Ch7
Hawkmoth charged at Cat Noir with his cane in hand. No matter how strong you are I will take your miraculous.
Cat Noir only grinned at him as dark tentacles emerged from all around him. "You'll have to do better than that."
The cat hero clapped his hands and the dark mass of tentacles flew at him. He swore as he was thrown back. Damn him. He struck tentacles as they tried to grab him but one knocked him back hard.
I can't fail. Using his cane swatted the tentacles away but they were advancing on him quickly. His heart raced one nearly reached for the miraculous on his neck. Reacting quicky he struck the tentacle away but more kept coming. What is this thing? How did Cat Noir get so strong? "Mayura now!"
A swarm of sentimonsters flew at Cat Noir forcing him to advert his attention away from him. He hated to have to retreat in such a fashion, but he couldn't win at the moment. Retreating down an alleyway he immediately ran down his secret route back to his mansion.
I will get his miraculous and Ladybug's too. As soon as he entered his lair he collapsed on the floor coughing as he ended the transformation. Tears filled his eyes as he struck the floor. "Damn Cat Noir, just how is so strong?"
It was that symbiote. He needed to learn what it was and how to get on himself. His body shook as he slowly got up. It didn't take long for Mayura to stumble in. "Nathalie!"
He grabbed her as she detransformed. "Gabriel that thing isn't human," she muttered through heavy breaths.
He swore. "Don't worry we'll defeat him." His gaze drifted off into the distance. "For her sake I'll do anything."
Nathalie gripped his hand. "Gabriel we can only flee so many times. I fear what would happen if he defeats us."
"He won't," he said trying to sound as firm as he could. He shook his head. "Lets just rest now, we'll think of another strategy next time."
His gaze shifted towards his wife's body inside the capsule. I'll save you I swear I'll get the Ladybug and Cat miraculous no matter what. Whatever this new powerup of Cat Noir was he would find a way to defeat it one way or another. For my family I'll do anything.
As soon as he exited his layer he collapsed onto his chair and massaged where that thing struck him. "How's Adrien?"
"He's fine sir. Apparently he's doing some sort of new workout routine," Nathalie said.
He raised an eyebrow. "Work out routine."
Nathalie pulled up a picture on her tablet. "See for yourself sir."
He looked at his son's photo and noticed that they did seem smaller on him. "Well he is a growing boy. Make sure we adjust measurements properly."
"Yes sir," Nathalie said. "I'll get you some heating pads."
He nodded and wracked his brain as he thought of Cat Noir's new powerup. I've studied that book for ages and nowhere does it describe this sort of thing. His blood ran cold, the last thing he needed was to beaten and he could tell Cat Noir was slowly learning new things quickly. I won't lose. His gaze drifted to the photo of his wife and son. For their sake I'll win. I must win.
After resting he left his room and began to wander his mansion listlessly. "Father!"
He turned around and saw his son. "Hello Adrien how are your studies coming along?"
Adrien nodded. "They are fine father. H-How are you? Will you be joining me for dinner?"
His son's voice was soft and betrayed a bit of hope. Yet something seemed off about him. Looking into his son's eyes made his stomach turn and the hairs on his neck stand up. "Unfortunately I have a lot of work."
"Oh I understand," Adrien said avoiding his gaze.
"Continue your studies." He turned around and could hear Adrien head towards his room yet his senses were still on guard. I'm losing too much sleep. He shook his head and turned to face Adrien, it may have been his imagination but he swore something dark flickered on his son's arm. I need to rest. That's what he really needed, even geniuses could tire themselves out.
He sighed and looked at the photo of his wife. We'll be together again dear I promise. The three of us will be a family again.
Hopefully things aren't awkward with Marinette. Adrien anxiously exited his limo as he looked up at his school. Taking a deep breath he walked up the stairs when he heard footsteps approach him.
"Adrien!" An unsettling voice called out to him making his skin scrawl.
Turning around he saw Thomas Astruc running towards him with this beady stare in his eyes. Oh god I can smell his stench from here. Luckily his bodyguard sprang into action and got between him and Mr. Astruc.
"Excuse me this is my school," he said politely.
Thomas Astruc grinned. "I know. I just wanted to ask you if you could model for me, you see I make the best cartoons in the world."
Oh boy another creative fan who has ideas. Though something was different about Astruc, just looking at the man made his skin crawl. The man's beady eyes seemed unnerved him and made the hairs on his neck stand up.
"Sorry but only my dad handles my modeling appoints," He saw a teacher watching and motioned for her to come to them. "Sorry but I have class."
