the mansion, and about Hawk Moth's plan to bring her back.
Ladybug was speechless for a moment. All this time she thought Hawk Moth had some dark motives for wanting the miraculous, when in reality he just wanted his wife back. That's so sad, she thought as a wave of sympathy washed over her. Ladybug's fists clenched at her sides. It's no excuse. No matter the reason why, Hawk Moth had caused massive amounts of damage and put all of Paris in danger. She was ready to end this.
And so was Cat Noir, it seemed.
He stepped forward, his staff extended, and ready to fight.
"Well what are we waiting for?" he asked.
Ladybug began twirling her yo-yo in response.
"Wait!" A worried expression sat on Meg's face as she looked between the two heroes.
"You don't even have a plan." She pointed out, "You can't just go barreling in."
The heroes slowed their momentum, looking to each other and seeming to communicate telepathically before speaking again.
"She's right," Ladybug reluctantly agreed, "We've never faced Hawk Moth head on before. What if something goes wrong?"
"Not to mention he's still in possession of a second miraculous. What if he decides to use it?" Cat Noir responded.
"Don't you think he would've used it by now if he were going to?" asked Ladybug.
"Not if he was just waiting for the right moment."
"Hello? What about Adrien?" Meg cut into their planning, "You were just talking about how much danger I put him in for telling him about his father. Now you want to take the fight to him?"
"You said his father would never hurt him." Cat Noir answered, brushing off her concern.
"He wouldn't." Meg retorted, "But what if, somehow, Adrien's safety became a question in the middle of the fight? It would become a distraction, and somebody would definitely end up hurt. One way or another."
She looked pointedly at Cat Noir.
"She's right. Again." Said Ladybug, noting the fierce look that Meg shot to Cat Noir in Adrien's defense. "We can't risk Adrien's safety any more than we already have."
Not that that was something that Ladybug was willing to do anyway. But she failed to consider the possibility of his safety becoming an issue during the actual fight.
"But Ladybug…" Cat Noir started.
She turned to him, brows furrowed, marveled that he would still press the issue when someone's safety was in question.
He held her gaze for a moment before turning away.
"You're right," he conceded, "It's too dangerous."
"Gabriel never leaves his home, so we need to get Adrien out of the house somehow."
A sound, almost like a scoff, came from Cat Noir's direction, but Ladybug couldn't be sure.
"Leave that to me," said Meg. "I'll get him out of the house and keep him out until the fight is over."
"Good thinking." Cat Noir smirked.
"Great. Now all we need is a plan of attack." Ladybug said, her hand on her chin.
Ladybug swung onto her balcony and landed in her room as Marinette. She knew she'd need a good night's rest for the battle that was to take place the next day. She also knew there was no way she'd possibly get a good night's rest that night.
Every battle she and Cat Noir fought had each been one step leading closer to this moment, and it was finally here. Before tonight, Marinette never would've blinked at the thought of taking down Hawk Moth, but with all of this new insight, she felt the smallest bit of sympathy for him. And that made her feel guilty.
So she tossed, and she turned, into the early hours of the morning.