Chapter Thirty-Five
"Gah!" Crimson Beetle said as he landed on the rooftops– immediately laying down and stretching out. "I am exhausted."
"Long day?" Lady Noire asked, sitting next to where he had settled, looking down at him. He flashed her a small smile, before tucking his arms behind his head as he stared up at the sky.
"You don't know the half of it," he replied, replaying the day in his mind– not that he could talk to her about everything, because unfortunately a lot of that would lead to potentially identity-revealing information, especially with him. "Basically things are getting busy at work, and I have several more things scheduled in the coming days for it as well."
She frowned slightly. "Work? Huh, guess that makes you probably a bit older than me."
He smiled. "It's a family business, I've basically been involved my whole life."
"My parents run their own business too," Lady Noire said with a smile– though he was pretty sure that their examples of 'family business' were probably pretty different. "I do help out sometimes on weekends or when things get busy, but I don't work there or anything."
"Trade?" He offered with a grin.
"Crim, I can barely make it to school on time, I think throwing in scheduled events would not work for me at all," she had a small smile on her face, shaking her head.
"You make it to patrol," he pointed out.
"Well… patrol is a lot more fun than school," Lady Noire said defensively, crossing her arms.
It looked like this 'patrol' was going to fall through today, at least in terms of going about the city, but it wasn't like they had anything strictly scheduled. They would just decide on nights to get together, and make their way around the city. The idea was that if they could see an akuma butterfly out and about they could stop it before it reached anyone, and perhaps even learn a bit about where it had been coming from. In their scattered patrols, however, that had yet to happen.
But times like these were moments they were able to talk, discuss, plan, and just be together without some random villain demanding jewelry– so he always found them productive.
"Well, the Guardians wanted us to find a chance to talk about all they said… becoming Guardians and all. They said no rush, but I do think they want an answer." His face twisted slightly. "Probably to see if the time they're putting in with us is worth it."
"I don't think it's like that," Lady said softly. "They have a lot on their shoulders."
"Yeah…"
"So, um... have you been going to the Guardians a lot, or...?" Lady Noire awkwardly began, and he stared at her, not sure what the uncertainty in her voice meant. "Like, um, with Foxglove and all, and didn't your kwami say something about you having gone there before...?"
"Uh, Tikki did take me there once, though I had no idea that they were the Guardians or that they knew who I was, or anything," he said. "Tikki got sick, and she convinced me they were, like, psychics or something that could read energies and heal her..." He let out a small laugh. "I told them Tikki was a naked mole-rat, because I didn't know what else to say– she still hasn't forgiven me for that!"
He could feel Tikki grumbling in the back of his mind now.
"...And Foxglove?" She asked, her hesitation still remaining. "I mean why... why didn't you tell me about him or where you were going?"
He blinked. "I was only planning to swing by and ask for help, that's all– my Charm I summoned with Lady Wifi told me that we needed a Fox, so I was trying to ask Fu to help, but then Marianne wouldn't let him come so then he gave me the Miraculous and sent me off to find someone to use it..." He trailed off. "I guess I could have called you, but I wanted to be quick, just in case the akuma found you."
"So it wasn't planned out, then?" Lady said, relaxing slightly.
He laughed. "It was pretty much just off the top of our heads, like the rest of our plans are."
"Okay," she said, nodding slowly. "That's nice to know."
"Foxglove was nice to you, right?"
"He was great," Lady Noire said swiftly. "I just... I guess I didn't know what to make of a new hero like that, suddenly, you know? But I guess it was really sudden for all of us in the moment and stuff."
"Yeah, the Guardians were just all like 'here is a Miraculous, chose someone worthy' and I just had no idea how to even take that, I was just hoping that Fu would come along or something to give us the illusions." He smiled. "But it was kind of cool to bring Foxglove aboard, it was funny to see his reactions to everything– not that Trixx made it easy for him."
"...Plagg just started laughing," Lady Noire said. "What happened?"
"Did this weird illusion thing to make himself glow and was all like 'A worthy sacrifice, I shall feast on his soul!' and charged at him. Foxglove was terrified of the little guy, and asked me if Trixx was going to possess him after they transformed."
Lady Noire let out a chuckle, and pointed to her head as he looked at her– and he assumed that her kwami was enjoying the story. Tikki seemed quite the opposite in his mind, the disapproval he sensed he was guessing was for Trixx. He smiled softly, hoping that they would get to meet more kwamis if their training began. At least, he assumed there were more from what he had learned, though where they were he had no idea.
"I mean I guess it isn't too far of a stretch," Lady Noire said with a smile. "I mean, we kind of possess the kwamis, if you think about it? We merge and we're using their powers– so why not the other way?"
"I can't imagine Tikki possessing anyone."
"Plagg would just go raid a cheese shop," Lady Noire snickered.
Crimson Beetle winced slightly, feeling a pressure in his mind. Tikki's presence had suddenly gotten very intense, probing at him in a way she didn't often do. He wasn't quite sure what she wanted– even with this connection, their thoughts weren't linked– but he assumed that she didn't want him just chattering on all night when they were here for a reason, so he moved the conversation along, and her presence slowly retreated from his mind.
"So, yeah, I returned the Fox Miraculous afterwards, and the Guardians asked me to make sure that we were thinking about Guardianship and all that," Crimson said, shrugging, and he rubbed the back of his neck. "I, um, haven't given it much thought until they reminded me... how about you?"
"I talked about it with Plagg a while back," Lady Noire said.
"Oh," he let out a laugh. "Guess I'm the only one who hasn't thought about it, then. What did you and Plagg say?"
Lady Noire shifted. "The Guardians said that we both had to be trained, right? That it was all or none?"
"Yeah?"
"Oh. Er... what did you want to do, then?" She asked, the uncertainty back in her voice.
"What do you want to do?" He asked.
"I asked you first," she replied, looking away.
"No, I did. You're the one that said you thought about it!"
"Exactly," she replied. "I don't want my answer to influence yours, I already made a choice without outside input, so you should do the same. If it's the same, then we have our answer, and if not we can discuss it."
He hated that it was logical– because he was worried that what she'd say her answer was would be impacted by his thoughts. He had seen Lady Noire follow his plans instead of what she wanted before– like with the interview– and he was still upset that he had put her through that. He honestly wasn't sure what she would think of Guardianship, because a lifetime of Miraculouses would mean a lifetime of the world looking at Lady Noire... and he was afraid that things wouldn't get better for her.
They hadn't yet, after all.
"I... I'm not sure, honestly," Crimson said, touching his earrings. "I... I love being Crimson Beetle, I love Tikki, I love transforming... but I mean, I don't think the Guardians asked us to 'inherit their burden' as a joke. Who knows what kind of life we'll lead if we accept and... like, I mean, didn't they say they didn't have any kids because they were Guardians? I can't imagine not being a father, that's something I've always wanted in life, I couldn't give that up."
"I think that was more of a choice they made, not a requirement," Lady said softly. "But I know what you mean, I've always wanted to be one, too."
"A father?" He asked with a grin.
She flushed. "A mother! Y-you know what I mean!"
He grinned. "Our kids are going to be the cutest."
Lady Noire made a choking sound, and he felt his face go red as he realized what that sounded like, and he quickly scrambled for a follow up of some kind. It felt like he was choking on his own words, however, panic rising in him by the second.
"O-our kids as in multiple! As– as in– you know, kids we might have! No– like our kids as in kids that we might one day have if we do become parents, but not our kids as in our our kids, not that would be a bad thing, but like, separate kids and– and I'm going to stop talking now!"
Both of their faces were as red as his suit, and he felt Tikki's amusement in his mind. Was this how kwamis entertained themselves? With the fumblings and falters of humans? Watching their lives unfold like he would an anime?
"Like– like our kids are totally going to be best friends, know each other from the day they're born, go to the same daycare and school and all that–"
"I thought you said you were going to stop talking," Lady muttered, face buried in her hands.
"Yeah, we're way off topic," he said hurriedly. "All I meant to say is that there's a lot of things to consider with being a Guardian, yeah? Like, it sounds fun, but it probably won't be fun-fun, like it's going to be a job and something serious, not to be treated lightly..." His rambling faded as he continued. "Basically... it's a commitment I wouldn't mind making from what we'd gain, but just knowing it won't be simple makes me not want to jump right on board, you know?"
"Yeah," she said, her face now out of her hands, but she still wasn't looking at him.
"Er... what did you and Plagg talk about?"
"...Fu told me something about kwa– um, about Plagg. Something Plagg didn't want out there," Lady Noire said quietly. "Apparently it's standard for the Guardians to tell his holder every time his Miraculous is handed out, though, and... and he..." Her expression shifted, falling silent for a moment, and he assumed she was taking in the emotions from the kwami. "It's personal, but I promised him I'd become Guardian so things like that wouldn't continue." She looked up at him. "I want to be a Guardian, Crim. I can't lose Plagg. You and him... the two of you are some of the most amazing things that have happened to me."
