Disclaimer: I do not own MLB nor DGM. Both belong to their respective owners.
Chapter 4: Mixed Feelings
Marinette expected a reaction to come out of the sudden appearance of the new..."Supers". The nickname the press had given them. She expected speculation. She expected some disputing parties on who side they were on. She, however, did not expect a full on riot.
Stumbling into class, tired from staying out late from her secret night escapees to find the new "supers" with her partner in leather, she hadn't gotten the sleep she so rightfully needed. On top of that, she was late. So when she crawled in late, as usual, she assumed that the class would be calm and maybe gossiping about the incident. Not what she had saw.
Everyone was on their feet, the room was divided down the middle. On one side there was: Nathanael, Rose, Chloé & Sabrina—as usual—, Myléne, Ivan, and Nino. They were yelling at the other side. A side that consisted of: Alya, Juleka, Kim, Alix, Max, and Lila. They were furiously arguing with each other while their poor teacher, Ms. Bustier, sat at her desk with her hands in a style similar to that of someone praying and pressed to her forehead. She looked completely done.
"Those wannabe supers are just deranged lunatics! I mean did you see the one with white hair!? Like who does that to themselves?" she heard the snotty voice of Chloé.
"They're better than that brat Ladybug!" Lila argued, making Marinette tense. She knew all well how deep Lila's hatred for the spotted heroine ran.
"I don't appreciate how they handle dealing with the Akumas. I mean- Stabbing someone with a sword?" the shy voice of Myléne.
"Well," she saw Max push his glasses up, "They got the job done faster than Ladybug and Chat Noir."
That comment was a shot through the gut. While she does admit that she and Chat take long to fight and purify an Akuma, at least they didn't stab people. But we do use our abilities to save others. Even if the last drop of life were to run out of us, we would. She thought back to the white haired "super" that saved her even in his wilted state.
"Babe, We were all Akumatized once. And I, for one, would rather be saved the way Ladybug does it than being stabbed through the chest, kicked into a fence, or smashed into Notre Dame!" Nino chimed.
Alya rolled her eyes at his statement, "While I do agree that Ladybug's way is far better, I don't deny that these guys seem to have good intentions. Sure their fighting styles are…brutal, but they—especially the white haired one—have a certain kindness to them. I don't doubt that they are here to help Ladybug and Chat Noir. You forget I was there!"
"And nearly got yourself killed!" Nathanael, surprisingly, spoke up, "That akuma had a scythe! That cut cleanly through the old man!"
Alix blew a raspberry at the comment. "The old man who saved Ms. Lady Luck! Way faster than Chat Noir need I add?"
The star jock in the room slid next to Alix to add his own comment. "And the Akuma recognized him as a threat! That means, big butterfly man-What's his name again?-sees them as an enemy! So they're obviously on the heroes side!"
Ah Kim, It's not that simple.
"Wow, they're really rowdy today." A sudden voice of an angel spoke.
Recognizing that heavenly sound, Marinette squeaked loudly and sprung to the side. Her eyes locked onto the target. It was a blonde with the most enchanting green eyes. That she could get lost in for decades. Eyes that were so full of life and happiness. Yet revealed a hint of loneliness when gazed deep enough into. Eyes that were so full of emotion and resembled a beautiful spring that was now behind them. Unlike the darker shade she encountered yesterday. A cold calculating, emotionless, and haunting winter. Horrifically saddening.
"A-Adrien!" She stammered out.
The perfection in front over gave her a smile that she nearly fainted at. Didn't he see the effect he had on her yet? He scratched the back of his neck.
"Sorry, I kind of sneak up on you there."
"Ack! It's fine! You can sneak up on me any time- No! I mean! You…uh well." she rambled on before she was stopped by a loud slam and a hush falling over the room.
Marinette whipped her head towards the sound and found their beloved teacher standing up with her hands on her desk. She could only assume that the sound came from their obviously frustrated teacher.
"Alright! That is enough! Everyone take your seats! And no more talk of the questionable supers!" the class grumpily went to their seats and sat down. Ms. Bustier let out a sigh, "Thank you. Now, Marinette and Adrien, please take your seats."
