Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

The Miraculous Reveal

Gabriel has had enough. Lila Rossi got her reward and did not deliver. Right now it has been 16 hours since the last akumatized person. And if Gabriel transformed into hawk Moth and released a violet butterfly, the most probable candidate was Lila herself.

“It is time to change strategy” Gabriel informed Nathalie. “The last time Lila was akumatized, she captured Chat Noir, but then she was successfully held away by a civilian. I will not waste my energy on akumatizing her.”

“What is your plan, Sir?” Nathalie asked warily. She admired the man, she loved him, she would do anything for him, she lived for his praise and she seldom got it. But she got it more often than anyone else in his vicinity, including his own son, so it meant something.

The man kept quiet for some time and Nathalie began to wander if there is any plan at all. The general plan was clear. Take Ladybugs and Chat Noirs miraculous and bring his wife back. That was what he wanted. He did not want her, Nathalie, as his spouse. He wanted his wife back. Nathalie wanted him happy. The way he was now, he was not happy. Perhaps his wife would wake up and dump him once she learned what he had become? Then Nathalie could finally make progress. Perhaps she did not plan that far ahead, she was not there to plan, she was not there to think, it was Gabriel s job.

“I have suspected for some time that Marinette Dupain Cheng might be Ladybug.” Gabriel announced solemnly. “I am becoming more certain as the events unfold.”

Nathalie strangled her internal ‘what’ and raised her eyebrows. When Gabriel did not continue, she squeezed out a response.

“What lead you to that conclusion, sir?” Nathalie sighed internally.

“It was the day she returned the book. I noticed her earrings.” he continued in the same flat tone. “The recent events have drawn to my attention that this girl is rather inclined towards my son.”

Nathalie raised her eyebrows. Gabriel looked at Nathalie “Make sure Adrien brings her over after school.” With that, Nathalie turned on her heels and walked out of the office.

Adrien was giddy when he left his breakfast table. Plagg scratched him like crazy, but he could not help it. Nathalie has allowed him to invite Marinette over after school. Actually she told him that his father told him to. That was her way of showing affection. That was his father’s way of showing affection. He was allowed to invite a friend to his house. This was awesome. She mentioned something in the line of ‘social media training’ and ‘public persona etiquette’ but he put it out of his mind. He will have a friend over to visit him.

“I can’t believe. I was so down. This week I was supposed to be confined in the house because of climate protests and extra activities to make up for the video shoot during the weekend.” Adrien said as soon as he entered the car.

“Your father has his fingers in this kid. Don’t you think he has different agenda?” Plagg warned quietly from his shirt pocket.

Adrien had no problems persuading his driver to stop by the bakery so he would meet Marinette in her home and walk to school. A bag of pastries was sufficient bribe. Besides, he explained to his bodyguard, he is supposed to return home with Marinette, so it was not like they were breaking some rules his father imposed.

Marinette was too sleepy to be too flustered about Adrien walking her to school. He kept talking about croissants and Jagged Stone and other subject that did not trigger lovesick anxiety in her (not that he knew).

Then, just at the bottom of the school steps before the main entrance, he dropped the bomb casually. “By the way, Marinette, would you come over to my house after school today?” he grinned.

The girl nodded, squeaked and flailed her hands at the same time. The blush came seconds later. He smiled widely for her response.

Marinette, on the other hand, was just waking up. She registered the information without processing it. Currently she was standing in front of school and Adrien asked her to hang out in his house after school. She nodded automatically.

“Hey dude! Your father let’s her in?” Nino said and fist bumped with Adrien and Marinette for greeting.

“Yea, Nathalie told me this morning.” Adrien flashed a smile towards Nino and Alya, and bumped the fists with the latter too.

“Can’t believe that dude.” Nino said as they ascended the stairs.

“Girl” Alya winked at Marinette and the girl turned more pink.

They passed the entrance to the school and Adrien casually threw an arm around Nino on one side and Marinette on the other side.

“Perhaps I could invite all of you soon.” he grinned. Just talking over the phone to Marinette made him feel less lonely in the Agreste Mansion last night. He enjoyed his birthday party although it got interrupted by Party Crasher. He wanted to have friends over.

The school day was exciting. Ms Bustier gave them their book assignments for literature. Ms Mendeleev fussed about science. Students, however, could not stop chatting about Jagged Stone video and when it would be released. Even Chloe secretly enjoyed this ‘ridiculous, utterly ridiculous’ situation. Principal Damocles printed photo of him and Jagged Stone and glued it to his door as well as the school web page. Chloe was right this time, even Marinette admitted so.

Adrien met Kagami in front of school during lunch break. They both waited for their cars because traffic was worse than usual due to the climate summit. She gave him a speech (few sentences actually, but for Kagami, it was a speech).

“Adrien, I want to congratulate you on your new relationship and hope she makes you happy.” she held his both hands. “I want you to know that you should not hesitate to come to me if you ever change your mind.”

At that moment Alya, Nino and Marinette got out from the school and Kagami turned to Marinette and talked to her. The girls were chatting when Kagami’s car arrived and she left.

His driver got out from the car and gave him his lunch box with a note. He was allowed to spend the lunch break in school with his friends. His eyes almost popped out and he read the note several times. His driver disappeared in the direction of the bakery.

The four of them spent their lunch break chatting. Alya had questions. Alya had many questions. She was born to ask questions. Adrien was more talkative than usual. He answered them all. Nino commented with hey dude and bumped his shoulder or fist from time to time. Marinette was too busy blushing, but answered questions when Alya pressured her to do it.

Adrien described how she almost got akumatized leaving out the part when he snatched the pants off her. Adrien described how his father has informed him he can’t choose his girlfriend and picked up Lila, of all. And Adrien described how he did a false kiss with Lila for the press without mentioning the real kiss with Marinette. And the girl was thankful.

From time to time he studied her face and the way she blushed at particular part of the story when he left out certain details. From time to time he would look at her lips and his heart would beat faster. And he felt Plagg patting his chest under the shirt whenever he left out some details.

The school day was finished and Adrien found Marinette in front of her locker. Suddenly, the memory of him kissing her flashed in his mind with full force. It was 24 hours ago. And now they were in the same spot. It was his first voluntary kiss that he remembered (akuma forced do not count as well as those he could not remember).