He smiled, placing a hand on her knee. "You and the Miraculouses have been the best thing in my life."
Lady Noire was red, she didn't say anything for a moment, her face steadily turning to the hue of his suit– but after a moment, she let out a laugh. She pointed to her head when he gave her a questioning look, before laughing again.
"Plagg is feeling insulted," she said with a chuckle. "I think because I lumped him and you together."
"Why does your kwami hate me so much?"
"Oh, he's like that with everyone," she waved a hand dismissively. "He hates my best friend, several other close friends of mine, he goes off about you and the Guardians, and honestly I think he barely tolerates my parents." She smiled. "If it means anything, he thinks the world of your kwami."
"Any way to get on Plagg's good side?"
"Cheese," Lady Noire replied. "Camembert is his favorite. The fancier the cheese, the better. Or just one he hasn't had in a while, he gets ecstatic."
"Cheese," Crimson said– he could afford some fancier cheeses easily. "I'll keep that in mind."
"He's mad at you," Lady Noire reported, tilting her head. "Bet you he'd totally say 'I can't be bought!' right now if he could, but he's lying– he'll do anything for cheese."
He thought Tikki would find this whole situation humorous, but as he probed his mind for his kwami, he only felt a somber presence within. He considered this, before feeling Tikki withdraw within his mind, taking her emotions with her. He pressed his lips together, not sure what to make of this.
"Let's do it, then," Crimson said. "Let's become Guardians."
"I told you not to base your answer off of mine!" Lady Noire protested.
"I'm not!" He said, but as she stared at him he amended this answer. "Okay, I kind of am, but I'm not saying yes just because you want to. You said that you don't want to lose Plagg– and I feel the same about Tikki. I... I wouldn't give up on a friend just because something hard popped up, so I have no reason to give up Tikki just because being a Guardian wouldn't be easy."
"Not like having a Miraculous is easy right now," she said softly.
"You can say that again," he said, and he looked up at the sky. "Besides, they would have to find others if we said no... and if we would have to give up our kwamis in the end... I can't imagine handing Tikki to anyone else."
Lady Noire clutched her ringed hand, those blue eyes lit with panic.
"So, Guardians, then?" He asked, turning towards Lady, and her eyes settled on him.
"Guardians," she said softly.
"Really? Oh, at your place? That's awesome, I can't wait!"
Nathalie let out a small sigh as she sat in the front seat of the limo, listening as Adrien spoke excitedly on the phone. Her eyes scanned the Agreste's schedule as she pulled it up, eyeing the few empty slots there were that week. It sounded like whatever Adrien was going to be invited to was already planned, meaning that she couldn't stick the activity into one of a few open hours. That meant she would either have to rearrange everything, or Adrien would be told he couldn't go.
Neither of those sounded appealing.
"Of course I'll be there," Adrien said, before quickly amending. "I mean, I'll try, I'll ask right away and get back to you. No, you can't make them move everything if I can't go, Chlo. Don't you dare make anyone change anything."
Chloe. Great. That explained the email she got a few minutes ago from the girl; she was probably ready to fight tooth and nail to make sure Adrien was there, the girl had never been told no in her life. As if she didn't have enough to worry about today anyways– and she had much more important things to do.
She touched the brooch hidden under her sweater. It was cool to the touch, but she knew the power that laid inside. She wished she could transform right now, put this behind her... but she had a job to do. Gabriel counted on her and Ezra when it came to anything outside the mansion, and she couldn't fail him in any way. Not after what she had taken from him.
"Nathalie?" Adrien asked, breaking her from her thoughts, done with his call.
"Yes?"
"Chloe told me that they're going to be announcing the school dance today in class," Adrien said excitedly. "It's going to be hosted at her hotel, and it sounds like it's going to be a lot of fun."
"I see."
"Can I go?"
"That's something you're going to have to ask your father," Nathalie replied.
"I'm sure he'd be okay with it," he said, leaning towards the front seat. "He's been letting me hang out with friends and it's at Chloe's place and he always lets me go there."
"Adrien."
"Can you at least see if my schedule's open?" He asked, and she sighed.
"When is it?"
"Very end of May."
"We have a show at the start of June, we're going to be very busy in the weeks leading up to that!"
"Chloe made sure it wasn't overlapped with anything scheduled," Adrien said defensively, and Nathalie sighed again, before pulling up the email Chloe had sent, looking at the day of the dance. The date was on a day when Adrien didn't have anything scheduled. She frowned slightly as she looked over the dates, feeling Adrien's gaze on her.
"…If your father says yes, it looks like you'll be free to go out that night," she said.
"Can you put it in the schedule?" Adrien asked, and he cut her off as she went to reply. "Like, not permanently, in case Father says no, but just for now so nothing else is added until I get the chance to ask him?"
Nathalie sighed, and blocked off the evening of the dance just as Ezra pulled into a parking space.
"Thank you, Nathalie, you're the best!" Adrien beamed, not pausing to take a breath as he threw open the car door, heading for the building where his photo shoot would be taking place.
Nathalie was not nearly as swift, putting her tablet away as she gathered her things. She could feel Ezra's eyes on her as she worked, and she found herself sighing again.
"It would be wrong for me to tell him yes if Gabriel hasn't said it's okay."
Ezra stared.
"It was simple hangouts I've said yes to in the past, not huge public events or school activities."
More staring.
"Fine! I have said yes to school things before in Gabriel's stead, but nothing like this! Adrien might want to take a date to the dance, he'll want to dress up– all things Gabriel will want to be the one to approve, not me."
Ezra smirked slightly at her, and she opened the car door.
"I'll be inside!" She said swiftly as she exited the car. "Be here in two hours to pick us up, I'll call you if the shoot is going to last longer."
"You shouldn't be rude to your friend," a voice whispered from her pocket as she shut the car door.
"He's an employee, Nooroo," Nathalie snapped. "Now quiet, today is going to be long enough as is."
She headed inside, everyone hurrying about as they prepared for Adrien's shoot, Vincent taking a few finishing shots of the model from the previous shoot. Nathalie went up to the photographer as he called for everyone to change the backdrops and the lighting. Nathalie noticed a few wayward glances thrown her way, everyone trying their hardest to look busy. She held back a sigh, and Vincent beamed as he saw her.
"Ah, Nathalie!" He said in a thick Italian accent. "Now, where is my favorite model, I've been looking forward to working with him all day."
"Adrien should be either in the dressing room or with his makeup artist," Nathalie replied. "He's missing some school for this shoot, so make sure we keep everything swift and smooth, is that clear?"
"You heard the woman!" Vincent called out to the workers. "Let's have the set ready for when Adrien's here, move along!"
"Gotta have everything perfect for Gabriel's son," a voice muttered as Nathalie made her way back to the dressing rooms to find Adrien.
"If you have a problem with how we run things at Gabriel then we don't have to renew your contract, and you can model elsewhere," she said, enjoying the way the model jumped as he realized Nathalie had overheard them.
"That won't be necessary, ma'am!" He said swiftly.
"Good. Move along, then," she snapped, pausing as he hurried away.
Her Miraculous remained cold, they were not feeling desperate enough for the Miraculous to sense a cry for help. She sighed and continued on, finding that Adrien was already changed and was getting his hair and makeup done.
And of course things couldn't go smoothly.
"But I always wear these for shoots," Adrien protested. "It's never been a problem before."
"Because they didn't have specific earrings for you to wear for those shoots," an assistant said, sounding on edge, as if Adrien were about to throw his father's weight around. "But these earrings are part of the outfit you're wearing."
"What's the problem?" Nathalie asked, making her way forward, eyes being drawn towards her.
"Adrien doesn't want to wear the accessories for this shoot," the assistant said.
Nathalie glanced at the earrings in the assistant's hands– simple black studs. She looked back towards Adrien, who looked on edge, before glancing at his ears. The silver studs he had in looked barely any different from the ones he was being asked to wear.
"Adrien, you're under contract," Nathalie said. "If there was a true issue here, I would of course make sure it was seen through– but considering that you wear earrings on your own and that these are no different this shouldn't be an issue."
"But these are important to me– I can't lose them."
Nathalie sighed, before holding out her hand. "I'll hold onto them for you, then."
Adrien stared at her outstretched hand with wide eyes, as if she had offered to throw them away. Adrien slowly reached for his earrings, sliding them out, but he didn't place them in her hand. Instead, he stood up, inching for the door.
"I'll just put them in my bag," he said swiftly. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have made a big deal over some earrings."
"Hurry along," Nathalie replied, and Adrien hurried back to his dressing room.
