33: Curiosity Kills The Cat

Being a miraculous holder was everything that Adrien could ever wish for. He dreamed of having freedom and power over his own decisions, and the miraculous had given him so much more. Not only was he given the opportunity to go out whenever he liked (well through the window of course), he felt honored to finally be able to do something other than posing in front of a camera.

Unlike his partner in action, pressure was not something he felt in the course of fighting crime. He enjoyed the heroic deeds a lot, especially when he can use it as an excuse to be with his M'lady.

Adrien had always been the type to deal with things head on. Goofy and playful, but sincere. Although he always felt oppressed at home, he tries to keep a clear head and just enjoy what comes next.

Take for example his relationships: He felt a connection and decided to date Kagami, thinking maybe he could learn to like her as much as he did with Ladybug. He decided to be all out supportive of Ladybug, especially now that she's the new guardian of the miracle box. Wholesome things going on over here.

And yet the universe keeps proving him wrong. As if having Ladybug not reciprocating his feelings wasn't enough to break his heart. The one girl he found himself at home with, keeps pushing her away.

He never wanted to admit it to himself. He always thought it was just a fleeting thing that can be ignored. Often times he'd find himself transforming into the black cat that he is and would perch just outside her window, and she never disappoints to notice him.

He found himself always looking forward to what she will do next to surprise everyone even when she's already so amazing in her own creative way.

Marinette was an icon to him. A girl to look up to. Someone worth more than all the riches in this world. And so was Ladybug.

*******

It was hard to process everything. There was no in between of how he felt with everything he's seen and heard.

Plagg did warn him that he'll regret it. But he was feeling no such thing. If anything, he felt queasy, yet he couldn't stop himself from watching what was happening before his eyes.

Marinette was talking with Wayzz. And they were talking about him―not Adrien 'him'―Chat Noir.

"Any news from Nooroo?" said Marinette to Wayzz, and Adrien immediately recognized the name.

He shot Plagg a nervous stare and the little guy groaned.

"This is why I said it was a bad idea." he said, throwing his arms in the air.

"We have to leave." Adrien whispered.

Plagg scoffed, "Oh NOW you want to leave?"

Adrien frowned. He took one last look at Marinette, and knelt back down.

"Come on."

He swiftly picked up Plagg by the hand and quietly sprinted away from the classroom, back and head crouched down to his stomach.

By the time they had decided to finally settle down in a familiar setting (and by that, it's the bathroom, AGAIN). Plagg had already lost it. His hands were on his head and his beady eyes started to glaze as he hovered around weakly.

"You okay little buddy?" said Adrien, his body crashed on a small elevated portion beside the sink.

"OKAY?" yelled Plagg, glaring at him.

"She's going to kill me when she finds out you already know!"

Adrien's expression was blank. He was awfully calm on the outside.

He began to recall what he had just saw. Worse, the truth he had just heard. His mind felt like cotton and it didn't feel good.

The aging he felt earlier had returned, and now he could imagine his hair turning grey all at once.

Panic started to well up inside him. His throat burned as if he had just drank a bottle of hot sauce straight from the container.

"Adrien." Plagg called.

He let out a wobbly "huh?" as he looked up to the hovering creature just above him.

"Look kid," Plagg exhaled, "The real question here is: Are YOU okay?"

"I don't know." His voice sounded weak. "How do I look to you?"

Plagg wistfully circled around him, stopping after a full 360. "You look the same." He muttered. "But it's scary how you're awfully calm about this. I expected you to be more..."

"Happy? Shocked? Excited?"

"Celebratory." Plagg supplied.

Adrien's head slumped down between his knees.

Plagg took it as a sign that he wasn't completely calm. If anything, the poor boy looked devastated.

"Isn't this what you've always wanted? You've always wanted to know who Ladybug is and now you got your answer."

Adrien looked up, scowling at him. "I bet you were laughing behind my back whenever I was cracking my head figuring out who she was."

Plagg raised his hands up. "Hey, I'm innocent. I don't normally dive into your business. But seriously, you two crack me up. Even Tikki finds you two endearing to watch."

Adrien rolled his eyes and dropped his head back to his knees.

Plagg groaned. "Hey! Why does this look like it was my fault? You had this coming for you! I warned you."

"I know!"

Plagg blinked. "You do?"

"Yeah. I do." His voice softened as his head slowly rose up. "I'm just upset that it has come to this."

Plagg noticed Adrien's wrinkled nose.

"Hey! Don't feel bad about yourself." He patted his forehead. "You're actually handling the revelation better than she did."

Adrien's eyes glinted.

Plagg wasn't sure whether it was making the boy feel better or it was making things more complicated than it already is.

"Right..she knows who I am." said Adrien who sounded like the memory had just refreshed an idea. He sprang up to his feet, hands balled to a fist up to his chin.

"That means I can just tell her it's alright to confide in me now. Because I know everything!"

His voice resonated hope but the idea was mortifying. His little kwami was definitely not having any of that.