Marinette remembered the same kiss and she flushed instantly. The same memory kept her slightly excited the whole day and prevented her falling asleep during classes. It also prevented her from remembering anything teachers said, but who cares. The same boy stood in front of her, but they were not alone in the locker room this time (they were not alone yesterday either, but were not aware of that). Her heart pounded at the memory and she made a mistake of looking into his eyes so she drowned in green and her brain went into the suspend mode.

Adrien smirked and leaned onto her locker. He smiled crookedly and said something. He waved his head towards the exit. She nodded. Was she expected to do just that? He waved his head again with that Chat Noir smile again and she turned her head in that direction. Then they walked out of the locker room and the spell that held her has broken.

They chatted all the way to his car and all through rather lengthy drive to the mansion. It might have been faster if they walked. The traffic was so slow.

They entered the gate, they stopped the chatting and relaxed feelings crumpled. As they stood in front of the gates of the Mansion, Adrien wandered why it was so cold suddenly. He stood there in front of the house looking at the gates. Marinette felt his anxiety. The gates of his house looked as the gates of Mordor. They shook off the feeling and entered.

They went to Adrien’s room. Adrien gave her a tour of his room. She was there before, both as Marinette and as Ladybug (not that he knew). They played games when Nathalie knocked the door.

“Mr Agreste wishes to see you.” Nathalie informed in a way of invitation.

Adrien and Marinette got up. Nathalie turned around without words. Both teens walked out in silence. But, behind Nathalie’s back, they exchanged a few looks between themselves as if they were talking. A few glances, raised eyebrows, smirks and shrugs later they concluded that both of them had no idea what was this about but they reassured each other and gave each other confidence.

Gabriel awaited them in his office sitting behind his desk. They got seated in smaller chairs on the opposite side of his desk. Nathalie stood on the side of the desk with her tablet and stylus out as if she was about to take notes from a meeting.

Adrien and Marinette glanced at each other.

“Adrien” Gabriel shifted his gaze from the computer screen to his son. “How are you satisfied with your current girlfriend?”

Adrien gaped like a fish.

Marinette gaped like a fish too.

“I believe you have been taught to provide a better response than that!” Gabriel glared.

“If you speak of Lila Rossi?” Adrien touched the subject. Gabriel gave one annoyed nod. Who else should it be, Gabriel himself bothered to do two public appearances to announce and confirm the fact. Anyone in Paris knew it. How this kid could be so dense, and not understand that, was beyond him.

“Then you should know I do not like her.” Adrien replied simply and quietly. He did feel awkward and ashamed of having this conversation in front of Marinette, he felt that way about having the conversation at all.

“That is irrelevant.” Gabriel replied sternly.

Marinette gasped. How on Earth could that be irrelevant? Should not a boy like his girlfriend?

Adrien, on the other hand, simply kept breathing. Marinette looked at him in wonder.

“She has proven to be an excellent choice for our market in Italy.” Gabriel looked at his computer screen as if studying some numbers.

“The media coverage in Italian media was extremely positive and it had reflected on the sales of our brand with an increase from 50 percent in shops to 120 percent on internet sales, and there have been only 48 hours.” Nathalie stated the facts.

Adrien looked at the floor in shame. He was treated as a company asset for as long as he could remember. But his guts told him this was wrong. One look at Marinette told him he had no clue how wrong that was.

Marinette felt her stomach crunch into the size of a peanut, or perhaps rice. If this meeting goes on like this, she might form a neutron star in there and it could even collapse into a black hole. Fortunately, Ms Mendeleev explained that those things happened to stars of sufficient size and Marinette and her stomach were rather tiny. She felt sick to her stomach and it was obvious.

She looked at Adrien. Was this boy ever treated as a person? Was he allowed to have feelings? Did he know what a normal family should be? He looked at her and her eyes started filling with tears for him. Oh, she was so blind. She idolized the man who was holding the function of his father, but never executed it in its true sense.

Adrien saw the tears welling up in those blue eyes and he knew those were the tears for him. He knew she loved him, one way or another, as a friend or something more. And then and there she showed him with her sorrow how wrong his life was.

Marinette turned away from him and looked at his father. There was determination in her eyes. She knew she would help this boy any way she could, she was just not sure exactly how. For a split second, she wished she was Kagami. She would jump to her feet, take out her sword and cut this monster of his father into pieces.

“Therefore, you will keep the public image presented this weekend for some time. However, we should plan ahead.” Adrien folded his hands in front of him. “We have to think of other markets abroad and do not forget about our market in the country.”

Perhaps she could transform right now, take out her yo-yo and smack Gabriel straight in the face?

“The release of the Jagged Stone video is expected to increase the sales in USA, Australia and Canada” Nathalie informed.

Adrien sighed in relief. He connected those markets with the idea of dating Chloe and the influence of her mother on the fashion statements in those countries.

Marinette glanced at him. He just sighed in relief? How was that good news for Adrien, the boy? For the company and for the public figure, maybe, but … for the boy?

“But we can not say the same would happen in the far East.” Nathalie cut her train of thought.

Far East? Far East. They will propose him another girlfriend that would increase the sales in the far East. Both of them thought of Kagami.

“I was thinking of Kagami” Gabriel connected the fingertips of his hands and watched the two teens intently.

Marinette did not dare to turn her eyes towards Adrien. She heard him inhale a breath because she stopped breathing. She knew he liked the girl. She suspected he was in love with her. Adrien obviously did not like Lila, he came to kiss her, Marinette, and trained the false screen kiss with her so he would be able to fool the press and not kiss Lila for real. But what would he do if it was Kagami?

“On the other hand, we still have some time and I am willing to consider other options.” Gabriel stared at Marinette. She held his gaze. She was the person he named as inappropriate to ever be his girlfriend only two days ago.

“Tell me Mlle Dupain Cheng, what are you ready to do in order to become publicly recognized as a girlfriend of Adrien Agreste?” Gabriel stared at her. This was it. He is going for it. He assumed this girl was Ladybug and wanted his son.

“Wh.. What?” She stuttered out her reaction.

Gabriel gave one look to Nathalie and resumed staring at Marinette.

“It is my understanding that your ambition, Mlle Dupain Cheng, is to become a fashion designer. The liaison with my son could only boost your career.” He continued his business proposal.

“The question is what would you give up for that?” he stared straight into Marinette.

Adrien flipped his eyes between his father and Marinette. They were in a staring contest. Well, his father definitely was, but Marinette seemed less into it, as if she put her eyes on his father as a shield while her brain worked in the background.

