Kapitel 7: Animan
Adrian had just finished packing up and was about to leave school for the day when he spotted his friend hiding behind a staircase. He was spying on Marinette again. The model checked his phone. He still had a few minutes before he needed to leave for his fencing lesson. He smiled mischievously and crept behind Nino. "Marinette's never going to fall in love with a statue," he teased, laughing when Nino jumped with fright. Nino shushed him, covering his mouth. "Marinette? No, I actually like Alya," he corrected. Like that would throw him off the scent. Adrian knew Nino was lying to try to stop him from hinting to Marinette. Nino sighed, "You know I'm no good with the ladies. I mean, dude, do I go up to her and crack her a joke? Shoot her a compliment? Invite her to the zoo? Play it serious?" Adrian placed his arm around his shoulder and said, "Nino, you're way over-thinking this. Invite her to the zoo, you serious?" The zoo was a terrible place to take a girl on a date. It smelt awful with all the animal droppings everywhere and half the animals are hiding. From what he gathered, girls like ice-cream and candle-lit evenings and walks near the canal. "Well, they have this really cool new exhibit there," his friend shyly defended. Well, Adrian had been very sheltered. People have been very different from what he expected. "Listen, just be yourself, man," he said. It was the only good piece of advice he could give. "That's easy for you to say, Mr Front-of-the-cover-Teen-Model-weekly. I'm not that cool." Adrian's face dropped. He removed his hand from Nino who realised what he said. "Sorry, dude." Adrian sucked up all his pain over being reminded how different he was and said, "You're cool too, dude, trust me. Otherwise, you wouldn't be my best bud. Invite her to the zoo. She'll say yes, I promise." He smiled as his friend walked over to Marinette. He did it. He helped Nino to build up the confidence to...and he is coming back...without talking to them. "Help," Nino weakly pleaded. Adrian held out his fist for Nino to bump. "I got your back."
Marinette held her magazine open, admiring one of the scarfs and Alya guided her out of the school. "I can make something like it. In Black! Or red. I can even add a little ladybug on it for you," she told Alya. Her friend's phone buzzed and she stopped guiding Marinette to check it. "Majestia and Knightowl have announced they are going to introduce their sidekicks to the field!" she said excitedly. Marinette was still looking at the scarf, trying to imagine how she would make it for Alya. She bumped into Nino and dropped the magazine. Alya put her phone away and caught up with her friend. "Oh, sorry," Adrian said on behalf of his friend. He elbowed Nino who was as stiff as a board. "Sorry," he said robotically, not looking at them. She giggled. What were they doing? She looked down at her magazine and, in embarrassment, let out a little cry and dove down to pick it up before Adrian could see. It landed on a page with him plastered all over it. Why was the universe so determined to embarrass her in front of him? Adrian bent down to pick it up for her and the two bumped heads. "Sorry," they both said at the same time. He was so close to her. It would be so easy to lean in and kiss him but...not like this. She grabbed the magazine and jumped back up. He had a sly smile as he leaned on Nino and said, "Sorry about that. Say, Nino, how can we make it up to them?" Nino was silent. He glanced at Alya then straight ahead again. "Zoo," he said. Alya and Marinette looked to each other then to the boys. "Are you trying to invite us to the zoo?" Alya asked. Adrian stepped in at this point. "Yes. Why not? Good idea, Nino! So what do you say?" Adrian was looking at Marinette as he spoke. Now Marinette froze up. Was Adrian asking her out? He must have been. To the zoo! With all the cute animals! This wasn't how she thought it would happen. It happened though! "Marinette? It's an awesome idea, right? Because you love animals," Alya said, trying to lead Marinette through the conversation. "Y-yeah! I love the zoonimals. I mean, uh, anizools. I mean zoonimoos," she said. The nervous girl sighed. "What is wrong with you?" she muttered to herself. Adrian's smile was gentle when he heard her. "Cool. Is four good for you, Nino?" Adrian asked. He nodded rapidly. "That's good for us, right, Marinette?" Alya said. Marinette nodded exactly like Nino did. She was just a love-struck fool... Adrian grabbed Nino and dragged him away. She waved nervously after them then, once they were out of eyesight, she turned to Alya. "I haven't washed my hair! I'm not wearing my lucky socks! Help me, Alya! I can't do this alone!" She found her hands gripping Alya's shoulders. Alya patted her head. "Girl, pull yourself together. Come on," she told her, pulling her to the bakery.