The duo shuffled to their seats. The secret heroine was secretly thankful for the teachers interference. It saved her from embarrassing herself even further. One of these days, I'll be able to converse with him like a normal person. The thought made her smile dreamily. Then after that we'll get married and have three kids! And a cute hamster or cat—The thought suddenly made another pair of green eyes flash in her mind. Along with a playful smirk. Her dazed smile dropped and she frowned. I wonder how he's doing, yesterday's battle was really…something. Marinette was still dealing with the aftermath of seeing someone nearly die. In her short years as Ladybug she never experienced someone being on the brink of death. It unnerved her.
Having her mood shifted by the memory, she decided to distract herself by tuning into the lesson. There will be another time to mull over the whole thing. The day passed by as it always did. Chloé was a pain as usual. Adrien was as perfect as ever. Her design ideas were still flowing and Alya was still teasing her about her crush on the model. However, almost every conversation she heard or engaged in was on the topic that seemed to slip out of everyone's mouth. The new supers.
Who they were?
Where they came from?
Are their powers the same as Ladybug and Chat Noir?
Those were the questions that were most frequently asked. And she wondered the same thing. She already knew one of their names. Allen. It was an English name that was for sure. He was a peculiar one. Obviously dyed white hair and a crazy tattoo to match. He couldn't be any older than 16. He must be at the rebel stage I've heard parents complain about. Marinette's mind was brought to the other people with him. She didn't know their names—No, I know another one, Bakanda? Who names their kid that? It was a strange name. It certainly made her understand why he looked as if he hated the world. I would be upset too if that was my name.
She tried to recall any of the others names. The red head's name was—according to her memory—not mentioned. For simplicity sake, she vowed to call him Pirate. He did have an eyepatch after all. I wonder how he got it? Maybe he got it clawed out. She shivered at the thought. What about the girl? What was her name? She knew it was said, but she had no idea what it was. It started with an L. Lacie? Lily? Louise? Lisette? No…
"Marinette!" her head snapped up at the sound and she saw her best friend looking at her from across the library table.
Oh yeah, that's right. We were suppose to be studying for the final next week. She gave the blogger a sheepish smile. "What were you saying, Alya?"
Her friend had brown hair that shifted to a red at the ends. She had dark skin, large glasses, and a mole on her forehead. A plaid shirt hung on her body along with denim pants. In her hand, was her phone with a small ladybug charm hanging off of it. Her small tribute to the famous heroine. The girl, Alya, rolled her eyes, but Marinette could see the fond smile on her face. "As I was saying before you zoned out, you know the victim from yesterday's battle?"
How could I not? I am the one who help fight her…in the beginning. Unable to say such a thing as that, she resorted to nodding her head.
"Well, she's stuck in the hospital with a large scar running down her chest."
Her eyes widened in disbelief. Scar, but how- The image of the sword piercing the victim's chest flashed in her mind. But wouldn't have the lucky charm cleanse everything.
"W-wait! What about Ladybug's cleansing light? Wouldn't that have fixed her?!"
"It should've, but it was such a large wound. It makes me think that depending on the severity of the situation, the charm can't reverse everything." Alya theorized.
If that's the case, then…that boy could be…No! I saw the wound close….didn't I? She tried to sort through the incident. The intensity of it, had her missing details that hadn't proved to be important at the time. Like the girl's name. Let's see, arguing with the white haired rebel, a shout from the pirate and…that accident. A scream. A sword stab…miraculous heal- wait! I did see the wound close! She sighed in relief, an action that went unnoticed by her best friend.
"I wanted to interview her today, but finals are coming up!" With a pout, she slouched in her chair.
An idea sprung in Marinette's head. "I'd doubt they'd let you in anyway."
Alya sighed and responded with a word of agreement.
But they would let in a superhero.
The cold air blew through midnight blue locks. Causing them to whip around the owner's head. The person looked up at the dazzling sky. It was dyed a pre-mature dark blue and sprinkled with glowing dots. Stars. And hanging in the sky was a crescent moon. It's light went unnoticed by the billions of lights on the surface below. However, it did make a red figure twinkle in the light. The figure was a female whose hair, tied in cute pigtails, waved in the cold breeze. With eyes as blue as the sea yet shined like the moon. She stood poised and ready for action. Only to shiver when the wind brushed against her. She stood on a monumental structure. In between two towers that held the most musical bells. Notre Dame.