"Oh of course. Study well my sweet angel," Thomas said as he tried to shake his hand
Excuse me? He pulled away, it took all his will power to not vomit at the comment, luckily the teacher and his bodyguard were yelling at Thomas and escorting him off the school property. What a creep. As soon as he got to class he noticed Nino and Alya having a heated discussion.
"Hey guys!"
Alya turned to him and frowned. "Adrien what's the big deal? Why did you make Marinette cry?"
He sighed but he could feel Venom getting upset inside of him and that gave him renewed courage to stand up for himself. "I know your friends with her but she's been invading my space and I don't like it and felt unsafe."
"But you didn't have to be mean about it? She's devastated," Alya said. She frowned at him her gaze half disapproving half doubtful.
His brow twitched. "Mean? If you want to see mean I could tell my father what she was doing and that will be mean. I have a right to my privacy and she invaded it without my consent and for now I won't be having anything to do with her."
To his surprise Nino stood up. "Babe lets just calm down and wait till things cool down. Adrien is a private guy and has a right to his personal space."
"Fine," Alya said curtly before turning around and heading to her seat.
"Thanks man," he muttered as he sat down next to Nino. "Sorry for getting you in the dog house."
"For you dude the dog house is worth it," Nino said. "I told some of the other guys the truth and they'll back you up, you have a right to your privacy and Marinette was taking things too far."
He sighed. "I hope she gets help."
The door then opened and the hairs on his neck stood up as he saw Marinette. Oh speak of the devil. She stared at him her eyes wide but he looked down and avoided her gaze. Please don't make this awkward and just walk.
"Adrien I-"
"Hey Marinette why don't you go sit with Alya," Nino said firmly.
Chloe then sat up from her chair. "Yeah stop harassing my Adrikins. He has a right to his own privacy you stalker" Sabrina snickered along with other members of the class. Marinette's face reddened as she went to her seat dejected.
Now normally he would talk to Chloe and tell her to be nice but he wasn't going to let Marinette invade his privacy and the more people on his side the better.
When Ms. Bustier entered the class she immediately began to take attendance. "Alright Marinette switch places with Nathaniel."
Marinette's eyes widened. "But why?"
Ms. Bustier raised an eyebrow. "You know why. Adrien's guardian asked that you be nowhere near him."
He didn't feel bad as the class snickered and didn't even look back as Marinette and Nathaniel switched places. "Any attempt to help Marinette harass Adrien will lead to a restraining order and legal action by the Agreste family," Ms. Bustier said. "An email has been to all your parents emails I do not recommend testing the Agreste." There was an awkward silence in the room as his classmates eyes Marinette and him with unease.
The rest of the class was fine and to be honest he was a bit worried that some of his classmates would retaliate on behalf of Marinette but to his surprise during lunch Nino, Nathaniel, Max, and a few other guys came up to him.
"Hey Adrien we just wanted to let you know that Marinette was out of line," Nathaniel said.
"Yeah I never knew it was that bad," Max said. "I didn't think she would take it too far."
He smiled at them. "Thanks guys. That really means a lot." A part of him was flustered that so many of the guys would stand up for him like this even though he didn't know them as well as Marinette probably knew them.
"You have loyal friends," Venom said in his head. "They seem honest in defending your names."
I know. Out of the corner of her eyes she saw Marinette sulking at her table some of her friends. Some of the girls were trying to cheer her up while others looked more neutral and kept their gazes to the ground.
"Don't worry kid I'll back you up if they harass you to try to be with that nice girl," Venom growled. "Frankly I try not to eat crazy people, it makes me feel icky.
Thanks. Though personally he'd rather not sick Venom on them. With that the rest of school was surprisingly smooth, Marinette didn't bother him and by the time he was done his driver drove him to his fencing class.
As he entered the building for his fencing class he noticed a white van in the parking lot. The hairs on his neck stood up as he noticed the driver wearing a ski mask and watch him enter. Uh oh they don't look good.
He turned to his bodyguard. "Stay with me inside." His bodyguard nodded as they entered the hall and stood by the side as he got ready for his class.
Throughout his lesson he kept focusing on his sword techniques losing himself in the sensation of the matches. That was when he heard the back door swing open. "Nobody move!"
Not again. Turning around he saw various masked men enter through the back door their gazes locked on him.
His fencing classmates panicked as one of the armed men drew a pistol and fired it at the ceiling while another turned off the lights. "Nobody move!" They yelled.
Great. He quickly raced to the lights and turned them off. Hey Venom can you take them out discreetly?
The symbiote chuckled. "Of course.
A tingling went down his back as he ran. A symbiotic arm discreetly flew from the back of his arm and disarmed the men before knocking them to the ground. He ran down the hall as he heard the gunman follow him.
