After Hawkmoth's defeat it seemed like Chat Noir had come by a lot more. Things were easier with Chat Noir as Marinette. She didn't have to put up a barrier like she did as Ladybug. She hated to admit it, but whenever she heard the thud of her partner landing on the balcony her heart raced.
That Thursday night Marinette was busily sewing her dress for the dance. She still had a long night ahead when she heard the tell 'tail' 'thud' above. "Common' in!" Marinette called sticking the end of the thread in her mouth.
Chat Noir cautiously poked his head through the hatch from the balcony. "Marinette?" he called.
"I'm down here!" She called back waving him in. "Gotta finish by tomorrow. Come on down."
Chat Noir dropped down to Marinette's bed, and slipped down the banister to the main room of the loft. With a leap and a twist he landed in a crouch.
Marinette shook her head with a smile, but did not look up from her work.
"Still working on your dress?" Chat Noir slipped around behind her, trying to get a peak.
"Yes, and stop looking! It's still not done yet!" Marinette pushed his face away playfully when he put his chin on her shoulder.
"Aww come on Princess, you've been busy all week!"Chat Noir pouted, jumping onto her chase couch and laying on his side.
Marinette set down the fabric, and leaned her elbow over the back of her chair. "Aww Kitty, you need some attention?!" She cooed.
"I don't want to distract you..." he sighed.
Marinette's eyes softened. "You know...I could use a bit of a distraction. You hungry?"
Chat Noir's ears perked up, and he nodded enthusiastically.
"I'll be right back!" She promised and ducked down the stairs to grab a plate of cookies.
When she poked her head up into her loft again she found Chat Noir sitting up eagerly.
She rolled her eyes and passed him the piled up plate, sitting next to him. She watched him happily munch through the cookies. "Thanks Marinette! You're the best!" he said between bites.
Chat Noir glanced over at the fabric lying around Marinette's desk, with spools of thead scattered around the floor. "So you really think this guy is worth it?!" Chat Noir glanced sideways a Marinette.
"Absolutely! She exclaimed. "I've been hoping for this for years!"
"Really!" Chat Noir looked up with his mouth full of cookies.
"You have no idea!" Marinette laughed happily. "He is the most generous, kind hearted, brilliant, and talented person! He always makes me go weak at the knees every time he looks at me!"
"He is?! He does?!" Chat Noir looked at her, but she was too busy daydreaming to get 'jellylegs' from her kitty.
"Oh! and plus he is so hot! I nearly fainted when GA put out the swimsuit edition!" Marinette gushed.
Chat Noir choked on the cookie he was eating and coughed up cookie crumbs.
Marinette looked at him concerned, "Kitty are you okay?" Then her eyes narrowed, "Did Kitty need a saucer of milk?" she teased.
"No, no, I'm fine," Chat Noir sputtered, and so Marinette went on to describe the many attributes that made up Adrien Agreste.
Chat Noir watched her as she described this boy who just so happened to be sitting right in front of her in disguise.
"He's lucky to have you in his life!" Chat Noir leaned against her. "I'm sorry he hasn't always realized just how much."
"Thanks Kitty!" Marinette answered suddenly a bit shyly. "What ever girl ends up with you is going to be pretty lucky too!"
"I'm glad you think so," Chat Noir smiled. Chat Noir caught sight of the time, and realized that Marinette would undoubtedly be up through most of the night, refusing to take a break from her dress till it was done. Regretfully he knew he had to leave her to her work. Standing, he took her hand and brushed a kiss against it. "Have fun at your dance princess! I'm sure you'll be beautiful as always!"
Marinette reached her arms around him to give him a hug, and he tilted his face down to her and kissed her softly on her cheek this time. Then he jumped through the hatch of her loft and with a bow, disappeared over the Parisian rooftops.
Marinette stared off toward the open hatch of her loft, and tentatively touched her cheek with the tingling sensation of Chat's lips still lingered.
