Past
Adrien felt the ache of the battle hit him full force as he landed in the car seat, his transformation peeling off in synch with the closing of the sunroof.
The miraculous had always been flexible with how pain transfers between forms. Sometimes, any damage was sustained only by Chat Noir, while other times he could feel the echoes of a fight scratching at his muscles in numbed pangs even as Adrien.
"My back feels like a pretzel." He groaned, sliding down in his seat.
Nathalie sat across from him, the back of Gorilla's head peeking through the divider between them and the driver. Despite how tightly wound her body language was, and how hard she tried to remain stone-faced and professional, he caught a small glimmer of amusement tugging at the corner of her lips.
Following her gaze, he fought back a blush when he realized that, under his transformation, he was kitted out in his full Ladybug-themed pyjamas. It would have been less embarrassing if I was naked. "I didn't have time to change..."
Nathalie pulled a small briefcase from the seat next to her, pushing it over to him. "I prepared your wardrobe, Sir. You can change during the drive."
He lunged for the case like it was the last lifeboat in a storm, hugging it to his chest. "Thanks, Nathalie."
"I've taken the liberty of preparing refreshments to get you back to 100%." She pulled on a small indent in the wall, causing it to fold out into a full-on table contained in a cubby hole. Atop the table were various snacks and cans with different nutritional tag lines on their wrappers. "And I thought it prudent to inform Miss Tsugi that we were caught in traffic due to the akuma attack, giving you ten extra minutes to rest."
He beamed at her, "You're a god sent."
Nathalie adjusted her glasses, and Adrien could swear for a moment that he saw a blush. "I don't get a generous paycheck just for my ability to read off a schedule."
Plagg wriggled his way out of Adrien's breast pocket, intentionally blocking Nathalie from Adrien's view with a jealous pout. "Hey, let's not get ahead of ourselves in front of the actual Gods here."
There was the sound of a tiny nose sniffing, followed by a joyous squeal, before Tikki zipped past him in a flash of red, disappearing under the table. Before Adrien could say anything, he heard a loud, distinctive, series of crunching that made Plagg roll his eyes.
Soon enough, Tikki poked her head up through the table, macaroon crumbs staining her cheeks. "There's a cheese cabinet, Plagg."
Adrien didn't even see Plagg move, just felt the massive disturbance in the air as Plagg shot past Tikki and slammed into something soft. "Like I said, Nathalie is practically one of us!" Plagg said, though his squeaky voice was muffled by the copious amounts of cheese he was stuffing in his mouth.
Five minutes later, as Adrien was pulling a fresh shirt over his head, he found himself wincing. A pang in his forearm took him by surprise, causing him to curl up in his seat and hiss. The same arm he'd accidentally cataclysmed. I guess Mr. Bug's creation magic didn't fix everything.
Nathalie leaned forward, looking at him pointedly, but Adrien waved her off, lightly cranking his shoulder in some basic stretches until the pain ebbed into something more manageable. "Am I getting out of shape, or are the akumas getting worse?"
"You just lost your partner, Adrien. I'm sure you're simply off your game." Said Nathalie.
Adrien shook his head. As much as he would like to think of it as just an off period, the damage left behind even after his transformation fell was distinctive. He never came out of a fight as rough as this, and that wasn't because other fights were easier. This wasn't simply a difference in power, but motivation.
"No, it's different." He said, "This new Hawkmoth, she's got new priorities. Melvin the Magnificent was the end of her testing her powers, now she's serious."
He didn't remember any akuma, not even in the early days where he didn't know what he was doing, coming at him like this. Slime Boy and Disruptor, they'd been relentless in their attacks, and what little he could make out of Marinette's encounter with Defect, that guy was brutal when he had the chance. They weren't looking just to get the heroes out of the way, they were looking to break the heroes.
