I wrote this all in one go, and I haven't been getting too much sleep lately so I'm sorry if there's some typos. Just point them out and I'll fix them. Thanks!

Marinette had never felt so hopeless. She wrung her hands together in a fit of nerves as Alya and Nino playfully bickered. They had been working on a laptop and checking their phones for a half an hour by now and it seemed as though progress was nonexistent.

Alya was working on narrowing down the possible hideouts for an army of akumas, while Nino offered encouraging words and sarcasm to the background noise of Marinette's despair.

She felt as though they were doing it all for nothing. Even if they could find Hawkmoth's lair, what then? If Hawkmoth died would the akumas turn back into their original form? Or would Adrien... She couldn't even finish the thought.

Suddenly a hand touched Mari's shoulder and she nearly leapt off of the couch. Squawking, she smacked towards whoever had touched her, hearing a slight moan of pain when her hand landed. Turning, she realized it was only Nathaniel, who looked at her with a sort of terrified expression.

"Sorry," he grunted, rubbing his nose, which had been violently smacked by the girl in self defense.

"No, no!" Mari cried, sitting back down on the couch and patting the cushion beside her, "I'm the one that should be sorry."

As Nathaniel sat beside Marinette, Alya glanced up from her work. "Who are you apologizing to, Nathan?"

Nathaniel's eyes widened and he opened his mouth hesitantly. "Um, I— I..."

Nino interrupted him, his words coming out in mushed up panicked sentences. "He's just a bit coo-coo. Y'know, his girlfriend was just stolen away by some creepy kidnapper dude, so... he's a bit messed up."

It was a horrible excuse. As Nathaniel's cheeks turned the same shade of red as his hair, Alya raised an eyebrow. "Just as crazy as I should be, then, since you haven't been contacting me for days. It's almost as if I was taken out of your contact list.

Nino blanched while Marinette giggled quietly before stifling it with her hand. Not that Alya would have heard anyway, but she didn't want to laugh at Nino's expense.

While Alya and Nino turned back to their private conversation, Nathaniel shifted his feet and twiddled his thumbs silently.

"What's up, Nathan?" Mari asked, feeling as though she was making him uncomfortable, "Are you okay?"

"Of course!" He answered, a bit too hastily for Marinette's liking. She crossed her arms slowly, staring at him with a ferocity that made him hide his head in shame. "Actually... No. Not at all, if I'm being honest. I'm really scared and... just agitated."

Marinette nodded. It was to be expected, after all, Chloe had been taken from him and more likely than not turned into an akuma. Mari was feeling the same way after what had happened with Adrien.

"I understand," she whispered, "I feel the same way."

From across the room, Alya eyed Nathaniel warily. He was talking to himself again, this time with a light blush sprinkled across his nose. "What's really up with him, Nino?"

Nino gulped. He was horrible at lying, and was also horrible at distracting people. He flailed his arms wildly as he answered, his eyes wide. "Um, well, he's just— been doing that to calm his nerves. He named the couch Marinette and talks to it like it's a gi— friend!"

There was a moments pause as Nathaniel looked up from his conversation with Marinette, glaring at the boy. He didn't appreciate being called crazy, especially in front of a stranger.

"Yeah, right," Alya scoffed, by then completely distracted from her mission, "He's blushing at a couch. Is this about that weird I.F. stuff Nino?"

"Umm?"

"That's what I thought."

And she turned back to the map of Paris.

Marinette gawked at Alya. She had expected her to ask questions like Adrien did or at least show some surprise but instead the girl merely got back to work.

"Oh and," Alya started again, her chin in her hands, "Say hi to Marinette for me."

Nathaniel, who has been blushing ever since she had mentioned him getting flustered by a couch, turned back to Marinette. He coughed nervously before sticking his hand out. She took it, accepting the handshake.

"Hi," he said simply, the word rushed.

Mari giggled, the foreboding feeling of helplessness lifting just a bit. Alya seemed like a cool laid-back sort of person, and Nathaniel was nice too. Together it was only a matter of time for when they would start searching potential hideout locations.

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Chat stretched, his limbs feeling too large for the makeshift cot that was his room. All around him akumas glared, their jealous and loathing gazes by now the normal atmosphere for the cat. He rolled over, accidentally bumping into the nearest akuma, who growled at him.

"Sorry," Chat yawned, his eyelids drooping. He had been up all night, working in the training room. As much as he'd rather do horribly at what Hawkmoth wanted, he had seen what happened to failures. And it made his skin crawl every time.

But he also couldn't sleep. All around him these creatures wouldn't hesitate to tear him apart limb by limb. Some because he was Hawkmoth's new favorite, some because he had beaten them in sparring matches, and some because they had known Queen Bee before he had helped Master dispose of her.

"How dare you," an akuma growled from behind him. Chat opened his eyes and sat up, turning to see which one had spoken up this time. It had become routine, and he was getting tired of fighting.

"How dare I what?" he snapped, quite tired and agitated, "Spit it out and get it over with. I need my rest just like most of you."

He was so tired he didn't even add a pun.

The akuma, who from what Chat could tell was a Sabrinae, growled something in response. Chat didn't bother listening to what it said. Instead, he shut his eyes and laid back down onto his cot.

This only angered it further. With a yell it pounced overtop of the akumas between it and Chat, spitting angry words at their heads. It wasn't a fighting type, but it wasn't too shabby in battle and it felt confident in its abilities.

That was the cause of its downfall.

Chat didn't even get up to retaliate. Instead, he lifted his clawed hands and grabbed the akuma midair. It screeched and flailed, trying to get close enough to kill him.

Chat closed his eyes, ready for a few more hours of sleep.

"Cataclysm."

Yay, another chapter! Woot!

Most of these chapters have been filler, and I'm sorry. The plot will actually move forward soon I promise.

Have a Miraculous day!