Chapter Twelve

The bite of concrete into soft fingertips barely registered with Marinette as she began climbing to the roof ledge, one foot was already stepping up with her intent to pursue her long absent partner. "Marinette, you're not transformed!" Tikki urgently called from her jacket pocket, halting Marinette from a leap that she'd never make without magic.

"Right, okay. Tikki, spots-"

"You can't!" Her kwami snapped.

Marinette was about to demand why when as she heard the rooftop door swing open further. Tom strode out, his head pivoting as he looked for his daughter. "Where are you, sweetheart?"

"Over here, Dad." She said with a wave of her hand as she headed over to him. Yet she couldn't help looking over her shoulder, searching the dark in the hope that Chat Noir would suddenly return. If she'd been alone she would be out there now as Ladybug, hunting him down and seeking answers.

With the sleeve of her jacket, she quickly wiped her eyes before her father could pick up on her tears. She was still having trouble believing who she had come across, but at the same time it was undeniably her partner. Chat Noir's appearance was markedly improved since his final voicemail. Gone was the gauntness of his features and slimness of his muscle tone. Instead Chat Noir looked to be in his prime. Whatever he did with himself these days, it certainly gave him a physique worth drooling over. Her lanky partner was still lean but he his body was more defined while the roundness of his face was more angular and mature.

Chat Noir had always been good looking but now he was devastatingly striking, or perhaps it was her perception that had changed. In the past, she'd brushed off his advances as annoying and juvenile, making him less appealing in her eyes. It didn't help that she had been caught up in her attraction to Adrien at the time, and while she still held a candle for the model, she seriously doubted anything romantic would happen between them.

It was only now, with time to reflect on her relationship with her partner, that she realised how well suited they were for one another. Together they had shared experiences no one else would understand. They'd placed their lives in the hands of the other so many times she'd lost count. Hell, he'd regularly sacrificed his own safety for hers. Never had that been more apparent than in the final battle with Hawkmoth. There was no one in this world who had her absolute trust the way Chat Noir did, so why did their link weaken to the point that he'd refused to explain his disappearance?

Again, she looked over her shoulder. Inwardly she'd been fretting for her partner in a silence she couldn't express to her friends. They understood that something had been getting her down for years but she hadn't been able to explain to them the reason. Her nightly jaunts as Ladybug had helped curb that sorrow for a while as she'd assisted people in need when she could, but after two years without Chat Noir, she hadn't the heart to go on alone.

Now with the upcoming third anniversary since Hawkmoth's arrest, old feelings were rising to the fore. Her mind was continually distracted with thoughts of Chat Noir but she'd refused to transform into Ladybug because she couldn't take the disappointment in knowing that he hadn't contacted her. Tikki suggested that perhaps he had, but up until now Marinette refused to take the chance.

Of course, he'd show up when she least expected it. Why did it have to be now? When there was no easy way to ditch her Dad, as he'd finally made the time to do some maintenance on her crappy TV antenna. It wasn't like she could ask him to leave because she had urgent business as Ladybug. Her parents were still oblivious to that facet of her life.

She'd considered telling them the truth so many times, but it felt wrong to when Chat Noir deserved to know first. It was something that he'd longed to know for their entire partnership. It was one of the reasons why she was so surprised that he'd upped and vanished after Hawkmoth's arrest. With the villain out of the picture they were finally free to share that secret. Surely, he would still welcome the idea even after all this time.

Marinette couldn't help but stare in the direction of his departure. Until now she'd had no idea what had become of Chat Noir. His testimony for the trial had let her know that he was alive but very little else. She'd lost count as to how many times she'd re-watched his last voicemail message. Every word and expression now seared into her memory. There had been so much guilt in his eyes and she wondered what had caused it. She suspected it was partly due to his absence but also to the way he'd lost control and lashed out at Gabriel.