"Old akumas were focused on my miraculous, as long as we were out of the way, Hawkmoth didn't care about dealing with us." Another pang in his arm cut his words short, gasping in pain, only for Tikki to float up to his arm and cuddle up to it. He knew she couldn't afford to use her raw power outside of the miraculous transformation, but he appreciated the gesture none the less. "These ones? They're going for the throat. Disruptor had me dead to rights with both miraculous ripe for the picking, and he didn't go for them."
In fact, he had Viperion at his complete mercy and never went about taking the snake miraculous. The only people there to distract the akuma were police officers, people who were powerless to do anything other than watch from a distance. The only thing that was on Disruptor's mind was Adrien Agreste and waiting for the rest of the heroes to show up, to be made an example of.
Adrien rested his chin on the window, watching the world pass him by. If he wasn't careful, he'd fall so far behind that he'd never be able to catch up, neither as Adrien nor Chat Noir.
That's what all this was, wasn't it? Ladybug's death, the aggression, the black market akumas, humiliating the remaining heroes; it was all a staging ground for the new Hawkmoth to show her power. And his failures were giving her all the space she needed to crush the legacy Ladybug spent four years building.
He gasped when he suddenly felt Nathalie's cold hand on his shoulder, turning his head to find her moving to beside his seat. "You're doing fine, Adrien. All these responsibilities are new to you, but you'll grow into it."
It was hard to get an exact emotion out of her when she was in full professional mode, the woman sitting stock still and staring off straight ahead instead of turning her entire body to face him with her voice a dull melody. The only indication of her emotion she allowed was how hard she gripped his shoulder, and how her lips twitched, unsure of how much she was allowed to express herself. "Ladybug- Marinette would approve, I'm sure."
Out of the window, Adrien caught a glimpse of the daunting silhouette of Tsugi tower approaching over the horizon. He placed his hand over Nathalie's, squeezing it softly. "First, I had to handle Ladybug's legacy, now I've got to do the same for my father's."
He sighed, looking from the stoic Nathalie, to the comforting Tikki, and finally the careless Plagg sitting back and stuffing cheese because there was nothing to worry about. "I'm gonna need one hell of a cat nap after this."
Adrien being Chat Noir brought many complications for Nathalie, the chief among them being that many factors of her super villain career became suddenly very relevant to her service to him. Tomoe Tsugi had been a stalwart ally of Hawkmoth, and Nathalie was sure that the hunger for power and control that led her to agreeing to such a partnership did not die with Gabriel.
The butterfly miraculous had gone missing during Monarch's final battle, as far as Marinette had informed Nathalie when she woke up at the hospital. It didn't take a genius to deduce that the only other person who'd be in any position to swoop in and take the miraculous from Monarch would be the only other person in the world who knew Gabriel's true identity, who knew exactly where Gabriel would be and what he would be up to at the time of the final battle.
Whether Tomoe was the new Hawkmoth or was working with the new Hawkmoth, she wasn't to be trusted.
However, therein lies the rub: Nathalie Sancoeur shouldn't know any of the reasons that Tomoe wasn't to be trusted. So, how was she supposed to warn Chat Noir without revealing her own true nature?
The answer became more and more reckless the longer she stood in Tomoe's lavish office, watching the Tsugi matriarch looking over Adrien from across her desk, sizing him up like he was a potential threat that needed to be dealt with. Or the more likely and even more anger-inducing option: sizing up how much she could take from him.
After all, it was no coincidence that Tomoe had dropped her interest in Adrien until a few days prior. When his inheritance, including control over Gabriel's company, was officially handed over to him.
"Adrien. It has been too long." Tomoe said, clasping her hands together over her desk, brows tightening around her dark glasses.
Nathalie watched Adrien shift uncomfortably in his seat, trying to match Nathalie's stiff posture, but his natural energy only making his joints itch. "I don't think we've ever properly met, Miss Tsugi; you only ever dealt with my father."
The skin of Tomoe's cheeks wrinkled, and somehow Nathalie could picture her eyes narrowing behind those glasses. The response, an indirect reminder that any leverage she had relied on Gabriel still being in the picture, must have left a foul taste.