Adrian sat on Nino's bed as his friend paced up and down in front of him. "I can't do this, dude! What if I mess up?" he asked. Adrian pulled out his phone and declined another call. "You'll be fine," he assured his friend. "I couldn't even talk to her! I couldn't look at her!" Adrian drummed his fingers on the green sheets. If he missed fencing practise, he would be grounded for sure. No phone, no games, no going out of the house except to follow his schedule and absolutely no being alone. His bodyguard would be on him like a rash. Nino really needed him, though. "How did you do that?" he asked Adrian. Adrian shrugged. "Just be yourself, like I said." He looked down at his phone. His father was getting impatient, having both Nathalie and his bodyguard to call him as well as using his own phone. "I can be yourself but myself don't work that way," Nino said. He put his arm out to stop Nino's pacing. "You're being ridiculous. Of course, you can. And when you're alone with-" Adrian began but Nino's panicked protest cut him off. "Whoa, what do you mean alone with her? Oh no, dude. You're coming with me. You can't leave me alone by myself!" Adrian sighed. He looked down at his phone. How long would it take to build up his father's trust again? Two weeks? Three weeks? "No prob, Nino. What are friends for?" he sighed. Nino would do the same for him.
Marinette arrived at the zoo before the boys did. She fiddled with her hair, trying to make herself as pretty as possible for Adrian. "You look great, girl," Alya complemented through her earpiece. Marinette looked to the bushes where Alya was hiding. "Don't look at me," she warned Marinette. Ugh...Why couldn't she do this herself? How was she to have other dates if she needs to be coached by Alya? She shook her head. She just needed to calm down. Marinette was sure she would be fine without Alya once the date started - once she got over the initial awkwardness. She just needed a little help. "They're here!" she squealed, using all her courage to not hide. She let out a sigh of relief and relaxed. "False alarm. Just max and Kim..." she said, almost a little disappointed. "Hey, what you doing here?" she asked them as they walked over to her. "We heard the new panther is here," Max said. Kim jumped in, stating, "It's probably nothing! I bet I'm way faster and stronger than it." He started to strike poses, showing off to Marinette. Max shook his head a little then fixed his glasses. Marinette giggled at the two. "Would you like to join us?" Max asked. She smiled at the two but suddenly stiffened when Alya whispered, "Target at ten o'clock." The two boys stared at her, waiting for her response. If she said "Yes" now, it wouldn't be a big deal. They could all go as a group. No date with Adrian so no nerves. "No," she told herself aloud. "Uh, I mean, I'm waiting for someone. Thank you but you go ahead." Kim whispered something to Max, likely about Marinette's awkwardness and the two left her with a wave. She stood up and looked in the direction Alya pointed her to. It was just Nino. She tried to look behind him to see if Adrian was there but he wasn't.
Adrian watched as Nino walked over to Marinette. He was completely stiff, wearing his nervousness for the world to see. "Where is Adrian?" Marinette asked. She seemed to be looking behind him too. "Tell her you'll both be better off without me," he told Nino. He crouched further into the bush he was hiding in when he saw his phone glow. His father was going to be extremely mad. "Erm, We'll be better off without me!" he said. Nino! Adrian face-palmed. It's fine. Nino just needed a little help to ease into the date. "Uh, without him. I mean, we don't need Adrien to hang out at the zoo," Nino corrected. Progress? Marinette, the sweet girl she was, asked uneasily, "Wasn't he supposed to come? Don't you wanna wait for him?" Before Adrian could coach Nino, he answered, "You're right; we'll wait." He wasn't coming! What was Nino doing? After a deep, long breath, Adrian said, "Tell her, word for word, I wanted to take this opportunity to..." Nino repeated it to Marinette. "...tell you that I love you, Marinette," Adrian finished. Nino froze. Adrian quietly encouraged him to finish the sentence and after processing it, said, "Tell you that I-- Gahhh... I... Love a girl that I don't know how to tell her!" Adrian placed his head into his hands in frustration. "What are you doing! That was your chance!" He glanced up and saw Marinette's beautiful, kind smile. "You do? Well, I can help you with that," she said. An opportunity! She gave him an opening. "You could?" Nino asked hopefully. Marinette, with a grin, nodded. Her face briefly changed and she muttered mockingly, "Can't wait to hear this one." Her eyes widened and her hands cupped her mouth. "S-so sorry! I-I was...I was making fun of me. Um, I'm not good at love stuff so...Can't wait to hear what I say," she awkwardly stumbled over her words. Adrian stifled a laugh as Nino rubbed the back of his head. "It's your friend...Alya," he confessed. Both Adrian and Marinette, in shock, exclaimed, "What!" Nino was messing this up so much. He wasn't ready! He wasn't ready! Marinette clapped her hands together. "Alya! Awesome! Oh, I can't fix you up a date!" she suggested excitedly. That was what he was doing for her and Nino. This was a mess. He needed to intervene. Now.
