A/n
BEFORE WE START-

This is what Marc aka Roosterbold looks like :> (and Viperion but I might atom bomb him from the story line)

"MARC WHAT THE FUCK?!"

"Listen! Listen! Listen!" Marc waved his gloved hands in a panic, "whatever you're thinking, it's probably wrong and I swear I have an explanation!"

"You're like Ladybug!?"

"I–" Marc paused, "I mean, yeah, I guess. BUT I'M NOT SUPPOSED TO BE!"

"What do you mean you're not–"

Nathaniel was interrupted by the sound of the front door to the apartment opening. Marc's eyes widened in alarm, hardly thinking fast enough to process what was inevitable. Nathaniel was quicker, immediately grabbing Marc by the shoulders and tossing him inside his bedroom. He nearly slammed the door but caught himself last second, slowly turning the nob inward so that the door wouldn't make a sound as it delicately closed. That carefulness vanished when he turned back to Marc with a very seriously panicked look on his face.

"I–"

"SSHHHH SHH SHH!" Nathaniel mimed his own finger over his lips.

"Nathaniel? You home from school yet, hun?" called his mother. Nathaniel stayed quiet, completely and utterly in a manic panic state.

"What the fuck? What the fuck?" Nathaniel whispered to himself, "what are you?"

"I'm me. This wasn't supposed to happen," Marc said, "I like– Uh— Am not supposed to be a hero, but I had access to this power, but this pear sized god thing was threatening to kill me if I tapped into it so I really am just... A normal... Person?"

"Shh!" Nathaniel shoved Marc into his closet. "I must be dreaming. What the fuck? What the fuck?"

"Nathaniel?" his mother called again.

"Nnnngggg....." Nathaniel grimaced. He looked at Marc desperately. "So you're a superhero now, or something– this is fucked– what the fuck? Okay... Okay..."

"I'm surprised too..."

"Nathaniel?" his mother called, now heard coming down the hall to Nathaniel's bedroom.

"Shit," Nathaniel grit his teeth. He shut the closet door and Marc could hear him frantically picking up the writing and artistic mess made across his bedroom floor, presumably haphazardly sweeping everything under the bed before his mother could get there.

"Nathaniel?" his mother now opened the door. Marc felt like his heart was pounding right out of his chest.

"Oh, hey mom," he heard Nathan say casually.

"Did you not hear me calling for you?"

"No, I had headphones on."

Marc could practically hear her eye's roll as she said, "of course you did. Anything so you can avoid me nowadays, isn't it?"

"No," came Nathan's voice, "I was just uh... Working."

"I thought I heard a ruckus in here."

"I fell off my bed."

"... Uh huh. I have some chores I need you to do. I'll have a list made in five minutes. Come to the kitchen by then."

"Yes mom."

Marc heard the door shut. Nathan let out a hefty sigh of relief and trugged back to the closet. He opened the door and nearly collapsed onto Marc.

"This is absurd," he said, nodding his head against Marc's chest.

"I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to–"

"Ironic now that I asked that question earlier, huh?" Nathaniel said, lifting his head up.

"I suppose."

"So... You are a superhero?"

"No... yes??? I don't know. I'm not supposed to be," Marc sighed and dared to step out of the closet. "That creature you saw... Her name is Orikko. She's the one responsible for this. She accidentally gave me a ring that contains like... super powers and shit... And she wasn't supposed to, and definitely didn't intend to. But the ring is sort of stuck on me. So to compromise, I promised never to use the powers and she wouldn't kill me to get the ring back. I don't know how I turned into.... This.... Though."

"...." a dull, somewhat shocked but mostly confused look was expressed by Nathan.

"I'm sorry, that all sounded like bullshit."

"Kinda, but kinda not. What powers did she give you?"

"I... Well..."

"Cause I really need you to get out of here," Nathaniel said, "fast. Mom will kill me if I have a boy in my room, let alone, uh, this."

"So your mom knows your–"

"She knows I'm gay," Nathaniel squeezed his eyes shut, "she and dad don't believe it though, hence why they'd kill me if they find you here. That's why Marinette and I were fake dating for a few months. Can you get out of here somehow?"