Tomoe broke her hands apart to gesture to her right. "You already know my daughter, of course." Nathalie's eyes shifted over to the girl who had placed herself by the window at the far end of the room, forcing a blank expression that failed to hide her distraught features. Kagami did not sit at the table, she was there to be seen, to muster goodwill, and nothing else.
"And I do believe you might have seen Mr. Moth on the news recently."
To the left Nathalie found her eyes lingering on the one unfamiliar element in the room. Chalot was a sudden addition – too sudden for Nathalie's taste. For such a pivotal member of Tomoe's new initiative, Nathalie couldn't find any proof, from neither memory nor research, that this man existed. At best, she could find that he was 'officially' instated as a member of the Tsugi corporation over a couple months ago.
The man himself did nothing to ease Nathalie's need to scrutinize – even just standing at attention at Tomoe's shoulder, mirroring Nathalie's positioning and stature, there was something distinctly off about him. The best way Nathalie could describe it was that the man seemed ever so slightly, but still noticeably, out of sync.
At his name being mentioned, Chalot raised his hand up in a weak, two-finger salute. His face, a bundle of stiches tied so tense she feared the flesh would come undone if his face were prodded, reacted to the acknowledgement long before his arm initiated the stiff gesture. She'd compare it to watching a robot carrying out commands in order, an expression or movement calculated by the mind rather than willed by the body.
Chalot rounded on Adrien, every step heavy and accompanied by a wheezing sound Nathalie couldn't quite identify. He extended his hand. Adrien looked down at the hand carefully, likely swallowing whatever feelings of offense that Chat Noir might be feeling, before grasping it.
"Hard to miss him, he's been making quite the scene." Adrien's voice was slow, deliberately trying to mimic his father's cadence, but lacking the self-assuredness.
"Heh, you've gotten tall, Kid." Chalot remarked, shaking Adrien's hand with such vigour that Nathalie briefly worried he'd accidentally yank the boy out of his seat. "I thought you'd never hit your growth spurt."
Both Nathalie and Adrien visibly stopped, taking a moment to go back over his wording, and resisting the urge to trade confused looks.
Adrien looked over the man once more, trying to keep his voice as diplomatic as possible as he asked "Have we met?"
No offense seemed to register in Chalot's eyes, he simply shrugged. "Well, not formerly I don't think."
Now, when he looked at Nathalie – looked her dead in the eye, spending a silent moment with her grappling against an unknown expectation – that's when something could be felt bubbling under the surface of his words. "I knew your father, but… Well, people have a tendency of forgetting about me, so I won't hold it against you."
Perhaps the man wasn't as unfamiliar as I thought, Nathalie mused, though I still can't say I recognise him at all. Maybe he was one of Gabriel's early clients?
Tomoe, either unaware or uncaring of the silent tension rising under the interaction, moved on like nothing happened. "Adrien, with your recent acquisition of your father's company and fortune, I thought it was the best time to discuss how you'll be handling his legacy."
Chalot released Adrien's hand and returned to his original position. Adrien pulled his hand into his lap, rolling his wrist back-and-forth like Chalot's grip had hurt him. "With all due respect, what does my family legacy have to do with you?"
Adrien had said it softly, and probably meant it as an innocent question, but Tomoe's posture stiffened as if she'd been subtly insulted. "Your father and I have been strong allies for years, and the ties that bound us went far beyond a simple business deal." She said, "We wanted to create a better future for Paris, as I'm sure you do too."
Nathalie felt her stomach curl she watched Adrien squirm underneath Tomoe's gaze. Tomoe was a very cut-and-dry woman who was quite effective at making one feel small, and Adrien already struggled with his confidence in the face of his 'betters'.
Nathalie repositioned herself slightly, obscuring her hand as it patted Adrien on the back, and ensuring Tomoe wasn't looking her way when she muttered 'lawyer' at a volume only Adrien could hear.
