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All of Paris was in shock.
"You want to tell us why you're sending a senti-monster now?" Chat Noir yelled.
"No." Mayura replied calmly.
"You knew what today of all days was!" He accused, jumping off the rooftop to begin battling the lollipop come to life.
"True." Mayura grinned from the rooftop she and Chat Noir had been standing on a few moments prior.
"So why, pray tell, is this here?" He cried.
"You insulted my meatloaf."
"And for good reason! How many spices did you put in that thing?"
"Your father liked it!"
"And you trust his judgement?"
"Of course!"
"Your meatloaf tasted like week-old roadkill and to cover up the taste, you decided to dump all our extra spices in it!"
How did Chat Noir know what Mayura's meatloaf tasted like? And how did Mayura know Chat Noir's father?
"You're just jealous of my cooking skills." Mayura turned her nose up.
"What cooking skills!" He cried, continuing to battle the monster. "You have less than me, and that's saying something."
"You take that back!" Mayura gasped.
"Never!" Chat glared as the senti-monster hit him into the side of a building.
"If you take it back, I'll get rid of the senti-monster. Then you can go about and handle your," Mayura glanced at the T.V. monitoring the fight. "Other duties."
What was that supposed to mean?
"I will never." He seethed.
"Have fun battling the senti-monster then, and being late." Mayura scoffed.
"You're a pain, you know that?"
"Oh, I strive for it."
With a smirk and a wink, Mayura left Chat Noir to battle the senti-monster alone.
Paris didn't have much time to speculate just what Mayura's relationship with Chat Noir was, because the next time the villainess was seen sent their minds reeling.
"Why hello Ladybug." Mayura said, nodding to the spotted superhero as the civilian's phone cameras trained on the two.
"Mayura." Ladybug said stiffly, looking around suspiciously.
"You can relax. I'm not going to ambush you."
"And why should I trust you?" Ladybug narrowed her eyes. Mayura raised an eyebrow until Ladybug sighed. "What do you want?"
"Can I not make some friendly conversation?"
Ladybug glanced down at the spectators below.
"Seeing as you're a sworn enemy, it would seem odd to the general public."
Mayura followed her gaze and hummed.
"I suppose you are right, but since when have you cared about the public? I always thought you were the more secretive one between you and Chat Noir."
"I care when it will affect their trust in me. I'm there to protect people and if I'm seen exchanging small talk with you, then it could be rather detrimental to my reputation." Ladybug crossed her arms and glared.
"You know, you don't have to use such fancy words around me." Mayura sat down on the rooftops.
"There's nothing wrong with being professional." Ladybug took one last glance at the growing paparazzi before sitting down with Mayura. "I can't believe I'm about to do this." She muttered. "So, what's up?"
"I'm afraid the boys are driving me crazy yet again." She sighed.
"Oh boy, what did they do this time?" Despite being with one of her sworn enemies, a smile tugged at Ladybug's lips.
"Well, you see...."
Theories quickly began to pop up about why or how the dynamic between the heroes and Mayura had shifted so much. Was she not who she seemed? Were Ladybug and Chat Noir slowly influencing her? Or was she influencing them? And what about Hawkmoth! Where was he?
"Oh, come on." Ladybug groaned as she spotted the akuma. She cupped her hands around her mouth and yelled. "Hey, Hawkmoth! I thought your fashion designs couldn't get any worse, but here you are proving me wrong yet again!"
The akuma turned to look at the spotted superhero, a butterfly symbol appearing over their eyes.
"What did you just say?" Even if the voice was one of a young girl, Ladybug knew it was Hawkmoth who she was talking to.
"You heard me! I mean, what is this travesty." She gestured to the neon orange, pink, and yellow color scheme the akuma was decked out in. "It hurts my eyes just to look at it."
"You take that back!" The akuma glared. "You have no idea-."
"How difficult it is to design akumas?" Ladybug rolled her eyes.
"Yes, exactly! My talent goes without being appreciated."
Ladybug snorted.
"What talent? My designs as a five year-old were more talented than this!"
