Marinette's POV

The encounter with the Nun at the Cathedral did me a bit of good.  Hearing her calming voice, and talking about him put some of my nerves at ease.

Then a pain in my chest hit me out of the blue, going away seconds later.

"Mom?  Can you take me to Adrien's?"

"Sure sweetie, I'll pick you up later."

I talked through the intercom, seeing Adrien walk through the front door as I passed by the gates.

We exchanged hellos, walking to his piano.  I finally wanted to say what was on my mind.

I pulled up a chair, still standing by him as I hugged him tightly, kissing him.  He kissed me back as his hands rested on my waist. A tear fell from my eye as his warm thumb ran across my cheek.

"It's alright Marinette, everything will be alright soon."

"Please Adrien, please play something."

"What do you want to hear?"

"Anything, I need to hear something that'll get this pain out of me."

I finally sat back in the chair, lounging with my foot up.

Song: Heartbreaking by Kevin Macleod

https://youtu.be/9G52stbMd_o

As the song started, I was about to tell him he's making it worse, but soon went against it.

"Adrien, he....I know we all only just met....but I'm always thinking if he's actually opening up to us.  Everything that happened to him, I can't even imagine.  But on a good note, he brought us together...and I'm grateful for that.  Since the day we kissed, I've always had you on my mind, and I'm ecstatic we're a couple.  It's just....this all seems like a lot to take in.  He's your cousin after all." I said

"At times, I thought things...things I know I shouldn't.  And it hurts me that I did.  Like if I'm being too pushy towards you, or not knowing if you need your space."

"I'm sorry, I know this isn't what you signed up for.  Having an over-emotional creep like me at your side." I said

"No, you're not Marinette." He kneeled in front of me

"This affects all of us.  Yeah, he's been through a ton.  I wouldn't wish what happened to him on anyone.  No one should have to live their life without their parents.  You know what though, he's a fighter.  A tough, creative, rowdy one at best.  He'll be alright Marinette, I promise." He said hugging me before kissing me again

This kiss, I could get lost in as his hands brought me closer to him.

"Adrien, whatever you just played, it got rid of the pain that was left.  Thank you."

All he did was hold me in his arms.

"Answer me this, do you love me?"

"Of course, I do." He replied on a dime

"Through thick and thin." He added

I kissed his cheek as Mom's horn echoed outside.

"Good." I said

20 Minutes Later

Adrien's POV

Of course, I love Marinette, why would she think otherwise?

Looking back, I could've chosen a better song to play for her.  As soon as she left, I tried taking my mind off everything with a round or 3 of video games when hunger called me.

"He won't mind if I have a slice of that cake, right?" I said aloud

"Nah." I concluded

Obviously, it was hard as a rock.  After I let it thaw, you couldn't tell it was in the fridge for all these months, still tastes fresh.

"Damn she's a good baker." I said

"Mind if I have what's left?" Plagg floated from my shirt pocket

"Go ahead, I'm full anyways."

"Even though cake ain't my main thing, it's amazing.  Seriously though, your cousin is still in the hospital, and you're here playing video games?"

"It might not look it, but I'm just as concerned as Marinette.  I'm just trying not to dwell on it since he'll be home soon."

"Speaking of which, wouldn't ya say the 'guest' room is his now?  It's pretty bare bones."

"Well, all he had was a few bags with him.  Guess he's gonna change it when he wants."

"You ever gonna tell him?"

"About what?"

"You know what I mean man, you heard Marinette talking to him back at the hospital.  You're jealous, threatened. I can feel it."

"Plagg, you're ridiculous.  Yeah, I heard what she said, no that doesn't make me jealous."

"It sure sounds like she was confessing to me."

"She said it herself, 'I cherish you.'" Plagg mocked

"I wanna throw up man." He concluded

"Plagg, we're fine.  We're together, she just keeps him close, that's it.  From what I heard Alix likes him a lot."

"Whatever man, don't say I didn't warn ya."

Reader's POV

I laid mostly still in the hospital bed, finally "sober" from the medicine.  Damn, that shit knocked me on my ass.  I saw the nurse come in, looking at more notes of me.

"(Reader,) good that you're up. How you feeling?"

"Still slightly loopy, 9.9."

"You're lucky, your bruises and cuts have healed mostly, though some scars have made ya their home."

I looked at my tube covered arms as she held up a mirror, seeing a scar near my throat.

"Speaking of which, what about the injection?"

"We still don't know what you were drugged with, the test results came back negative.  Clean as a whistle.  Ya got healthy veins though, guess that's one "good" thing it's doing.  What baffles us is why they turned purple for a second, then went away."

"Hm."

An explosion ruptured the hallways, sending me out of the bed with the nurse taking cover against the wall.  I felt the tubes rip from my arms as the windows shattered as the building shook, another explosion was heard outside.  As the sound-waves crushed my ears my body began to shake as I felt my body stiffen, then spasm again as I heard a voice when my body stayed still.

