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He was pissed. Adrien was pissed off at everything happening in his life from today.
His father forced him to go on a voyage. With Lila of all people. He didn’t want to do that. But did anyone listen? Well, maybe his father would’ve if he grew a spine quick enough instead of agreeing with his cousin to pull this stunt. Even then, the fact that he finally received the courage to do such a thing was from an akuma— not himself. He found it pathetic that he couldn’t just stand up for himself.
Then, right when he thought he could catch a break, his life still spikes problems when Ladybug’s secrets become more and more blatant. He was getting sick of being left in the dark. If not for the miraculous giving him a chance to escape from his life as “Adrien” and still having a crush on Ladybug, he really didn’t know if he could continue to tolerate all of this.
But all that anger left his body when he saw her fall apart in front of him.
Well, she didn’t know she was breaking down in front of her partner. It was only Adrien (and Plagg) who knew this information. And seeing the tears glossing over her eyes created a knot in Adrien’s stomach. Not because it emphasized the severity of the situation, but also because he hated to see one of the people he cared about feel so much pain.
Adrien then started to see Ladybug’s hands shake and hyperventilate. He knew these symptoms too well, unfortunately. She was having a panic attack.
“Ladybug,” he spoke as he gently grabbed her shoulders, “please try to stay calm.”
But he could tell his words went into one ear and out the other as her breaths only got quicker and shakier. This was starting to become an even bigger problem. Adrien was starting to fear that she could make herself pass out.
“Come on,” he pleaded, “there must be a way to retrieve your yo-yo.”
Her breaths started to slow down once she came up with an idea.
“M-maybe if I de-transform— and—”
“Go!” Adrien directed as he pushed her into the bathroom. He knew this wasn’t the politest thing to do and felt guilty for it. But he was also aware that there was no time to waste! Time was their enemy now.
As Ladybug skidded into the other room, she gave a hesitant look towards Adrien.
“It’s safe in here,” he tried to assure. After all, he cut his transformation in that same exact room not so long ago.
“How do you know?” She spat as she grabbed her head once more. “What if you’re really Felix and you’re fooling me!”
“You need to trust me!” Adrien scolded. Wow, maybe he still has steam from all the events that unraveled from earlier.
“At least for this one time!” He pleaded before shutting the door.
Adrien then used one hand to grab his forehead as he leaned against the door. As much as he wanted to think optimistically, he also knew how crazy his cousin is. Before more thoughts could roam around his head, he heard a sharp breath and a sound hitting the floor. He could only assume that was Ladybug falling to her knees before cutting her transformation.
As much as he didn’t want to invade Ladybug’s privacy, he was just way too concerned to not ignore her. Adrien decided to turn his body so he could press one ear against the door so he could hear more clearly on what’s going on.
“Please hurry, Tikki… we can’t let him steal all of the miraculous,” her voice cracked.
It pained Adrien to hear her cry. He’d rather hear her angry than helpless. But most of all, it was killing him that there wasn’t much he could do. Being in his civilian form limited him in a way. There were things he can’t do as Adrien because it wouldn’t make sense like it does to Cat Noir.
He then heard Ladybug transform again and the sound of her yo-yo opening. Adrien made a small exhale of relief when he heard that.
At least something good is happening. He thought. But he knew it wasn’t over yet. Ladybug still needed to confirm that she still had some miraculouses in her inventory.
“No,” she fretted; causing a chill to run down Adrien’s spine, “there isn’t anything left. Not a single one! ”
As the chill rushed through his body, he could’ve sworn he felt Plagg stiffen up in his jacket as well. Adrien then readjusted himself to try to hear more through the door.
“Ladybug?”
…he received no reply beside the cry that escaped her lips.
“I lost,” he finally heard.
Adrien has never felt this bad for anyone before. Despite their quarrels, Ladybug really was just trying her best to keep Paris as safe as possible at the end of the day. The idea that doing your best wasn’t enough anymore is just devastating towards anybody.
He couldn’t hold back anymore. Adrien didn’t care if Ladybug would be shocked at the actions he was about to do. All he wanted to do was hug her and tell her that everything will be okay. So, he opened the door but stopped in his tracks once he realized that Ladybug was no longer there.
As much as he wanted to be shocked, he wasn’t. Ladybug wasn’t much different than he is. Both of them were pros by now at escaping quickly. It would be naive of him to be surprised.
He turned his head at the window which was cracked open. It was weird to think that someone else beside him used that window as a way to secretly escape in their hero form. But he had to push that thought aside as he had a more important task at hand. He needed to transform and find her.
Once Adrien transformed, he had a few places in mind that he believed Ladybug could be at.
First, he checked his own roof top. Then, neighboring roof tops before expanding to more landmarks where they’d typically meet for patrol.
She truly wouldn’t be trying to hide. He thought as he jumped across more roofs. While Cat couldn’t blame her for wanting alone time, he also knew that bottling things in wasn’t going to help her either. Even if his search ended up to be unsuccessful, at least he could tell himself that he tried.
“ People of Paris, ” he then heard echo around the city. Cat Noir then looked up at the sky and saw a familiar face.
Shadow Moth. He snarled.
“ Ladybug promised to protect you, ” the voice condescended. Cat Noir started to run.
“ But she lied to you. She has been defeated. ”
“ Shut up ,” he gritted through his teeth as he got his baton out.
“ I took all of her miraculous and now I’m more powerful than ever, ” he boasted. Cat Noir ignored this however and continued to use his baton to aide his search.
“Where the hell are you, Ladybug?”
“ From now on, I will attack you without any pity. ”
As if you had any pity before.
“ I’ll be everywhere. Listening to your thoughts, dreams, and using your biggest fears against you! ”
Try me! He taunted.
“ I will create mass destruction… well, unless someone hands me Ladybug and Cat Noir’s miraculous, ” the villain conditioned.
Besides hearing the voice of the villain, Cat Noir then heard a series of choked sobs nearby. He followed its direction until he found his feet standing on him and Ladybug’s usual spot to rest after a patrol.
Of course she’s here. He realized. Many vulnerable moments happened in this exact spot, after all. It was only fitting. Not to mention, it was high enough to make people not be able to see or hear any signs of distress unless they were actually paying attention to this location.
“I lost everything!” She wailed before crying more.
“Not me.”
Ladybug then looked up in surprise to see her partner standing next to her.
“Why are you even here? Why don’t you just leave me already? I lost all the miraculous, I failed greatly as the guardian, I even turned a blind eye and pushed you away despite you offering to help numerous times. I wouldn’t blame you now if you wanted to leave me. I’ve been treating you unfairly and now created this giant mess that you don’t even have to clean up!”
“M’lady,” Cat Noir said as he offered a hand. Reluctantly, she grabbed his hand and he immediately pulled her up into his arms. Ladybug accepted his embrace.
“We will get them back,” he declared, “each and every one no matter what. And when we get them all back, we won’t let this happen again.”
“Me and… you?” She sniffled. Ladybug couldn’t help but melt into his arms. His embrace was very soothing.
“Yes,” he assured, “because I and the people of Paris are with you.”
Cat Noir then showed Ladybug the crowd below them; who were cheering Ladybug on and giving her encouragement.
“I am your loyal partner, after all. And despite everything we went through, that has never changed.”
For once, Ladybug didn’t feel afraid of the future. She allowed the soft breeze to hit her skin before blinking the last of her tears away.
We can do this. Ladybug thought as she stared into the Shadow Moth in the sky. You’re still vulnerable, Shadow Moth.