The morning of the dance everyone had pitched in to finish the final arrangements and set things up at the school. Marinette had just enough time to head home to grab a bite, before she could add the last minute touches to her dress, and get ready.
Marinette turned this way and that in her full length mirror, looking over her creation.
The fabric was the most delicate pink with curved straps that dropped to a sweetheart neckline. It perfectly fit her form to her hips, where it dramatically flared out into layered shimmering ruffles to her knees. Her signature flower design was painstakingly embroidered like a tattoo, arching up her left side. The hem was highlighted with black finishing the look.
It was exactly what she had dreamed it would be. She spun around in a circle, waiting for Tiki's approval.
"Marinette you are beautiful!" Tiki chirped, getting a little misty-eyed.
"Thanks Tiki!" Marinette beamed, "and look! I even sewed in a hidden pocket in the ruffles for you. "I might need your help tonight so I don't fall all over Adrien!"
"I'm sure you'll do just fine on your own," Tiki assured her, but was cut short as Marinette's heels slipped on a spool of thread, sending her reeling across her room. Luckily she landed across her computer chair, grabbing frantically to it to regain stability. "Um...on second thought, maybe it's best if I stick next to you!" Tiki changed her mind.
"Marinette!" Her mom, Sabine called from the living room below. "Adrien's here! Are you ready hun?"
Marinette sucked in her breath, and then remembered the meditation with the Canadian whooping crane. She breathed out slowly, smoothing her hands down her dress. "I can do this!" She rallied herself. Flipping her loose hair, she stepped down the stairs.
Adrien had been talking cheerfully with her mom, when she came down the stairs. When she saw Adrien she missed a step and stumbled down a stair, but she never hit the ground. Adrien had leaped to the foot of the stairs, catching her in his arms.
Looking down at the gorgeous woman in his grasp, his breath hitched. Her dark hair loosely cascaded around her face, and her long lashes flicked up to him, revealing the the wide azule oceans he got lost in. Her dress that he knew she had spent so many late nights on was better than he could have imagined. He carefully steadied her in his arms. "I got you," Adrien reassured her.
"Thanks!" She sighed breathlessly, and bit her glossy pink lips as he set her down carefully.
Sabine glanced over to her husband, Tom, with a knowing glance. "You kids have fun!" Sabine beamed.
The two gathered them selves, and headed off for a night they'd remember.
All of their hard work on the decorating committee through the week had paid off! The dance looked great. Nino was already blasting irresistible beats that had the dance floor swarming with students. Alya screamed, and practically sprinted over to them when they walked through the doors together. (Marinette had already nearly lost her hearing after telling Alya earlier in the week that Adrien had finally asked her to the dance. Alya had made Marinette repeat the story over at least three times to make sure she hadn't left out any juicy details). Through the dance Adrien and Marinette never left the dance floor. Some songs they would dance with all their friends, and Adrien would pull out the most ridiculous moves (mostly Jaggid Stone inspired). During slow songs Adrien would take Marinette's hand and lead her to the center of the floor, holding her in his arms, and moving to the music.
Years ago at Chloe's party (which unfortunately had been interrupted by Despair Bear) Adrien and Marinette had first danced. If that had felt like dancing on a little cloud, this now felt like she was soaring through the sky! Adrien had finally asked her out, and now they would dance all night, Marinette heart swelled. She was just thinking how relieved she was that she didn't have akumas to interrupt her plans anymore when she glanced up and thought she saw Chat Noir duck through the doors to the Chemistry lab.
I wonder what that cat is up to she wondered distractedly to herself.
Adrien had caught a glimpse of the "Chat Noir" lookalike as well, but he was much more disturbed that a person was running around the in a black cat suit...whatever he was up to, Adrien guessed it wouldn't be good (especially if his alter ego got the blame).
"Hey Mari, if you'll excuse me I just have to quickly make a call," Adrien said politely.