"R-"

I shook it off as screams brought me back to reality with the nurse applied pressure to the back of my head.  I felt like I had a massive headache, only worse.

"You're alright, (Reader.)  Just a bump on the head, come on let's get you out of here."

She grabbed my clothes as she untied my gown just as I was slipping my boxers on.

"It's fine hun, I've seen everything there is to see." She said helping me keep my balance

The nurse lead me through the crowds of patients to a local park when my phone went off.

Marinette: Hope you're out of there! Call me when you get this!

I turned back seeing a man in a mime outfit miming what I guessed was a rocket launcher when someone carried us out of the way.

That someone was Ladybug.

"You alright?" She asked us

"Yeah, we're fine." The nurse replied

"Your cousin will be waiting for you, get home!  Now!  We're not losing you again!" Ladybug said as me and the nurse ran off

The parking garage was nearly destroyed, but the nurse's car wasn't as lucky.  We hitched a ride in the ambulance as more patients were evacuated.

"TVi News reporting live, if you're just tuning in, an explosion has occurred at a local hospital, sending everyone into utter chaos.  No reports of those wounded or dead, some believe this is another Akuma attack.  We will have more for you as the story unfolds." A news anchor said

I was dropped off as I ran back inside the mansion, bursting into Adrien's room, when I saw he wasn't here.

"What the fuck!? Where is he?" I said

My phone answered that question.

Adrien: Another villain attacked the hospital. Was at fencing practice, I'm alright. I'll see you soon.

Reader: I'm alright too, talk about an early release.

I dropped my phone as the same voice from a while ago finally spoke.

"Rion, I am Hawkmoth.  I have given you the power to bring your music to life, let your art be known to everyone.  I am a huge patron of the arts such as music, a talent you must nurture.  I can help you with that, but you owe me something in return.  I want you to bring me Ladybug and Chat Noir's Miraculous.  Is that clear?"

"Yes Hawkmoth.  Music is my baby, I will show Paris what the *true* power of a foreigner can do!"

A dark purple and black mist overtook me, transforming my clothes into a black body suit with ripped gray jeans, black tennis shoes with red laces, and a black long sleeve shirt with a black mask around my glasses.  I looked at my newfound weapon in my hands.

"Perfect." I said

I leaped from Adrien's window, breaking the glass as I walked down the street, guitar in hand getting looks from passersby's.  The same black and purple mist transforming me became my marks in my footsteps, as it dissipated in each step.

I went to a street corner, sat down, and played what I wanted.

My fingers plucked with extreme percussion as a burning sensation on my left hand began.  The same mist began floating around me as I played, wrapping me up, warming my body.

"Let this symbol be a reminder to those that question your creations.  Artists are so misunderstood, it's people like you that truly deserve recognition!" Hawkmoth said

"Yes, Hawkmoth." I replied as a guitar pick appeared from thin air as I started striking chord after chord as a news van showed up

"Perfect, it won't be long until Ladybug and Chat Noir show up to be upstaged!"

Ladybug's POV

"Miraculous Ladybug!" I declared defeating Mime

"Nothing!  Again!?" I said

"Another villain." Chat said

"Who else could it be!?  I'm getting sick of this!"

"Gamer?" Chat guessed

"Fat chance." I said swinging to a rooftop with Chat Noir close behind

"What about (Reader?)  Did you get him?" Chat asked

"Yeah, I got him and a nurse out of there.  Here's hoping he's alright." I said

As we jumped over a few more rooftops, we saw a decent crowd gather around the statue of us.

We leapt down making our way through as the people separated.

"So, who is this new pathetic wretch?" Chat asked

"Bad kitty!" I said slapping his head

My eyes went wide

My heart stopped

Looking at him, I knew

He just stopped the clock

His once-brown eyes, now glowing an unusual hue

He was just sitting there

Neglecting an attack

His fingers, his hands

Sliding and strumming

Portals to his soul glowed

Making me feel funny

Chat Noir extended his staff, preparing a swing

I stopped him, allthewhile all I could say was

"I couldn't.....keep you safe."

Chat pushed me away, swinging at him

(Reader) stopping on a dime, throwing him aside

Leaving me face-to-face with a once-applauding-now-silent crowd

Uttered one phrase, feeling challenged and threatened.

"Fight Me." He said

At that moment, I could've dropped dead

Not caring

About the mess that is in my head

He took his guitar, holding it in front of him, as it transformed into a crossbow, firing orchestra bows that dissipated on impact.

I dodged him, while Chat thought he had the upper hand, all while never missing a single beat with his music

RION, WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?  I DON'T CARE HOW MUCH THIS MEANS TO YOU!  I CAN TAKE AWAY YOUR POWERS JUST AS I GAVE THEM TO YOU!  GIVE ME LADYBUG AND CHAT NOIR'S MIRACULOUS OR I'LL KILL YOU MYSELF!

I saw him in a fist fight with Chat, just as I restrained him, he broke free kicking me in the back.

As I saw him break free, he stood still.  I rushed to him as he disappeared into thin air, turning around when he re-appeared on a bench, playing again as the crowd stared in awe.

"The Akuma must be in his guitar!  Ladybug, I'll distract him!"

He rushed towards the bench as this new villain appeared behind him, taking Chat by the shoulders.

"Tell me, why do you hate art? Music? Do you wish to take it away?" He said

"(R-Reader?)" I gasped with watery eyes

"(Reader's) unplugged, I'm Rion!" He declared

Chat took his guitar, smashing it to bits.

Nothing

That only made him angrier.

"This won't be the last you've seen of me.  You can smash guitars to bits, but the music still lives in us.  They can be rebuilt.  Music-killers like you make me sick." He declared floating up as a swarm of music staves made him disappear

I had a feeling I knew where he was going, I ran after him as I heard Chat Noir's ring beeped.

Three spots remained for me, time to use them wisely.

"I can't believe (Reader) was Akumatized, Marinette!" Tikki said

"We knew he's had a rough start, but who knew this would happen to him?"

"Marinette, don't blame yourself, please."

I found him on a rooftop across from the Eiffel Tower.

He turned to me, speechless.

"I'm not gonna fight my best friend, so you might as well kill me where I stand!"

He walked up to me, putting my hand on my shoulder with that soulless look on his face.

"It's not you, it's her." He said

Suddenly a flash of black light blinded me as (Reader) stood in-front of me.

"YOU CAN CONTROL IT!?" I yelled

"What?"

"(Reader,) you were Akumatized!  You just de-transformed back right in-front of me!" I said

"What do you mean?  Akumatized?"

He doesn't remember!?

"You seriously don't remember?"

"Remember what?  How do you know my name?"

I sighed in frustration looking at him as a necklace with piano keys appeared around his neck.

"Forget it, this isn't over.  We're gonna talk about this again."

My feet carried me to him as I hugged him tightly.

"And I already said, Marinette told me.  She's worried sick about you!" I said not letting go

I guess it effects his memory?

"Can you take me back?  Adrien's probably worrying about me."

I picked him up bridal-style.

"Hold on!"

His arms tightened around me as we soared through the now fading sunset-ridden skyline as the Eiffel Tower glowed in the distance.

We landed behind the gates at the foot of the mansion steps.

"When will we meet again?" He asked

I grabbed him, pulling my lips to his.

"Sooner than you realize.  Now get to your cousin." I said rushing off with one spot left

My balcony was the first to welcome my feet as I changed back, Tikki looking like she was about to pass out.

"One spot Marinette, don't push your luck next time." She said

"If you wouldn't've kissed your lover, we'd be back sooner." She added eating a slice of cheesecake

"It was in the heat-of-the-moment, okay!?  I thought I lost him forever!  I'm NOT losing him EVER again!  Why couldn't I have just STAYED there with him in that DAMN hospital!?"

"Marinette, getting upset won't change a thing.  It happened, (Reader) is alright."

"For now, but what about next time!?  I mean I know he can somehow control his powers that I didn't even know he HAD!  What else has he been hiding from me!?"

"You know what Tikki?  Did you catch what he said before he changed back?"

"Yeah, he said 'it's not you, it's her'."

"That's it!  Hawkmoth got control of him cause he's afraid of Chloe getting rid of the music club!"

"You're right Marinette!  Always one step ahead." She encouraged me

"I wish I was two so I could've been there for him."

"Mari, please.  He's alright, for now.  If he remembers anything from this, it's that everything is new to him now.  Who knows what he'll discover?"

"So, does that mean...."

"Even I don't know.  But this slice of cheesecake says yes." She said chomping the last bit of it

Reader's POV

Ladybug kissed me! I can't believe it!

How did I get here?

The mansion door opened behind me revealing Adrien as I ran up to him.

"Where the hell have you been!?" He said hugging me

"I have no idea." I said quickly

"Come on, it's time I told you my secret." He said

Back up in his bedroom, he revealed to me that he was Ladybug's sidekick, Chat Noir.

"Damn dude, looking sharp." I complimented

"I guess whatever Hawkmoth did to you took a page from me." He said commenting on the outfit

"What?"

"Dude, how the hell do you not remember?  You were Akumatized for God's sake, you practically kicked our asses."

He turned his head sideways blinking.

I turned on the TV showing him the news feed.

"That's me?"

"Yeah, he apparently connected with your music and preyed on that."

"Damn I look good."

"I wouldn't give ya that much credit, hang on." He said as he slowed down the footage of him fighting me

"Nice moves."

"Yeah, it just came to me." He said all cocky

A green flash of light illuminated the room as a flying creature appeared in front of me

"And that's Plagg, my Kwami."

"Hey dude, nice moves back there."

I heard him laugh as he saw Adrien smash my guitar.

"The Akuma wasn't in your guitar so....WAIT!" He said grabbing my arm

"Ow! Hey!"

He looked at the veins on my arm seeing they're blue, then glow purple, then back to blue.

"You've gotta be kidding me." He said looking at the symbol on my hand