She couldn't help but chuckle quietly, 'big deal' over some earrings, huh? If Adrien knew how much effort she was putting in to acquire a pair of her own…
The rest of the photo shoot went smoothly from there, thankfully, and once it was over she saw that Adrien had his silver studs back in. She stared at them for a moment as they waited for Ezra to come pick them up. They looked familiar on Adrien; he had been wearing them for sometime, yet… she hadn't truly noticed them on him before.
"Um, Nathalie?" Adrien said, an uncertain edge in his voice, and she looked up, before scowling.
"Wonderful," she muttered, looking at the small group heading their way. In her opinion, a teenager shouldn't have a fanclub, but Adrien had built himself up a pretty decently sized one over his last few years of modeling. Nathalie was pretty sure she recognized the one at the front of the pack, he showed up at so many events Adrien attended. "Ezra, where are you…?"
It could've been worse, she supposed, it was just a small group of teens coming their way, just four in total. Still she was not in the mood, and found herself stepping forward as the small group let out excited cries of: "Adrien Agreste! It's Adrien Agreste!"
A silver limo then sped around the corner, sliding up the street between them and the fans. Nathalie and Adrien didn't hesitate to climb into the vehicle, Nathalie slamming Adrien's door shut before climbing in herself. Ezra stepped on the gas before they were even buckled, speeding up and leaving the group behind.
"Thanks, Gorilla," Adrien said, leaning back in his seat. "I didn't want to miss any more school."
Ezra let out a grunt in reply.
Nathalie glanced in the rearview mirror, looking at Adrien as he got settled on. Her eyes settled on those earrings. Had he really been wearing them to multiple photo shoots? Even when not part of the outfit he was modeling? Had the workers just assumed it was something Gabriel had approved?
Adrien gave them a cheerful wave goodbye as they dropped him off in front of the school, before hurrying inside. She was glad he had taken to the environment, because there was no way she could've kept tutoring him while being Monarch. She touched her brooch at the thought as they headed home, driving in silence.
She headed straight for her office as soon as she reached the Agreste manor, pulling up her tablet and searching for photos of Adrien. As soon as they were alone, Nooroo came flying out, though she didn't pay him any attention. He drifted off to the corner of the office he had made his own, filled with spare knickknacks and gifts Emilie had given him back when she held his Miraculous. It looked like a small dragon's hoard if you asked Nathalie, but the kwami acted as if it were organized.
She scrolled through her tablet, looking over all of Adrien's recent photo shoots. Sure enough, each one showed those silver studs in his ears, as consistent as his signature smile. She frowned slightly, sitting up as she went back a few months. March, February, and January all featuring the same earrings.
"He cares a lot about you, you know."
Nathalie jumped as Nooroo spoke, and she looked up to see the kwami hovering there, holding a pin in his hands, gold with the emblem of a dove on it.
"What?"
"Adrien cares a lot about you," Nooroo replied. "When he seeks help, he's seeking it from you, because he knows you'll be the constant in his life."
Nooroo drifted forward, and placed the small dove pin in her hand. She glanced at it, then at the kwami. "What do you want?"
"I want you to remember to stay the constant in his life," Nooroo said quietly. "He has few as it is."
She turned the pin over in her hand. "I'm trying to give him his mother back."
"From what I can recall, you were his constant even back when she was around," Nooroo replied. Nathalie gritted her teeth, trying to hand the pin back, but he shook his head. "No, it's a gift, Master. Emilie gave it to me years ago, but I think she'd like you to have it."
Nathalie wasn't an idiot, she knew what a dove represented, and what Nooroo was trying to accomplish by giving it to her. She sighed, though, setting it on her desk, as it was useless trying to give a gift back to Generosity himself. One finger tapped against it, however, the image of Emilie replying in her mind.
She scrolled back farther with the pictures of Adrien, through winter and to last year. November was the same as December, but as she reached October that was when she finally saw a set of photos without the earrings. Only one, several more that month showing the same studs. Finally she was back in September, where the earrings only showed up in half the photos.
August had nothing.
Nathalie was stiff, knowing that it didn't necessarily mean anything, but still… Adrien starting to wear earrings in September? The same month she had started sending out akumas? The same month that Crimson Beetle had appeared? That was a coincidence she couldn't ignore.
She sat up slightly, mouth dry as she searched for a picture of Crimson Beetle, pulling it up next to one from Adrien's photo shoots. Her eyes flickered back between the two, taking in the green eyes and blond hair, perfectly identical smiles flashed at the camera.
However, these connections could not register in Nathalie's mind. A barrier kept cropping up when her eyes settled on Crimson. She could see him, her mind recognized it as the hero, but it was as if that image was solely confined to that photo. The matching smiles meant nothing, the fact that both had blond hair could not click in her mind.
"Nooroo," Nathalie growled, causing the kwami to stiffen up. "Can you see through the glamour?"
"You know I can't," Nooroo replied. "Unless it's been broken, it holds for everyone, even kwamis."
"Surely you can see more than me," she turned the tablet around. "Tell me, do they look the same?"
Nooroo's eyes widened. "Is… is that Adrien?"
"Does he look like Crimson Beetle or not?" Nathalie snapped.
The kwami looked horrified, but slowly shook his head. "I can't tell, Master, the glamour is just as strong for me." He hesitated. "Why would you even think of Adrien…?"
"Those earrings he was wearing today," Nathalie said slowly, still turning the thoughts over in her head. "He's been wearing them since September– and never before that. He never really cared for earrings before that, he was pierced only for photo shoots. He was protective of the earrings today, though, when usually he's had no problem setting things aside for photo shoots. I know it's not solid... but it's strange."
"Why don't you ask Adrien where he got them?" Nooroo offered.
"And what would that accomplish?" Nathalie asked. "Either he tells me where he got them, or he tells me a lie about where he got them– I have no way of telling. That won't work at all... we need answers, and we need them quickly, see if this is a coincidence or a lead..."
"The Gamer!" Nooroo suddenly shouted. "Remember when you akumatized Gamer? He went after Adrien, and then the heroes showed up at the same time."
"True," Nathalie said, leaning back in her seat, before sitting up. "Unless... that was an illusion."
"Illusion?" Nooroo said quietly.
"The Fox Miraculous has been active," Nathalie muttered. "With the appearance of that 'Foxglove', and then Citrine Húlí... he's always been lurking about, we know that. He showed up for Volpina, and then with Speedstar..." She swiped through her tablet, before pulling up an image of said akuma. "We know he was interfering with Speedstar, because the Rabbit and Monkey showed up to fight that akuma, yet none of the public ever saw them. He had to be using illusions to hide them... So say Adrien was possibly Crimson Beetle, what better time to whip out an illusion than a moment he couldn't show up, hm?"
"Those... those are all very good points, Master," Nooroo said in a small voice, the kwami looking absolutely terrified.
Nathalie reached a hand out, a finger stroking the kwami– who jumped in surprise, lavender eyes staring up at her. "No need to look so panicked, little Nooroo," she said with a smile. "Just think, if it is truly Adrien, if he knew what he was fighting against... well, we would be halfway to our goal."
"And if it isn't Adrien?" Nooroo said.
"Well, we're about to find out," Nathalie said, rising to her feet.
"Are... are you just going to go ask him?" Nooroo whispered. "He's– he's in school!"
"Of course not, because if he isn't a hero, then asking him such would be bringing him into... all this– which Gabriel doesn't want."
Nooroo looked slightly relieved. "So you're going to talk to Gabriel, then."
Nathalie laughed. "Oh, don't be silly, Nooroo. He would panic, or just flat out go into denial– this is something we have to investigate ourselves." She glanced at her tablet. "Let's see, Adrien has fencing after school today, and Ezra will probably be waiting out front like he usually does..."
"What... what are you planning, Master?" Nooroo whispered.
Nathalie grinned. "Well, your little mention of Gamer gave me a few ideas, let's say."
Nooroo's eyes were wide– and then the kwami bolted straight for the wall. His voice rose to a panicked shout, crying out as loud as he could. "Gabriel! Gabriel, Nathalie is–!"
"I order you to stay quiet and remain in this room," Nathalie said, and the kwami slammed into the wall, instead of phasing through it, his cries cut off. Instead he took to darting back and forth across the room, like a panicked animal desperately looking for an escape. "Tattling, Nooroo, really? I would rather not feel like I'm watching a child."
"You can't send an akuma after Adrien," Nooroo whispered, having not been ordered not to speak– just to be quiet. "Master, think about what you're doing– what you're saying!"
She smiled. "Don't think of it that way, Nooroo, I'm not sending an akuma after him, I'm sending one to protect him– it will be just like the champions you say your Miraculouses should create."