There was something personal there. Chat Noir must have had a connection with Gabriel to be so badly affected. Thinking back, Chat had become strangely quiet after defeating Hawkmoth. Seeing that it was Gabriel Agreste under that mask had rattled him far beyond her own astonishment. At the time she'd been caught up in the battle, her instinct had been to keep her eyes on her enemy and not to turn her back. The few glances she'd thrown at her partner had made her more determined to protect him from Hawkmoth and so her concentration had remained on their nemesis.

Three years almost to the date and she'd randomly come across Chat Noir on her own rooftop. What had brought him out of his self-imposed exile? Was it the anniversary or something else? Seeing him up close and personal had shocked her to the core, releasing years of bottled emotions. Yet it was those familiar cat eyes that brought her to tears. Chat Noir's eyes had always been expressive but tonight, after his initial surprise, they'd given nothing away. Whatever was going on in his head was no longer transparent on his face, the open book was shut. What had happened to him? Where was the happy-go-lucky guy she knew so well?

Tom's voice broke through her thoughts. "Where's this antenna that needs attention?"

Marinette finally broke her stare and flicked on her torch. "It's over here, Dad."

Chat Noir inwardly cursed himself. Normally he was so careful. Sure, Plagg had been encouraging him to make some sort of impact to draw Ladybug's attention but this wasn't what he'd had in mind. For months he'd managed to keep his late-night jaunts a secret. No one the wiser that the black cat of Paris was still slinking around. He occasionally stepped in to help people when he could but so far, he'd been able to do it in a way that kept his activities quiet. He'd been a wraith in the night, but not anymore.

To top it off, not only had he run into someone who recognised him but also some who knew him. What truly shocked Chat Noir was Marinette's response. What had brought her to tears? Without conscious thought, he made his way back.

A block away he nestled in the shadows of a sloping roof and peered through the darkness. Marinette was still outside, shining a torch on something metallic as the larger frame of her father leaned forward to manipulate the illuminated object. Pivoting his head to the side in a cat-like fashion, Chat narrowed his gaze and discovered they were doing something to the TV antenna.

Tom eventually placed his hands on his hips, his moustache spreading wide with his smile. Apparently, they'd accomplished whatever it was they were doing. Tom headed back to the stairs but Marinette remained on the roof. He watched as she walked to the spot where he'd departed. The torch light was flicked off as she stood staring into the darkness. "She's looking for me," he mumbled to himself. "But why?"

It took ninety long minutes before Marinette was able to usher her parents out of her apartment without appearing rude. With her back to the door and her ear to the wood, she listened for the ping of the elevator and the following quiet of voices. "I think they're gone," she whispered to Tikki.

The red kwami zipped out of her pocket and phased through the door to check, within seconds she returned. "All clear."

"Okay, let's do this. Tikki, spots on." Marinette closed her eyes briefly as the magic washed over her. She drew slow long breaths in attempt to quieten her thundering heart. When her lashes lifted the familiar red and black spotted suit was coating her body. A swirl of emotion threatened to consume her but the yoyo at her hip buzzed.

Without hesitation, Ladybug flipped open her yoyo and her heart almost stopped when it indicated that she had 12 voicemail messages, all of them from Chat Noir. "He messaged me," she gasped as she sank back against the door and plopped onto her butt. Her shaking thumb activated the first message.

She could tell the message was old just from Chat Noir's appearance. His face was thin while he looked pallid and tired. Ladybug, I've been trying to get in touch for the last week. I saw the news. I'm not in the country at the moment but I do want to talk when I get back. I'm sorry I've left it this long. To be honest I've been so busy I completely lost track of long it has been. I'm such an idiot. I hope I haven't left it too late. If you can't get a hold of me, please leave a message and I'll get back to you when I can.

The next message was a month later. Hey LB. Looks like I missed my chance. I'm so sorry. What I have to say really is a face to face conversation. I know you deserve more of an answer than that but I'm not sure what to say. Yes, I know Gabriel Agreste and yes discovering he was Hawkmoth upset me on a level I can't even begin to explain. I should have talked to you but I was so ashamed. What he said and what I did that night… it still haunts me. Chat Noir let out a shuddering breath as he closed his eyes momentarily. You're the only one who could understand and I shut you out. I'm sorry.

