Take My Hand

Chapter 3

Something cold. Something that dripped down every dark black strand of her hair. It rolled down her face and curved around her nose and small lips, then proceeded to fall off her chin. It must be raining. More drops of water came flying towards her, bathing her and leaving her hair soaked. She sat leaning against the brick walls of an unknown building, every bone in her body aching in pain as if all the forces of the world slammed her against the sturdy bricked wall. It was a miracle on how she survived this strange situation, but she didn't question it. Slowly opening her eyes, she tried to gain her consciousness and smacked her lips. She couldn't remember anything. However, her new scenery was a new surprise that completely swept her off her feet.

In an instant, she sprung up with her eyes widening in fear. She was alone in a dark sketchy alleyway in the pouring rain. The dark gloomy clouds made the skies look like it was night. This new scenery was extremely noisy though as sirens and helicopters echoed throughout the area, and the lights could be combined with the loudness as it was brighter than anything she has ever seen. It felt like she was in another world.

Her lips managed to stagger the only question on her mind. "Where am I?"

She wondered if she was still in Paris or even France. Her mind then traveled to maybe the possibility that she could be in another country. Perhaps America? Perhaps Japan? London? It was all still a mystery to her. Heavens knows where she could be at the moment.

"How did I get here?"

A sharp pain stroke her stomach as she asked that question, making her drop to her knees and grit her teeth. She clutched her hands into a fist and that's when she noticed a completely new discovery that made her even question is she was still even on earth. Her hands were covered with spandex fabric. Slowly lifting her hands she gasped and then proceeded to view her entire body, noticing that she was wearing a red suit with black polka dots all over it. The rain wouldn't even soak into the fabric as it would just roll off it, not even making it wet. Her blue eyes then met noticed her new image being reflected on a small puddle. A red mask with the same pattern as her suit was placed on her face, yet her hair still remained the same in pigtails.

"Who am I?! WHO AM I?! WHERE AM I?! Can I please go back home? I don't even know where it is, but please!"

"Well, I'm afraid you can't go back to 'your home' now. But hey, stay PAWsititive, my lady. I'm here to protect you!"

Not even in a second, she snapped her head up and saw the silhouette of a new person walking past the fogginess of the evaporating rain and was heading her direction. It was a boy...in a leather black suit with cat ears, a tail, a bell, and a black mask on his face. He seemed very familiar. Those green vibrant eyes again. Her memory was slowly recollecting itself as she could remember bits of the events that previously happened. Just not very well though.

"Allow me to introduce myself, I am Chat Noir." The boy was now standing in front of her leaning against the extended rod in his hand. He had a cheeky smile and a rather cocky attitude. The masked boy extended his arm and lightly grasped onto her slim delicate hands, then placed a kiss above her knuckles. He purred. "Enchanté."

The girl quickly took her hand back, lightly blushing at his sudden introduction, and crawled back against the brick wall. Miraculously, she managed to ask the following question as she looked at Chat. "Where am I?"

Chat lightened up as soon as she asked this question and even chuckled to himself. "Why, you're in Paris!"

Paris?! Wait...my home is here. The girl mentally sighed in relief as she recalled that her family and home is there, but more questions wanted to be asked yet she knew they would most likely be unanswered. She just couldn't even remember where in the city she lived exactly.

"So what's with the new set up? Are you a new superhero that's fated to save Paris with me? Cause that'll be PAWsome!" He leaned closer to her, his smile widening in a rather alarming way.

Creepy…

An eyebrow was raised as she hesitantly responded. "No…?"

The girl knew she had to get out of there. She didn't trust this stranger that much as he was making her rather uncomfortable; she even questioned what was with him and puns. Struggling to get on her feet, she grasped onto each brick her hands grabbed onto and dragged her back up against it. Her bones were still in pain. She didn't care. Chat would offer to help her up, but she would instantly shoot glares at him which was enough to make him back up. As soon as she was stable enough and had the balance she needed to keep her on her feet, she brushed past him and was off into the fogginess of the alleyway. She didn't know where her destination was. Again, she didn't care.

"My lady...where are you going?" Chat asked, a bit taken back at her touch.

The girl snickered and slightly turned to her right, looking at Chat over her shoulder. She narrowed her eyes, her gaze then falling to the ground. "I just want to get out of the rain…my hair is getting wet. I also want to go home..."

The cat hero followed her trail with the same smile he had before which made her roll her eyes. He placed his hand on her shoulder and raised his head to look at the cloudy pouring skies. Rain fell upon his face, wetting his blonde locks and dripping down his fake cat ears. There was no better sensation than the feeling of rain falling, touching bare skin. It was cleansing. He felt freedom and it felt amazing. The hero giggled as if he was a little boy. However, the girl gave him a look of concern and shook his hand off her, then proceeded to walk away.

Chat chuckled. "My lady. Rain is good for the soul."

"Haha, it sure is, Chat Noir!" a new voice chimed in, shocking the two teenagers. They both looked up and saw the being the voice belonged to. It was a man wearing a red cape with pure white eyes looking down at them from his stance on the roof above the two. "It's funny because cats hate water, but here you are playing in the rain. How adorable..."

"Not this akuma, again…" Chat hissed, retracting his rod and got ready to stop any evil intent this man had.

"And it seems, that you brought a new friend. How charming...it seems that being a ladybug is her theme, right?" The akuma man floated down to the girl's direction and smiled, showing her his sharp teeth. Her mouth opened as she wanted to scream, but nothing came out. It seemed like every nerve in her body was frozen as she stood there, not even shaking.

"You know, she seems like a beautiful girl, Chat. Is she your little bug? Your girlfriend?"

The two instantly blushed at the question. Just the thought of being together was ridiculous enough, but it was something that made their hearts thump a bit faster. Chat looked at her, she the same, as they looked at each other in the eyes. He blushed a bit harder than her, his eyes widening as the pair of blue eyes met his.

"What do you think about him, Ladybug? A furball with fake charisma. A boy with an obsession with cat puns. A pathetic hero with many insecurities. Weak. A beautiful lady like you deserves better." The girl broke the connection between her and Chat as she heard the insults being made. She glared at the akuma and huffed.

"I don't see that. I think he is trying his best and I respect that. No, we aren't dating, but he's my friend. I'd like to see you accomplish his hero duties." She challenged the man. "Chat Noir is at least better than you!"

The akumatized man grinned as he looked over to Chat Noir, who stood there dumbfounded. His rod fell from his hand as he shifted his eyes between his new acclaimed friend and the akuma, and soon shook his head. He couldn't believe that at least someone was standing up for him for the first time. Chat was used to living with every cruel remark directed towards him and was even used to people insulting him when he would sometimes fail to protect his home city. The words that the man said was heart piercing as Chat knew that it was true, hitting his insecurities. But he had let it slip off his shoulders like the pouring rain falling down his suit. He couldn't believe what he heard. Yet, here he was, listening to the girl defend him for once in his life. It felt like a bit of the heavy emotional weight he always carried around was lifted off his back. How lucky was he to now have her as his friend?

"Also leave us alone…" She growled, forming her hand into a fist and throwing it at the man's chest. Her coming fist was stopped when his muscular arms caught it in time before it could make an impact. He shook his head and laughed in a rather startling way.

"As you wish, Ladybug." And with that, the man was gone, vanishing from their sights. So was the girl as she walked away from the scene.

"I uhh...my lady. Thank you. Merci." Chat broke the silence, catching up to her. He scratched the back of his neck in embarrassment and the redness in his cheeks came back. "You are a good friend, Ladybug."

She paused and turned to him. There was always something about each other when they would see each other. It felt like they were made for each other. As if they completed one another. Butterflies would wildly roam in the pits of their stomachs, but they accepted it. She cracked a smile to him and lifted her arm up, her fist again in the air as she quietly offered a fist bump for him.

"Pound it." The two spoke in unison, bumping their fists together and broke out in laughter, not paying any mind to the heavy rain. Chat knew he was going to heavily value their new friendship. She was the only friend he had at the moment.

"So, um, can I call you Ladybug, my lady? It fits your suit and style. You even bring good luck and you're helpful like one."

The girl smiled at Chat. Her heart and mind had accepted the fact that she now trusted this hero.

"Yes. I am Ladybug."

I know this was a short chapter, but I couldn't resist releasing this. I wanted to make a chapter of just their first interaction here.

My Steven Universe one shot is still in the making and I'm planning out my "9 Lives" fic. Stay tuned. :)

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Thanks! Next chapter is coming soon!

-Gem Goddess