14

-14: The Silence-

Chat stops at the balcony in his room and turns to see Luka enter just a second later, leaning on the front door beam for support. He noticed Luka was very handsome. No wonder he himself got jealous. "Why... Were you running away" Luka managed to say with a harsh look on his face.

"Lover boy, listen. I don't have much time and you certainly are eager in getting Marinette home, so just go ahead" Chat Noir steps onto the balcony railing and holds out his hands as if he was going to free fall. "I don't comprehend" Luka regained composure but was intrigued on what Chat Noir was doing.

"Kill me. Can't you read the signs? I pity the poor girl that will marry you if you can't get clues as well as you serve them" Chat seethed. "You'd best be glad you die on a beautiful night than this one. Talking like a pompous jerk. You probably made Marinette just as angry as I am now. And for what? For the simple request of killing you?! Ha!" Luka said.

Suddenly, Marinette rushes into the room and collapses on top of Luka. "Luka!! C-chat Noir! Are y-you both out of y-your minds?! You've been... Running the entire castle!" She breathed, steadying herself with Luka's shoulders. "Marinette it's ok... We have to go. Chat Noir, he's-" "no I can't leave him!" She cried.

Chat went to her and Luka, crouching next to her. "It's ok Marinette, I'll be... Fine. Besides, I can't even break the curse... And nobody can" he said. "That's not true... I know your father said someone will break it" she said. His eyes widen. "Did you say my father? HE placed the curse on me?!" He growled. "He didn't... He hired someone to... And he said someone will come along and break it" she said.

"I can't believe this! My own father... He probably wanted to teach me a lesson, and in the worst way possible! This doesn't sound like something he'd do" he said. "but he did... He looked at me when he said these things... He probably could see me" Marinette said. Chat thought about it for a moment.

"The curse is to be broken by an act of true love... And now that you know that, it can't be. He probably wanted you to be it" he said. "But... I do like you. Not in that way yet but-" "see? Marinette, I never expected you to come in and break it now. Just... Leave while you and Luka still have a fighting chance with the rest of your crew" he said.

"A fighting chance for what?" Both of them ask. Chat didn't respond right away. "Adrien, what's going to happen?" She caressed his shoulder. He flinches, but sighed. "What I've told you before wasn't the full curse. I'll stay a beast, yes... But I... Can't speak... Or even know what I was before. I'll be an animal" he said.

Marinette gasped. "Then I mustn't allow it! You deserve to have this curse lifted!" She cried. Luka touches her shoulder as she throws herself onto Chat's back. "Marinette, Please, it's less than a minute till midnight. I-" he flinches forward with a wretching motion.

"Chat!" Marinette grabs at his fur. His claws grew a little longer, and she could see his eyes were becoming.... Something like a cat's eyes. "Lea...leave" he mutters. She let go, shocked that his voice had changed too. It was deeper. "Adrien..." She touched his hand. He pushed her away softly, but still a bit forced.

"Let's go Marinette" Luka said. She didn't do anything but followed where Luka took her. She went down the stairs, got a blanket put over by Alya and Nino, and given an apple by someone she didn't know. They left the castle, and she heard a roar of pain. She started crying, and Luka hugged her tight.

"It's ok... It's gonna be ok" he whispered. "No.... I couldn't break his curse... Now he'll never be... That man he once was" she said. She was right. Luka couldn't deny that. But all he wanted to do was protect her, and if Chat Noir wanted her to leave, then he'd do whatever it took to do that. And now they were on their way to town, and nothing was in their way anymore. No castle, no servants, no beast.-----------------------

It was a week or so that Marinette had thought over her experience in that castle. She couldn't really comprehend it. It all seemed like a dream. One thing led to another and now she was back home. Luka hadn't come by, and she was confused. He wanted to be with her, didn't he?

She went to the boutique one day and saw Chloe. How relieved she felt to see that girl again. "Oh well if it isn't miss Dupain Cheng. We heard you got frisky with an animal!" She giggled to Sabrina, who was flattening a dress skirt. Marinette reddened, both mad and embarrassed. Who started this rumor? "I didn't. He was my friend. And he wasn't an animal" she concluded. She wanted no drama, and no rumors to spread.

"Oh? But isn't that creature now an animal? Can't think straight?" Chloe smirked. "I don't know. I... Don't know" Marinette whispered. Alya came from behind the counter and stood between Marinette and Chloe. "Stop Chloe! Sometimes you don't know when to shut your mouth. You don't know what happened. Marinette is a victim, and shouldn't be patronized with your sickly sweet tone you take" Alya spat.

Marinette grabs Alya's arm. "Let it go Alya. Chloe doesn't bother me anymore, I was just telling her the truth of what I know... And now I know nothing" she said. Alya could read her best friend's eyes. She was sad. "Let's go to the sweet shop parlor. We can get a phosphate and just relax" she says and gave a harsh look at Chloe, who just stuck out her tongue and went behind the counter once more.

Marinette nods and the two best friends left the shop, just to be met with Luka.