Ladybug's hands began to tremble and her eyes pooled with tears. If he was close to Gabriel Agreste it explained so much. She activated the next message, another month apart. Chat Noir's face wasn't as thin and there was a sad determination in his eyes. Hi Bugaboo. I'm back in Paris temporarily. I'll be visiting our old haunts over the next week, so if you're around please feel free to drop in on me. Just so you know, I won't be going to the Eiffel Tower, I'm a bit camera shy these days. His smile was a little forced but sincere. I'll be travelling again for a while but I plan to transform at least once a month to message you. I keep hoping that I'll get lucky and you'll answer my call. I guess this is turnabout for my absence.

She continued to play through his messages, watching as the gauntness of his face disappeared and he came to look like the man she'd encountered on her rooftop. The final message was only a week old. Hey, it's me again. Your annoyingly handsome partner. He grinned cheekily but there was still a niggle of doubt in his eyes. I'm permanently back in Paris now. No more travelling, hooray! I'm sure you're smart enough to realise that was one of the reasons for my long absence. Well, it's not going to be a problem anymore. I'm here to stay. There's some talk, or hope, that you might venture out given the third anniversary is coming up. I'll be around, in the shadows. Come find me.

Shooting to her feet, Ladybug switched immediately to her tracker but there was no sign of Chat Noir's beacon. In the time it had taken her to review her messages she'd missed him.

Adrien sank back into the cushions of sofa and ran a hand down his face. "Honestly Plagg, I don't think Marinette even had her phone on her to video me, okay. Besides she was upset. I just don't understand why."

Plagg snorted. "You shouldn't have run off. Right there was the opportunity you've been looking for."

The model peered through his widespread fingers caging his face. "How do you consider that an opportunity?"

"Hello, she's friends with the Ladyblog girl."

"The Ladyblog isn't particularly active these days."

"Yet you still check it."

Adrien let his hand drop. "I check it because I want to know if she's been spotted."

"Have you ever considered that she's been doing the same thing for Chat Noir?"

"Um…"

"I thought not. But then this is the guy who took off his miraculous when things got tough." Plagg said, shaking his head with overexaggerated disgust.

The blonde swatted at his kwami. "You're speaking to your main source of camembert, are you sure you want to continue giving me crap about that?"

"Hmm, let me think. Yes! Your ladylove is still wearing her miraculous even if she isn't using it."

"How do you even know that?"

"As a kwami I sense these things. I'm particularly attuned to the ladybug miraculous because it's my counterpart. In turn, Ladybug's kwami would have known when you took off your ring."

Adrien deflated in his seat. "That means Ladybug knew too. No wonder she decided to retire. She thought I'd given up on her when I'd given up on myself."

"And with that nugget of information you now see why it's important to get videoed."

"My life is under the microscope enough as it is when I'm out of the mask." Adrien grumbled as he leant his elbows on his knees.

Plagg floated down to the coffee table to look at him. "You weren't exactly lowkey as Chat Noir either."

"At the time I didn't care. I also was unaware that Hawkmoth was my damn father. Man, I'm a living copy of Luke Skywalker."

"At least you're not in love with your sister." Plagg pointed out with a smirk.

"I better not have one. Gosh, that would be the ultimate blow if Ladybug was secretly my long-lost sister. Gross."

Plagg cackled as he rolled around on the coffee table. "Ladybug isn't your sister, of that I can assure you."

"Thank the powers that be for that mercy." Adrien's eyes narrowed at his kwami. "And how exactly do you know?"

"Remember I've seen her unmasked. You do recall Dark Owl, do you not?"

Adrien snatched up his kwami from the table. "I'd forgotten about that. Do tell me, Plagg, have you seen an unmasked Ladybug recently?"

Plagg stared at his holder for a long moment. "No comment."

So close, yet so far. Will Adrien take strangle Plagg or will Ladybug track him down first? Find out soon...

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