Ch18

Marinette huffed as she exited school. "It's not fair everyone is treating me like a criminal." Since Adrien came instead of allowing her to explain herself he'd completely ignored her while her so called friends and classmates refused to help her pass a simple message.

She watched with a pang in her heart as Adrien got into his limo and leave. Luka came up to her and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Hey it's alright. Want me to walk you home?"

"Sure," she said as she grabbed his arm.

She'd be lying if she told herself that holding onto Luka made herself feel better or that she wondered if Adrien looked back from his car window to see them.

"You know I've talked to Adrien a few times," Luka said.

Her eyes lit up. "Really? What did he say?"

Luka shrugged. "Well we just chatted. I invited him over to my place if he ever wanted to hang out.

"Oh." She looked down at the ground. "It's not fair, everyone is treating me like I did something wrong. We were meant to be together, I know it."

Luka raised an eyebrow, his usual calm gaze betrayed hurt. "Well Adrien seems like a cool guy I'm sure he won't hold a grudge over you if you respect him and his personal space."

They stopped at her bakery. "Thanks," she muttered.

Luka nodded. "Let me know if you need anything ok?"

She smiled. "Of course."

As soon as she entered her room she fell onto her bed. Her kwami flew above her. "Marinette this can't keep going forever you know it," Tikki said. "Please for the sake of Paris whoever Cat Noir is end this feud. More people will get hurt if you keep it up."

A pang hit her heart as she pondered Tikki's words. Deep down she still cared somewhat for her wayward partner and didn't want to see him get killed. Swallowing a lump in her throat she sat up. "I'll try."

Her kwami looked at her. "Also if you want to be with Luka you should be 100% loyal to him, it isn't fair."

She slowly nodded just as her phone rang, she noticed it was from Nino and picked it up. "Hello?"

"Marinette she's awake!" Nino said through tearful sobs. "She's awake!"

Her eyes widened. "I'll be right there!"

Hanging up her phone she looked at Tikki. "Lets go. Tikki spots on!" As soon as she transformed into Ladybug she leaped from her room and headed towards the hospital as quick as she could. She undid the transformation a few buildings away and quickly ran into the hospital.

The nurses quicky gave her permission to go see Alya and she quickly ran to her friend's room ignoring the smell of the hospital and the nurses around her. She nearly knocked down the door to Alya's room and that was when she saw her.

"Alya!" she nearly screamed when she saw her friend and immediately hugged her.

"M-Marinette," Alya said hugging her back. "Thanks could you loosen your grip?"

"Sorry," she said sheepishly before sitting down. "I'm just so excited you're awake." Various emotions filled her body, the sorrow and guilt she had been feeling slowly washed away as she saw Alya smile at her.

"Thanks. The doctors said I should be ready to leave soon," Alya said.

"I see that's good," she said. "Do you know what happened?"

Her friend avoided her gaze. "Uh I'm not sure I think I tripped."

"Oh ok," she said nervously. I guess I should come back as Ladybug. She had other questions to ask but right now she wanted to make sure her friend was completely better.

"How are things at school?" Alya asked.

"Oh alright the usual," she said with a nervous laugh. A pit formed in her stomach just thinking about how she was treated by Adrien and his family.

"Nino mentioned you and Adrien had some issues," Alya said carefully.

She froze, her eyes becoming watery. "Yeah," she muttered. "I-I tried seeing him and his family took it the wrong way. They threatened me with a restraining order if I invade his personal space again."

She swore Alya looked like she were suppressing a laugh. "Well he came by earlier and seemed ok."

"Really? What did he say?" She asked. "Anything about me?"

Alya shook her head. "He didn't mention you but stopped by to see me, I woke up not too long after he got here apparently."

"I see," she sighed not knowing if she should feel relieved or hur. "Well I'm glad he wants to talk to you."

Her friend frowned. "Nino told me the whole story. If Adrien was really having some mental issues he might not have appreciated you getting too close into his personal space."

"I know," she avoided her gaze. "But we belong together I know it." Her heart ached for his friendship, his smile that would always lighten her mood. "If only him and his family would realize it."

"Well I'm sure if you give him some time and space he'll eventually forgive you," Alya said calmly. "Just take it easy. Breaking into his house? You're lucky his father didn't put you in jail."

"It's not easy being in love." She swallowed a lump and looked up at Alya with a teary gaze. "He has a girlfriend."

Grabbing a tissue she cleaned a tear that fell down her face. "I saw them when he kicked me out of his house."

"I'm sorry," Alya said grabbing her hand softly. "If you need to talk I'm here for you."

"Thanks," she muttered. "It hasn't been easy but I've been dealing with a lot of things."

With that she managed to catch with Alya for a bit before deciding to let her go. I'm glad you are better Alya. I promise I won't put you in harms way again. It was her fault for bringing her into the world of superheroes and now that she was better she would make sure it wouldn't happen again.

Just want more visit though. I need to know what happened. As soon as she arrived at her house she took a deep breath. "Tikki spots on!"

In an instant she transformed into Ladybug and in another she was leaping through the city of Paris. I should've been more careful, I promise this won't happen again. She didn't want to let go of Alya but she didn't want to risk her getting hurt.

Upon arriving at the hospital she let herself in through the window. Alya was resting in bed looking at her phone and was surprised to see her. "Ladybug! What are you doing here?"

"I heard you were better," she said. "Are you ok?"

Alya avoided her gaze. "Sorry. I lost the cat miraculous."

She clenched her fists. "What happened?"

"I think it was Cat Noir's civilian persona but I'm not sure," Alya said. "He came at me so fast I couldn't fight him well. I'm sorry."

"Don't worry," she said softly doing her best to contain her anger. "I'll talk to Cat Noir when I see him."

"It's alright," Alya said quickly . "I don't want anymore trouble, besides the kwami Plagg never wanted me." Her friend took a deep breath and looked her in the eyes. "While I would've preferred a more civil approach I want to move on."

"I'm sorry I got you hurt," she said softly. "You didn't deserve it."

"Don't worry about it. I guess it comes in the line of work," Alya said with a small smile. "Besides when I was knocked out I had nightmares."

"Nightmares?" She asked.

Alya's face darkened. "Yeah. I felt the old Cat Noir's pain and anguish along with Plagg's pain." Her friend shivered. "They felt so discarded."

She stared at Alya in shock clenching her fists. "I'll make sure they apologize."

"Don't!" Alya said quickly. "They were upset that they weren't treated fairly." Her friend shook her head. "I know you are Paris's hero but I think you should try to build a bridge. Plagg missed Cat Noir and Cat Noir was heart broken that you didn't trust him. Paris needs you both to work together."

She thought of Su Han and Hawkmoth and all those who would do the city harm "I know but it hasn't been easy lately. We aren't on the best of terms right now."

Alya looked her in the eyes. "Well you are both the heroes of Paris I think you both should talk over whatever happened between you both."

"I'll think about it," she said softly. "I'm glad you are better I really am. For now I think we should keep are partnership on the down low, I don't want you to get hurt or your family to worry."

"Don't worry I won't tell anyone about you or our partnership," Alya said firmly. "I want to help you in whatever way I can, if that means taking a break then I'll do it."

"I don't want to do it but I need you to just rest for a while and lay low," she said. "I've been having Viperion help me as Guardian."

"You're the guardian?" Alya asked in surprise.

She sighed and nodded before recounting the basics of what had happened since Alya. From the original Cat Noir returning to Master Fu's death at the hands of Hawkmoth. All of which culminated into her becoming the guardian, her confrontations with Su Han, along with Hive and Cat Noir.

"That's about it," she frowned. "So much to do on top of Hawkmoth and Mayura."

Alya gave her a sympathetic look. "Well I know you can do it. Just work with Cat Noir and all those who you support you and I'm sure you can manage."

She pondered Alya's words and slowly nodded. "Thanks. I better get going, I have to patrol."

Alya nodded. "Be safe Ladybug."

Work with them. She thought of Cat Noir and Hive as she leapt out of the hospital and headed towards where she usually patrolled. It's their fault she was like that in the first place. He so is so immature, then there Hive unlike Cat Noir he doesn't hide the fact that he is an asshole.

As she landed on the rooftop and found Su Han waiting for her his arms cross his brow furrowed as if she just got a B- on a test. "What now?" She asked politely.

"Cat Noir and Hive still don't recognize you as guardian," Su Han said his arms folded. "I fought them myself, they are lucky they are still alive."

"What? Why would you do that?" She asked. As much as she didn't like them she didn't want them to die.

"They are renegades that should be put down," Su Han said folding his arms. "Reign them in less I take them out myself."

"Wait just calm down," she said tersely. "I'm going to still work with them just calm down."

Su Han raised and eyebrow. "You better. I'm afraid if you don't then I will personally take their miraculouses from their corpses."

She swallowed as a shiver went down her spine. "There is no need for that. I have everything under control."

"We'll see about that," Su Han said before turning around and leaping off into the night.

I can't stand him. She shook her head and looked up at the sky. As much as I'm upset at you Cat Noir you don't deserve to perish at his hands.

When she arrived at her room she collapsed on her bed. "Spots off," she muttered. Taking a deep breath she looked at the picture of Adrien by her bedside, one of the few she managed to save from when her parents made her take down the others along with the copies of Adrien's schedule.

Her heart sank as she looked into the picture's eyes. "He hates me," she muttered.

"Just give it time," Tikki said calmly. "We have more important things to worry about at the moment."

She swallowed her sorrow as she looked at the picture. Adrien ignored her in class and their teacher did everything she could to make sure they were on opposite ends of the classroom at all times.

"It's just not fair," she said as she set the picture down on her nightstand. "I thought we had something, I really did."

Her kwami voided her gaze. "Marinette you can't make him like you just like you can't be forced to fall in love with Cat Noir."

She frowned. "That's not the same, me and Adrien are meant to be together I know it." Tears began to form in her eyes. "At least I thought we were, now he hates me."

Tikki patted her shoulder. "Don't worry I'm sure things will get better between both of you."

"I hope so," she sighed. Between this and that crazy monk I don't know which is worse. Deep down as much as she didn't want to admit it she was scared at what Su Han would do to Chat Noir. Kitty be safe, don't play around with this man.

Adrien sat in his room with his cousin as they looked over the book in his dad's vault. "My dad said it was from my mother, do you think it could be of any use?"

Felix frowned as he examined the pages. "I can't read it and according to our kwamis only the guardian knows how. Su Han, I haven't faced anyone like him before."

Pollen and Plagg looked it over. "I can read some of it," Plagg said. "What about you Pollen?"

The bee kwami nodded. "I can sir Plagg. It's a bit difficult but I can do it with practice."

He frowned. Their fight with Su Han had definitely put them both on edge, the fact that there was a man capable of going head to head with them while transformed was not something he wanted to face.

"Well have to keep an eye out for him," he said. "Are you sure you're ok?"

Felix nodded and rubbed his side. "Yeah. He surprised me but I won't let that happen again." His cousin frowned. "I'll protect you and our miraculouses, if he wants them he will have to go through me."

He smiled and placed a hand on his cousin's shoulder. "Thanks. But don't go it alone, we've done great things together and I'm sure we can do even more."

Felix nodded and gave him a coy smile. "If he gets in our way what do you say to taking him out?"

The hairs on his neck stood up. "Personally I'd prefer a peaceful solution," he said. "But I hope it doesn't get out of control.

"Desperate times may call for desperate measures," Felix said as he closed the book. "I'll try to study this when I can maybe then we can gather more intel. Anyway are you up for patrolling tonight?"

