A/N New chapter! Starts off with a flashback and a little glimpse into Annette's childhood.
The Evillustrator – Nathanael's Day.
"I can't believe you talked us into this" Tikki whispered in my ear. As I stared at the vanity where the earrings and rings lay. It had been a while since mom and dad had gone out to patrol, and even longer since there had been reason for it.
"Come on even you said that, it had been a while since anything big happened." Annette whispered. "It should be fine"
Plagg whispered to Tikki. "And she promised to back off if some of the really bad people show up"
Annette rolled her eyes. "Yes, yes, yes" She said. She looked outside the sun would be setting in an hour, and mom and dad would be heading into her room to say good night soon.
"Are we going to do this or not?" I asked my eyes wide and giving the soft pout that I knew Tikki couldn't resist.
Tikki sighed. "You promise, that you won't get involved in any fights Annette" Tikki said sharply.
Annette grinned and ran into her parents' room and pulled both the earrings and the rings on.
"Why not just one of them?" Plagg and Tikki asked her calmly. "Trying both might be to much of a handful."
Annette pouted. "You said I could do both!" She said pouting, her eyes wide and sparkling with unshed tears.
Her baby doll eyes.
Both Plagg and Tikki were utterly powerless when it came to the Baby Doll eyes, and really? What was the harm? Her parents weren't much older then her when they received the miraculous. It should be fine.
Right?
"What's the catch phrase?" Annette asked knowing she had won.
Plagg and Tikki eyed each other hesitantly. "Say Unify" Plagg finally said.
Annette clapped happily. "Plagg Tiki Unify!" She said together they were sucked into their respective miraculouses. Energy wrapped around her form giving her the miraculous suit.
She looked at the mirror on top of her mother's vanity table and grinned at her reflection, the black leather suit, the clawed hands, the black mask with red lenses, and to top it off across her hack was the handle of a sword. She pulled it out and stared at it mesmerized. It was silver, with an obsidian handle and rubies encrusted into the sides of the handle.
"Sweet!" She giggled.
"Annie!" Her mother Bridgette called up to her. "Is everything ok up there!"
"Everything's ok Mom!" She yelled to her mom. "Plagg and Tikki are just telling me some stories!"
"Ok, sweetie have fun!"
She jumped out the window before her parents caught her rifling through her stuff.
She ran across the rooftops. The wind rush past her face as she vaulted and tumbled through the town. She cried out in glee as she ran through the valley.
She went to all the sights her parents had taken her. Now able to climb to the top of the Eifle tower her self.
She didn't know how long she was when she realized that the sun was going down. She turned around from the rooftop she had been on and headed back home.
Unfortunately, it was dark before she had gotten home, and she had actually traveled farther then she had originally thought, but Tikki and Plagg, now much stronger together, were whispering in her ear how to get home.
She had been jumping and running home when a scream pierced the air. She turned her head and ran as fast as she could to where she heard the scream.
She stood and watched the darkness of the shadows covering her form, as she watched a young boy not much older then herself with red hair being attacked by a group of teenagers.
Don't she heard in her mind. You could get hurt
Hearing the voices in her mind surprised her but she didn't have time to question it. I can't just sit by and do nothing. She thought to the Kwamis, before jumping down in the middle of the attack.
"Now, what's going on here?" She asked sparing the boy that had been attacked a glance and was vaguely aware that he looked familiar.
"Picking on a boy? Please, why don't you go picking on someone your own size?"
The teens leered at her. "How about we deal with you instead?"
"Like you could take me" The twelve-year-old hero said haughtily. She didn't even bother pulling out her sword. The teens attacked her but she jumped out of the way. Not to the side like she normally would have done but straight into the air and over their heads.
The attackers looked at her in surprise she smiled.
"But, you're just a girl" One of them said. Annette shrugged and lifted her arms to fight her arms fisted.
They attacked one at a time. (How clichéd could you get?). She blocked the attack of one and landed a punch in his nose. The man cursed.
Annette tsked "That's not very nice" she said as she raised her hand to block the next boy and kicked him in the stomach, before crouching down and swing her leg through his legs making him fall.
The third guy ran straight at her. Instead of blocking him she just moved out of the way and he ran straight at the wall behind her and fell to the ground in pain.
Annette turned to the boy and picked him surprised at how light he seemed, and ran to the nearest roof where the boys couldn't find her.
"Are you ok?" She asked.
The boy said nothing for a moment.
"What were you doing out so late?" Annette asked.
"I was out drawing, and I didn't realize that it was getting dark until it was too late" The boy mumbled. The voice did spark a bit of recognition, but she couldn't exactly place the name.
Annette understood that feeling. "I'm not angry" She said. "Though next time you should be a bit more aware of what's going on around you, so this doesn't happen again."
