Chapter Eight

In the past, Chat Noir had always taken a certain pride in his acrobatic antics when travelling via his staff. Normally he would have put on a vigorous display, showing off to his lady. Tonight, he was alone and didn't want to be acknowledged. The media had invaded his private life for years, wanting to know every juicy detail or possible scandal. Hawkmoth's arrest had thrown them into a frenzy, making them more determined than ever to find every scrap of dirt. They'd be congratulating themselves if they ever discovered that Adrien Agreste was also Chat Noir. It made him thankful that Ladybug had been so insistent in keeping their true identities secret.

To the world at large, Chat Noir was still seen as an upstanding hero and his disappearance remained a hot topic of debate. There were times he felt racked with guilt when Ladybug was overrun with pointed questions from relentless reporters. It was something that he'd forced himself to turn a blind eye to. As Adrien Agreste he had a fashion empire to run and far too many responsibilities to add his messed-up alter ego into the mix.

Yet here he was as Chat Noir, intending to provide some long overdue support to his partner. Black masked eyes narrowed as he forced himself to refocus on his destination. Gliding across the rooftops and zipping through the chimneys with the elegant grace of his namesake, Chat padded silently to the nearest police station. He paused in a crouch on the opposite rooftop, his feline ears flickering as he listened to the noises below. The mixed sounds of voices murmuring and the shuffle of footsteps had the end of his tail twitching.

Shying away from the edge, Chat Noir eyed the laneway below until it was virtually deserted. The dull lighting held appeal as it was less likely for him to be recognised even in his distinctive attire. The thought of being grilled for his absence by reporters continued to make his skin crawl, he'd had enough of that crap as Adrien. To endure that a second time as his alter ego would push him beyond his limits.

Holding his baton vertical, Chat Noir gripped the top in his fist and extended the bottom to the ground. Silently he spiralled down and landed with a soft thud. He took a moment to study the bright lights illuminating his destination. His black costume would not conceal him once he left the shadows. Drawing a shaky breath, the black cat of Paris slunk out of the darkness.

Slitted pupils adjusted to the change in brightness as he ducked his head and hustled forward. Reaching the open street, Chat Noir lifted his head with a confidence he didn't feel and strode to the police station as if he weren't dressed as a superhero. He heard uttered gasps from the few people he passed before he barrelled through the doors and inside.

Marinette's socked foot was tucked under her knee as she leant forward in her chair, her pencil skittering across the page in attempt to bring life to another potential design. A growl escaped her clenched teeth as her hand failed to draw what her brain was picturing. "Uh, that's not right." She tossed the pencil onto the pad and massaged her temples. "I keep making mistakes."

Tikki floated down to settle on the desk. "It's okay, Marinette. You probably need a break. You've been at this for hours."

Grabbing her phone, the dark-haired girl checked the time, surprised that it was almost 9pm. "Wow, I didn't realise it was so late. I haven't had dinner yet."

"You've been stuck in design mode since you got home. Trying to impress a certain someone?" Tikki teased.

Marinette rolled her eyes. "Tikki, this is serious. He offered me a job."

"And you didn't give him an answer."

"I said I'd consider it."

The kwami chuckled as she floated on her side. "As if you'd say no."

"I might." She lifted her pencil and pointed it at Tikki. "I do have a job already."

"A casual one where you're unappreciated and pays very little. Adrien values you and I have no doubt that he'd pay well."

"Even if he doesn't pay well there is always the eye candy factor." She giggled.

"Consider it an employee benefit."

"Tikki, you sly thing. I didn't know you had it in you."

"Don't sound so shocked, I distinctly remember your devotion to Adrien as a teen. Stalker much?"

Marinette blew a raspberry at her kwami. "I blame it on hormones. I wasn't the only girl completely smitten with him as a teen. Remember the crazy fans for his perfume ad?"

"How could I forget."

With a huff, Marinette looked at her work. "I guess I'd be mad if I turned him down. It's just that I feel like I should earn my way into the fashion industry, not rely on my Agreste connection."

"Both Adrien and Gabriel recognised your talent a long time ago. If others aren't as appreciative then it's their loss. I say go for it, the experience alone will make your resume stand out."

"That's true. But before I make any decisions, I better cook dinner."

Chat Noir lifted a gloved hand and rubbed the back of his neck as he attempted to relieve the now tense muscles. The action was one he frequently did out of the mask yet no one had ever recognised his signature movement when he was anxious. Realising what he was doing, the superhero dropped his hand and dangled his arm behind him, over the chair back. He attempted to stifle a yawn as the officer went over his statement for the final time. Emotionally he was drained from going over all the little details that he longed to forget. Not that it seemed likely to happen, as that night was permanently seared in his memory.

