#chloentte

Chapter Two: In With the New

Catra’s suit = Noir’s suit

---

Sometime during the night, Ladybug dropped her transformation.

A few minutes later, she woke up.

A few minutes after that, she left.

Since it was now Monday, 3:00 am and Marinette couldn't sleep.

So she got to designing.

She felt that now, as the Guardian, she had matured. She was going to make a new suit and find a new partner.

Be a new Ladybug.

And if she thought about Chloé during that time that was her business.

The sun was almost up by the time Marinette finished her new suit design.

Now, instead of a red onesie, she had black boots coming up to her thighs, black gloves going past her elbows and connecting above her breasts. The middle part of her suit was still red, although darker, with black spots.

But Marinette's favorite part was the wings.

They came from right between her shoulder blades and stretched down to her ankles. The wings themselves were similar to that of an insect, clear and shiny with veins going through them.

Not only would they allow her to fly, but they could be used as protection if an Akuma were to hit her from behind.

And rather than two pigtails, Marinette would have her hair into a high ponytail with two red antennas situated on the top of her head (Tikki insisted she have them).

When she finished, Marinette gazed down at her new suit design with a wide grin.

"It's beautiful, Marinette!" Tikki exclaimed, followed by a wide yawn.

"Thank you, Tikki. Time for bed? Plagg?" She said before turning to where she thought Plagg was.

But he wasn't there.

In fact, Marinette hadn't seen him all night.

"Tikki," Marinette asked, horror growing in her voice. "Where's Plagg?"

Tikki froze as Marinette looked at her, eyes wide with terror.

The ravenette looked down at her hand, where Plagg's ring should be.

But it wasn't there.

No. No, no, no, no, no, no.

She'd had Plagg for barely a day and she had already lost him.

"Oh, Kwami! Shit!" Marinette jumped up, scrambling around her room to look for the Kwami.

Maybe she had taken the ring off to shower? Or maybe she had taken it off for designing, or--

"Marinette! Stop freaking out! We're going to find Plagg!" Tikki said, flying up to float in front of Marinette.

Marinette was breathing heavily, panic was overtaking her mind.

Plagg was probably lost and confused as to why the Guardian left him behind.

And after Chat Noir, how could he not feel betrayed? She'd promised to take care of him but she had left him alone!

"Marinette!"

She was spiraling.

She had hurt Plagg.

Lost him.

Left him behind.

Barely the Guardian for a month and she was already screwing up.

But who would be surprised?

The reason she was the Guardian I'm the first place was because she screwed up and led Hawkmoth right to Master Fu.

Oh, Kwami.

"MARINETTE!" 

Marinette snapped back into focus at Tikki's yelling.

"What?" Marinette's voice cracked.

"It's going to be okay, Plagg is probably off eating cheese. He probably found a pantry to raid and is stuffing himself."

"But--"

"No. You are going to go to sleep. You still have school tomorrow, remember?" Tikki said, grabbing Marinette's hand in her sink paw and leading her dazed Chosen to bed.

Marinette was still panicking when Tikki pulled the covers up to her chin.

She was still panicking when Tikki turned off the lights.

She was still panicking in her dreams as she fell asleep.

---

It wasn't a surprise to wake up to an empty couch.

What was a surprise was what the hero had left behind.

A small wooden box with red markings.

A Miraculous box.

Which meant that Ladybug left Chloé a Miraculous.

But why?

Why would Chloé deserve a Miraculous?

She wasn't a good person, worthy of wielding a powerful jewel to defeat evil.

In fact, she was the complete opposite.

Chloé was a terrible person. She hurt her classmates and her family.

She was spoiled, awful, abhorrent.

You know, Chloé, you're really nice, if only you let others see that

Ladybug believed in her.

She believed Chloé could be--was--a good person at heart.

So she opened the box.

But it wasn't Pollen who flew out.

It was a black, cat-like creature.

"Do you have any cheese, that stuff you got last night was really good."

Chloé gaped.

She had a million questions.

Why this Kwami?

Why not Pollen?

Who was this Kwami?

Was he Chat Noir's Kwami?

Instead of asking the important questions, all that came out was, "Cheese?"

Her voice was quiet and cracked.

The Kwami looked mildly annoyed.

"Yeah, you know, the delicious yumminess that is gooey goodness?"

"I--why?" Chloé asked, scooching closer to get a better oil at the strange Kwami.

"I'm hungry, kid. Get me cheese."

"But what's your name? Why did Ladybug leave you for me?" Chloé was slowly becoming more frantic.

"Cheese."

"But--"

"Cheese."

Chloé ordered cheese.

While the Kwami munched on an absurd amount of Parmesian, Chloé tried to get ready for school. She slipped on the silver ring--which immediately turned gold. Nice touch.

But getting ready from school proved to be near impossible with a Kwami smacking his lips as he ate and a mountain of questions filling her head.

After putting her heels on wrong for the third time, Chloé finally snapped.

She picked up the Kwami by the scruff and dangled him in the air.

"Why are you here?" She asked, irritation evident in her tone.

The Kwami looked unfazed at her anger, which only served to grate on her nerves.

"None ya."

Chloé narrowed her eyes. That was a stupid lie.

"None ya business." The Kwami phased through her hand and shoved a chunk of Parmesian in his mouth.

