Chapter Fourteen
"So... which of the boys are you dressing up for?" Plagg asked.
"Hush you," Marinette said, as she put on a pair of silver earrings. Her ears pierced a few years back, but she didn't wear earrings all that often. She thought dressing up a bit would help her with the akuma though, help convince Evillustrator that she was serious about this date and not keep his guard up around her. "Get in the purse already, will you?"
"Oh, so I have to stay hidden and quiet like usual, while you get to go on your little date," He scrunched his nose. "Gah, don't you have a bag that's less pink?"
"Not one that matches this outfit."
"Does that matter?"
"I put some parmesan in there," she replied– and of course he zipped right in without further hesitation. She just shook her head with a smile, before adjusting her jacket as she looked in the mirror. She was limited in options with the fall chill now in the air, and with the sun going down she was expecting her evening to be cold. She did wish she could transform, but unfortunately she would be more effective against the akuma as Marinette.
She really hoped that Evillustrator had kept his promise to not attack Chloe.
Marinette shivered slightly as she stepped outside, the Paris streets quieter than usual. Word had spread about the akuma fairly quickly thanks to Chloe and the mayor, and the city knew that the akuma had not yet been defeated as the Miraculous Ladybugs had yet to sweep across the city. Hopefully it wouldn't be long until that was so.
A flicker of movement caught her eye, and her gaze turned towards the rooftops. She saw Crimson Beetle standing up on top of her school, his right red suit clashing with the bright colors of the setting sun. He gave her a nod as they made eye contact, before slowly retreating out of sight. She blinked once, before smiling softly.
It was sweet of him to let her know that he was there, even though she had already known he would be– her partner was someone she could rely on.
It didn't take her long to get to the Seine where Evillustrator had told her to go, and she was not prepared for what she saw. Yes, she had been told that this was a date– but still her mind had been running in 'akuma attack mode', and she was braced for the chaos that the akumas threw out just to claim their Miraculouses.
Instead, she saw a quaint little dock peering out onto the calm river, a boat lined with flowers and floating lights hovering about both the boat and dock, small little music notes were drifting up from a figure sitting at the edge of the bank, each of the notes playing a lovely little melody as he he drew them on his tablet, bringing them to life.
"Nathaniel?" Marinette called, and Evillustrator turned. Relief showed across his face, which turned into a smile as he stood. He hurried over towards her, and she had to force herself to stay calm as he approached.
"Marinette," he said, his voice the same gentle tone as her classmate. "You came! I– well– that makes me so happy." He seemed nervous, and her heart softened, a smile flickering onto his face– only for his tone to shift to something colder. "Also, the name is Evillustrator now. Right this way, our night awaits."
His voice became warm once more– but no matter how much he acted like Nathaniel, the influence of the akuma in him was clear. She looked up into his eyes as he held out a hand, shivers running through her. Monarch could see through his eyes, speak within his mind, and that very thought set her on edge. Not only was everything about that wrong, but she hated the fact that Monarch was able to see a glimpse of her personal life right now, even if she did not know she was Lady Noire.
Her eyes focused beyond Evillustrator, looking at a figure perched on a streetlight, watching them. The sight of Crimson made her relax slightly, even as he leapt out of sight, and Evillustrator glanced over his shoulder with narrowed eyes.
"It's all so beautiful," Marinette immediately gushed, her gaze turning towards the boat and dock. "Did you make this all yourself?"
He smiled, leading her down towards the boat. "Monarch has given me the best power I could ever dream of. Anything I wish can come to life– here, one second."
He drew his pen, quickly sketching something on the tablet on his arm. She watched as a rose appeared in front of her, and she carefully took it from the air. Evillustrator was looking at her hopefully, so she took a sniff of the rose to play her part, smiling softly.
"That's absolutely amazing," she said, perhaps the flattery was a bit more laid on than necessary– but she still was impressed. As far as powers went... if she could get this one without becoming an akuma she would gladly accept it; it was the dream of any artist. "...Where are we going?"
"Just down the river," he said as they stepped onto the boat, drawing up two chairs– literally. "I thought watching the sunset would be fitting, as it is one of the few things that come close to matching your beauty."
She smiled politely as she sat down. "That's very sweet of you, Nath."
