Symbiotic Whiskers

Chapter 15

One by one, pieces and chunks of a platter of several experimental snacks were flicked off the plate. A hungry mouth snatching out to air, a long slithering tongue dripping with toxic green ooze licking up any crumbs remaining around its mouth.

Zoe sat reclined on her couch, taking aim once again with tray in one hand and her fingers primed with the other. Plague, sitting patiently nearby with his eyes wide and focused on her, tail swishing as it connected over to Cat Noir who was flicking his thumb through a strange book.

With a short snap from her forefinger, a cube of sharp cheddar launched out with Plague pounding to it immediately.

Smiling over how similar Plague still was to Plagg, Zoe found amusement playing with him like he was just your everyday housecat. A housecat with the force of raw destruction bonded with….something.

"So half of you is Plagg yeah?" She asked in interest, shooting off another snack to provoke Plague to answer.

"That is correct, ish. We are three bonded as one."

"Well kitty over there's got a mind of his own." Her head motioned over to Pinching another chunk and swaying it back and forth, watching Plague attentively following it with his gaze, Zoe asked another question. "He's one, Plagg is one, who's the third that's connecting everyone?"

Cat Noir paused his reading, glancing back and forth towards the slimy cat and Zoe to see how his companion would respond. He was a secretive little thing, refusing to let him reveal the true nature of the symbiote to Ladybug or Marinette, only bits and pieces and even then it wasn't much.

"An alien symbiote, created to be one of many to fight against gods. We find a host, bond with them, and develop strength to take over entire worlds."

"Woah what?!" Cat Noir slammed the book closed, throwing it to the side as Zoe dropped the food onto the floor. Plague descended upon the mess immediately, humming in pleasure as he didn't mind eating off the ground. "I didn't know any of that! You can't just drop a bomb like that on us so casually!"

Zoe remained in some shock, but after watching Plague savoring each bite she began to doubt. "You little glutton. You said that so you could gorge yourself fat didn't you?"

With a cheeky grin, Plague smiled towards her as he kept licking up every last morsel.

"So that was all a lie then." Zoe picked up the plate, walking it over to the personal kitchen inside her suite. Not that it was used often but it still had basic supplies like a fridge and a sink.

"Alien part is real at least." Cat Noir eyed his companion, wondering how much truth he was aware of. "Guess I never thought about how many there could be or what other aliens there were out there."

"Aliens." Pausing her clean up, Zoe still couldn't believe what she was hearing. "Seriously?"

"I mean it's not like they can't be a thing." Grabbing the unreadable text, pulling out his phone as he scrolled through several ancient languages to see if he could find a match. "Though I thought the symbiote was more of an anomaly."

"Still not buying it." Moving back over to sit next to Cat Noir, Plague having finished his meal and hopping on her lap, Zoe gave strokes along the creature's back. "I'd believe some kind of magic residue gaining semi sentience."

Amused by her logic, Cat Noir looked up from his work towards her. "Magic is ok but aliens are where you draw the line?"

"I've used magic." Zoe gave a couple pats on Plague's head to point out the fact that she was once a wielder. "Never had an alien abduct me in their ship."

"Oh yeah!" Sitting up straighter, Cat Noir poked at Plague's face. "How did you even get to Earth?"

"We fell in a meteor, burned until only a fraction of our mass was preserved in a pretty rock. At some point someone found us, passed us from hand to hand to admire, until someone woke us up and freed us." Giving a knowing gaze to Cat Noir, projecting the memory back into his mind, Adrien recalled a little gem that his father freaked out about when it broke.

"That was you?" Cat Noir realized.

Plague gave a sharp toothed smile, content to relax in Zoe's lap. The hero gave up on trying to translate the weird book, depositing back into the weird pocket space that his suit had. He hoped to find something that could help find a weakness for Hawkmoth or whoever was possessing the peacock miraculous, but he'd have to settle with the knowledge that Plague held. "Thanks for letting me crash every other night here."

"You should be here every night." The girl argued. "You shouldn't be out there on the streets."

"We find cozy spots." He argued, reflecting back to some really nice bridges he slept under. "And, there is someone who occasionally houses us."

