Reader X Nathanael | ✔

Chapter 21: Through The Confusion

*also I just thought I would mention this...but...this Nathanael book is the highest viewed that I've come across!! (This goes for any Nath X _____ or oc) I can't believe it! I almost cried ;A;*

"Chat Noir and Ladybug...I guess they were really upset." You observed, feeling a small pang of sadness in your chest.

"Yeah." The Dessinateur mumbled in agreement, ransacking the now empty building.

You both had gone back to the lair, hoping to find the device that caused the wipe out. Unfortunately, no clues led to any possible machinery or technology.

It was quiet and eerie. You shivered, remembering your previous experiences in the same building. Hawk Moth's last words rang through your ears, hauntingly echoing through your mind.

Find them.

But find who exactly? He was never clear on who the other Miraculouses belonged to. And what were they going to do? Did your dad have close relations to them?

"How could he have done that so easily?" You groaned. You didn't need further explanation for Nathanael to understand that you meant. "He's not some sort of super genius..."

"Maybe Aubrí knows something about this." Nath offered, joining you back in the center of the Akuma release room.

You both had reverted back to your old selves, so the Kwami's were able to rest and eat. On the way there, both of you had snagged some food from a nearby diner for them.

Feeling hopeless, you sank down to the ground and let out a frustrated noise.

"First Ladybug and Chat Noir ditched me, my dad is gone, the whole world is paralyzed and could be dead within the next minute, and now I have a KWAMI to deal with...how...I..." You rambled, getting worked up.

Nath picked you back up into a standing position. He flashed you a sympathized smile and pointed to a dark flying object, getting closer and closer.

It was holding something that you couldn't identify.

"Aubrí! There you went!" You gasped, running over to your tiny purple Kwami. She was lugging something along, struggling to hold it against her.

It was a purple butterfly.

Both of you sprinted over to her, confused and surprised. Nathanael caught her before she gave way, and you cupped your hands around the struggling akuma.

"Wh-hey!" You grunted as it tried to escape your grasp. Nathanael set Aubrí down carefully and helped you pin down the black butterfly.

It eventually fell limp, and you were able to examine it further.

"It's the akuma that caused the wipeout!" Aubrí coughed exhaustedly. "I know how it was able to control these people! It all makes sense!" Her tiny voice faded out as she look up at you both with bright green eyes.

"It tried to akumatize you right before the tornado to get more information out of Alya. But Hawk Moth timed it poorly, and it ended up akumatizing the tornado even more, spinning it out of control and towards you!" She paused, breathing in rapidly. "And the dust is the reason that everyone is passed out! They breathed it in, and the akuma was spread out between everyone except the Dessinateur, Ladybug and Chat Noir. And we've found it! The akuma that started it!"

You could hardly breathe, letting the information sink in.

"B-but h-how was I able to wake up though?" You stammered, feeling light headed. Nathanael gripped your arm tightly, his mouth gaping open.

"Well..." Aubrí paused, thinking for a minute. "That, I'm not sure of. But from Hawk Moth's perspective, he really managed to time that right. He used a bunch of the akumas to carry you here, but Ladybug had cleared those by the time you woke up."

A loud banging noise erupted from the door, causing the room to shake and rumble. You yelped and put your arms out to steady yourself.

Everyone peered towards the entrance, huddling closer together. Aubrí and Slade gripped each other nervously, their faces showing a hint of pink. *ship alert!*

Two indistinguishable figures strode forward, each swinging their own weapon. One long and thin with a flat bulb on the end, the other was pole like and gleamed in the faded light.

"Chat Noir! Ladybug!" You all chimed, running forward gleefully, embarrassed of your assumptions.

They both laughed and grinned, and everyone joined in in a huge embrace. Chat Noir pulled away first, his face softening.

"Did you think that we hated you that much?" He scoffed, smirking.

You wiped away a small tear and sniffed before saying: "After all I've done, yeah. I never meant to hurt you two, or anyone. Oh god, I was so selfish, wasn't I?"

Ladybug put a reassuring hand on your shoulder, putting her yo-yo away.

"Of course not. We had some time to plan things out while we were away, and you'd little friend here-" she gestured to Aubrí, who smiled up sheepishly, "-told us all we need to know."

Nathanael beamed and patted her head thankfully.

"Now, let's cleanse this little guy, shall we?"