A/N: Thank you all for bearing with me as I never updated. *hides under desk* I was in a writing slump, in addition to which, I lost a lot of this chapter due to a glitch in Google Drive. Thank God I had written those parts by hand first! I hope you enjoy this next installment!


Okay, so I can't transform. But it's like you always say, I am Ladybug, with or without the suit. Marinette paces in front of the bathroom mirrors, talking to Tikki, who unfortunately can't hear a word. Luckily though, this doesn't stop her from being supportive of her charge.

"Remember, Marinette, you are Ladybug, with or without your powers. I'm sure you'll come up with a way to defeat The Silencer!"

Yes, that's what I just- Ugh, never mind. Without slowing her pacing, she considers her options. I can't cleanse the akuma without my powers. Cat can free it though, and capture it… That will have to do until she can figure out the next step. She catches a glance of herself in the mirror, and flinches at the monochrome reflection. Visibly clearing her thoughts, she turns to Tikki and holds up two fingers each on both sides of her head, miming cat ears.

"Cat Noir?" guesses Tikki.

Marinette nods and points first to Tikki then out the window, where Cat's form can be seen, trying to block the Silencer from more potential victims. He's dodging the villain's angry gaze himself; and though Marinette can't be sure, she thinks he's taunting her too. Her stomach tightens—the taunting works best when Ladybug is there to take advantage of the distraction. Careful, Cat Noir...

"You want me to go to him?" Tikki asks, wanting to confirm she's interpreted Marinette's gestures correctly. Marinette nods. "And what about you?"

She taps a finger against the side of her head without looking away from the window. I'm still thinking.

"I need to get to him without being seen." She bobs up and down thoughtfully. "I'll find a way, don't worry. Take care of yourself, Marinette. I'm sure you'll come up with the perfect plan." She floats forward and puts her tiny arms around Marinette's cheek, pressing her own soft face against it.

You give the best hugs, Tikki. She would like to take Tikki closer to Cat herself, in the protection of her own purse. But she can't risk him seeing her with the kwami—not after she's held out on revealing herself to him for so long. There's no need to waste time trying to explain this in gestures—it's clear from the hug that Tikki has already understood.

The kwami phases through the window glass and is gone. Marinette waits a moment before walking to the window and peering out.


"Whatsa matter, Silencer? Cat got your tongue?" Ladybug would've rolled her eyes at that one... She should've been here by now. Cat Noir looks away from the Silencer's eyes just in time, once again narrowly avoiding a catastrophe. The puns are not up to par today. And taunting her may be getting a bit counterproductive with no partner to make use of the villain's irritation. He ducks into an alley and chances a peek toward her. She's furious as ever, but doesn't seem to know where Cat Noir has suddenly slipped off to.

"You're hiding?" she calls out in that sing-song voice of hers, and Cat presses his back against the brick wall again. "How very feline of you." Then with sudden malice in her tone she spits out, "Give me your ring, you pathetic cat! Your bug isn't coming to save you." Cat was just resigning himself to that very possibility, but hearing her say it so blatantly fills him with defiance. Of course she's coming. And until then, he needs a plan. He chances another look at the villain. Her previously light gray earphones are definitely darker. What does that mean? What's her endgame?

As if in answer, she says, "Soon, I'll have enough voices to silence all of Paris!" She isn't yelling, but her voice is definitely louder. "Only I will speak; and all of you will listen to me!"

Only now does the first hint of panic shine in Cat's citrine eyes. Is she really not coming? Does she not know yet? Is she okay?

Just then, his eyes focus on a fastly approaching red dot. What the-?

"Hello, Cat Noir. I'm Tikki, Ladybug's kwami." The cute little creature stops and hovers in front of him. His hands come up instinctively to cup around her. But the awe and surprise are gone in an instant, replaced by an urgent panic.

"What happened to her? WHERE IS SHE?"

"The Silencer got to her before she could transform."

Cat balls his hands into fists, and takes off in the direction Tikki came from.

"Cat Noir. You come back here right now," she commands in a voice that stops him dead in his tracks. "I'm here to help you fight the villain."

His shoulders slunch in defeat. "She's okay, though isn't she?"