The girl stared ahead, her eyes locking on a target. While her ears became aware of a thud that sounded behind her. A smile curved in her face.
"You're late—" she turned her body around to gaze that the other, "—Chat Noir."
Chat Noir, gave her a cheeky grin. The cat themed suit his body was covered in was pitch black. The only things that stood out was his messy blonde hair and green eyes. Eyes that were surrounded by a mask that shared his suit's likeness.
"I apawologize, My Lady. I tried to get here as fast as possible once I got your message." he winked while she rolled her eyes at the pun. "So, what was so impurrtant for you to call? Have you called me out to confess your undying love for me, Bugaboo?"
"What have I told you about calling me that?" the smile was still curled on her face. "And for your information, we're going to the hospital."
That sobered the punning cat up real quick. She could see the panic in his eyes at her statement. Before he could spouted out any jumped conclusions, she held her hand up.
"I wanted to talk to yesterday's akuma victim."
He visibly relaxed and instead cocked his head to the left in question. "Why?"
"I wanted to see how she was faring. I heard that the Lucky charm didn't erase everything."
"It didn't!?"
She nodded her head. "I heard she was left with an scar."
"A scar." she heard him mumble as she turned back towards the city, she loved so very much. "Well then! It would be my purrleasure to escort you there!" she could practically hear his grin.
"Alright then, Chaton. First one there has to do next patrol by themselves!" The heroine quickly threw her yo-yo and flung away from the male.
She hopped from roof to roof, jumping over chimneys as she went. It wasn't long until her companion caught up to her. But even she knew his efforts wouldn't be enough. She had always been faster than him. The spotted hero could hear his claws click against tile. The sound grew closer causing her to speed up. Determination in her eyes. Along with a spark of amusement. The wind combed through her hair and she let a smile slide on her face. Lost in her own bliss she nearly didn't see another dark figure flap past her. Her expert eye caught the slight glimmer of purple and she skidded to a stop.
Akuma!
Whipping around, the hero, pulled her yo-yo back and threw it towards the bug. The contraption opened up before capturing the darken butterfly. She expertly pulled the yo-yo back and, as if in routine, she ran her gloved finger across it's surface causing it to pop open once again. Out of the light, it had emitted was an equally white butterfly. A smile crawled on the girls face as she muttered to herself.
"Bye, bye, little butterfly." her smile however vanished at the oddity of them finding an akuma like this. "I wonder who that little bugger was targeting."
"You don't think it was the girl we're going to talk to?" Chat questioned.
She shook her head. "No, but we can't be certain. Lets pick up the pace."
And with that they tore off. Leaving dust in their wake.
When the duo arrived at the hospital, the staff was more than thrilled to see them. Well most of them. Some just grumbled before walking away talking about how they had to stay later because of a bunch of-
"I'll show you to her room. Please follow me." A kind and sweet nurse, sporting a pink suit of scrubs, directed them down the sparkling halls of the hospital. Ladybug spent her time scanning the walls and doors. The walls were decorated in small pictures, paintings, and posters. The posters were mostly inspirational posters meant to give hope to the patients there. The pictures and paintings were mostly of tranquil scenery. Though, she did see some of the superhero duo and that made her chest swell with a bit of pride.
They passed two groups of people. First was a pair of nurses. They seemed to be speaking in hushed tones. Possibly gossiping. When they walked passed them, the heroine could hear a snippet of their conversation.
"Madame A—" one of the nurses began before she was shushed.
"You know we mustn't say her name!" the other hissed.
Nurse #1 rolled her eyes at her. "Oh yeah I forgot, I mean…Patient PK13 is singing that creepy song again."
"You mean the one that talks about searching for…what was it?"
"A h—"
Their voices instantly stopped when they say the heroes and they gave them a happy wave and squeal. Their conversation between them seemed forgotten. With a tiny wave, they continued on their way. The trio walked pass a second group. This time it was a group of mourning guests. It reminded her that hospitals were not only a place of life and hope but also a place of death. One of the mourners stood out from all the rest. It was a short male whose eyes were on dimmer than the others. Grief and sadness radiated off of him in large waves. And that made her tense. Hawkmoth preyed on people with intense negative emotions and the last thing she needed was an akuma battle at this moment.