The boy nodded shyly.
Annette looked around. "Can you point me in the direction of your home?" She asked. "I wouldn't want to leave you by yourself like this"
The boy didn't say anything. So, Annette carefully put a hand out for him to take, waiting for him to come to her. He clasped her hand without a second thought and she wrapped his arm around her neck. "Where too?" She asked.
She ran through Paris when he finally touched down on the boy's street.
"Will you be ok from here?" She asked. The boy nodded. Annette now satisfied she took a step back to head home, when the boy called out to her.
"Wait!" He said.
She stooped and turned back to him. "Yes?"
"What's your name?" He asked her.
She swallowed. Her name? She thought quickly. "Lady Noir" She said softly. It seemed fitting since she was wearing both miraculouses.
"I'm Nathanael Kurtzburg" He said holding out his hand. "Thank you for protecting me. Lady Noir"
Nathanael of course! Now she knew why he looked familiar to her, he went to the same school as her. She had seen him a couple of times, he was pretty much a loner preferring to sit aone and draw then too talk to people. Annette smiled and shook his hand. "It's nice to meet you" She said.
"Will I ever see you again" He asked as he let go of her hand.
"Oh probably" Annette giggled. "See you, later Nathanael!" She said waving, before jumping onto the nearest roof and heading toward the direction of home.
"Happy Birthday!" I said to Nathanael giggling slightly as I walked into class, a gift wrapped box held tightly in my hands.
Nathanael looked at the box in surprise. "What's this?" He asked me curiously.
"I overheard you say that it was your birthday today a couple of days ago, when you were on the phone with your dad," I said. "So… I thought I would get you something. You know… to celebrate."
Nathanael looked at it in surprise. "Wow, Annette, you didn't have to get me anything"
"Trust me, If I felt I had to, I probably wouldn't have done" I said holding it out for him. "You want it or not?"
He looked at it his hand out stretched before pushing it back to me. "Keep it, I don't want it" He said.
My face turned red, at having miscalculated so badly. I looked down in surprise. "Oh!" I said. "Um, ok" I told him sitting down at the desk, hiding the box under the desk and crossing my arms in front of my chest. Unaware that Nicholas Croix was staring at me.
Nathanael new he was being mean, but he felt angry. He knew he had no reason too. No reason to feel angry at anyone. Annette, was just doing what she thought was right. All she was doing was protecting people. Had been ever since the akuma's started showing up.
Actually… now that he thought about it, her protective streak started long before that. She comforted those who were sad, and stood in front of people when fights were ready to break out. Or at the very least tried to. Her friendship with Chloé had left many people wary of her, and a lot of the time she tried to offer help, many people would slap her hand away.
Himself included. He would avoid listening to her when she tried to talk, afraid that she would start with the name calling, but she never did, and though he was weary of her, they eventually settled into the familiar banter. Him advising her on how to deal with Chloé and Annette glaring at him. She thought he hated her. Truth was, that was never the case.
Nathanael had always found her fascinating, his father had always warned him about having friends. To make sure they were good friends, because falling in with the wrong crowd could change a person in ways that they don't expect, but Annette never changed, she never tried to fit in, she could be a bitch, but most of the time she was kind. She never let her relationship with Chloé change who she was.
Chloé never ridiculed it, though occasionally he would over hear Chloé ask Annette why she acted the way she did. Annette would say that helping people is what her parents did, and that is what she would do.
That always confused him. Her father helped run, the Agreste clothing line, her mother was a sculptor and while he wanted to go into art one day, he didn't have any illusions of it being on the same field as a Firefighter, or a cop. Art didn't keep people alive. If someone identified with art piece you were creating- Great- but It was a way of expressing yourself. No one else.
When he questioned her on the line she would laugh and say, that no matter what anyone does they could always use their medium to make a difference, that no one knew how they were going to resonate with someone.
That was the first time he felt fascination with her.
Then the akuma's started to show up, and his fascination grew. She didn't lament the fact that she had no powers, that someone should save them, no, she did it herself. Rather then waiting for Ladybug and Cat Noir to show up, her mind was already coming up with a plan on how to best the enemy.
And then… Annette had been attacked, by Lady Wifi an akuma that Annette had unintentionally created by defending Chloé of all people. She was locked in place unable to move and could only try to please the akumatized victim. Nathanael had stood in shock watching the screen, unable to move.
A part of him had felt jealous when Cat Noir had barged in, and rescued her, the other only felt ashamed that he couldn't have tried, and then to hear that he had carried her home after having her fall unconscious…
Nathanael was only vaguely aware of the bell ringing. He packed his bags and left the room, too lost in his thoughts he didn't even say goodbye to Annette, Myléné or Ivan.