The akuma's orange hair flared as she stuck out her yellow arms.
"You have no idea what you're talking about!" She screeched.
"I don't?" Ladybug battered her eyelashes. "Then why has my work been praised by Gabriel Agreste, multiple times?"
What? Ladybug designed? And Gabriel Agreste of all people liked her work?
"Perhaps he had a lapse in judgement?"
"Then, pray tell, why did he give me an internship?"
And why was Ladybug being so careless with her secret identity?
"Give me your miraculous!" Hawkmoth, speaking through the akuma, cried.
"Does that mean you have no more arguments?" Ladybug batted her eyelashes.
"Wretched girl!"
"I'm taking that as a yes. You're losing your edge, Hawky."
"How dare-?"
"Although, that would imply that you had an edge in the first place, and I think we all know that's not true."
"Excuse you!"
"I mean, who akumatizes Mr. Pigeon 72 times?" Ladybug laughed. "Did you really think he'd be the one to bring us to our doom?"
"Well, I-"
"And your akuma designs were never that good in the first place." She shrugged. "Sorry, not sorry."
"You just don't understand fashion."
"Oh, really?" Ladybug drawled, her eyes twinkling. "That's funny, because a certain Gabriel Agreste has the opposite opinion from you." A small smirk tugged at her mouth.
The smirk only widened when the butterfly shape disappeared from the akuma's face, signaling that Hawkmoth had no more to say. Snickering to herself, Ladybug launched towards the akuma.
The fight was over within ten minutes.
"You know Hawkmoth, I purrsonally think you've really gone downhill." Chat grinned as he batted the cane away. "It's clear to me that you're practically winging it at this point."
"You underestimate my power!" Hawkmoth glared at the hero as he regained his footage.
"What power? You akumatized Mr. Pigeon 72 times. If that doesn't scream desperation, I don't know what does."
"You have seen nothing, boy. And stop holding that over my head!" He sneered.
"Plus, how often have you akumatized the students in Mme. Bustier's class? They're nicknamed The Akuma Class now just because you're too scared to go out of your comfort zone." Chat Noir smirked as the two continued to fight.
"If you truly wanted to do some damage, try stepping it up a little! Or is that too advanced for your grandpa brain?"
"I-."
"Oh wait, I forgot! You don't have a brain!"
"You have no idea what calculations go into my plans!"
"Right, and that's why you've failed to steal jewelry from two teenagers, because the calculations are so intense." Chat grinned as he continued to fight with the man.
There was something... different about this time, though. While of course everyone knew Chat Noir to be full of one-liners, he had never looked so giddy while insulting someone. He and Ladybug were no longer holding back their tongues with Hawkmoth, yet both of them seemed friendly or at least not hostile to Mayura!
Another piece to the puzzle that left Parisian's with more questions than answers. Nobody knew what was going to happen next.
"Hello chaton, what do we have here?" Ladybug asked, landing on the Eiffel Tower next to her partner.
"Look at them! What are they trying to achieve?" Chat Noir gestured to the two humanoid figures battling on the level below them.
"I have... no idea."
Behind each of the humanoids stood Hawkmoth and Mayura. One was dressed in silver and gold, shooting beams of light out of their hands. The other seemed to be some sort of robot.
Chat Noir let out a loud sigh.
"Come on, let's stop them before someone gets hurt." He said.
"Why are we more mature than the actual adults?"
"Because, m'lady, we decided to actually go to therapy."
"True."
They swung down to the level, glaring at the two villains.
"What's going on here?" Ladybug asked.
"Mayura challenged me! She said that she could make a better sentimonster than I could and I had to prove her wrong!" Hawkmoth whined.
Ladybug and Chat Noir exchanged looks of disbelief.
"That's why you're doing this?"
"We betted company chores." Mayura said. "Whoever loses has to deal with a particularly tedious call."
Chat Noir laughed.
"Well, Hawkmoth, I hope you enjoy your six hour call."
"Wait, is it the...?" Ladybug joined in with Chat's laughter. "Hawkmoth, I knew you weren't the brightest, but this is plain idiotic! There's no way you're winning this!"
