Chapter Eleven: One Man Can Change Lives
Have you ever wondered what marks our time here? If one life can really make an impact on the world...or if the choices we make matter? I believe they do. And I believe that one man can change many lives. For better...or worse.
- Lukas Scott
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Emilie was shocked. Both Adrien and Marinette had agreed.
"So, they said yes? They didn't even fight it?" She asked once her husband ended the call with them.
"Apparently they trust us and, Ladybug and Chat Noir explicitly." Gabriel held a hand over his head. What a complete disaster they'd got their son into! "They're on their way over now. They don't want it to effect their work for the sake of the company."
There was a knock on the door and Gabriel signalled Gorilla to go and answer it. In a matter of seconds Adrien and Marinette were joining Gabriel and Emilie in his office. After quick greetings they sat down to business.
"We don't want this to cause any issues at work. We both love our jobs and it'll be the only true time we'll get to see each other until this is all over." Marinette spoke first.
"We also don't want any confirmed stories in the press. They can suggest what they like but no one confirms or denies. Nathalie will need to know this -" Adrien continued.
"But we don't want her to know about what's happening. It stays between us four, and Ladybug and Chat Noir. I will tell my parents something but will make sure they don't know the lengths of this matter either." Marinette and Adrien talked in combination, finishing each other's sentences and taking over the talking at ease, as if they were one.
Emilie's heart broke and stray tears began to leave her eyes. The blurring in her eye sight was playing with her mind. One moment she saw Adrien and Marinette sitting in front of her, then Chat Noir and Ladybug and then back to her son and his girlfriend. She shook her head and took a drink of water. She noticed Marinette looking at her, studying her face and her reactions. She gave the blunette a reassuring smile and they continued their discussion.
"We'll arrive separately at work and events, and we'll try and cause arguments at work so people can see there's a tear." Adrien began to outline their plan to the senior Agreste's. Marinette sat nodding next to him, "we just don't want to cause any issues for yourself and mother."
"You won't, sunshine. We're here to support you and hopefully it won't be for too long. I love you both so much, I'm just gutted you've got to do this." She wrapped her arms around Adrien and Marinette.
"If we can help Paris we want to be able to do our part. Who knows Ladybug might see us as possible Miraculous holders in the future?" Adrien said with a laugh, Marinette reached her hand towards his ear and flicked it. Sometimes he really was insufferable.
——————————————————
Felix was in the office of his new house in Paris. Kagami would be moving in with him next week ready for the wedding preparations to begin. He was digging through his boxes for one specific item.
"Where are you?" He began to throw books, papers and ornaments around the room, not a care for their wellbeing. Suddenly he stopped. His hands had met the desired object.
"It's time to see just how you work." Pulling out the spell book he opened the page linked to the 'Conjuration rings'. The only reason he had agreed to move to Paris was knowing his Uncle still held the second Graham de Vanily Twin Ring and that living here would put him in close enough proximity to channel some of its magical power. Unknown to Felix the ring was now safely locked away in Adrien's Penthouse, along with the Miracle Box.
He opened the book and looked over the Latin spell in front of him. As he dragged his hand over the page he smiled to himself. Power would soon be his. His perfect cousin would be destroyed leaving Felix to live the model boys life, and that girlfriend of his will be made to beg. Beg for Felix to have his way with her. She'll become his slave.
He then considered Kagami. He didn't love the girl, he just knew with her ring he'd gain ultimate and unlimited power, once that was done he'd dispose of her, with his goody two shoes of a cousin. All he needed was himself.
"veni ad me
veni ad me
venerunt ad me:
et incipiunt sentire vim ostendam.
Ego tibi potens, quod youll vis facere
quid faciam mundum efficere destruetur"
As Felix spoke the spell, his ring began to glow blue. He felt power course through his veins and felt every sense grow in size. When the feeling had finished he looked into the mirror. His eyes had turned completely black and he, himself, had turned blue.
He moved his head from side to side getting used to this new feeling. He looked down at his ring and it had split in two it looked like an egg timer with the top layer of the ring slowly ticking around. This must be indicating how long he could contain his powers for.
"Let's take this baby for a test drive."
He walked to his bedroom and out to the balcony. Taking a deep breath and closing his eyes, he raised his palms upwards and bent slightly into his knees. Emptying his brain and letting the power of the ring take over he jumped up into the night sky.