Then Valentine's day came and he still can't get over how stupid he acted. He dropped her over a misunderstanding. Without even waiting for her to explain he told her how angry he was. How she should have told him and then dropped her as a friend. (Cat Noir coming to him later that day, calling him out on his stupidity, had been both shameful, fear inducing, and eye opening).
The only thing that gave him hope were the words she had said to him the next day. Of how she didn't like blondes. Then Nicholas Croix showed up looking almost the exact opposite of Cat Noir. Brown Hair, brown eyes, slightly more muscled than Cat Noir and definitely more muscled and lean then Nathanael could hope to be. Nicholas croix had his eye on Annette ever since he transferred, but Annette kept turning him down. Making Nathanael feel hopeful.
And then the show happened. Something happened though he wasn't entirely sure what. It was getting dark, and she was wearing that black dress, and the reminder of what happened that day made him worried for her. She had pulled the red cardigan off to show him where she had gotten injured. He had wanted to kiss the wound, hold her tightly and never let her go. He had been acutely aware of how close she was. How soft her skin was. How bright her eyes seemed. It hadn't been the first time he had wanted to kiss her, but the urge had never so intense before.
He could have cursed the show for starting when it did (and he did-repeatedly). Yet whenever he turned to look at Annette, her face was scarlet. He couldn't help but think that she had been just as affected by the night as he had been.
That night he came to a horrifying realization. He was unworthy of her. That Annette was this brave, beautiful amazing girl, and he had no chance of being with someone like her.
Admittedly he might have seemed a bit bipolar. Ignoring to see her one day, and then excited to see her the next. In truthhe was trying to work through his insecurities, and had almost had the quenched when…
She went after Copy cat. He should be proud to be the friend of this amazing girl, but he couldn't help but be angry and worried that she was just going to go and get herself killed again
He entered the class and sat at his desk pulling out his notebook, and looking over all the drawings he had made, of himself, of Annette, of Ladynoir… and he realized why he was angry. It had nothing to do with fear of losing her. (Ok it did, but it was more then that).
He was unworthy of her.
Annette. The girl who ran toward every akuma she faced. As opposed to away like a good citizen should have. Who, when Ivan had turned to stone and was advancing toward a helpless girl, stood in front of Myléné, and pulled the girl out of the classroom. The girl, who when Bubbler attacked, came up with a plan to stop Bubbler from bubbling anyone else until, Ladybug and Cat Noir could handle the akuma. The girl who pulled Ladybug from danger, and as a result got injured herself…
"Nathanael!" He was forced out of his thoughts as Ms. Mendeliev that school science teacher glared down at him and his drawings. "Clearly these silly little artistic endeavors are clearly why you are failing science."
He felt Annette's eyes on him. Nathanael closed his books so she wouldn't see the numerous drawings on them.
"Get yourself to the principle's office young man" The science teacher exclaimed.
Nathanael would have loved to say that he handled it with dignity. That he stood up and walked out of the room with his head held high, but he tripped fell and his notebook landed right in front of the boy.
The boy picked it up and skimmed through it. He laughed coldly. "I told you, give it up, your nowhere in her league." He whispered as he past it back to him.
His blood boiled at the derision. The hand hold his pencil fisted and he wanted nothing more than to ram the boys face into the desk. Instead however he took a step backwards and hurried out of the class.
That boy knows NOTHING! He screamed internally as he made his way to the principal's office. He's a selfish egotistical, asshole, who knows nothing about Annette.
His thoughts had gotten so clouded that he wasn't aware that a certain purple butterfly was headed his way. He was aware however when HawkMoth's voice whispered in his ear, but by that point it was to late.
"Why her" Chloé sighed. "I mean I'm glad I have a chance to speak with Sabrina again but…"
Annette stuffed her backpack into her locker and pulled out her gymnastics bag. "But, you still don't like Marinette…" Annette said. "I get it, I just can't do anything about it- look, just do your share of the homework, let there be minimal talking, between you and Marinette, and call me if you come to any trouble."
"You know I have been doing my own homework now" Chloé said dryly.
"I know" I said. "Since I outright refused to do it for you"
Chloé pouted. "Yeesh don't remind me" She said with a shiver. I laughed and shook my head, Chloé joined in with me.
"Are we meeting at the Library?" Marinette asked interrupting our laughter. "What's so funny?"
"Inside joke" I said instantly no need to make things between Marinette and Chloé even more awkward.
"Yep" Chloé said popping the p, leaning against her locker. "And yeah meeting in the library should be fine"
Marinette nodded unsure. "Uhh Ok" She said. "I'll uhh see you there"
I turned to Chloé. "You and Sabrina at least have a reason to talk now" I insisted. "I have to go, coach is being relentless and wants to make sure we all know our parts, honestly I am actually scared of the possibility of the pair of us losing, coach akuamtized is that last thing I need."
