Chapter Text
Marinette knew she wouldn’t be getting any sleep when she looked at the Akuma. It was about seven feet tall, and just a mass of swirling black tendrils. Or were they green? Or blue? Or white? She couldn’t tell. Why couldn’t she tell?
“I AM CONFUSION! YOU LAUGH AT ME FOR BEING CONFUSED?! NOW YOU SHALL ALL BE CONFUSED!” It screeched.
Oh. That’s why I can’t tell. Ladybug felt the rush of air as Chat Noir landed next to her.
“Good evening, my lady. To what Akuma do I owe the pleasure?”
“Hey kitty. They call themselves Confusion apparently.” Marinette motioned to the unintelligible mass of color. If it had color. She still couldn’t tell. Chat Noir seemed to be squinting at it as well.
“I honestly can’t pick up a single detail off this thing. As soon as I glance away, I forget what it looked like.”
“Same. Where do you think the Akuma is?” Marinette said while tilting her head to the side.
“Good question. Might as well figure that out.” The two launched off toward the blob and spent the next forty five minutes dodging attacks from this thing and getting absolutely nowhere. Finally, finally , Marinette spotted a flaw in its blobbiness. A small silver line…belt? Tie? Whatever it was, around the creature’s midsection. When she focused on it, she could discern it, and that was was convinced her. As Chat Noir dodged another blob shot from an arm that appeared and disappeared just as quickly as it arrived, Ladybug called upon her lucky charm. When she was awarded with a lawn blower, she furrowed her eyebrows.
“What am I supposed to do with this?” She said aloud. Chat Noir answered.
“Well you better figure it out soon Milady!” He quickly jumped over a projectile. Finally, she realized.
“Chat! I got it.” She turned on the contraption to blow the sludge away from her and her partner. Chat Noir, understanding, grabbed the belt from the middle and called on his power to break it. “Time to de-evilize!” Ladybug yelled and the akuma was caught and freed. An obnoxious beeping graced her.
“You’d best split M’lady.” She nodded and waved.
“See you, Chaton!”
“Miss you already.” She saw him go to help the de-akumatized person home. Ladybug smiled at her partner. She made it to a safe spot just as Tikki dropped the transformation.
“Sorry Tikki, that was a little close.”
“‘S okay Marinette.” She handed her Kwami a cookie. Glancing around, she began to walk home, when Marinette was graced by a man standing in an alley.
“What are you doing out so late little girl?” He started to advance. “Lost?”
“Uhh no sir, actually I’m just walking my dog. She’s a big German shepherd and needs a lot of attention.” She began while walking away. He grinned intimidatingly.
“You know, somehow, I don’t believe you.” He moved toward her when another figure dropped down between them.
“I’m all for a good conversation in an alley, but this little lady doesn’t seem too interested in talking to you.” Marinette could have cried for joy. She was planning on running, she couldn’t exactly have transformed in front of a complete stranger, even to save herself.
“Don’t you have a trash can to sleep in, you flea ridden-“
“FLEA RIDDEN?!” Chat Noir exclaimed. “I can assure you this cat grooms himself daily.” His voice took on a more threatening air. “Now scram before I remind you exactly how effective these claws can be.” The man raised his hands in defeat.
“I’m going, I’m going.” He turned and ran. Chat Noir sighed in disgust.
“People. Would you like a walk home miss-“ He turned and his eyes widened. “Marinette?”
“Hey…” she said, dragging out each sound.
“What on earth are you doing out this late? And in the cold ? Without a jacket?!” His voice took on a disapproving tone. “You will get yourself sick.”
“Uhh-“ Was all Marinette could think of. Chat Noir remembered her? Why does he care so much? And more importantly, will he tell her parents she snuck out? He shook his head and sighed.
“I’ll walk you home. Can’t have you getting kidnapped. You cool if we take the shortcut?”
“Sure..?” He grabbed her waist suddenly, eliciting a gasp from her. He stopped.
“Sorry. Probably should have clarified.” He held his staff out in explanation.
“Oh. Okay.” When they landed on Marinette’s balcony three minutes later, she had finally processed her situation. “How do you know where I live?” She asked. Chat Noir paled.
“Uh..it’s the best bakery.”
Oh. Duh. “Oh.”
“And- Anyway!” He said suddenly. “Why, pray tell, are you wandering the streets of Paris at uh…” he looked around for a clock. “You know what it doesn’t really matter what time it is. You should be home. And probably asleep.”
“Sorry.” Now how would she play this off? She started panicking. “I was taking a walk.”
“…in the middle of the night?”
“I get…bored.” He blinked. Then he sighed.
“Are you going to do something like this again?”
“…probably.” He rubbed his temples like her mother whenever she deals with Marinette’s antics. Since when did Chat Noir become a mom? He never did this with Ladybug. Does he do this with every civilian he encounters? And why did she feel so guilty?
“Right. If I come and hang out with you, will you stay inside? I can’t come every day, but I can’t sleep knowing you put yourself in danger out of boredom.” Marinette felt herself short circuiting. Before she knew it, he was jumping off on his pole. What…what just happened? What did she just agree to?
“Marinette..”
“Tikki…what just happened.”
“You told Chat Noir he could hang out with you when you were bored. He gave you a private account number to message him. You promised to text him.” Marinette glanced down at a piece of paper in her hands.
“…shit.”
——
Adrien collapsed into his bed and groaned.
“So you gave Pigtails your number.”
“Yeah.”
“The number on the phone you use to contact Ladybug.”
“…yeah.”
“You know she’s gonna kill you, right?”
“Yes Plagg, I’m aware how screwed I am. But I can’t have Marinette putting herself in danger unnecessarily. Ladybug can…Ladybug can deal with it!”
“So protective of your classmate. And here I thought you were in love with Ladybug.”
“What? Yes! I mean- I mean, no. I mean I don’t like Marinette, I mean I like her. But like I don’t like her like her. I mean-“ He sighed. “It’s too late for this.”
“Actually, it’s too early for this. I see the sun.” Adrien groaned. “What is my life.”
“Chaotic. Sleep.” Plagg said, tugging the covers up to Adrien’s chin. “I’ll do your homework for you.”
“Plagg, the last time you did my homework, you wrote in reverse.”
“I got it, kid. Just rest.”
“Mhm…” Adrien trailed off and began to snore lightly. Plagg shook his head fondly. His kid had NOT been getting enough sleep as it was, and now he wanted to stay up to watch Pigtails? Marinette could handle herself fine, and Tikki’s on top of her as well. Of course, it's not like he could tell Adrien any of that. Though, now that he thought about it, Marinette hadn’t been looking so good lately. Maybe Plagg needed to talk to Tikki. But first, homework. Adrien better give him some cheese for this.
_____
The moon shone down on the Seine. If you listened closely enough, you could hear a slight breath of wind in the otherwise still night. The milky darkness consumed all. Behind closed doors however, a menacing voice began to speak.
“Mensonge, I am Hawk Moth…”