Chapter Text
The fog settles heavily on Paris’ lively streets. It was the January of 1854 and the winter chill had long since set in. It was a mark of the New Year. The holiday party that reined the night wouldn’t even stop for the light snow falling from the dark skies. The city had only started its mission to rebuild the city four years ago but much had changed in that time period. Mainly because they spent most of their time either doing work or arguing, but tonight was the night to settle differences and drink till merry.
The hundreds of tourists from all over the world come to see the great Mona Lisa and the famous city of France adorned in a thin lather of white. The city, usually bustling through the day, was even more so at night time. The Seine filled with river barges, each one packed to capacity, sailing lazily down the glistening water as dozens of café patrons sit and sip at their midnight night-caps. Heaters and open fires lined the walkways, surrounded by small groups of Parisians warming their hands.
Paris’ main attraction, the Eiffel Tower was lit up with thousands of lamps illuminating the buildings and the park surrounding it. The night was loud and the parties were louder. Thousands of sightseers and Parisians take up the bottle to cheer the New Year. Countless families bound together in song as they sing from their rooftops and on the streets. Joyful children fill the parks as they twirl sparklers, Chinese firecrackers and French flags in the air. A few fireworks shoot into the fog, cracking explosions and spitting light into the cool night air.
Within the open courtyards of the Louvre, dozens of groups fill the open expanse. Some standing around in the falling snow waiting for a chance to see the inside of the museum, other merely socialising. This was truly a night to behold…
But in the many of the crowd stood one solemn group that did not have the intention of enjoying themselves that night. They kept to the side, discretely dressed in heavy trench coats like a majority of the people around them. It was winter in Paris after all, so they didn’t look all too conspicuous. Being spread out evenly made them less noticeable while still within earshot of each other. One man with a bowler hat, dull orange hair and moustache stood in the centre of the line of men. He cleared his throat, turning his head ever so slightly to give his orders.
“Make sure you find him;” the man said indirectly to the collection of young rough looking men, “Papillon says this one’s a trouble maker… And he wants him alive.”
As previously directed, everyone in the troupe brought out batons and lead pipe pieces from inside their jackets. They discretely slid the blunt objects up their sleeves and hid them there, ready to use at a moment’s notice. The orange haired man nodded to the crowded plaza with a serious tone, “Go on then, get a move on…”
“Find the monster of Paris.”
One by one, the men disperse through the crowds of the Louvre. In a matter of moments, the men faded into the social circles, unbeknownst to the unsuspecting citizens. The orange haired man stayed behind, his expression neutral as the men disappear from his sight. He paces around the edges of the plaza, looking at the sea of joyful faces. None seem to know the trouble they could be in.
Of all the time of his employment, this monster was one terrifying opponent. Certainly the most dangerous and probably the one that needs most psychiatric attention.
The man stops in front of a lamp post and casually leans his shoulder against it. He gives the crowd one last glance before he pulls out a newspaper from inside his trench coat. He tips his black Bowler hat forward and intently looks into the newspaper articles named ‘Le Père Duchesne’.
The headline in large print read: CHAT NOIR MONSTER TERRORISES LOCALS.
The man sighed at the headline and flicked open the thin paper to the second page. He was greeted with the sketchy grin of the monster, printed across the page in black and white. It was hunched over, a heavy cloak draped over its body and top hat in hand. The eye witness reports entailing the creature as tall, shadowy, with razor teeth and a snarling hiss. The reporter that probably wrote this article was exaggerating the witness accounts to make the papers sell, but that didn’t stop the chill down his spine. The article below the illustration continued to report the characteristics this monstrosity.
‘It wore man’s clothing and took a man’s appearance, but its nails like claws and its strength like a rhinoceros. No-one has seen its face and no-one dared find out. Could it be a myth or long lost fairy tale? The answer; no. For it is among us today.
The people of Paris fear the dark allies and kept to the lighted streets. People being robbed of their self-respect as the creature attacks them in the night. All the victims who were hospitalised said all they remember its piercing green eyes, like a black cat’s, slitted and illuminating in the night. A major concerning problem was that this beast wasn’t taking any money; just harming the innocent, terrorising them if it were a sick game. We ask that you stay indoors if you value your dignity.’