"Bold words." Hawkmoth narrowed his eyes. "Especially for someone who's not in the competition."
"You wanna bet?" Ladybug grinned.
"If I win, I want your miraculouses." Hawkmoth smirked.
"Oh gee, how unpredictable." Chat Noir rolled his eyes. "If we win, y'all going to therapy."
"It's a deal then." Hawkmoth nodded.
Needless to say, Mayura won, but not without consequence.
A tourist had caught the interaction on their phone and posted it to their socials, sending the country into even more shock than before.
What the heck was going on with the heroes?
The world may never know.
On a completely unrelated note, Gabriel Agreste enrolled in therapy a week later.
"NO! That's totally against the rules!" Marinette slammed her hands down on the table.
"Oh really? And I'm sure this has nothing to do with the sum of money I just collected from you, Marinette." Gabriel smirked.
"But that was your third turn while you were in jail. You have to roll doubles or pay now." Adrien said.
"That wasn't how I played it."
"Well, that's the rule!" Marinette exclaimed. "You're just scared because of Adrien's color sets."
"Nathalie, get out the rule book. We'll see who's really correct." Gabriel narrowed his eyes.
"Well, sir I'm afraid that Marinette and Adrien are right. You have to roll doubles or pay 50." Nathalie said, closing the Monopoly rule book.
"This is so unfair." Gabriel grumbled, picking up the dice and taking his turn. "Ha! 11! Looks like your color sets haven't paid off, son."
"Not yet, but just you wait. Besides, you might want to check whose property you landed on."
"Oh come on." Shaking his head, Gabriel sorted out the correct amount of money and handed it over to Marinette.
"Why thank you, Gabriel."
"I will get you back. I swear on it."
"Yeah-huh. Remind me again, who has one the past hundreds of battles? Oh right, us." Marinette looped her arm around Adrien's shoulder and pulled him in. "There will be no difference."
"That's what you think." Gabriel narrowed his eyes.
"Just don't take it too far, you two." Nathalie said.
"Stay out of this!" The two turned their glares onto her.
"You know," Adrien leaned over to Nathalie. "I think family game nights probably weren't the brightest ideas."
"Yeah..." Nathalie watched as Marinette and Gabriel glowered at each other. "I think you're right."
"Son, it has come to my attention that you've been skipping classes. Why?" Gabriel tried to fix his son with the best disappointed look he could muster, but Adrien just raised an eyebrow.
"Wow. You really must have not paid attention to the times. Or did you purposely ignore that they lined up with the akuma attacks?"
"Akuma attacks are no excuse."
"Oh gee, I'm so sorry that I had to go and save Paris! Maybe next time don't send out an akuma during class!"
"Maybe next time, you should just give me your miraculous! You wouldn't have to deal with tardiness then."
"And how would that solve anything! That would just let you win!"
"Sounds like a pretty good solution to me."
"Over my dead body is that happening."
"All your problems would go away..." Gabriel sang.
"Yeah right! It'll only cause so much more damage."
"But your grades and tardiness would be fine!"
"My answer is no and that's final." Adrien gave his father one of his hardest glares.
"Fine. Have fun with the makeup work and making up excuses."
"God, you're infuriating! I'm going to my girlfriend's."
"Be back by dinner."
"No promises."
"Fine then, a 3am akuma it is, then."
"It'll be your fault when I'm falling asleep tomorrow."
"Yeah, but your teachers won't know that."
"Whatever, I'm done arguing with you. See you later." With that, Adrien stormed out of the room.
"Thanks for coming on such short notice, Mlle. Dupain-Cheng." Gabriel said as the two walked through the halls of the Gabriel HQ.
"Well, it's not like you haven't ruined my schedule before." Marinette narrowed her eyes at the man who she was sworn enemies with. He was also her boyfriend's father, but that wasn't important.
"The dresses are in here." Gabriel said, ignoring her comment and opening up the door of one of many design studios.
"What's wrong with them?" She asked as they entered.
"Oh things like loose seams and whatnot. I thought it would be something you'd like." He waved her off.