Marinette listened as Nino thanked her profusely and Alya warned her not to mess with her love life. Alya's biggest complaint was not having a say in the matter. Slowly, Marinette began to tune them out in favour of coming up with her own plan. "I think Alya would like it if you asked her out yourself," she said, "but what if you wrote a note or something?" Oh, writing Adrian a note could work. She couldn't help but smile at Alya's flustered rambling about Nino. What started as reasons they shouldn't be together slowly devolved into complimenting the boy. "Run! Panther loose!" Kim yelled. He and Max ran past the two as fast as they could. Marinette turned and saw the large group of animals led by a panther with a bracelet chasing them. They needed Ladybug! She grabbed Nino and pulled him away. Once he was running on his own, she let him go and hid behind some bushes. Carefully, she removed the earpiece. Stay safe, Alya. "Spots on," she whispered. She hoped Nino was okay. She shouldn't have left him like that but they needed Ladybug. Once transformed, she jumped out of her hiding place. She looked around for Nino. She didn't see him but she did spot Kim being cornered by the strange panther. No one hurt her friends! "What do you think about panthers now, kiddo?" the creature asked. Kim was terrified. With a shaking voice, he answered, "That... panthers are the best?" She ran to the boy and threw her yoyo around the panther, trying it up. With confidence, she said, "And what do you think about ladybugs?" Kim ran away. From beside her, she heard the familiar, joyful voice of Cat Noir, "And another black cat?" Just on time, like always. She felt more confident now that he was there - more sure of their victory. With a low, deep voice, the panther answered, "I think I'm higher on the food chain." She gripped the yoyo tighter as he tried to pull it. "Cat Noir, his bracelet. It has to be where the Akuma is," she told him. Her partner tapped her shoulder and said, "We have other things to worry about." Ladybug looked at the animals that stalked over to them. So many...She looked to Cat Noir to see if he had an idea. He backed away slowly then ran away when no other plan presented itself. Ladybug dropped her yoyo and followed him. This was not going well.
Cat Noir ran as fast as his legs would take him. Ladybug was beside him, trying to form a plan. "We really need to put them in their cage!" he yelled. Ladybug stumbled but caught herself and sped up. "I'm sure that'll be easy! I don't know how to make it happen," she said. They both leapt over a gorilla that was chasing Alya and Nino. He looked to Ladybug who simply said, "I'm on it," before jumping away. He knew he had to keep the other animals on his tail so they wouldn't go after his lady. He hopped onto a few picnic benches. Narrowly avoiding a bear, he climbed a tree then onto a cage to escape a giraffe. Ladybug appeared beside him as he caught his breath. "Where did you put them?" he asked, worried about his friends. "In a cage. They have somethings to talk out," she said knowingly. This caused Cat Noir to wonder, yet again, who she was under the mask. She pulled Cat Noir further from the edge, avoiding a giraffe taking another swipe at him. "There are too many of them. We'll never get them all in their cages," she told him. He leaned on his staff and asked, relaxed, "You got a plan C or are we back to plan A?" She looked around then nodded. "Back to Plan A. If we can destroy his bracelet, I can capture the akuma. Everything will go back to normal!" she told him. He smiled flirtatiously and said, "Sounds like a good idea, Bugaboo." She turned around sharply but he was positive she was blushing and smiling.