Thankfully the group was too wrapped up in grieving that they didn't notice the duo. Something she was relieved about. The heroine didn't know what she would say to soothe their pain. So they continued on their way right past them. Ladybug glided past the depressed mourner and heard him mumble underneath his breath.
"If I could, I would do anything to bring him back." at the time, she wrote the statement off as something someone in grief would say. She knew that if she lost someone precious to her to death, she would say the same thing.
"Alright, here we are!" the bright nurse stopped at a white door that had bronze numbers screwed on it. "Door number, 140A"
"Thank you." Chat smiled at the nurse, who's face reddened. Suddenly an irritated feeling crawled up Ladybugs face. When she realized that she was now glaring at the nurse, she quickly steeled her expression to something positive. But the damage had been done. With a squeak, the nurse hurried through an explanation of needing to inform the patient of their arrival. Chat did not notice her expression but did show confusion on his face at the woman's sudden need to flee.
When finally prompted, they entered. One thing she noticed about the room was the blueish tint of the walls and the clean smell in air. Another thing was the large window that sat parallel to the wall where the door was fixed. Had the lights been off, the moonlight would've filled the room. Her eyes trailed up to the bed. On it was a thick red blanket with small white hearts dotting it. The victim sat upright with a tablet in her hand. Her long, ink hair poured down her back and onto the bed underneath her. Her eyes were a bright brown that had flecks of gold hidden in them. The patient stared at them with wide eyes filled with blissful surprise. Ladybug noticed the galaxy that resided over her nose. A milky way of freckles that spread from one cheek bone to another.
"Oh my god! Ladybug and Chat Noir!" she squealed while the duo smiled at her.
"I'm sorry if we've came so late at night. I hope it's not an inconvenience?" the heroine politely apologized .
"W-What?! No! Never! But I am curious…what is the famous duo of Paris doing in my hospital room?"
"We're here to talk with you on how you're doing. It was repurrted to us that the Lucky Charm didn't heal efurything." Ladybug grimaced at the puns. "We wanted to make sure you were alright, you did take a nasty wound to the chest aftepurr all."
That last one was definitely pushing it. But the cat had a proud look on his face, so she chose not to comment on his taste in humor.
"Oh…" the girl's mood suddenly shifted. "Y-yeah…I saw the recording on the Ladyblog…I'm sor—"
Ladybug cut her off. "No! Don't apologize. You were controlled and manipulated by Hawkmoth. None of that was your fault." she punctuated her statement with a gentle smile that received one in return.
"Thank you…again." the patient shifted in her spot before looking back up at them with a confident grin. "As for how I've been feeling, well, I feel fine!"
The answer startled them. Fine? Who felt fine when they got stabbed in the chest with a sword twice their size?
The girl giggled at their expressions. "Honest! I feel so much lighter now. Like…I look in the mirror and it looks like I'm glowing! I've never felt more physically better than now!"
"W-What about the scar?" Chat blurted out.
"How did—"
"Our informant told us that you were scarred. Is this true?" Ladybug slid in to save that one.
The beauty nodded and reach down under the sheets. There was a rustle of movement before she pulled the hospital garb up her stomach. Revealing the scar on it. It was perfectly vertical. Except for it's sharp jagged edges. It wasn't as bad as she thought it would be. She guessed that the Charm had sped up the scars healing process since it seemed to fade a little. Ladybug glanced over at her partner for his reaction and saw that the gentle-cat was looking anywhere but at the girl. She smiled and suppressed a giggle.
"The scar does tickle from time to time but it hasn't bothered me at all." she returned her garb back to it's original state.
The duo shared a look. Both with relief and question. Why didn't the charm heal everything like normal? Could it be that her charm was not as powerful as she was led to think? If that was the case, then…
They needed to find those people soon before the next attack.
Far beyond the prying eyes of people, exorcists and superheroes alike, there was a building that held a special room. Shrouded in pitch black. The only light source in the room were the glowing white butterflies and a large round glass window. It's light showered over a dark figure. The silhouette was that of a male and was on it's fours. With his fist grounded into the room's smooth floor. Next to him fluttered a butterfly like being. The illumination of the light revealed that the being was a lilac color. It was small, tiny even, and was looking down at the man with sorrow.
