A/N: Yo! As promised, we are bringing it into chapter 5, the second last chapter of this story, pacing it effectively has been a real uphill battle. But I'm glad people seem to be enjoying it, I don't want to keep you up here for too long, so onto the chapter!
Marinette glanced out her window at the sky, dark grey clouds swirled around it, threatening walkers with an imminent downpour, apparently there was going to be lighting and thunder. Marinette hadn't seen Adrien or Cat Noir since she had kissed him the other night, it wasn't that she was avoiding him per say, she had never spoken to him all the much in her civilian or superhero form and no one had been corrupted by an Akuma since she had paid the blonde boy a little visit.
The sky growled at her and she eyed it calmly, she always liked rain, thunderstorms, lightning, all of it. The pelt of rain on her rooftop served to be a calming constant sound, occasionally interrupted by loud claps and brilliant flashes of light, she thought better in the rain and so she sat there, hoping the downpour would start, she really needed to think.
Adrien was tired, he had had difficulty getting to sleep, too much excitement in a day, Ladybug had kissed him twice, technically. Although he hadn't seen her sense, he had come to two revelations in the past few days, first, Marinette and Ladybug didn't just carry the exact same scent, they tasted the same as well, he had been so caught up in the fact that he was actually kissing her he hadn't noticed at the time, but the familiar warmth and reactions to his touch were the same.
He wasn't allowed to dwell on it and he hadn't found a reason to confront Marinette about it as Cat Noir or as himself, it just seemed like every chance he got to try and talk to her he was needed somewhere else, a photo shoot, something important his father needed him to attend or Nino just wanted to talk and screw around, it wasn't that he didn't like hanging out with Nino, he just had a lot on his plate and the boy wasn't the greatest of mediator of things that Adrien needed to carefully plan.
Adrien stretched slowly upwards, fencing was a welcome reprieve from his own mind, it forced him to focus on the moment, completely immerse himself in his opponent and lose sight of the things around him. His teacher was running a little bit late, but such was life, after the elections had gone so poorly the press had been snooping around much more than would be considered necessary.
Armand D'Argencourt was a tall man, his thin frame was far from weak as it appeared, lean muscle was made apparent by the tightness of his fencing uniform as he glanced at Adrien and smiled kindly "Ah, Mr. Agreste, sorry I'm late."
"It's no problem sir, I've only just arrived." Adrien nodded with a smile, he enjoyed fencing and his teacher was one of the best in the city.
Armand had another trait Adrien liked, he never asked why Adrien had suddenly taking an interest in fencing, the man was eager to teach and Adrien was eager to learn, that was all he needed, they didn't discuss philosophy's or pasts or anything outside of practice, the basic forms, the movements, the motions. Adrien didn't like lying, so being able to practice without doing so made him much more relaxed.
Armand took a stance opposite the blonde and the boy shifted, pushing his shoulders back as he straightened, assuming a standard position, the pair waited for a moment before Adrien darted forward, sword thrusting high, Armand deflected the blade into the air and stepped back before extending into a tight stab, Adrien shifted, pivoting off his back foot and around the blow as he brought his weapon down, Armand back stepped and the two exchanged a few quick blows.
Adrien hopped lightly from foot to foot, keeping on his toes as he moved, he feinted low and shot upwards taking a quick step forward to force his teacher back further, Armand slapped the blow away and his weapon sped towards Adrien's face, the blonde curved back blade sliding over the top of his nose, Adrien was forced back as his teacher tilted his head and took to the offensive.
Adrien blocked but had little time in between the rapid onslaught of attacks to counter, he continued to back away, biding his time as he shifted dodging, blocking and deflecting the blows that were sent at him.
The blonde uttered a silent curse as he wished for his staff, the sword felt unnatural in his hand, irritatingly long and hard to handle as he dodged, he ducked low and brought the weapon around in a wild diagonal slash, Armand was forced to take a step back as the blow rifled towards him, Adrien's eyes narrowed as he took a page out of Cat Noir's book an pressed forward, Armand smirked behind his mask and extended his arms to either side of him.
