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“Tell me this is a nightmare…”
Ladybug's trembling voice makes Chat noir frown.
They were on their usual patrols when they both sensed something strange in the air, a tiny energy similar to that of an akuma. They looked at each other and hesitated only a second before following their instincts and running towards the source of the energy.
They landed on the roof of a building, Ladybug first, and she froze.
Chat Noir moved closer and took her arm, trying to get her attention, but she kept her chin raised, her horrified expression turning terrified. Chat Noir followed her gaze and fell upon a strange, vibrant white circle in the sky.
“What is this-”
“Chat noir, you must leave. Right now.”
"What ?" he inquired, turning towards her.
She appears to be panicking as she clings to his arm.
“Right away ! It's-”
“Ladybug !”
They both pivot towards a superheroine that Chat noir hadn't seen in a long time.
“Bunnix !” Ladybug cried, both panicked and relieved, as the older heroine landed at their level.
“There's a problem !”
"Yes," Ladybug replied tensely, pointing at the frantic spinning circle. “That's him, isn't it ?”
Bunnix nods nervously.
“But it's different and I can't figure out where the problem is coming from !”
She holds her head, tense.
“He travels through time and dimensions, that shouldn't be possible !”
“It had been sorted out and I didn't do anything! How did this happen ?”
“I don't know !”
Ladybug opens her mouth, pauses, then turns to Chat noir who observes them one after the other, his expression pinched, then stops on her, already guessing her next words.
“Chat noir, you must leave…”
“More secrets, huh ?” he said cynically.
She clings to him, frantic; his attitude worries her, but this does not lessen her frustration.
It's always like that.
“Chat noir, please, I'll explain everything later, I promise, but you really have to leave now !”
She looks panicked, frightened; he's never seen her like this and it makes him conflicted, so he nods involuntarily. She immediately looks relieved and hugs him tightly.
“Thanks.”
He said nothing. Once she let go of him, he stepped back, unfurled his staff, and jumped away from the building, the wind whistling in his ears as he moved away from Ladybug and Bunnix.
But once far away and out of their field, he makes a detour, climbs, scales and jumps onto a racing car that is taking a right turn.
Once further away, Chat noir leaves the vehicle with a great leap, makes a detour, approaches the place he just left then jumps onto another building, from a completely different angle of the scene and hides, his eyes fixed on the hole which now oscillates between blue and white.
Further along on the other building, Ladybug is on her guard, her yo-yo in hand, and Bunnix has disappeared.
The hole vibrates before something bursts out with speed and lands smoothly on the building's water tower.
The intruder, who had his back to him, lazily straightened up, and it took Chat noir a moment to become aware of what was standing on the opposite rooftop.
And when he realizes it, he leaves his crouching position to straighten up, his eyes wide open in surprise.
There, in a white suit similar to his own, stood an exact version of himself, or perhaps he was mistaken and they simply had the same silhouette; after all, he could only see him from behind, but it was strange…
“I must be mistaken,” he murmured, perplexed, “it can't be-”
The newcomer turns his head towards Ladybug and Chat noir sees, he recognizes that profile, he recognizes his face, he hadn't been wrong about the silhouette, except for the obvious difference in the color of the costume…It was exactly him.
He completely forgets his hiding place and exposes himself because all his attention is focused on himself, his outfit, his posture, his mocking look towards Ladybug.
“Hey, look who I see! My Lady has come to greet me !”
Adrien shuddered with anxiety and surprise. It was acidic, but…
That's definitely me.
“Chat blanc, what brings you here ?” Ladybug asks, waving her yo-yo.
Chat blanc ? How original.
Chat noir can't help but smile, but freezes when he sees Chat blanc raise his hand and conjure a cataclysm.
“What a question,” giggles its white version, “give me your miraculous.”
Pardon ?
Chat noir 's eyes widen as the cataclysm grows larger.
Wow, can I do that ?
“Don't do that, Chat blanc !”
Chat noir glances at Ladybug, who is distraught and doesn't know what to do. He looks at her white version, whose cataclysm grows, again and again, increasingly obscuring the sun.
He then decides that it is time for him to show himself.
Chat noir extends his staff and with a bound, lands right between Ladybug and Chat blanc, who is still perched on the water tower.