How much of this was Nathaniel, and how much was Evillustrator?
His posture was tense as he sat down. "It's Evillustrator, Marinette. I would appreciate it if you called me by my true name."
She frowned as she studied him, because for an akuma he seemed very relaxed in the moment, only tensing up if she didn't call him by his akuma name. She wondered if it would be possible to get some information from him, maybe learn more about their mindset as an akuma. She did need to keep him distracted and to find a way to grab the tablet, and as long as she worded this right she didn't think that he would get angry.
"How did it become your true name?" She asked casually.
"It is the name Monarch gave me, as she helped me unlock my true self," he replied, and he began drawing away on the tablet, a table with a vase materializing in front of them, and she slipped the rose he had created into it. Soon, two plates appeared, and more of the floating lights flickered into view. She couldn't help but watch in fascination, first they were just a mere outline in front of her, before solidifying into an actual object.
"...How do your powers work?" She asked, picking up a pastry he had drawn onto her plate. "They're... pretty amazing."
He sat up proudly. "Well, in my comic book I'm working on le Dessinateur is actually able to summon items from a parallel dimension by drawing them. Monarch told me that mine don't work in the same way, that mine are tied to her Miraculous, but as long as I retrieve the Ladybug earrings and the Black Cat ring, I can keep them."
She had to fight the urge to pull her hand with her ring back and hide it, to shove it somewhere out of sight, and she forced herself not to even look down at it– now was not the time to draw attention to it. She could not risk a single hint that the Miraculous he was seeking was right in front of him.
She scooted her chair closer to him. "Does it only work for you? Or is anything that's drawn appear?"
He hesitated, eyes wide as her closeness, though he didn't seem to be objecting. "I, er, actually don't know...?"
"...Could I try?" Marinette asked, not knowing how he would respond to this request.
His eyes narrowed, drawing his arm that held the tablet close to his chest. He watched her, but she kept her expression as innocent as possible– just a curious fellow artist. After a moment he uncurled his arm from his chest, holding it between them as he carefully pressed the tablet pen into her hand, letting her have access to the screen.
That was all the proof she needed that the akuma was in the tablet– both the fact that he wouldn't have handed over the pen so easily if it held it, and the way he had protectively held the tablet. She didn't hesitate with drawing a quick sketch of a skirt on the tablet, a simple idea she had had in mind for a few days now, and she couldn't help but let out a delighted gasp at how easily her hand moved across the tablet despite being used to pencil and paper.
It was as if it knew what exactly she had in mind, the colors she had imagined flowing out across the screen as her skirt came to life. There was a flicker in front of her, and she looked up to see a mannequin appearing, the very skirt that had been in her mind for so long now right in front of her. She couldn't help but grin, because this was amazing.
"Pretty awesome, huh?" Evillustrator beamed.
"Yes," she said, not even needing to force her enthusiasm. "Could I draw something else? This... this is amazing."
"Be my guest," he said, not quite as tense as he held his arm out to her again, letting her sketch something else on the tablet. It was easy to put the pen to the screen, letting ideas she had on her mind for a while now come to life on the magical tablet in front of her. Soon a top joined the skirt on the mannequin, and a sun hat that did not match the cool weather around them.
Evillustrator took the moment to put his arm around her shoulder, pulling her in close. She wasn't sure what to make of this, but she let it happen. Her free hand wrapped around the tablet to hold it steady, eyes looking for any sign of Crimson, but with the sun beginning to disappear behind the buildings and horizon there wasn't much for her to see. She started talking as she doodled, not wanting Evillustrator to lose interest or catch sight of Crimson Beetle.
"This is amazing," she said again, not sure how to begin. "You're amazing, Evillustrator, this is like a dream."
"Are you enjoying our date?" He asked, a childlike eagerness in his voice. She looked up at him, holding his hand– pulling it close, including the tablet as well.
"Thank you so much for inviting me," she said softly, her other hand wrapping around the tablet.
A purple mask flared over his face, and Marinette jerked back in surprise, causing her to tug on the tablet in the same action. Evillustrator yanked his arm from her grasp, clutching the tablet to his arm tightly, a hiss escaping him. She stared with wide eyes as his gentle expression twisted into one of rage, hand tightening.
"What are you doing?" He spat at her, and she scrambled back.