Except her brain was not working.

Or it was in overdrive, whatever.

The result was the same.

Marinette just got offered everything she ever wanted, Adrien and a career in fashion design in exchange for something, something she should give, some kind of favour she should do. What did he want? Was it just some kind of test? Why would he want anything from her? What could she possibly have that this man would want? What was he? Hawk Moth? Will he ask her to bring him Ladybug and Chat Noir miraculous now? Was this how akuma victims were treated? She almost laughed at her train of thoughts, but it was wrong. She knew it was wrong because Adrien had nothing to say on it. She shifted her eyes to Adrien.

And that very moment he knew she loved him. The posters, the confession in the wax museum, everything made sense. Her eyes told him how much she loved him. She loved him so much she made him a scarf, returned the book and somehow made his father return him to school. She loved him so much she accepted to be his friend.

“For example, if I asked for those earrings of yours in return, would you give them to me?” Gabriel leaned back in his chair and reconnected his fingertips.

Marinette flipped her face back to Gabriel.

Adrien saw her earrings.

They were so familiar. So, so familiar.

Plagg was motionless up until then, but he started scratching his chest so violently Adrien struggled not to swat his chest pocket.

Marinette felt Tikki poking her thigh through the purse. It took a lot of self control just to calm her breathing.

“My earrings?” Marinette raised her hand towards her ear. Adrien focused on the earring intently. He was glad his right hand was concealed from his father and he resisted the urge to fiddle with his ring.

Marinette was Ladybug. Those were Ladybugs earrings. Gabriel just offered this girl his own son, the face of his brand (he might have valued him more as that) and a career in exchange for a mere pair of earrings?

His father just asked for those earrings. They both knew one person was immensely interested in a pair of earrings. Marinette knew she was wearing that particular pair, Adrien suspected, but was not so certain.

This had only one conclusion and both of them have reached it. For Adrien, it did not matter if Marinette was indeed Ladybug. He knew. Gabriel Agreste, his own father, was Hawk Moth. And Nathalie was probably Mayura.

Marinette swallowed.

She looked at Adrien once more, her eyes were so determined.

“In addition, I would ask you to acquire one specific ring for me.” Gabriel never raised his gaze from Marinette. He knew about Chat Noirs feelings for Ladybug, she could easily trick him and get his ring. The puppet in the wax museum and the Ladybug sentimonster almost succeeded.

And every doubt that Gabriel Agreste was Hawk Moth himself has vanished. Adrien thanked the years of modelling practice to remain calm. He admired Marinette, how was she doing it? Well, she probably was Ladybug.

“I would gladly give you my earrings.” Marinette finally spoke. Tikki was pounding on her thigh so strong her purse moved slightly, but to an outsider it could look as if she had moved her thigh. Adrien wanted to jump to his feet, transform, grab Marinette and jump out the window. Well he might do it in a second or two. Right now Plagg was pinching him or biting him, he was not even sure.

“And I might be able to acquire a ring, although my means in that respect are rather limited.” Marinette stopped to take a breath. “But it is your son who should decide who he wants for his girlfriend upon his feelings, not upon the needs of your brand.” Marinette replied. Was she playing dumb? Was Gabriel buying it? Should she transform on the spot, grab Adrien and jump out the window? Could she return with Chat Noir and the police? Gabriel and Nathalie could transform and follow her. They planned this confrontation in details.

She looked at Adrien and he smiled back. Someone in this room saw him as a person and not as a company asset. And it was his lady. He had found her. She was revealed to him by his father, Hawk Moth. Perhaps he should be grateful to his father for that? Okay, right now they should probably fight or fly (forget about the two other f words often utilized in such situations). Could they possibly talk their way out from this room and exit as normal teens without compromising their identities as superheroes?

“Father, she has a point. And I would prefer not to ask for her earrings and some ring as some kind of dowry. Neither from Marinette, nor from any other girl.” Adrien finally spoke.

Adrien held his breath. How many splits of a second does it take to pronounce ‘Claws out’ and transform? Breaking glass means a lot of small pieces that could hurt Marinette, he should call for cataclysm instantly.

The word dowry was what broke the spell.

“Fine. I take it as your opinion Adrien. Consider it a kind of test to see if someone like her is worthy of connection with our family. However, I just might be so generous to offer Mlle Dupain Cheng some time to consider my offer and acquire what is needed. In the meantime, Adrien will consider what is best for him.” He gave her a knowing look. She pretended not to understand.

Did Gabriel just threaten his own son with those last words? It definitely sounded like that.

They stared at each other for a moment until Nathalie clarified the situation.

“You may return to your schedules.” Nathalie looked at the two confused teens over her tablet.

The two kids got up. It was Marinette who insisted on thanking profusely for this conversation and not leaving without saying her goodbyes. The walked out of the office of his father without any further conversation. Adrien practically grabbed Marinette’s hand and dragged her to his room.

He looked her straight in the eyes and opened his mouth.

He wanted to call her My Lady, he wanted to tell her he was Chat Noir, he wanted to tell her those were Hawk Moth and Mayura they just spoke to, but the first words that came out from his mouth surprised him.

“Thank you Marinette!” he hugged her. He pulled her in and held her close. They held each other for a few moments relieved they were out of the office. But, they were not out from the building yet.

A grunt came from the door to his room. His bodyguard was gesturing the time and Adrien took Marinette out of the Agreste Mansion. He insisted on entering the car, but Nathalie appeared at the entrance to the house and made him enter back into the mansion.

She instructed him to take dinner now, his father was too busy and he took the dinner into his room. The moment the door closed, he took a few bites of food, in between bites he set up the piano piece to play on his stereo with a ten minute delay, he ruffled his sheets and pillows to make it look as if someone was curled on the bed, all the while Plagg ate the cheese. He quickly took a whole wheel of Camembert, looked at Plagg and then took another wheel. They went into the bathroom, Adrien let out his shower, transformed and jumped out his window.

Marinette shifted and squirmed in the car seat as much as the seat buckle would allow her. She ran out from the car, the bakery was closed, she ran up the stairs and through the flat, she had to take some pastries for dinner in her room as her parents did not let her go through without taking any food. She rearranged her bed as if someone was sleeping there, transformed and went out onto her balcony. The next thing was to send a message to Chat Noir.

“Are you sure that was wise, sir?” Nathalie dared to question Gabriel.

