You're my dearest lie || Miraculous Adult

Chapter 4

We belong - Dove Cameron

Marinette

"Bonsoir and welcome to BFM Paris Newscast. Today, we greet our superheroes Ladybug and Chat Noir, who want to comment on the Akuma-attacks."

The camera pointed at us and I was glad that Chat was partly covering me. In this situation, he felt like a shield to me.

"Ladybug, almost five months have passed since Hawk Moth's last attack. When can we be sure that he will not return?"

My heart was racing. Sweat of fear was running down my back, as I took some time to find the right words. It felt like a test. But one that was impossible to pass.

"Well", I began and used all my focus to let it sound calm and determined. "We cannot say for sure, if Hawk Moth has given up once and for all."

Nadjas expression darkened slightly, despite her trying to hide it. Most likely, that was the reaction of all the people watching this interview right now. Who could blame them? It wasn't good news. More sweat was forming on my forehead.

„I mean, that is good...well on the other hand it's bad, you know, I don't mean it's good, however...I..."

I felt how I was losing control over my thoughts, over the words that came out of my mouth. As if I was trapped inside my body and could just watch myself failing completely in front of all of Paris.

"What she means is that we still take our responsibilities seriously", intervened Chat, which made me sigh in relief.

He was completely calm and collected, seemingly unafraid by the cameras. On the contrary he was flourishing in his argumentation.

"We understand that the citizens would prefer it, if we could guarantee no further attacks, but we can't. What kind of heroes would we be to give false hope and risk the population with that?"

He spoke vigorously, tired of all the accusations. By now, I had collected myself again.

"Exactly. We are still on alert. Therefore, we patrol the city several times a week."

A slight hope glimmed in Nadjas eyes – she was probably wishing for fewer complaints. But her expression became dull again.

"There were a lot of questions by the city administration, considering the economy of Paris. Complaints are coming from the gastronomy industry, all of the hotels are fearing for their existence, as well as the sector of tourism in general. Many enterprises are not able to pay their employees anymore. In addition to that, there is the urban escape, as many people on who's jobs we depend on, leave Paris. In the last three years, every mayor has resigned after a few months and the periods are getting shorter."

At once, I pressed myself into the couch and my heart was hurting with every beat.

That was all on us. Because of us, Paris was slowly but surely crashing down.

Nadja remained calm, but I could see how much it affected her.

"So, the question is: when will Paris finally be freed from this fear?"

What kind of question was that? How should we know? The expectations of the citizens were resting on my shoulders, but I was not strong enough to carry that weight.

"We can't answer that any more than we can answer the question of his current presence," Chat explained, his gestures accentuating his professional manner of speaking.