Ladybug and Chat Noir circled around and stood proudly on top a building, behind Oblivio.
"Looking for us?" Chat taunted with a smirk.
Oblivio spun around. "You -! I left you both on the other side of the city, I took your memories away!"
Ladybug twirled her yo-yo, leaning her free arm on Chat Noir's shoulder. "You did, but you can't take Ladybug and Chat Noir down that easily. No matter what, we'll always find a way."
The butterfly pattern appeared again in front of Oblivio, they could tell he was muttering something, but neither heard a word.
"Think all the villains we're up against are as irresponsible?" Chat questioned while Oblivio was distracted.
"We do always win…" she shrugged. "This time will be no different, but let's not risk getting hit again, 'kay kitty cat?"
Ladybug called for her Lucky Charm. When it fell into her waiting hands, she looked around as if it was some kind of joke.
"A pen? Really?"
Before she had time to try and figure out what the Lucky Charm was supposed to do, her arm was yanked. Chat Noir used his body weight to pull her towards him, causing them to fall backwards. He hit the wall and let out a low groan.
Ladybug scrambled back, making sure her weight was off of him. "Are you okay? Are you hurt?"
"Ah, I'm fine," he rubbed the back of his head. "He didn't get you, did he?"
"No," she shook her head. "I don't know what I'm supposed to do with these! I feel pretty helpless right now... a pen? Were Tikki and Plagg telling the truth about me being a superhero, because I don't know..." she furrowed her eyebrows, her mask pinching together.
Chat looked over her shoulder to make sure they weren't a target right at that moment. "Of course they were. Remember what they told us? You're the smart one who always comes up with the plans, you're just lacking confidence right now, that's all." He proceeded to put his hands on her shoulders and tilted her chin so she'd looked into his eyes. "Your memories being erased didn't take away everything you've accomplished, or what you're capable of, Ladybug. I trust you. You will figure it out and save us. And I'll be right here with you if you need me."
She couldn't hide the grin that spread across her face, or the blush that burned her cheeks. Ladybug wondered if this was the Chat Noir that she always worked with. One that made her feel capable of anything when she needed it most, and in this serious situation, he also made her feel safe. She didn't see how she could not like Chat Noir.
"Thank you, kitty cat," she said, not meeting his eyes.
"Anytime, Bug," he winked. "Want to give it another go?"
Ladybug took a deep breath and gave a nod. She examined the pen again, but this time discovered something about it she had overlooked the first time. Then she spotted Oblivio coming at them again.
"I've got it!" she cried. "See the glass on his chest? I think the akuma's in there. When he's distracted, use your Cataclysm on it."
"Got it! But how are you going to distract him with that?" he pointed down at the pen.
Ladybug stuck her nose in the air, teasing him, "Hmm, you'll see..." she laughed.
"Hey Oblivio, I think you're missing the point, but let me show you!" she pulled off the cap and pressed the button to turn it on.
She pointed the pen, a laser pen, into his line of sight. It was blinding due to the glasses he was wearing, amplifying the light even further. "Ahh!" he shrieked, stumbling backwards with his eyes squeezed shut.
"CATACLYSM!" Chat Noir called on his power. "About time you got a taste of our powers, don't you think?"
He set the akuma free, leaving Ladybug to catch, purify, and release.
"Good job!" they high-fived each other.
"That didn't feel right, did it?" Ladybug asked, lowering her hand.
"I don't think we normally do that, no, but that's okay! We defeated Oblivio!"
"Yeah, we did…" she tried to pretend she was happy, and she was in a way. But something was troubling her.
"Hey, what's wrong? You did a really good job, I mean who would've thought it was a laser pen?"
"That's not...it," she admitted, putting her yo-yo back in its place on her waist. Ladybug bit her lip, internally wondering if she should say what was on her mind. "Once I use this, we'll remember ourselves again and our old memories... but we'll forget each other, what happened today, who we are..."
Chat Noir's eyes went wide with shock and pain for a moment, then his cat ears began to droop. "Oh yeah, I almost forgot..." then a thought occurred to him. He perked up a bit and smiled. "Hey, it's okay, because if our relationship is anything like what the Kwami's told us, we'll find out about each other someday, and nobody will be able to erase that."
"You think so?"