"Your monsters are nothing like champions!" Nooroo hissed, his voice unable to rise more than a harsh whisper with the orders he was under.
"Go back to your little nook, Nooroo, I'll let you know when I need you," Nathalie said, and a purple blur zipped across the office, Nooroo tucking himself into his pile of belongings, as if he were trying to bury himself within it.
Nathalie was grateful for the silence, which she used to compose her plan. Nooroo was right about one thing, and that it was that Gabriel would not agree with this plan, so she simply had to make sure that he did not learn about it. She outlined a text to Ezra, reading over it several times, before smiling. Waiting for an akuma, ones with the motivations that would give her promising powers, it was tiring. Being able to craft a victim for her akuma, knowing just how they ticked… this would give her results.
She waited until it was time for Adrien's fencing lessons to begin, and she rose to her feet, signaling for Nooroo to hide in her pocket, with strict orders not to make a sound. She composed herself, before heading down to Gabriel's atelier without knocking, the man looking up at her in surprise.
"I'm going to be sending out an akuma," she declared, heading over towards the painting of Emilie that hung on the wall. "I don't know how long I will be, so just forward anything I need to work on to my email, I'll get to it tonight."
"Of course," Gabriel said. "Though this time–"
"I won't be targeting anyone from Adrien's school," Nathalie promised, having to hide a small smile to herself– because it wasn't a lie. "Oh, speaking of Adrien, there is a school dance coming up in May that Adrien is interested in attending, but I told him he would need permission from you to go– there's nothing planned the night of it."
Gabriel frowned. "I see nothing wrong with that, as long as he presents himself well and is in good company."
"He'll be ecstatic to hear that, sir," Nathalie said, fingers slipping into the buttons, triggering the elevator hidden in the floor– which began to rise up towards the ceiling. "Make sure you tell him when he gets home."
With that, she vanished into the ceiling, being taken up to the lair hidden above. With Gabriel informed of an upcoming akuma attack, he would be less likely to pay attention to news or phone calls regarding such, as he trusted her not to lead an akuma near their home. She did feel bad for having to bring Adrien into this, but Gabriel would never give her permission otherwise– and she had to know.
How ironic it would be if half of the key to saving Emilie was under their very roof.
She glanced down at her phone, looking over the message to Ezra one last time, before pressing send. [We need to speak about your sloppy performance in regards to earlier today. You were late with picking up Adrien, resulting in us nearly being mobbed by fans instead of getting him safely to school. We cannot afford any slip ups, and if such continues, we will let you go. Adrien needs the utmost protection, and clearly you're not providing such.]
"You can come out now, Nooroo," Nathalie said softly. "Keep it down and don't leave the lair, we don't want to disturb Gabriel now."
"Master, think about what you're doing," Nooroo pleaded, hovering right in front of her. "This isn't what Gabriel would want."
"We have to take risks, Nooroo, if we want the truth," she replied, and her Miraculous grew warm against her chest. "I believe that's our signal– Nooroo, wings rise!"
The kwami turned into a burst of lavender energy, being drawn towards the brooch pinned to her shirt. Nathalie spread open her arms, welcoming the sensation of magic running across her. Everything felt right as she was engulfed in the light, Monarch taking her place as the transformation ran across her. Oh, how she felt alive like this, how she could actually take control.
She flipped open the crystal top of her cane, where a small white butterfly materialized within. Monarch let the creature crawl onto her hand, looking so real, even though it was just a manifestation of magic. She closed her hand around it, sensing the energy within. It was far from simple to twist it to the means she wished, even after she had done so many times before. She could feel her mind reaching out, her Rapport searching for those who needed the Generosity of the Butterfly.
Ezra's fear stood out to her like a beacon, the magic knowing just what she was seeking. She lifted her hand up, letting her little akuma fly free, dark energy now surrounding its form as it fluttered out towards the window, searching for its target. She closed her eyes as it flew through the city, waiting for the moment a connection was formed, as her and Ezra's mind linked– his immediate thoughts flooding her mind.
I can't lose this job. I can't leave Adrien on his own, that kid has been through enough. They don't know him like I do, no one else would be able to reach out to him, I've known him since he was a child. I've watched him grow up. I–
"Gorizilla," she said softly. "I am Monarch. Your job has been put on the line for something far beyond your control, a job that you hold deeply in your heart. I can give you the power to always protect Adrien, no one will question your abilities again. The moment I give you your powers, however, you must immediately get your charge. You cannot let him go or be out of your sight– the heroes will take him from you the moment you do."
It was amazing how malleable people were in this state. With the power of the Butterfly washing over them, they were more desperate for help than ever, more willing to accept it. Akumas hung onto her every word, believing her without doubt. She could feel Ezra's desperation as she warned him of the heroes, instantly setting his mind against the ones he would have trusted just moments ago.
"If you get the opportunity to seize their Miraculouses, then take them," she continued. "Hand them over to me, so the heroes will be powerless to stop you from protecting Adrien. However, keeping an eye on him shall be your main goal. You cannot let him go, do you understand?"
Ezra gave a single nod of his head, and with an agreement reached she let her powers flood him. Dark energy surrounded the man, who instantly swelled in size, large muscles and frame easily ripping apart the limo he had been sitting in moments before. Gorizilla lived up to his name, resembling a giant gorilla with deep blue fur. He turned towards the school he stood in front of, Monarch watching through his eyes as he ripped the front of the building away with little effort, peering in at the fencing team that stared up at him, pushing their masks up to gawk at the akuma who had burst in.
Gorizilla spotted Adrien in an instant, his giant hand snaking out and snatching up the boy, flicking the saber from his hand as he brought him up in the air. Adrien didn't look frightened, just nervous as he stared up at Gorizilla with wide eyes as his classmates scattered away from the akuma and the crumbled wall. Gorizilla let out a sigh of relief as he held Adrien, feeling that all was right with his charge safe in his hand.
"...Gorilla?" Adrien whispered, staring at the akuma. "Is that you?"
A burst of warmth ran through Gorizilla, which in turn rushed through Monarch as she was linked with Rapport. She couldn't help but tilt her head to the side, she had always wondered what Ezra had thought of the nickname Adrien and Felix had called him since they were young, and apparently he had a fondness for it.
"Hey!" A voice shouted as Gorizilla turned. "You can't just grab him and walk away– put him down!"
Gorizilla turned, and through their linked vision Monarch saw a fencer in red standing near the feet of the akuma, fencing saber in hand. Monarch had to withhold a sigh– why did the Tsurugi girl have to keep confronting akumas? She wasn't a hero, and one of these days Tomoe was going to come bursting down the mansion doors if anything happened. That woman despised magic just as much as Gabriel.
Gorizilla raised a hand, anger pulsing through him at the one trying to take Adrien from him– and both Adrien and Monarch snapped at the same time: "No!"
"Don't hurt her!" Adrien cried. "She's just worried about me, that's all, nothing to get upset over!"
"You can't hurt Kagami," Monarch growled. "I'll never hear the end of it. Just take Adrien and leave, she can't keep up with you, she's of no concern. Besides, you should get going before the heroes show up, they're the real threat."
Gorizilla let out a grunt of acknowledgement, turning away from the school, heading out into the streets, Adrien still clasped in one hand. The boy struggled in his grip, which wasn't crushing, but it wasn't allowing him any escape either. Cries echoed out on the street, cars swerving desperately out of the giant akuma's way as he broke into a trot of sorts, three limbs on the ground as he searched for somewhere suitable to take his prize.
"Be on the lookout for illusions," Monarch mused as they went. "Citrine or that Foxglove could try to trick you and take Adrien. Illusions will break upon contact, so don't be afraid to make sure there's no Deception taking place."
Gorizilla didn't break pace, but she could sense his acknowledgement in his mind as they went, the akuma ignoring Adrien's requests to be put down, and the questions of what had happened. Monarch let out a small sigh, everything was going well. She just needed to wait for the heroes to show up, and to see if Crimson Beetle would be able to make an appearance. And if not... well, this little game would have just gotten a whole lot more interesting.
Monarch felt Nooroo's presence in her mind, but she forced the kwami away– he was only a pest, if anything.
"Um... Gorilla?" Adrien asked, causing the giant akuma to pause. He wasn't sure what his akumatized name was– but he responded to Gorilla, and not Ezra. "Could you loosen your grip slightly? So I can move my arms?"
Gorizilla did not respond well to any requests for him to be put down, and he didn't know if this would be crossing the line in the akuma's mind. The giant blue ape paused, considering this request, and a mask appeared over his face. Adrien's heart started pounding, wondering what on earth Monarch had to say to him. After a moment the mask faded, and Gorizilla carefully rearranged his grip so his arms weren't pinned at his side, before continuing his stride down the street. Adrien wondered what on earth Monarch had even said that encouraged Gorizilla to do so.