“If she is Ladybug, I count on her dedication towards Adrien. Otherwise, we have revealed her identity.” Gabriel never took his eyes from his screen. “If she is not, this can be presented as a simple test and we have no obligation whatsoever to fulfil our part of the deal.”

Gabriel was stern, he reacted to Nathalie questioning him and she did not dare to produce any other reaction than to leave his office.

He barely made a few jumps when the communicator in his baton received the first message.

“Urgent: Meet me at a dinner rooftop.” the message said. They would usually meet on the Eiffel Tower or some other sight and enjoy the view, but this spot was much closer. And much closer to Marinettes home.

He vaulted that way and was there in less than a minute. Ladybug was already there.

“Chat I know who Hawk Moth is. I possibly know Mayura too.” She said instead of greeting. “And, my identity is compromised. They know who I am.” She looked to her feet. She sniffed. Chat did not have time to think how to react. She was breaking in front of him.

“What I am about to tell you will reveal my identity.” She flailed her hands, spoke quickly and quietly and walked left and right. “Chat he offered me the future. He offered me everything I ever wanted. The boy I love and a career. In exchange for my earrings. And your ring.”

Chats brain stopped at ‘the boy I love’ part. He knew that was Marinette behind and he realized she loved him at that moment during the talk. But now it was Ladybug telling him that she loved him, the ‘Adrien’ him, and he has just made the connection.

“How?” his mouth spoke aloud.

“He is his father. Hawk Moth is the father of the boy I love. And I suspect Mayura is his assistant.” Ladybug whispered. He pulled her into a hug. She loved him. Ladybug loved him. Marinette loved him. And he loved them back. Both. Well she was just one.

“I could never have him. I can’t be Ladybug any more.” She slumped her shoulders and lowered her head.

“You are the perfect Ladybug and we are dealing with my father together, this evening, right now!” Chat whispered in her ear.

It took some time for the information to bring an effect. He held her the whole time. Once her breathing was somewhat steady, although faster than normal, he pulled away so much he could look her in the eyes.

“Make a plan. We are dealing with them this evening.” he looked at her in the eyes.

“We do not have time to train other heroes and we know who they are. I do not know why they ever let us walk out from that office.” he whispered.

Ladybug ducked and pulled him down with her, they crawled into the darkness.

“Have you been followed? Do they know about you?” she was returning back to business. The battle mode took over her body and brain. She could deal with the reveal and its consequences later.

“They do not know about me or they would not ask you to bring them the ring.” Chat whispered.

“You are right, but we have to make sure they are not watching us from somewhere.” she whispered.

“That’s My Lady” Chat grinned scanning the surroundings.

“We have to protect the other miraculous.” Ladybug looked at him her eyes wide.

They jumped off the rooftop straight onto her balcony.

“We should inform the police.” Chat opened his baton. It was him who got officer Roger Raincomprix. It was him who explained the situation in as few words as possible.

Ladybug was digging through a large box that was apparently full of gifts. In her haste he noticed a few boxes opened and he noticed a tie, a man’s wallet, a man’s shirt. It became clear to him that Ladybug did not switch on the light and was rumbling with her hands in the darkness trying to feel for what she was looking for.

“The miraculous box is in here?” Chat asked her kneeling next to her.

“Yes” she whispered back.

“I can see in the darkness. Just let me know what I am looking for” Chat whispered back.

“It is on the bottom, one of the bigger boxes, not the biggest one.” she explained not sure how to actually separate the one from the rest. Chat could not tell colours in the dark.

He opened one box, it was a sweater with “c=mc2” on it. He smiled.

“What is in the rest of these boxes, anyway.” Chat could not help himself.

“Just find the miraculous box, Chat, please” Ladybug begged.

And there it was. He took it out.

At that moment someone entered her room crashing through the rooftop window from the terrace. The moment they looked up, someone else was at a small round window behind her chaise.

“Hawk Moth and Mayura” they whispered in unison.

Ladybug took the miraculous box under her arm. Chat extended his baton, separated into two pieces and threw each piece on different villains.

Ladybug went for the trap door, but Hawk moth jumped straight onto her. His hands went for her earrings. Mayura went for the miracle box. The two pieces of his staff ricochet off the walls, each of them hitting one of Hawk Moths arms. Ladybug held onto the miracle box tightly. Chat Noir threw himself along the floor and hit the back of Ladybugs legs from her back. She folded onto the floor instantly. He grabbed her and they rolled along the floor and ended up below her chaise.

“You can’t escape Marinette” Hawk Moth snarled. He used her name, he used her real name while she was transformed into Ladybug. It sent shivers down Chat Noirs spine.

Chat laid on top of Ladybug under the chaise the same way as he did so many times before when they rolled out from danger in the middle of the battle. Ladybug still held the miracle box under her arm.

Mayura threw her fan at them and they rolled away under Marinette’s desk. The fan hit the chaise and it fell apart.

Mayura retrieved the fan and threw it again. They rolled and jumped to their feet while Marinette’s desk and the sewing station got into pieces. Chat Noir threw the largest piece of the chaise on Mayura and retrieved his baton from the floor.

Hawk Moth went after Ladybug and she punched him with her yo-yo in the face.

Both teenage superheroes were looking for a way out, the small circular window or the rooftop window.

Both adult supervillains were looking for a way to block them.

Someone tried to open the trap door on which both Hawk Moth and Mayura were standing from below.

Ladybug glanced at Chat and they knew what to do instantly.

Ladybug threw herself towards the side window.

Chat Noir extended his baton to go up to the rooftop.

Hawk Moth jumped after Ladybug.

Mayura jumped to the loft bed.

Ladybug deflected her trajectory towards the trap door.

Chat Noir swiftly retracted the baton and started falling towards the trap door.

“I told you! You are trapped” Hawk moth snarled somewhere in the process.

Tom Dupain threw the trap door open.

Both teenage superheroes landed on him and pushed the large man down the stairs. They landed onto the living room floor.

“Don’t worry, Marinette is safe.” Ladybug whisper shouted.

“Are you okay?” both superheroes grabbed Tom to check him. Ladybug was so worried about her father. Chat Noir was concerned for Tom, the man was so nice to Adrien (well even to Chat unless he was akumatized).

That moment was enough. The two supervillains landed in the living room through the trap door.

Chat deflected the fan using his baton.

“Take him to safety” he said and stood up to face two adult supervillains alone with his baton.