Chloé patted my shoulder. "You better not lose then"
I glared at Chloé. "Thanks" I said. "By Mari" I said walking off.
"Hey what about me?" Chloé called back.
I laughed as I walked away. "By Chloe!"
I sat on the bars waiting for the coach to show Aurore groaned hanging from the bars by her legs.
"What is taking her so long!" Aurore groaned.
"It's only been 5 minutes" Lauren said.
I furrowed my brow. "Aurore does have a point though, since when is Madam ever late?"
I swung off the bars and moved toward the gym doors, deciding to look up and down the hallway. That's when I heard the sound of screaming.
"Annette" I jumped and turned my head to see the coach glaring at me. "What do you think your doing?"
I smiled uneasily. "Wondering where you are"
"Get inside" The Coach instructed in one fluide movement she had me inside and the gym door locked. "An Akuma is in the building."
Evillustrator was happy that Annette had Gymnastics that day. (He wasn't a stalker, but the notices were posted all over the school, that there was a last-minute practise that day.) According to akuma protecal, when an Akuma was found to be in the building, lockdown was initiated immediately. Annette would be stuck in the gym until he either lost (not going to happen) or left the school.
Until then... He stared at Nicholas from his position in the library. The boy was calmly reading, calmly writing down notes on his notepad beside him. Evillustrator smiled cruelly.
Evillustrator looked down at his pad, and calmly drew ropes.
The ropes appeared and wrapped tightly around the boy. The boy yelled in surprise. "Hey!" He yelled. "What is"
Evillustrator drew tape and around the boys mouth appeared a thick piece of duck tape stopping him from talking.
Unfortunately, people were starting to take notice. He drew barriers cutting the boy off from the rest of the library. Annette would never forgive him if he ended up hurting innocent civilians, least of all Chloé. He may not like her, but Annette would kill him if she got hurt.
The other students ran out of the room quickly leaving him alone with The Boy.
He had been just about to draw something else when he felt a yoyo wrap around his hand pulling his arm upright. He turned and glared at Ladybug.
He resisted against Ladybug's string long enough to draw a snake chasing hurt (non-poisonous of course) to chase after the superheroine.
Ladybug released his hand to handle the snake, but then he had Cat Noir to deal with, he drew clear box that fell right on top of him, and quickly made his escape just as ladybug had disposed of the snake.
Adrien had once told Annette that he was getting bad vibes from Nicholas LaCroix. Now being in his apartment, let in by the boy's grandfather (who refused to stop glaring at him) that feeling was magnified by over a thousand.
"Do you know of anyone who might have a grudge against you?" Ladybug asked.
Nicholas looked just the right amount of confused, head tilted to one side his brow furrowed, "Um no" Nicholas said shaking his head. "Not that I can think of" He said.
Right. Adrien thought to himself. "Are you sure, because he seemed to be gunning for you."
"Are you accusing my grandson of something? Need I remind you he's a victim in this?" The grandfather said. The grandfather, was tall and burly, with coal black eyes and salt and pepper hair. "And if you two had done your jobs correctly, we wouldn't be worrying about this now."
Cat Noir glared but Ladybug was the one who answered "No" ladybug said with gritted teeth. "But from our experiences, Akuma victims tend to attack someone who they feel has hurt them."
Nicholas sighed. "I did tease a boy in my class about his crush on a classmate of mine" He admitted. "I meant no harm by it."
"Who was the classmate?" Cat Noir asked though he was certain he knew who it was.
"The classmate I teased I believe was named Nathanael. I don't know his last name, I believe Annette Agreste does, maybe you should ask her. That's the girl he was crushing on anyway"
Nathanael Kurtzburg. Cat Noir sighed. "Thank you" He said standing. "I think I'll go talk to her" He said standing and leaving.
"Wait"
Ladybug put a hand on his arm. "He could still be in danger" She said. "You sure it's wise to leave?"
Being in that apartment was starting to make Cat Noir feel uneasy. "If Evillustrator is in love with a girl wouldn't she be his next target?" Cat Noir asked. "I mean that's how it was with Stoneheart."
"Myléné was the indirect cause of Stoneheart" Ladybug said. "Annette as far as we know isn't."
"Still, can't hurt to keep an eye on her, just in case" Cat Noir said. "I know you can contact me"
"How about you send me instead?"
Cat Noir and Ladybug tensed and turned towards the voice.
Annette messaged her shoulders. Why can't Akumas pick a convenient time to terrorize the school? She thought to herself. After the teacher had locked the gym doors and ordered practice to continue as usual. Annette to but it bluntly had thrown a fit, but the coach had refused to back down. In the end, Annette had ended up getting a sprained shoulder when after having thrown a fit and denied permission to leave. The team had to continue with practice. Unfortunately, Annette had been distracted by the screaming and had swung off too early and missed the bar, leading to a sprained shoulder.