A flicker at his peripheral had Chat Noir turning his head. Despite being in a private meeting room, there were a number of people gawking at him through the partially open blinds. The cheeky part of him couldn't resisting wriggling his fingers in a playful wave. The officers on duty had been initially shocked by his unexpected appearance. Upon arrival they assumed he was another poser trying to garner fifteen minutes of fame. A little display with his baton in action had quickly changed their tune.

Time had slowed drastically while he'd been cooped up in a small room, going through all the gritty details of Hawkmoth's demise. The lump in his throat had become harder to swallow as he admitted to his less than gentle treatment of his nemesis. The officers didn't seem to be fazed and had taken down notes with an efficiency that rival Nathalie's.

Confirming he was satisfied with the statement, he took the pen to sign and was surprised by how heavy it felt in his hand. Was it the weight of responsibility making it feel so heavy or had the emotional load he'd been carrying around mysteriously transferred to the writing implement? Swallowing back his trepidation, Chat Noir put pen to paper. Automatically he moved to write an 'A' but caught himself before he completed the first stroke. There was something surreal about signing an official document as his alter ego. He'd only ever given out autographs as Chat Noir.

With the ink barely dry he was told he was free to go, although the hair at his nape stood on end as he was informed there was a possibility that he'd need to attend court. The breath froze in his lungs and something sinister squirmed in his gut like an eel out of water. He couldn't go toe to toe with his father again, to see the hate emanate from those cold grey eyes.

The impulse to reach for his baton was almost overwhelming just thinking about it. And while Chat Noir wouldn't lash out without provocation, Gabriel knew exactly how to push his buttons, even if he wasn't aware that it was his son under the mask. Blinking away his thoughts, Chat realised the officer had asked him how he could be contacted. If he had been a real cat, the fur on his back would have risen. There was no way he could go to court as his alter ego. Which meant one thing. If he wanted to avoid the awful scenario he was envisioning, Chat Noir had to vanish all over again.

"Contact Ladybug if you need me." He said simply and the officer nodded. A tendril of guilt slithered around his ribcage but he dismissed it. One day he'd share the truth with his partner and then she'd understand.

The need to depart was strong, especially when a number of officers began slapping him on the shoulder and expressed their delight at having the second half of the superhero duo back. The corner of his mouth had lifted in an unsure smile. Would they be so enthusiastic if they knew that he was the son of Hawkmoth? He doubted it.

Weaving his way out, Chat Noir paused as he stepped outside the police station and drew a deep breath. The air was frigid and snow flurries floated towards the ground. His nostrils expanded as he scented the air and his head snapped to the side as heard the slam of a car door. He immediately extended his baton and shot upward, pulling himself over the guttering and away from prying eyes. As quickly as he appeared, Chat Noir withdrew into the darkness.

Marinette absently shovelled another forkful of food from her plate and into her mouth. Her jaw went through the motions of chewing as she glared at the tablet before her. With a groan, she erased a section of the dress she'd been drawing with slow frustrated strokes.

"You look tired." Tikki said as she wiped the crumbs of her own meal from her face.

Her holder balled her fists and rubbed her eyes. "I am but I haven't gone on patrol yet." Unconsciously she reached for her miraculous, twisting the earrings at her lobes.

"You've got dark circles under your eyes and you look like you're about to drop. Besides it's freezing outside. Take a look out the window."

Marinette had barely turned in her seat when the shrill ring of her phone sounded. Reaching with a less than co-ordinated hand, she somehow managed to snag the noisy monstrosity and answered it. No sooner had she accepted the call when Alya's voice shouted in her ear. "There's been a sighting of Chat Noir, the real Chat Noir!"

Marinette almost dropped the phone. "What? When?"

"Like an hour ago. Someone claims they saw him near a police station. Said it was definitely him as he swung away on his staff and everything. It's strange though, they said he was by himself, no sign of Ladybug."

"Why was he at the police station, did they say?"

"Nope, police are refusing to comment."

Marinette's eyebrows sank heavily as she glanced at Tikki. "Do you know anything else?"

"No, nobody even managed to get a picture. It was too dark and he was too fast. I'm wondering if he finally went to make a statement. We were talking about it last night with Adrien."

A muscle in Marinette's jaw drew taunt. "It would be awesome if that was the case."

"I'll bet Ladybug will be happy to have him back. No doubt they're probably meeting up right now." Alya sighed.