He guessed that either she had just been pestering him about getting the Miraculouses, or she had just wanted Adrien to be a quiet hostage.
Well, he guessed he wasn't technically even a hostage, he knew his bodyguard had no intentions of hurting him, even in this state. It was clear his akumatized bodyguard was dead set on keeping him with him though. Any mentions from people they passed about Adrien would make Gorizilla roar and clutch him closely, and of course not even Adrien could convince him to put him down. He had no idea what had led to Ezra being akumatized– today had been a fairly normal day– but it must have somehow been connected to him or the job if the akuma's goal was just to protect him.
Unfortunately, that led to Adrien's biggest problem– the fact that he had no way to transform into Crimson Beetle.
"So, um, where are we going?" Adrien asked, as they bounded through Paris. "Er, home, I'm guessing? Be nice and safe, where I'm supposed to be after fencing... er, you know– the opposite direction of here?"
"Rrrh," Gorizilla rumbled, tossing his head. Usually, Adrien was pretty good at reading Ezra's body language, but as an akuma he wasn't sure what he wanted. However, Gorizilla made no effort to turn around, continuing down the street.
"Monarch wants you looking for the heroes, right?" Adrien tried after a moment, and those bright yellow eyes flickered towards him. "Well, I don't want to be caught up in any fight? That would put me in danger? So maybe you should drop me off at home, then go fight the heroes?"
This made Gorizilla pause, the akuma going still as he considered these words. He clutched Adrien close to his chest, and again a mask appeared over his face, Monarch probably not wanting to waste any time, but Adrien had to get out of here. He couldn't even risk talking to Tikki, who was hiding in his pocket, because Monarch would probably be able to hear every word of their conversation. Monarch seemed to still be speaking to Gorizilla, who didn't seem to like what she was saying– letting out a loud cry as he reared up, free hand smashing into the road as he let out another angry bellow. The hand that held Adrien remained firmly held to his chest, thankfully keeping him from being thrashed about.
Adrien felt something cold and hard being pressed into his side as Gorizilla's grip tightened, and he looked down at a dark black ring that was wrapped around the akuma's middle finger. It looked fragile– as thin as a normal ring, but stretched out so it could fit on his giant finger. Adrien knew that he wore this same ring everyday– and he was pretty sure he had found the location of the akumatized object– and yet he couldn't do a single thing about it!
"Let him go!" A voice shouted, and both Adrien and Gorizilla's head twisted about, looking at a black figure racing across rooftops. The akuma tensed, taking a few steps back at the sight of Lady Noire– before turning and racing in the other direction with giant bounds.
He was pretty sure it was only thanks to his time as Crimson Beetle that he wasn't dizzy at this point.
Still he grasped onto Gorizilla as he ran, gasping at the speeds the giant ape was managing, streets blurring by as he ran. Suddenly, there was a moment where they were no longer moving forward, a pit in his stomach as they suddenly began to move up. Adrien barely had time to make sense of where he was as Gorizilla began to scale the Montparnasse Tower with ease, even with one hand still clutching Adrien. As he reached the top of the skyscraper, the akuma reared up, letting out a loud bellow.
"...Will you put me down now?" Adrien asked in a small voice, but Gorizilla didn't even glance at him, simply moving to the edge of the building, eyes locked on a figure in the distance. Adrien swallowed as he watched Lady Noire pursue after the akuma– knowing that he would have no chance to help her.
Gorizilla didn't look like he would be fast– but he had put a large distance between himself and Lady Noire. He paced the top of the roof, the glow of a mask over his face as Monarch spoke to him, waiting for the heroine to approach. Monarch seemed to be speaking a lot to this akuma, and he didn't know what that meant. Down below, a crowd was beginning to form, people looking up at the akuma, with Adrien able to hear the mutters and the calls of the crowd below, though not able to make out any individual words.
The crowd only parted as Lady Noire approached, who paused at the bottom of the tower to catch her breath. She then vaulted up, her baton extending to carry her into the sky, before she dug her claws into the side of the building to help her climb. Gorizilla crouched down at the end of the tower, free hand stretched out, ready to snatch the hero when she got close.
"Look out!" He cried when he saw that Lady Noire wasn't changing course. Her eyes flashed up, but continued climbing without breaking pace, and as she drew close Gorizilla's hand rushed out to snatch her, bringing her up onto the observation deck with a triumphant roar.
Gorizilla's hand then snapped open as he turned, Lady Noire falling to the roof and rolling to her feet, having used her baton to force his hand open. From there, she didn't slow, turning and charging straight at the akuma, baton swinging as she danced around him. Gorizilla spun about as he tried to grab her once more, Lady Noire jumping around and on him, like a fly desperate to avoid being squashed.
Adrien squirmed in the akuma's hand, trying to see if his grip had loosened– but it hadn't. His heart pounded, not sure what to do. Lady Noire was handling the fight well so far– but he didn't want to leave her alone nor could she purify an akuma without him. He had no idea how he was going to get out of this.
"Rhhhah!" Gorizilla bellowed.
"What are you even trying to accomplish, you giant ape?" Lady Noire growled, landing on her feet, and Gorizilla bared his fangs.
"Yeah!" A voice called from behind Gorizilla. "Why don't you pick on someone your own size?"
Adrien felt a rush of relief run through him as he saw Crimson Beetle standing there, yoyo swinging. He had been wondering if one of the Guardians would come– after they had him send Foxglove out for one fight he had been worried that Citrine Húlí wouldn't come out into another battle. Gorizilla let out a snarl at what had to be an illusion, turning and charging towards the figure– but thankfully, Lady Noire took the opportunity to attack the akuma from behind, while 'Crimson Beetle' danced out of the way.
A mask flared around Gorizilla's face, and he charged at 'Crimson Beetle'.
The illusion darted away, moving gracefully to avoid the wild swings. Adrien felt himself holding his breath, because he still didn't have the opportunity to get away like this. One touch, and it would be shattered. If the illusion faded, there would be too many questions– especially if there wasn't another Crimson Beetle to show it was a trap.
"Distract him!" The Crimson Beetle called to Lady Noire. "We need to find the akuma and get the civilian free!"
"You should summon your Charm– maybe it will give us something to loosen his grip!" Lady called back.
"Not yet, I don't want to be on a timer so soon!" The fake replied.
And with that they fell into silence, weaving between Gorizilla's attack– sometimes making a grab at the heroes with his free hand, other times swinging the fist with Adrien in it. He was sure he was going to have a sore neck after this from being whipped about, eyes desperately looking about, searching for a way to get out. Maybe Gorizilla would slip up and try to grab at the heroes with this hand, opening it up then he could run off–
Gorizilla raised the fist with Adrien overhead, bringing it down towards 'Crimson Beetle', who did not move to dodge. Instead he began swinging his yoyo like a shield, and as the first made contact with it a large thud echoed through the air– the figure of the Ladybug hero unmoving. Adrien felt the impact of the blow run up through Gorizilla's arm, who let out a cry of pain as he stumbled back from hitting the shield, his hand loosening.
Adrien had no time to grab on to anything as the giant arm hit the ledge of the building, nor could he get a sense of where he was, still jarred from the blow as he slipped through Gorizilla's fingers– falling through the air and down the side of the tower, the ground being hundreds of feet below.
Each second felt like an eternity as he fell, a sense of weightlessness washing over him before the panic could truly set in. The wind ripped at him as he spiraled down, Tikki twisting in his pocket. She let out a cry he was sure was a call for him to transform, but the words were lost in the roar of the wind. His arms flailed about in the air, desperate to grasp something, anything. He twisted in the air, the building too far for him to try to grab a window or ledge. He stared up at the sky in fear, and he saw a figure dve off of the top of the tower after him.
"M'lady!" He instinctively cried as he watched Lady Noire free fall, his words not even reaching his own ears. There was an arm reached out towards him, but she was nowhere near him, with no way to catch up. He knew her suit could protect her from the fall, but from a height like this he knew she wouldn't walk away unscaved.
Silver gleamed in the light, her baton extending down towards him. He desperately tried to grasp it, but his hands kept slipping around the slick metal. The baton was then slid under him, flipping him back up into the air and out of the fall, straight towards Lady Noire. Her arms immediately wrapped around him, pulling Adrien against her chest, clawed hands tightly holding them as they spiraled through the air together.
She shrunk her baton back down slightly, leaving it still long and spear-like as she twisted them about towards the building, jabbing the end towards the metal walls. A window shattered as the baton smashed through it, wedging itself within– bringing them to a sudden jerking stop from their freefall. He could feel the momentum running through them at the sudden stop, and Lady Noire let out a cry of pain.