"E-evillustrator?" She stuttered out– she was an innocent civilian, she had to keep that facade up. "What's wrong?"
"You were trying to take my tablet!" He yelled– had Monarch been able to sense her touching it and warn him?
"I wouldn't steal from you!" She said, letting her panic bring tears to her eyes.
"Not steal!" He growled. "You were trying to take my akuma!"
"Wh-what?" she whispered, backing away. "N-no, why would I– I wouldn't, Nath– Evillustrator! I swear!"
He was panting, standing above her, and the tension slowly drained from his form. The mask was still over his face. "She's right, Monarch, why would she want my akuma–?"
He didn't get to finish his sentence as Crimson Beetle came swinging across the Seine with his yoyo, slamming into Evillustrator– sending him flying into the river.
"Are you okay, Marinette?" Crimson said frantically as he landed, drawing his yoyo back to his hand. "I'm sorry I didn't move sooner, everything seemed to be going well and then suddenly he was–"
"Behind you!" She cried, and he turned in time to see Evillustrator rising out of the water, on the same hoverboard he had used at the school. He was soaking wet, and his face was twisted into an angrier scowl than before as he glowered down at them. Crimson immediately began spinning his yoyo about into a shield, while the akuma scribbled on his tablet with a finger, his tablet pen still in Marinette's hand.
She snapped it in half, just in case akuma was somehow hidden away in it, but nothing came from the pen. Another drawing pen appeared in front of Evillustrator as he finished his drawing, grabbing it before he went to work once more. Crimson lashed out with his yoyo, but a barrier appeared between the boat and the akuma, sending the yoyo rebounding back into Crimson's face– causing both her and him to wince.
"I wasn't doing anything wrong, but yet you still feel the need to show up?" Evillustrator snarled. "A pathetic excuse for a hero." More barriers appeared around him, eyes scanning the darkening city-scape. "Now, where's that little sidekick of yours hiding?"
"I wouldn't know– I don't have a sidekick," Crimson Beetle replied. "Now, are you just going to cower away behind your little shields, or are you going to fight?"
"Why don't you just leave?" He snapped. "Me and Monarch had a deal– I don't need to fight you until tomorrow! I'm having a date tonight!"
"Date night has been canceled," Crimson Beetle replied, sending his yoyo flying once more, testing the limits of the barrier. It didn't crack, but it did shift. Smirking, Crimson ran forward, jumping onto a table and leaping up into the air, landing a flying kick onto the square barricade surrounding Evillustrator. "You're free to take another swim, however!"
He was smiling as the barrier seemingly lost its levitation with the force, crashing down into the akuma and his hoverboard. He landed on the edge of the boat, watching as Evillustrator swiftly erased the barriers, jumping back onto his hoverboard and zipping up above the boat. Marinette's hand had instinctively gone to her side, but of course there was no baton there for her to use.
Her eyes instead scanned the deck of the boat as Evillustrator sent a volley of pencils falling down at Crimson, which he blocked with his yoyo. Marinette's eyes landed on her mannequin with all of the clothes she had drawn, and she hurried forward. She cast the outfits aside, flipping it over. She smirked as she found that the stand could separate from the bust, leaving her with something fairly close to her baton, with a rounded base attached.
She turned to see what had become of the fight, and found that Evillustrator had abandoned the aerial advantage, having joined Crimson on the boat for a fight. His weapon of choice was a giant paintbrush– something she recognized from the comic pages Nathaniel often worked on in the art room. He swung it like a bat, using it to keep both Crimson and the yoyo at bay. It wasn't long before the yoyo wrapped itself around the paintbrush, causing the hero to smirk as he prepared to yank it from the akuma's grasp– but Evillustrator grinned, twisting the paintbrush in his grasp.
The force caused Crimson to stumble forward a few steps, leaving the bristles pointed right towards the hero. Evillustrator tightened his grasp on the giant paintbrush– and a wave of paint was sent flying right at Crimson, blinding him.
Marinette charged forward the same moment Evillustrator did, raising his paintbrush above the now lime-green hero, and Marinette raised the stand in her hand, swinging it to meet the paintbrush before it could crush her partner.