Adrien realized his mistake a moment too late as he fell for the trap, he moved forward into a quick thrust, but his teacher was faster a quick sidestep and a spin and the older man's training sword was tapping against Adrien's cheek.
Adrien let out a sigh as he removed his mask, he ran a hand through his hair and smiled "You got me." He admitted with a chuckle.
"Darkblade," Armand tapped the weapon and demonstrated the opening of the move he had used a moment ago "A technique developed by my own ancestors."
"It's a cool name." Adrien offered with a grin.
Armand inclined his head "One's greatest enemy is always themselves, lured by the grip of an easy victory and enemy will make mistakes, Darkblade turns those mistakes into a weapon of victory."
Adrien nodded "You don't usually explained your techniques." He added after a moment.
Armand shrugged "Well, you are the only one here, I doubt my secrets will escape very far." Armand tapped the side of his nose and smiled "Besides, you are curious no?"
Adrien nodded, Armand gestured to a chair and Adrien sat down as he sipped at a bottle of water "Who was the Ancestor who created the technique?" Adrien asked.
"A man of the same name created it," Armand nodded "He was a knight who ended up at the top of France, he ruled with an iron fist but was ousted by the rich who paid others to do their dirty work."
"Is that why you ran for mayor?" The two men turned to the new voice in confusion "Revenge for a fallen ancestor during the dark ages? Is it true?" The unfamiliar woman pushed a microphone towards Armand eagerly as the man frowned.
"No, nothing like that, I thought I could be a benefit to Paris, the public thought otherwise, I hold no ill will towards Mayor Bourgeois in the election, even if the difference was frustrating." Armand answered flatly.
Adrien got to his feet with a sigh and made his way towards the bathroom, his teacher was getting more and more frustrated as the reporter continued to question him about the election.
Adrien inspected his appearance in the mirror, the dark bags around his eyes weren't as noticeable as they had been that morning, he felt a little bit less sluggish, now that reporter just had to leave so he could get back to practice and everything would improve, he was sure of it, he left the room and walked back into the main yard.
Armand rolled his eyes "You are being quite rude, this is private school property and you have no business questioning me here, I'll have to ask you to leave."
"Dodging questions and dishonorable ancestors, is there any surprise this man was not voted mayor, stay tuned for more details into the dark past of Mr. Armand!" The report closed excitedly, Armand let out an annoyed growl.
"Adrien, I apologize but lessons will end early today," Armand let out curtly as he moved the reporter towards the door "I don't know what your deal is woman, but it's high time you left, I will not be harassed in this manner any further."
Adrien rolled his eyes in annoyance, well that was his day plan down the drain, he moved to the locker room to change, missing the small black butterfly fly after his teacher.
"Mr. D'Argencourt some people have said you are nothing but an old rusted axe stuck in the medieval ages, do you any thoughts on that?" The report continued to hound after Armand as he walked.
"How could you ask someone that to their face? Is there not a line you should keep in toe?" The man growled, glancing back at the woman for a moment until his head slammed against something hard.
He growled and reared back, his fencing sword effectively shredding the poster that was hung on the object.
He glared at the reporter as the small black butterfly landed on the edge of his blade.
"Darkblade, I am Hawkmoth, for a change at revenge I will grant you power, you need only repay me when the time is right." A dark voice echoed in his ears and a grin appeared on his face.
"Perfect." He sounded as a dark purple aura spread from his blade over his body, the report's eyes widened in surprise when the man in front of her turned into a large suit of armor, red markings decorated his face plate where his eyes would be, the dark lines of metal obscured his mouth as he spun his sword in his hand.
A dark red glow emanated from the cross guard and a quick zap shot forward, the energy struck the reporter and her cameraman and the pair fell into a kneel, Armand tapped at their shoulders quickly "With this, the beginning of an army I will take back Paris."
Adrien rolled his shoulder as he walked outside of his school, a large column of heavily armored medieval knights marched passed him, his eyes widened when a pair turned to face him.
"Eliminate all who oppose Darkblade!" The pair shouted in unison as they charged him, Adrien withdrew behind the door and locked it quickly.