Adrien sat a little straighter. "I've had lawyers look over your contracts; whatever deal you had with my father died with him." His face unravelled for a moment, mentioning his father's demise in such a context probably leaving a rancid taste, before pulling himself together.
He spared a glance towards Kagami, who refused to meet his gaze. "I'm not interested in any arranged relationship you want to force on me."
"I am well aware." Tomoe said, "I'm not here to force anything upon you. I simply seek to appeal to our joint interest and plead that you back a better future for you and your loved ones."
Tomoe held her hand out to Chalot without turning to look at him (as much as a blind woman could 'look'), snapping her fingers to prompt him to drop a small remote into her palm. With the press of a button, a screen descended behind her, showing off an image of men and woman in uniform standing united in front of a range of advanced-looking Tsugi products. A glance down at Adrien showed recognition flashing in his eyes as he looked over a few of the people there.
Tomoe continued, "Chalot here is heading a new initiative within our corporation, aiming to provide security and protection for Paris against the increased inhuman threat. The Miraculous Task Force."
Adrien's eyes narrow, Chat Noir's confidence and indignance bleeding through. "Strange, I thought we already had a team of heroes protecting Paris."
"Sarcasm doesn't suit you, Adrien."
"It suits me just fine." Chat shot back.
A shadow overtook Tomoe's face, the woman's voice dropping low, her scowl evident despite being obscured. "Watch your tone, Child."
Before Chat Noir could spit out a remark about not being a child anymore, Chalot leaned over the desk, clearly putting himself in the middle of the brewing argument. He stole Adrien's attention by pressing another button on Tomoe's remote, putting Ladybug on the screen. Nathalie heard Adrien let out a ragged, sharp breath upon seeing Marinette again, the screen splicing together various footage of akuma attacks over the years.
The theme that tied all the clips together seemed to be a focus on Ladybug and Chat Noir getting thrown around, tripping over each other and arguing; a focus on their little immature moments. Nathalie could remember every one of these encounters. Looking at one clip of Ladybug, covered in feathers, snapping at Chat Noir, something about him not taking the battle seriously enough, Nathalie could practically hear Hawkmoth's giddy ramblings about how 'Today is the day!' and encouraging his akuma to take advantage of their division. The akuma was 'The Humiliator', some guy who ended up humiliated in a very poor taste prank – went around pranking people and glueing them still in compromising positions.
He had the two on the ropes for the last half. Made all the pipes in the grand hotel burst and flood the building with people trapped inside, glued the two heroes to each other. Naturally, Gabriel's glee quickly turned into rants of promised vengeance when the two manage to effectively fight off the akuma and made up.
However, Nathalie doubted that Chalot was framing this as a 'victory' for the duo.
"A group of untrained, unknown and unreliable teenagers running around with the power to level buildings ain't exactly something the people can put their faith in." He said with a sigh, the clips catching up to modern day, to Marinette's name immortalized in a headline about her death. "Not after the inevitable shoe dropped."
He caught the restrained glare in Adrien's eye and held up his hands defensively. "I admire them, really. I know they're doing the best they can with the responsibility someone else forced on them."
Nathalie mused over that last sentence, realizing she never did get around to asking Adrien about his first day as Chat Noir. Nooroo always said that Ladybug and Chat Noir were chosen. Did the guardian give Adrien a choice in the matter? Does one even have a choice when you know that no one else will take up the responsibility and the super villain will win otherwise? There was so much she didn't know about this boy, she didn't even know if he liked being Chat Noir or if it was simply another obligation, another role given to him by an authority figure he feels indebted to.
Plus, she couldn't deny that, from the perspective of a civilian, someone giving teenagers super powers and the responsibility to protect an entire city didn't make for the best look.
Another click, now the Disruptor fight, specifically the team getting pummelled, took up the entire screen. "However, I've seen them in action, and they're suffering. Things are getting worse out there, and our heroes ain't ready. Without Ladybug, they can barely even clean up their own messes."
Tomoe continued, "The fate of the city should have never been their responsibility to begin with."
The footage split up again, this time showcasing the police force on various occasion, focusing on the police either running away or simply watching the akuma attack from a distance. "But we all looked the other way at the time because we had no other choice. Ladybug and her followers were the only ones who knew how the miraculous worked, were the only ones who could use the miraculous, and the only ones who could counter Hawkmoth's evil."
Nathalie could see the point that was being built up to. It was no secret that Ladybug had Paris' undying love ever since her debut. There were a few quibbles, a few unflattering discussions, but overall people didn't tend to ask questions about their hero, not when she was the only hero there. The police weren't equipped to fight akumas, and no one else was in a position to step up, there was only Ladybug and the people she gave power to.
But with a new group on the scene who can actually engage with akumas, with technology catching up with magic, now there was suddenly an alternative. Now there was a choice on whether or not to accept the heroes, and room to ask the serious questions people would otherwise look the other way on.
Team Miraculous were under the microscope now more than ever.
Adrien remained steadfast, peering over at Tomoe through curious eyes. "You're saying it like any of that has changed."
For the first time, Tomoe smiled. "Progress is always moving, Adrien."
Two images appeared on the screen, one depicting a silhouette with the title 'The Ladybug Killer', and the other of the de-akumatized disruptor. Chalot made a sweeping motion over them. "Two sentimonsters taking the place of humans, completely undetectable until they revealed themselves. One or two in just the right positions could cause utter anarchy; and there could be hundreds of them."
He leaned down, placing both his hands on the table, eyebrows knitted together. "We need to know who to trust, and we need to figure out a way to counter these buggers before they take us over from the inside."
Adrien scoffed, "And this task force of corporate goons is your answer to that?"
"I expected better from you, Adrien." Tension returned to Tomoe's body, nails pressed so tightly against the desk that Nathalie could just hear the scrape of wood. Nathalie couldn't blame her patience running on a short fuse, after all, Tomoe probably didn't think she had to prepare herself for an Adrien that was willing to talk back for once.
"You're letting your love for Ladybug blind you. Are you truly willing to put your faith, your family legacy, in the hands of her undisciplined misfits?" She shook her head, "Your father trusted Ladybug's judgement and look where that got him."
Adrien had already been on edge with the first comment, but that last jab easily sealed the deal. He shot up to his feet, flooding the room with the sound of clutter as his legs knocked his chair aside. Nathalie stepped to the side, trying to mask her surprise as she caught the cold scowl, one that so very much resembled Gabriel, on Adrien's face.
"This meeting is over." He said simply, turning on his heel and charging ahead before anyone could react.
"The future is coming whether you want it to or not, Adrien." Tomoe called after him, "All you can choose is whether you welcome it or get crushed under it."
Her words were lost to the wind as Adrien disappeared through the double doors, Nathalie catching a small glimpse of him collapsing against the nearest wall with a huff before the doors closed. She wanted to go after him, and she so desperately wanted to escape this room that carried nothing but uncomfortable questions, but something kept her rooted to the spot, as if some professional instinct was waiting for her to be dismissed.
Her eyes moved to Kagami, ever silent, yet her eyes spoke more than enough. She watched Adrien's retreat with shame welling up in the corners of her eyes, fingers idly groping her knees, yearning to reach out and comfort her friend. But any plans to move, to act at all, were quickly dissolved by a sharp look from Tomoe.
Nathalie wouldn't say that she knew too much about Tomoe's relationship with her daughter, but still, something felt different there. Tomoe could be strict and all manner of cold with the pressure she put Kagami under, but something about that look, that intensity, it set off alarm bells in Nathalie's mind. But until she could figure out something substantial, all she could do was bite her tongue and send Kagami sympathetic looks.
"That boy is being unreasonable, Nathalie." Tomoe sighed, turning back to Nathalie. "Will you be able to get through to him?"
"Unreasonable?" Chalot hid a scoff with a sudden cough, "Beggin' your pardon, ma'am, but you just went and dragged his pa and his girl through the mud. That sorta talk is gonna leave any man feelin' righteous."