Chloé made an indignant sound in the back of her throat and lunged at the Kwami.

All she managed to grab was a fistful of blanket and a face full of cheese.

Red seemed to fill her vision as Chloé jumped up and glared at the Kwami from where he sat on her couch.

He seemed to be messing with her remote, trying to turn on the TV.

Chloé crept forward. He wasn't looking at her so maybe she could get the jump on him and make him answer her questions.

Just as Chloé sprung forward over the back of the couch and grabbed the Kwami, an Akuma Alert sounded through the room.

Both Kwami and person looked up at the screen to see a purple Akuma scream about coffee and coworkers.

"Well, shit." Chloé said.

Chat Noir, as unhelpful as he was, wouldn't be at the fight, which meant Ladybug would be all alone.

"Dang it, and I was having so much fun!" The Kwami grumbled. He phased through Chloé‘s hand again and hovered in front of her.

"Well?" He asked, crossing his tiny paws.

Chloé gaped at him.

"Well, what?"

The Kwami sighed. "Well let's get going, kid! Ladybug can't fight all on her own!"

Chloe blinked. This was real? She was really going to be a hero again?

"Say the words, kid."

In a movie, this would be the part where the dramatic music plays in the background and the protagonist realizes their destiny.

Only Chloé wasn't having that moment.

She stared at the Kwami with confusion.

"Oh, right. Just say 'Plagg, claws out'."

So his name was Plagg.

"Plagg! Claws out!"

The magic washing over her was different from Pollen's. It felt like crackling energy. Like white noise was covering her body and burning into her skin. Chloé was surprised to find that it felt right. Far more right than Pollen's warm, melty magic felt.

Chloé grinned down at herself. She looked hot.

And then she looked in the mirror to find out that she looked like a furry.

Damn it.

---

Marinette woke to her mother's yelling.

"Marinette! You're going to be late for school!"

School.

"Noooo," Marinette moaned. She rolled over on the bed, squeezing her eyes shut.

Maybe she could convince her mom she was sick.

Maybe she could--

And then a shape crashed through her window.

Akuma.

The Akuma blinked at her with bright violet eyes, like they weren't expecting her to be there.

Before Marinette could say anything, another form flew through her broken window and tackled the Akuma.

The person was clad in black. They had on a black suit that clung to their legs. They wore black combat boots that stopped just below the knee and black gloves that went to their elbows. Their fingers ended with sharp gold claws that the mystery person used to scratch at the Akuma. The whole suit had gold lines along the trim, something Marinette could appreciate (it added some personality).Two gold batons crossed over their back, which they pulled out to attack the Akuma.

The person leaped forward and through the Akuma straight out of Marinette's broken window, they turned around to smile sheepishly at Marinette.

"Sorry about that! That Akuma has no manners."

Marinette gaped.

Not at the hero in front of her.

But at the cat ears that were perched on her head, sitting right above the long blonde braid.

Guess she found Plagg.

"You--who are you?" Marinette stuttered. Her brain was short-circuiting. Somehow this random person had gotten ahold of Plagg and his ring.

That wasn't good.

The hero grinned, her pearl white teeth had tiny fangs.

"You can call me Noir."

Noir glanced at the window again and smiled once more at Marinette, who was sitting awkwardly in her bed.

"I really must get going now, pleasure to meet you!"

And then she jumped out the window.

Marinette was still staring when Tikki flew out of her hiding spot.

"Marinette?"

Marinette made a noise like a dying whale and put her head in her hands.

"Marinette, it's time to transform. We can worry about Noir later."

Marinette peaked through her hands and nodded slightly, which seemed to appease Tikki.

"You're right," She jumped up out of bed and took a deep breath. "Tikki! Spots on!"

Marinette sighed happily and the magic covered her body, leaving her in her new suit.

Marinette had completely forgotten about her design and almost fell over with the new unfamiliar weight of her wings.

She took a second to steady herself and admire herself quickly in the mirror before launching herself out the window.

As it turns out, flying was pretty easy after yo-yoing all over Paris for a few years.

Ladybug whooped as she flew through the sky, doing a few flips before finally speeding towards the Akuma.

Ladybug landed on a roof and surveyed the newest villain.

They were dressed in all purple and seemed fairly humanoid--except for the giant horns protruding from their head.

Noiranded next to Ladybug, touching down with lethal silence.

Ladybug didn't spare her a glance.

"What's their deal?" She asked. She had expected a pun or a flirty comment. But she got none of that.

"Cowerworker spat in their coffee, now they want to smash stuff. Not sure how the two things relate but Violetta doesn't seem to care."

"Akuma's probably in that tie, everything else is part of them." Ladybug added, glancing at Noir.

The two nodded to each other before they both jumped off the building.

As it turns out, the two worked beautifully together.

They didn't need to speak to communicate, a single look and they both knew exactly what to do.

They danced around each other in perfect sync until the Akuma was defeated.

It had been a while since Marinette had enjoyed being Ladybug.

But working with Noir, she finally felt light enough to banter a little. Light enough to smile at the feeling of soaring as she took down an Akuma.

And Noir was completely professional. While she added a few sly comments here and there, she didn't stop working or pause to ask Ladybug out.

And within minutes, the Akuma was defeated.