"Ladybug?"

"Nah." Cat Noir waved that idea off. "Only if I knew who she was, but since I don't and since keeping our identities secret is number one priority, that's out of the question."

There was something in his tone that seemed off, a hint of salt and guilt that Zoe perked up at. She picked up Plague, moving him back over to Cat Noir's lap to address the two more directly. "Is something going on between you two?"

He couldn't escape it, even Plague didn't want to be part of it as he sunk back into Cat Noir's body. "Oh boy….well let's just say that I might have a good idea who Hawkmoth really is."

Bombshell after another today, Zoe turning her body to point towards Cat Noir. "What?"

Breathing in the air between his teeth, he felt himself immediately regret the choice. "Should have kept that to myself."

"NO hold on." Leaning forward and bracing herself, she punctuated her words with her hand. "You know who Hawkmoth is?"

"Really should learn when to shut up."

Snapping her fingers to try and get his focus, Zoe became more stern than he had ever seen her. "Have you told Ladybug?"

"That I know, yes." He lingered on that answer, Zoe seeing past his attempt to brush it off. "But not who it is."

"Why not?"

"I've got it handled!" Holding his arms up in defense, Cat Noir stood up and backed away with Zoe in hot pursuit. "Look, it turns out I have a personal connection to who Hawkmoth is and if Ladybug is dead set on us not learning each other's identities then-"

"Do not toy with me!" The girl shouted in strict demand. "I get enough from Plagg-"

"Plague."

Zoe's face scrunched in a deep frown, her shaking finger flying up to his face as she fought the urge to scream at him. "I know petty, my father can be petty at times and don't get me started on my mother. You're telling me that you won't tell Ladybug, you're partner, you're only superpowered backup who can clean up any mess who the supervillain terrorizing Paris is because she won't tell you who she is?"

"It's not about that." His shoulders straightened a little more, Cat Noir quick to defend himself as he still believed he was in the right. When there's no crime he didn't have anything else to do than think about what he was doing. So of course if anyone knew what he did and spent as much time planning and calculating the next step then they would come to the same conclusion as him. "To reveal who Hawkmoth is would reveal who I am, and she isn't willing to accept that?"

"If it's to put an end to Hawkmoth's terror then I think she'd accept that." Zoe huffed as she folded her arms in displeasure. "Ladybug will just have to cope with it."

"It's my secret." Cat Noir stood over her, the difference in their height becoming more apparent. "My knowledge, my mistakes, my family…it's my responsibility to end it."

Family, it was his family.

Only one man came to Zoe's mind, one that was cold, dismissive, ever present in Cat Noir's life. Adrien's life, his father. The realization made Zoe lower her arms and her jaw in mute shock, Cat Noir taking that as his cue to leave.

As he clicked open the door to the exterior balcony, Zoe weakly raised her hand to protest. He didn't know that she knew, and she wasn't even sure she had any place to say otherwise.

"I'll give Ladybug another chance." He gave a glimmer of understanding to her words, Cat Noir stepping up onto the bars to teeter along the edge of a great drop. "But I don't plan on stretching this out any longer."

Family could be rough, downright evil sometimes, but her mother wasn't a villain and her sister was used by Hawmoth. Adrien's father was a full blown villain, and he claimed to be the only one who could take him down.

A powerless girl who could never stand up to her own mother, had no place to judge his actions.

Watching him leave without another word, off to tackle the whole world on alone if necessary, Zoe wished she could help. All she might be able to do, was tell the mayor, who would send the police right at Hawkmoth's doorstep. They proved themselves useless to his methods though, multiple times, and they would take any advantage to capture or kill Cat Noir.

So what else could she do?

A soft tapping on her still open balcony door alerted her to someone's return. It wasn't Cat Noir though, instead Ladybug seemed tense as she gave a glimmer of a wave. "Hi there Black Cat, Zoe."

"...Hi. Come on in."

The heroine took a few cautious steps inside, not sparing a glance towards anything else. "I wish I could have visited under better circumstances, but it's about Cat Noir."

Maybe fate would give her a chance to do something after all.

Things weren't perfect, they never were, and he knew that. Taking on the choice to be a hero was obvious, even when it wasn't easy. Despite all his strength and the choices he has been able to live with, lately it began to weigh heavily on him far more than before. It wasn't just dealing with one thing at a time, it was everything stacking on at once.

At least he wasn't alone in carrying it.

Walking away from the food stand, Adrien blended in with the masses as he bit into the hot dog. There weren't too many places to find them in Paris, but when American tourists flowed through the more popular areas then there was money to be made.

"Maybe I could move to New York after this is over." Adrien wondered as he took a massive bite out of it, chewing for a short moment. "Supposedly working a hot dog stand out there is good money."

'And we could eat all the hotdogs we want! Extra ketchup, extra pickles-'

"Pickles?"

'-extra chili and cheese, and plenty of chocolate!'

There it was.

"Maybe not." Adrien decided as he finished up the last of his meal in a quick bite. "You'd eat our whole stock before we could sell it."

'Let's get another hotdog. And all the chocolate ice cream that fat man is selling over there.'

Dusting his hands of the bread crumbs, Adrien checked his wallet to see how much money they had left. It wasn't much, and they had no income besides taking whatever criminal they came across. He didn't feel entirely good about stealing from those that steal from others but hey, he had an alien kwami to feed that made his appetite outrageously high.

One he could feel was drooling at the chance to bite into the ice cream man's flesh.

"Were you serious Plague?"

'You think we're ever serious?'

"Ok yeah not really." Walking over to sit on a lone bench overlooking the traffic of people. "Look, I know you're alien but what about that stuff you mentioned about taking over worlds and all that. Are you part of some invasion force?"

Plague didn't respond right away, a moment of silence as Adrien could only guess that the alien was contemplating. 'What do you think?'

"I mean, you have the power of destruction right now." Adrien began to reason out loud. "If you wanted to take over the planet or destroy it, pretty sure you would have done it by now instead of letting me take us into hiding letting everything walk all over us."

'That pisses us off by the way.'

"I know." The teen stood up, feeling just a little lighter. "But for some reason you let me call the shots, even when you couldn't really talk. I've been kind of selfish, holding you back even though you could take over at any time. I think that proves you can be trusted."

Finding his way over towards an unsupervised road, stepping behind a newsbooth, Adrien made sure there weren't any prying eyes as he let his clothes shift into his costume. Leaping up, kicking off one of the shops to push himself above the rooftops of the other street, he stood over the crowd he was watching to see the differences in perspectives from being one of them to being Cat Noir.

'You're too trusting.'

"That's just another one of my charms." Cat Noir squatted down, the magical staff that came with using the miraculous emerging from his palm. "Seriously though, I'm going to need you with me on this. I know I'm not eager to face my father, and I'm not sure when I see him that I'll be able to, but you don't have all that baggage I do. I know you'll help me take him down."

With a quick extension of the staff, propelling himself up over a hundred feet instantly, he soared above Paris as he set his eyes on his next destination.

'Are you saying that we can play with him?'

The underside of his arms stretched out as he pulled the staff back into his body. With his costume spreading itself out into a makeshift squirrel suit, Cat Noir glided over it all, briefly wondering if he started flapping if he could stay up in the air.

"He's not a toy." Adrien corrected with the wind rushing past his ears. "He's my dad, but he's also Hawkmoth. He needs to be stopped, and if I can't do that-"

'Don't worry.' Plague assured with a calm and reverent tone with just a hint of glee. 'We'll make sure nothing gets in our way.'

Once he was over his target Cat Noir let his improvised wings slip back into his suit, dropping several stories until landing without a noise of the familiar rooftop balcony. Letting a tendril peek out over the side, investigating the street below, a gap became obvious as he flipped over the side to stick along a window. Peeking inside, he didn't see any sign of Marinette in her room.

Plague sensed his disappointment, even if Adrien didn't say anything as he ducked back onto the rooftop, laying down on it to stare up at the sky on a cheap beach recliner.

'Shame, no snacks.'

"We just ate."

'You still wanted to see her.'

"Not for food."

'No, we suppose not.'

He was hoping to visit her, just one more time before it all went down. Let her know he talked to Ladybug like she wanted, how he would talk to her again after a short disagreement just to try and make sure he did his best. It might have been just to get some praise, but mostly to demonstrate how far he would go for her.

Marinette gave him strength, and he'd need it.

'We could wait for her.' Plague offered in a rare show of empathy. 'If you want.'

"Yeah, thanks buddy. Don't know what I'd do without you." That thick air that had been building up felt lighter and lighter. While anxiety over the inevitable still stirred within, right now it all seemed easier.

Having the cops after him, sure but a good portion of citizens still had his back. Marinette being the biggest one, someone he wasn't sure he could keep going without. He thought that used to be Ladybug, yes he valued her and holy crap there were plenty of times she made the impossible possible. Unfortunately, while he would appreciate her support, if she really valued keeping their distance and their identities from one another he would have to do this alone.

Even his friends had to keep out of this, VERY far from this and back at school.

Alone, but not entirely, and the reassurance made it all the more bearable.

"Who knew that all the therapy I needed was to run away from home with a magical alien in my head."

'We're also in your kidneys, your liver, spleen, and every other delectable-'

"What do you mean in me?" Cat Noir sat up, Plague's face emerging from his shoulder to talk face to face with him. "I thought you were my suit?"

"Our bond has grown deeper than that." Plague grinned widely as Adrien shivered to think about how deep that might be. Well it's not like he was planning on separating anytime soon, but what about at all?

If there was ever a good reason he'd think about it then.

For now, just them chilling with the fate of Paris lingering on the horizon. They'd have to face it once the sun set, not literally but at some point they'd have to act before Hawkmoth made another dangerous move. It was omninois, leaving them with a false sense of peace they would relish while they had.

The withered old hands of a man who had experienced so much in one life closed the miraculous box which was almost half empty now. Letting out a deep sigh, Master Fu in the comfort of his home felt anything but comfortable. Across from him was Marinette, equally agitated if not more given her position in all of this. So much responsibility for one so young and yet she stepped up to every insurmountable challenge.

"I can't imagine how hard this is for you." The man reiterated, who was equally guilty putting her into this and equally proud of her determination. "Tikki told me you have grown very close with Cat Noir."

Ashamed, hanging her head and letting her hair fall over her face, Marinette's heart cracked over the topic. "Should I not have?"

"I wish I did." Was perhaps not the best thing to say, but it was something he personally learned. True, Master Fu had someone he loved but he kept his distance to keep her the miraculouses safe. His regret, his isolation, it was his to carry and he wouldn't burden it onto anyone else.

He pretended like he wasn't asking Marinette of a similar lifestyle, granting her a small mercy to let her date Cat Noir. That might have made it worse.

Peeking out to see the day closing, he would send her off and not occupy anymore of her time. "We should act sooner rather than later. But tonight, please get some rest. You will need all of your strength."

Marinette's hand quivered as she held it down to push herself up, the girl's body already bracing itself for a fight as her emotions swelled inside. "I don't know if I'll get any sleep."

"I believe I have something that can help. Wayzz?"

The kwami nodded, knowing exactly the packet of tea the man was thinking of and flew off to fetch it.

Marinette kept to herself, her arms wrapped around to give the slightest bit of comfort. After a long day of talking with Master Fu, discussing the weights of what could be done, what shouldn't be, and what needed to be accomplished she was then sent out to find and give an appropriate miraculous to those they believed could help. There weren't too many people Marinette trusted, so she had to rely on her friends, bringing them into a fight they never needed to be in.

They did though, only because she couldn't do it alone. Tikki was here yes, but when she was transformed Tikki wasn't there. That's where Cat Noir always came in, saving her life and fighting the villains head on without any fear. That's what she was up against now, and something more.

"I don't know if I can do this."

"Do or do not." Master Fu stopped himself before he finished that, realizing that might not be entirely appropriate at the time. Once his kwami grabbed the packet he tenderly reached out, grabbing Marinette's hand to place the helpful concoction into her palm. "At times where you feel trapped in a cage, sometimes we require someone outside to free us."

