While Chloe was distracted with Felix and Luka, who had completely forgotten the idea of fighting her and were instead fighting for her attention, Ladybug was occupied with Adrien, Kagami, and Lila.
Adrien attacked long distance, shooting pinkish red bolts of light at her. Kagami waved a magic sword near her face, attempting to strike her. Lila opted for hand-to-hand combat. The fight was terribly unfair, but Ladybug was trying as best she could under the circumstances.
Kagami's sword slashed the air dangerously close to her face. She released a quick, relieved breath then batted her away with her yoyo. She lost sight of Lila as Adrien sent out another bolt and Kagami's sword jabbed at the space near her, narrowly missing.
Then a hand grabbed her from behind and she knew it was Lila's.
She expected a strike, but the hand froze, clasping her shoulder. With an expert flick of her wrist, she had the yoyo snaking itself around Adrien and toppling him over. She leapt into the air over Kagami's sword then spun around, still suspended above the ground, and kicked Lila in the chest, knocking her over.
Lila didn't seem to realize she was on the ground. She was staring intently at Ladybug, eyes wide like the world was crashing down around her. Hawkmoth's signature symbol appeared over her face and her cheeks reddened. He was no doubt urging her to get up and fight, but she didn't move.
"Lie-la!" Kagami shouted, trying to snap her out of her trance. "What are you doing? Get up!"
She did get up, slowly, as if she was afraid moving too fast or suddenly would remove her from whatever experience she was having. Ladybug prepared for a fight, but it was awkward when Lila approached her so tentatively it didn't seem possible she was about to strike.
"What are you-" Adrien started to demand but Lila was in no way listening.
"Marinette," she murmured dreamily, then wrapped her arms around Ladybug. Marinette's eyes widened and panic sent her heart racing. Hawkmoth undoubtedly heard that. Now it didn't even matter that she told Chloe, although she was happy she did.
Kagami and Adrien froze. "What are you talking about?" Kagami asked but Lila was too busy kissing Marinette's neck to answer. Ladybug shoved her away; she had no idea what would happen now.
The others hesitantly approached Ladybug. Lila threw herself back at her, flinging her arms around her and kissing her lips vigorously, though Ladybug attempted to pry her off. While she was preoccupied, Adrien and Kagami both reached out, their skin brushing hers. It was then they recognized her completely. Like moths attracted to light, they lunged at her, but not to attack.
Three pairs of arms slid around her. Lila and Adrien kissed her neck, Kagami worked her lips over her cheeks.
"Take the uniform off," Lila begged, breathing heavily. "Take it all off."
"How about you get off?" Marinette snapped. She thrust them all away with the aid of her yoyo, then went about breaking all the items on their outfits, capturing their akumas. But her effort was pretty much in vain for they hardly noticed at all. They continued to dote on her as if nothing had happened, latching on like leeches.
On the far side of the roof, Chloe was surrounded by the remaining two akumatized victims. They were standing still, faces red, a hawk shaped outline around their eyes. Hawkmoth was communicating with them, informing them of their fallen comrades and attempting to persuade them to resume the fight. He wasn't used to having such a lack of control.
In his chamber, he yelled, "Go get her, you idiots! I want those miraculous. Marinette is practically defenseless! Go take them from her."
"Marinette?" Luka clarified. The two staired at Chloe, then swiveled their eyes in unison to Ladybug. Seeing her surrounded by the lustful others, they instantly knew it was her. Instead of fighting Chloe, they instantly forgot about her and dashed across the roof to Marinette.
She struggled to deakumatize them with all the bodies swarming her. But soon, everyone was standing on the rooftop with Chloe and Marinette being the only ones in uniform.
"What now?" Chloe asked.
"Now," Marinette replied, "I'm going to get out of here and try to figure out what the hell was in that perfume."
Ladybug spun around in a violent circle, swishing her yoyo about. Everyone fell away from her, and she leapt up onto another building before they could get back up. Her identity had been revealed. Hawkmoth knew her name. She had to get home and ensure her family's safety.
A thought halted her. Something she wished she could forget.
Chat Noir hadn't shown up for battle. Either he was sick, out of town or... one of the five akumatized victims.
In all likeliness, it wasn't Felix. He didn't live here, only visited occasionally, so she seriously doubted it was him. When she thought about it, Luka didn't seem like the right person either. He didn't exactly look like Chat Noir either. His black-blue hair and blue eyes didn't align with the blonde-haired green-eyed Chat Noir.
Which left... Adrien.
There's has to be another explanation, she thought, resuming her former pace. Adrien couldn't be Chat Noir. She'd been in love with Adrien and had unknowingly rejected him! And now she didn't even love him anymore!
She didn't want it to be true, but in her heart, she knew it was so. Chat Noir was Adrien. Adrein was Chat Noir.
"This hurts my brain," she muttered to herself, swinging onto her balcony. She darted inside and detransformed, fishing out a macaroon from her purse for her kwami. Tikki moved away to eat and Marinette ran downstairs. To her relief, her parents were fine.
She spent the next hour and a half helping them in the bakery, careful to keep her eyes on them at all times. She had no idea how Hawkmoth would utilize this new information. She flinched every time the bell rang, peeked inside every time her parents left the room. She was so distracted, she botched a recipe. Her parents repeatedly asked of her if something was wrong.
The bells jangled as the door was opened. Marinette's head jerked up, but she was relieved to find it wasn't Hawkmoth, just Gabriel Agreste.
YOU ARE READING
Falling in Lust
FanfictionChloe buys a rare and expensive perfume. When she accidentally leaves it in the clumsy hands of Marinette, everything changes. Who knew a simple red liquid could turn one's life upside down? That's exactly what it did to Marinette. It becomes sudden...