After comforting the victim, Ladybug stopped Noir. Because she was the Guardian, there was no timer for her transformation, and Noir hadn't used her Cataclysm until the last minute, so they had time to talk.

"Hey, we need to talk."

Noir's brows furrowed but she nodded for Ladybug to go on.

"Where did you find the ring?" She started.

"Found it in my room this morning."

"What about Plagg? Is he okay?"

"Weird but fine, do you know why he likes cheese so much?"

Ladybug ignored her question.

"After you detransform, feed him and send him to me tonight. He knows the way."

Noir looked confused for a moment before nodding.

As she was about to leave, Ladybug stopped her again.

"And Noir? You did great work today."

Ladybug didn't see the proud smile on Noir's face as she vaulted away.

But she didn't miss her call of, "Your new suit looks great by the way!"

Ladybug was turning to leave when she was interrupted.

"Ladybug! Ladybug! Do you have a minute to spare?"

Alya.

While the situation with Lila had been diffused--the girl being exposed and then expelled--Alya and Marinette had never been as close. They were hardly friends anymore. Instead, Marinette chose to spend her time doing commissions and helping out the bakery.

Which also meant that Alya didn't get any free interviews for the Ladyblog.

"Sorry, Miss Cesaire but I have places to be." Ladybug said, launching into the sky, Alya's questions following her home.

---

Daaamn that’s gay

--Lemon

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Masterlist

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Taglist:

Hello again all! I hope that you guys are having a great week! I’m really excited to see what you all think of this chapter. I hope that it lives up to your expectations! I do want to note that I drew a lot of inspiration for Chloe and Chat Noir’s conversation in this chapter from @miraculouscontent ‘s “Been there, done Chat” installment of their LadyBugOut universe. (If you are on this website and have by some strange twist of fate not seen this au, I suggest that you go look at it now. It’s AWESOME.) 

Also, let’s pretend that either Princess Fragrance didn’t happen or Chloe has totally forgotten what Tikki looked like, okay?

Anyway, I think that’s all for now... I hope that you enjoy! Once again, feel free to message me if you’d like to be added to the tag list or if you’ve asked before and I’ve forgotten. Computers are hard sometimes. :)

Chapter Seven: Off The Rails

I am this close to just straight up YEETING myself off a bridge

---

Adrien Agreste was Chat Noir.

He was.

Even without the ring he was still the best damn hero Paris had ever seen.

And he could prove it to the city--to Ladybug.

If Ladybug refused to acknowledge him, then he would make her.

He could be the hero Paris needed. He could defeat Hawkmoth. He could get the girl.

Ladybug had disregarded him and his love. So he could find someone else. Someone new to give the Ladybug Miraculous to once he killed Ladybug and ripped the earrings from her ears.

And he already knew the perfect girl.

How had he been so blind? How could he have been so ignorant? How could he have only seen her as a friend?

Adrien had missed the princess in her tower, too caught up in the knight fighting beside him.

Marinette. The beautiful, smart girl that deserved his love and partnership far more than Ladybug ever did. His Princess. She would make the perfect Ladybug.

And he already knew she loved him, Alya had let that slip during her rant about the girl. Which meant that all he had to do was show up and tell her he felt the same. That his love for her was ingrained in his bones, that he wanted to keep her for himself and no one else. That she was his.

And Marinette would swoon and kiss him. And then they could live happily ever after--they get married, and get a beautiful house and a dog or a cat or a hamster.

Marinette would be his new Ladybug. Just as soon as he fixed her flaws--pretty things shouldn’t be so mean, shouldn’t be so uncaring for others the way Marinette was with the class.

So he would fix her.

Patch up that rudeness. Connect her broken links with the class. Patch up her indifference.

And she would love him.

He would show up on her balcony that very night dressed in his new suit--he already had everything he needed to be Chat Noir again. The black market had all sorts of weapons and things to make a suit with.

So he got to work.

Adrien cut and sewed and trimmed until he held his new suit in his hands. It wasn’t the best work, but Marinette would make him a better one.

She would have so much fun with it. That is, until he got his ring back from that imposter.

Seriously, who was she? Acting all chummy with ladybug like she wasn’t a cheap knock-off. Had Ladybug chosen her? Had Plagg?

Adrien gripped his suit tightly, uncaring if he ripped it as red took over his vision.

Ladybug had no right to replace him. Plagg had no right. Adrien was the best Chat Noir there had ever been and he had been replaced just because of a few things Ladybug thought were problems!

It looked just like his old suit, black and catlike. The bell wasn’t as silent but he could work with it. And this one he could take on and off without revealing his identity, which meant that he and Marinette could enjoy some intimate time whenever he wanted.

The scowl on his face faded as he thought of his Princess. She was going to love him in and out of the suit--unlike Ladybug, who didn’t love any part of him.

He pulled on the suit, filling the extra pockets with smoke bombs, darts, zip ties, and a few small bombs. He wasn’t destruction incarnate for nothing.

Adrien stared at himself in the mirror, his smirk was feral.

There was something missing in his eyes.

The green, swirling colors held nothing behind them. What was supposed to be behind them?

He couldn’t remember.

Swinging his new staff a few times, Adrien opened his window and launched himself into the sky.

---

Chloé thought Marinette looked like the moon.

Beautiful, radiant, hidden away and shadowed by the blinding sun. Underestimated and underappreciated.