"Ladybug and Chat Noir have foiled me time and time again. And just when I'm so close, when I have them, THEY show up. Who are they!? Are they the people I was told about?" a deep voice voiced out, he sounded irritated and distressed.
The creature did not speak.
The man glared up at it and it flinched. Pulling himself up, his gazed switched from staring up at the butterfly to glaring down at it. His tone was low and intimidating. "Who are they, Nooroo?"
"I do not know whom they are, Master. But their power…it's familiar yet unlike this world…It's—!" the butterfly was cut off by another voice that entered the empty room.
"Innocence." a low and masculine voice answered.
The duo whip their heads around to the source. Standing there was a handsome tall man with wavy, long and dark hair, tied in a pony tail and pulled over his shoulder. His skin was a burnt umber shade with strange markings on his forehead. Seven of them to be precise. He also sported a mole under his eye. Eyes that were a startling gold. He seemed to be in his mid- to late-twenties. The man wore a white and black outfit combination. His pants-they look more like leggings-were black and form fitting. Over them were boots that reached pasted his knees. On his chest he wore a white coat that only had one sleeve and the front was cut in a way that the man had never seen before. It was open at the neck and expanded outward before coming to a point towards the man's lower abdomen. Like an upside down arrowhead. The only thing keeping it from falling open was the fact that it was held together above the man's navel.
The male took notice of the rough scars that showed on the other's chest and bicep. He also took notice of the cocky smirk that was sent his way. A smirk that was of pure malicious that it made even him shiver.
The man took a stance against the other and spoke in a demanding tone. "Who are you?!"
The other's smirk grew at the question and he started a stride over to them. The man flinched a bit but hid it. He would not show weakness to this person. Unknown to him, his companion was shaking violently. Their eyes blown open in fear. Even the butterflies that crowded the room started to flutter up anxiously. Some flew towards the walls, anywhere to get away from the evil presence.
"That's what you were talking about, no?" his footsteps echoed. "A power so unlike this world because it is not of this world. Isn't that right, Nooroo?" he stopped about a couple meters away from them.
The being stuttered and stammered. Everything flying out incoherently.
The man chuckled, "I forget that some of you creatures don't know. You've convinced yourselves that you're gods of some kind. How saddening."
Nooroo chose not to fight back against the man's claims out of fear that vibrated off of him in waves. Nooroo's master stepped forward and glared with as much intimation as he could muster.
"Who are you?"
"Is that any way to speak to your new boss, Hawkmoth?"
"Boss!?" the man's, Hawkmoth's, anger flared up. "I have no—" he was cut off by the man.
"Ah, ah, ah. I wouldn't finish that if I were you. If you remember correctly, you would know about the deal you made with our beloved Earl."
The name sent shock waved through his body. The…the Earl. "Or were you thinking he'd forgotten about you? Letting you stray from the mission at hand. You forget his the one who gave you the power to darken those pretty bugs."
Trying to stand his ground Hawkmoth grumbled, "I did not forget what the Earl has done for me nor did I forget the deal."
"That's great! Well, then I've come to inform you that he's sent me to oversee your progress. And from what I gather, you haven't collected any fragments yet nor created enough chaos to make this world a proper akuma farm."
He stammered, "I've been dealing with some trouble as of recently."
The other rose an eyebrow. "Trouble? You mean those lovely children? How troublesome can two children be?"
"You don't know how much they've ruined every single one of my plans! Purified every last akuma I've made! The Earl granted me this power with the promise that there will be no one on this Earth who could counter it!"
"Akumas? You call those little bugs akumas? How cute." the man walked around towards the sprite like creature. His smile devious. "And it is true, nothing of this world can counter the power the Earl entrusted to you."
"And now these…these people have come! With swords and hammers swinging!" he ranted.
"People?"
"There were three of them! A red head, a male Asian, and some albino-" he was interrupted yet again.
"Did the albino one have a red scar down his cheek?" the man now looked serious.
Nooroo's master nodded. The man's face twisted into a grin. He let out a crazed laugh and in a swift movement grabbed the sprite. Nooroo let out a yelp and his master stepped forward. The man's grip tightened around the creature.
"Well, this makes things a little bit interesting. Don't you agree?" The man grip grew weak and he bounced Nooroo in his hands. Toying with the sprite, who took it with a grim expression.