"Uh..." Marc observed himself, then Nathan, "yes. I can."

"Okay. Good. You sure?"

"Hold on let me try–" Marc sensed the essence of the ring's power. Sublimation gave him anything he wanted. Orikko never fully explained this to him but now, engulfed by it, he had a semi understanding of how it worked. He could give himself any power. That was way too OP. He knew that, as a writer himself, that was a ridiculous ability to give a character. And sensing how strong it was, he now completely understood why Orikko wanted to kill him to get her ring back. This power should not be wielded by any human. But maybe, just this once, it could get him out of Nathan's room safely.

"You're just standing there," Nathan brought him back to reality.

"I'm trying to teleport," Marc said, his eyes squeezed shut in intense concentration, "it's not working."

"Please, I can't afford to laugh right now."

"Ugh, there must be another miraculous with teleportation powers," Marc cursed. Of course, the power of anything came with two blockers. One being that any power meant for an already existing miraculous within the Chinese Miracle Box, he couldn't tap into for balance purposes. In a sense, the rooster was the "everything else" power. The second being he could only give himself one ability. Not just at a time, but completely. If he managed to give himself teleportation right now but then needed super strength immediately after, he would only be able to teleport and nothing else. But if he transformed and retook the transformation, then he could make that switch.

"Whatever you're doing, it's not working."

"I've never done this before!"

"Well try!"

"I am!"

His mind searched for answers. He couldn't teleport out of there. The window didn't exactly open easily either, and even if it did, it wouldn't be big enough for him to climb through. Plus, he was over a hundred feet in the air. Generally not a good idea to climb out of a wind from that high up. Maybe if he could fly... But what if that belonged to another miraculous and he just threw himself to his death?

"Nathaniel?" his mother suddenly opened the door.

POP! Marc was suddenly gone.

"Uh-" Nathaniel could hardly hide his alarm.

"Your father and I already had a late lunch so you're on your own for dinner," his mother said, "unless you want me to order you food."

"I'll be fine," Nathaniel stammered.

"Let me know," his mother said and shut the door again.

Marc popped back into existence.

"What was that?!" Nathaniel whisper-screamed.

"I think I turned invisible."

"That's so cool," Nathan said in awe, followed by a, "how the fuck is that supposed to get you out of here?"

"I panicked!" Marc said defensively.

"Ladybug and Chat Noir got their weapons that help them throw themselves around, surely you have–"

Marc shamefully lifted the feathered pen he had that was supposed to be his 'weapon.'

"Surely not," Nathan's face fell.

"I've got an idea," said Marc, "order yourself food. When the delivery comes, you open the door for me and I sneak out while I'm invisible."

"That is a shit idea."

"No it isn't!"

"Okay, okay! Fine!" Nathan said, pulling out his phone, "I guess my mom did just say I was on my own for dinner so I might as well..."

Marc watched as Nathaniel opened the app to get food–oh no, this is something he does regularly–and then the two patiently waited in awkward silence. Nathan's mother started calling for him to start his chores, so Nathan had to leave. But in order for this plan to work. Marc had to follow. So he was invisible again, stalking Nathan around his house as he started cleaning up the kitchen and unloading the dishwasher. Marc was silent, watching Nathan work, really wishing Nathan's father would shut up about whatever conflict he was having with his wife. Nathan was fully aware Marc was watching him, impossible to hide by the sheepish look on his face.

"Oh, my food's here," Nathan casually announced after a period of time had gone by. He stopped what he was doing in the kitchen and went for the entrance of the apartment. He hesitated in front of the closed door. Marc made his presence known to Nathan, gently putting a hand on Nathan's back to reassure him that everything would be okay.

Nathan opened the door, his food delivery successfully at the foot. Marc stepped out in front of Nathan and looked back. Nathan appeared hesitant to pick up the delivery at all. Marc silently tapped Nathan on the cheek, grabbing his attention. He didn't know what to do or say. He knew a million things were probably running through Marc's head at the moment and nothing he could do, no amount of explaining or comforting, would ever bring him solace. So instead, Marc did the only thing he could think of that would staple this new connection he had with Nathan. A kiss that would tell him that just because he was leaving now, didn't mean he was gone. It was a light peck, invisible to anyone who may have somehow noticed Nathan standing in the doorway. But Nathan could hardly hide his reaction to it.

