Disclaimer: I don't own Miraculous Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir.
We are a team.
I stared off into the distance, immobilized as Ladybug took down the akuma on her own. All I had done was get in the way.
We are a team.
She didn't need me. Her fight against the Puppeteer had proved that. Besides, partners didn't turn against each other like that.
I had tried to hurt her.
By not grabbing my doll, she had let me.
We are a team.
Perhaps she had been trying to tell me something - that it didn't matter if I was on her side or not, because she could handle whatever came her way.
I had never doubted that, but I had also never doubted that she'd have my back.
We are a team.
If anything, she would be better off without me.
"You okay, Chat?" she asked me after a swarm of ladybugs flew over me.
"Yeah." No, I wasn't okay.
I wasn't even approaching okay, because an okay partner would at least have the decency to not sit out of the entire battle.
"Okay. See you on patrol tonight!"
Are we a team?
"Hey, Chat. You mind if I ask why you're wearing white?" Ladybug asked me nervously, as if she was trying to think of anything but the truth. "Did you put your suit in bleach or..."
"Give me your miraculous, my lady." She took a step back.
"No..." she whispered, before squaring her shoulders. "Hawk Moth, if you can hear me, then. Give. Back. My. Partner!"
"We're not partners," I said.
"Yes we are! Chat Noir, you've got to fight him!"
"You're so comfortable giving me orders, but let me tell you something. We are not a team."