– 1854, Alya Cesaire.
The man folded the newspaper back over and looked over the plaza. In a way, he was glad he was assigned this task of searching for this ‘Chat Noir’. He had a certain dislike for people in general, but he had a special hate for the weird ones. Once he found this poor excuse for waste of time he could give the runt a good beating before putting him where he belongs.
Through the masses he spots his familiar faces of his men were returning, shuffling through people and making their way towards the lamp post. He straightened himself and stuffed the paper in his pocket.
“Anything?” he asked as they huddled around him.
“Nothing, boss.” One of the men said shrugging his shoulders. “He isn’t here.”
“Well then go and look again!” the man demanded. “You were given a job, so do it!”
“Come on Leon,” another man said putting his hand on the man’s shoulder, “he isn’t going to show tonight. We all have a people to get back to… And it’s New Years of all nights.”
Leon turned his look at the rest of the mob. The men all looked at him with the plea. There weren’t meant for non-desk work and were only put together for this one night. Leo puffed up his chest in haste. He didn’t like doing this, but it seemed like the search was a bust. He could probably do a better job by himself anyway.
“Alright, and only because it’s New Year’s.” he said pointing a stern finger at the group. He crossed his arms and nodded off behind him. “Come on, get away with you before I change my mind.” The group gave a small appreciative smile for the man and dashed off in smaller groups before he kept his promise.
Alone on the edge of the Louvre’s Plaza, Leon let out a heavy sigh and adjusted his hat. It wasn’t the first time people were happy to get away from him. He didn’t really mind…
He did one last look around the museum, just to make sure nothing was missed. Not that he didn’t trust his men… but he didn’t trust his men’s capability to do a simple task. The idiots he called his men most likely did a half-hearted search and could have probably missed something (like a dead body or a crime scene). They weren’t always the brightest in his books…
After a while, he was satisfied with his own little look around and decided to take a walk. He didn’t want to celebrate the New Year, for there was more work to do, but he could at least allow himself a rest. He passed the hundreds of people in the plaza, not giving them another glance, and made his way to the Eiffel Tower. He was about a minute from arriving at the base of the Tower when he stopped to sit in the park adjacent to it.
The dimly lit green stretch next to the Eiffel Tower was only recently built but was already filled with children of nearly all ages. He allowed himself another sigh as he sat down on a park bench.
As he watched the children play, he looked on with contempt; glad that he was not a father or a husband for that matter. He didn’t understand how people could enjoy having the little terrors around. One small lad brushed past his legs, nearly knocking him out of his seat. The boy shouted apologetic words behind him as his friends sped past as well. Leon raised his fist and shouted curses at the passing adolescents.
New Year’s Day was one of his least favourite holidays. Everyone was celebrating, yet he had to continue his work through the thick of it. Mainly the overbearing crowds only got in his way.
He pulled his leg over the other and sunk his back into the seat. He rugged the overcoat further up his neck and slouched his shoulder forward. For the final touch, he tipped the bowler hat forward, just enough to block the oil lamps lining the park’s walkways. He released one last long breath before allowing the noisy world around him to slip away from him.
“Are you, Leon Rossi?” A woman’s voice asked.
Startled when as he heard his name, his eyes shot open and he fixed his hat. When he saw the woman standing a few feet from the bench he quickly stood out of respect. “Yes,” Leon said, dusting off his pants and then taking his hat off with a polite lift, “that’s me.”
Leon stopped for a second and looked on with amazement. Now he wasn't 'swooned off his feet', but this woman was extremely beautiful. She had dark hair blue tied up into two pigtails, a few strands falling onto her face as they slowly sway in the wind. She was not completely of French nationality but had the face similar to young Chinese women touring Paris he’d seen around. The ruffles of her crimson red crinoline dress rippling like water in the slight breeze. A heavier black fur-trimmed overcoat hung on her shoulders, the sleeves without arms swayed in the air. The dress was a stark contrast to the deep blue of her eyes, highlighting once again the blue in her hair.
The lady held out her hand from under the jacket, “Marinette Dupain-Cheng is my name.”
Leon stood there for a second before snapping out his gaze and planting a small kiss above her hand. He formally introduced himself as Leon Rossi and politely asked her business with him.