"Plagg!" He exclaimed urgently, the car was absorbed into his ring quickly, Adrien glanced around the school yard quickly and darted forward, his suit enveloped his body as the door to the school groaned, he jumped into the air and locked down against the far wall as he brought his staff around, his mask slid over his face and his ears appeared atop his head, his heightened senses kicked in an everything slowed down for just a few seconds as he coiled on his legs.
The door burst open an a small half grin appeared on his face as he launched forward, staff spinning round to catch the knights in the side of the head with a loud clang, he dropped into a slid and drove his foot up, sending a knight into the side of the column as he jumped to his feet and cocked his arm back and swung his staff in a wide arc, taking the legs of the knights in his immediate area.
Darkblade turned to face him slowly and charged.
Cat Noir ducked under the slash and spun his staff forward, the man locked against it and Cat Noir extended it, rising into the air his leg snapped out and Darkblade was forced a few steps back as Cat Noir twisted the centre of his staff, the metal clicked into two smaller pieces, he held one in a reverse grip as he darted forward, the two sides of his staff whipping forward and forcing Darkblade onto a defensive as Cat Noir pressed in on him.
Darkblade let out an annoyed growl and cocked his arm back as Cat Noir pushed the knight towards the ground, a dark grey armored fist flew into his field of vision and Cat Noir stumbled when the blow slammed into his head, Cat Noir staggered back and he spotted the green blade of an axe descending towards his head and he dived forward, rolling to a stop and popping onto his feet.
He was on a wide bridge, he glanced around himself quickly as lightning cracked behind him, painting his back with bright light and darkening his face, his grin appeared sinister in that light as he shifted his weight in the centre of the bridge, Darkblade strode forward calmly "Surrender yourself now boy!"
"Why, I won't even need nine lives to beat you, none of you are getting past this point!" Cat Noir hissed in response
Darkblade let out a barking laugh as he lifted his sword and brought it down, the knights in green charged forward, armored boots clacking against the stone as thunder rolled overhead.
And then it started raining, small pellets of ice cold water pelted down and bounced off the armor, puncturing the silence of the streets with a constant drum.
Cat Noir shifted slightly and shot forward, he planted his staff into the ground and kicked up, his legs snapping out to either side of him as he spun round, his boots slammed against the knights and sent them toppling over the edge of the bridge, Cat twirled his staff behind him, grin plastered on his face as he weaved around the weapons sent at him, every missed blow was followed by a loud clang as his staff slammed another knight off the bridge, he shifted around and lifted his staff, axe blades descended on top of it and forced him to drop to his knee, he glanced at the three knights bearing down on him and shifted, slipping his leg around he snapped the weapon around, the knights legs flew out from under them and Cat Noir planted his staff and jumped slamming both his feet into one of the airborne men and sending them hurtling into his comrades, a line of the knights toppled with the force of being slammed by a suit of armor.
Cat's staff quickly snapped into two pieces and he held to either side of himself as he moved, blocking attacks from more than one direction at the time as he flipped back, his staff snapping out to catch a knight in the side of the head.
He landed with a light thud and he breathed heavily, his hand came to his nose that was screaming at him and he saw blood in his hand, he wiped it away with the back of his wrist, must have been from when Darkblade punched him.
Darkblade strode to the front of the column as pointed his sword at Cat Noir challengingly, Cat Noir grinned "That was a great warm-up," The ice cold rain began to soak into his suit and his fingers were slightly numb from gripping his staff so tightly.
His thumb slid up and hit a button on the side of his staff, whether it was awkward or not, he was going to need Ladybugs help sooner rather than later.
Darkblade charged him and Cat Noir shifted dropping back as he spun one of the staffs in his hand, he locked it against his forearm and darted forward the sword came down and he battered it away, Darkblade threw a quick backhand at him and he jerked his head back, he snapped his staff together and threaded it over his shoulder, he extended it out in a quick shot motion and it caught the man in the head, forcing him a step back as Cat Noir repeated the fast poking action with the edge of his staff, Darkblade's arm snapped up and the armored gauntlet slapped away the weapon. Cat Noir spun with the momentum and whirled around, both hands tightened on the weapon as he brought it up and slammed the knight in the chest, sending him airborne and rolling back towards his column of men.