Hawk Moth attacked first using his cane. Chat Noir used all his fencing skills to defend himself, but he also had to deflect the attack of Mayura and her fan so he took a few hits, although not with full force.

Just when Chat was blocking Mayura’s fan, Hawk Moth was swinging his stick towards Chat full force and Chat Noir braced himself to take the blow. He only hoped that Ladybug will save her parents and the miracle box somehow.

But the blow never came. Sabine blocked it holding a long wooden stick, almost two metres long, one end was wider than the other. Chat did not have a clue what it was but remembered seeing it in the bakery before.

In the meantime, Ladybug managed to get Tom on his feet. She saw her own mother fighting Hawk Moth himself using a piece of equipment from the bakery.

Ladybug launched her yo-yo and smacked the fan from its path. The fan smashed into the main door and obliterated it. Mayura was there in one jump. Ladybug was deflecting attacks from Mayura on one side and Chat Noir from the other (with Sabine occasionally making a hit, but Hawk Moth was not affected due to his magical protective suit).

One glance backwards to exchange the look with Chat Noir, two deflected attacks from Mayura and Ladybug smashed the side window open. She stuffed the miraculous box into her fathers hands, swung her yo-yo out the window, grabbed him, and they were both out.

Chat Noir was quick to defend both sides with not so small contribution from Sabine while Ladybug smashed the window open and took Tom out.

Hawk Moth hit Sabine’s wooden stick so hard it flew away from her hands and broke. Chat grabbed Sabine and jumped out the window as fan flew towards her. Hawk Moth had to deflect the fan using his stick.

The two teenage superheroes were heading to the police station as fast as they could. They had to bring Marinette’s parents to safety. But they had much to carry. Tom was holding the miraculous box for his dear life while Ladybug held him.

Hawk Moth and Mayura were chasing after them, they were without load and were faster.

Hawk Moth threw his cane, it hit Tom and he dropped the miraculous box. Mayura was already on her way to snatch it from the air. She outstretched her arms.

Ladybug threw her yo-yo and caught the miraculous box centimetres before Mayura caught it in her hands.

The miraculous box was wrapped in her yo-yo, but still not safe. She was far above and free falling with her father. She swung the miraculous box to the side, right where Chat was going with Sabine. Sabine snatched the box and held it between Chat Noir and herself.

Ladybug swung her yo-yo and she barely held Tom as they changed the direction suddenly from free fall to the side. They passed less than a meter above the pavement before they swung back up. They landed through the window straight into the police station.

“Close off everything. Protect these two people. Hawk Moth and Mayura are after them.” Ladybug ordered.

She quickly entered an empty office opened the miraculous box and took out the fox pendant.

“Tikki, Trixx, merge” she ordered. Chat Noir kept everyone out. She played the flute, an illusion of Ladybug and Chat Noir jumping from one of the windows of the police station and escaping towards the Eiffel Tower.

Nobody dared to counter the two superheroes. A few buttons were pressed and the building of the police station became a fortress. It works against usual terrorists, but the two teens were not so sure it worked against the supervillains.

“Do not worry about Marinette” Chat Noir told her parents while Ladybug was busy keeping the illusion. “She is in secret hiding.” Ladybug got out from the office, her suite still half Rena Rouge and continued playing the flute.

Something in Sabine’s eyes told the two teens she knew exactly where her daughter was hiding, but she said nothing.

“We have entered the Agreste mansion,” officer Roger reported. “Adrien’s bodyguard cooperated but there is no sign of Adrien.”

“He is safe” Chat replied quickly.

“We hid him too. He is the one who revealed Hawk Moth and Mayura to us.” Ladybug replied giving Chat Noir one look in the eyes. Chat Noir wanted to cry. She trusted her illusion should just hold on from then on.

“We have to go, they will go after us as soon as they find out that was an illusion.” Chat Noir said and they ran through the building to a back exit.

“Quickly” Ladybug whispered. She was giving him names and pieces of jewellery. Chat Noir stored each miraculous he was given in his pocket. She stored several in her yo-yo. Then she held the mouse miraculous. Chat Noir smiled at her, waved his head and winked. She smiled back and kept that miraculous.

“I am taking his one, once Trixx can’t hold it any more.” she said with a smirk.

They separated and distributed the miraculous jewels among their classmates and friends. Finally, Ladybug had too separate Trixx from Tikki.

“Tikki, Trixx, divide” she ordered and lost the Fox transformation. She went to Alya, she was last on her list. She instructed Alya on what to do and Rena Rouge left to the meeting point. Well, in fact it was one of the meeting points, but the other heroes did not know that.

Ladybug put on the mouse miraculous.

“Mullo, Tikki, unite.” she ordered and transformed to be half mouse half Ladybug.

Then she got to her own hiding position.

Mayura and Hawk Moth were on a platform of the Eiffel tower surrounded by a large swirl of purple butterflies.

Chat Noir and Ladybug were evading their attacks, Carapace was ready to provide the shield. Viperion stood on a beam ready to rewind the time. The other superheroes sneaked around mostly hidden from Mayura and Hawk Moth. However, Mayura noticed one and threw her fan.

The superhero that got hit disappeared in a small cloud of sparks. Rena Rouge made a great illusion.

Hawk Moth directed his butterflies towards different illusions and they disappeared one by one.

In that time, Ladybug who was now also Multimouse, so let’s call her Multibug jumped the rope producing lot of small Multimouse clones.

She and all the small Multimouse clones climbed the Eiffel Tower.

Mayura and Hawk Moth appeared from the cloud of violet butterflies. They balanced on a beam of the Eiffel Tower high up, close to the top. Mayura was holding Marinette over the edge and Hawk Moth appeared to hold Adrien.

“No” most of the superheroes screamed in unison.

“That is an illusion.” Screamed Multibug.

“Lila.” Chat Noir spat. “Search for Volpina!” he yelled to the others.

Meanwhile, Alya waited for Trixx to get fed. Trixx went angry hearing someone else was producing illusions. Trixx swallowed the rest of the food.

“Trixx, let’s pounce.” Alya transformed and became Rena Rouge again.

Carapace looked warily at the illusions of his two best friends dangling from the top of the Eiffel Tower. Ladybug said that was an illusion, but was he ready to risk that?

Viperion instantly activates the second chance. Then he starts ascending towards the top and a position where he could have a better view and stay protected from the supervillains and the swirl of violet butterflies.