The circular metal base caused the wooden handle of the paintbrush to crack as she slammed the stand into it. She grinned as Evillustrator just stared at her, twisting the stand, causing the fractures to widen, the paintbrush falling apart in his hands, the tangled yoyo falling to the ground with a pile of splinters.
It felt like a moment where she was supposed to say something dramatic– but she had nothing.
"Marinette...?" Evillustrator said slowly.
"...You know I don't like violence," she said, despite the fact that she was wielding a mannequin like a bat, standing above a fallen hero.
"I have to fight him, Monarch needs me to," Evillustrator said.
"Needs you to, or wants you to?" She snapped back.
By now Crimson was on his feet, managing to wipe the paint from his mask, though he was still coated with green. He retracted his yoyo, standing next to Marinette. Apparently what she said was the wrong thing though, as the akuma's face twisted once more into an expression of rage.
"I thought you'd understand!" He snarled at her. "But instead you're protecting my enemy!"
Crimson's hand wrapped around her waist as Evillustrator began drawing something new on his tablet. He sent his yoyo flying, pulling them off of the boat and up into the air. "What are you doing– you need to get the akuma."
"No," Crimson said as they landed on a rooftop, and he picked her up bridal style. "I need to get you to safety– he's after you now."
"He was right there!"
"So were you!"
"I can take care of myself, thank you very much," she said, waving the stand in her hands. "I think the least you can say is thank you."
He glanced over his shoulder as they ran across rooftops, where they could see the silhouette of Evillustrator flying after them with his hoverboard. Crimson put on just a bit more speed, holding her closer– and it was then that Marinette seemed to realize that he was carrying her, flushing slightly.
"Oh trust me, I'm thankful," he said with a smile. "Also, you are insane."
"I wasn't going to let him hurt you."
"I believe that's my job, Princess– hold on– though I must say that you are an impressive sight."
He had to shift her from his arms to over his shoulder as he drew his yoyo, a large street coming up ahead. Marinette had the perfect view of Evillustrator now, who was swiftly gaining ground. "He's catching up. I'm slowing you down–" She let out a slight yelp as they went flying across the street. "–Put me down and–"
"I'm not leaving you alone with this guy after you," he replied, and she rolled her eyes– she couldn't exactly slip away to transform like this!
She let out a sigh, a little too relaxed for the fact that she was being carried across rooftops with a crazed artist after them. "Also get ready to duck because he's sending another volley of pencils at us–"
She was pulled from his shoulder and back into his arms as he immediately fell down to the rooftop, shielding her with his body as a wave of pencils soared over their heads, embedding themselves into the rooftop like they were arrows. Crimson then wrapped his arms around her– before rolling straight off of the roof and into an alleyway.
He made sure that he cushioned their fall, grunting slightly as they landed on the cement. Marinette blinked from the sudden motions– and found herself face to face with Crimson Beetle, their noses only inches apart. He was laying on his back, her right on top of him, his arms around her back. He swallowed, his face clashing with his mask, and she found herself blushing as well, letting out a small squeak.
Before she could say a word he flipped her over onto her back, allowing her to catch sight of Evillustrator above them, dozens of erasers raining down on them. Crimson winced as he used his body to shield her, before pushing himself to his feet, drawing his yoyo once more.
"So are you just going to keep running?" Evillustrator sneered as he hovered above the alleyway. "I thought you were the one that wanted the fight, insect."
"If it's a fight you want, then it's a fight you'll get," Crimson Beetle said, before throwing his yoyo up into the air. "Lucky Charm!"
It was one of the smallest Lucky Charms Marinette had seen summoned, the small red sphere falling down into Crimson's hands. He turned the bouncy ball over with a frown, before looking back up at Evillustrator. Marinette's eyes were scanning the alleyway, wondering how this could help them. She spotted the stand she had been using as a weapon lying near a dumpster, and she hurried towards it, scooping it up.
"Our powers do have some similarities," Evillustrator said with a smirk. "Unlike you, though, I can actually give myself something useful." He slid his pen across the tablet screen, and she watched as barriers began to form on either end of the alleyway, leaving their only escape as up– right towards Evillustrator. "Now we can do this the easy way, or the hard way– give me your Miraculous."