With baggy eyes confused and in a near daze of dread, Marinette looked up from his gift. "What does that even mean?"

"I will go with you."

"Master!" Wayzz zipped over with Tikki. "You are not fit to fight!"

Holding up his hand to silence them without a word, the old master, the last guardian, faced his allies. "My body may not be what it used to be, but it can do enough to assist. Besides, we are going to give them a chance aren't we?"

Feeling a need to remind him of exactly what they were facing, Tikki hovered forward. "But that isn't Plagg, it's that creature."

"Of sentience that has aided Ladybug and Cat Noir before." Master Fu reiterated, understanding the kwami's concern for her friend. "Perhaps sentient enough to be reasoned with."

They could only hope.

"Thank you Master Fu." Marinette let her head bow to him, pocketing the packet before waving for Tikki to follow. "I'll, do my best."

He gave a nod of acceptance, knowing very well she would keep her promise as Marinette went over to the door. Master Fu saw her out, wishing her well and wishing even harder that things would go smoothly. It might be tomorrow, it might be the day after that.

One day soon though, and it might even be one of his last. Hopefully he would have a little more time to prepare Marinette for all she would be entrusted to do.

As for the girl, she was left wandering home, aimlessly drifting through the streets slowly brightening with each bulb. Ladybug had become a larger burden than she expected, even if it helped expand her own life to receive so much more. She was grateful, but she didn't know if she was willing to pay the price.

What if after all of this was done, they found another Ladybug?

But when they did stop Hawkmoth, Cat Noir might not visit her anymore as a hero. Cat Noir had no reason to fight for a city that couldn't make up its mind whether or not they appreciated someone who would risk everything for.

Everything comes to an end, they had a responsibility to make sure it was as happy as one could get. She had gotten upset before that Cat Noir seemed to be delaying his duties, but as the night dragged on side by side with her stride she could only wish she had the resolve to simply preserve what they already have.

So as she arrived home, brushing past her parents questions and concerns, all she wanted to do was go to bed and dream of a world that she had not too long ago. When Ladybug and Cat Noir fought side by side and saved Paris day by day.

It was a simple routine, just like getting ready for bed. Nothing interrupted the routine.

Except for a knocking at her window, belonging to the same clawed hand that kept changing her life. So opening the glass obstacle, allowing him in, she cherished what they had at the moment.

"Everything ok?" Cat Noir asked, checking over her for any possible injury.

Marinette wordlessly pulled him into her arms, latching onto this short moment she wanted to preserve forever. "Just….stay here tonight. Ok?"

Complying with her wishes, Cat Noir fell victim to her clutches. "Yeah, ok. Whatever you want."

Just one more night, and it would be over.

I've been sitting on this for a while now, slowly adding on when I could. Sorry for such a delay after pushing out chapters one after another. Thing is, shit happened. A lot of bad, a lot of good, and while I did have some free time I wanted to do other things too.

I'm always grateful to read the reviews, and the reason why I kept going on with this story despite it having less favorites and follows compared to others I've done is that it had the best comments.

I also decided to split the chapter I was originally planning on in half, just so you guys have something to read as I work myself back up to finish the story. I'll still leave a plot thread hanging that way if I feel up to it I can come back and write more.

Here's hoping the next chapter comes out sooner rather than later!

Oh yeah, and Happy New Year!

Fire turtle: Marvel already has a character named Shriek, as the movie Venom 2 had a variation of her. As for Lyra, I've yet to make up my mind regarding the details because so far it seems like the show set her up to be the next big threat and I'm curious what kind of villain she would be if she were running things.

Juxshoa: Hope that excitement is still there because the next chapter is going to be full of all sorts of action!

jaimehuizar2005: Thanks!

edeath756: Not quite, just had to take a step back and take care of life.

Alex: Ooooo there are so many things I want to say to your thoughts I know I can't without spoiling anything.

Guest: I don't PM people unless they PM me. As for why I haven't updated in a while, well, life happened and I had to make sure it didn't collapse.