Hawkmoth was on the edge at the other's treatment of his companion. However, he was hesitant to step forward. If what he says is true, then he must be as dangerous. But what if he's lying? Doubt grew in him as the other began to speak once again.
"So then, your first order of business is to create a more destructive villain. We need to more akumas made here, since something has slowed us down—" he was cut off.
"Hold on! Do you think I'm going to just roll over and take orders from you?! How do I know that you're not actually with the Earl?" it was a dumb move to make, but he would not allow the other to boss him around without some evidence to his claims.
The man just stopped before his grin grew with bloodlust. Causing shivers to crawl up Hawkmoth's spine. "I have a very special ability. Would you like to see it?"
Before Hawkmoth could answer the air was knocked out of his lungs as he saw the man twist towards him and have one hand impale into his chest. His heart sped up in fear. Shaking from head to toe he glanced down at the sure to be wound, only to see the man's arm sticking out of his chest. No blood in sight just a strange hexagonal pattern on his chest around the man's hand. His eyes flickered back up to his assailant and he saw the deadly glint in his eyes. The man would cut him down in a heart beat with no regrets.
A small yelp was let out in the room along with a flash of a purple light, and caused the white butterflies to flutter to life and fly around. Hawkmoth glanced at his companion, Nooroo, and saw how tight the man's grip had become on the little one. The creature's head, with it's big eyes and purple curl on the forehead, was trembling. The other seemed to noticed his gaze and tightened his vice-like grip. At that the most peculiar thing occurred. Nooroo's head cracked! From the top of his forehead to the top of his left eye lid, a crack formed. It made him seem like a porcelain doll. However, the action was also painful. As he could tell from the sprite's cry of agony.
"Calm yourself. You won't feel a thing. You see…I can pass through anything and I can choose what to touch. So what if I wanted to touch your heart as I pull my hand out?" his arm moved back and stopped. Hawkmoth felt something curl around his heart, causing it to pump out of fear. "I could cleanly rip it right out of your body." the man laughed at his fearful expression. "I once asked an old friend of mine how it would feel. So, how do you think it would feel?"
Hawkmoth's life flashed before his eyes. He saw the things he held close. The people he cared for. The person he wished to save. The things he still had to do. It could all end in this moment. It caused that unknown fear to rise up in him. Making his chest tighten and throat close. That fear of ceasing to exist. The fear of death. It was this phobia that drove him to his answer.
Shakenly, he responded back to his executioner. "F-Fine. I'll follow your o-orders." He was never a man known for stuttering or stammering. That was an act he left to his past self to do.
His new boss smiled happily. Although it was an evil smile. He pulled his hand from the butterfly man's chest, making him feel like he could breath again. His heart sped up for the lack of blood circulation that occurred in that short amount of time. His hand slapped over his chest, where his heart laid. Still dealing with the trauma of that moment. Trying to calm his nerves, he felt something pelt his chest before falling. It was soft and the man was quick to catch it. Laying in his hand was Nooroo, looking exhausted with his new scar. His purple eyes were dull and nearly lifeless, but the movement of the creature's chest was all the knowledge that he needed to see that he was still alive.
"W-What did you do to him?" he looked up at the man.
The other looked down at him with an emotionless expression before waving him off and walking to the large window. "Don't worry about it. Those things usually fix themselves."
Confused, he held Nooroo close to him. To the brooch that sat upon his chest. A butterfly shaped brooch that shared a likeness in color with the magical being.
"S-So what must I-I do?" he hesitantly asked.
"I'm glad you asked! At first I was planning on having you pump out destructive villains so that casualties will happen, but now that I hear that the exorcists are in town. It's leading me to think up a better plan." he turned towards Hawkmoth. "Of course there are things to take into consideration."
"Like what?"
"Like my good ol' pal, Allen Walker."
Alright! Ending that right here. The Hawkmoth and mysterious man(Although most of you probably know who he is) interaction was hard. So was tying the patrol scene to the normal school scene together. It wasn't until I was about to fall asleep that I finally got how to do it. Anyway. Hope you like this.
Also…it seems we see another hidden mystery lying in this chapter. All you hardcore DGM fans could probably see it. But I wonder if you're able to search for the clues and get to the heart of this mystery.
With that said have a wonderful day and night!
Ciao-su~