Cat Noir's chest heaved as he glared at the knight, the man got to his feet slowly and charged forward, they exchanged a few blows in rapid succession before Darkblade stepped back and extended his arms to either side of him.
Cat Noir's eyes widened as he once again fell for the bait, Darkblade slammed his sword over the staff and his fist shot up, knocking Cat Noir away and sending his staff flying overhead.
Cat Noir glared at the knight as the column charged towards him, he jumped onto the edge of the bridge and gave them a mock three fingered salute as he fell forward, he caught the railing underneath and curled himself under the bridge quickly.
"Advance to the town hall, let nothing stand in our way." Darkblade commanded flatly and the steady thump of the knights marching resumed above him as the rain mercilessly pelted towards them.
Cat retrieved his staff and snapped it open, Ladybugs faced greeted him with a worried look, she appeared to be moving through the streets quickly "What happened to you kitty?" She asked quickly.
Cat Noir glanced at his face in the mirror, his lip had been split open and puffed up slightly, his nose was still bleeding, he wiped the blood away with his wrist and glanced at the sky.
"They are headed towards Town Hall, I'll cut them off." Cat Noir replied flatly, he had a job to do, he was going to keep this as professional as he could.
"Got it, see you there," Ladybug nodded her head before she paused for a moment "And cat," He paused and glanced down at the screen "Be careful, okay?" She added worriedly.
Cat grinned and nodded his head "Nothing to fear milady, I have nine lives remember?"
Ladybug rolled her eyes and her face disappeared as he extended his staff and flipped onto a rooftop, he broke into a full sprint, determined to reach the town hall before the army of knights did.
He landed with a wet thud outside the large wooden double doors of the town hall, the Paris flag waved stubbornly despite the torrential downpour of rain, there was enough that he couldn't see the end of the street in front of him, lighting cracked and occasionally illuminated a second of street, but the light ended as quickly as it came leaving him to stare into the expanse of grey water in front of him.
Then sound reached his ears, over the low drum of the rain, the rhythmic stomp of the knights armored march, it was a slow process, Darkblade appeared heading the massive column of armored warriors behind him, their glowing green visors the only thing visible in the thick mist of rain, lightning split the sky again and the two sides poised as Cat Noir lifted his staff in front of himself and split it at the centre.
He heard someone make a deft landed behind him and grinned as he rolled his shoulders and cracked his neck loudly.
"Destroy any who get in your way, my flag will be flying over Paris by today's end!" Darkblade roared over the rain.
Cat Noir shifted and relaxed, he'd been in hundreds of fights, he'd studied fencing, three different martial arts, this was just another form of training, it was simple, mindless, the basic forms, the movements, the motions, simple flowing movement. The thundering charge of the knights meant little to him as he stepped forward, a small grin appeared on his face as he moved forward.
Ladybug's eyes widened when Cat Noir straightened slightly, his eyes drifted closed and his shoulders shifted with a long breath, his foot slid forward, it was like his entire body was loading into a cannon, it fired and the water seemed to freeze around him as the knights in a long line were sent into the air, she could have blinked and missed it, he snapped through them like a blur of black, their weapons flew from the their hands and they groaned from the ground he slid to a stop and a small grin appeared on his face.
Then it was her turn to move, she sidestepped a strike and her mind was snapped into the present moment as adrenaline coursed through her veins she flipped around and her leg flipped up, kicking the knights weapon into the air as he yoyo flipped around her and slammed into his head, sending the suit of armor hurtling back as he cart wheeled around drew the wire around herself, her yoyo snapping through the legs of the knights surrounding her as she whipped it back and kicked it forward, she rolled forward and spun gracefully using the motions to bend the yoyo to her movements, it snaked out and around knocking away weapons and downing knights as she moved, rain soaked her hair and suit, dripped from her face and her string began to slip in her hands.