“Chat noir ? What are you-”
“Hey, I wasn't going to leave you the pleasure of facing me all alone !” he exclaimed playfully.
And he was, he was really happy. From this distance, he could see how similar he and Chat Blanc were, even the frown that he saw appear on his opposite's face, he had already seen on his own.
He laughs excitedly and extends his staff to dash towards him. He sees the exact moment when Chat Blanc narrows his eyes without taking a guard, while contrary to what he and Ladybug think, he stops extending the staff right next to the water tower, near Chat Blanc and examines him, head tilted to the side, then downwards, then he jumps off his staff to land on the water tower.
Chat blanc doesn't move and Chat noir takes his time to look at him, his gaze plunges into his entirely blue eyes, wanders over his white hair, the white mask and can only smile with satisfaction.
“It's crazy, even as a bad guy, I look good; that says it all.”
It was a sincere feeling, although unwelcome; that was what he felt, a strange pride, but he easily understood Ladybug's surprise at his words, as Chat Blanc raised his eyebrows in surprise, then the corner of his lips trembled before he burst out laughing.
The white cataclysm disappears.
“Well, that's quite a bold kitten.”
“If you say so,” cooed Chat noir .
They eye each other mischievously, then Chat blanc steps forward and nudges him with a tap on the shoulder, sending him tumbling backward, but he follows and they land together on the roof. Chat blanc approaches, circles him, looks him over from every angle, and Chat noir can't help but chuckle.
Chat blanc almost wraps itself around him, their bodies brush against each other and he shivers; the look they share lets him know that he has felt it too.
Close by, Chat blanc tilts his head, his pupils trace the contours of his face, something shines in his eyes, as he raises his clawed hand towards his cheek.
“Chat noir, watch out !”
No sooner does Ladybug shout that than the moment vanishes; in a fraction of a second, Chat blanc's gaze becomes sharp again. He doesn't try to dodge the heroine's attack, and it's Chat noir who pulls him towards her, then leaps back. They simultaneously push off with their hands, followed by a backflip to land some distance away. He remains crouched, surprised by the attack, while Chat blanc nonchalantly straightens up.
“You are much more impatient than I am, my Lady,” sighed Chat blanc, “or rather, should I call you…”
“No, don't say it !” exclaimed Ladybug in horror.
She glances quickly at Chat noir , who, crouching, watches them one after the other, then stares at her.
“He knows your identity…?”
“And lots of other things, to be honest,” hums Chat blanc, tapping his fingers together with cold amusement as he slowly approaches her.
He has a menacing look that makes Chat noir shudder and immediately puts Ladybug on her guard, but he stops halfway and turns his head towards Chat noir , who hasn't moved. He raises and waves his clawed index finger, beckoning her to join him.
Chat noir gives an amused smile.
“Can't you do without me already ?” he hums, straightening up and approaching.
Chat blanc watches him, his gaze steady and sharp, his every move scrutinized, while, as before, all his attention seems to be on him again, and Chat noir 's smile widens. Once he's close enough, Chat blanc takes his wrist, and the same shiver runs through them both.
Not distressing, nor exciting, nor even frightening.
But warm and comforting.
“You know what, Ladybug ?” began Chat blanc, before turning his gaze away from Chat noir and observing him. “I'm going to give you some time to recover from the shock of my gracious presence. Until then, let me talk with my…”
He searches for his words, Chat Noir watches him, amused.
“Half ?” they said in unison.
Chat blanc is surprised, pleasantly surprised, and Chat noir laughs.
“And don’t worry,” continued Chat blanc towards Ladybug without taking his eyes off her, “I won’t tell her anything, not about you or anything else.”
He gives her a bored look.
“But I'll change my mind if you ever come with us.”
“Never ! I won't leave you alone with him !”
“Oh,” complained Chat blanc, pouting, “you're hurting my feelings…”
He suddenly turns his head towards her the next moment, his expression cold and threatening, and Chat Noir can only stare at him, taken aback by this change of mood and this expression that he has never seen in himself.
“You are not my Lady,” he spat furiously, squatting down, “so don't give me orders ! She, she was everything, everything, everything !”
His body is trembling.