Nathalie caught Tomoe's gaze going downward, landing directly on Nathalie's ring finger, expecting something silver to be at the ready to make Adrien see the light. Suddenly Nathalie felt sick and pinned under a microscope, instinctively pulling her hand to her chest to shield her bare finger from Tomoe's sickening implication.
"Adrien's all grown up now, I doubt I can do much to sway his mind on this matter." She said firmly, finally feeling whatever kept her there losing it's hold on her. She offered Chalot a polite nod before moving towards the door.
Tomoe's voice wormed it's way into her ear, sounding so deceptively calm, so confident. "I trust you'll do your best anyway." She heard Tomoe lean forward in her chair and, glancing back, she was met with a cheshire smile that would put Monarch to shame. "After all, we wouldn't want him getting too rebellious now. It could lead to him uncovering some unfortunate knowledge down the line."
She hadn't expected Tomoe to come right out of the gate with the threats. Inhaling sharply, Nathalie tried to keep her body language under wraps, desperate to ensure Tomoe, nor Chalot, could gleam how much her body wanted to tremble. The mere idea of Adrien knowing what she's done, how much she's lied to him, how much she's helped others lie to him and mistreat him; it was the stuff of nightmares long before she'd even thought of turning against Gabriel.
It would be so easy for Tomoe to do. Just a few words, just enough to give him the dots, and everything would come crumbling down.
But she can't do it, Nathalie reasoned. At the very least, it would be as much of a risk for Tomoe to reveal the truth as it would be for Nathalie. After all, in the wake of the alliance mishap, Tomoe had rebuilt her business on the lies of Gabriel's heroism and how strong his partnership with her was. The truth could cripple public trust in Tomoe's company, and public trust was crucial to her new initiative.
"The truth is something I dread him learning with every fibre of my being." Nathalie continued towards the door, keeping her voice low and firm. "But I refuse to let anyone control his destiny, even if it damns me."
"You're supposed to be a woman of reason, Nathalie." Tomoe scoffed, "This business is growing increasingly dangerous. Do you really want to see Adrien get hurt?"
Nathalie froze just an inch away from the door. For all she knew, Adrien could be on the other side, hearing this entire exchange, but a primal, almost motherly, protective urge flushed out any reason. Adrien would not be hurt. Not again. She wouldn't allow it.
"Of course not." She swerved around, her glare front-and-center for all to see. Nathalie raised her hand, curling her fingers into a tense fist, so tight she could feel her nails digging into her skin. "That's why, if I find out you've done anything to harm Adrien, not even a miraculous will be able to fix what I do to you."
Just like Adrien, she didn't wait for a response. Unlike Adrien, she made sure to slam the door on her way out.
"That could have gone better." Adrien stood at the end of the hall, peering over at her through worried eyes and holding the elevator open for her.
She found her voice trembling as she reached him, tugging on her tie in an attempt to regain her composure. "I didn't expect you to be so… Firm with them, Sir."
"I've gotta stop rolling over for people sometime, Nathalie." Her heart stopped when she felt Adrien's fingers wrap around her fidgeting hands, any response she could make stopping with it.
Adrien stood by her side, beaming up at her with an intense warmth she hadn't felt in years. "Besides, it's not just me we're talking about here, are we? Those two were bringing everyone into it… Even the dead."
She looked away, ashamed, as if she had somehow let them speak like that, as if she could have stopped Tomoe. "They were out of line."
The confined space of the elevator made it all the more apparent how close Adrien was, squeezing her hand tightly, almost leaning against her arm. He was comforting her, but also himself, lightly cuddling up to a par- Authority figure. She didn't dislike it, god knows that part of her just wanted to hug Adrien once more, but… Well, as Tomoe had just reminded her, she didn't deserve it.
"I just hope this doesn't make things awkward between me and Kagami." Adrien said, lost and insecure, a far cry from the tone he used in front of Tomoe. "Do you think I made the right decision back there? I'm not exactly good at this kind of stuff."