"Nah," Crimson said, tone light, though his eyes were sweeping their surroundings. He sent his yoyo out at the barrier, the force knocking the wall off balance. He then tossed his yoyo up towards the roof– only for an anvil to materialize right above it– sending the anvil and yoyo falling down towards them, causing Crimson to grab her to throw them out of the way.
Evillustrator took the moment to draw the barrier once more– but instead of a single wall he had drawn what appeared to be an entire box around them the alleyway– a shape that would not be as easy to knock down. Marinette's eyes scanned the glimmering walls and the ceiling of the barrier above Evillustrator, her eyes lighting up.
Evillustrator was still drawing away on his tablet. Marinette felt her mouth going dry as she found dozens of pencils forming right above them, sharpened ends aimed down. They hovered in the air, and she knew that the akuma could send them raining down at will.
"Would you be willing to hand over your Miraculous now?" The akuma asked.
Marinette's eyes scanned the alleyway once more, before grabbing the bouncy ball right from Crimson's hands. She didn't give him the chance to protest, taking aim and chucking it as hard as she could at the barrier, the red spotted ball rebounding straight back at her. She raised the stand in her hand, the ball bouncing off of the base, sending it up towards the akuma and the army of pencils– knocking a few of them from their levitation as it was launched towards the barrier's ceiling.
"What are you–?"
"Get your shield ready," Marinette said, grabbing his wrist and pulling them over towards the dumpster. The bouncy ball was quickly picking up speed, because as a Lucky Charm it was more than just a plain ball. She had a feeling that the barriers were helping– magical energy meant to hold firm.
Crimson seemed to recognize what she was doing, swiftly joining her in the corner between the dumpster and the alleyway, swinging his yoyo about in front of them as a shield, while she held the base above them where the shield didn't reach, pencils flying in every direction as the bouncy ball ricocheted through out the alley and the barriers surrounding them.
Evillustrator let out a snarl as some of the pencils were sent flying in his direction, holding up an arm in an attempt to block them. Marinette winced as the bouncy ball rebounded off of the stand she was holding, it having picked up a furious momentum as it continued flying through the air. The akuma attempted to draw something else on his tablet– only for the ball to slam right into his stomach, causing him to grunt.
With most of the pencils having been knocked away, Crimson let his shield down, stepping forward. His eyes followed the ball– Marinette missed her own enhanced senses that came from the Miraculous– and a well-timed throw of his yoyo sent the ball flying at Evillustrator once more, knocking his tablet pen from out of his hand.
The yoyo followed the ball up into the air, it wrapping around the wrist that had held the pencil, a sharp tug dragging it away from the tablet as the akuma tried to draw something else. Marinette flinched as the bouncy ball came down into the alleyway once more, hitting the wall above her head, before zipping off towards Crimson. He held his hand out, catching it like a baseball.
"I feel this fight has been drawn out long enough," Crimson said, giving a sharp tug to pull Evillistrator off from his hoverboard. "But I think you've gotten plenty of time to illustrate your point."
Evillistrator slammed into the ground of the alleyway, glowering up at Crimson. Marinette hurried forward as his attention was elsewhere, bringing the stand down onto the tablet. Evillistrator turned towards her, face twisted in rage– before freezing up. A black butterfly fluttering up from the shattered screen, as dark energy rippled across Evillistrator's form, leaving Nathaniel in its wake.
A piece of paper drifted down to the ground in front of him, wrinkled and ripped, but aside from that it was nearly identical to the one he had given her as Evillustrator. Crimson released Nathaniel from the yoyo as he looked about in confusion, before fumbling for the paper. He startled as he took in the night sky and the barriers surrounding them.
"M-Marinette?" He stuttered out in surprise, and then his gaze drifted over to Crimson as he sent the yoyo flying at the butterfly. Realization washed over his face, shoulders hunching as he stared down at the ground. "O-oh..."
"Um, are you okay, Nathaniel?" Marinette asked, taking a step towards him, and flinched. "Nathaniel?"
"I... I didn't hurt you, right?" He asked in a small voice.
"Nah," Marinette said, trying to sound relaxed, deciding not to bring up the last minute chase. "Your only real focus was on Chloe, but Crimson had everything under control."
Crimson held out his hand out to Nathaniel, helping to his feet. "Even if someone had gotten hurt it wouldn't have been your fault. Besides, don't forget about a handy little trick of mine." He winked, before tossing the bouncy ball up into the air. "Miraculous Ladybug!"
