Behind the Mask (Book One)

Chapter 7

(Marinette's POV)
"Tikki, spots on!"

Within seconds, I became the famous superhero Ladybug. I swing through the city and find the akuma, a giant robot that shoots lasers everywhere, destroying the city.

Chat Noir appears by my side, "Need a hand, m'lady?"

"Great, you're here. I think the akuma's in his right hand," I say, "That's where the lasers are coming out from"

"Okay got it"

"Wait-"

Before I could stop him, Chat Noir darts towards the robot with his staff raised. The robot shoots lasers at him as he dodges all of them in a black blur.

Chat Noir jumps up, "Cataclysm!"

Suddenly, the robot's hand slaps him away, smashing him into a nearby house. He cried out in pain, which startled me. Usually he can take a couple hits.

The house was destroyed when he accidentally touched it with his Cataclysm.

The citizens in the house screamed and ran away as fast as they could.

Chat Noir stood up weakly, "Sorry, m'lady. I'm not in very good shape at the moment"

"You shouldn't fight then," I tell him as I dodge a laser, "Just sit back and let me handle this"

I summon my Lucky Charm and continue with the battle.

~After the battle because I'm a bad, lazy writer who sucks at writing fight scenes~

I purify the purple butterfly and watch it fly away. I was about to throw my Lucky Charm in the air when I heard some citizens yelling at Chat Noir.

"What the hell was that, Chat Noir?" A man says, "You destroyed my house and nearly killed my family!"

"You should be ashamed of yourself!" A woman (probably his wife) yells, "I thought you were stronger and smarter than that! You couldn't even take a single hit?"

Chat Noir was looking down in shame.

I felt my anger boiling up. I step in front of Chat Noir in defense.

"Hey, leave him alone!" I shout, "He's been protecting the entire city for the past... I don't know, year or so, and you treat him like this?!"

I clench my fist, "We superheroes are people with our own lives, too! We make mistakes as well! I don't want to hear you say another bad thing abou-"

"Ladybug," Chat Noir says quietly, "Just stop. It's okay"

His ears go down in distress as he walks away.

I glare at the couple, "Now look what you've done," I growl.

I throw my Lucky Charm in the air and undo all the damage.

"There. Your house is fixed. Happy?" I say bitterly and swing off to find Chat Noir.

I have to go quick. I don't have much time before I detransform and I need to get back to class.

(Adrien's POV)
"I've failed as a superhero," I whisper to Plagg, "I shouldn't be Chat Noir anymore"

I'm sitting in an alleyway with my back against the wall, trying to hold my tears back.

"Don't say that," Plagg says, "You're a great superhero. You just had an off day today. Life happens"

I breathe and stand up, "I'm sorry Plagg, but I can't do this anymore"

I take the ring off and throw it on the ground, "I don't want to go on anymore"

Plagg picks up the ring and flies over to me, "Adrien? What are you-"

"I'm done with this life. I go through hell everyday at home, and now I've disappointed Paris because I'm weak"

I continue walking towards my last destination, "Find another Chat Noir," I say to Plagg.

Plagg flies away and I stand on a dock, looking down at the water below.

Just let me die...

(Marinette's POV)
"LADYBUG!!!"

Plagg comes flying towards me, holding a ring.

"Chat Noir, he's..." His voice is shaking as if he's close to tears, "He's going to kill himself!"

My eyes widen, "Where is he?!"

~

Plagg takes me to a dock, where I see a figure ready to jump into the water. I run as fast as I can, but the figure jumps into the water just as I reach the dock. I throw my yo-yo into the water, wrapping around his body.

As I pull his body out of the water, my eyes widen with surprise as I see Chat Noir's true identity.

"Adrien?"