Chat noir takes the wrist of the hand that still holds him to attract his attention, to make him look at him, but without success, so he bows and puts his face in front of his and Chat blanc's blue eyes immediately focus on him, his gaze and his body follow that of Chat noir as he straightens up.
“Only look at me,” he teased once they had straightened up.
Chat blanc raises an eyebrow and Chat noir mimics him, amused. Out of the corner of his eye, he sees Ladybug, nervous, her inert yo-yo trembling in her hand, and Chat noir offers her a reassuring smile.
“Don't worry, my Lady, I have the situation well in hand.”
He turns to his white version and bows chivalrously.
“I'm with you, my dearest self.”
“Aah,” sighed Chat blanc, the back of his hand against his forehead, “you're playing on my emotions, how can I refuse ?”
He sighs in sorrow and falls into the arms of Chat noir who laughs while holding him, then Chat blanc pivots in his arms, as agile and feline as he is and leaps into the air.
Chat noir doesn't hesitate for a second to follow him.
“Watch out !” Ladybug exclaimed.
“Don't worry, everything is under control !”
He knows she'll try to contact Bunnix, he knows he doesn't have much time, so he focuses on Chat blanc, he joins him, and he's pleasantly surprised by their coordinated movement, giving way to each other and knowing exactly where the other will land without having to think twice. They land in unison in Adrien's room, their room.
Chat blanc froze in the middle of the room. Chat noir said nothing, even when his counterpart moved cautiously, his white claws barely brushing the bedclothes, while his gaze swept the room with a touch of melancholy. His blue eyes lingered on the picture frames; he picked up his mother's picture and his body trembled. He clutched his head in his hand, eyes closed and jaw clenched. Worried, Chat noir approached, but stopped when, after seeing the other frame, his father's, he tossed it across the room.
Chat noir held his breath for just a moment before approaching him and taking him in his arms.
“It's okay, calm down.”
Chat blanc drops their mother's picture frame, pivots in his arms and clings to him desperately.
“Plagg, retract your claws.”
Adrien transforms back, Chat blanc steps back and Adrien smiles.
“Hi !”
Chat blanc watches him without saying anything while Plagg comes to circle around his head, looking worried, then turns towards Adrien.
“That's clearly your akumanized version, Adrien !”
Adrien's eyes widened in surprise. He believed that, just like Black Claws, it was a version of himself from another time period or dimension, not that it was just...him, maybe from the future, maybe from another time period, but akumatized.
He observes Chat blanc more closely, who remains motionless, waiting. Adrien narrows his eyes then shrugs.
“Yeah, like I said, even like this, I'm handsome.”
Chat blanc gives a slight smile that lasts only a moment before disappearing.
“So,” Adrien began, stroking Chat blanc's back, “you can't detransform, I suppose. That's a shame, I would have liked to see what I look like with this face.”
“Adrien !” exclaims Plagg, “Well, you know what ? Do what you want, where's my cheese ?”
“Under the bed.”
Plagg leaves without a backward glance. Chat blanc clings to him tighter, his claws barely scratching his back, before he loosens his grip with one arm to tap his white bell. Before Adrien's astonished eyes, Chat blanc detransforms, his costume retracting, not like his own which disappears automatically when he detransforms, but like when someone forcibly removes their Miraculous, gradually.
Then he watches his…white version take its place, white hair, disturbing gaze, disturbing and joyless air , yet Adrien laughs and cups his face to contemplate it.
“Damn, that's really cool.”
“…You are truly carefree,” says the white-haired Adrien, taking one of the hands that is holding his face, “I don’t remember ever being like this.”
Gently, he loosens his grip on Adrien, but still takes hold of his wrist to walk around the room, as if rediscovering certain things, picking up objects which he then puts down, his gaze lingering on the frame of his friends which he quickly lowers.
Chat noir doesn't ask why.
Several minutes later, his other self sits on the bed, still holding him, so Adrien is forced to do the same and he can only draw him further to the center, cross his legs in lotus position and observe him.
His alter ego imitates him more calmly, sitting down opposite him.
“Can I...?” Adrien asks, reaching for the white bell around his neck.
The alter ego remains silent and moves closer as a simple response, pressing their knees together, Adrien smiles and his finger brushes against the bell, which jingles.