With the speed they had been falling the sheer force of their stop should have ripped joints from sockets, but the magic suit kept Lady from true harm. However, her grasp on the baton failed with the sudden halt, and they were falling the last few stories. Adrien had no time to process what was happening, panic building up as the wind roared around him again.
Lady Noire wrapped her form around him, cocooning him as she twisted them about, making sure her body was between him and the pavement below as it came rushing up to meet them.
Every part of his body hurt as they collided with the ground, skin tingling painfully as if it had been slapped and beaten, ears ringing as voices and shouts echoed about him, nothing making sense. His muscles, his bones, his joints– it all ached as he laid there in Lady Noire's grasp, lungs momentarily forgetting how to breathe. He then took in a sudden strangled breath, and the world seemed to be thrown in fast forward compared to each clear moment of the fall that had been seared into his mind.
People were surrounding them, words all blurred together as he sat up. His lungs fought to get air, everything hurting– but nothing felt broken. His focus settled on no one in particular until a figure rushed forward, throwing Adrien into a huge hug. Adrien blinked as his mind tried to catch up to what was happening, and panic ran through him when he didn't recognize who was embracing him.
"Oh, Adrien Agreste!" He cried. "You're alive, thank goodness you're alive!" The boy pulled back, holding out a phone and pulling him and Adrien into frame. "He's alive! He's okay! Adrien Agreste is okay! The hero saved him just in time!"
Ah. It was a fan.
"Lady!" Adrien cried, twisting free from the fan's grip, and looking down towards Lady Noire, who was pushing herself to her feet, a pained look on her face. "Are you okay? Are you hurt? I'm so sorry–!"
She held up her hand, breathing heavily. "Just a bit bruised up. Suit took the worst of it, I'll be fine."
She looked up the tower, where her baton was wedged, and Gorizilla was leaning down– hand stretched out as if he had been trying to grab Adrien. He was paying no attention to the illusion of Crimson, even with the mask over his face, eyes desperately sweeping the ground, staring straight at Adrien. He waved up to the akuma, not wanting his bodyguard to start panicking while akumatized.
"Stay away from Adrien, you disgusting akuma!" His fan screamed up at the ape.
"Don't make him upset," Adrien hissed. "You'll make things worse."
"Adrien, go find somewhere safe," Lady Noire said, kneeling into a crouch, ready to go back into the fight. "Crimson and I will finish this battle– it will be safer if there are no civilians nearby."
"Got it," Adrien said, and though every part of him still felt sore, he turned and ran– weaving through the crowd of people, ignoring the call of several people as he went. He slipped between the smallest gap of people, trying to limit the possibility of anyone following him.
Adrien ducked into an alleyway, stumbling back towards a large trash bin, slipping behind it and looking out towards the street. He saw some people passing, but no one seemed to be paying attention or looking for him. He let out a sigh of relief, wanting to sink down to his feet, but the roars of Gorizilla meant that now was not the time.
"Adrien, don't scare me like that!" Tikki cried, zipping out of his pocket before he could say a word, darting forward and slamming into his face, giving the biggest hug her small form could manage. "You should have transformed!"
"But– but my identity–"
The kwami pulled back, tears shining in her eyes. "I'd much rather lose you through needing a new holder than watch you die."
Adrien's throat tightened– the realization that he had almost died for the first time hitting him. He stood there, paling slightly as the moment replayed in his mind. His stomach churned, and for a moment he was afraid he was going to throw up as he leaned back against the brick wall.
"Crimson Beetle, there you are," an unfamiliar voice said– and chills raced through Adrien. He spun about, arm bracing himself against the wall as he took a step back– and saw a small green figure hovering in the air. "Transform quickly, and I will inform Master that you are ready to switch places with the illusion."
"Wayzz, don't startle my holder like that," Tikki said, landing in his hair. "He's still processing."
The kwami in front of him lowered his head apologetically, his form green with bright yellow eyes. There was a small shell on his back, and an antenna on his head. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you. I am Wayzz, kwami of Protection."
"N-nice to meet you," Adrien said with an uncertain smile, taking in a deep breath. "Tikki– spots on." A flash of pink rushed over him, and as the transformation faded, Crimson Beetle stood there, feeling slightly more stable with magic running through him. "I'm ready to go, just tell me what to do."
"Master will have an illusion fall in this direction– the moment you see it, throw your yoyo and head up the tower," Wayzz replied. "Citrine Húlí will cover your entrance with a Mirage, and you can get straight into the fight. Summon a Lucky Charm immediately, there's only so many excuses Master can make for why you haven't used your power yet."
"Got it," Crimson Beetle said, swallowing slightly as he grabbed his yoyo– and the kwami flew up the alleyway, soon becoming a small speck in the sky he couldn't quite make out. At any other moment he would have been excited to meet another kwami, but his heart was still pounding in his chest.
He didn't let himself think, just doing just has he had been instructed the moment he saw a glimpse of the illusion of himself, throwing his yoyo and pulling himself up onto the building above, then taking a bounding leap with his yoyo to reach the Montparnasse Tower, planting his feet against the side and running straight up the walls and windows to the fight raging above. There were no gasps or any sign of confusion from below or above, so he could only assume that the illusion had transitioned seamlessly to him.
And once again he was on top of the tower with Gorizilla and Lady Noire– only this time ready to fight.
"Lucky Charm!" He cried the moment he jumped to reach the top, a burst of pink energy surrounding him. He snatched the summoned object as he came down, looking at the spotted fire extinguisher in hand– before darting out of the way of one of Gorizilla's fists.
"This better not mean there's going to be fire too!" Lady Noire cried, baton in hand as she darted around the giant gorilla's feet.
He pulled the pin out of the fire extinguisher. "Hey! Big guy! Over here!"
Crimson Beetle jumped as the fist came lunging at him– just enough to allow himself to be caught, but high enough for his arms to be free. Gorizilla raised him up to his face, fangs bared, and Crimson Beetle aimed the fire extinguisher and squeezed, spraying the white foam across the ape's face.
It went into his mouth, his nose, his eyes– and the cry that Gorizilla gave made Crimson's heart twist guiltily. Gorizilla dropped him, hands pawing at his face, and Crimson's heart started thumping as he felt the sense of weightlessness for a moment– before his feet hit the ground. He rolled away as Gorizilla staggered about the observation deck, still trying to get the foam out of his face.
"There's a ring on his hand!" Crimson Beetle called. "Middle finger– the akuma must be there!"
"Got it!" Lady Noire cried, springing towards the hand that had just grasped him. The akuma didn't even try to shake her off or attack, but that still didn't mean it was easy for her to get a grip. She wedged her baton into his hand so she wouldn't be thrown off as the akuma thrashed, raising her hand overhead. "Cataclysm!"
She pressed the churning energy against the thin ring, which instantly crumbled to dust. Dark light melted away Gorizilla, his form shrinking as he became Ezra once more. Lady Noire did a flip towards the deck, landing next to Crimson Beetle, smiling as she raised a fist towards him.
"Pound it!" The two of them said together as Ezra looked about in confusion, backing away from the dark butterfly that fluttered past him.
Crimson swung his yoyo up towards the butterfly before it could escape, catching it within his yoyo. He flicked out the weapon again, snagging the fire extinguisher to bring it back to him. The Lucky Charm was caught with one hand, the other sending the yoyo out one last time, this time straight up into the air to release the purified white butterfly into the sky.
"Miraculous Ladybug!" He cried, and the Lucky Charm instantly turned into a burst of pink light, being swept away in the healing light that surged out from around him. It rushed over him, Lady, and Ezra– before spreading out to the rest of the city.
Both he and Lady Noire relaxed as the light touched them, easing the bruises and aches from their fall. Erza slowly reached down, picking up his own restored black ring from the ground, slipping it back on his finger. For once, Crimson found his bodyguard's expression looking almost frightened, the man looking down at his hands for a moment, then out at them.
"Everything is fixed now," he told him quietly. "The damage that Monarch did is undone."
Ezra regarded Crimson Beetle, before his expression became guarded and stoic. He let out a low grunt, before turning away and walking towards the elevators. Crimson watched him go, before turning, heading after Lady Noire as she vaulted down from the tower, and off into the city. He swung down, several paces behind her.
They came to a stop on a roof a few streets over, both of their Miraculouses chirping at them. But with several minutes left on both of their timers there wasn't a rush to head off. He looked at Lady Noire for a moment, speaking quietly.
"Are you okay?" He asked. "That fall was..."
She shrugged. "The suit handled it just fine. I mean, you fell too, no need to make a big deal."
For a half a second he thought she was referring to the Adrien him– before he realized she referenced the illusion. He rubbed the back of his neck, shifting. "Y-yeah, but I, er, caught my fall. You hit the ground dead on and... and even our suits have limits."