"Alright no one is around," he said as he quickly hid behind a locker and out of sight
A symbiotic tendril took out the security camera as he heard the footsteps follow him from behind. "Adrien Agreste you're coming with us!"
His heart raced in his chest as he heard the sound of footsteps approaching. Alright Venom do your thing.
"Can I eat them all?"
He sighed. Sure.
The symbiote enveloped him as Venom took control. He was still conscious and could move around but he'd prefer if Venom did what he needed to do. One of the gunman was unfortunate enough to turn around and see him. The many didn't have time to scream as Venom took his head.
A shiver went down his spine as he looked away. Venom then pounced on the other guard and took him out before he could even scream. "All done," Venom hissed. "We should go."
They quickly exited the locker room as Venom retreated into his body as they quickly ran towards a side exit. The sound of police sirens filled the area as the remaining thugs scattered causing chaos. Great father won't be happy.
He found his bodyguard who picked him up and ran outside. "Lets go!"
His bodyguard wrapped a careful arm around his shoulder as they quickly ran to their car. Damn why are these people after me? His bodyguard started the car as he simultaneously called Nathalie. He frowned as he looked at his miraculous ring. Hopefully they don't work for Hawkmoth.
Yet something didn't seem right, they seemed too disorganized and Hawkmoth didn't know his identity as Cat Noir. Whoever is doing this knows me personally. Who could it be?
"Hey lets do us both a favor and not let my dad know," he said.
His bodyguard frowned and nodded. Frankly his father would probably punish his bodyguard for not acting quick enough. Still who would send them after me? It didn't make sense by people would target him and no matter how hard he thought of it he couldn't think of anyone who would want to target him. Father would make sure they are locked up if they tried to kidnap me.
When he got home he quickly went to his room and began to search on his computer to see if his father had any old enemies. "Nothing," he muttered as he scoured the pages. "There aren't any escaped convicts either."
Suddenly his phone began to ring. Picking it up he saw that it was the city wide Akuma alert. "Alright Plagg claws out!"
In an instant he was transformed into Cat Noir. "Alright Venom lets go!" In another instant the symbiote covered his body as the familiar surge of Venom's power coursed through him. He immediately leaped out of his window and into the city.
"Cat Noir!" He turned and saw Viperion racing by his side.
A grin spread across his face. "Nice to see you again."
"Come on Ladybug is holding it off," Viperion said as they both jumped off a roof and into the street.
It didn't take them long to see the akuma. It was a large mechanical bear with a machine gun attached to its back. "Well looks like something from the zoo stole from the police," he said as Ladybug landed next to him.
She eyed him cautiously. "Cat Noir?"
"What's the plan my lady?" he asked.
Ladybug looked at him and opened her mouth just as the bear roared. "Look out!" Viperion yelled.
They managed to jump back in time. "Don't worry I can do this." Venom you ready?
"Of course lets do this." The symbiote extended itself from all over his body as they charged at the mechanical bear.
The akuma fired its bullets at him but he effortlessly blocked the attacks with the symbiote. The symbiote around his arms took the form of two large scythes as he slashed and hacked at the creature.
The akumatized villain roared as it tried to kick him but he merely jumped out of the way and grabbed the creature's leg with a symbiotic whip and made it trip.
Lets end this. Taking a deep breath he willed the symbiote to hold down the akuma. "Cataclysm!" he yelled as he brought the attack down on a whistle around the creatures neck.
The bear roared as the object was destroyed. The bear turned into a confused looking zoo keeper as the butterfly flew off into the sky. Ladybug's yoyo then caught the akuma. "Miraculous Ladybug!"
In an instant all the damage was fixed. "Well that went better than I expected."
Viperion nodded. "Yeah you really are stronger. This must be some powerup huh?"
He laughed as the two high fived. "Yeah it is.'
Ladybug came up to him her brow furrowed. "How exactly did your kwami unlock this powerup?"
He avoided her gaze. "Um through his own thing." A part him wondered if he should tell her but frankly he didn't know if she'd even believe him, then there was the fact that she had her own secrets so why shouldn't he?
Viperion stepped in between them. "Come on Ladybug Cat Noir is still the same he just has a new powerup."
Ladybug frowned. "It's just you seem different. Something is off about this transformation I can feel it inside me."
He laughed awkwardly. "Um it's nothing to be worried about."
Ladybug huffed just as her miraculous began to beep. "Fine. See you boys later." With that she swung her yoyo into the air and leaped into eh sky.
"Thanks," he said.