Ladybug went to where they last left the villain, certain he would still be there tied up by her yoyo. He wasn't. How did he escape? "I-its never been broken before," she told Cat Noir. She looked around cautiously in case he was lurking nearby. Cat Noir knelt then picked her yoyo up and handed it to her. "He didn't break it he just...How di he escape?" he asked her. She took the yoyo and shrugged. "I don't know, but we better find Kim- erm, I mean, that boy, before he does," she told him. He held his hand out to her but she didn't take it. Instead, she used her yoyo to pull her into the sky and onto the roof of a nearby building. She scanned the streets for the boy and the escaped animals. And here she thought she was finally going to have a date with Adrian. She frowned as it suddenly dawned on her. This was a one-off but...What if she started dating him and she always had to sneak away to be Ladybug? Her thoughts were interrupted by Cat Noir crouching like a kitty beside her, pointing to a bridge as he said, "Over there!" The two heroes jumped down to help Kim once again. Just focus on the issue at hand. She wrapped the panther in her yoyo again whilst Cat Noir picked a fallen Kim up. "You're not getting away this time," she said, filled with determination. "Go, quick, and hide in the first building you come to," Cat Noir ordered the boy. The panther struggled in the yoyo until he eventually said, "You'll never get me." He transformed before her eyes into an eagle and flew away. She pulled her yoyo back to her. Cat Noir watched as the creature flew away. "Well," he said optimistically, "now we know how he got out before." A shapeshifter! Of course! How were they going to stop him if they couldn't trap him? "Where's Kim?" she asked, suddenly remembering he was the villain's target. Cat Noir opened his staff to show a map of the city with a moving green dot. She smiled at her partner's intelligence. "Nice work, kitty."
Cat Noir followed the dot, still smiling from Ladybug's praise. He stopped in front of Marinette's family bakery. "He's safe in there. Panther's can't open doors. They aren't nearly as talented as this black cat," he joked, batting his eyes flirtatiously at Ladybug. "Panthers can't, but what if he morphs into a smaller animal? Like a mouse, or..." she said. She sounded more panicked than the cool-headed Ladybug who was stopping the villains and protecting Paris. She sounded more like the Ladybug who was just starting out. "Right. But we do have an advantage over him. We know exactly where to find his prey," he pointed out. She took a deep breath and entered the bakery. Why was she so worried? It was putting him a little on edge. Inside, she greeted the owners nervously. She sent them upstairs as Cat Noir glanced out the window. "He'll sniff us out eventually," Ladybug said, placing Kim's writs band on the bannister of the staircase in the back of the bakery. He wasn't sure what she was planning, just that they needed the element of surprise. He looked around the room with her and found air fresheners. He sprayed himself first then offered the can to her. "It'll cover our scent so we can surprise him," he explained. She took it and smiled, spraying herself, then she turned it on him and playfully spritzed him. "Thanks," he said, exaggeratedly smelling himself, "I've always wanted to smell like... Ocean summer breeze?" They both giggled and as Ladybug searched around, she said, "Ohh. So close. Seaspray." He looked out at the street and saw the panther searching for his pray. "He is nearly here. What's the plan?" Cat Noir asked. Ladybug presented him with a small box. "I was thinking we could trap him but this would only work if he stays small," she said. They both looked out the window. Cat Noir found himself becoming antsier and antsier. He hated this waiting. It was only giving his fear time to grow. "How about the bus?" she asked him, "You think that is big enough?" She wanted to know his opinion? He thought it for a moment then nodded. "Trap him in the box and get him in the bus before he transforms," he suggested. She pulled him away from the window and got ready.