A flare of pink light surged up from the Luck Charm, immediately rushing across the alleyway as it swept the broken pencils away and dissolving the barriers, the remains of the green paint on Crimson's face vanishing, before the light rose up towards the sky. Marinette watched as the stand in her hands dissolved, the Cure sweeping across the city.
Marinette insisted that Crimson take Nathaniel home, and that she could walk home just fine. He hadn't seemed too sure, but had still picked up a guilty-looking Nathaniel and had swung out of the alleyway. Marinette let out a sigh as she was alone, and called for a transformation.
Her baton started ringing right away.
"Hello," she said, answering it immediately.
"The akuma has been defeated," Crimson reported.
She nodded. "I saw the Miraculous Ladybugs come by, so I assumed so. You had no problems on your end?"
"Had a few tight spots," he replied. "Nothing to worry about, though– just taking Nathaniel home right now– which apartment is yours?"
She heard Nathaniel's voice through the phone, though she couldn't quite catch what he was saying. She then heard the zip of his yoyo, and she hesitated.
"I'm sorry I wasn't there to help with the fight," she said swiftly, guilt forming in her heart, despite the fact that she had been there. "I–"
"No sweat, Lady," he replied. "Keeping an eye on Chloe was just as important. If he had managed to give me the slip I'm sure that's the first place he would have gone."
That didn't help with the guilt, considering the fact that she hadn't been guarding Chloe. She had no idea how she would have explained herself if that had happened, especially if Chloe had in fact gotten hurt. As much as she didn't like the girl, that didn't mean she deserved to suffer at the hands of an akuma. Lady Noire sat back against the wall, slowly starting to realize how today could have blown up in her face... even more than it had.
"Do you want me to drop you off at your window, or the front door–? Window? Okay, just give me a second... Do you want me to stay? You know that this was no fault of your own. Yes, everything said in Alya's article was just about right, Monarch has no more hold over you now."
She just listened as Crimson talked to Nathaniel, trying to ease any doubts he must have still had. She closed her eyes, trying to shove aside both how she had been treated at the hotel, and what might have gone wrong today. Even if Crimson didn't know it she had helped with the akuma, so she shouldn't feel guilty. Chloe was rarely nice to anyone, so Marinette shouldn't have expected her to be that way to her hero-self either. She didn't need to take her and her father's words as what everyone thought– they had always put themselves higher than others anyways.
"Okay, I need to go recharge now," Crimson said. "I'm down to one minute, and I still have one more person to take home."
"What?" She said, jerking her head up.
"Marinette– the girl you needed me to look after– I need to take her home. I'll call you later–"
"I'll answer if I'm transformed!" She said hastily. "Don't let me keep you! Pound it! Bye! Claws in!"
With a flurry of green light her costume faded, ending the call in the same moment. She grabbed Plagg as soon as he was out of the ring, stuffing him into her purse as she pushed herself to her feet– running out of the alleyway as fast as she could.
"Hey!"
"I'll give you some camembert when we get home!" She promised as she hurried down the sidewalk at full speed. "I told Crim I was going to be walking home and now he's going to be looking for me! He'll ask questions if I haven't covered any ground!"
"You didn't have to stuff me away..." He grumbled from her purse. "I've been stuck in this stupid pink thing all afternoon..."
"Camembert and a wheel of brie?" She offered, looking up at a street sign to try to get some bearing of where she was.
"I'm holding you to that!" Plagg called, before falling silent as she continued her run. She was panting by the time she reached the Seine, but felt that this was a reasonable distance to be 'walking home' from. She took a moment to fix her pigtails and to catch her breath, before making her way along the bank as if she had been walking the whole time, eyes scanning the rooftops for any sign of Crimson.
She wished her heart would stop hammering from her run.
Despite the fact that she was looking for him she still jumped when a figure landed right in front of her, recalling his yoyo to his hand as he gave a bow as he had on her doorstep. There was a grin on his face as he looked up at her, green eyes sparkling with mischief.
"Hello, dear Princess," he said as he rose. "I was just wondering if you would like an escort home?"
"I thought I told you I'd be just fine walking home," she replied, putting a hand on her hip.