"Thank you," he muttered, tapping his fingers against his lips. Marc stepped back, giving Nathan the space he needed.

After departing, Marc had NO IDEA WHAT THE FUCK TO DO WITH HIMSELF. So now, he'd somehow gotten to the roof of some random apartment building, separate from Nathan's, and he died. Not really, but he felt like he died.

"HOW DO I GET THIS THING OFF ME!?" he loudly complained. No one could hear him from where he was. He lay flat on his back, glaring up at the clouded sky, trying to rip the red and gold mask off his face. "ORIKKO! Come on! You did this! Undo it already!"

Orikko didn't answer, of course. The sky rumbled, telling him the storm was about to get way worse. And it was dark out now. Night had fallen quickly, as expected since it was still winter. He needed to go home soon. But he couldn't get this wretched mask off his face!

"Orikko, I'm sorry," he apologized, "I didn't mean to use your power. It was unintentional. So you can take it back already!"

She wasn't coming back. Marc sat up and pouted. What was he supposed to do with himself looking like this? He tried ripping the mask off again. It didn't work, as expected, so he tried taking the ring off instead. It wouldn't budge.

He definitely looked like a superhero, in his very humble opinion. He liked the way the Miracle Team looked, but none of them really FELT like a classic hero. Queen Bee's hair was gorgeous and her whole suit was stunning but that fluffy cotton rimmed open collared jacket was more diva than vigilante. And Ladybug looked like a chinese warrior badass, but that was Mulan, not a superhero, right? And Chat Noir– CHAT NOIR WAS SOME RANDOM FRAT BOY WITH A MASK!

Marc was different. Maybe, because he idolized heroes, that had something to do with it. For starters, unlike ANYONE on the miracle team, he had a cape. It was red and flowed perfectly with his movements, just like he was in a comic. But then, like how Queen Bee got to have stunning long hair, Marc's hair was now red and long, pulled back into a tall, spiky pony tail– oh fuck he was a rooster. The sides were shaved and naturally black but— he was a fucking rooster. His chest and arms were plated in gold but his hands were gloved in navy blue. His chest plate resembled feathers– he was a fucking rooster... He had a jacket-skirt that was also navy blue, as was the bottom half of his costume. There were gold electric accents around his thighs and feet, and on his heels, he had these talon-like hooks. Because again, he's a fucking rooster.

"UUUUGH!" Marc loudly complained, "Orikko, this is fully your fault. At this point, I'm not even gonna pretend to take accountability. This is on you. So own up and RELEASE ME WOMAN!"
Orikko wasn't going to answer him. Of course she wasn't. She had better things to be doing. Like- uh- well- where the fuck even was she?! Marc didn't understand how this whole thing was supposed to work.

Marc heard a commotion down below. It sounded like a woman frantically hurrying away, her fancy heels clacking against the pavement in a very out of pattern way, like she was looking back over her shoulder constantly and unsure if she should run or not.

... Marc had no idea how he could even pick up on that, but looking over the ledge of the apartment, he found he was absolutely correct. There was a woman, panicked, hurrying down the street and just behind her was a man.

"Ew," Marc wrinkled his nose. He observed anyway. That woman made an effort to cross the street but just as she tried to, several cars came by and forced her to stop. The man quickly closed the space between them.

Someone had to intervene, surely. It was quite obvious what was about to happen yet all Marc could do was watch– He was literally a super hero with super powers, WHAT WAS HE DOING?!
Marc had previously discovered he had an enhanced jumped that also let him endure falling from higher heights. That would have been handy to know when he was stuck in Nathan's bedroom, but alas. So, Marc instinctively turned invisible and gathered his courage to jump off the ledge of the apartment building.

Now, the woman was completely panicked. She tried to remain polite, stepping away from the man who kept closing the distance between them. When the man grabbed for her wrist, the woman recoiled. That's when the man got violent.

Or at least he tried. Quite pathetically too. Invisible still, Marc caught the man's hand as he attempted berating the woman (in public eye??? What the fuck?!). The man was extremely confused, even more so when Marc kneed him in the gut. The woman was shocked, stepping away in surprised but too confused to run. The man tried resisting the mysterious force holding him but Marc clobbered him on the head. This finally spooked the man enough to run.

Once the man was gone, Marc became visible again. He hadn't meant to. Honestly, it was more like he was just catching his breath.

"Who– Who are you?" asked the woman. Marc was startled, not realizing she could see him quite yet.

"I– uh— Just keeping you safe," he said, like an idiot, because that wasn't the answer to her question.

"You're a superhero... Like Ladybug?" the woman asked, then took a timid step back, "or... an akuma?"

"I'm a hero... I hope," Marc said, "I mean– uh– .... Roosterbold... Is... My name."

"Roosterbold," the woman repeated, "I like your cape."

"I like it too."

***

There was a kwami in Marinette's room and he WOULD NOT LEAVE!

"Go home!" Tikki barked at him, "Chat Noir needs you already! It's morning!"

"Hng..... Did you feel that last night?" Plagg said like a drunken yet hungover man on a monday morning.

"There was a lot happening, and a lot going through your head, I know–"

"No, no, the other thing," Plagg rubbed his eyes. He really did look hungover. Marinette was silently observing from her bed. She'd tried gently encouraging Plagg to go home earlier but he didn't listen to her gentle nudging so now Tikki was being forceful.

"Changing the subject won't help you here. He needs you. He'll be scared to find you're gone."

"Orikko," Plagg said, "I know you felt it."

"Yes, her power has been... Activated."

"It was powerful," said Plagg, "we should find her."

"Not now. That is the responsibility of the young master," Tikki said. She righted Plagg on his feet, who had previously been rolled across the floor in a tangled mess of blankets. He didn't sleep all night. Marinette wasn't really sure if kwami's actually slept, but Plagg certainly had tried to.

"But–"

"No buts!" Tikki scorned, "what do you think he'd gonna do when he finds you're gona and his ring is missing?"

"Probably something reckless."

"Is he... gonna be alright?" Marinette asked, "I was just wondering since... He's... In danger... or something."

"He'll be fine," Tikki assured, but the look on Plagg's face didn't put her at ease.

"I'll go back," Plagg said, looking absolutely miserable, "but... I'm going to send Chat Noir for Marinette. I'll have him meet you somewhere."

"Why on earth would that help anything?!" Tikki cringed.

"I just... He needs it. He will, at least."

"You're not going to–" Tikki cut herself short, then whispered, "tell him, are you?"

Plagg swallowed.... Something. "I can't. Not explicitly. He wouldn't understand anyway."

"Be gentle with him," Tikki said with concern, "but hurry up and leave already!"

"Okay! Okay!" Plagg finally shot up, "I'm leaving!"
Before Tikki could get another word in, or even before Marinette could ask any of her dying questions, Plagg vanished in a streak of green light as he traveled at his godly kwami speed out Marinette's bedroom window.

Tikki groaned heavily. "He's got the worst luck, you know."

"What's happened to Chat Noir?" Marinette said, her voice more demanding now.

"It's not in my place to tell you."

"He's my partner, Tikki, I think it is in your place to tell me," Marinette said.

"He... He isn't..." Tikki considered her words carefully.

"He isn't what?"

"He isn't..." Tikki sighed deeply, "pay no mind to it."

"What is he?! What's wrong with him?! Don't make me do something wreckless."

"He's not what you think he is. Nothing bad, or dangerous. At least for now. But he's not... Not what you expect. Just trust us, okay."

"How am I supposed to trust you when you give me such a vague answer as that?!"

"I'm trying my best! Okay?!" Tikki said, "and I'm really doing my best to treat you civilly. I'm sorry for how I've been in the past and I really– I DO want to work on myself, and our relationship, but this is one line I have to put my foot down on. I have to keep you in the dark."

"Why?!"

"Because it changes everything. And if you knew, everything we're working for would be in jeopardy. Do you understand?"

"I... Fine. I understand."

"I don't know what Plagg's about to say to that boy, but it's best you mention none of what you've picked up on here to him, got that?"

"Understood," Marinette complied.

It wasn't until much later that Marinette sought out Chat Noir in the city. It was the weekend and the city was extremely packed with traffic due to a huge celebrity event happening somewhere within. Clara Nightingale, France's biggest popstar, was touring Europe and was making the tour's debut in her home city. But if Ladybug had to be honest, she was tired of all these celebrities and popstars. After the Troublemaker incident, she didn't want to find herself anywhere near a music stadium for at least a couple years. Ugh, so much work, and Ladybug was only seventeen.

She was exhausted, admittedly. Keeping up so many secrets was like a delicate balancing act. Putting her life on the line wasn't fun, it never had been. But at some point, being a hero had a thrill. Now, she was considering therapy. She'd just nearly died in her last fight which was only yesterday!

Chat Noir looked so afraid when that happened... That look on his face was something she never wanted to see again. Maybe he was just insanely traumatized from that and that's what freaked Plagg out so bad.

"Ladybug!" Chat Noir called to her from behind.
Ladybug had barely turned around, standing on the ledge of the Chateau du Louvre, when Chat Noir embraced her in a very intense hug.

The Louvre was a good meeting spot since it was so close to the Seine and easy to navigate to, no matter where they were in the city. Arguably, the Eiffel Tower was better, but lately too many people had been purposely planting themselves there to get the perfect photo opportunity. And now, the Louvre was starting to get that same attention so they were probably going to have to change their sacred spot.

"Chat!" Ladybug yelped in surprise. She returned the hug, unsure of what was going through Chat Noir's mind.

"You're alright," he whispered. Ah, so he was still thinking about yesterday, when Ladybug... died in his arms.

"I'm feeling perfectly fine," Ladybug assured, "just as always."

"That's good," he said, but still didn't pull away.

"Did Plagg–"

"Oh, Plagg is a fucking dick!" Chat Noir exclaimed and finally pulled away so he could rant, "he literally left me all alone last night without even a warning so that he could visit Tikki! So he was with you, I assume."

"Uh– Yeah," Ladybug smiled awkwardly. God fucking damn it Plagg, you didn't tell him anything! And Ladybug was equally clueless! Ladybug studied him, as if magically by looking at him she could solve all his secrets. "Oh, you're not covering your scars today."

"I didn't feel like it," Chat Noir shrugged, "it's kind of funny, I cover them up every day so I kinda forget they're even there. It was from so long ago too..."

"One of our first fights."

"Our third– fourth? Third fight, right?" Chat Noir clarified.

"Sounds right, but I can't remember. They're all starting to blur," Ladybug shrugged. "Well, I'm proud of you either way. I know how much preserving your image means to you."

If you need reminding because you've been keeping up to date with this fic since I've been posting from 2022 till now, Chat Noir got a bunch of scars on his face from their fight against Evillustrator. The acid burns from the red spray paint bore into his cheeks and neck, leaving a bunch of splattered looking scars that resemble tears and wood grain.

"You alright?" Ladybug asked, "I'm just... making sure."

"I think so," Chat Noir nodded, "Plagg gave me a fright but he said you could clear things up."

"... Why would he say that when I don't know shit."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"God fucking damn it Plagg."

"Yeah..." Ladybug grinned downard in regret. "Well, maybe today we can take a day off. Just hang out, recover from yesterday, yeah?"

"That would be nice. My head feels like shit."

"I imagine," Ladybug chuckled.

Then there was a shit ton of screaming from behind the chateau. Wouldn't you know it. There was an akuma.

"You've gotta be fucking kidding me," Ladybug deadpanned.

"This is what we get for thinking we could get a break," Chat Noir complained.

"Yeah–" something zapped Ladybug right in the chest. She began glowing pink immediately after. "HUH–"

"Better start dancing!" came a voice as a horrendously dressed character jumped up on the chateau. "Unless you want to be turned to stone!"

A/N
Sorry for that shit ending. Gotta set up for the next chapter with half hearted pizzazz you know? (Sorry if there's formatting issues this chapter I had to transfer it to my phone)