Ryuko, on the other hand, was jumping up from beam to beam.

“No, it is a trap” Chat Noir yelled, he wanted to go after her. Multibug stopped him. He gave her an awkward look. Instead, she launched her yo-yo and snatched Ryuko from the air away and down towards the rest of the heroes.

Suddenly, from one corner Rena Rouge and Volpina jump out fighting each other with their flutes.

Mayura and Hawk Moth have appeared to have dropped Marinette and Adrien and the illusions were free falling.

“Try her pendant” Chat Noir yelled.

A few blows later, Rena Rouge took a hit but hit the pendant. A violet butterfly got out from the pendant and Volpina transforms back into Lila.

A cloud of violet butterflies quickly descended onto the superheroes and Lila. Carapace wanted to activate his shield and protect them all, but Multibug stopped him.

“Ryuko, water.” Multibug ordered.

Ryuko activated the water shield and the cloud of purple butterflies stayed out. But the superheroes got separated from the supervillains too.

Mayura and Hawk Moth descended closer to the superheroes following the cloud of violet butterflies. Multibug jumped out from the group and the water protection and starts catching butterflies. Mayura and Hawk moth go after her.

“Carapace, here” she orders.

Carapace activated the shield. Multibug jumped away and all the violet butterflies got trapped under the shield.

Monkey King jumped from beam to beam around Mayura and Hawk Moth. Mayura threw her fan at him. She missed and tried again several times. He threw his banana back. The banana kept coming back like a boomerang and Monkey King has proven to be effective against Mayura. If only he could snatch her brooch.

“Pegasus” Multibug motioned to the superhero.

He teleported himself to the two supervillains and tried to snatch the brooch from Mayura, but had to escape back when Hawk Moth aimed for his glasses.

“Soon you will all use your powers and de transform.” Hawk Moth snarled at the young superheroes and Mayura descended towards the platform where most of the superheroes stood. Mayura kept throwing her fan at the superheroes while Monkey King kept throwing his banana back. The fan bounced of the banana several times.

Multibug winked to Bunnix. She showed the position with her eyes and whispered “One minute.”

Bunnix made a show and then jumped to the spot on the side, waved her umbrella, made a temporal gate and passed. The temporal gate had closed.

Then Multibug looked at Chat Noir. “Get Mayura there in exactly one minute.” She whispered and moved to the side.

Chat Noir and several other superheroes went after Mayura, she threw her fan on them, they deflected, Chat Noir was slowly retreating to the designated spot.

Multimouse clones climbed the Eiffel Tower structure unnoticed and suddenly swarmed over Hawk Moth.

“You little pests.” he tried to shake them off and managed to throw down most of them, but they climbed back. He swatted them down one by one until few of them sneaked up on his back, they threw themselves from his back to front around his neck and over the collarbones until one sneaked into the scarf around his neck. She took out the pin and threw herself off and down.

Hawk Moth de-transformed into Gabriel Agreste.

The superheroes gasped for air as one. It was Adrien’s father.

Multibug snatched the tiny creature from the air using her yo-yo. The Multimouse clone was still holding the pin.

“No” Mayura screamed and launched her fan against Chat. Chat was taken back by the scene of Hawk Moth transforming into his own father. Monkey King threw his banana and the fan bounced back.

The other superheroes swarmed around and deflected Mayura’s desperate attempts while she threw her fan. The portal opened just behind her and Bunnyx jumped out, swatted her hand holding the fan ad took the peacock brooch off from Mayura’s chest.

Mayura de-transformed into Nathalie.

There was another sigh of disbelief.

Monkey King and Peagasus held Gabriel Agreste to the floor. Bunnyx and Ryuko held Nathalie. Rena Rouge was sitting on Lila.

The superheroes quickly formed a circle.

“Pound it.”

The Multimouse clones collected in the middle of the circle where their fists connected and did the same.

Multibug and Chat Noir with the help of Rena Rouge and Queen Bee took Gabriel and Nathalie down to the awaiting police. Monkey King and Bunnix took Lila down using the elevator.

The news helicopters were all around and the superheroes quickly dispersed to de transform. in different hidden places.

“Miraculous Ladybug” Multibug threw her yo-yo in the air. Well, she hoped for her room back.

“Tikki, Mullo, divide.” Ladybug released the mouse transformation in the post office on the lowest platform.

Then she swung away and collected miraculouses from the group looking for them one by one. None of them went far and were anxious to get beck to the scene as soon as possible.

Chat Noir collected the miraculous from Carapace first.

“Dude, I can’t believe it was my best bros father and his assistant. I have to call my dude.” Nino said returning the bracelet. Chat Noir took the miraculous in silence and looked for the others.

“I have to find Adrien, is he okay?” Luka said returning his bracelet.

“He is safe Luka, thanks” Chat Noir bumped his fist with him once more.

“Thanks for your help Alix.” Ladybug smiled

Chat Noir collected the miraculous from Rose and Juleka together just like he found them.

“I am really sorry for Adrien.” Juleka muttered.

Chat Noir just nodded in silence.

Ladybug found Alya chatting with Trixx next to Nino and collected her necklace. She had hard time persuading both that Adrien is safe. She told them that it was Adrien who discovered his father was Hawk Moth and informed the superheroes. She refused to explain Alya how.

Everyone was worried about Adrien.

Chat Noir kept nodding and collecting their miraculous.

Ladybug and Chat Noir had not called their powers so they went straight back to the police under the Eiffel Tower. The villains were already removed from the scene and Chat Noir felt relieved for that.

Officer Roger approached Ladybug and Chat Noir.

“We need to talk to Adrien Agreste.” Roger Raincomprix said. “And we have some missing space and the blueprints to the mansion are gone. We can not conduct our search effectively.”

Ladybug looked at Chat Noir, he gave her a small smile, she confirmed that they will get Adrien out from hiding. And with that promise, they vaulted away. They jumped and run and flew over the city rooftop in silence. They did not scream in victory. They did not cry. They just jumped in silence. Finally they stopped.

“Tikki, spots off.” Ladybug de-transformed into Marinette on a rooftop close to the police station. Chat watched her in awe. The love of his life has just de-transformed in his best friend, in the girl he kissed yesterday not knowing her secret identity. So, his first kiss was with Ladybug. Always. He smiled. Chat Noir took her in his arms and vaulted to the back entrance of the police station. The main entrance was completely blocked as Gabriel and Nathalie were brought in.