"She isn't hurt, Cat Noir. But if you want to help her get her voice and color back, we have to capture the akuma," says Tikki.

Cat's torn emotions are reflected in his eyes. But he visibly steels himself, giving her a single, barely perceptible nod. "Then let's not waste another minute."

"Where are you Ladybug and Cat Noir?" the Silencer's melodic voice echoes through the now largely silent square. "You have something I want!"

"And you have something I want!" he yells back, jumping into her path, baton spinning in front of him in a blur. He extends it until it's long enough to reach her and tries to knock the earphones off. But she dodges easily, backing away out of his reach, giggling infuriatingly. "Where is your lady luck?" she taunts.

With a frustrated yell, Cat pursues her, baton extending and retracting. She doesn't fight back, but dodges expertly each time, turning back every few paces to try and snag his voice.


Marinette slinks a little ways behind Cat, ducking behind cars and building corners to keep out of his sight. She has an idea. But she'll need to be there when he frees the akuma, and she has to stay out of his sight.

She watches him closely. He's fighting emotionally… He needs to keep a clear head, or he'll make a stupid mistake. Any mistake will be very costly at this point. He crouches a few paces in front of her, and right there is more of Cat Noir than she ever knew she needed to see. No wait. Than she ever needed to see. Phrasing. Shaking her head at herself, she tears her gaze away from her partner's leather-clad butt and refocuses on the akuma victim.

If she could use her lucky charm, it would probably be a pair of sunglasses, to block eye-contact so she could grab the earphones without unwittingly becoming prey. Or maybe a mirror so she could turn the villain's gaze against herself, like that time with the Pixellator. But no use for such thoughts now. If all goes well, this would be the first time an akuma is defeated without the lucky charm.


Tikki is tucked in Cat Noir's collar, watching the action from behind the bell. She addresses Cat. "We need to find her weakness. What's your plan, Cat Noir?"

"I have one; don't worry," he assures, sprinting after his opponent again. "She isn't much of a fighter. I just need to keep her in my sights. She'll run herself into a dead end eventually. Once she does, I'll take her earphones and free the akuma." Cat's prey slips around a sharp bend in the road, and he skids to an abrupt halt, nearly falling over face first. He pulls out his stick and vaults ahead after her. "But," he thinks out loud, "then, what are we going to do after that? I can break the earphones, but I don't know how long I can hold the akuma. Can I even put it in a box or something, or can it phase through stuff like kwami?"

"An akuma can phase into an object, not through it. And you already know what happens when it phases into an object."

He nods, squaring his shoulders. "Right. It's time to see what happens if I use cataclysm on an akuma."

"No! I don't know what that would do, but it can't be good. Your power isn't meant to be used on living beings. It could drain you."

Cat, who has stopped running after the Silencer now, tightens his grip on his baton, and turns contemplative.


I need to talk to Tikki. Marinette wonders if she can telepathically call out to her kwami. It's worth a shot. She focuses hard, then cautiously opens one eye to find a thoroughly unmoved Tikki. Oh well. She sneezes loudly, then quickly ducks back behind a van.

"I'll be right back," she hears Tikki telling a baffled Cat Noir. A moment later, "Marinette!"

She digs into her bag and pulls out a notepad and pen. She holds it so Tikki can read what she's writing, and hurriedly scribbles, 'Idea! Cat break object & free akuma → things go back to normal (remember stoneheart). I get voice back, transform, cleanse akuma.'

"Okay! It's a good plan." Then almost to herself, "I'm not positive it'll work." Marinette turns questioning eyes to her. "No, it might! Let's try it, and maybe I'll never have to elaborate on my reservations," she says enigmatically. Her eyes focus on something past Marinette's shoulder, and widen in alarm. "Cat Noir is coming!" She phases into the van beside Marinette without another word.

Oh no! Did he see Tikki talking to me? And any chance he hasn't recognized me?

"Marinette?"

Uh oh.


A/N: Our dorks had no direct interaction for much of this chapter, except toward the end. And yes, you guessed it, there'll be some Marichat again in the next chapter. But I haven't written it yet, so sit tight hehe. As always, I love reading your reviews, so please drop me one if you're reading!