27. Rumor and Terror

"I can't go outside." You paced around the living room of your new apartment. "Who the hell is going to go get Dakota!?" You groaned as you gripped your hair.

Zoe and Jess both sat cross legged on your couch. They warily looked back and forth at each other, before Jess eventually sighed.

"Zoe will pick him up." She was standing now with a hand on your shoulder to stop you from pacing.

Zoe opened her mouth to protest but Jess gave her a stern look. Zoe rolled her eyes but nodded nonetheless, walking into your kitchen to grab her keys.

Jess held you by your shoulders and walked you back towards your couch. "What's happening now hun?" She asked as she rubbed your arm comfortingly. She had only just walked into the living room when she had seen her wife staring at you as you freaked out in the living room.

You smacked yourself against your forehead. "Someone fucking—" You groaned like a child. "Fucking saw me with Adrien at the jail yesterday and now there all of these rumors floating around the internet. They even had a news special on Adrien's secret lover." You smacked yourself again and she grabbed your hand and placed it on your lap.

"So they haven't identified you yet?" She asked with a tilt of her head.

"It's just a matter of time! The police officers sure knew who I am. I bet it was one of those bitchy visitors—I swear when I-!" She pulled you in and hugged you tightly. It made your breathe hitch in your throat, considering it had been years since the two of you had hugged.

"You need to breathe Y/n." Her voice was firm, you swore it always was. Jess was the only reason you all managed to stay sane most of the time. She was always so calm and collected—you tried your hardest to be like her in that aspect, but you often fell short.

Before you could speak again—there was a knock on your door. After patting you on the head, Jess stood and went to answer your door.

"Oh—hey Marinette." Jess greeted.

"Hey Jess—Y/n!" She was panicking which made your recently calmed anxiety spike again.

"What—Mari—what's wrong?!" You exclaimed and she pulled you in for an anxious hug before pushing you back again.

"Your tv is off. Why the hell is your tv off?!" She yelled and you shook your head without an answer.

"I don't know dammit! Don't you have your own tv?" You retaliated and she groaned.

Marinette turned and grabbed the remote off your couch. "Well you missed the recent update then."

The woman exclaimed and your eyes just about fell out of your head.

You fell to the floor.

"What...the actual...fuck!?" You screamed as you threw the pillow you had someone been clutching at your window.

It bounced lightly back off but that didn't stop you from continuing your rage. "I swear that lady doesn't know how to mind her own damn business! What's next? Are they going to release a photo of my son on television?!" You growled. "Thats fucking illegal and I'll sue that company's ass for all it's worth!" You had tears stemming from your anger streaming down your cheek.

Your sister and best friend were both in front of you with reassuring smiles on their faces. Jess reached up and held your face in her hands. "You can protect them both. You have the strength."

You pushed her off you. "Dammit Jess! That doesn't change the fact that they're already both in danger." You sobbed as you pulled her back in and hugged her apologetically.

"I'm just—terrified."

"I know you are honey." Jess sighed as she patted your back reassuringly.

Marinette stood to the side, cross armed and her foot tapping. "Geez! You and Adrien aren't even married! She doesn't know what she's talking about!" She exclaimed and your head turned along with Jess' before you both started laughing.

"What?" Marinette asked as she looked back at you. "You're not!"

You nodded, wiping away a tear from your laughter. "I know—it's just so funny that's what you decided to get worked up about."

"So late too!" Jess added with a snort.

Before she could retaliate, Marinette's phone began to buzz in her purse. Her brows furrowed as she checked it.

"Whats wrong?" You asked, walking over to her.

She shook her head. "It's just Ant. I'll call him back later."

Your face lit up at the mention of his name. "Oh so mister mysterious boyfriend does exist!" You grinned, grabbing to her arm giggling giddily. "Answer! I wanna talk to him."

Marinette scoffed and yanked her hand with the phone in it away from you. "No way in hell nosy. I'll call him back later."

You frowned and walked over to your couch to pout.

*

The room was dark.

There were no windows surrounding the room like his previous master's old lair did.

It was quiet too—always quiet.

Duusu was never with him, he wasn't even sure if she had made it out of the Agreste mansion.

For weeks he had only been allowed out of the darkness to akumatize his master—all to trick someone else.

Nooroo was terrified.

He had thought the act's Gabriel had done were wicked—but his new master, he was the worst.

He had played around with trying to get the miraculous from Ladybug and Chat Noir only once or twice. He akumatized a young boy named Chris and sent him to the past to fight Gabriel and the young Ladybug and Chat Noir.

It was a failed attempt of course, though he didn't put much effort into that villain.

Luckily for him, Chris encountered Bunnix so he now lived amongst the rest of Paris—not suspecting a thing.

A woman visits his master every so often. He wanted to believe that she had Duusu, but he wasn't sure. If she did, she never allowed her out.

She had worn his miraculous a few times so far, she was the one who turned his master into his false identity.

"Ah, I see you have returned." Nooroo was near the ceiling as he watched his master cheekily greet the same woman.

She was tall, something he always found intimidating about her. Nooroo only ever saw her figured outlined in the shadows, much like his master.

"Why wouldn't I?" Her voice was wispy and spiteful.

Nooroo watched as his master shrugged and nodded his head ever so slightly to the side. "Dunno—you don't seem as committed as I am."

The woman scoffed. "Just because I don't care about hunting down the guardian as much as you do doesn't mean I'm not committed. I'm here for the money and revenge, that's all. Don't act like you didn't know that from the start." Nooroo had never heard her talk much before, she was quite snappy.

His master began to laugh loudly. It surprised Nooroo that he found the woman to be so amusing, he couldn't let go of the wickedness in his laugh.

"You are quite something dear girl." He was still laughing. "Will you tell me your name already or are you going to keep that thing over your head forever?"

As the woman stepped further into the dim light he saw she still had on the same ski mask she had worn the night he was taken from Gabriel.

"Maybe we can talk about that once you prove yourself trustworthy. What is it—three months with the miraculous and you haven't even made a name for yourself?"

His master made a 'tch' sound as he approached the woman with his arms outstretched. "I'm simply reveling in the false sense of security dear! Don't you worry I plan on wrecking that peace—tonight." His lips curled into a wicked grin and the woman made a sound of approval.

"Then maybe I'll stick around. You never did pay me that first check." Her voice began to sound more distant.

"How can I pay you when I don't know who you are?" His chuckled echoed into the room as the door slammed shut.

Nooroo flew back down into the center of the room. "Duusu?" He called.

Nothing.

Nooroo couldn't contain the shiver that raced down his back.

His new master was powerful—extraordinarily so. He had no idea how to stop him, and he wasn't sure if Ladybug and Chat Noir could either.