Chapter Text
Despite her certainty that Chat Noir was blind, Tikki refused to give her any hints. She wouldn't let Marinette know anything about Chat Noir's secret, which only made her more anxious to find out the truth.
So she schemed.
Their next patrol was uneventful. When they met up to say their goodbyes, Marinette jumped down into the park they ended by. Sitting on a bench in front of a bush, she patted the seat next to her. "Can we talk, please?" Ladybug asked, "I...I just want to see something." Jumping down and sitting next to her, Ladybug had a moment of doubt since he knew exactly where she seemed to be as quiet as she tried to be. Maybe it's enhanced senses from his kwami; just do as you planned, Marinette.
"So, my Lady, what do you want to chat about?" Chat Noir said, a smirk appearing on his face. "I just wanted to talk," Ladybug said, speaking louder than she needed to in order to cover the sound of her finding a branch she could use to test her theory. "So, how did you figure out who I was?" she asked, hoping he didn't hear the snap from the branch behind them. Carefully pulling the small branch out, she questioned, "you said you had your guesses, but how did you know?" He didn't seem to make any indication of noticing the branch coming out.
"Le Dessinateur," he said simply, as if the pieces of the puzzle should fall into place immediately. "And why'd you break that twig off? You do know I'm the embodiment of destruction, not you, right?" He turned and smiled a cheeky grin at her. He knew! Mission failed! We'll get 'im next time. "Uh, I fidget when I'm nervous," she said, bringing the twig around and playing with it. "And what did Le Dessinateur do to make you realize that I was Ladybug?"
Chat sat back, looking up. "Well, Ladybug goes on some secret mission that she never talks about again, you deal with the akuma and almost beat it single-handedly, then Ladybug returns when you get home safely."
"I guess it doesn't take Sherlock to put that together," Ladybug said. If only he could help me here...
Still looking around, Chat smiled. "We appear to have a visitor," he said quietly, "who just arrived. Be very careful what you say," he warned with a smile. Looking around, Ladybug couldn't see what he was talking about. "Wh-" She was interrupted by the sound of a phone camera going off, followed by a quiet curse. "Hello, Alya. Sorry, but our conversation is strictly super-heroes only," Chat said as the redhead came out from behind a tree near the entrance of the park.
"Ladybug and Chat Noir, could I trouble you for a quick interview?" she asked, realizing stealth wouldn't cut it.
"I'll handle it, minou," Ladybug said. As she got up, an idea came to her head. Maybe Alya arriving was the best thing that could've happened...
Chat simply nodded, looking back up to the sky.
As Ladybug approached Alya, her plan came together in her head. First, she would try to get Alya to go away, offering a quick photoshoot to sate the Ladyblog's creator's need for the night. She would quietly suggest Alya use her flash for the best photos, which was a risk. If she was right that Chat was blind, he wouldn't be affected by the flash and her theory would prove correct. But if he wasn't blind, the night vision his goggles allowed him mixed with the sudden flash may hurt his eyes terribly.
It was a risk she was willing to take. Besides, the eye pain would only be temporary.
"I'm sorry, Alya, but we're in the middle of something serious, so we can't do an interview."
The reporter groaned. "Of course, a quick photo wouldn't hurt," Ladybug suggested. Alya's eyes quickly lit up and a huge smile appeared on her face. "If I could get a photo of you two, that would be amazing! You really wouldn't mind?" Alya asked, shaking with excitement. Ladybug smiled, knowing that she'd have her answer shortly.
"No problem. Although I would suggest using your flash so you can get the best picture possible," Ladybug said. Alya pressed a button on her phone, nodding. "Wouldn't have it any other way! Now, let's go get this picture taken!"
Ladybug and Alya walked over to Chat, who hadn't moved since she left. "I thought you said you'd take care of the situation," he said to Ladybug. "Well, she couldn't leave without a photo," Ladybug said. "Don't worry, Chatton, we'll get back to our discussion right after this photo." Chat stood up and walked over to them. "So, any kind of shot you want in particular?"