“Chemistry; namely the chemicals in the human body, Mr Rossi. I thought I might find my superior officer before I got stuck into work. I am the newest part of your division.” She said with formality. She lowered her hand to her purse and pulled out a small silver card. Taking the card, Leon read her name and her position as a ‘Pharmaceutical Advisor’.
“Pharmaceutical Advisor?” Leon said looking over the card. “What’s that got to do with the Police?”
“Well Chief Inspector Rossi,” she plucked the card out of his hand and slid it back into her purse, “the first founder of forensics science was French; A Mr Ambroise Paré was his name if I remember correctly. I investigate how people died, not who killed them.”
“Mr Paré, huh.”
“But I am fairly sure you could do a far better job than someone like me as a detective.” She said innocently.
Leon fingered with his moustache, and smiled slightly at her compliment, “You wouldn’t happen to be taking over my job, would you? I find the investigational work of France’s streets are quite perplexing and enjoyable.”
“I am sure that you do a terrific job.” She stated with kindness as she gave a slight curtsy. She straightened and continued, “I hardly could scratch the surface of the investigational work you do with just mere eyes. You won’t be losing your job by my hand anytime soon.”
He adjusted his hat and puffed out his chest with pride.
“Well when you put it like that…” he mumbled with slight bashfulness.
She then smiled brightly as she pulled her hands together. “I was aware that your task force was on the hunt for the mysterious ‘Chat Noir’ tonight.” She turned her smile into a teasing one. “I would love to see this ‘Monster’ everyone is rambling about!”
The sudden realisation hit him. She wasn’t praising him or flirting with him… she was putting him on a pedestal to lower his defences. He was played like an ace of diamonds.
He quickly dropped the flamboyant attitude and coughed in his fist before continuing. “My apologies, Miss, but I think we head down to the precinct. I am sure there must be some paperwork to fill out upon your arrival.” He had to change the subject before she got any further.
“And the ‘Chat Noir’?” She said tilting her head downward and raising her eyebrows. “He shall roam the streets while we organise ourselves?” Just as he thought, another hyped up school girl that wants to see danger.
His hand was still outstretched when Leon opened his mouth to explain how his men had it under control. He closed it when he remembered he sent his only group of helpers off to their homes.
“No, Miss. But I am fairly sure we will not find him tonight.” He smiled, but behind it, his expression was a firm tone, “And I am also fairly sure we need to…” He offered his hand to escort her.
“All the silly paperwork has been done, Rossi,” she said matter-of-factly. She placed her hand on his and lowered it from mid-air, “do you mind awfully if I call you ‘Rossi’?” she tilted her head and smiled innocently again, “It has a nice ring to it.”
“Um no, Miss.” He said slightly turning red.
“Now, keep in mind I came to find you, not the other way round.” She walked past the baffled man and strutted towards the large steel tower. He snapped back to attention and jogged to catch up with her. Her walk was brisk but slow, enough for Leon to walk beside her.
“You know, I have barely met you… and yet…” he raised his hand and counted on his fingers, “you’ve tried to woo me, pass off as the pacifist and made me, of all people, look like a fool… I am beginning to like you.” Leon said matter-of-factly
She leant in closer to whisper in his ear, “I found his secret.”
“Who’s?” he asked.
“Chat Noirs’.”
Leon burst out a short laugh. He had enough of the young lady, but he mused her thoughts.
“I have to say, your investigative skills are beyond my jurisdiction if you have the capability to know anything about this ‘Chat Noir’.” He pulled his arms up to his chest and folded them over, no longer walking but now strutting.
“I’ve been working his case for a month and been Chief Inspector for fifteen years...” he boasted. Holding up one finger with a serious tone, he let his opinion fly, “So I hardly doubt that a woman, as beautiful as you may be, could figure at least one detail of this monster without hearing about it from the papers.”
“…okay.” She cocked her head and looked away, “While you may not believe me… I do have a least one piece of information I found out by myself.”
“That being, Miss Marinette?” Leon said sarcastically.
“This ‘monster’ as you call him, has the capabilities of becoming a monster. Not actually being one.” She said looking into the distance.
Leon huffed at the idea, “Have you seen the trouble he has caused on the streets? That freak has put more innocent people in the hospital than the number of criminals I have put behind bars! If that is not a monster that what is?”