Standing so abruptly she almost tripped on her chair, Marinette fumbled for an excuse to hang up. "You better get to investigating. Keep me posted."

"Will do!" Alya said with beaming enthusiasm.

With the call ended, Marinette turned to Tikki with a wide smile. "Chat Noir is back." Her kwami barely had time return the expression. "Spots on!"

Her transformation couldn't come fast enough, as soon as it was done, Ladybug reached for her yoyo and squealed when it buzzed. Scarlet covered fingers latched around it with such force it was a wonder it didn't break. Sliding it open with a shaking hand, she noted that she had one new message and immediately opened it.

The black visage of Chat Noir appeared on her screen and her heart thundered. His face was thinner, his cheekbones more pronounced under his mask and there was a weariness to his feline eyes. Then he spoke with a voice softer than she remembered, but at the same time there was an underlying coarseness that she could only assume was from fatigue. Hi Ladybug. I'm sorry I haven't contacted you. This is the first time I've transformed since… well you know. I can't really explain to you why I've been absent but I've heard that you need my statement for the trial. I've let you down enough, so I won't let you down in this. And I-I… miss you too.

Blue eyes stared at the screen waiting for more. There had to be more, for the recording to be so short seemed utterly wrong. She'd never realised how much she missed the sound of his voice until now. She'd dreamed of their reunion, imagining the goofy look on his face when she wrapped him in her arms for a reassuring hug.

Ladybug giggled to herself as she visualised Chat Noir tripping over himself in eagerness as he often did whenever she showed him even the slightest hint of affection. For all his annoying and frustrating quirks, she wanted him back. The humour drained from her features as she discovered there were no other messages.

For so long she'd waited to hear his voice and to see his face, yet she felt robbed by the fact that it was a recording on her yoyo and not in person. Her mind kept turning over his words. He said he couldn't explain his absence, but why? Was he in trouble? What could possibly keep him away for five months? Five long months with nothing but radio silence. Where was the invitation to meet up? Where was the playfulness and flirty undertones? Where was her Chat Noir?

Ladybug replayed the message, studying his face closely to ensure that she hadn't been duped. There was no doubt it was him but he was so different. His jovial nature was conspicuously absent. What was wrong with her partner? She immediately dialled him and danced on the spot impatiently as she waited for him to answer. He didn't pick up. She flicked to her tracker but there was no green paw print. She sagged into her chair, Chat Noir wasn't transformed any more.

Again, she listened to his message. Searching the background behind him for clues to his location but it was too dark to see. Her eyes took in his face and her finger unconsciously traced the line of his jaw. "You said you were making a statement, that you'd let me down enough, so why didn't you find me?" she whispered to herself.

Sinking further into her chair, her mind began to wander. A sad smile tugged at the corner of her lips as she recalled the way he would bound across the rooftops towards her. Taking every opportunity to greet her with his usual kiss to her knuckles along with a flirty comment. She'd respond by blowing him off and reminding him to focus as they'd race away in pursuit of the latest akuma.

But there weren't any akumas to fight anymore. Was that why he was gone? Did he feel like he wasn't needed any longer? Her thoughts shifted to the last time she'd laid eyes on Chat Noir. Of the fury that had rolled off him in waves as he'd glared at Gabriel crumpled on the ground. His animosity towards their enemy had been far greater than her own. Part of her was still shell-shocked by his violent outburst at Hawkmoth. Yet his behaviour stemmed from his need to protect her. Never had he been as fierce as that night but then they'd never been in so much danger. Ladybug had no doubt that she would have been mortally wounded if not for her partner.

Relief had washed over her when the police arrived. Chat had continued to glare, as if unable to take his eyes off their nemesis, that said there was a returned sense of self-control about him by that point. She'd taken the opportunity to go him, thinking a gentle touch would soothe him but he'd flinched away from her as if scalded. Even his eye contact had been limited. Something had been very wrong with her partner but there hadn't been the opportunity to ask him about it. Thinking he needed space, she'd stepped away from him to do her duty. When she finally turned back to her partner he was gone.

Miraculous Ladybug had wiped all traces of their fight, but she had assumed she'd see him again. She'd been wrong. Only now, after so much time apart, did she realise how much Chat Noir meant to her. She missed his playful banter and cheeky puns. She longed for his company, but more importantly she wanted to know what came over him that day? And why had he shut her out?

Again, she checked her tracker but Chat Noir's icon wasn't there. Now that he'd contacted her that meant he'd return, right?

So close, yet so far. Nothing is ever simple. Including real life delays (sorry was on holidays). I hope you're enjoying the story so far. As usual thanks for reading, reviewing, favouriting and following.