"I couldn't just let Adrien fall," she replied, looking at him. "I... I didn't even think, I just... went after him."
"I'm sure he's very grateful," Crimson Beetle said softly, wishing that he was himself so he could truly thank her. "You saved his life."
She swallowed, but smiled softly. "W-well, thank goodness for the Miraculous Ladybugs, huh? I'm sure he's feeling a lot better now thanks to your powers, and all..."
"No, Crimson Beetle is right," a voice said behind him– causing both of them to jump. "You saved that young man's life, Lady Noire. Don't undersell yourself."
"Citrine Húlí?" Lady Noire said in surprise, eyes wide. "What are you doing here, uh, sir?"
"Just wanted to check up on the two of you," he replied, giving them a short nod as he stood there with them. "That fight... might not have been the most difficult, but it had a close call. I doubt Monarch will be taking a risk like that any time soon. She is many things, but I am sure she doesn't want blood on her hands– accident or not."
They stood there in silence at that thought, Crimson's stomach twisting. "But– I mean– the healing light–?"
Citrine Húlí's eyes settled onto him. "You wield a potent Miraculous, Crimson Beetle. Both of you do. Creation is powerful, but it only deals with the physical world. Yes, it can heal physical wounds, but it cannot bring back a departed soul."
Lady Noire covered her mouth, looking sick. Crimson Beetle stood there, taking it in, Tikki's words from before hitting much harder. If he had... if Lady Noire hadn't... he would be gone, not even if someone else donned his Miraculous to defeat the akuma...
"I– I need to go," Crimson Beetle croaked. "I... I have... things."
"I should be going as well," Lady Noire said swiftly. "We're going to detransform soon."
"Both of you rest, and do not stress yourself with things beyond your control. You have both wielded your Miraculouses and dealt with their weight with skill in the short time you have them. You have saved this city many times– both of you deserve your titles of heroes."
They both said nothing, and Citrine let out a soft sigh.
"I... I am truly sorry for what I have put on your shoulders," he said softly.
"We're not going anywhere," Lady Noire said, turning towards Citrine. "Not now, and not after Monarch is no longer a threat."
He regarded her, merely blinking.
"We want to become Guardians," Crimson Beetle said, taking a moment to find his voice. "We've been talking about it, and we both want to do this."
"If that is what you want," Citrine said softly. "Then I will train you. But once I bring you into this world of magic, not just as holders but as Guardians, it is a path I expect you to commit to for life. Don't make such a decision lightly."
"We've come this far," Lady Noire replied, touching her ring for a moment– before turning and vaulting away.
"You best get home, Crimson Beetle," Citrine Húlí said, turning. "I am sure your family is very worried for you."
Crimson Beetle paled slightly at the thought, the moment his father saw what had happened... Adrien didn't even want to know how the man would respond. He swallowed slightly, feeling Tikki in his mind as she tried to comfort him, and he gripped his yoyo as he turned towards home– the last place he wanted to go, yet he did not want to stay out here.
Ezra had been a lot more open with Adrien than he had with Crimson Beetle– visible tears in the man's eyes as he had pulled him into a tight hug. Adrien was glad that he hadn't gone straight home and had sought out his bodyguard instead, because the man was clearly stressed looking for him. They hadn't bothered going back to the school to get the limo, having taken a taxi to get him straight back to the manor instead.
Ezra's phone was being blown up with texts. Adrien could only imagine how many alerts would be on his phone when it got it back– but he was still in his fencing gear, phone in his locker at school. His bodyguard kept an arm around him as they went through the front gates, heading up towards the front door. As they approached they could hear the faint echoes of shouting come from the usually quiet mansion. Adrien slowed down, eyes wide, but Ezra continued guiding him forward.
The shouts immediately fell silent as the front doors were opened– and the doors to his father's office were thrown open the moment they entered. Adrien looked up at his father as he stormed towards them– and never had he seen the man so angry. He had no time to react as he came rushing straight towards him, being seized by the shoulders and immediately pulled into the most aggressive embrace Adrien had ever received.
His father's arms coiled tightly about him, his entire form tense, as if ready to snap. Gabriel held him close, his breathing heavy as he clutched his son to him. His voice, however, held none of the fierceness– instead sounding like it was about to break.
"Adrien," he whispered. "Adrien."
Adrien returned the hug, though the man did not relax, and Adrien leaned his head against his chest– where he could feel his father's heart hammering heavily. "I'm okay, Father, I promise."
"Okay?" Gabriel growled, though he did not pull back. "None of this is okay!" Gabriel did not let go of Adrien, eyes snapping up towards the Gorilla. "Ezra– what led to you being akumatized?"
"This isn't his fault, Father–"
"Stay out of this, Adrien!"
Adrien fell silent at the sudden shout, still pressed tightly against his Father, his arms only coiling tighter as Adrien attempted to pull back. Instead he was forced to turn his head, watching as Ezra held out his phone, showing a text to Gabriel, looking away, ashamed. Adrien's gaze flickered up– and the rage in his father's eyes only grew.
"Nathalie!" Gabriel thundered, his voice echoing through the foyer as he turned on a heel, and Adrien at last was able to pull back from the suffocating grasp, though his father's hand remained on his shoulder. He looked towards the atelier, where Nathalie stood in the doorway, the woman looking calm, though her eyes were towards the floor. "What have you done?!"
"This isn't her fault either, Father–"
"Yes it is!" He screamed, before falling silent, breathing heavily as he closed his eyes. His voice was quieter as he spoke again, the tension clear. "Ezra. You are not fired, nor were you being considered for such, and the fact that you were told such..." His hands curled into fists. "Go home, Ezra, consider the rest of the day off. Adrien, go to your room."
"Father–"
Gray eyes snapped towards him. "Adrien. You will go to your room, and stay there– where I know where you are, and where I know you are safe."
He swallowed. "Y-yes, Father."
Adrien would talk to him later, when his father wasn't so panicked. He wouldn't let his father take him out of school, he couldn't let him keep him here. He would talk to him, he would reason with him– he wouldn't let his father just lock him away again.
He couldn't.
Adrien climbed the stairs in the trance, looking over his shoulder as he reached the top. Ezra was already gone, and his father was watching Adrien with those sharp eyes. He knew his anger wasn't directed towards him, but still the gaze was an unsettling one. He turned and slipped into his room, and it was only then he heard the echo of his father's steps.
"Adrien?" Tikki whispered.
"...I'll have to talk to him when he calms down," he muttered– and he winced as he heard his father's shouts once more, and he was quick to shut the door, muffling out the words. He laid down on his bed, feeling absolutely exhausted– with no idea of what to do.
He jumped when metal panels suddenly fell down across his window, cutting out the outside light. He sat straight up, heart pounding as the house's security system locked them inside– his father's way of giving himself reassurance when he couldn't keep an eye on Adrien himself. For the teenager, however, there was only a panic gripping him.
"Tikki," he whispered. "My remote, g-grab my remote."
The kwami zipped across the room, grabbing the remote that controlled his room, hurrying back over and dropping it into his shaking hands. He fumbled for a button, before pressing down on one– and one of the metal panels retracted slightly, sunlight shining into the room. Adrien closed it, before opening it again several more times, before finally sealing it shut for good.
"Adrien, keep it open," Tikki insisted, but he shook his head.
"I'm– I'm fine," he said. "I can get out if I need to, I'm fine. Father will feel better with it closed, and I..." He was fine as long as he had his remote, as long as he knew he could open it at will. "I just need to distract myself, that's all."
He reached into a drawer, pulling out his second phone, unlocking it as he sank down into bed, trying his best not to look at the covered windows. Tikki curled up against his shoulder, nuzzling him. As he expected, he had dozens of alerts on his phone, most of which he cleared, focusing on messaging his friends back to let them know that he was alright and at home. He cleared all the messages from his father, not knowing how to reply to those, especially since his father knew he was home now, then pulled up an app and started scrolling, not looking for anything in particular.
He had many more notifications here as well– having been tagged in multiple posts and messaged by over a hundred people. He would let the PR manager handle all of those, though, deciding to instead make a public post to let the world know he was okay. He opened up a post– but didn't know what he should say– and closed out of it afterwards, scrolling through the app again.
Adrien paused as he saw one of the many posts he had been tagged in– one of a video by Wayhem_Agreste, showing the tower where the akuma fight had taken place. Adrien swallowed, before clicking on it, watching as the shaking footage was aimed at the top of the building, where Gorizilla held him in his hand, Lady Noire and the illusion Crimson fighting him.
He held his breath as he watched himself slip from between Gorizilla's grasp, falling over the edge. The crowd let out a loud gasp as he fell, Lady Noire diving down after him, while the one recording let out a scream.