"So you said– but as I was heading home myself I couldn't help but notice the chill in the air, and seeing how you live on the other side of the river you'll have to walk quite a ways to get to the next bridge..." He paused, tossing his yoyo up into the air. "And what do you know– I could get you across in just a few seconds!"
She smiled; while she had been planning on using her own transformation to get home, she had no reason to give to Crim to refuse his offer. Besides, there was no way she was opposed to spending a bit more time with her partner, and so she put her hand across her forehead dramatically.
"Oh yes, dear brave knight," she said with a sigh. "Please help me cross these dangerous waters, before I sink into the depths."
"Come on, I wasn't that dramatic," he said with a huff, before tossing his yoyo across the river. He held out a hand, which she took without hesitation.
"Yes you were," she replied with a smirk– and she felt a blush climbing her face as his arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her flush against him. Fortunately, he took to the air before he could notice, and as they swung across the river she fought to get herself composed. She could handle close contact with Crimson; she had done it before.
But that was when akumas were tossing them about, when her mind was on the fight and keeping each other from harm– here he had sought her out for the sole purpose of taking her home, and that very thought made her stomach feel light. Or perhaps that was just from the motions of flying through the air.
He landed on a rooftop, looking down at her. Her traitorous cheeks were unfortunately still red. "Do I have permission to take the princess home?"
"Why do I have the feeling that you're not going to drop that nickname?" She asked, giving a short nod to answer his question. He grinned, before scooping her up bridal style as he had before– and took off running across rooftops. It was something she had done before when transformed, but the sensation was very different when she didn't have to pay attention to where she was going or exert her own energy. The view was beautiful, and the chill of the breeze was countered by the warmth radiating from Crimson... which honestly wasn't helping either.
It wasn't long before she recognized the rooftops they were on, Crimson swiftly making her way to her balcony. "Do you want me to take you to your front door?"
"Here is good," she said, and he set her down near the railing. "I don't want to wake up my parents."
He seemed surprised. "They're asleep already? It isn't that late."
"My family runs a bakery," she explained, stretching slightly as she went to plug in her fairy lights. "They have to get up pretty early, so they're usually in bed around this time."
"Aren't they worried about where you are?" He asked, blinking.
"Well, I didn't exactly tell them that I was hanging with an akuma," she said, scratching the back of her neck. "I just said I was hanging out with a classmate, which wasn't exactly a lie..."
"Huh," he said, leaning back against the railing, and she wasn't sure what to make of it.
"Th-thank you," she said. "For um, tonight. Protecting me and stuff."
She resisted the urge to smack her coin purse as she felt Plagg shaking with silent laughter inside.
"Y-yeah, no problem," Crimson said, rubbing at the back of his neck. "That's the job, ya know? Protect and fight– crush those akumas."
"Yeah."
Silence.
"W-well I'll see you to– um– next time an akuma's about?" Crimson said swiftly. "Well, not that I hope you're near it, but if you happen to be I'll be there to save you?"
She smiled. "Looking forward to it, Crimson... Beetle."
"Just Crimson works fine, that's what Lady calls me."
"Whatever you say, Just Crimson."
He snorted. "You know what I meant."
She grinned. "Maybe I didn't, Just Crimson."
He gave a bow. "Well then, whatever the Princess wishes," he looked up, smiling. "Until next time, Marinette."
He then threw his yoyo, swinging away. She watched as he landed on the school rooftop, running across it before jumping down on the other side. Marinette smiled as she leaned against the railing.
"'The course of true love never did run smooth'," Plagg quoted as he rose from her purse. "Separated by the masks, the lovers wistfully look out, longing for the other..."
Marinette's faint blush darkened to a red. "D-don't! We're not– I just– so what if he's cute and that doesn't mean love, Plagg!"
"What, your knight's fearless actions meant nothing to you?" He said, grinning as he flipped upside down. "Also if I recall correctly, someone promised me some camembert..."
She rolled her eyes, heading over towards her skylight and slipped into her room. "Come on you glutton, I'll get you your cheese."
He cackled as he drifted after her. "Well, as they say, 'If music be the food of love, play on!'"
"...I don't know who says that, but you do know that they were probably talking about music and not food in that line, right?"
"Don't act like you know my past holders better than me, kid."
I dub this ship MariCrim.
