Chapter 3: Warning

Adrien didn't know what to feel, but happy was definitely not on the list. He sighed and pain shot through to his heart. Was this what they called guilt? He thought back to Ladybug. He didn't know what overtook him that night, but he knew that it had something to do with the ring. Or maybe it was the part of him deep inside that lusted towards the sight of her? Maybe it was his hormones mixed with the ring's negative energy. Ugh! Why was it so hard to figure out his own emotions! He was an adult for flips sake and was no longer that naive and stupidly dense boy he once was. He'd even started growing out some chest hair! If chest hair wasn't enough to prove his manliness then he didn't know what was!

"Kid. You're only making it worse."

Adrien lifted his gaze to his kwami sat across from him holding a wheel of Camembert.

"Is it even possible to make it any more bad than it already is." he responded with a huff.

At that time, he didn't know just how wrong he was.

He could feel something eating away at him every time he transformed into Chat Noir and when he wasn't donning his alter ego, his ring finger was throbbing. He knew this wasn't normal and his suspicions were confirmed when he hurt her. It was shameful.

Plagg watched his chosen break down and then knew that it was finally time to tell him. He dropped his Camembert onto the table - something you'd never catch him doing - and flew over to Adrien's face. "It's about time you knew." Adrien looked up, " After the Order of the Guardians was defeated, the ring was corrupted by an evil so great, it could wipe out this entire planet. " he paused to let everything sink in, but before he could continue, he was interrupted by Adrien. "Wait. Order of the Guardians?" Plagg sighed once again. He'd forgotten to tell him! The last time him and Tikki met in secret, they'd agreed that since her ladybug knew of it, it was only right to inform his Chat Noir. Damn him and his addiction to the chewy goodness emitting a horribly indulging scent that sat on the table across from them. He took a bite of his cheese and started to explain.

-&-

The cold night air cooled down Chat's overworked brain as he made his way to the Eiffel tower. Plagg'd told him that it would be best for him to talk to Ladybug about the issue, but she never came that night.

He wasn't surprised when she didn't show her face that night as any woman would feel inclined to stay far away from the man who'd hurt her, but he was surprised when an Akuma corrupted another victim with Hawkmoth's sweet words and Ladybug was not even there to purify it. She would never under any circumstance leave the safety of the citizens unattended.

He knew his corruption was getting worse when he'd been forced to use his cataclysm on the purple butterfly and rather than feeling anger over the fact that he'd murdered an innocent butterfly, felt a sickening joy and excitement as he watched the butterfly crumble. After all, they were victims too.

Everyone else noticed Ladybug's lack of show as well and when reporters came whacking questions in his face, he could only shrug it off and change the topic. He yearned for his lady and felt empty every day she wasn't by his side. So when a notification popped up on his phone that night and he opened it to see the words 'IS LADYBUG GETTING TIRED OF OUR BLACK CAT'S ANTICS?' in bold at the top of the ladyblog's page, he hissed.

Yes, Hissed.

-&-

Marinette gently opened her eyes and squinted as a light blinded her view. Talk about déjà vu. "Are you okay Mari? " she sat up to find a concerned Tim Drake leaning over her, "You don't mind if I call you Mari do you?" Of course she did mind as only her friends called her that, but she supposed it was best if she became friends with them and shook her head with a smile.

She slowly sat up to be pulled into a tight hug. She froze. Her mind led her back to Chat's weight on top of her and his lips pressed against hers, she shivered. Don't go back to that Marinette. Do not go back to that.

"Jason, unhand her." Jason reluctantly let go and pouted as a gloomy Damian glared at him. Seriously does this guy ever smile? She took in her surroundings; she seemed to be in another bedroom. "You're in Cass' room." She turned to see Dick standing at the doorway. "Sorry, who?" she asked. "Cassandra Cain. She's our sister. She's currently on a business trip. We didn't want to leave you in your room because we were worried that all that pink would hurt your eyes when you woke up." She smiled.

"Speaking about waking up," Jason started as he looked over to Damian, "How did you know she fainted?"

Quick Damian think! "I didn't. I was only going to her room to ask her why her hands were so rough." A sweat rolled down his forehead as Jason stared at him. Rough hands? Is that the best you've got? He inwardly relaxed as Jason averted his gaze and put it on Marinette instead.

It was now time for Marinette to pull out an excuse. She obviously couldn't tell them who she was or anything else that could expose her and so told part of the truth, "Everyone in Paris has to do some sort of self defense training due to everything going on there."