It was all over in less than ten seconds– his fall to Lady Noire cradling him for the impact– but it had all felt so much longer in the moment. He watched as the camera hurried over to where he and Lady laid on the ground, and he realized that the one recording was the fan that had pulled him up after the crash.
He paused the video, already having seen this perspective of events for himself, and he didn't want to see Lady Noire in pain again. The description below the video stated: [Here is the footage of Lady Noire saving the amazing Adrien Agreste! A must watch (I hugged Adrien Agreste!)].
He didn't interact with the post in any way– he did like his fans, but some were... dedicated. But he now knew what he could say in his own post, and opened up his draft once more, fingers quickly tapping across the screen. He looked over it once before posting, laying back in bed.
[Thank you to all the concerned messages I have been getting. I just want to let everyone know that I am okay, and that the akuma was stopped by the heroes. I especially want to thank Lady Noire who saved my life today. I didn't get the opportunity to thank her in person, but I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for her.]
Adrien closed his eyes, trying to ignore the faint shouts coming from downstairs.
"What on earth were you thinking?!" Gabriel roared the moment he shut the office door behind him, glaring up at Nathalie, who stood in front of Emilie's painting, expression infuriating calm. "Look at what you've done!"
"It was an accident," Nathalie replied.
"An accident?!" He screamed. "Was it an accident that you sent that message to Ezra? That your akuma found him? That you specifically told me that Adrien's school wouldn't be involved?!"
"I said I wouldn't akumatize someone from Adrien's school, not that I wouldn't sent an akuma to the school. I did not lie to you, sir."
"Adrien almost died!"
"That was not supposed to happen."
"Nooroo!" Gabriel bellowed, glaring at the pocket he knew the kwami to hide in. He saw a twitch, but the kwami did not come out. "Nooroo, get out here right now."
Nathalie sighed. "I free you from all orders that I gave you today, Nooroo."
Immediately a blur of lavender phased through Nathalie's jacket, launching itself away from the woman as fast as possible. The kwami sped towards Gabriel, burying himself into the collar of his shirt, the small creature shaking. He glowered down at the Butterfly, who shrank back at his glare, before tears fell down his cheeks.
"I tried to warn you," Nooroo whispered, curling up on himself. "I called for you, I tried to go to you, but she wouldn't let me. I didn't want to do this, I didn't want to do any of this, I–"
"Why?" Gabriel growled at Nathalie. "Why did you set up Ezra to be akumatized? Why did you send one of those... monsters after my son?"
Nathalie said nothing. Gabriel stared down at her, but the woman remained unflinching. Gabriel's eyes turned towards Nooroo, who swallowed, burying himself deeper into Gabriel's collar so he couldn't be seen. He could feel the kwami trembling, and he was sure the being could sense the hammering of his heart.
"M-master thought Adrien might be Crimson Beetle," Nooroo whispered.
"You what?"
Nathalie took a deep breath. "Adrien was acting strange at the photoshoot today, and was strangely protective of a pair of earrings. I looked back at some of his other photoshoots and saw he started wearing them in September, the same month Crimson Beetle appeared. It was a coincidence I could not ignore, and one I knew you would not take well to, so I took things into my own hands. Ezra was supposed to protect Adrien to see if Crimson Beetle would show up– that's all."
"You went behind my back," Gabriel whispered, the urge to shout boiling up within, hands twitching. "Purposely put my son in direct danger, which nearly led to his... to his..." He closed his eyes. "Over a pair of earrings?" His eyes snapped open, burning. "My son, a fan of the heroes from day one, started wearing a pair of earrings after the heroes showed up? Is that so unbelievable, Nathalie?"
She said nothing.
"Give me the Miraculous," Gabriel growled, holding out his hand, and Nathalie's hand went to cover the brooch.
"Wh-what?" She said, taking a step back.
"Give me the Butterfly Miraculous, now," Gabriel repeated, and he felt Nooroo taking in a sharp breath. "Do you really think I am going to leave you with it after what you did to my son? What you have just put me through? Give it to me."
Nathalie stared at his outstretched hand as if it were on fire, about to leap out and burn her, but after a moment she closed her eyes, carefully removing the brooch. She set it down in Gabriel's palm, fingers lingering on it for a moment before she pulled away. The brooch turned from a metallic silver to a crystalline violet once it was in Gabriel's hand, whose fist closed tightly around it.
"...I can't let this go on right now," Gabriel muttered, voice hoarse. "Not like this."
"What about Emilie?" Nathalie snapped.
"We will discuss this another time, Nathalie," Gabriel growled. "But right now my son has almost died because of this horrible magic– the same magic that took my Emilie– do you really think I am going to sit by and let it continue to threaten my family?" He turned his back on the woman. "Now, get out of my sight."
"Gabriel–"
"Nathalie," he rasped. "Words cannot describe how furious I am with you at the moment. Get out of my sight before I do something I will regret."
For a moment, there was silence in the office, before the clicking of heels filled the air. Gabriel and Nooroo remained still as they listened to her exit, her footsteps fading as the door swung shut. Gabriel made his way to his desk in almost a stagger, collapsing down into it. He opened his hand, looking down at the disguised Miraculous, his palm red from where it had dug into his skin.
"This is your fault as well, Gabriel," Nooroo said quietly, and Gabriel tensed up.
"What did you just say to me?" He snapped.
The kwami flew out from his collar, hovering right in front of the man. The kwami did not look as frightened as he had before, as it was now just the two of them. His purple eyes stared into Gabriel's gray, still lined with tears, but fixed with a hard stare he had not seen on the kwami before.
"I said what happened today is just as much your fault as it is Nathalie's," Nooroo said, and Gabriel felt his fury rising.
"I would never let Adrien be–!"
"Nathalie did not want him to get hurt," Nooroo snapped, wings flicking. "I sensed her panic the moment he fell, the fear that gripped her. That woman... that woman loves this family, and you know it." He closed his eyes. "But both of you are responsible for everything that has led up to this, for the plans you have made. Just because you have not worn my Miraculous yourself does not make you innocent, Gabriel."
"Don't you dare lay this on me!" Gabriel snarled. "Not when it was your powers that–"
Nooroo's eyes snapped open– and the gleam within them couldn't help but make Gabriel jump. For a moment he was not seeing the sweet little Butterfly that had doted on his wife, but the furious gaze of something much older than he could imagine– and much more powerful. Gabriel quickly composed himself, but the kwami saw his falter.
"You were warned about what my Miraculous would do," Nooroo hissed. "My last holder told you– but still you took my gem. Duusu pleaded with you and Emilie when she came into your hands– but still you both would transform. The Guardians came to you, telling you the fate of my former holders– but still you treated them as enemies. When my mind was restored, I begged for you not to continue, but still you placed my Miraculous within Nathalie's hands, binding me for the powers I did not want anyone to use."
"I–"
"Look me in the eyes, Gabriel, and tell me this was my fault," Nooroo growled. "Tell me how you are not responsible, when you would not listen to the countless warnings given to you."
"You–!"
"You may have healed my mind, Gabriel, fixed the cracks within my Miraculous– but time after time I have told you it was not safe to use." Nooroo's paws curled. "It was not truly fixed, I can sense the magic seeping from my Miraculous right now, and I know it is not leaving any holder untouched."
Gabriel swallowed, looking down at the gem in his hand.
"Tell me, in what world would Nathalie put Adrien at risk?" Nooroo whispered. "In what world would she sneak behind your back and plot against this family? Tell me that this Miraculous has not changed her."
"...It is fixed," Gabriel growled.
"No, it isn't," Nooroo said. "And you're a coward if you refuse to accept otherwise."
"I am not–!"
"You are a selfish man, Gabriel Agreste," Nooroo continued, eyes refusing to leave his. "And Duusu would be absolutely disgusted with you if she knew what you have allowed to be done."
"Sh–shut up!" Gabriel cried, sitting straight up, and the kwami instantly fell silent. The two stared at each other for a moment, and the man closed his eyes. "Nooroo– I renounce you!"
The kwami turned into a burst of lavender light, being pulled into the gem, cloth wings bursting out from the brooch as the kwami was merged with it. Gabriel stared down at it with shaking hands, before pushing himself to his feet. He stumbled towards the painting of Emilie, unable to look at her face, before pulling it open to reveal the safe behind it. Fingers shook as he tapped in the code, the metal door swinging open, and he seized a ceramic dish of jewelry that rested on the higher shelf.
He pushed necklaces and earrings aside, before dropping the Butterfly Miraculous onto the bottom, right next to a deep blue brooch with five branching segments. The two inactive Miraculouses stared up at him, the Peacock and the Butterfly looking so harmless in this state, the magic they held untold.
Gabriel shoved the jewelry dish back into the safe, locking them away, before hiding it with the portrait of Emilie once more.