"You ok?" Annette jumped and turned around in shock. A boy with purple skin and a black mask was standing at her window. His red hair was messy and there was a purple beret on his head. His shirt was white and black stripped with three circles of red blue and yellow in the middle of his chest. His trousers were black and on his arm, was what looked like an IPad.
Annette took a step a way. "Who uh are you?" She asked softly. "The new Akuma?"
"Am I scaring you?" The new boy asked he started to draw on his pad and slowly the boy morphed into Nathanael. "How's this?" He asked her.
"Nathanael? What, I mean how-?" Annette shook her head and put a hand to her head. "Wait… you're the Akuma from this afternoon?"
Nathanael nodded. "The boy deserved it, he just angered me one too many times."
Annette pinched her noes. "What do you want Nathanael?" She asked exasperated then she paused and stared at him worriedly. "Did I anger you?"
Nathanael looked at her in surprise. "You? No! No, gosh no Annette your, your perfect."
Annette sank down into her bed. "Then why are you here?"
Nathanael smiled and started tod raw on his pad. "How about a date tonight?" He asked softly. "Since it is my birthday and all"
Annette shook her head. "I-"
"Please, just you and me" Nathanael said.
Annette touched his face and searched his gaze. "Drop the glamour" She ordered. Nathanael immediately erased the image on his pad and the Nathanael persona was erased from his face. Annette stared into his eyes looking for a hint of deceit.
"Why?" She whispered. "What changed?"
"Is that a yes?" Nathanael asked.
Annette's eyes turned away from him and she turned hoping he wouldn't see the pain in her eyes. "You hurt someone today, I heard the screaming from the gym" Annette said bitterly. "Who caused it?"
"Does it matter?"
"It pissed you off enough to attract the attention of Hawk Moth" Annette said. "I'd say it does"
Nathanael went quiet. "A boy made me feel inferior, about my feelings for someone I care about" He said.
"His name?" Annette asked.
Nathanael turned away. "Why do you care?"
"Because he hurt you!" Annette shouted. "He angered you enough that he made Hawk Moth sound appealing." The disgust was clear in her voice.
"You don't blame me for not controlling my emotions?" Nathanael asked with a raised eyebrow.
Annette shook her head. "Not everyone can"
"You can" Nathanael said stepping close. "You can do anything"
Annette shook her head. "If you knew me, the things I've done you'd be-"
"You don't know me all that well then" Nathanael said softly. "One night, please, I'm sorry I rejected your gift earlier, please let me make it up to you."
"Is there anything I can do to persuade you too-"
"I'm better like this" Nathanael implored.
"You're better as you" Annette said tears rolling down her face.
A purple butterfly appeared over his face. He flinched away. "Come on Annette" He whispered. "One date"
Annette stared at him. This was what she had been wanting for weeks, but she wanted it as Nathanael being in his right mind. Not in the thick dark fog that was Hawk Moth's influence. She wanted it to be private, not Hawk Moth silently watching. She knew she wouldn't be able to convince him to let go of the powers while Hawk Moth was whispering in his ear.
"One condition" Annette said. "You hurt no one else"
Nathanael stared at her a smile formed on his face. "Great" He said he drew on his pad and a jet pack appeared on his back. "Meet me at the docks tonight at 7" He told me before flying out my window.
I am a moron. I thought as I sat on my bed. Unaware that my entire encounter had had a witness.
"What in the hell is that girl thinking" Cat Noir said to Ladybug his hands fisting. "I mean she can't possibly be that stupid, right?"
"I'm sure she has a plan" Ladybug tried. "I mean that is what she does right? Refuses to wait for a rescue and comes up with a plan to get herself out of trouble?"
"Usually yeah, but she's emotionally invested in this Akuma, I don't think she's thinking too clearly." Cat Noir said.
Ladybug raised an eyebrow. "And your ok with that?" Ladybug asked.
Cat Noir groaned. "Not my girlfriend" He reminded her.
"Come on Cat" Ladybug said. "You like her, you're always looking out for her, and she's clearly a lot more comfortable with you then with me, you don't have to hide it"
"She's not my girlfriend, she's just a good friend" Cat Noir said. "Guys and Girls can be friends you know"
"Agreed" Ladybug said with a sigh. "But you have to admit you two look cute together"
Cat Noir tried to refrain from the shutter. "No, we really wouldn't" He said. "Trust me"
Ladybug raised her hands in surrender. "Ok, well we know she's going to be at the docks tonight at seven, and we know that he promised not to hurt anyone else, so… maybe we could intercept them at the dock's?" Ladybug asked.
Cat Noir nodded "Like keep her from meeting him?" He asked. He had to admit part of him liked the idea.
"No, we let the date happen, allow him to fall into a false sense of security, and then we attack." Ladybug said.
Cat Noir sighed. "We should warn her about that, in case she get's hurt" He told her, "It wouldn't be right not to warn her what she's getting herself into"
Ladybug nodded. "We should both go talk to her" Ladybug admitted.
"Ladybug Cat Noir, to what do I owe the ever-important pleasure?" Annette asked.
"We know about the date" Cat Noir said his arms crossed and he was glaring down at her.
Annette paused and sighed. "Yeah, I know it's stupid, but I figured if he's out with me he won't be terrorizing the rest of the city" Annette sighed.
"Uh-huh" Ladybug said. "So… listen we need something from you" Ladybug said. "We'll be keeping an eye on the date, and if at any point, you find an opportunity too…"
"You want me to double cross him" Annette said with a sigh a hand to her head.
"Well yes" Ladybug said. "You can't cancel, it might have him go back on his word, but if everything goes right, we can do this with as minimal fighting as possible."
Annette sat on her bed. "Ok" She said softly. "I'll try" She said.
"Chloé" Sabrina said with a soft reproach. "Where have you been?" She said. "You and Marinette are not saddling me with all the work, are you?"
Chloé shook her head and pulled out her yellow binder. "An emergency came up" She told Sabrina softly. "But I'm here and ready to work now." She said.
Sabrina sighed and looked at her phone. "Where's Marinette?" She asked. "Isn't she supposed to be helping?"
Chloé shrugged. "Now how should we divide up the work?" She asked Sabrina. "I have to be out of here by 6:30 to make an appointment."
Sabrina stared at her suspiciously. She shrugged it could have been worse. She wasn't saddling Sabrina with all the work – yet – anyway.
Chloé worked diligently only opening her mouth to ask a question. She seemed determined to finish all her portion of the work before the 6:30 deadline.
15 minutes into their meet. Marinette showed up and calmly started to work as well. The day went well, they worked they ate, no one talked.
To be honest Chloé surprised Sabrina. She wasn't complaining about the work. She was working occasionally shaking her hand as her hand was starting to cramp from so much writing. Before long it was 6:30 and Chloé stood.
"I have to go" Chloé said. "I'll try to work on some more to night and send it off to you before I go to sleep"
Sabrina nodded as Marinette stood. "I have to go to" She told Sabrina apologetically. "It's almost curfew" Marinette said.
Sabrina nodded her eyes faraway. "Ok," She said. "I'll see you"
Chloé hesitated. "It was nice seeing you Sabrina" She said. "Be safe, that Evillustrator is still on the loose" She said and then walked out.
Marinette nodded to Sabrina. "See you Sabrina"
Chloé walked out of the house and turned a corner her hands clutching tightly to the straps of her back pack.
"Are you ok?" Marinette asked. "Do you need something?"
Chloé smiled at Marinette though to the raven-haired girl the smile appeared forced and strained. "No, Marinette" She sighed. "I'm just peachy" Chloé said. "I'll talk to you later"
Marinette sighed. "Ok, see you Chloé" Chloé nodded tensely and walked off.
Marinette turned and idea came to her. She turned to talk to Chloé to ask a question only to see her duck into an alley way. Marinette furrowed her brow in confusion. What is she… she followed her and looked behind the alley. Her eyes widened at what she saw.
Annette took a deep breath as she headed to the docks. She smoothed her shirt in front of her for the hundredth time. Cat Noir had helped her sneak out and even after she had gone past the gate she could still feel his eyes on her.
Annette walked leisurely down the road the full moon making her feel calm.
Annette put on a small smile as she reached the docks. A giant boat was waiting for her and she could see her akumatized friend sitting down calmly drawing the rest of the boat into existence.
"Nathanael?" She phrasing his name like a question.
Nathanael turned and smiled though to Annette it looked a little forced.
"Wow" She said getting on the boat spinning around. "Did you make this?" She asked him.
Nathanael nodded. "Do you like it?"
"Nathanael it's amazing" She told him.
Nathanael smiled.
"Oh, come on!" I laughed. "That was the most humiliating day of my life. The one good thing about it was that no one I knew was there- well except for my parents, my cousin, his parents and… my entire gymnastics team but other then that no one."
Nathanael shook his head. "You were adorable"
"I looked like an anencephalic monkey – no sorry, an anencephalic monkey would have had enough brains to not do what I did, it was embarrassing."
Nathanael chuckled. "What about you? What's the memory that first got you to notice me?"
Immediately the memory of his rescue came to my mind and I looked away, tears falling down my cheeks. I quickly wiped them away before he could notice.