Ladybug crouched beside the door whilst Cat Noir hid in the next room. As a ladybug, the villain entered through the gaps in the door. It flew over to the sweatband and Ladybug snuck up behind him. She slammed the box and lid together, trapping the villain in the cardboard. Cat Noir opened the door and ran ahead of her to open the bus too. Ladybug Ran as fast as she could, yelling, "Check the windows are closed!" He jumped into the bus. Ladybug jumped in too and closed the door behind her. The box shook violently. "Cat!" she yelled. It took all her strength to keep it in her hands but it was getting heavier and heavier. "All good!" he confirmed. It was too late. She dropped the box and a panther emerged. Slowly, she backed away. This wasn't part of the plan...They were to get out before she let him out the box. She spun her yoyo defensively and, loyal as ever, Cat Noir hopped along the seats to her side. "What you need me to do?" he asked her. She hit the panther. There wasn't much she could do with her yoyo in this space. "Lend me your staff. I'll keep him busy if you get it open," she told him. Without question, he did as she asked. Ladybug prodded the villain to push him back. He transformed into a towering bear. He knocked the staff out her hands. "Cat, please hurry," she cried. Using her yoyo, she tied the bear up, aware he would transform again and escape. The villain transformed into a ladybug again, then a panther. It stepped forward but stopped to yawn. "Cataclysm," she heard from behind her. The doors opened and closed rapidly. "All these transformations seem to be tiring him out," she reported. He grabbed her hand and pulled her out the doors. "We'll just let him wear himself out. Make it easier to capture his Akuma," he said outside the bus. Ladybug looked at the panther pacing inside the bus. "Not exactly a cage but..." she said, not finishing her thought. He transformed into a bear and smashed his paws against the bus walls. "I don't think he can bear to listen to that noise," her partner joked. She crouched down and waited, teasing, "You are too much to bear." He transformed into a gorilla. Ladybug looked to her partner expecting a pun but he just shrugged. The villain became a panther once more prompting Ladybug to stand again. "Ready to free the butterfly?" he asked her. She readied her yoyo but jumped back in fright. The bus broke apart as the panther was replaced by a T-rex. "Hey! Since when do extinct animals count?" Cat Noir complained. The T-rex began to walk towards them. Cat Noir signalled for Ladybug to stay back and jumped onto the dinosaur's head. She shook her head. Showing off again. She knew why he wanted her to stay back, though. With her yoyo in the air, she yelled, "Lucky Charm!" In her hands landed a carjack. Inquisitively, she inspected the item, trying to figure out its purpose. She was pulled out of thought when her partner flew past her. She threw her yoyo around him one last time and pulled, causing the large creature to fall. "Cat, are you okay?" she asked. He nodded as he walked past her back to the villain. He pretended to roll up the sleeves of his catsuit and ran at the dinosaur. His tail was grabbed and he was pulled away from the snapping jaw of the villain. "Careful. We still don't know what this is...for...Hold this," she said, passing the yoyo string to him. He frowned. "What is this for?" he asked. "Don't worry. I know what I'm doing," she assured him. Mimicking her partner, she pretended to roll her sleeves up then ran into the dinosaur's mouth. It was dark and wet. The creature's breath stank. Unable to see, she placed the carjack between the tongue and roof of the villain's mouth and cranked it up as much as possible. She glanced at Cat Noir and waved friendly, watching his look of horror become relief then victorious joy. She felt a pain in her chest. She made Cat Noir worry about her. No. She made him think she was dead. Ladybug climbed put the creature's mouth and grabbed the bracelet. uneasily, she walked over to her partner. He wrapped his arms around her before she could say a word. "I-I'm sorry. I couldn't let on what I was doing," she explained, voice laced with guilt. "That was a wild ride...Closest to being on a rollercoaster I've been," he joked with a soft voice, "Please don't do that again." She nodded. He let her go and she said, "Does that mean I don't need to give you this apology gift?" she asked, holding the bracelet out to him. He took the bracelet and with a grin said, "What a pretty gift. Whoops." He feined accidentally dropping it and stepped on the jewellery. A black butterfly flew out and, as always, Ladybug purified it then reset the city. The hero offered her fist to her partner but he pulled her in for another hug. "Okay," she said, "I promise, kitty." His ring beeped. Reluctantly, he released her. "See you next time, Cat Noir," she told him. He didn't have time to respond, only having one minute left.
Adrian ran back to the zoo to find his friends. In all the chaos, he nearly forgot they were locked in a cage together. Marinette beat him there but it seemed they had gotten out long before either arrived. "You were coaching Nino?" Marinette asked him. Busted. He looked to his friend who gave him a thumbs up. "Um...Yes but only beca-" Everyone started to laugh. Alya revealed her earpiece and said, "I was coaching her. Well, plan worked in a roundabout way. Nino got his girl." She tapped his nose causing a shy smile to form on his face. He placed his arm around her shoulder. "I thought you liked-" Adrian began, pointing to Marinette in confusion. "Nah, dude. I told you. Alya," Nino corrected. "You were there the whole time?" Marinette questioned. Adrian nodded. "Hey, Marinette, I heard you've been crushing on some dude," Nino sang. She went red and stiffened. "Alya!" she hissed. "Oh, really now? Who is the lucky guy?" Adrian asked. No one answered. "I won't say. I need to know who you are in the tree K-I-S-S-I-N-G," he teased. Marinette whined, "Alya," once more. "I promise, he doesn't actually know!" she lied. "I can help, though, if you want," Nino offered. Marinette let out an embarrassed squeal and hid her face. No matter how many villains she stopped, she would always be defeated by her crippling embarrassment and inability to confess her feeling to Adrian...
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein