Ch13

Adrien looked over the various designs and schedules inspecting everything for the slightest possibility of error. So far so good. He would make this launch would put the company on the right foot forward in fashion for the season.

He eyes everything with eagle eyes as he scanned through each and every detail had to be perfect, if his father were here he could only hope that he would be proud.

Taking a deep breath he winced as the memory of his father's dead body flashed through his head. Damn it. If these akuma attacks keep coming it means I'll have to see her more.

Shaking his head he forced the images of Ladybug out of his head. He would have to figure that out some other time.

Why has Hawkmoth been hiding for so long? He had tried to find clues to his disappearance but all of them led to dead ends. What could he be planning now?

He sat back in his chair and racked his brain. I've handled other threats I'll show him how much I learned.

A knock at the door snapped him out of his thoughts. "Come in."

The door opened and Nathaniel came in. "Hey I wanted to know if you looked over the advertisements I drew?"

"I have," he said. He pulled up the screen with the logos and pictures on them. "You did a good job."

He motioned for Nathaniel to come closer and sit down. "Your work is impressive," he said as he showed him the designs. "Your balance between the colors was good and everything is well spaced."

"I'm glad you liked it," Nathaniel said. "I was a little worried about the coloring."

"The coloring is fine," he said resting back in his chair. "Good job. How do you enjoy working here?"

"I enjoy it so far," Nathaniel said. "I never imagined working here but so far it is enjoyable."

"Well I know you're an artist at heart," he said. "How's your comic doing?"

"Oh alright," Nathaniel said. "I've been doing some revision to some of the art but my roommate helps me. You remember Marc right?"

He nodded. "Yeah I do. You both live together?"

For a moment he noticed Nathaniel freeze up, the red head looked away furtively for a moment before looking back at him. "Yeah we do. We both go to school together."

"Good to hear," he said. "I remember you two were close back in the day."

"Y-Yeah," Nathaniel said looking at the ground. "That's why we decided to room together."

"I see," he said. "I was closer with Nino but I you guys were cool too."

Nathaniel gave him a small smile. "Thanks. I hope one day our stories can reach the world, despite the difficulties that present themselves I hope do one day achieve that dream."

"Interesting," he said. "Well if your artwork is as good as I see I think if you persevere hard enough you'll obtain your goal."

His gaze drifted to the picture of his father on his desk. "When my father passed this company was on a free fall, but I did all I could to make sure it would live and continue." Taking a deep breath he looked up at Nathaniel. "Just work hard and do your best to make the right connections."

"Thank you," Nathaniel said. The red head got up and was about to exit the room before he turned around. "Oh are you going to the class reunion?"

The question took him by surprise. "I um haven't thought much about it." It had been ages since he talked to most of his old class outside of Nino and even with him contact wasn't frequent.

Nathaniel shrugged. "Ah ok just curious."

The red head left the room leaving him at his computer. Reunion? Didn't Nino mention something about one? He quickly sent a text to his friend. Personally he wouldn't mind going, after all he did have good memories there.

The sound of screams outside made him sit up. His heart raced as he went to the window and opened it to reveal a large scarecrow with a bell around its neck terrorizing people.

"An akuma," he quickly went to lock the door. "Plagg claws out!"

As soon as he transformed he quickly leaped out of the window and headed towards the akuma. Alright what's your deal?

The giant scarecrow akuma threw a large pumpkin at him. Using his baton he leaped over it and flew through the air. Another pumpkin flew at him, using his baton he swung hit it back at the scarecrow.

The akuma roared as it tumbled back. Alright where could the akumatized object be?

He frowned as a familiar person landed next to him. "Cat Noir how have you been?" Ladybug asked.

He froze as he saw her, it was the original one not whoever Rena Rouge was. Something was different about her though, he couldn't put his finger on it but something about her gaze looked broken. "Alright," he said curtly. "Lets take this thing out."

Ladybug nodded as the scarecrow sent a barrage of pumpkins at them. He leaped in the air to dodge them while sending a few of them flying back at him.

Ladybug dodged them as well as she scanned for an opening. Just like old times. He forced himself to think about the task at hand, he couldn't afford to let his personal feelings dictate this battle.

He frowned as he leaped onto the arm of the scarecrow. The creature tried to hit him but he easily avoided the attack. He saw Ladybug out of the corner of eye doing something with her yoyo.

He shook his head as he saw the bell on around the scarecrow's neck. "Cataclysm!" He lunged at it and broke the bell, it shattered and a black butterfly flew out of it.

Here we go.

Just like old times Ladybug's yoyo grabbed the butterfly. "Miraculous Ladybug!"

He forced himself to look away. No. Don't be fooled not after everything she did.

Taking a deep breath he winced as the image of his dead father passed through his head, his eyes going white as blood fell into his hand.

How could she.

"Cat Noir are you ok?" Ladybug asked.

His head snapped up, Ladybug backed off from his glare. "I'm fine." He turned around, there was so much that he wanted to say but he couldn't get the words out of his mouth and neither could he fend off the desire to get angry. "See you on the next one."