"So, you're once again counting on me to clean up your messes? How surprising."
"You know, I do admire your utter lack of fear when you're telling me off. Not many people would dare do that."
"Well, not many people have to battle a man who thinks it's intimidating to wear purple and call himself 'Butterfly.'" She crossed her arms.
"One day, people will cower with fear at the mere mention of my name." He turned to face her for the first time since her arrival.
"And I'll always be there to stop that from happening. I don't care what you tell yourself, you will never win. Ever."
"Bold words. It is inevitable that you will fail in the end." He turned his nose up.
"I do believe it will be you who's defeated in the end, Gabriel."
"Get to work on those dresses and I'll be sure to put in a good word for you."
"Fine. But just so you know, your days are numbered."
"For once we agree, but it's the days until my victory that are counting down."
"Save your villain monologues for the courtroom." Marinette told him before closing the door on his face.
"Welcome to the Tom and Sabine Bakery!" Marinette greeted the newest arrival as the door chimed.
"Hello, Marinette, I'm here to pick out some pastries for Adrien and Gabriel." Nathalie leaned down, inspecting one of the pastry cases.
"Oh, hi Nathalie." She turned towards the assistant.
"Do you have anything you recommend? I know Adrien likes passionfruit."
"You can't go wrong with macarons! I'd get some passionfruit ones for Adrien and I'll let you choose what to get for Gabriel."
"He'll probably like these cherry ones."
"Okay! I'll throw in a few lavender ones as well. Just as a little treat."
"And I'm sure the purple has nothing to do with it."
"Why Natahalie! Why would you suggest something like that?" Marinette giggled.
"Because I wouldn't put it past you to do something like that."
"Maybe, maybe not."
"I'm sure he will know right away that you send your regards."
"You wouldn't happen to pay in magical jewelry, would you?" Marinette asked. Nathalie gave her a knowing look. "Yeah, I thought so. Worth a shot."
"I'll give you the magical jewelry if you give me yours."
"Pfft, yeah, that's not happening."
"Exactly. Could I also get one of these cheese quiches?"
"Camembert, I'm guessing?" Marinette gave Nathalie a knowing look.
"Yes, please. Any more rants about it and I may just go insane."
"Oh believe me, I know the feeling." Marinette shook her head, smiling.
"Thank you, Marinette."
"Not a problem, Nathalie. I'll still see you for game night, right?"
"You can count on it. I'm sure Gabriel is just itching to get revenge."
"I can't wait to not give him the satisfaction."
"Have a good day, Marinette." Nathalie said, shaking her head. She knew better than to get in between the two.
"You two, Nathalie! Make sure Adrien doesn't kill Gabriel unless I'm there!"
"I will try my absolute best."
With a wave and a chuckle, Marinette bid her other sworn enemy goodbye.
"So, after your photoshoot, there will be another Chinese lesson." Nathalie read from her tablet as a tired Adrien ate his breakfast
"Okay, Nathalie."
"And you will also be expected to perform one of your piano pieces tonight."
"Okay, Nathalie."
"If you perform well, your father will let you go to that concert with your friends." Nathalie said, turning off the tablet.
"Really? He said that?" Adrien perked right up.
"Well, not exactly, but I'm sure we can convince him."
"Thank you, Nathalie."
"Oh, wait! One last thing, I think your father is planning to cause some," she cleared her throat, "chaos during your third period."
"Ugh, he knows I have a presentation then! I swear, he's just doing it to annoy us."
"Most likely." A grin tugged on Nathalie's lips.
"Well, thanks for telling me, Nathalie. It's always good to be prepared."
"You should probably text Marinette and give her a heads up, too."
"I will, thank you."
"And good luck on that presentation, I'll try to stall him as long as I can."
"Thank you, Nathalie. I swear you're truly the brains of this family."
"Have a good day at school, Adrien."
Maybe Paris never would know the full picture. Maybe they would always be left with more questions than answers, but maybe that was okay. After all, the four of them knew the truth. Parisians could theorize and talk all they want, it wouldn't change the truth. And that was what mattered.
The truth.