Why was beauty always compared to the sun when the moon was far more enticing?

The sun burned eyes and skin, loud and harmful while the moon carefully lit the night, surrounded by stars.

Marinette was the moon. Perfect, sweet.

And too far above Chloé to see her so far below.

Chloé couldn’t do anything but watch longingly as Marinette’s eyelids slipped closed and her breathing evened out.

She couldn’t do anything as she stumbled into her own bittersweet sleep.

Chloé dreamt of the moon.

She looked down from her perch in the sky, turning her silver smile into a scowl as she looked down on Chloé.

“You don’t deserve me.” The moon whispered, snarling.

Chloé shuddered, inching back into herself.

She wanted to run, to speak, to do anything.

But she was stuck. Stuck in the ground, slowly sinking in, as the moon towered over her in all her glory.

Tears gathered in Chloé’s eyes, spilling over her cheeks in a silver waterfall. The tears kept falling and falling.

Falling just like Chloé, who was falling still. Falling into the ocean of tears that covered her mouth and nose.

And she drowned, watching the moon so far above her.

---

Marinette thought Chloé looked like the sun.

Bright, shining, ablaze with a brilliant glow and bringing light into the world. Misunderstood and belittled.

Why was beauty always compared to the moon, the night, when the sun was so furiously stunning?

The moon sat quietly, boring and lifeless while the sun brought love and life to the day, alone in the sky.

Chloé was the sun. Fierce, proud.

And too far above Marinette to see her below.

Marinette fell asleep first.

She was watching Chloé, the two sitting in companionable silence, when she was pushed over the cliff into a river of slumber.

She gasped, abruptly sitting up to see herself back into her room.

“You know,” Noir said, stepping out from the shadows, wreathed in darkness. “You always were so trusting, Marinette.”

She looked like a queen--a shadow queen, all wrapped up in darkness. So coldly beautiful.

The hero traced a clawed finger over Marinette’s desk as she made her way towards the ravenette. Under one arm, Noir held the Miracle Box.

The box.

Why did she--

“Or should I say Ladybug?”

Marinette froze as the claw traced her cheek, drawing blood.

No.

No.

Noir’s feral grin was all Marinette could see in her swimming vision as her partner’s hand wrapped around her throat.

And squeezed.

Noir glitched for a moment, turning from Chat Noir back to Noir.

Marinette gasped for air, hoping--praying--he would go away, that Noir would let her go.

“M’Lady! You--” Chat Noir laughed sharply, blood dripping out from between his teeth as the laughter turned to coughing.

“Back off mangy cat!” Noir gasped out, glitching back and forth between the cats. Blood poured from her nose, a sharp crimson color.

Back, forth. Back, forth. Back, forth. Back, forth.

Chat Noir, Noir. Chat Noir, Noir. Chat Noir, Noir.

Good, bad. Good, bad. Good, bad.

Bad.

Marinette’s head swirled as she watched her partners switch back and forth, screaming at each other and her.

Why--

She couldn’t focus, her vision swirled, tilted, twirled.

Marinette woke up screaming.

“Marinette!” A voice yelled.

“Noir?’ Marinette mumbled drowsily. Her head hurt. Where was he? Why was Noir here?

“Marinette, it’s me, Chloé.” The voice--Chloé--said soothingly, brushing Marinette’s hair away from her face.

Chloé. Chloé. Chloé.

Chloé was there.

“You have to open your eyes, Marinette. There’s an Akuma.” Marinette’s eyes shot open.

An Akuma.

“Akuma?”

Marinette’s brain was still foggy from her dream, her shoulders still shaking.

Chloé nodded. “I have to go, I'm sorry. But I’ll tell your parents you need them.”

Panic tore at her limbs, freezing her and twisted her into a nervous wreck. Couldn’t tell Maman. Couldn’t tell Papa. They wouldn’t get it. She couldn’t tell them.

Chloé made to get off the bed, but Marinette yanked her back, Chloé’s wrist wrapped her fingers.

“D--Don’t tell them. I’m okay.” She managed a weak smile, trying not to focus on Chloé’s disbelieving frown.

“But--”

“No.” Marinette said firmly. Chloé sighed, prying Marinette’s fingers away.

“Okay.” Chloé whispered. “I won’t.”

Marinette smiled gratefully. Chloé made her way to the trap door but paused.

“Thank you.” She started. “For letting me stay here. And for being my friend.”

Then she left.

Marinette flopped back onto her bed, hiding her face with her hands.

“Marinette.”

“Yeah I know, Tikki.” Marinette said.

“Spots on.” She grumbled, jumping up the window above her bed and launching into the sky.

It was dark out--had Chloé really been there for that long? She hadn’t even noticed.

Ladybug shook her head, trying to clear the fog of sleep and nightmares.

Midnight blue sand cut through the Paris night like a blade, pulling nightmares up from the minds of innocent civilians.

Sandboy.

Well that explained the nightmare.

The first time she had faced the poor little boy with nightmares, she was fighting with Chat Noir by her side and facing a very creepy Adrien Agreste that claimed he was going to marry Chloé.

What a joke.

Fighting her crush while standing right beside him? Fighting her stalker while standing right beside him?

Ladybug wanted to throw up.

She had let Chat Noir hurt her too many times, but now she had her new, amazing, partner who had her back no matter what.