"The day I first started talking to you" I said with a sigh. "We were sat beside each other and it was the first time I had been to school since my parents died, I was sitting at my desk trying not to cry, and you passed a drawing to me" I said with a smile. "It was a drawing of me with my parents"
"You ran out of the room" Nathanael said. "Chloé and Sabrina followed you shortly afterwards"
I looked down. "I wasn't in much control of my emotions" I told him. "But I was touched"
A butterfly appeared in front of his face again.
"Hello Hawkmoth" I said my voice dripping with anger. "Nice evening tonight, isn't it?"
Nathanael's eyes widened. "Tell…me about your parents"
My eyebrows shot up. "Who's asking?" I asked. "You or Hawk Moth?"
Nathanael went silent and I stood on the boat, I could feel Nathanael's eyes on me. I stood to face Nathanael and behind him saw three figure's hiding on the boat.
I smiled. I had an idea. I pulled out my I pod. "Do you think you could make a working dock I could plug this into?"
Nathanael tilted his head in confusion but nodded. "Yeah" He said. "But why"
I shrugged. "I'd like some music" I admitted.
"I can make my own" Nathanael said. He started to draw and a few bars of music played.
I nodded. "I know, but I want to dance, with you"
After finding a song that we both liked and was easy to dance too we put it one the dock and started to twirl.
"I'm sorry I asked" Nathanael said as we twirled around. "About your parents, I know how sensitive a topic that is."
I nodded.
"But if you want to talk" Nathanael told me. "I am willing to listen"
I smiled. "My dad was part owner of the Agreste Clothing line – before the name was changed to Gabriel, and my mother was a sculptor." I said. "They were the best parents ever." I looked away tears falling down my cheeks.
Nathanael wiped the tears from my eyes. "I'm listening" He said I put a hand on his.
"I can't" I said backing away removing my self from his grasp. "I can't do this"
Nathanael looked at me wide eyed. "But…"
I shook my head. "I can't do this knowing you are under his control" I said putting my hands behind my back. "I'm sorry"
Nathanael shook his head. "No, please Annette" He said grasping my arms. "I'm sorry"
I shook my head and put my hand to his cheek. "I love you Nathanael" I told him. "I love the look of total concentration you have when your trying to perfect a sketch, I love the way your hair falls over your eyes, I love the anger when someone offends your friends, I love how soft your hands are, I love the kindness you give to everyone" She told him giving him a kiss on the cheek. "But I want you as you, not as Hawk Moth's puppet" I said showing him the pen that I had swipped from him. Nathanael's eyes widened.
Before he could pull it back from me it was snatched out of my hands by Ladybug.
"No!" Nathanael said as Ladybug broke it and purified the Akuma.
"So much for a grand introduction." A bee themed heroine stepped out from where she was hiding. She wore a yellow and black striped leotard with wings sprouting out her back. Her long blond slightly wavy hair was tied back in a ponytail and a small bee themed comb was perched atop her head. A black belt adorned her waist where several small knives could be seen. "I didn't even do anything." Ladybug avoided looking at her.
"So… you're the new Queen Bee" I said crossing my arms.
Queen Bee nodded holding out her hand. I clasped it tightly. "Nice to finally meet you" I said. "I've been on the receiving end of a few of your saves, so thanks for that"
Queen Bee smiled. "Oh, the Copy Cat thing?" Bee waved her hand. "That was… the best thing ever actually"
Ladybug snorted. "You would say that, wouldn't you?" She muttered under her breath.
Annette laughed. "You know… you remind me of a friend of mine"
I looked behind me at Nathanael and smiled at him. "You know, I certain artist was asking about my parents to night"
"Wasn't me" Nathanael said shaking his head. "I know better"
"I don't know" I said with a smile. "He seemed to have a lot of your quirks down, though I have to admit I wasn't used to seeing both his eyes, that was nice."
Nathanael looked at me. "I'm sorry if I ever made you…"
"You didn't" I said. "I'm sorry that I…"
"You did what you had to do" Nathanael said. "So, I'll understand if this whole date was just to get the akuma from me, I'll understand if you never want to…"
I stepped forward. "For a boy who wants to be an artiste your pretty unobservant" I told him.
Nathanael tilted his head in confusion and I kissed him.
Chloé yawned heavily as she tried to finish her load of the work. She really wanted to send the work off tonight, so she didn't have to saddle Sabrina with the work last minute (as old Chloé had been prone to do).
The phone started to ring. She answered her eyes still tracing the project, trying to figure out the answer to the problem. "Sup Annie"
"Queen Bee was out tonight"
"I heard" Chloé said. "That all?"
"Wow, thought you'd be more curious about the girl who is carrying your mother's old miraculous" Annette said with a slight chuckle.