"Is everything okay?" Marinette asked worriedly.
"I'm sure it will be," he said distractedly, "I'll be right back okay!" He gave her a smile.
"Okay, sure," Marinette assured him, wondering what could suddenly have pulled him away. She hoped it wasn't anything she had done by mistake. It had seemed like they were both having a great time.
While Marinette was waylaid from her internal spiral by Rose and Juleka admiring the designs on her dress, Adrien slipped stealthily upstairs to investigate the suspicious lookalike.
Ducking into an empty classroom, Plagg zipped out of Adrien's inside pocket. "Did you catch that?! You don't think it could be another akuma like copycat do you?!" Adrien asked Plagg.
"I don't think so. I haven't sensed the butterfly kwami since Hawkmoth" Plagg reasoned, "but we can't have someone stealing my good looks! There's only room for one black cat in town!"
"You're strangely eager!" Adrien smirked at his typically lazy kwami.
"Ya ya," Plagg rolled his eyes. "It's been a while since we got to take down a villain! I'm bored...let's get that guy!"
Adrien shook his head, and called out, "Plagg, Claws Out!" Letting the transformation fall over him. Chat Noir quickly tried to call Ladybug, but it when right to voicemail. "I guess it's Chat vs. Cat tonight!" He hummed, lengthening his baton.
Chat Noir quietly made his way to the Chemistry lab and crept inside.
On the opposite side of the room a boy in a very accurate imitation Chat Noir costume rummaged around in the supply cabinet. He was filling a backpack with chemicals and supplies.
"Not that I can blame you for wanting to look like me, but I'm rather purrticular about keeping my look exclusive!" the true Chat Noir leaned against his baton, blocking the exit.
The 'copycat' sprung up startled, swinging the loaded bag over his shoulder. "She said you might try to stop me!" the boy snapped, reaching behind him.
"Why don't you just put the stuff back and we can all get on with our evening!" Chat Noir suggested.
"Not going to happen!" the boy snapped, and he threw a vile of chemicals at a surprised Chat Noir. The mixture forcefully exploded at Chat Noir's feet, sending him flying back through the door, and off the mezzanine to the dance floor below. Rubble rained down around him making the dancers run shrieking for cover.
A piece of concrete flew straight towards Alya, but Nino lept off the stage, knocking her out of the way. Alya was fine, except for skinned knees, Nino however had a nasty gash on his back. Alya gave Nino her shoulder to lean on, and pulled him to the nearest door. Chloe took charge, and evacuated students from the dance floor, bossing them around, telling them that she was the "only one with a level head in a crisis."
Only one dancer remained on the dance floor; A very protective Marinette. She rushed over to Chat Noir, who lay motionless on the ground. Checking his pulse, she was relieved to find a steady beat. She glared up to the dark figure standing in the doorway of the destroyed chemistry lab.
The crazed Chat Noir look-a-like villain started throwing more explosive viles toward them. Marinette glanced around herself quickly, kicking off her heels, and retrieving Chat Noirs baton. There was no way she would leave Chat Noir unconscious to get away to transform into Ladybug. She couldn't transform into Ladybug right there either...not without giving away her identity to not only the unknown villain, but the entire school who looked on from their hiding spots on the edges of the room. All Chat Noir had was her...and she hoped she'd be enough.
Each time the cackling masked boy cast an explosive, Marinette hit it away from Chat Noir. The villain became frustrated, cursing the "walking pink tutu," as he called her for interfering.
Chat Noir stirred on the ground, grabbing his head and looking up at the girl standing in front of him. "Matinette!?" he said in shock. Then suddenly realizing what was happening he stumbled up and grabbed Marinette's waist in one arm, and took his baton from her grasp just in time to block them both from the next projectile. "Marinette what are you doing! You've got to get out of here!" Chat Noir shouted, feeling fear grip his heart.
"I couldn't just leave you!" She shouted back.