Change is good.

Ladybug flew through the night, following the trail of sand floating through the air. She was careful to dodge the sand--she didn’t need anymore nightmares.

She already had too many.

Ladybug barrel rolled out of the way of a fresh wave of dream sand. She studied the nightmare creatures filling the street for a moment before finding an empty street to land.

She was hovering a few feet above the ground when a terrifyingly familiar voice called out.

“M’Lady!”

Ladybug startled, hitting the ground hard enough that she felt the shockwaves to her brain.

Chat Noir.

---

just kidding kiddos

It's not gonna be the bridge

cliffs are sexier for suicide

--Lemon

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Masterlist

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Taglist:

Chapter Nine: Dreams

I'm sorry?

---

Noir didn't know what to do.

She couldn't find Ladybug anywhere, even having searched all over the city.

Where did she go?

It didn't make sense, Ladybug would have told her if she was going to be late. She would've said something.

But there Noir was, sitting on top of the news building, alone and worried.

Threads of shimming sand snaked through the sky, creating Nightmares. It was almost peaceful, except for the screams shattering the night.

Noir didn't know what to do about them, though. She had never been one to make plans. Never been one to take charge if it didn't benefit her.

So she sat, legs swinging off the roof, and listened to the terrified screams.

She should do something.

She was supposed to be a hero, so why was she just sitting there?

It wasn't like she was hiding from her own Nightmares.

They could come find her whenever they pleased.

She wasn't hiding.

Another scream echoed in the night, making Noir flinch. Her cat ears were too sensitive.

Noir didn't move to help.

She sat quietly, enjoying the wind on her face and trying not to think about Ladybug.

She barely even felt it when her transformation dropped.

Plagg was fuming when he flew out of the ring.

Chloé still didn't move.

"What the heck are you doing, kid?" He yelled, flying right in front of her face.

Chloé didn't even flinch. Didn't blink. Didn't move. She didn't do anything.

Maybe it was the cat that was inside her. Maybe she was just naturally a still person.

Plagg seemed to lose his anger at the dead look in his chosen eyes.

"Kid?"

Chloé's eyes were empty.

She wanted to help, but her Nightmares...

She couldn't face them.

Not again.

She fought them every day, every night, she couldn’t do it today.

She was so exhausted.

Plagg sighed and floated down to sit next to her. It was almost comical, Plagg was so tiny compared to Chloé.

“Look, I get it. Nightmares are...bad.”

Chloé didn’t move.

“I have them too, kid. Everyone does. But at some point we gotta face them, or they’ll haunt us forever.” Plagg tried again.

Chloé closed her eyes.

“I can’t do it.” She whispered, voice cracking. “I’m not a hero, Plagg.”

Plagg hummed. He floated up back in front of Chloé’s face.

“Well, you’re not wrong.”

Chloé flinched, hard.

Plagg just raised a little eyebrow. He crossed his arms at the girl, waiting for her to defend herself, to get angry.

Nothing happened.

Tears tracked down Chloé’s cheeks, making lines in her makeup.

“You aren’t exceptional. You aren’t brave. You’re a spoiled brat, not a hero. That’s why Ladybug took the Bee Miraculous away from you.”

Chloé’s shoulders shook.

She knew it, knew she wasn’t worthy. Even Plagg hated her, and he dealt with Chat Noir on a regular basis. She was the worst and Ladybug deserved a better, braver partner.

Chloé could only nod as Plagg crushed her soul. What was she supposed to do? She wasn’t going to fight back, she deserved every painful word.

“I know.” She whispered. Her voice was cracked and watery and broken.

Plagg stared her hard in the eyes when she finally looked back at him.

Every second they stared at each other was another second that Chloé’s heart fractured.

“Now tell me why.” Plagg demanded.

Chloé blinked. What?

“Tell me why you aren't a hero.”

Chloé blinked rapidly, trying to get the tears out of her eyes.

Plagg really wanted to make her say it? To say it out loud how much she sucked?

“I--I hurt people. I bullied Marinette for years. I fuck up constantly and I never apolgize. I’m a terrible person. I’m not brave like--”

“Like Chat Noir?” Plagg interrupted.

He hated her so much that he preferred Chat Noir. Oh god.

Chloé nodded mutely.

“Good.” Plagg said, his expression was sour. “Chat Noir was a monster who tried to get rid of me whenever he could. He wasn’t brave, but he thought he was.”

Chloé opened her mouth to respond but was cut off.

“Chat Noir wasn’t brave, he was impulsive and reckless. Bravery isn’t rushing into danger at any chance, it’s knowing your fear and doing something about it.”

She wiped her eyes, sniffling.

“You aren’t a hero, Chloé. But you’re trying to be. Don’t be Chat Noir, be better. So find your fear and overcome it. Bravery means nothing unless you're smart about it.”

Plagg gave her a hard look, arms crossed and eyebrows raised. He wanted Chloé to do something about her fear? She was going to give him more.

She could do this. She could do this. She could do this.

“Alright,” She breathed out. “Claws out.”

Noir stood and backed away from the edge of the building. She took a deep breath and ran forward, leaping off the building.

---

Her first fear was clad in pink.

Noir landed on the street silently, the civilians surrounding her didn’t even notice.

But Marinette Dupain-Cheng did.