"Where's the Akuma?!" She shouted over the rain.
Cat Noir flipped backwards over his hands and over the top of her, his staff dragged wind and rain behind it as he created more room for the pair to fight in.
"I think it's in his sword!" Cat Noir called back, the yoyo shot passed his head and he ducked low, the yoyo slid over him and his staff shot forward taking out a knight that was closing on his lady, the two moved like a well oiled machine.
She covered his weaknesses with flashy movements that drew an opponent's attention just as well as they dispatched them, the grace of each twist and turn would put a professional ballerina to shame as she rolled over his back and kicked her yoyo forward like a bullet.
His style was subtle, containing a different kind of grace, the deadly grace of a panther, quick motions and faster strikes, combined with tricky acrobatics and superior reach thanks to his staff, his staff whipped over her head as she ducked and the halberd that was aimed at her was battered away as he rolled forward bringing the staff down with both hands the ground cracked underneath the force of the blow as the knights suddenly paused, shields slowly materialized in their hands and the two hero's were contained in the centre but the wall of metal.
No one moved as the knights spread apart enough to let Darkblade stride into the centre of the arena, water dripping from his armor as he planted the tip of his sword into the ground and watched the pair ahead of him.
"As Paris's champions, it is only fitting the duel to decide her fate is fought between us," Darkblade began "The honor of my family will not be tarnished this day." He lifted his sword and pointed it at them.
Cat Noir's chest moved forward slightly as he straightened and his shoulders rolled back a flash of lightning narrowed his eyes to slits as he spun his staff around in front of him in a slow figure eight and held it out beside him as his stance widened, he didn't speak a word as Ladybug shifted behind him.
The tension that hung in the air could be cut with a knife as she spun her yoyo at her side, Darkblade shifted and darted forward his sword cutting towards her, Cat Noir slid in between the two and blocked as Ladybug sent her yoyo forward, Darkblade shifted his fist knocking the thing into the air as a shield appeared on his arm, the red of his family crest marking the front as he locked against Cat Noir.
Cat Noir shifted stepping back quickly he slid the man's sword to the side and planted his staff, he used it as a spring to whirl himself around, Darkblade ducked under the kick and slashed upwards, Ladybugs yoyo shot forward and battered the sword back into the ground as she charged forward, Darkblade spun sharply and the edge of his shield flew towards her head, she folded back and slid under it as Cat Noir struck forward Darkblade blocked the strike with his sword as Ladybugs yoyo bounced off his shield, Cat Noir spun inwards and snapped his staff in two, he tossed a half to Ladybug as he brought his half around Darkblade locked Cat Noir's staff against his shield as Ladybug shot forward staff coming around to slam into Darkblade's side.
The Dark knight let out an irritated growl and shoved Cat Noir aside, Ladybug back stepped from the sword and struck forward, Darkblade held her half of the staff with his sword and shifted forward, she let out a grunt as his shield slammed into her chest heavily and she was pushed back, Cat Noir jumped forward and Darkblade was forced to take a back away, the opponents circled each other slowly, Cat Noir glanced at Ladybug worriedly, she held her side and winced slightly with every step.
Cat Noir grabbed her half of his staff and snapped back onto his as he shortened so he could use it in one hand, Ladybug spun her yoyo and eyed Darkblade closely.
Cat Noir's eyes narrowed on Darkblade dangerously as the knight paused, Cat Noir's mouth hardened into a flat line, a dark orb appeared in Cat's hand as he slid his foot forward, he glared at Darkblade and sent Ladybug a quick signal, she nodded her head and took a step back as Cat Noir growled "Cataclysm." He crushed the orb in his hand and Ladybug stepped forward quickly and launched herself from Cat's shoulder as he darted forward.
Darkblade's eyes widened behind his mask as Cat Noir's staff snapped forward and his shield was flying through the air, Cat Noir was hovering slightly in the air in front of Darkblade, his teeth bared in an angry snarled as Darkblade drew his sword back and drove it forward.
