Chapter One:
A Mama Dragon
"Ah another akuma successfully defeated." I said stretching.
"Thanks again Flare." Ladybug said landing next to me.
"Couldn't have done it without you." Cat Noir said.
We all fist bumped and Ladybug held her hand out for me to return my Miraculous. I hesitated, it was always hard to give Kerta back.
"Hey, how would you guys feel about going and getting a drink some time? We can meet up in out superhero forms and go out." I asked.
I was kind of stalling but I was also curious to see how they would feel about hanging out without the threat of an akuma. After all, saving Paris was all that really mattered but I was helping Ladybug and Cat Noir and barely knew them. They had complete trust in one another because they fought together all the time but they rarely called on me unless they really needed some stealth.
"That…doesn't really sound like a good idea. Transforming just to hang out sounds… irresponsible." Ladybug said uncomfortably.
"I'm not old enough to drink anyway." Cat Noir said shrugging.
I just stared at him for a moment. That was strange I thought they were at least all adults.
"Kerta, Wings In." I said. "So what, you guys 17 or something?"
I was being playful but they both exchanged uneasy, sheepish looks.
"Not quite." Cat Noir said.
"There's no way you guys are younger than 16 though right?" I asked.
I wasn't sure if I should be concerned or if they were just messing with me. If it was just Cat Noir I would assume it was a bad joke but Ladybug rarely joked about stuff like this.
"Actually I am younger than that." Cat Noir said.
"Cat." Ladybug hissed. "We shouldn't even be talking about this. Its too easy to find out each other's identities from our ages."
"You… you guys aren't messing with me?" I asked worriedly.
"No. We aren't messing with you. Does that bother you?" Ladybug asked.
"Well…a little bit. So none of you are even 16 years old?" I asked.
"You can still trust us to work together and save Paris. We may be young but we're fully capable. We've been doing it this whole time." Cat assured me putting a comforting hand on my shoulder.
"I still trust you guys but… you're so young." I said looking at the heros with new eyes.
"My earrings are beeping. I really need to go. We can still count on you if we need you right Audra?" Ladybug asked.
"Of course. Whenever you guys need me I'll be there to help." I assured her.
She gave me a smile and zipped off into the night. Probably off to Master Fu's place. Though I wasn't allowed to know the hero's secret identities I originally got my Miraculous from Master Fu. He trusted me since I went over to check on him daily and he got to know me as a reliable person. I still wasn't allowed to keep my Miraculous like Ladybug and Cat Noir since it was supposed to only be a onetime thing. It's funny how things never go to plan.
"Hey, are you going to be okay?" Cat Noir asked.
"Yeah, I'll be fine. Hey, is the age difference the reason you've never flirted with me?" I asked smirking.
"I mean, kind of. I'm not that much a flirt though." Cat Noir said.
"Smart boy. Don't be getting into any more trouble tonight." I said ruffling his hair.
"Hey, don't go treating me like a kid now." He said backing up.
"It's not my fault you revealed your age." I said waving as I turned to leave.
The walk home was somber. I couldn't be okay with this. Those were kids risking their lives every day to save all of Paris. They had all of Paris on their shoulders and they were going through some of the roughest times of their lives. It's hard enough to be a preteen without having to save Paris. Saving akuma's some of whom were their friends had to be stressful too. How they were able to do that was a wonder to me.
I stopped suddenly and my hands balled into fists.
"Master Fu." I growled.
I changed direction. How could he give Miraculous' to children and put them in so much danger? It was foolish! They have their whole lives in front of them and he gave them the responsibility to put their lives on the line!
"Master Fu!" I said as I entered his shop.
"Hello Audra. I was expecting you. Kerta told us what happened." He said calmly coming out from the back room.
"We need to talk." I said angrily.
"Okay, I can see you won't be satisfied waiting until a later date. Let's go to the back room." He said waving for me to follow him.
Once in the back room he sat down at the table he had set up and poured two glasses of tea. I hated tea but always drank it because it felt rude not to after he poured it. Today I didn't sit down across from him. Instead I paced in front of the table.
"You know how young they are right?" I asked.