The sweet girl had a sinister smile on her face as she skipped towards Noir.

“Chloé!” The girl called out cheerfully.

Noir swallowed painfully, but refused to allow herself a step back. She could do this. She was Noir, Ladybug’s partner. She could do this.

“Marinette.” She choked out.

Marinette stopped in front of her, smiling sweetly. But Noir knew better than to fall for it, the empty look behind the girl’s eyes was wrong.

“I need to talk to you!” Marinette said, grabbing Noir’s hands and clasping them in her own. Noir took a sharp breath, trying not to pull away.

Plagg’s words echoed in her head.

Bravery isn’t rushing into danger at any chance, it’s knowing your fear and doing something about it.

This was her fear, and she was going to do something about it.

“Talk about what?”

The bright look on Marinette’s face turned sour, her grip tightened. She let out a dark, horrible giggle.

“About how I’m too good for you, Bourgeois. You don’t deserve me, you’re a monster.” Marinette growled, leaning close enough to Noir’s face that she could smell her cold breath.

A fresh wave of tears stung her eyes.

Not real. She wasn’t real.

Noir smiled, it was watery but still served to confuse Marinette. “I know, Marinette. I don’t deserve you, but I’m going to try to.”

And Marinette crumbled to a pile of sand.

Noir squeezed her eyes shut, taking a deep, shuddering breath.

Now she needed to find Ladybug.

Noir grabbed one of her batons and extended it, flying towards the sky.

As it turned out, having cat eyes was wonderful for a dark night like this. She could see through the darkness and distance, right to the spot where Ladybug was fighting Chat Noir.

But it couldn’t be the real Chat Noir, he no longer had the Miraculous. Then it dawned on her, he was a Nightmare. Ladybug was afraid of Chat Noir enough that he haunted her Nightmares.

With a fresh wave of fury sizzling her blood, Noir landed on the rooftop above the fight.

Right on time to see Chat Noir rip Ladybug’s wing.

Noir gasped, prepared to jump into battle.

But someone beat her to it.

A black clad figure raced past Noir, tackling Chat Noir before he could attack Ladybug again.

The two rolled, each attempting to hurt the other, before Chat Noir got the upper hand and threw the shadowy figure against the building.

The figure tried, and failed, to stand. Noir finally got a clear view of their face as they shifted.

That was her.

What the fu--

Noir’s eyes widened as she turned back to Ladybug, who let out a scream of rage and lunged at Chat Noir.

The two fought like beats, but eventually Ladybug managed to wrap her hands around Chat Noir’s throat, pinning him to the ground.

Noir wanted to pay attention, she really did. She wanted to leap into the fight and help her partner, but all she could think of was, that's not me, that’s not me, that’s not me.

Something in Ladybug seemed to hesitate, knowing she wasn’t a killer, and the hero wavered.

But Chat Noir took that hesitance and managed to throw Ladybug off him. Right into the wall next to the Noir imposter.

A sickening crack filled the area. Noir flinched, body finally catching up to her mind.

She needed to help, she needed to--

The Noir imposter was standing now, unhurt. She stalked over to Ladybug, crouching down next to her. The Noir imposter smiled at her partner, brushing away some hair.

Chat noir stood at a distance, confusion evident in his stance.

The Noir imposter stood, still smiling.

And stomped down on Ladybug’s head.

Noir almost threw up, her partner was--

No. She wasn’t going to let anything else happen to her.

Noir was going to protect Ladybug.

And nothing was going to stand in her way.

She let out a guttural shriek and jumped off the building, tacking the imposter to the ground.

Noir was all teeth and claws as she destroyed the nightmare. Snarling and thrashing and hurting and biting.

She could hear her heartbeat in her ears, screaming for blood. Her heart was pounding, her breath was raspy, her soul was screaming so loudly she thought she might go deaf.

And the Nightmare was dead.

Noir didn't even have time to think about why she was Ladybug's nightmare, because Chat Noir stalked over.

He was snarling, prowling towards her like she was his prey.

But she was no one's prey.

Noir was done being afraid.

Chloé was afraid of being afraid.

She was a goddamn hero, Ladybug's partner, protector of Paris.

She wasn't going to let anyone else hurt her.

Not her mom.

Not her dad.

Not her classmates.

And definitely not some sorry excuse for a Black Cat.

Chat Noir was nothing. As far as she was concerned, he didn't exist.

Noir stood slowly, sand falling off her shining claws. Her eyes narrowed as the two cats stalked around each other.

It was a silent battle of mind, Chat Noir was filled with seething, coiling rage.

But Noir was quiet, calm. This was where she belonged, on the field, defending her partner.

She understood why being Noir made her heart sing, why she felt so peaceful protecting Paris.

Because she was a Black Cat.

And this was her turf.

Noir let Chat Noir come to her, let him lunge, let him bellow with rage before he attacked.

Then she stepped to the side, grabbed his tail, and yanked.

Chat Noir fell to the ground with a hiss. Noir stalked forward, she was going to turn him over when Chat Noir rolled and kicked out with a grunt.

Noir felt the breath knocked out of her as she tumbled back. Chat Noir jumped to his feet, rolling his shoulders.

"This is what I was replaced with? A girl who can't even fight back. Pathetic."

Unexceptional.

Spoiled.