At this, Damian's eyes really narrowed, Tim froze, Dick fully entered the room and Jason's eyebrows furrowed. What could possibly be going on in Paris that would warrant a girl like her having to take self defense classes. The air in the room grew thick and everything went silent.

Damian was the first to speak, "What's going on in Paris?"

Marinette's eyes widened as she stared at him in shock. "Y-You don't know?"

-&-

Alfred watched as the boys lifted Marinette off the bed and into the room opposite, Cassandra's room. He then turned to see Bruce in deep thought and broke him out of his reverie by saying, "Master Bruce." Bruce looked up. He should tell him. This was something way out of their league and him and Fu could only have been blessed by the ladybug's luck to have escaped those many years ago. He highly doubted that the heroes of Paris could defeat it on their own no matter how powerful they were, not to criticize but Marinette looked like a small breeze could topple her over, and he knew that they would need the Justice League's help. "I have to tell you something."

They made their way to the Bat cave.

-&-

Marinette was flabbergasted. How could they not know! She was sure that the whole world would've caught onto the news that magical monsters being controlled by a man temporarily infused with a God's powers were running havoc, or at least the next country over would've heard or felt the earth quake when an akuma stepped foot on the ground. Did they not see the ten foot stoneheart years ago?!

"You don't know!" she said again, but this time anger evident in her voice, "How do you not know!"

Damian looked at her as if she were crazy. She shot up and said, "There have been akumas terrorizing Paris for the past few years!" Was her miraculous cure more powerful than she thought, or was the mayor as selfish as his daughter? She sat back down and calmed her breathing. Of course they didn't know. Mayor Boujour had probably been hiding it from the world so they could keep their tourists coming to the so called 'City of Love'.

"Um, what's an Akuma?" Dick said from the chair he was now sitting in.

She started to explain, "For over 5 years, Paris has been under the control of a man named Hawkmoth..."

-&-

Bruce frowned as he stared at the screen. "Kwami's?"

Alfred nodded as he explained everything from the Order of the Guardians to the dark force threatening to destroy the world, starting with Gotham. Bruce's expression remained calm but if you looked carefully, you would be able to make out the fury radiating from his eyes. He still couldn't bring himself to accept the fact that kids were forced to fight a maniac on a daily basis. "Who in their right mind would allow kids to fight a person that crazy!" Alfred gave him a questioning look. Okay. Damian did not count! He was trained from a young age, whereas these kids were shoved all this responsibility in their faces one day with no training and no adult supervision! He doubted they could even tell their families!

Alfred sighed and with an attempt to defend his friend stated that at the time, Fu had no choice and whether he liked it or not, he'd chosen right. After all, the miraculous never chose wrong; or so he was led to believe. The point at hand was that something incredibly powerful was here and needed to be defeated. "Master Bruce, I would like to bring the Justice League into this."

Bruce nodded. They were adults.

He then changed into his costume and called for a family meeting, Marinette included.

-&-

Robin, Red hood, Red robin, Nightwing and Marinette entered the cave. Batman looked over at her waiting for some sort of reaction, none came. She was already mentally prepared. She didn't find it suspicious when the brothers all went to change and then the heroes entered the room. She'd already known. She also didn't find it surprising when they led her to one of the secret entrances to the bat cave, although she had to admit that when she arrived, she was in awe. The mechanics and gadgets caught off guard, but she kept her expression still, she did not want Bruce to think she was some overly excited fangirl...even though she was.

"Marinette, you will need to transform." Bruce's deep voice broke her out of her trance. Nightwing, Red robin, Red hood and Robin shot her a look. "This is no time for hiding identities."

She nodded then released Tikki from her purse. Red hood gasped and even Robin looked in utter disbelief. He knew he'd seen something that night! She then called for her transformation and the room was enveloped in a bright pink light. Ladybug now stood where Marinette had stood before, leg fully healed and crutches disappeared. "Oh. My. God!" Red robin whispered. "Gods." she corrected as she walked over to Alfred

"Mr Pennyworth-"

"Please, call me Alfred."

"Alfred. Master Fu informed me of our partnership."

He nodded then motioned to the computer, "We will need to call on the Justice League for assistance."

She nodded. "Before we do, I need to call in my teammates from Paris." Chat Noir included.

She left the room, dropped her ladybug transformation and instead called on for Kaalki.

She opened the portal to Paris and went in.