A sad, melancholic sound emerges from it, making Adrien lose his smile.
“What happened to you ?”
“A lot of things.”
“…Do you want a hug ?”
His other self, his other half, gives him a surprised look, then an amused smile - the very reaction Adrien was trying to get - stretches his lips and he laughs softly.
“Where did that come from ?”
Adrien shrugs his shoulders then holds out his arms wide open.
“That might console you.”
“We need more,” he murmured.
And yet, he approaches. Adrien embraces him and he embraces him back; another shiver runs through them both, and they instinctively tighten their grip. Adrien buries his face against his neck, sniffing, searching for an unfamiliar scent, but it's the same as his own, exactly the same.
“When I was little, my mother often did that.”
“…I know. I remember that.”
He feels a caress against his hair and his smile widens.
“That too.”
Chat blanc hums, they stay like that for a moment before Adrien speaks softly about his day.
He should be at school, right now.
He also talks about his life, deliberately ignoring his father, but he does talk about Nathalie, which causes tension in Chat Blanc's body, so he avoids that subject as well. He hesitates to talk about his friends, given his earlier reaction, and instead talks about his training, only about what he enjoys. His companion listens attentively, drawing him closer, stroking his hair and back, sharing a chuckle over anecdotes that he sometimes playfully adds to with his lips.
At no point did they loosen their grip.
“Adrien,” Chat blanc interrupts his monologue.
“Hmm ?”
“I love you.”
This surprises him; he pulls his head back to observe his alter ego, who stares at him with his blue eyes, imperturbable, one of his hands leaving his back to caress his face.
“Then don't like him too much.”
Adrien frowned.
“Who ?”
His other self takes a shallow breath.
“Ladybug,” he said, “and the one below. Don't like her too much.”
His thumb caresses her cheek, then moves up under her eye.
“Don't get lost.”
His body trembles, not from anger, or perhaps from anger, but he cannot identify the emotion that makes him frown and pursing his lips.
“Love yourself, more than anyone else, more than your mother, more than-”
His face tensed.
“More than him, more than anyone else.”
He removes his other hand from his back and cups Adrien's face; the latter doesn't know what to say, so he observes him, drinking in his words, his heart tight as much from the distress he seems to be trying to camouflage as from the latent need in his blue pupils, trying to make him understand something without saying it.
“Promise me and I'll leave.”
“Leave ?” Adrien repeated, surprised.
His fingers grab at the t-shirt of his other self, who is surprised then raises an eyebrow before laughing softly.
“You get attached really quickly.”
He chuckled, nostalgically.
“Was I really like that…?”
Adrien felt his heart tighten, so he gently approached, without really knowing why, and placed a kiss on the lips with the bitter smile, then stepped back.
“I love you, Adrien,” he said in turn with a broad smile, “I'll do as you say.”
His other half is surprised, then gives a smile, the most genuine that Adrien has ever seen him smile since his arrival, and pulls him closer again to embrace him.
“Thanks.”
Adrien hums against his neck, clinging a little more tightly to his t-shirt.
“…You know, you could stay. It would be good to have a Chat noir and a Chat blanc in the dams.”
“I doubt Ladybug would agree.”
“…Will she get used to it ? ”
His alter ego laughs, then lets his hands move up and down his back with a sigh.
“If I stay here, I'll end up killing her.”
Chat noir shivers and he doesn't know if it's because of the coldness of these words or because his other half is rubbing his cheek against his throat.
I thought he only wanted his Miraculous ?
“And I risk destroying this reality. Even if I don't care, you are important.”
“…Will we see each other again ?”
“…Maybe. If you want it enough.”
In response, Adrien pulls him even closer, surprising him and making him let out a short laugh.
“Does that mean yes ?”
Adrien doesn't respond to the teasing tone; he burys his face against his partner's neck, and the other person mimics him, trapping their body heat. Adrien feels strangely soothed and wonders if it was the same for him.
“I have to go.”
“Now ?”
“Yes. I don't intend to remain inactive if Ladybug comes back for more. And you know she will.”
Adrien reluctantly pulls away and, just like him earlier, cups this face so similar to his own. His thumb traces the curve of his cheekbone while the other caresses the corner of his lips, and it is there that he feels the same impulse as a little while ago.
