1. The Return
Ladybug and Cat Noir were running on fumes. The latest victim of Hawkmoth's akumas was seemingly tireless, and adept at battle.
A giant, towering above the city, felt next to nothing of their attacks. Ladybug had no idea where the akuma might be, and Cat Noir was making more puns than plans. It was all fun and games until a solid hit left him without his beloved baton.
He fell to the cobblestone streets, landing sorely on his tailed backside with just enough time to see the large foot looming over him.
Cat Noir barely had time to think before he was hooked under his arms and pulled onto a roaring motorcycle. He clung to the leather jacket, nearly smacking his forehead on the back of his savior's helmet with his efforts to stay on the noisy thing. He chanced a glance behind him, seeing the giant following in their tracks. His Lady was running along the rooftops to keep up.
"Cat Noir!" she yelled.
Cat waved, smiling widely.
Hid mind clicked into gear: he needed to find his baton. Ladybug would have a plan by now, having used her Lucky Charm just before his fall. They needed to regroup, and he could thank the nameless citizen later.
A glint of silver caught his eye and he pointed, "There! The alley!"
The loud motorcycle took a hard right, weaving through abandoned cars expertly. Cat Noir leaned as they approached it, and the motorcycle tipped, taking the alleyway to escape the giant. Cat Noir snatched up his weapon and clung back to the driver, looking back over his shoulder. Ladybug was springing into action, and he knew just what she was going to do.
"Turn around!" Cat Noir yelled. "Get me right under him!"
"Are you crazy?" the driver's voice was almost indistinguishable over the engine.
"I have a plan," Cat Noir assured.
"I hope you know what you're doing," the muffled voice muttered.
The motorcyclist hit the brake and skidded the bike around, balancing on a single clunky black boot. Cat Noir clung to them as they twisted the throttle back. The back tire squealed and shot the bike forward, speeding toward the giant with the front tire off the ground. Cat Noir bided his time, and when the front tire hit the street, he stood carefully on the seat. His clawed hand gripped the leather jacket, and his pupils narrowed with focus.
Above them, Ladybug had tied the giant's limbs with her yo-yo, swinging around it's torso and pulling tight against a chimney for leverage. Cat Noir tossed his baton, extending it between two light posts and the giant's shins. He plopped back down on the seat and clutched the driver for dear life. The bike squeezed through the small gap at his feet and skidded to the side, stopping to watch.
"Timber!" Cat yelled, cupping his hands around his mouth.
The ground shook as the giant fell to the cobblestones. Dust rose and Cat Noir waved it from his face. He hopped off the bike and stood proudly with his fists against his hipbones.
"Have a nice trip, see you next fall," Cat Noir quipped with a cheeky smirk, looking back at his rescuer..
The motorcyclist turned to him, an expression similar to one Ladybug would've warn was obvious but not completely visible under the tinted windshield.
"Cat Noir!" Ladybug called.
"I'm alright, M'lady," he assured her. "Did you get the akuma?"
Ladybug held up a pin and crunched it, releasing a little black butterfly. It was promptly caught and purified, and the mess on the streets of Paris was returned to its original state.
"Pound it," they said in unison, bumping fists.
Cat Noir went to the aid of the akuma victim, and Ladybug approached the motorcyclist.
"I wanted to thank you for saving my partner's life," she began, looking into her reflection in the helmet. "I know how dangerous it was, and I really appreciated your bravery."
The motorcyclist nodded.
"If there is anything we can do to repay you," she leaned in, trying to see through the helmet's tint.
"Actually, there is," the motorcyclist turned and unzipped a pocket on their jacket. "I need you to return this to the Guardian."
Ladybug recognized the box that was placed in her hand. She'd seen its markings before. It was a Miraculous. She opened the box to reveal a leather wristband, about a half-inch in width, with a pair of bat-like wings folded to fit stamped inside a silver ring. Ladybug looked back up at the motorcyclist, who had started the bike back up.
"Tell the Guardian that Westley Rheys sends his apologies."
Before Ladybug could ask any of the hundred questions in her head, the obnoxiously loud bike sped off into the streets of Paris.
"Wait!" Ladybug shouted.
Cat Noir came running up behind her.
"Where'd he go?" Cat Noir asked, looking after the motorcycle's disappearing taillight. "I didn't even get a chance to thank him for saving my life."
Ladybug tucked the box out of sight, "I think his name is Westley. Westley Rheys."
"Well we have to find him!" Cat Noir exclaimed.
"Later," Ladybug answered, hearing a familiar beep in her ear. "Right now, we have to go if we want to keep the press from seeing us behind these masks."
"I certainly wouldn't mind seeing your pretty face, Bugaboo," Cat Noir cooed, poking out his bottom lip.
"You know the rules, Kitty," she flicked the gold bell under his chin with a polite smile. "Bug out."
Cat watched her go, "One day, M'lady..."
...
Ladybug found a safe place near Fu's to return to Marinette. Tikki was promptly given a cookie.
"That was strange," said Tikki. "People don't usually just give a Miraculous back without a reason."
"I intend to find out what the reason is," Marinette promised. "But I don't want to be carrying it around until I find Westley again. That could be a bad idea."
"Good thinking," Tikki agreed.
Marinette pushed open the door to Fu's. He sat meditating, but turned and greeted her upon hearing the door.
"Hello, Ladybug," he returned to his original position. "Have a seat and tell me what is troubling you."
Marinette obeyed, and Tikki sat beside her.
"I have something for you," she began, unsure.
"Oh?" he opened his eyes.
Marinette set the box between them.
He looked pensive. This wasn't her Miraculous. Tikki was sitting before her, and her earrings were still fastened tightly to her lobes. He took the box and opened it.
"The Miraculous of Protection," he recited upon seeing the imprint in the leather. "Where did you get this?"
Marinette looked from him to the bracelet, "Westley Rheys sends his apologies."
"Mr. Rheys is in Paris?" Fu contemplated this. Why would the young man who so desperately wanted this Miraculous come all the way to Paris to return it? Had the years taken their toll?
"Westley Rheys saved Cat Noir's life today," Marinette explained. "He asked only that I return this to you, with his apologies. Before I could ask him why, he was gone."
"That isn't like him," Fu thought aloud. "He was so proud to be Graystone."
"He didn't use the Miraculous to save Cat Noir," Marinette recalled. "Just a really loud motorcycle. And his accent was strange."
"He is from America," Fu explained. "French is not his native language, but one could not usually tell with his proficiency."
"Why would he return the Miraculous?" Marinette asked. "He was very willing to help us."
"Westley was as willing to help as you," Fu answered. "I must speak to him. Only a very serious circumstance would make him retire."
"Cat Noir and I will find him," Marinette promised.
"Thank you, Ladybug."