"Just relax," Alya said. "There are so many action shots of you two while I've only captured like one or two photos where you were both relaxed."
Sliding into place next to Ladybug, Chat took a relaxed stance, arms crossed with a smile on his face, leaning on his right foot. Ladybug mirrored his pose and they both looked to Alya, waiting for the picture to snap. This is it, Marinette thought, the moment of truth!
Suddenly, Alya screamed in frustration. "NOOOO! I MADE SURE TO CHARGE IT BEFORE I LEFT! WHY IS THE BATTERY DEAD ALREADY? AND NOW, OF ALL TIMES!"
Marinette couldn't believe it. I'm the embodiment of GOOD luck, not bad luck!
Mumbling a goodbye and cursing herself for not being prepared, Alya left the two heroes in the park. When she was out of hearing range, Chat broke out in laughter. "The ever-ready reporter, beaten by poor phone battery," he said. "At least she can't be charged with battery tonight. Forget I said that; that joke was terrible." Chat sat back down, Ladybug sitting beside him in defeat. Every plan I had failed, and now I'll have to wait until next patrol to-
Wait a minute...that just might work...
Looking up to the sky, Ladybug sighed. "The stars sure are beautiful tonight," she thought aloud. In actuality, it was overcast and she could barely tell where the moon was through the clouds.
"Yeah," Chat sighed in agreement, "but they are no match for your beauty, my Lady."
"Wow, Chat," Ladybug said, "your eyesight must be amazing to see the stars through all the clouds." I got him now!
Chat looked confused for a moment, then sputtered, "w-well, my night vision lets me see the stars as brighter, a-and-"
"Chat, you don't need to lie to me. I think I know what secret you told Tikki: you're blind, aren't you?" She turned, looking over at her partner and saw him frown before looking at her.
"Yes and no," Chat said hesitantly. He paused, picking his words carefully. "What I'm about to tell you is secret. And I mean more secret than our identities," he turned to her, as if looking for an affirmation. Ladybug nodded, then realized nodding was ineffective for the blind. "You can trust me, Chat," she said.
He looked uncomfortable, and surprised her by standing up. "Can we move this conversation elsewhere?" he asked, "somewhere more private?"
Ladybug nodded, paused, then said, "of course."
"I know when you nod, by the way," Chat said. "But I'll explain that later too."
"I know where we can go," Ladybug said, then paused, unsure if her idea was the best. "Follow me," she said as she threw her yo-yo into the distance.
They arrived in Marinette's room, a place where she knew they would never be disturbed. Detransforming and handing Tikki a cookie, Marinette sat down on a chair, offering Chat her chaise.
He sat down on the chaise. "Do you have anything planned for tomorrow?" he asked her, "'cause this may take a while to explain and I don't want to keep you up if you have something important that you need to do tomorrow."
Marinette shook her head, "tomorrow's a Sunday; we'll be quieter most of the day. And could you please talk quieter; my parents are sleeping."
Adjusting his voice, Chat said, "sorry; I use my voice to "see" as Chat Noir, so I need to be loud..."
"You use echolocation? That's awesome! What does everything look like?" She was excited, and Tikki sat with a cookie in her mouth.
"Well, let me start from the beginning. Then, everything will make more sense..." Chat said.
"I was born blind, and naturally, all my other sense have enhanced themselves to make up for it. But it's nothing compared to what Plagg, my kwami, allows me to do as Chat Noir." He clapped softly, and sat, ears twitching. "Just from that, I have the basic layout of your room. I use echolocation thanks to Plagg. But there's more..."
He looked at Tikki, and said, "a while ago, I asked Plagg if he ever knew something like my ability, and he said that you'd mentioned it before. Maybe you could help explain it?"
"Well, since I don't know what ability you're referring to," Tikki said, "I can't really help you. But if I know what it is, I'll do my best to explain it." She smiled, and that was all Chat needed to go on.
"Although I was born blind, I was also born with a special gift: I can see people's auras, and each one is unique to that person. It's how I was able to figure out who most akuma were, and figure out who you are," Chat said, rubbing the back of his neck.
Tikki cut in. "You can see people's colours?" She smiled and flew over to him. "I've been involved with a family who possessed that ability, and so has another kwami, the peacock..."
Turning to Marinette, her eyes sparkled. Marinette waited for Tikki to elaborate. "Chat Noir can see when people are akumatized and who they were simply by their colours," Tikki explained. "Every person has a unique colour that only one family has the ability to see. Chat Noir is descended from that family, and it's a family that the Miraculouses have been involved with several times," Tikki squealed.
"So, one of my ancestors was a Ladybug?" Chat excitedly asked. "Three Ladybugs, one Guardian, and now a Chat Noir, to be exact," she said, a sly smile crossing her face.
Chat Noir's smile grew even larger. Marinette, on the other hand, sat confused. "So, you can see people's colours, which is their aura...how does that help beyond knowing who people are?" she asked.
"Well, the colours are confined to a person's body. It fills the person, and I can see every move someone makes. I can see what they're doing with their hands, where they're facing, how they're walking. So when someone shakes or nods their head, I can see it. I can't tell what they're wearing, what they hold, where they're looking. I only know where they are and who they are."
"Before my mother..." he paused, a frown replacing his smile for a moment. "My mother taught me all the colors using people we knew. I've yet to see a color that she didn't teach me."
"What's wrong, Chat?" Although he couldn't see her face, Adrien could hear the sad concern in her voice.
"If I were to tell you what happened to my mother," he said, "you'd know who I am. And you said no clues, remember?" He grinned at her, but she could tell it was just covering up the truth.
She stood up and walked over to him, enveloping him in a hug. "It's ok to feel sad, chatton," she said. His arms slowly surrounded her, holding her in a tight hug with him. "Thank you for telling me about your blindness and the colours. Can I ask you a question?"
She stepped away and looked into his eyes. Even though he was blind, he still looked into her eyes. "Of course, my princess."
"You always compliment me, my beauty, anything. How do you know I'm beautiful? How do you know I'm not some ugly girl who's mask covers the horrors?"
Chat paused, taken aback. "Do you know what your colour is?" She shook her head. "You are the most special person in the world," he said, "because your colour does something I have never seen a colour do before: it changes." Marinette blushed, for once thankful Chat couldn't see.
"When you're fierce and commanding, taking charge of everything, you're a powerful and empowering red that is pure passion. But, when you're relaxed or quiet, you're the most beautiful blue in the world. A blue so deep and lovely that I doubt the ocean could equal it's beauty. 'The sky must jealous of your colour' I often think to myself, 'for it could never equal your beauty.'" Chat wrapped her in another hug. "Both of your colours are amazing, there's no doubt about that. And with colours as beautiful as those, you must be equally as beautiful."
Marinette didn't know how long they stood in her room, holding on to each other as the night went on. But, all too soon, a beep echoed throughout her room, a beep that signaled the end of their talk.
"Alas, my Lady, it seems that Plagg is getting hungry. Until next time," he bowed and leaped out the hatch, onto the roof, and out into the city.
Marinette watched through her window as the black silhouette disappeared into the night while Tikki smiled, her OTP coming together happy for the two Chosen.
Chat's blindness did nothing to affect their combat against the next few akuma. Neither did Ladybug's newfound knowledge of it. Instead, both fought fiercely and beat everything Hawkmoth sent at them. Then, one day, a new superhero appeared.
"Hello, Ladybug," she said when she first met the superheroine. "I'm Volpina, the newest hero of Paris. Where's Chat Noir?"
"I don't know; he'd usually be here. Maybe he didn't see the meteor coming down." There wasn't any way he could've seen it.
"Well, Paris is safe for now. Oh, there he is," Volpina said, pointing to a quickly approaching Chat Noir. Instead of coming to a stop at the edge of the roof, though, he ran and dropkicked Volpina, nearly sending her off the roof. "CHAT! WHAT THE HECK!"
"She's an akuma Ladybug; she has his colour around him," he said too quiet for her to hear. Taking a fighting pose, he called out to her, "we know you're an akuma, so why don't you just make it easy and hand over your akumatized item?"
Volpina laughed. "You don't know what you're dealing with, little kitty," she menacingly shouted. Raising her flute to her mouth, she played a short tune, and several missiles rose up behind her. Chat felt Ladybug flinch and curse under her breath. He was utterly confused; he could hear something behind Volpina, but there was absolutely nothing there. Volpina took a step forward and Ladybug jumped away, shouting for Chat to run.
Chat heard explosions all around him, but nothing was damaged as Volpina kept walking forward. The sounds echoing from the explosions were enough that he could see everything for the next block clearly, but he just saw Ladybug running, the noises following her. Scratching his head, he went on the offensive and swung his baton at Volpina.
He could see the shock in her colour as he attacked, but she recovered quickly enough to deflect it with her flute. "Impossible!" she said, "how did you see through my ruse?"
"What can I say," he shrugged, "cat's have good eyesight. Guess the chat's out of the bag." He continued attacking, and she soon retreated. He followed her, calling Ladybug on his pole as he jumped from building to building. "Chat, you're alive!"
"Her power deals with ruses or something," he said. "Where did all those exploding sounds come from?"
"You were bombarded with missiles!" she said. Chat thought for a moment. "What's the word for when something alters sight?"
"You mean like an illusion?"
"Yeah that. I think that's her powers. Just follow my lead on this one. Looks like we're headed for the Eiffel Tower."
"I'll meet you there."
When Ladybug got there, Chat was climbing to the top of the tower, where Volpina held someone over the ledge. Throwing her yo-yo and pulling herself up to Chat's position, she could see clearly who was dangling over the edge.
ADRIEN AGRESTE?!? WHAT'S HE DOING HERE?!?
"Stop right there, Ladybug and Chat Noir, or I'll drop him," Volpina called from above.
"Help me, Ladybug!" Adrien called gripping at Volpina's arm.
"Was that m-uh, Adrien Agreste I heard?" Chat said to his partner, who had frozen at the sound of the boy's voice. She quickly nodded, paling.
"Now, you will give me your Miraculouses, or I will let Adrien Agreste fall to his death!"
Chat laughed beside her, and she shot her partner a look that she realized he couldn't even see (they both learned her making faces at him wasn't something he could see or even really knew about). "Chat, we can't let him die."
Chat just shook his head. "He won't; it's another illusion. Do you know where the akuma is," he asked.
"I'm pretty sure it's in her "Miraculous," the necklace around her neck."
"I think I saw that when you ran away from the missiles; it's a swirl, right?"
"A fox tail to be precise, but yea."
"Well then, let's go get it."
Before he could jump up though, she grabbed his arm. "Are you sure that Adrien is an illusion? Like there's no doubt whatsoever?"
Chat nodded immediately. "There's only one colour up there: an akumatized Lila. Also, from what I see, she's holding her thin air in her hand, no person whatsoever."
"I trust you, Chat," Ladybug said before launching herself up towards Volpina. Throwing her off guard, Volpina let go of Adrien and he vanished in a puff of orange. A moment later Chat joined her and together, they proceeded to snatch the necklace from Volpina, who thought that if she made multiple clones of herself, they would never guess the right one.
Chat broke grabbed it immediately, crushing it in his claw.
Ladybug purified the akuma and helped Lila back down to the ground.
Once Lila was safe, Ladybug jumped back up to the top of the tower and held her fist up for Chat to bump. "Bien joué," they said.
"You know, it's kind of weird," Ladybug said. "For a moment, I could've sworn Adrien sounded just like you. I guess that shows just how little Lila actually knows him," she said with a shrug.
"What, I can't be Adrien Agreste?" Chat asked.
Ladybug let out a short laugh. "You? Adrien Agreste? The famous...blind...model...who sounds...similar to you..." Chat looked at her and saw her red and blue colours swirling around once more. With a smile, he put his hand on her shoulder, kissed her cheek, and said, "until next time, my Lady," before leaping off of the tower, extending his baton, and flying over the city.