Cat Noir's face shifted into a slight smirk as his palm shot across his body and connected with the flat of the sword, everything paused for a moment before the sword cracked and then the blade flew through the air and clattered to the ground, the small black and purple butterfly took to the sky as Darkblade collapsed to his knees.
Ladybug drew a small line over her compact and spun it around herself, the purple glow surrounded it and she snapped it over the Akuma and landed with a light thud, she opened her compact and a small white butterfly took to the sky, she smiled warmly as the rain came to a stop, thin lines of sunlight breaking through the expanse of black above them.
Cat Noir's ring let out a loud beep and she glanced at him, he smiled at her warmly, a smile that held in his eyes as the light in them brightened a little "It is time to bid you adieu milady." He tapped a finger to his forehead and bowed as he gave her a wave.
"You make sure you take care of that cut!" She called after him loudly.
He grinned as he landed atop a building and darted off, Ladybug lingered outside the Town Hall only long enough to make sure everyone was find after being reverted back to normal and jumped off in the opposite direction to where Cat had gone.
Marinette landed on her bed, her face contorted into a frown as she thought.
"What's wrong Marinette?" Tikki asked with a frown.
The girl glanced at her Kwami for a moment before her mouth opened "When Cat had gotten the shield away from Darkblade, I thought that was it, I thought he was going to take the hit from that sword to get it out of his hands, Tikki, my power wouldn't have fixed that would it?!" She asked, her voice rising a few octaves from the fear of it.
The Kwami shook her head in answer and Marinette fell against her bed with a thud, her head in the pillow, Tikki flew closer to the girl and heard a muffled "I thought he was going to die."
The Kwami saddened slightly before another set of words reached her ears.
"I was so scared."
Tikki landed atop Marinette head lightly and did her best to smooth the girls worries as she looked out the window.
"You went overboard today," Plagg commented from his spot on Adrien's bed, a mountain of cheese next to him "There were way too many close calls."
"I know." Adrien sighed
"No, I don't think you do, I improve your senses and your basic skills, I don't make you immortal you could have died today Adrien." Plagg glared at the boy from his spot.
"But I didn't," Adrien countered simply "We saved Paris, cleansed the Akuma, Plagg there wasn't anything else I could do!"
"There were many thing you could do!" Plagg countered angrily.
"Not that would keep her safe!" Adrien exclaimed "I could barely keep up with Darkblade, Plagg, it's fine if I get hurt, I can pull through, I know I can but if I let her get hurt I'd never forgive myself!"
"Do you think she'd be happy to know you thought about taking a sword to the chest?" Plagg snapped in question.
"I-"
"No, she wouldn't, you were lucky that shield came off, if that didn't work you planned to take the sword straight through your chest and give her time to clease the Akuma, I'm in your head Adrien I know what you were planning," Plagg shot at him "But you need to think before you leap, Ladybug would never forgive herself or you if you up and died on her!"
Adrien's eyes lowered "I know, okay…I know."
Plagg sighed "Look, you're alive and that's what matters, but the recklessness has to stop Adrien."
The blonde inclined his head calmly and moved into his bed quietly.
A/N: Heh, one before the exciting conclusion, I thought I needed to add some kind of tension and I'd been neglecting this stories action, so I killed two birds with one stone, I hope you guys have enjoyed this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it, this was actually the very first chapter of this fiction I ever wrote, it's just been sitting here waiting for its moment!
Now onto our regularly scheduled replies!
NitenGale: You're correct, the kiss itself wasn't the catalyst for Cat Noir realizing it was the real Marinette, it was everything else, the familiarity of it, I can actually fully elaborate on this after the next chapter, but for now I don't want to spoil anything!
MagicQuill42: Well, I'm glad you've been enjoying the post reveal, unfortunately the next chapter will be the reveal and the conclusion and I didn't really do any fluff this chapter, I promise the next chapter will more than make up for it though!
Nerdofrai: I'm glad you enjoy, I'm going to assume you meant one of the best writers, but I don't really think that way, I'm inexperienced and make many mistakes, there are certainly much better writers on this site than little ol' me, but I do my best to improve after each chapter, so I'm glad you have been enjoying this story!