"Yes." He answered simply.
"Then why did you give them Miraculous'? Their too young to possibly lose their lives like that. They have family that will miss them and friends. They barely began to live. They…they" I couldn't finish my sentence as my throat closed up.
Tears were burning my eyes and my face burned from embarrassment. How stupid I must look.
"Audra, I understand why this would upset you but they aren't your sister." Master Fu said.
"I can't watch as more young people throw away their lives. I can't watch another kid die." I choked out.
"Unfortunately young people are often the only ones suitable to use Miraculous'. They are more pure of heart. More focused on the task at hand then what if's. They won't let the power corrupt them or hesitate when there's no room to." Master Fu said.
"But you gave me a Miraculous and I'm not a kid. I mean 25 isn't old but still. And you wear your Miraculous all the time and you're not a kid either." I said furiously wiping at my tears.
"You were a rare case. A mix of a good heart and necessity. If I had a choice, I wouldn't have given it to you. I wouldn't have given out any more Miraculous actually." Master Fu said.
"Ouch." I said weakly.
"Clearly you were the right choice since Ladybug picked you the second time the Dragon was needed." Master Fu said smiling at me.
"Is there anything I can do? If I could've saved my sister, I would've done anything. I want to help these kids in any way I can." I said sitting down across from him.
"You help them every time you become Flare and stop akumas." Master Fu said.
"I want to do more though. I want to be there for them all the time. Not just when they need my help fighting akumas. When they feel the pressure of their superhero lives interfering in their civilian lives I want to help lift that weight. I want to give them advice when they have no one else to turn to." I said.
I was trying to beg him with my eyes. If there was a way I could help them without breaking the rules he would let me know. I probably sounded crazy wanting to help these kids I barely knew but I did. They were important and not just because they were heroes. They were important to their families and friends. They changed lives more than they knew and I wanted to make sure they could keep helping people for decades to come.
"As long as you don't find out anyone's identities then it should be fine. So nothing that would give away their secret identities." Master Fu warned.
"Thank you." I said smiling.
Having the okay from Master Fu set my mind into overdrive with ideas. By the time I got home I knew what I was going to do the next day. I was going to need quite a bit of money but it would be well worth it.
"I'm sorry I don't understand." Ladybug said as I handed her a phone weeks later.
I had been itching to give them these burner phones but unfortunately I had to wait for Ladybug or Cat Noir to call on me to help them.
"Look, I got all of you a burner phone. All of the numbers are in there already as each other's super hero names. This way we can stay in touch without giving away who we are as civilians." I said handing Cat Noir one too.
"I like this idea." He said opening his phone to look through the contacts.
"Cat Noir, Rena Rouge, Flare, Carapace, Queen Bee. You really got a phone for everyone?" Ladybug asked also looking at the contacts curiously.
"Why did you do this?" Rena asked as I handed her one.
"Look, I found out how old you all are and I can't sleep at night knowing you guys at such a young age are out risking your lives." I said.
"Flare-" Ladybug started to protest.
"No. I know all the arguments you can use; it's for the greater good, we want to, we're stronger then you think. Here's the thing though. I was once your age. You guys aren't just worrying about saving Paris. You're worried about crushes, getting good grades, bullies, friends, fights, and a whole bunch of other stuff that adding being a superhero must be crazy pressure. Please, use this to call me if you need me for anything. Superhero related or not. Heck, I'm too old to be able to figure out who you are based on your math homework anyway." I said trying to lighten the mood.
"This is a little weird." Rena Rouge said.
"I know. But please, just take the phone. It will give me peace of mind." I said looking at each of them pleadingly.
They all exchanged uneasy looks, well except for Cat Noir who honestly looked excited at the prospect of being able to contact us at any time.
"Okay." Ladybug said reluctantly.
"Thank you!" I said hugging her. "Oh, and give this one to Queen Bee for me? And this one to Carapace?" I asked handing her the last phones.
"Yeah." Ladybug said returning my smile.
"Alright Flare you ready to come with me to detransform?" Cat Noir asked.
"Yup. Bye Ladybug, Rena Rouge." I said waving at both of them as my wings unfurled again.