For a moment Leon realised something. Though he didn’t exactly like people, talking to this one seemed a little easier.
“You misunderstand me. I mean only that he is not a complete monster…” Marinette defended, “only half of one.” Leon looked at her with confusion.
She went on to explain herself.
“I have been researching him, ever since he came out of hiding. But he is merely a sheep in wolf’s clothing, he is not the monster.”
“Are you calling that abomination a man?” Leon coiled back as if she cursed in his face.
“As I said, only half a man and only half a monster. I have done my homework, Rossi and I have reason to believe I know exactly who the man side of this being is.”
Leon once again huffed at her preposterous ideas. She continued, annoyed that she was being ignored, “I have gone through countless public records and he has only popped up randomly... But I have a general idea who he is…”
“Well? Stop being so allusive and tell me who this ‘man’ is already.”
“LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PEOPLE OF PARIS! MAY I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION, PLEASE?”
Leon slowly turned his head up to face the source of the sound. The Eiffel Tower stood firmly in front of him, and not too far up one of the support legs was a darkened figure, shrouded by fog.
“MANY PEOPLE HAVE WANTED TO SEE A MONSTER! WHY NOT GIVE THEM WHAT THEY WANT, I SAY!” The mysterious figure emerged from the fog and swung on the steel frame of the monument. It leant down and faced the curious crowd growing beneath him. Throwing out his free arm in a showy display he bellowed, “SO I PRESENT TO YOU, CHAT NOIR!”
The man adorned completely in black took off his top hat and threw it into the crowd. The lights behind him made it difficult to make out his face in the darkness, but one defining feature that could be seen was the green glow of his eyes. He straightened and continued his speech, sliding down the metal to land on the concrete foundation.
“I HAVE SOME SPECIAL GUESTS WITH ME…” his voice still booming, he raised his hand and pointed his finger in the direction of Leon and Marinette, “WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME UP TO THE STAGE CHIEF INSPECTOR LEON ROSSI?”
Leon snapped out of his gaze and jumped into action, pulling the bowler hat over his eyes and marching out of the park towards the base of the tower.
“PLEASE LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, GIVE THE INSPECTOR A HAND,” the figure mocked as he applauded the man. Leon pushed and shouted at the crowd attempting to reach the base of the tower. All the while, the mysterious figure continued his speech.
The fellow was shouting out accusations at Leon; calling the police cowards, slow and fat, incapable of capturing him. He had drawn a substantial audience towards the tower, making it even harder for the inspector to navigate. It was a stage to him, and quite a perfect stage indeed. As he proclaimed this message of obscenity, he was obviously addressing the public before him. But Marinette noticed something peculiar. Even from the back of the crowd, distant from the tower, she could see his only defining feature, his eyes, stabbing her vision like a dagger. Indeed from afar, he shared an unshakable eye contact with her.
Marinette gazed back at him with amazement, those green eyes pierced not only the darkness but her as a person. And they spelt danger for her. She subconsciously took a step away from the crowd… but the watchful green eyes stayed heavily on her. She looked down and away for a second, seeing the inspector has made his way past the first few rows of people.
Without even noticing Leon's shouts of vulgarity below him, the figure leaps above the heads of the crowd and soars through the night sky.
The shockwave from his landing shook the cobblestones around Marinette. The shaking causing her to fall backwards.
Within the slow seconds, the hands of the black cloaked man gently caught her from her mid-way fall. His grip secured her into his arms, carrying her under the legs and arm. She barely had time to register before she felt the violent jump and the boom that followed afterwards. She clenched her eyes shut as the chill of the air rushed past. The journey was anything but pleasant, but then, everything seemed to slow down to a stop. The slight drop was followed by a ‘clang’ and a brief wobble for balance. She slowly opened her eyes and saw the dark night above her...
And the familiar green eyes looking directly into hers. She froze in fear. His blond hair billowed in the heavy winds, splashing colour over his face and stressing the green pupils glaring directly into hers. To say the least, he didn’t look like the mangled snarl that the papers illustrated.
