Akuma - A Dark Miraculous Ladybug AU

Chapter 8 - Troublemaker Returns

Far from the motel in the slums, closer toward the boundary that separated the slums from the central part of Paris, stood a group of homeless men huddled around a pit of fire, trying to find warmth in the freezing night. The fire blazed, and the men watched the flames snake up into the air and dissolve. A road snaked around beside them, a place where shady thieves and scoundrels wander. The men sat peacefully, some smiling at the fire, lost in thought.

It was silent...nothing but them and the stars.

Chat Noir shivered slightly, trying to find warmth by edging closer toward the pit of fire. He rubbed her arms up and down, and felt goosebumps up his neck. He had been teasing Ladybug for wearing a hoodie and boots over her superhero outfit, but he was starting to understand the practical aspect of the idea.

It's like this winter is never-ending...when's spring coming anyway? Seriously, what's wrong with the weather in Paris?

His eyes scanned the area, tapping his foot impatiently, growling under his breath. The three others surrounding the fire looked snug, warm under blankets as they placed their palms open over the fire.

"Eh," one man chuckled at the impatient thief. "E'll come, cat boy, jes' wait a l'il. Kid likes to make a more of a hehe, what you say? Gran' entrance."

Chat Noir's green eyes stared at the man, frowning. He then turned away as if he'd just seen the most disgusting creature on earth. He wasn't exactly used to people from the slums, he rarely went out to meet Kim anyway.

You meet the weirdest-ass people in the slums...well whatever, he's the only lead I've got anyway.

He decided to finally settle down on the cement floor, sitting down by the fire.. It wasn't easy waiting for someone like Kim Chiến Lê. He was a slippery snake, that's for sure, but he was Chat Noir's only key to the underground world of Paris. It's where he got most of his clients and what he had to steal. The only one who has any contact with Chat Noir, other than Ladybug, of course.

Kim himself hadn't recognised that Chat Noir was a boy in his class. The famed Adrien Agreste the model. Kim was always known as the more out there, outgoing jokester in the class, but tended to side with the wrong people. Like scoundrels, thieves, even murderers to some extent.

He was one of Chat Noir's closest friends, outside of Nino.

Not that I would really count Bug as a friend...more of a...partner.

Chat Noir's thoughts wandered as he looked up at the sky. It wasn't a full moon yet, it looked as though it was almost there, as if someone had nibbled the edge off cleanly. The night sky was usually barred by his large glass window. All he would see was his reflection lightly over the moon, as a cold reminder he couldn't leave his room.

The moon looks prettier without the glass...

Chat Noir tried to ignore his now scrambling thoughts and turned his attention back to the orangey flames. The sparks flew up and died into the air. His eyes closed, and he felt rather drowsy, enjoying the warmth of the fire. His mind relaxed a little, as his bell let off a small chime.

Warmth...warmth...All I want is...

"Oi, CAT!"

"Hmm?" Chat Noir blinked before waking up suddenly. He got on his feet and spun around to notice Kim walking down the road, grinning at Chat with a toothy smile. "Kim?"

Kim was wearing a long black coat, curtesy of Gabriel Agreste. He also seemed to be wearing a suit with a crisp and unrumpled red tie tucked behind a black suit. His outfit made him look like he was heading off to a wedding.