He smiled at his cousin. "Of course. You?"

Felix smiled slyly "Yeah I'm done for it."

Hopefully Su Han doesn't come again. After they put the book back into his father's safe they made sure they were alone in his room before they transformed.

"Plagg claws out!"

"Pollen buzz on!"

This is fun. I never thought I could do this with another person. Yeah there was Ladybug but with Felix it was more personal. Yeah his cousin was snarky and could be mean, really mean but deep down he knew he really cared for him.

As they patrolled their territory he looked a this cousin, Felix's face was its usual aloof yet there was a glimmer of excitement in his eyes. Like when they would open Christmas presents as children.

The miraculous made me a better person. I wonder if it could do the same for you. The screams of people in the distance caught his attention. "What was that?"

They paused and saw a giant statue begin to move. "An akuma," Felix said. "Come on we should go."

He nodded. "lets take care of it." They both raced towards the akuma, it appeared to be a large angry statue.

"I'll immobilize it while you use your cataclysm," Felix said as they approached it. "Looks like we have company."

His heart sunk as he saw Ladybug and Viperion fight. "Lets go help them," he said softly. Don't think of her. Don't we have better things to do at the moment. This was for the city nothing more and nothing less.

Felix went first, using his weapon he immobilized the akuma giving him an opportunity. "Cataclysm!" He lunged for its necklace and broke it.

The butterfly flew out and he saw a yoyo grab it. "Miraculous Ladybug!"

He and Felix landed next to Viperion as the akuma and the surrounding areas were purified. On the ground lay Theo who was nursing a concussion.

"Glad you both could come," Viperion said as Ladybug helped Theo up and gave him some encouraging words.

"Glad to be here," he said with a smile.

Felix nodded. "Yeah we came just in time."

He noticed Ladybug come towards them frowning. "Cat Noir," she said curtly.

"H-Hey Ladybug," he said awkwardly.

Viperion and Hive looked at them both as they awkwardly looked at each other. "Well we are glad to help you," Felix said. "Just don't send your mad monk to kill us."

Ladybug frowned. "He doesn't work for me." The irritation in her voice was mixed with something else, it was almost as if she were afraid of Su Han.

"Well he was tough," he said folding his arms. "Anyway, I hope we can work together for the better of the city."

"Likewise," Ladybug said. She avoided his gaze. "You and Hive were not bad. Thank you."

He grinned. "You and Viperion weren't bad either. The city will be safe from Hawkmoth with the four of us."

The two looked at each other awkwardly before Ladybug turned away. "Y-Yeah." She turned around as her miraculous began to beep. "See you all later."

"You too," he said as his ring began to beep. Paris needs us to work together. I hope we can.

As Adrien walked into the fencing hall he noticed a familiar person. "Kagami!"

The young Japanese girl turned to him and gave him a polite smile. "Hello Adrien. You look better."

He nodded as his classmates came into the room, some of them eyed them curiously. "Yeah I've been feeling better, how about you?"

"Now that you're back good," Kagami said her smile widening.

He shifted under gaze as his face reddened. "Y-Yeah. Come on lets get ready for class."

Truthfully he always considered Kagami a close friend and he was glad for her company. As soon as they changed into their fencing gear their class started and they were paired together.

"En guarde!" His teacher yelled.

Their swords met with a loud clang as they blocked and countered their attacks. "So how's school? Is that girl bothering you again?" Kagami asked as she thrusted her blade at him.

He blocked her attack and countered. "No. Not since my father threatened her and my class."

Kagami blocked his attacks. "Well so long as you are safe that is good. People who invade your privacy aren't good."

He raised his sword to block her attack. "True. But to be honest I don't have time for her drama, I have other more pressing matters at hand." With a strong thrust he broke through her defenses and landed a hit.

"Point Adrien!" His teacher declared.

His classmates clapped as Kagami removed her helmet. "Don't forget Felix isn't the only one who cares for you."