“Now, now, milady,” Chat Noir’s lips whispered to her. His voice was rough but soothing, threatening but with some cunning behind it. “Please sit still. For if I were to somehow drop you, it would be quite an interesting journey down…”
She looked behind her and saw what lay below. She saw the bright lights of the Tower, shining brightly as they lit the path leading down the tower to the hundreds of people crowded around its base. Terrified, she clutched her arms around his chest.
He raised his head into the night air and roared out a laugh, still holding on to her from under the arms and legs. The top of the Eiffel Tower was relatively quiet apart from the rushing winds and the monstrous laugh of Chat Noir. They were standing directly on the railing's edge with nothing stopping them from falling if he lost balance.
Though she wanted to scream, to shout and try to get out of his grip; she had no time to panic. She had to take control of the situation before it escalated.
Collecting her thoughts, she calmed her heartbeat and breathed deeply. She reasoned that if he wanted her dead he would have done it already. Taking a few more long breaths she closed her eyes and slowly slipped her arms from around his chest. She rested them on her stomach in a peaceful position and lolled her head back in a relaxed manner. It was taking an extremely big risk, being nearly three hundred meters in the air with nothing to hold onto. It surprised Chat Noir. He stopped his laughing and looked down at her.
“What happened?” he shook her slightly, “did you faint?”
“No…,” she said as calmly as possible while clamping her eyes shut, “I am remaining calm.”
“…um, stop it.” He said gruffly, annoyed at her attitude. “You’re not being fun.”
She shot open her eyes and furled her eyebrows in anger, “You want me to be fun!? You sick freak!”
“I aim to please,” he said smugly as he gently rocked her in his arms.
“You know what,” she closed her eyes once again and called his bluff, “toss me over the tower, I’ve had enough of your games.”
“Aww, come one, Marinette. At least give one of us the pleasure of the other’s company.”
Her eyes shot open and she gasped in shock at Chat Noir. “How did you…”
“You know I have ears like a cat’s and can hear many things…” he said raising a brow.
The wind blew harder and he swayed in the wind, the railing too thin for any feet to have a proper grip. Her hand went to his chest to steady herself in the rocking motion.
“Would you mind putting me down?” she gave a glance downward once more, “I would like some more stable ground.”
Chat Noir smiled a Cheshire cat grin.
“Why of course, milady." He promptly turned around and deposited Marinette on the tower's platform behind him. Her heels clicked as they met with the metallic floor and she allowed herself a sigh of relief. She dusted off the crinoline dress and buttoned up the fur-lined jacket to her chin.
Chat Noir, on the other hand, stayed on the railing, crouching down to meet with Marinette’s eye level.
To Marinette, his face seemed calmer than she anticipated. His lips played a smile that bared his perfectly shaped teeth, his completely normal human ears twitched and his eyes glimmered. But the smile dropped to a more curious expression, his head cocking to one side.
“What do you want with me?” he asked interestedly.
“Whatever do you mean?” Marinette played off honestly. “You were the one who kidnapped me.”
“Pfft... I have been following you since yesterday and have learned many things about you,” Chat Noir said sliding down from the railing and standing. She only noticed now how large he was. When she saw him from a distance she imagined him at least six foot. But he was at least another head taller than her and his demeanour made his statement all the more intimidating.
“Like what?” She swallowed hard when he took a step towards her.
“Like how you wanted information about me from that reporter, Alya Cesaire,” he said taking another step and closing the gap between him and her. “Or like how you lied to Chief Inspector Leon Rossi on how long you have been in Paris for.” Slowly backing away, Marinette felt the steel railing behind her.
“You have been a very interesting tale, Miss Marinette,” he said taking another step forward, completely shattering her personal space as the distance dropped below thirty centimetres.
She had to look up in order to see his face. Her breath quickened has his hand hovered up her arm. He stopped at her shoulder and rested upon the fur linings.
“You know most of the people that meet me have been absolute idiots,” he said softly, “but you are something, completely different to normal people. You’re not like normal people… I can smell it on you.” He tilted his head down and took a deep breath.
She turned her face away from him.
He exhaled into her hair, looking at her up and down with wide eyes, “You’re nothing like normal people…”
“You’re me…”
His face spread into a wide, wide grin and he stepped backwards. He made a showy display of bowing slightly and splaying his arms.
“You’re" he paused for effect, "a Hyde.”