Chat Noir brought Marinette to an officer and she asked for her parents. They were hidden in one of the coffee rooms inside the station, chatting with a police officer who already informed them the battle was over and Ladybug and Chat Noir have won.

Sabine threw herself on Marinette and Tom wrapped them both into a hug.

“We are going home now, Marinette.” Sabine said.

“In fact, I should go to see the police with Adrien.” Marinette admitted. “I was there, with him, when he realized his father was Hawk Moth.” Marinette looked at the floor.

“She will be with us the whole time, or the police.” Chat Noir pleaded to her parents.

Tom and Sabine agreed and went home. A police officer took them with him in order to drive them to the bakery.

Chat Noir promised to deliver Marinette to the Agreste mansion. Therefore, he took her in his arms, walked out from the police station and vaulted onto the nearby roof. But he did not stop. He vaulted over the city towards the place without words.

“You know, I gave Tikki a cookie and I could transform back.” she offered.

Chat just looked straight ahead.

He landed in an alley near the Agreste mansion and de-transformed.

Marinette watched as Chat transformed into Adrien for the first time in front of her. She was waving her head and smiling.

“I can’t believe this.” she smiled at him softly. But she understood Adrien must be disturbed by the events and her face fell.

Adrien automatically reached for the cheese and discovered a whole wheel of Camembert. He gave the wheel to Plagg who accepted gratefully.

“So, this is what makes him go silent.” Adrien smirked.

Tikki and Marinette laughed.

“Marinette, can I ask you something?” Adrien leaned over her and onto the wall.

“Anything.” she replied with a smile.

“This is going to be hard. Could you please be there for me?” he beamed down to her.

“Of course.” she smiled to him.

Adrien looked at Plagg and opened his shirt. Plagg already absorbed most of the wheel.

“Hey Kid, you took two!” he said hiding in his shirt.

“Come on, I haven’t even used my cataclysm.” Adrien whined quietly.

“All this made me really hungry.” Plagg teased.

“Should we?” Adrien asked and offered his arm.

“Yes, but first we should let our class know we are okay. Especially that you are okay.” Marinette smiled.

Marinette took out her phone, Adrien took a selfie of the two of them and Marinette sent it to Alya. That was sufficient. She typed a quick location message and they left the alley.

Marinette held the miraculous box and Adrien snatched a brown paper bag to put it inside.

They approached the police at the entrance to the Agreste mansion. The streets were already full of journalists and curious people who preferred to be on the spot than to watch live television.

Adrien wrapped his arm around Marinette’s shoulders. They approached the first police officer and introduced themselves. They were lead to the mansion gates quickly.

“We would prefer to search your room with you present.” Officer Roger informed him as he just arrived to the scene.

“Is that necessary?” Marinette asked.

“It is okay.” Adrien nodded.

“You are a minor and have the right to ask for an adult person to accompany you as well as a lawyer.” Officer Roger informed him when they entered the mansion.

“We can call my parents?” Marinette proposed.

“Yes.” Adrien nodded. “That is a good idea.”

Officer Roger took his radio and called the car that was taking Marinettes parents home to bring them over to the Agreste Mansion.

“Now, we need some information, if you can help.” Officer Roger asked. “We do not have the blueprints to the house, but our measurements have shown that there are some rooms missing. This is what we reconstructed.” He gave Adrien a tablet with a sketch. “Do you know how we could reach a room that would be about here? On the level of the ground floor?”

Adrien waved his head. “I have never been there.” Marinette peeked into the blueprint.

“You remember your birthday party? When Markov entered the system of this house?” Marinette asked.

“Yes, Markov. Our classmate, Max Kante, has built a robot who was able to enter the system, perhaps he could help.” Adrien proposed.

Officer Roger made a few phone calls.

“Your friend Max and Mme Kante are on their way.” Officer Roger smiled.

Marinette and Adrien smiled back.

“The whole class will help you through this.” Marinette whispered.

Marinette’s parents arrived and the four of them, officer Roger and several police officers went into his room.

The officers started their search. It was obvious they were doing it mostly just to satisfy the procedure. They were interested only in finding secret passages and found none, except the entry to a walk in closet and a giant wardrobe and closets holding additional gaming equipment.

Adrien picked up a backpack and Marinette put the miraculous box inside.

“Boy, you have a lot of toys here.” Tom had sparks in his eyes.

“Tom, you should not think about that, poor boy” Sabine scolded.

“Actually, as soon as this is over, we are having a party.” Adrien smiled. “And we are having a gaming tournament.”

The police officers concluded that they are satisfied with the research of his room for now.

“Okay.” Officer Roger said. “You might want to call in a lawyer for the next part.”

“What is it?” Adrien asked holding Marinette closer and closer. The girl kept blushing. Her parents threw her a few weird looks but abstained from teasing given the situation.

“Can you tell us how you learned that Gabriel Agreste was Hawk Moth?” officer Roger Raincomprix crossed his arms.

They were not ready for this. How do they tell a story without revealing themselves. But there was no backing out now.

“We were here. In this room.” Marinette started. “And then, then Nathalie came and.”

“And called us to my father’s office.” Adrien finished.

“Okay, so the conversation was there, in your father’s office.” Officer Roger asked. The two teens nodded. “So, let’s go there.” Officer Roger motioned with his hands.

They entered Gabriel’s office. There were several persons dressed in white studying every detail in the room.

“There is a safe behind that painting.” Adrien said as soon as he entered the room.

“We found the safe and the expert in opening it will be here tomorrow morning, unless you know the combination.” one person in white told him.

Adrien waved his head. He heard Plagg snicker in his shirt.

“We were sitting here.” Marinette motioned. “My father sat there and Nathalie stood here.” Adrien filled in pointing to the places.

“And what happened next.” Officer Roger insisted.

“I do not remember every detail of the conversation.” Marinette looked into Adrien’s eyes. This part is going to be extremely difficult. “But basically he wanted me to give him my earrings and to get some kind of ring.” People in the room stopped chatting.

“In exchange for me.” Adrien added quietly and the whole room went still.

“These are plain black studs, and he did not describe the ring.” Marinette was sticking to the truth as much as possible.

“But you knew who always asks for a ring and a pair of earrings.” officer Roger smiled. This was not the way to interrogate witnesses, but the police officer felt sorry for the classmates of his daughter.

