Always Find You

Chapter 24 - "Reptile, Actually"

The Carapace suit fits snuggly around Marinette's body, making her feel warm and safe. It seems like it's been forever since she's been out and running across the rooftops of Paris, and Wayzz makes it easy and painless, despite just being in a hospital not two minutes ago. It's easy to forget about her injuries that are still there.

Master Fu must have had to come up with a really good excuse for her absence. Your daughter is a superhero who's putting her life in danger again doesn't really seem like a good one.

'Focus, Marinette,' She thinks, 'This is serious. Really serious.'

Chat Noir most likely doesn't realize who Hawk Moth is in real life. And who knows how dangerous Gabriel Agreste is just on his own. He probably doesn't know what he's gotten himself into.

~ ~ ~

Adrien knows exactly what he's gotten himself into: a deep pile of shit, to be exact. There's about one minute left before his transformation wears off, and his literal dad is beating him up on the floor. Thankfully, his suit is keeping most of the blows at bay, though his mask doesn't do a lot to protect his face.

'So much for that photo shoot next week,' He jokes to himself. He manages to let out a little laugh in spite of himself.

Hawk Moth stops right before punching him again, "What's so funny?"

Chat snaps out of his thoughts, "Uhh, just that you're... beating up a kid. Don't you have a better use for your time?"

The man drops his opponent's bell collar from his grasp, and pins him to the floor with his staff instead, "No: you ruined my plan."

"I'm not gonna make you monologue," Chat wipes the blood from his lip, causing him to hiss quietly, "But it sounds to me like you have some pent up anger, Gabriel."

Hawk Moth rolls his eyes at the sound of his name, "It sounds to me like you're just a whiny teenager."

The boy chuckles again, "You're not wrong. But if that's all I am, why do you have so much trouble beating me?"

His father digs the staff into his chest more, causing Adrien to flinch.

"Okay, okay, point taken," Chat rushes, "Might as well just get it over with, then." He gestures to his ring.

"I think," The man towers over him, "I'll wait until you're helpless without your suit, and once you're so unable to move from pain, then I'll take your Miraculous."
Hawk Moth slaps the bottom of his staff against Chat's cheek, causing a welt to quickly appear.

Adrien hisses again, holding the offending side of his face, "Gosh dang, some real pent up anger issues!"

Beep beep.

'Shit shit shit shit, no Plagg, c'mon!' He thinks to his kwami.
Just as he's about to be exposed, the front door slams open and standing there is a... turtle? Chat uses the distraction to crawl into the atelier on his right and de-transform.

"I don't know why Carapace is here, but we need to help him, Plagg." Adrien shoves what cheese he has left in his pocket towards the cat and he eats it without question.

Once all the Camembert is gone, Plagg speaks up, "You look like a disaster, kid. You haven't slept properly in a good week and you just got your face punched in by your dad. Maybe you need to take it easy on yourself."

"Yeah, well, maybe life needs to take it easy on me..." Adrien snaps back at him while glancing around the corner. Carapace (if that is him) is keeping Hawk Moth completely busy. Since when did Nino get so agile?

"Just say the word. But be careful. The suit can't protect you from everything. Maybe if you'd have forgone the kitty collar and sprung for some armor instead, you'd be alright."

"Can't control my deepest desires," Adrien jokes, "Plagg, claws out."

~ ~ ~

  Fighting as Carapace is different: there are a few more blind spots because of the hood and shield on Marinette's back, but she quickly learns to work around them. Hawk Moth seems more agitated than usual, which she chalks up to Chat's antics. (Wherever that cat went.)

Each hit she makes on her opponent, she thinks of every time he'd done the same when she was helpless in that dungeon, and her punches only get harder. Marinette unhooks the shield from her back and uses it Captain America style, using the edges to hit and the front to block. She jabs Hawk Moth in the gut and swings to go for his face, but he catches both sides of her shield and twists it, along with her arm that's still attached. She cries out as she hears a crack from her wrist.

"I'd recognize that cry of pain anywhere." He smiles with a devilish grin, "Come to finish the job, Marinette?" He pushes the shield down over her, making her retreat to her knees.

Carapace flicks one of her legs out from under her and uses it to knock Hawk Moth off balance. She backs away and removes her shield from her injured wrist.

'Great, more hospital time.' She thinks, trying to keep from wincing every time she touches it. She hopes it's just a sprain.

"Kitty! Now would be a good time to make another entrance!" She shouts.

Hawk Moth gets back on his feet and rushes towards her, staff raised. Marinette lifts her good arm up to block, when Chat suddenly is there blocking her with his own staff.

"Sorry I'm late, m'amphibian." He says.

She chuckles as best as she can, "Reptile, actually."

~ ~ ~
Author's Note: Your comments and votes really keep me going guys! Keep up the good work, and that'll help me keep up mine. 🥰