"Whoa there..haha―slow down Adrien." His voice wavered to a small chuckle, paws faced outward. "We don't want things to get messy."

"Messy?" Adrien's nose wrinkled.

"How is letting your partner know she's not alone―ｍｅｓｓｙ?"

Plagg winced nervously. Eyes still and weary.

The memory of Marinette telling him what happened that time when Chat Noir had known her real identity and getting akumatized was horrifying. The world almost getting obliterated in the process sent a cold sweat all over his tiny body.

Although Ladybug had managed to find the akuma and cleanse it, she admitted it was much too difficult to battle the avatar of the god of destruction. Especially when it meant possibly hurting her best friend. Her pal. Her partner.

However, if she wasn't quick enough to notice where the akuma was, she too would end up being a pile of dust in the wind. And the world would cease to exist.

All of those flashed in Plagg's mind like multiple video clips being downloaded all at once. Like what Marinette instructed―do not let Chat Noir know who she is.

But now that it has come to this, Plagg knew it was best not to let the two get to a close proximity. There is a chance that Hawkmoth might find out their identities if they accidentally slip and call each other by their given names.

"Plagg!" He nudged the stunned kwami.

"Yes. No. What?"

Adrien wiggled his head. "Why exactly is it messy?"

Plagg shook his head, waking himself up. Thankfully he had already thought up of an excuse for the boy.

"Because my dear idiot." He said. "It would be a lot awkward for you to confront Marinette saying you know everything without revealing you eavesdropped on her. She doesn't have Tikki right now and she knows that you know that the Ladybug you met the other night was an illusion made by herself."

Adrien knit his eyebrows. "Did you just call me 'your dear idiot'?"

Plagg rolled his eyes. "The main point here is that you do not reveal to her whatever you discovered today until we rescue Tikki. Hawkmoth already knows the identity of your other comrades due to that encounter from last time. We can't have you two accidentally calling each other your REAL names. Do you understand?"

Adrien's excitement died down. Hearing Plagg yell at him about something other than cheese made him realize that the situation was already that bad.

"You're right." His expression darkened. "We can't risk exposing our identities now. Hawkmoth is out there taking advantage of every power up he can get."

Plagg didn't like the sound of Hawkmoth getting a power up. The villain was plenty cruel already even when he was regular Hawkmoth. How much more if he's figured out the whole book of the guardian.

Adrien sighed. "I guess I'll have to stay low for now. Support her from the shadows."

"Thank you." Plagg nodded.

"But what are supposed to do now? You guys said you have figured out Hawkmoth's lair. Isn't it dangerous for her charging in there not being Ladybug? Her cover is gonna be blown!"

Plagg hadn't thought of that. Of course he was willing to let Marinette use him and transform into Lady Noir. It'd be easier for her to use an equally powered miraculous to the creation miraculous upon rescuing Tikki.

But then, it would also mean that Hawkmoth would have the two major miraculouses in the same room giving him a greater opportunity to snatch it. And with Marinette all alone, she's going to be outnumbered with whatever power up that villain has prepared.

"We have to trust her." Plagg insisted. "This is Ladybug―Marinette―we're talking about. I'm sure she has a plan."

Adrien did not look convinced.

"Look kid, I too am worried of the whole rescue mission thing. If it makes you feel better, I'll talk to Marinette about this and hear her out. If I don't feel right about it, I'll call for you. For now, we have to look out for her even when she says she doesn't want it."

At that moment, their eyes sent a gleam of agreement.

"Alright." Adrien gritted his teeth. "Let's act usual for now. You go with Mar-- err uhm Ladybug and I will meet with Kagami."

Plagg nodded. "I'll go fetch her in the classroom, lead her downstairs, so you can get your bag and leave. I'll make up something along the way. You stay here until I send for Wayzz."

"Got it."

Plagg smiled. His eyes were still sad, but he managed to hide the worry and pity he felt for him. "You're a good kid, Adrien." He said.

Adrien scoffed with a playful smile. "You just found out?"

They both giggled.

Plagg rustled Adrien's bangs one last time and sprinted for the door, disappearing through the cinders.

A few minutes later, Wayzz popped out from the ceiling. The little guy quickly scanned the open stalls and saw Adrien sitting beside the sink. Same spot from earlier.

He flew to Adrien and the boy bolted up from his seat to meet him. They exchanged a few words and walked out of the bathroom.

By the time Adrien and Wayzz got to the classroom, Marinette was nowhere to be found. He walked down the isle in between the rows of seats and picked up his bag. He waited for Wayzz to snuggle back inside before pulling it up. He slung it over his shoulder, scanned the room a little and made his way to the door.

The steps down seemed a lot longer than usual. He felt as if his body was floating. His head in mush.

Slowly, he began to recall his talk with D'Angelo. Insights from the previous Chat Noir flooding his consciousness. The dots once so far apart, slowly aligning and forming a more sensible explanation to everything that has happened. That was when he learned, what D'Angelo's―Felix's words had meant.