Sabine’s eyes glanced towards Adrien’s hand where she noticed a silver ring. She smiled to herself.

The two teens nodded to the police officer.

“You were very brave.” officer Roger praised them.

“You will have to give a full statement tomorrow and sign it in the presence of your parents, social service worker or a lawyer. But we are fine for now. Oh, your friend Max is here with Markov.” Officer Roger turned to the new arrivals.

Markov first opened the safe.

The police officers emptied the safe onto one desk and examined what they found. The book was there. Adrien smiled to Marinette knowingly.

But Markov kept hovering in front of the painting. Max asked what was wrong and Markov pointed to several places in the figure.

“One should press into these places at the same time.” Markov explained.

Officer Roger approached the painting and pressed the button. The floor opened and an elevator took him down. The room was full of gasps and surprised cries.

Another police officer followed officer Roger and then a few persons in white carrying torches and some equipment.

There was some communication on the radio from officer Roger. He asked for more people and he asked for civilians to be taken into Adrien’s room.

Sabine and Tom fell asleep on Adrien’s bed after playing several rounds of games. Markov floated around the room making friends with the security system. He was already old friend with the power supply control system.

Max, Marinette and Adrien played games while Mme Kante studied for her exams for an astronaut at Adrien’s computer.

“We are so making a party here” Adrien said. “The whole class. And my fencing class. And all our friends. And...” Adrien grinned from ear to ear.

Marinette and Max kept him talking about the party.

Officer Roger entered the room pale as the wall behind him.

“Adrien, there is something you should see down there, we can go now if you want.” the policeman spoke very quietly.

Adrien grabbed Marinette’s hand. “She is going with me.” The policeman nodded. Adrien grabbed the stuffed toys of Ladybug and Chat Noir unicorns and the plush toy in the shape or Tikki. Adrien put Tikki plush in his shirt, gave Marinette the Chat Noir Unicorn and kept the Ladybug unicorn in his hand.

They went back to the office.

The policeman stood in front of the painting and instructed Adrien where to stand. He pulled Marinette close and hugged her.

“We are going down together.” he looked Marinette in the eyes. She was his strength right now.

They left the spot where they landed by making a few steps. The room was full of policemen and people in white overalls. At the end of the crowded room they saw paramedics.

Officer Roger descended behind them and they proceeded through the large room that was lit by numerous lights carried by different people in the room.

A swirl of white butterflies fluttered above them and everyone ducked, crouched and raised hands above their heads.

“They are white.” officer Roger reminded everybody present, but he also sunk a little at the sight.

At the end of the large room, a group of paramedics surrounded something.

“The boy is here.” someone mentioned louder than the quiet murmur of different people in the room.

The paramedics turned around. One of them ran over to Adrien and took his other hand, revealing part of what was hidden behind.

Everyone stood in silence while Adrien approached. Marinette wrapped her hand around his waist. The paramedic watched him carefully. They approached to less than a metre away when he stopped.

“She looks like my mother.” he whispered.

“Adrien confirmed.” Officer Roger reported on the radio.

Marinette held him tighter. Her eyes started filling with water but she did what she could to hold the tears at bay.

“Is she dead?” Adrien asked.

“Is she alive?” Marinette whispered.

“No.” the paramedic waved her head. “We can’t tell yet.”

“Do you … do you know how long she has been like this?” another paramedic asked and someone shushed him.

Adrien waved his head and just gave the date he last saw her and that she was quite healthy.

“We will take her to the medical centre, but do not keep your hopes up.” the same paramedic told him while he received hushing sounds from several people.

“Thank you.” Adrien nodded.

“You will be able to see her more in the medical centre. You can stay a little bit more if you want, but we would advise you to get some rest.” The paramedic holding his hand told him.

Adrien nodded and slowly turned around. Getting some rest? After all these events? How?

They went up. They got a few snacks and went to Adrien’s room.

Marinette covered her parents who were fast asleep on Adrien’s bed.

Officer Roger told Max and Mme Kante they can go home and called for a police car to take them home.

Adrien and Marinette sat on the couch. He wrapped his arms around her and she leaned her head on his shoulder. There were news on television, they saw the battle again and Adrien smiled again. They won. Whatever his father wanted was now the police job to find out.

Marinettes father snored in the background. Sabine shifted and he stopped snoring. Marinette smiled and Adrien smiled back. The breaking news flash was finished and they continued some film that played before. They watched until their eyes dropped and they have fallen asleep. On the couch, in each others arms. Their kwamis slept hidden behind a pillow.

BONUS

The alarm on Tom’s phone rang. It was still dark outside. It took Tom and Sabine some time to understand where they are. They went to the bathroom one by one.

“I will go to the bakery to start the dough. You can come later, dear. And bring them with you.” Tom smiled at the two teens sleeping on the couch. They both went outside Adrien’s room and found two officers in the hallway. One took Tom home in his car the other told Sabine what they found in the basement and that the kids saw it. Sabine shivered and returned to Adrien’s room.

Adrien stirred on the couch. He felt someone breathing next to him. His arm was around her. Her soft hair tickled his neck. He smiled and held her closer.

Later, Sabine asked him where everything was and packed his duffel bag. She took his duffel bag and school bag and Adrien took Marinette and carried her to the car in front of the house.

His bodyguard hugged him with tears in his eyes and took all three of them to the bakery. Marinette opened her eyes on the way and closed them the next moment. Sabine invited all of them home. Adrien’s bodyguard took Marinette from Adrien and carried her up the stairs. Adrien climbed slowly. Suddenly he felt a bit weak.

He collapsed on the sofa next to Marinette. Sabine brought some pastries from the bakery and left it in the kitchen. Marinette finally woke up, made coffee and tea and served Adrien and his bodyguard.

They went to school. Having classes was some sense of normalcy. The whole class celebrated.

Save Lila, she was released on diplomatic immunity and transferred to a boarding school in Switzerland.

BONUS II

After school they visited the hospital. Emilie laid on a hospital bed isolated from the rest of the patients.

“It must be some enchanted, magical state.” Adrien whispered.

“They say a true love kiss can reverse the spell?” Marinette smiled.

“Are you suggesting they should bring my father in here.” Adrien was offended by the idea.

“Not him, you!” Marinette poked him in the chest and smiled.

Adrien leaned over the bed and kissed Emilie’s forehead just like she used to kiss him to go to sleep.

Emilie took a breath.