And he did not try to stop her.
Adrien leans forward, their lips meet and a shiver runs through them, and beyond pleasure, there remains a desire to console, to show that they are there, somewhere.
Then his alter ego returns the kiss, as sweet as himself, Adrien does not sense any uncertainty and is reassured by it, because he felt deep down that it was right, it was reconnecting with himself and finding what he did not know he had lost.
Nor needed.
And then their tongues met again, it was a pleasure, it made me shiver and it fixed and then sealed something in him that Adrien didn't know was broken.
He steps back, gasping for breath, they open their eyes at the same time, enamored, their hands reach for each other and their fingers intertwine.
“Again,” they murmured in unison.
They laughed softly, then resumed with the same gentleness as before. It was good, it was transcendent and it was tender, then warm and he felt it becoming burning hot.
Because her hands wanted to wander.
He moaned, his alter ego barely pulling back his head, untying their fingers then wrapping his arms around his waist to draw him closer. Their torsos met, their breaths mingled as Adrien wrapped his arms around his neck and ran his fingers through his white hair, lingering on the nape of his neck as his alter ego tilted his head to the side and eagerly took his lips back, their tongues dancing in a ballet in which Adrien surrendered completely.
It's so good.
And…his other self becomes intense.
Adrien's cheekbones are a little red as he steps back, panting and short of breath, but his alter ego comes back for more, eliciting a gentle laugh from him.
“You're going to suffocate me,” he barely had time to say before being kissed again.
He moaned softly as the hands wandered firmly down his back, echoing the feverish kiss that made him increasingly feverish.
“You shouldn't have started this. Take responsibility,” declared his other self, while nibbling at his lips.
Adrien hums, amused. Although his heart is beating fast, he is nonetheless calm.
The sigh of pleasure from his alter ego when he gently presses his lips against his makes him smile and they resume kissing more calmly.
Adrien etches this into his memory, his touch, the sensation under his fingers, on his body, his lips, this feeling of being where he was supposed to be, this incredible calm…
He tries to etch every detail into his memory.
And then their hands wander, they want to wander and he feels this need come alive and become oppressive, too soon, so they step back in a single movement, breathless, but rest their foreheads against each other, a vital need for physical contact.
Adrien then hears the ringing of the bell and he doesn't need to open his eyes to know that his other self is transforming.
“Plagg,” he calls to him softly, “show your claws.”
He senses the change and opens his eyes, meeting the blue eyes of Chat blanc, and understands that separation is near. His heart sinks.
“Hey, don't make that face,” declares his alter ego, playful again, “we'll see each other again. Maybe.”
“Yeah, maybe,” he grumbled.
Chat blanc sketches a mocking smile then leans down to steal a kiss, then another and another, finally managing, despite himself, to make her smile.
“Don't forget your promise,” whispered Chat blanc against her lips.
“Never.”
Chat blanc steps back, extends his arm to the side, and with a fluid gesture waves the hand holding the ring, revealing a hole similar to the one he emerged from earlier. He plunges his hand in, ready to go, but glances back at her one last time, then taps her bell, which jingles with a sound happier and sweeter than his own, and smiles.
“Don't change.”
Adrien smiled.
“I promise.”
At this he barely straightens his torso and plunges like a cat into the white hole that closes behind him.
The silence that follows his departure is deafening.
Adrien doesn't have the courage to detransform, the taste of kisses is still there and his reflection in the mirror suddenly seems too much so he escapes through the window and finds shelter on the roof of some random building.
Some time later, Ladybug joins him as the sun sets.
“He's gone," he told her without looking at her.
“I know,” Ladybug confided softly, sitting down beside him.
“He scares you.”
“…Yes and no.”
“I understand. He is strong.”
“It's even ridiculous,” Ladybug murmured.
This brings a certain pride to Chat noir , who gives a discreet smile.
“Bunnix told me everything was back to normal. You did a great job, kitten.”
Chat noir laughs.
“Yet I haven't done much.”
“I think that…just being you helped him.”
He watches her, she smiles, he feels his heart melt and then, he remembers.
Don't like her too much.
His smile remains, just, it might take some time, but he will, so he smiles even more.
“Yes,” he said “and it's my turn to help him.”