"That is exactly what you should've done!" Chat Noir scolded, pulling her behind him. "What if I had lost you!"
"What if I had lost you!" She challenged back, letting a sob catch in her throat.
There was a stunned silence between them, only blurred by the whirring rush of Chat Noirs spinning baton.
Then in a swift motion Chat Noir grabbed up Marinette and vaulted up and out of the building. He set her down outside, and affectionately leaned in, caressing the side of her face. "I need you to stay safe Marinette. If anything were to happen to you I'd be lost too."
Then leaving her in stunned silence he ran back to the school to put an end to the impostor.
Chat Noir leapt to the roof and was trying to get a visual on his "evil twin," when Ladybug landed beside him.
"Where have you been?!" Chat Noir asked with more of a sting in his tone than he really meant.
Ladybug gave him a strange look that he couldn't quite identify, not that he was in any mood to play guessing games. If Ladybug had been there Mari wouldn't have ended up in the middle of danger. "Never mind," he huffed. "I'm sure you would have been here if you could."
""I would," Ladybug said quietly, watching her partner closely.
"I can't see the 'explosion expert' anywhere! He stole chemicals from the lab and destroyed a school dance...and he was dressed like me! Now why would he do that?!" Chat Noir puzzled out loud, scanning the courtyard below.
"I..I..don't know," Ladybug stammered.
"Well, Lets quickly do a perimeter search, and then we can make sure all the kids from the school are okay. Something about this whole thing feels strange!" Chat Noir coordinated, and then looked over at Ladybug for confirmation, but she just stared at him."Um...speaking of strange...are you okay LB? I wasn't really mad at you, I was just worried you know!" Chat Noir said more gently.
"No, I'm fine, I think you're right. Let's check around and make sure everyone is okay!" Ladybug snapped herself out of her stare and focused on getting that mixed up person off the streets so he couldn't hurt anyone.
Although the two of them turned the school upside down in their search, the boy in the Chat Noir outfit had vanished, along with everything he had stolen. They had no leads as everyone was confused about which one had been Chat Noir and which had been his doppelgänger. They didn't even know what the motivation for doing such a thing. One thing was clear...the dance was unquestionably over.
While checking on the students and staff, Ladybug realized in horror that Adrien was still unaccounted for."Kitty! Adrien, Adrien Agreste he is still missing. No one has seen him since he left to make a phone call right before the attack!" Ladybug panicked.
"Oh I will go check, I'm pretty sure he's here. Why don't you double check one more time. Maybe he was hiding." Chat Noir tried to calm her, and get away to detransform at the same time.
Chat Noir raced back to where he had left Marinette, but she was gone. Maybe she just went back home, he pacified himself, but he was determined that he would double check as soon as he made a quick appearance as Adrien. Returning to the school he detransformed, and walked up to Ladybug, and tapped her lightly on the shoulder. Even though the tap was slight, she jumped at the contact, spinning around.
Seeing that it was Adrien, Ladybug swept him up into a huge hug that Adrien was not prepared for. Even though he was much taller, she nearly lifted him off the ground with her miraculous endowed super strength.
"You were worried about me?!" Adrien puzzled with his arms pinned to his sides.
Ladybug's eyes shot wide, realizing she was nearly suffocating Adrien in her Ladybug form. This would seem weird. It did feel weird. She put him down, and tucked a stray hair behind her ear. "I..we...thought something happened...I'm glad you're okay! Where were you?" She asked.
"Oh..I...left the dance...I was just phoning this girl I sometimes travel with on the weekends. Something just made me think of her," Adrien stumbled through an excuse that was as close to the truth as possible.
Adrien could not have known how this information tore at Ladybug's heart.
"Well, I'm glad you're not hurt," Ladybug said more curtly. "Have a nice night," and with a hasty exit she leapt out of sight.
Ladybug did not even bother going back to the school. She had failed to fight a crazed villain still on the loose in her city. She had already made sure all her friends were safe. Witnesses had seen Chat Noir remove her from the school (so at least her identity was still safe). The dance was over. Adrien still had his mind on someone else. Why go back. Ladybug dropped her trasformation and Tiki looked sympathetically at her chosen as she trudged home in her pink dress, with one strap hanging loosely when it had torn during the fight. She couldn't bear to face Adrien again after finding out he had left her partway through the dance to check up on another girl he had romantic vacations with. The night had started out so perfect! How did it go so thoroughly wrong!
Marinette did not even make it home, before her parents had met her on their way to the school, and scooped her up in relief that she was okay. They quickly ushered her home, resisting the urge to demand details just yet, seeing how shaken up she was. Her Dad hugged her tightly, and her Mom tucked a soft blanket around her on the couch and put a steaming cup of hot tea in her hands.
It was only a few moments before there was a knock at the door, and Sabine opened it to find a very out of breath Adrien. "Is Marinette here? Is she okay?" He rushed in a near panic.
"I'm here," Marinette called from the couch.
Despite her crushing disappointment, she did feel a stab of guilt that she hadn't told Adrien that she was fine after the attack. She remembered how terrifying it was not knowing where he was, and then she made him go though the same thing.
"I'm sorry," she rushed. "I should have come back to let you know I was okay. After everything…I guess I was a bit stunned, and just wanted to get home," she excused.
"I'm glad you did! I'm glad you're safe!" Adrien threw his arms around her. "You scared me to death."
Confused and torn Marinette patted his back tentatively. "I'm glad you're safe too," she sighed. "Adrien tonight was…"
"Perfect, then crazy, then scary, then amazing again…?!" Adrien finished for her.
"I uh…what do you mean amazing?" Marinette searched his face.
"You Marinette! You were amazing! Are amazing!" Adrien's voice swelled. "Come on! Who else could defend Chat Noir, standing against destruction in a pink designer gown no less! You are incredible!"
"So you didn't leave to call…because I had done something…because you didn't want to be with me…" Marinette stuttered, so close to tears it made her voice tremble.
"Mari no! Oh please don't think that! Even with everything that happened tonight you were the shining light through it all! I wish we could have danced together all night!" Suddenly saying it made Adrien realize how real those words were. He didn't want to leave her. He didn't want the night to end.
"Thanks Adrien," Marinette smiled up at him with renewed warmth. "It was a dream come true getting to go to the dance with you too!"
He hugged her again tightly, trying to find a way to show her how much she meant to him. Find a way to prolong the inevitable "goodnight," but Marinette's father from the kitchen cleared his throat as the young man clung tightly to his daughter.
"I should probably get some rest," Marinette smiled softly as they parted.
"Yeah, me too I guess," Adrien dragged his resistant feet to the door.
"I'll call you later okay?" he asked hopefully.
"Sounds great!" Marinette nodded.
After Adrien left Marinette spent some time telling her parents a version of what happened to give them some peace of mind, or at least answer their questions. Marinette finally trudged upstairs to her room. She wasn't ready to sleep though.
Patting Tiki on the head, she moved across her room, and absentmindedly dropped her phone into her speakers. Tiki recognized the song that poured out. It was the same one Marinette always played when she needed a moment to make the world make sense again.
Marinette grabbed a grey crocheted blanket from her bed, draped it over her bare shoulders, and slipped quietly up to her balcony. Hunching over the railing she sighed.
"Did you save me a dance?" a voice softly asked from behind her.
Spinning around she found Chat Noir smiling at her, standing up from a bow.
"How long have you been waiting for me!?" Marinette asked, startled.
"Forever," he smiled back, holding out his hand.
Marinette did not hesitate. Her hand fit so perfectly into his. He swung her into himself and then back out with a joy-filled laugh.
The dance with Adrien had been a dream come true, but eventually everyone wakes up. Marinette was just waking up to the very real possibility that maybe the one who held her tonight had been the one she needed all along.