Chloé nodded against her phone. "I am" Chloé said. "Just… I have stuff I need done by tonight, so Sabrina isn't stuck putting everything together tomorrow"
"Understood" Annette said. "Anything I can help with"
Chloé understood the offer, Annette knew that physics wasn't Chloé's best subject. "No, I'm almost done anyway" Chloé said. "I'm good, I just have one more equation to do"
"Ok" Annette said with a sigh. "Oh, I have good news"
"You and Nathanael finally kiss?" Chloé asked.
"Chloé!" Annette shouted.
"Oh please, with the way you two have been tiptoeing around each other, It was bound to happen" Chloé said. "He know yet?"
"… Maybe"
"Annette…"
"Not like it would be any of your business"
"Actually, it kind of would depending on how much you said."
"I said nothing, you blonde, pampered princess" Annette said. "So, cool down."
"It wouldn't be so bad" Chloé said. "Just leave my family out of it till I give the go ahead… and probably Sabrina's and Adrien's too"
"Not. That. Stupid." Annette said. "Right now, I'm just worried about what to say, I mean no offence Chlo- but not even you know a lot of what happened, the only people that no everything are Plagg, Tikki and I"
"You mean that you're Lady Noir"
There was silence on the other end. "How in the world-"
"Oh please, you would have been the only one with access to them, and the heroine that Nathanael is always drawing looks like a twelve-year-old girl and the last time she was seen was 3-4 years ago and your 16th birthday is just around the corner."
"I hate you" Annette said. "Tell no one"
"Duh" Chloé said. "There's probably more to the story and if anything, that knowledge will lead to more questions and… yeah I'll keep it to my self" Chloé said. "Does Adrien know"
"Cat hearing aside… I hope not" Annette said her voice was now growing agitated.
"Annie, talk, I promise I won't tell anyone, it might even make it easier to tell Nathanael"
There was silence on the other end for a few moments before Annette started to talk. At first Chloé just listened her eyes staring at her sheet a small smile as Annette started to talk about saving Nathanael. Then her eyes froze and she looked up and turned around her eyes wide in surprise. "Oh Annette!" Chloé cried.
Annette spoke for a few more moments her voice high and shrill.
Chloé nodded. "Of course, I won't" Chloé said. "Just… oh my gosh… are you…"
Annette seemed to pull herself together. "I should go, you have homework to do."
Before Chloé could say or do anything Annette hung up.
The next morning just as Nathanael was leaving a neatly wrapped box was standing right outside his door. Nathanael shook his head and sat down to take a look at it. Opening the card that accompanied it.
Damn Straight, I'm still giving this too you, at least you'll remember this gift. The card said by way of greating. Nathanael smiled.
If you're wondering how I got this down here, I snuck out early this morning, caught a bus downtown, dropped it off and then caught a bus back uptown, if you hurry I'm probably still waiting at the bus stop.
I know you're probably still a little worried about last night. That's why I brought this to you, I need you to know that what happened last night wasn't bad. If it hadn't been for the fact that I had to double cross in order to de akumatize it would have been the best date I had ever been on.
I once told you that there were things about me that I wasn't ready, but I think that after last night, your ready for at least part of the truth.
You probably wouldn't believe it but...My parents were the previous Ladybug and Cat Noir.
Nathanael stared at the sheet in surprise.
I know it's a bit of a shock, and I'm sorry that your finding out by handwritten letter instead of me telling you but... at least this way I know what I'm saying. Believe me Nathanael when I say that you make me tongue tied.
There's more of course. Much more. But I don't want to overwhelm you. If you think your ready for more of the story please let me know, and this time I'll tell you to your face.
Sincerely,
Annette
P.s burn this letter
Nathanael put the card down and opened the box his eyes widened when he saw a art kit. With everything he could ever need, blowing the one he already had out of the water.
He stood and gathered up the letter and his art kit and ran to the bus stop to see Annette waiting. She hadn't seen him yet but the way she was fidgeting told Nathanael that she was nervous.
Nathanael smiled a little and walked up beside her. "I read your note" He said. "And in all honesty I have only one question" He said pretending to be mad. Annette tensed and seemed to shrink in on herself.
"Is that why your father gave you the middle name Catherine?" Nathanael said. "Couldn't helping naming you after himself?"
Annette looked down and smiled. "One of them, and it totally justifies the name kitten, he was prone to calling me. Honestly the whole family is prone to puns you should see Adrien when he thinks he's out of public eye."
A/n YAY! Another chapter! Hope you liked it. As you can see the episode was changed a little, instead of marinette being the one Nathaniel fawned over it was Annette, And instead of Chloe being the one who got Nathanael akumatised it was Nicholas. I hope you enjoyed it! As to what happened the night Annette's parents died, there is more to come don't worry.
regarding the flashback scene, while I like to think Annette wouldn't have stolen the Miraculouses she is all to aware how wrapped around her thumb Plagg and Tikki are. So yeah, young Annette was in no way an angel.