"Wait!" Ladybug called out.

He clenched his fists. "What? I'd rather not talk to you." Turning around he noticed Ladybug wince, he didn't feel bad.

"Cat Noir please hear me out," Ladybug said. "It's about Hawkmoth."

"We'll cooperate when necessary," he said firmly. "I won't let our past get in the way of the city's protection. We are only partners."

"Please I need to talk to Adrien Agreste," Ladybug begged.

He froze. "What?" At first he thought he misheard her but as he turned around he saw that she was serious. Is she for real?

"Please he may be the key to all of this, to Hawkmoth." Ladybug said. "I need to speak to him."

His blood boiled, how dare she want to talk to him after all she had done? "You know he is busy with his own life and I am certain he wants nothing to do with you," he said coldly.

Ladybug winced. "Cat Noir I don't know why things broke down between us but-"

He laughed coldly and shook his head. "You don't know? Really? How about when you began by keeping secrets from me and treating me like a second class hero?"

"I uh didn't mean that," Ladybug said quickly. "You were my partner and-"

"Oh cut the crap. You know other heroes and their identities and Rena Rouge knew your identity right?" He asked, his gaze narrowing. "Meanwhile I was constantly left out of the loop. Then you did what you did."

His body shook as his gaze narrowed on Ladybug. He could see the fear in her eyes as she quivered and took a step back. "As far as Adrien Agreste is concerned you are a murderer. Stay away from him or Hawkmoth won't be your only problem. We are strictly coworkers when it comes to akumas nothing more."

With that, he turned around and leaped off the roof without even looking back and without a bit of remorse.

Marinette sighed and shook her head while resisting the urge to slam her head into the wall. "He hates me, he honestly does."

Cat Noir's demeanor and cold attitude sent shivers down her spine. How could our relationship improve? She missed the old Cat Noir, the warm smile and his funny attitude she would do anything to see that old cat again.

Instead the current Cat Noir was a jaded vigilante who hated her guts. Alya sat across from her and folded her arms. "Well his issues seems to stem from feeling unloved, maybe I can use the Ladyblog and say good things about him?"

People still did like Cat Noir even though a lot of people questioned him acting as a vigilante who often left his victims badly injured. Some called him an extent of police brutality, especially since a lot of those that ended up being targeted were the poor or from migrant communities. While others believed it sent a strong message to not commit any crime and that Cat Noir has saved countless civilians.

She nodded. "More coverage would be good. I don't know all of his reasons but we need to work with him, especially if he is close to Adrien. We'll have to be careful."

There were always reports of him near the Agreste mansion or anywhere Adrien was. No one would've suspected a connection between them and even she was at a loss for why Cat Noir was so loyal to Adrien.

Hawkmoth will be the least of your worries. She winced at his words. I never meant to alienate you. Why do you hate me so much?

She did feel bad for occasionally treating him like a side kick but she couldn't shake the feeling that there was something else going on, another reason that Cat Noir hated her.

"You know the school is going to have a reunion soon," Alya said. "According to Nino Adrien asked about it, we can ask him about it there."

She sighed. "That's good. Tell Nino to encourage him to come, hopefully from there we can make a connection."

Tikki came out of her earrings. "Should I try to talk to Plagg?"

"Lets wait a bit," she said calmly. "Get what info you can but don't be too pushy." Right now she had to work on building a bridge.

Tikki anxiously flew through the city of Paris. I really hope we can be on the same page. It hurt not being able to tell Marinette the truth, it weighed on her conscious heavily. Yet she knew it would probably cause more harm than good.

As she headed towards the Agreste mansion she ran into a very familiar kwami. "Plagg!"

The kwami of destruction stared at her in shock. "Tikki! It's been ages."

They both stared at each other not knowing what to say. Calm down I have to play this right.

"So Hawkmoth's back huh?" Plagg asked.

She paused wondering how to explain everything. We haven't spoken in years I should start small. "Plagg Hawkmoth is a different person."

Plagg frowned. "What do you mean?"

She sighed. "There are many things I wish I could've told you back then but Marinette was inconsolable."

"And you think Adrien wasn't?" Plagg growled. "What were you two thinking killing his father? My poor kitten." Plagg froze his gaze softening. "I thought he was going to go crazy, I didn't want to lose him." There was a hint of despair in his voice. "I swear he acted like he didn't want to wake up."

The fear and sorrow in Plagg's voice hit her. "Well for your owner's sake let him know this Hawkmoth is a different person."

She put enough of a hint in it to make Plagg pause. The kwami of destruction met her gaze as the realization slowly hit him. "Oh my god you mean the old Hawkmoth was-"

"Yes."

Plagg nearly fell "Oh god I don't know how he would react." He shook his head. "Tikki I can't have him have another mental breakdown or another depressive episode. I can't lose him, he means so much to me."

"We'll have to be careful," she said firmly. "For the city's sake, we have to take down this Hawkmoth whoever they are."

Plagg sighed. "I don't know how to even deliver this news."

"I'm sure you can find a way," She said calmly. "He'll listen to you."