Bratty.

Pathetic.

"Fuck you." She whispered to the words swirling in her head.

"You're a sorry excuse for a cat." He snarled, kicking her ribs. Noir grit her teeth and forced herself to stand.

She'd have bruises in the morning, but if this Nightmare was gone it would be worth it.

Noir waited until Chat Noir was close enough, then she sweeped his legs and shot to her feet.

Her breath was coming out in short pants, the cool night hair making her throat dry.

Noir grabbed her batons, swinging them around as she and Chat Noir circled each other.

The gold glinted off his eyes, making them seem to glow. But his eyes...they were off.

They were normal.

The sclera of his eye was white. Why weren't his eyes cat-like?

Noir almost froze as the realization hit her.

Because he wasn't a Nightmare.

Somehow, Chat Noir was all suited up, but missing his signature cat eyes.

"You have something that belongs to me, Replacement." Chat Noir snarled, grabbing his own baton.

Noir smirked. "Finders keepers." She purred.

The two ran at each other, jumping and attacking with a feral intensity that had Noir gasping for breath.

They clashed, gold on silver. Cat on cat.

The impact of her batons blocking Chat Noir's baton had Noir's arms shaking. He was strong.

But she was still better.

Find his weakness. Use it against him.

She could hear Plagg's voice in the back of her mind, coaching her through the battle.

He's reckless, irritated. Use that against him.

Noir winked at Chat Noir, hoping to aggravate him and spur him on.

She jumped, rolling over his back and attempting to sweep his legs again with one of her batons.

"Give it back!" He growled, jumping over her batons effortlessly.

"And why should I? The ring is mine, and Plagg seems pretty comfortable with me." Noir smirked, tilting her head.

Plagg was laughing in the back of her head, making her smile.

"The ring belongs to me! I'm brave, I'm strong! I'm better than you!" Chat Noir let out a shriek and lunged at her.

It was almost too easy.

Noir moved to the side, smiling mockingly at Chat Noir as he passed. She grabbed his leg at the last minute and threw him back.

The action made her muscles burn, but her heart was soaring.

She could do this.

She was Noir. She could do this.

Noir stalked forward and crouched down beside the heaving Chat Noir.

"The thing about bravery, Chat Noir, is that it means nothing unless you're smart about it." Noir said.

"Cataclysm." She called, moving forward to touch his mask with her bubbling fingertips.

The mask crumbled.

Leaving behind Adrien Agreste.

---

well that escalated quickly

--Lemon

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Masterlist

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Taglist:

Chapter Eight: Nightmares

hello there, I am here to fuck with your heads and emotions

---

It was so dark out. Ladybug could barely see the buildings around her, much less the figure in front of her.

But she didn't need to.

Because she recognized that voice. That stature.

Chat Noir.

Chat Noir.

A part of her wanted to laugh.

This was just so typical.

Of course her worst nightmare was him. Of course the world couldn't make things easy for her. Of course. Of course.

Here he was, standing in front of her with a smirk on his face.

"Hello there, Bugaboo." He snarled, leaning on his staff.

Ladybug steeled herself, clenching her fists and painting her feet. "Chat Noir, you are a figment of my nightmares. Kindly fuck off."

Chat Noir frowned, pouting like a child. It was almost funny--if he hadn't been the one person to haunt her nightmares for almost two years.

"Well that's not very kind, M'Lady." He stood, prowling towards her. "After everything we've been through?"

Then he lunged.

Chat Noir racked his claws across her cheek, blood poured from the wound.

Ladybug shoved him off and rolled away. Her cheek felt like it was on fire, burning and ripping through her skin.

She jumped to her feet, tentatively prodding the wound with her fingers. They came back drenched in red.

Ladybug shuddered, staring Chat Noir down. His smile was condescending.

Ladybug growled and threw her yoyo, wrapping it around his wrist and pulling.

Chat Noir fell forward, face planting on the cement.

Ladybug twisted, stringing up Chat Noir like the pig he was.

Chat noir grinned ferally, teeth bared. He laughed, a low, broken sound.

"Oh, Ladybug. Don't you ever lose?"

Ladybug's heart gave a thump.

"Not often."

Chat Noir didn't respond. His grin widened.

And then he slashed the yoyo string.

"You should try it sometime. Like right--"

Chat Noir didn't get another sentence out.

Because something came from behind and cut his head off.

Ladybug screamed and stumbled back.

What the fuck. What the fuck. What the fuck.

She looked down at the body--or, where the body should be. All that was left was a pile of midnight blue sand.

Sand. A Nightmare.

The thought didn't stop Ladybug's heart from hammering against her ribs.

She glanced back up to see the attacker.

A pair of glowing green eyes were the first thing to appear. Then, a halo of blonde hair.

And cat ears.

But he was gone. He was gone. Only a nightmare. He was a civilian so why?

"Ladybug? Are you alright?" Noir's voice was music to her ears.

She let out a choked sob and jumped forward, wrapping her shaking arms around her real partner's middle.

"Woah, hey it's alright." Noir said, awkwardly patting Ladybug's back. "Everything's fine."

Ladybug sobbed again. She didn't feel any shame in balling her eyes out to her partner.

"It's okay, Ladybug. Everything's okay." She rubbed soothing circles in Ladybug's back, right under her wings.