"I know so. I may not be the lucky one of the two of us, but I feel like I am, because of you," Chat Noir said. "This isn't the end. Who knows, maybe what happened today will give us a clue to figure it out someday?"
Ladybug liked that idea. "In that case…" her bluebell eyes flashed. She got on her tiptoes and kissed him, taking Chat Noir completely by surprise. Before he could even react, Ladybug pulled away.
"Once more for good luck," he muttered and leaned in, but Ladybug pushed him away with a boop of his nose. "You're such a dork, kitty cat," she giggled. "Ready?"
Chat Noir gave disappointed groan. "Ready."
"Miraculous Ladybug!" the two shouted together, throwing the pen in the air. The magical butterflies flew around all of Paris, fixing the damage Oblivio had caused, and restoring the heroes memories.
"What? What happened?" Ladybug looked around nervously. "Where's Oblivio? Did we defeat him?"
"I think so?" Chat Noir looked down at his ring. "I've used Cataclysm. How about you?"
Her earrings beeped in her ears. "Looks like I've used Lucky Charm, too."
"But I don't remember it. Do you remember anything?"
"Last thing I remember was you knocking me to the ground on that rooftop."
"Ehehe sorry about that," Chat Noir nervously scratched the back of his neck. "Didn't look like it helped matters."
"I would've been hit either way, so thank you for risking yourself for me," she said sweetly. "Besides, we defeated Oblivio, and Hawk Moth, in the end."
Chat Noir's ring beeped. "We should probably get going," he bowed and started to turn around when he was stopped.
"Wait!" Ladybug cried, her hand reaching out for him.
"Something wrong, m'lady?"
"No," she said. "I just have this feeling, I don't know what it is, but…" the feeling was suddenly overwhelming for her, and on instinct, she closed the distance between them, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Thank you, Kitty," she whispered. "For always being there with me when I need you."
Chat Noir beamed a toothy smile, his hands stroking her back. He wasn't quite sure what this was about, but he wasn't going to question it.
She awkwardly let him go. Not knowing what else to say, she bid him goodbye and threw her yo-yo, heading for home.
The next day at school, Marinette was on the school steps talking to her friends. For once, Marinette could legitimately say she had been affected by an akuma - instead of lying about it as a cover for her disappearance - and had no idea what had happened for a good portion of the day before.
"Hey Marinette!" a voice greeted her from behind. She turned on her heels and saw Adrien approaching.
She smiled and gave a little wave. "Hey Adrien! We were just talking about Oblivio. Did he get to you, too?"
"He did, actually. I can't remember much of what happened, but I've been feeling like I'm missing something since I got my memories back." Adrien looked into Marinette's eyes and his heart began to beat harder. He cleared his throat and looked down at his feet. "Anyway, do you know where Nino is?"
"Yeah, he's in school already," Marinette answered with a brilliant, natural smile. Did she always look like that?
His mind went blank, it took him a few extra seconds to register what she had said. "Oh uh, thanks Marinette. I'll get going then, see ya," he waved and headed into the school.
Alya, and the rest of her friends, had various degrees of shock and surprise written on their faces. "Okay, spill it, girl. Since when did you get so comfortable around Adrien?"
Marinette blinked twice then shrugged. "I don't know, for some reason I don't feel nervous around him anymore?"
"That doesn't make sense, you just woke up this morning and suddenly you can talk to him?"
Marinette laughed, and the girls headed into the school. "I guess so."
Alya crossed her arms. "I bet you two ran into each other yesterday when your memories were obliviated, and something happened between you two. Ladybug's Miraculous Ladybug just took your memories away."
"Come on, Alya, doesn't that sound a bit out there?" Marinette scoffed.
"It's not! It could've totally happened!"
"I agree with Marinette, Alya." Alix piped in. "They had their memories erased, so they didn't even know each other."
Alya sighed. "Believe what you want. Either way, progress has been made! Congrats, girl! Think you can ask him out later?"
Marinette stopped walking. "I'm not that comfortable with him!"
All of the girls laughed, heading on their way to class for another day of learning.
Since this was written pre-Oblivio, almost everything here was made up, including Oblivio's akuma and Ladybug's Lucky Charm.
Also, since I came up with this theory and started writing just a few days before the episode's release, and I wanted to make sure it was released before so it didn't influence my writing, my time and creativity was a bit squished. Nevertheless, I hope you enjoyed! x3