Forget the Mask
Chapter 6

Adrien's POV

As soon as I heard the screams and felt the ground shake a bit, I immediately excused myself to transform into Chat Noir.

I went into an alley way and waited until Alya and Nino have passed to be sure its safe to transform. I'm still not sure though, it's still quite near Marinette's house.

"Plagg! Transform me!" I yelled out anyway and my normal everyday clothes turned to black leather and I grew another set of ears, which are cat ears and it's really not creepy for me. My face was covered in a black mask.

As soon as I finished my transformation the ground shook violently and I don't know why but the first thing that came to my mind was Marinette. I had to save my princess.

Thankfully, the alley I picked was just a few blocks away from Marinette's house. I jumped through the opened window.

The ground shook once again and a few large blocks fell down from Marinette's roof.

"Marinette! Watch out!" I yelled
Luckily, my bad luck was on brake for now and I managed to push Marinette out of the way before there boulders and debris hit her.

Both of us were unharmed, untouched.....well my tail did get stuck.

"C-Chat?! W-what are you doing here?" She asked out in surprise.

"Oh come on Princess, can't I at least have a simple thank mew?" I joked and she just pushed me away. Oh gawd I didn't notice I was still on top of her.

"Marinette! Are you ok dear?!" Just then her parents came bursting in the room once the shaking stopped which left me wide eyed and thankful that Marinette decided to push me away.

"Y-yes I'm fine Mama, Papa. C-Chat Noir arrived just on time." Marinette said as she stood up and cleaned herself. She gave a warm smile towards her parents but I know she was still shaken (no pun intended you know because of the earthquake thingy.....) about what happened.

"T-thank you Chat Noir! You save our daughter's life how can we ever repay you?" Her father, Tom I think, said and just walked towards the window and said:

"No need to do anything for me. Now if you'll excuse me Ladybug might be waiting for me already."

Marinette's POV

I watched as the annoying black cat left my room, but really though. I'm thankful that he was here.
I would have been under the large boulders if it wasn't for him.

"Marinette, dear are you okay?" My mom asked with a face evident of worry and concern.

"Yes Mama, I told you Chat was right on time." I said forcing a smile. Honestly I'm still in shock but I couldn't make mama and papa worried more than they are now.

"I know you need to rest, but we need to evacuate quickly. Or another earthquake might strike." My papa said and I just nodded since they clearly won't let me out of their sights for now. Oh gawd I hope Chat will be able to handle the akuma on his own.....wait, where's Tikki?!

"H-hey Mama, Papa. I'm just gonna pack my ok-ish stuff. So you know....." I muttered out, hopefully they will allow me.

"Dear, we just need to get out of here for now. I'm sure Ladybug will bring our house back to normal soon." Papa said, but I knew better Ladybug was still here.

"Wait, so it wasn't just my room?" I asked.

"No dear, your room was the most damaged but a few blocks fell down the bakery too. It's just not this damaged." Mama answered. Well I guess it's expected since it is an earthquake.

I was about to just follow them when Chat Noir came back.

"Excuse me but I'm back, with some news." Chat Noir said and my parents looked at him curiously.

"Its not an akuma. It was just a normal earthquake." He informed us, wait what? Then that means we have to move out. I should have seen it coming, after all Alya's phone didn't notify her. It always notifies her when an akuma attacks.

"I insist you pack up your.....ok-ish things. I still need to tell the other citizens." Chat Noir said, it made me smile a bit. He just used the same term I used.

"All right Marinette. We're gonna pack up our stuff. Will you be fine?" Papa asked and I just nodded.

Once they were out of earshot and sight I immediately dug through the blocks.

"Tikki! Where are you?!" I yelled getting too worried.

"...rinette." I heard a faint voice from the my diary trap box. It was Tikki. Thank God she's fine.

I searched for the key in my pouch and opened the box.

"Tikki! Are you all right? Are you hurt?" I asked as soon as she flew out.

"I'm fine Marinette, don't worry. A tiny rock just pushed me in the box." Tikki giggled while saying this and I just brought her to my pouch so she'll be safe. Well what she said was true, it was just a small rock.

I grabbed a bag and put my diary in, my design book of course, then my clothes and of course the earning box which was not harmed at all.

Once I went out of my room to meet my parents we all went down and as we opened the door Alya instantly pulled me out.

"Oh gawd! Marinette are you ok?! It wasn't an akuma and I shouldn't have left you!" Alya said a bit teary eyed, she really does care for me.

"I'm fine Alya. Chat pushed me out of the boulders' way." I smiled at her, but yeah I am still a bit shocked.

She just engulfed me in a hug once again and me and my family walked with her towards the park in front of my house. It was safer there, just a few trees somehow uprooted.

We saw different authorities going in a few houses for the stranded residents. Some were putting up the keep out line.

"Great.....what are we gonna do now?" I asked
"It'll be okay Marinette, at least you don't have to deal with crazy siblings while searching for a placed to move in." Alya said jokingly trying to lift me and my parents' spirits.

"Alya, are your parents and siblings unharmed?" My papa asked and Alya nodded with a thankful sigh.

Adrien's POV

It wasn't an akuma after all. It was just an earthquake, my house is probably safer since the structure is well built thanks to my father and it lessens the effects of the earthquake but I need to check anyways.

I didn't bother transforming back to Adrien, I needed to get there fast. And just as expected only the plants were affected just the little saplings and bushes, after all the earthquake is far away from my house. I guess just these minor damages will be the most expected.

I was about to check on Marinette when I remembered, she and her parents doesn't have any placed to go to.

I should ask Nathalie to allow my father for their family to say here for a bit. I don't really need to but I feel like I should. I mean I knew about them becoming homeless, I should at least try and help, besides Marinette is my friend too.

I quickly transformed back to Adrien and tried to reason with Nathalie and she said she'll ask my father.

And after a few minutes, my father arrived in front of me.

"Why did you even thought about this idea?" He asked sternly.

"Father, Marinette's my friend too. And her family needs help." I answered, I just can't tell him that Marinette almost got squashed by giant blocks and boulders.

"The answer is no. I don't want to take the burden to care for them and their needs."

"You don't have to! They can take care of themselves they just need a temporary place to stay at while they search for somewhere else to live in." I reasoned, I don't even know why I'm standing up to my father just for them.

"The answer is still no Adrien."
"But father!"
"Adrien no, this is their problem not ours." That was his final statement before he left the room.

Why am I this......disappointed?
It's not like we're close, she still stutters around me. It's like she doesn't even want to talk to me and just does it for the project.
What is wrong with you, Adrien Agreste?!

Well, there's no use worrying. I guess I'll just follow her secretly to see if she'll be fine.

Your gonna stalk her Adrien?

Oh come on, following her secretly for her own good doesn't count as stalking.

Yes it does.

No it doesn't.

Yes.

No.

Yes.

No, why am I even debating with myself?

Then it's decided, I'll grab a Camembert for Plagg then transform into Chat Noir.

Marinette's POV

R

ight now, we're still at the park talking about stuff and waiting for Alya's parents and siblings.

"So do you think you can manage for now?" I asked Alya since my parents said we should start searching for somewhere to stay at.

"Yeah, you should already start searching if you don't wanna go back to the other side of France." She answered knowing that if we didn't find one me and my parents will be forced to move back to our hold house with grandma.

Well honestly I don't mind being with my grandma, she's actually fun to be with. But I don't want to leave my friends and besides I have a duty here in Paris.

"Alright Marinette, we should go now. See you soon Alya." My mom said and Alya just waved her hand goodbye.

I don't know why though, I'm hoping for a certain black cat to help me but, I guess that's just wishful thinking.

The search wasn't long though, we found a two story apartment after about three hours of walking.

And since we don't have enough funds to open up another bakery for now, mama and papa decided to sell the breads and pastries by delivery and/or door to door if they have time.

Once we went inside, there were already a few furniture like the sofa, TV and there's even a stove and an oven.

There was a small terrace there and two bedrooms.
I chose the one near the terrace since I do love gazing out.

The room was ok-ish, there's a bed, a coffee table a book shelf and a desk. There's some few boxes under the bed for clothes and other stuff.
What elder can I say? The room is a pretty shade of green, but Adrien's green eyes are better. What did I just thought about?

I place my bag on the bed and decided to go to the terrace, you know those kinds that is just a jump away from your neighbors terrace? Yeah those types, but this time its quite far. (I can't describe it properly so just think of the terrace/balconies you see in anime shows.)

"Hey there Princess!" then out of nowhere Chat appeared in front of me making me fall to my behind.

"Princess! I'm sorry I didn't mean to startle you, are you ok?" He asked as he extended a hand to help me, which I gladly refused.

"So, why are you here?" I asked dusting myself off since the floor was a bit sandy and dusty.

"I'm still waiting for that thank you." He said and I remembered I haven't thanked him yet.

"Oh gosh, I'm sorry. Thank you Chat.....for saving me." I said and I don't know why I was so embarrassed.

"No problem princess, so you actually found a place to stay in." He stated, I don't know why but he had this tinge of sadness in his eyes. It might just be me so I decided to ignore it.

"So how'd you know this was where me and parents are gonna live in now?" I asked once I remembered that I haven't even told him, he just stuttered and looked away.

"Wait, you were following me all those times?!" I asked out.

"What?! No! Of course not." He answered but I already knew he was lying. Of course I did, he's my partner I know when he's lying or not.

"Well then. Who told you?"
"Err....Umm Ladybug? Yeah Ladybug." He answered geez what an obvious lie.

"Yeah anyway you should already go now, its already like.....four in the afternoon." I said.

"I can kill a few." He said and made his way inside my room.

"Nice choice of color. I like green." He commented
"Yeah, but I only like one type of green." I said as I brought a few of my stuff out of the bag. Sadly, the Adrien pictures were ripped and tattered. And my computer containing all my files about him.
Gawd, I sound like a creepy stalker.

"So, how'd you gonna fair with losing your bakery?" chat asked honestly though, I don't wanna answer that question. So I just looked away.

*cricket noises* (courtesy of CrickeThesis Queen/me.)

Gawd this silence is making me hear crickets.
Then a beep was heard, I guess Chat already transformed a long while ago.

"Aww, the black cat has to go now." I said teasingly and he just pouted.

"I'll be back tomorrow princess! Good night!" He yelled as he jumped away.

"Good night Chat."

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So I dropped the idea of another akuma since I can't think of a fight scene. I was thinking of calling him Seismic Driller with a drill that makes the ground tremble and everything, but I'm really not good with fight scenes, so if you want you can use the idea.

But hey look on the bright side, I finally wrote a reason for MariChat to happen......I'm a MariChat trash so deal with it XD.

Anyway, I told you I was making another ML fanfic right? Well that's the cover right there and yes, I did drew ChatDrien and MariBug. (Everything done there Ia on purpose like longer hair for Mari and the white instead of green in Adrien's eyes.)

Anyway, I finished the first chapter already and I'm halfway through chapter 2!

I'm really excited to publish it, but I decided I'll let you wait for a bit more.

I'll give you the sneak peak next chapter because I'm so nice. •3•

BTW, since I posted this chapter earlier by two days, the next one might be late. I'm not sure XD
Honestly this was supposed to be published 2 days ago.

-MJ is out.

(Republished- the story got cut off.)