But what about Chat Noir--what about the Akuma?

Ladybug felt her chest tighten and mind catch up. She was being held by her crush--partner--and all she could think about was Chat Noir?

Idiot.

"I, um, I'm okay. Thank you." As she spoke, her words slipped into a whisper.

Noir seemed reluctant to let her go, even letting her claws trace her arm as she pulled away.

"Alright," The fierce grin made its way back on Noir's face. "Let's go catch that Akuma."

---

Sandboy wasn't moving.

Why wasn't he moving?

The ten year old boy was face down in the pavement, still as a--

As a dead body.

No. She--she let an innocent civilian die.

Because she was too busy panicking over her partner's arms.

Ladybug couldn't move. She could only stare at the boy in front of her.

She could've done something. Could've been faster. Could've ignored the Nightmare Chat Noir and been faster.

She was Ladybug! How could she let this happen?

Ladybug fell to her knees. She barely felt the impact that should have glided up her bones.

He was dead.

Dead.

What was she going to tell his parents?

Why was Noir so quiet?

Because she wasn't there.

Ladybug stumbled to her feet, looking around for her partner.

Where did she go? What was she doing?

"Ladybug." A cold, familiar voice said. It was coming from the rooftop.

Ladybug couldn't see them. Who--?

The figure leaped down with agile feet. Like a cat.

"Nice to see you again, M'Lady." Chat Noir. But was he another Nightmare?

He had to be. He was all suited up, and the real Chat Noir didn't have his Miraculous anymore.

It had to be a Nightmare.

"I don't have time for this, Nightmare." She managed to grit out through her clenched teeth. 

She needed to find Noir and help Sandboy.

"Is that what you think I am? A measly figment created by a Miraculous?" Chat Noir's laugh made her skin crawl.

Something was wrong.

Chat Noir stalked forward, looking for all the world like a predator stalking its prey.

"I can assure you, Bugaboo, that I am far more than that."

Chat Noir launched off the ground, back arched in the air, claws out.

Like a lion attacking.

Ladybug managed to jump out of the way just in time, but Chat Noir's Claws managed to graze her wing.

A shot of pain sliced through Ladybug's back and she screamed.

Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck.

Chat Noir bared his teeth, eyes sparking dangerously.

His eyes. His eyes.

They were green.

But not green like they should be, the white was just that, white. His eyes were normal.

Why were his eyes normal?

"You're fake. Not real." Ladybug breathed out. "A Nightmare. Fake."

Fake. Fake. Fake. Fake.

She needed to remember that.

This Chat Noir was just a Nightmare.

But his eyes--

Ladybug brought out her yoyo, hoping to wrap Chat Noir in it and trap him.

It didn't work.

Because something--someone--jumped in the way, tackling Chat Noir before she could hit him.

The two black clad figures rolled, clawing at each other.

Chat Noir hissed, attempting to kick the other figure off him. He managed to hit the other away, the person hitting the side of the building with a crash.

Ladybug snapped her head to the side to see Noir struggling to stand from her spot next to the building. Her heart clenched, seeing the pain in Noir's eyes.

"Hey!" She yelled to Chat Noir, fury was blooming in her chest.

How dare this Nightmare hurt her.

Ladybug was going to rip him to shreds.

She backed up, until she was about a foot away from the wall of the building. Then she jumped up, kicked back, and launched off the building, using her one good wing to carry her to the stupid cat that harmed her partner.

"How fucking dare you!" She screamed, landing punch after punch on Chat Noir.

Chat Noir let out a wounded growl, sounding far more animal than human.

Ladybug didn't care. She didn't care.

She was done caring about this stupid cat that hurt her and hurt her partner.

She was done caring about hurting people when they hurt her first.

She was going to kill him.

"Asshole!" She wrapped her gloved hands around Chat Noir's throat--his eyes went wide as her grip tightened.

She didn't care.

She was going to kill him.

She wanted him to feel every god damn second of pain. She wanted him to feel her rage.

She was going to kill him.

A thought hit her.

She wanted to kill him.

Not for Paris. Not for Noir. Not for anyone but herself.

This wasn't something she was doing out of duty.

This was something she was doing for herself.

That moment of hesitation was the thing Chat Noir needed to throw her off him.

Ladybug hit the building next to Noir.

Pain exploded through her body. The air left her lungs and spots danced in her vision. Ladybug could feel something sticky on the back of her head.

Blood.

She wheeled, clawing at the ground as she tried to stand.

Black boots stopped next to her head. The person was blurry, spotty around the edges.

Who--?

They squatted and the person came into focus.

Noir, looking completely unharmed, smiling softly at her. She brushed a chunk of hair away from Ladybug's face, it was a gentle gesture that had Ladybug's eyes drifting shut.

It was nice, having someone take care of this side of her too. No one ever thought to be this gentle with Paris's hero.

The second the hand stopped, Ladybug's eyes snapped open.

Noir stood above her, the pleasant smile still on her lips.

Warning bells rang in her head, but Ladybug couldn't remember why.

Noir didn't say anything as she stepped closer.

She didn't say a word as she stomped down on Ladybug's head, either.

Or when the world tilted and went dark.

---

"Whatcha got there?"

*betrayal, murder, angst, anxiety*

"A smoothie"

--Lemon

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Masterlist

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Taglist: