Ch26
"What did you say?" Ladybug said through gritted teeth as Viperion held her back.
Su Han folded his arms and glared at her. "You're a little girl unworthy of the box."
Her blood boiled as she glared at the monk. Who did this guy think he was anyway? She had been doing her best as guardian and nothing seemed to be good enough for him.
"With all due respect sir Ladybug has done nothing to deserve your contempt," Viperion said calmly though his eyes betrayed anger. "She has done nothing but give her all in defending Paris."
"Her best? She still cannot reign in that damn Cat and the bee miraculous is still unaccounted for," Sun Han said. His gaze bore into her with nothing short of hatred. "You are an unworthy Ladybug and unfit to handle the box."
His words hit her in the gut but instead of sorrow, it made her angrier. "Well you've never so much as lifted a finger to help," she countered. "We've been defending the city against akumas even working with Cat Noir and Hive. Where were you? All you do is criticize me and talk down to me."
Su Han laughed. "If you were a worthy master then I wouldn't need to criticize you." His gaze turned cold. "I'll give you two days to get those miraculous back, if not I'll get them back myself and take the box back to our monastery." With that Su Han turned around and leaped into the city leaving her and Viperion alone.
"What are we going to do?" She asked softly, her body shaking against Viperion.
The snake hero gently hugged. "Don't worry we'll work things out."
Her body shook against his. "He's been nothing but spiteful." Pulling herself away she looked Viperion in the eyes. "I know Cat Noir isn't a bad guy, troublesome yes but not bad."
"I agree," Viperion said firmly.
"Neither is Hive," she muttered. She still didn't like his smug attitude but she couldn't let her emotions or personal feelings get the better of her.
"I also agree," Viperion said as he pulled away and looked up at the moon. "They are both good allies, even though we may our differences they aren't our enemies."
"How are we going to stop him? He's stronger than all of us," she said a shiver going down her spine.
"We'll think of something," Viperion said calmly. "Lets just retire for the night."
She nodded. "See you around."
Viperion smiled at her and waved before they both went their separate ways. When she arrived at her house she fell onto her bed. "Spots off," she sighed.
Tikki floated above her. "Marinette don't' worry me and the other kwami love you and think you're a great guardian."
A weak smile spread across her face. "Thanks Tikki that means a lot."
"You are the guardian, Master Fu chose you whether Su Han likes it or not," Tikki said firmly. "We'll fight by your side if you need us. Even Cat Noir and Hive will stand by you I know it!"
She sighed. "Well we have more than our fair share of enemies at the moment. Hawkmoth, Mayura, and now Su Han. Frankly I don't know how to take them all out."
"Just get some rest. If we should try and warn Cat Noir and Hive," Tikki said. "Su Han will definitely hurt them if they aren't careful."
"I won't let him hurt either of them," She said firmly. "Right now we have to work together even if we don't like it." With that, she went and showered before retiring for the night.
It wasn't easy sleeping. She was plagued by Su Han in her dreams, he chased her and berated her for being weak and unworthy. The dream then shifted to Master Fu lying in a pile of his own blood. Needless to say she didn't sleep that well.
The morning she went to school alone, her eyes watching her surroundings as if waiting for Su Han to just pop up and attack her. I really wish we could just get rid of him somehow.
Shaking her head she arrived at school and sat at her seat in the back of the class. Looking down her heart fluttered as she saw Adrien enter, something was different though. Adrien's eyes had bags beneath them as if he hadn't been sleeping well and his gaze had a sadness to them that she couldn't place.
Her heart ached as she watched him sit down, she knew she was playing with fire by having these feelings but she still had trouble pushing Adrien out of her mind.
Come on he has someone else. Pursuing him will just lead to more trouble. She shook her head and winced forcing those feelings back. As much as her heart ached and yearned for him she had to give him space. Maybe in the future we can be something, once he forgives me and gives me another chance.
As usual, Adrien didn't look back or acknowledge her existence in class. She had gotten used to it along with him avoiding her in the halls. Maybe its for the best.
"Marinette you ok?" Alya asked as they ate lunch together.
She nodded and looked down as she watched Adrien and Nino laugh and talk at their own table. "Y-Yeah. I'm just tired."
Alya looked at Nino and Adrien and back at her. "You know he forgave you but you should try to let it go and give him space."
"I am," she muttered as she looked at the table. "It's just I loved him so much, I thought he would reciprocate it."
Alya placed a firm hand on her shoulder. "Well you can't force anyone's feelings. Just give him time and then maybe he'll want to be friends again."
But I want us to be more than friends now. It was selfish but she wanted Adrien to herself even if he couldn't realize or recognize her feelings. Oh course she was trying to make things work with Luka but old feelings didn't exactly go away easily.
When school ended she headed home and forced herself not to look at Adrien as he entered his limo. Maybe it is for the best.
As she watched the limo speed off she heard screams in the distance as a large amok flew in the air with an akumatized villain. "Looks like we have our own work to do," she said as she quickly ran to the side of a building. "Tikki Spots On!"
Hive charged at Mayura. How dare you.
His blood boiled as he blocked her attack and countered. How dare you face Adrien everyday and do this at night.
Mayura blocked his fist but he kicked her to the side. The thing was he managed to get a hold of a view videos of Nathalie's fighting style and analyzed them diligently.
He blocked her attacks and countered with his own but Mayura was slowly getting used to his movements. "You'll pay for what you do," he seethed.
Mayura raised an eyebrow but said nothing as she came at him with her fan. He jumped back and was about to counter when the large sentimonster knocked him off his balance.
"Hive!" Cat Noir came to his aid and attacked the amok with his cane knocking it back.
His heart raced as he got up and glared at Mayura. "Lets take her down."
Cat Noir gave him a concerned look. "Don't let your emotions get the better of you. Lets just focus on our current situation."
The sentimonster charged at them. It was a large bird like creature with dark black wings and sharp talons. "Scree!" It screamed in the air and charged at them.
He lunged out of the and swore as he saw Mayura leap off the building. Damn her. He looked back at Cat Noir, as much as he wanted to go after her he had to help him here.
Lets end this. He leaped into the air and kicked the sentimonster off its balance as Cat Noir charged at it with his claws.
"Cataclysm!"
Cat Noir brought his attack down on the sentimonster and destroyed it leaving nothing but the remains of the amok to shrivel up on the ground.
Ladybug and Viperion came to them. "You guys ok?" Viperion asked
"I'm fine." He frowned at the city. "But she got away again."
Cat Noir placed a hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry we'll get them eventually."
He gave his cousin a weak smile and nodded, Cat Noir's eyes betrayed concern in them. If only you knew. To be honest he didn't know how his cousin would react if he told him the truth. I'll show you what is going on I promise.
Their miraculouses began to beep. "See you guys later," Cat Noir said before leaping off a building.
He nodded and quickly went another way his heart heavy as he found a safe place to end the transformation.
Putting away his miraculous he wandered the streets of Paris for a bit before returning to the Agreste mansion.
"Felix!" Adrien ran out of the mansion gate to greet him. "Are you ok?"
He looked at the window of his uncle's study and forced himself to not react. "Just tired."
Adrien gripped his shoulder tightly and leaned closer. "What is going on? You went out of your way to attack Mayura, does it have to do with my mother?"
He met his cousin's gaze. "I don't have the physical proof but I promise you'll know soon enough." We both just fought a sentimonster we can't just rush in now.
Adrien frowned. "What is going on?"
"Don't worry it'll all end soon," he said softly. "Just make sure you are mentally ready for what I reveal."
His cousin gave him a concerned look but he couldn't tell him now, there would be no way he'd believe him without proof.
Later that night the two of them went out to a fancy restaurant with Kagami. "Glad you two could make it," she said as they went to a private table.
They sat down across from her with Adrien sitting in between them. There was an awkward silence between them as they exchanged awkward glances between them. "So uh what's new with you Kagami?" Adrien asked.
Kagami smiled. "Oh just keeping with everything. My mother is as strict as ever. " She looked at him, and their gazes met. "Oh Adrien how has your father been?"
He remained calm as Adrien raised an eyebrow. "Uh good. He's always busy, I haven't seen him for a few days."
"It's a shame your father isn't around more," Kagami said softly. "Don't you wish he were more involved? I just ask because I sometimes wish my mother were less severe with me."
Adrien paused and nodded his gaze betraying a bit of sorrow. "Yeah I do. To be honest it's like I hardly know him. It isn't easy at times but I know he loves me in his one way."
Oh if only you knew. He gripped his knife tightly, it took all his will power to hold his tongue and not retort.
Kagami rested in her chair. "I'm sure he does love you deep down, but don't you wish he were kinder to you?"
Adrien paused his gaze betraying unease. "I do," he said softly. "I really do wish I could be a normal kid, but my father." His cousin paused and looked to the side. "He is very controlling."
He sat his fork down and looked at his cousin. "As was my father and Kagami's mother. Adrien, we have a right to be happy and live our own lives." Adrien's deep green eyes betrayed a flicker of hope as the three of them looked at each other. "I hope one day we can all live our authentic lives and be happy."
Adrien slowly nodded. "Me too but it's easier said than done."
"True. But it is something worth fighting for," he said.
Kagami nodded. "We've known each other for ages. The three of us have long lived in the shadows of our parents and their schemes. We deserve our own lives. Don't you want that Adrien?"
His cousin paused and looked at the table. "I do," he said softly.
"Then I promise we'll be free from our cages," he said. "Probably sooner than later. We'll take everyone down who is trying to hurt you."