Viperion patted him on the back. "No problem. Want to get some ice cream?"
He was taken aback by the offer. "Um sure no problem."
"Cool." They quickly went to a nearby shop and after getting their ice cream went and rested on a roof top.
He awkwardly sat next to Viperion as they overlooked the city. Yeah he knew him as Luka too but he never hung out with him as a superhero. I still am getting used to having friends and a social life.
Viperion smiled at him. "What's on your mind?"
He avoided his gaze. "N-Nothing. It's just nice to relax like this."
"Well I think you are a good partner," Viperion said. "I enjoying chilling with you."
"Thanks you too." The two ate their ice cream and looked out at the city. "Can I ask you something?"
"Sure what is it?" Viperion asked.
He looked down feeling the sincerity of Viperion's gaze. "At times I feel that Ladybug doesn't value me as much," he said softly. "I know she has a right to her secrets but at the same times we are partners and supposed to be equal." He shook his head. "I just feel undervalued at times."
Viperion looked at him before wrapping his arms around him. "Well I value you."
He slowly let himself rest in Viperion's arms. "Thank you," he said softly.
"I'll try to talk to her if I can," Viperion said. "If you need someone I'm always here for you."
He looked into Viperion's eyes and was touched by the sincerity in them. "Thanks. I'll be by your side too if you need it."
The next morning he had to get up early for a photoshoot. "Will father be coming?" he asked as he finished getting ready for the morning.
Nathalie shook her head. "No he is busy. You'll be experimenting with our new summer clothes line."
"Oh ok," he said trying to not sound disappointed.
"I've only seen your father a few times. What does he do exactly?" Venom asked.
He shrugged as he exited his mansion. "Run the family business and a fashion empire."
"Are you sure he isn't in the illuminati?" Venom asked
He smirked as he got into his car. "I'm pretty sure he isn't." Though it would be interesting if he was.
As the car pulled out of the mansion he noticed a white van in the distance. At first he thought it was a coincidence but after three turns the van still followed him. Is it following us? The hairs on his neck stood up, looking up at his bodyguard the man was frowning at the rearview mirror.
Venom can you discreetly take care of it? Just pop and destroy the tires.
The symbiote chuckled in his head. "Easy."
As his limo slowed down for a red light he discreetly lowered the window next to him. Pretending to stretch he felt Venom move inside of him as a few strands of symbiote flew from the tips of his fingers. His heart raced as he looked around hoping no one would notice.
"Done." Venom said after what felt like an eternity.
He exhaled and rolled up his window. Thanks. His heart rate returned to normal as the light turned green. Sure enough the white van behind them tried to move but the tires quickly fell off. It took all his will power to not laugh. Up in the front seat he could see his bodyguard look relieved as the car stopped following them.
The photoshoot was the same as the other ones though with what had happened he ordered his bodyguard to stay close and keep a watchful eye on him.
"Alright Adrien just a few more photos. You're doing great, you look great," The photographer said as her camera flashed brightly.
He did a few causal poses and a few cool poses when he noticed a familiar large man in the shadow. Oh geez what now.
"Adrien!" Thomas Astruc yelled. The man looked as if he had been running a few blocks and was covered in sweat.
His brow twitched as he motioned for his bodyguard to take action. What do you want with me?
"Wait I just want to talk!" Thomas Astruc yelled as he was blocked by his bodyguard and a few other people.
"I'm busy right now," he said politely. "Please go away."
Thomas Astruc looked as if Christmas had just been cancelled. "O-Oh ok. Maybe some other time."
"Escort him far away from here," he said.
The security grabbed ahold of Thomas Astruc and escorted him from the area. "Alright lets take a quick and meet later," the photographer said.
He went and sat down as his bodyguard handed him his water. "Thanks. My father isn't going to like this." His bodyguard frowned but nodded.
"Hello Adrien long time no see," said a voice that sent a shiver down his spine.
Turning around he saw Lila Rossi with a grin on her face. "Lila what are you doing here?"
Lila smiled. "Just wanted to say hi. I heard a certain classmate was stalking you?"
His brow twitched but he only smiled politely. "It was an issue but I am well now. What are you doing here?"
"Oh just hanging around and seeing what is what," Lila said. She smiled at him. "What about you? You looked great in those clothes."
"Thank you. I've been busy with life as usual," he said politely before looking at his phone. "Excuse me I have to try on another set of clothes."
"Goodbye Adrien," Lila waved as he got up and left with his bodyguard.
"Kid she's creepy," Venom said.
Yeah Lila is bad news. Out of the corner of his eyes he could see her smirk. Whatever she's planning I hope I'm not a part of it.