Marinette tossed and turned in her bed, then sat up as a knock came at the door. She switched on her bedside lamp, who would be knocking at this time of night if wasn't something serious. Claw. Her heart thumping she nearly fell out of bed as she hastily scrambled to the door.
"Marinette, we need you to come to the hospital wing as its an urgent matter. Then, we must discuss your mission." "Give me one minute," she told her visitor, and she counted her breaths and heartbeats to help calm shaky fingers as they buttoned and brushed.
She felt the bite of tears clawing at her eyes as she walked down the halls. Her footsteps were quiet and echoing as not many were awake at this time of night.
"Your partner lies behind this door, plus you have a visitor." Marinette touched the door handle, pausing to send up a silent prayer. Her eyes were only on her partner as she entered the room, the tears now free to cascade down her face.
Just like Emile Agreste, his beautiful creamy skin was now tinted black with spider like lines crisscrossing his face. There was only one Mastermind behind this, and Marinette had turned a blind eye while the Supreme had stood in front of them in disguise.
"Claw, you had every right to be suspicious and hear I told you to give your ring over. Can you ever forgive me?" She clutched his hand, limp, and she intertwined their fingers, raising his hand to her cheek. Though the hand felt almost lifeless, it gave her a glimmer of hope.
"I'm sure he'll forgive you, dear. After all, even a beautiful ladybug cannot be perfect, and we all mistakes." Marinette tore her eyes away from her love, only to give a cry of happiness. "Hyssop!"
Marinette was still scared, but her almost grandmother there, she knew everything would be alright. "Its the same poison Wang Fu used on Emile," Hyssop confirmed. "Have you been able to concoct an antidote?" Marinette asked, holding her breath. "Sadly, no. But all the ingredients should be here in the gardens, if we know were to look. After all, Wang studied to be a Guardian himself right here at this very Temple, so many years ago."
"If he was promised a Miraculous," Marinette asked, donning her cloak, "why did he turn evil?" "Gluttony and slothfulness, my dear," Hyssop said. "Hold on, I need to tell Claw I'll be back soon." Hyssop smiled, noting again the softness in the young girl's heart. Marinette had no way of knowing if Claw could hear her, but she wasn't about to abandon him.
"I'll be back you won't have time to pun," she whispered. She wanted to brush a feather-light kiss across those lips, but she dare for the poison could spread to her.
"Tell me more about this Wang Fu, er, the Supreme," Marinette asked, as they headed down into the gardens, the lovely smells of flora filling the warm night air.
"Every young Miraculous Holder starts out with sitting for a time in complete silence," Hyssop begin. "However, before you were born, the rules were stricter and no food would be provided till the training session was up. So hungry did Wang get, not only for food but also for power, he sent a senti-being using the Peacock Miraculous to gather food from the nearby Temple."
"But the senti could sense his desire for power, overpowered his need for food, and destroyed the Temp; e by gobbling up everything in its path. Wang took this to his advantage, grabbing the Miracle Box and fleeing as the Temple burned in flames."
"How awful," Marinette whispered. "The members of the Temple gave him food and shelter, and yet, his cravings could never be satisfied."
Hyssop's fingers seemed to know what plants to pluck and what to leave alone. Garden lanterns lit the path, giving Marinette a small bud of hope.
"Hyssop, what will happen when this is all over?" she whispered, picking some purple flowers and setting them in the basket. Hyssop hid her expression. "What do you want to happen, my dear?" "To marry and leave Paris, start a family."
"What about the dazzling lights of being a designer?" "Maybe someday I'll see my name in lights, or walking down a runway. For now, I'll be happy to make Adrien's clothes and my children's once the time comes."
She took a deep breath. "I guess that once you've planted roots and gained friends, its hard to uproot and begin again."
"I know that feeling all to well, my dear. But you are strong and brave, and with Adrien by your side, you'll both surely thrive." "If he lives that long," Marinette hated saying those words aloud, but she did.
"I think we have what we need. Let's head up to the lab."
Marinette didn't feel the fuzziness of sleep until the dawn's light glowed golden on the window. Hyssop sighed, her tired body slumping into a chair. "Even if the medicine was ready now, my dear, Claw will have to take time to recover. Time you do not have."
No. No, no, no. "What are you saying, Hyssop?" Marinette already knew the answer, but she needed to hear it confirmed. "You'll be heading out on a solo mission, I'm afraid."
Marinette nodded, her face pale. "Get some sleep. I have things under control."
Marinette wanted to flee, and she headed quickly towards her room. A feeling of uneasiness washed over her, but the heavy drowning feeling was loneliness.
Not paying attention, she smacked into someone, white and hard. "Cat Blanc?" she whispered, staring into her friend's ocean blue eyes. "What's the matter, Marinette?" she quickly told him her predicament, and he listened thoughtfully. "Could meow be of a assistance?"
Marinette's breath caught sharply. That wasn't a bad idea, and if they could find a disguise….she grinned. "Come with me, for soon we'll be staking out the Supreme palace in vintage style."