It was the right decision; you just don't know why yet. Because I haven't told you.
Nathalie squeezed her eyes shut, breathing in deeply, trying to flush out the nerves that kept her from saying what she should be saying. She couldn't allow Adrien to be hurt, and to ensure that, she needed him to know what was going to threaten him.
"I think that anything attached to Tomoe is cause for caution." She said, diving head first into the situation without much of a plan in mind.
"You don't trust her?"
Adrien's gaze now burning into the side of her head, the pressure was on, desperately searching her mind for a good enough excuse to cover her tracks. "I have my doubts in this Miraculous Task Force." She said, slowly chewing on that line of thought. It wasn't a lie, even without the Tomoe connection, this Task Force was suspicious. "They look impressive, but their tech and claims; they make it sound like they're suiting up to take your team down."
She paused, stroking her chin, letting Adrien make his own interpretation of what deep thought was distracting her. "And… Well…" Nathalie had mastered the art of stalling for time over the years, whenever she needed more room to make an excuse.
"What is it, Nathalie?"
"I don't mean to assume anything, but… Do you not find the timing of it all suspect?" The words came tumbling out without thought, but she found herself pausing to realize how it made a surprising amount of sense. "No one had heard of this task force, then suddenly they turn up on the exact same day the city's leading hero falls, setting the perfect stage for new protectors to sell themselves. Not only that, but they come stocked with anti-miraculous technology."
For a moment, the only sound was the grinding of the elevator's decent and the thoughtful popping of Adrien's lips. She could feel his gaze scrutinizing her, trying to decipher something he was missing. "Not that I disagree, but you seem oddly quick to question Tomoe. Her and father were allies, weren't they?"
"Officially, yes." Nathalie said quickly, "But behind closed doors, your father found her rather suspect. He even once had a small suspicion that she was somehow helping Hawkmoth. Nothing convincing enough to bring it to anyone's attention, but a suspicion none-the-less."
Adrien frowned, "My father isn't exactly the best judge of character."
She felt guilty for almost letting out a sigh of relief at that. At least Adrien didn't find anything questionable about her explanation.
"I just want you to be careful, Adrien." Nathalie placed her hand on Adrien's shoulder. "The near invulnerability granted by your miraculous doesn't transfer to the world of corporate politics."
Quite easily, all the tension in Adrien's body seemed to dissolve, a shining smile breaking through. He squeezed her hand again, fully embracing her to the woman's shock.
"Why do I need to be careful when I have you watching my back?"
Next Time - Broken:
As she held her head in place, fighting against her waning vision, her eyes caught something glinting through the rubble beside her. It was a glimmer of red, which, in a world of dark, muddy colours, stood out like a beacon. She didn't know what she was expecting to find, maybe she was just desperate for anything at this point, but she pulled her body forward on hands and knees towards the pile.
Marinette pulled aside bricks and rubbish, uncovering more red material buried under it all. On closer inspection, the red was faded, and scuffed, but still bright to her eyes. After more obstacles were removed, the red was splattered with black spots. Pokadots.
A minute later, her suspicions were confirmed; it was the pattern of Ladybug's costume. Standing back to appraise her discovery, her mind was able to piece together enough of what was visible to imagine different parts of her body under the rubble, completing the image in her mind of a Ladybug statue.
"Must have made a new statue after my death…" She mused, crouching down by the statue, sweeping aside some grime to unveil the head. Only she found something that made her eyebrows furrow. "Hang on…"
Writing. There was writing, in spray pain, over her face.
Clearing out more dust, her own face was laid before her, but as a distorted reflection in a funhouse mirror. The proportions had been warped, not by artistic license, but by blunt force. Dents dotted her features like pimples, evidence of something heavy smacking against her cheek, breaking through where her eye should be and flattening her nose.
And the writing itself perfectly dissuaded any ideas that this wasn't vandalism.
LADYBUG LIED TO US.