—————————————————-
Ladybug and Chat Noir were sitting on their usual rooftop. They'd just completed the interview with Alya ready to announce to the world that ship 'LadyNoir' was finally sailing. The two heroes sat hand-in-hand, watching the lights on the Eiffel Tower dance around the skies.
"I haven't seen her that happy in months." Ladybug rested her head on Chat's shoulder and cuddled into his warmth.
"She really does think we're a purrr-fect couple." Marinette smacked him on the thigh. "What was that fur?" She smacked him again. "Ok, now this is just animal abuse."
Without too much thought she pushed him off the rooftop, grabbed her yo-yo and caught him before he hit the ground, pulling him back up effortlessly and throwing him over her shoulder.
She burst out laughing as Chat landed in a rather uncomfortable upside down position behind her.
"Sometimes I wonder why I love you?" He said as he rolled into a crossed leg sitting position. She sprung over to him and straddled over his lap sitting on her knees.
"Because, mon Chaton, you have no choice." She kissed him passionately on the lips. "Oh, and I look good in a skin tight catsuit."
"That you do, m'lady." Chat went to pull his lady's lips back to his when he heard a bang and screaming in the distance.
Both heroes stood up and looked at the direction it had came from.
"Race you there." Chat shouted as he used his staff to manoeuvre around the rooftops of Paris. Ladybug was close behind looking around at where the noise had derived from. Under their feet people were running in the opposite direction, indicating they were heading the right way.
They both skidded to a stop as they reached the Tuileries Gardens. People were hurrying around panicked as smoke filled the sky. The gardens were on fire. Chat began to help people out the area as Ladybug used her new wings to fly above the scene. She looked to where the smoke was rapidly coming from, placing her yo-yo over her mouth to restrict the smoke intake with a makeshift gas mask.
As she turned towards her right she felt something impact in her stomach. It threw her back and into a wall of the Louvre Museum, she took her yo-yo from her mouth and threw it up to the roof before she hit the floor. Chat arrived by her side in seconds.
"LB," he screamed "are you ok?"
"I'm fine." She said trying to stand up. Her back and head were aching but no where near the intensity she remembered from their younger years. "Is everyone safely out the area?"
"Pretty much." He wrapped an arm around her waist and vaulted them back into the park. It was still on fire. The fire department were there but having no luck putting the fire out; it was as though it was unnatural.
"Lucky Charm!" Ladybug threw her yo-yo in the air calling for what she hoped would be an object to at least put out the fire.
"A giant water balloon?" Chat raised his eyebrows at Ladybug. "I don't think it's time for a water fight."
Ladybug looked round for an indication of what to do.
"Chat - get ready to vault and cataclysm it over the trees." Ladybug attached her yo-yo to the tie on the end of the balloon before swinging it around like an Olympic hammer thrower. She launched the water balloon up above the fire and Chat struck it at precisely the right moment freeing the liquid inside and taking down the flames.
Ladybug met up with him in the centre of the destroyed trees and looked around. The remnants of the balloon landed at their feet. She grabbed it and threw it into the air.
"Miraculous Ladybug!" The swirl of red bugs ran around the area and fixed everything that had been destroyed.
"So the defenders of Paris are still around." Someone with blue skin and black eyes made their way over the Ladybug and Chat Noir. Ladybug could feel something inside her which felt very similar to the effects of the Graham de Vanily Twin Ring.
She reached out for Chat's hand to calm her down. He grabbed hold of her straight away, obviously feeling the uneasy effects of the ring running through his loved ones veins.
"We'll always be here." Chat replied.
"Well that's good to see. I'm sure we'll be catching up a lot more, but for now I'll be taking my leave. Nice meeting you both." The man in blue turned around and jumped away.
"What the hell?" Chat said, placing his baton back in its holder.
"Felix" Ladybug replied looking to where he'd vanished. "We put the plan into action tomorrow." She turned around and walked away.
As the crowd surrounded them, Ladybug just wanted to get away. She ran off and found an alleyway to release her transformation. Marinette had given no thought to Chat/Adrien. She felt cold. Very cold. She began to walk her way to her parents house deep in thought. That power was strong, if he'd been there any longer she'd dread to think what would have happened.
She could hear her name being called behind her but didn't want to speak to its owner. She couldn't speak to him. How could she explain this cold feeling? All of a sudden hands were on her shoulders and she was turned round.
"Don't!" She said.
"Mari-"
"Don't!" She said harsher, hoping he'd get the message. "I can't ... I need to just ... it was ... "
"I know, Mari. I felt it too." He wrapped his arms around her but she didn't respond.
"I'm going to my parents. Come and see me later, I'll leave my trap door open for you." She gave him a quick kiss on the lips before turning and walking away. The cold, empty feeling finally starting to thaw.
—————————————————
They were back and they were stronger than before. Felix couldn't believe how quickly they'd removed everyone from the area and put out the fire. He'd even hit Ladybug with the strongest ray he could conjure and it may only leave her with a mild headache.
"Damn!" He kicked a chair hard. Something had changed in the heroes relationship; their powers had intensified, they were more in sync than ever and their suits had significantly changed. The bug could now fly! He calmed himself down and dropped the transformation. He needed a new strategy, he needed the wedding to come sooner. He needed Kagami's ring one way or another.
—————————————————
Chat Noir let himself into Marinette's room and released Plagg from his ring. Climbing down her ladder he looked around for her. Nobody was in there. He saw the second trapdoor was open and heard voices coming from the kitchen area. He only recognised one of the two voices. Marinette and ...
"Luka, I haven't got time to discuss this now. Adrien and I had an argument that's all."
"Marinette, it's all over social media. This hug does not look friendly." He pulled out his phone and shoved it in her face.
"Please, remove that from my face." She remained calm and collected.
"I knew he'd do something. Was he with another model or has he gone back to Kagami?"
"I'll ask you one more time Luka ... get ... out ... I'm not in the mood."
A new voice boomed through the room and Adrien recognised it as Tom's.
"Luka, I think it's time you go."
Adrien moved back as he saw Luka walk past the staircase.
"I'll see you soon, Marinette. You know where I am if you need help getting over pretty boy."
As soon as Adrien heard the door close he jumped down the stairs.
"Meowch!" He stated as he made his way to Marinette.
"Hey." She said with a small smile. She'd sat on the sofa leaning forward, arms resting on her thighs.
"Hey, how you feeling?" He crouched down in front of her and held her hands. The warmth radiated through her.
"I'm scared but I'll be ok now you're here." She jumped forward wrapping her arms around his neck and toppling him off balance. Tom stood and laughed at the predicament they had found themselves in.
"I'll get some treats." Tom said, leaving the room.
"It felt so cold, Mari! Are you sure you're ok?"
"I'm fine when I have you with me, the warmth of your touch thaws me." Tikki and Plagg flew to the couple. They'd been talking to Wayzz and found a way Marinette could carry a piece of Adrien round with her but it was something they couldn't push the two of them into; it had to be either there decision ... or an accident.
"I'm going to stay with you every night." As much as Marinette would love for him to be with her 24/7 it would not win the battle for them. They had a plan and they had to stick to it.
"I'd love to say you could but you know it won't work, Adrien."
"Mari, I know we made a deal to the Miraculous but I'm not willing to risk your health over this."
"It's the job we accepted, Adrien." Marinette was exasperated she felt awful but they had no choice. The raised voices of the heroes had caught the attention of Marinette's parents who were now eavesdropping around the corner.
"We were fourteen for Christ sake. We're now twenty, I'd like to think we've matured enough to not be so irrational. We can think of another way ... we always do." Adrien was angry. Not at Marinette but at the situation.
"Kitty ~ it's been four years since we defeated Hawk Moth. We haven't battled in four whole years, yet today it took us half the time to figure out and use a lucky charm. We've grown and strengthened a lot. Geez I even got thrown into a building and don't have a headache like I used to."
"What?" Tom came round the corner interrupting the two. "Marinette, please listen to Adrien. None of us want you getting hurt." He placed his hand on Adrien's shoulder showing full support for the lovesick boy.
Marinette thought about it. They couldn't allow Felix to gain any additional power. They needed to get Kagami's ring. She sighed, her mother walked into the room and over to Marinette. She sat besides her and held her daughters small but mighty hands in her own.
"Fine. Adrien you can stay close, but only under one condition ... we stick to the plan and you listen to what I say." Adrien smiled and bowed down to the beauty in front of him.
"I'd follow you to the ends of the Earth, m'lady."
Bạn đang đọc truyện trên: Truyen247.Pro