A Follow Up to Chapter 3: Explosion

It had been too much to hope that he had been the only one to see.

Chat Noir had barely hit the floor in his bedroom and popped open the tabs for the Ladyblog on the computer before he had seen the photo footage of Ladybug's damaged hair.

He shook his head, releasing his transformation and settling down behind the keyboard. Plagg wasted no time, diving for the stash in his mini-fridge to gorge himself.

He winced, as his hand grazed over the still sore wound at the back of his neck. He would need to treat it soon.

But for now, he would protect his lady any way he could.

She rubbed her eyes, dragging herself out of bed in spite of the early hour. She hadn't slept well, but thankfully, it was the weekend. Even Tikki was still asleep.

She rifled through her drawers, gathering a fresh outfit and quietly getting dressed before her parents noticed she was up and about.

If her Mother noticed her hair, there would be far more questions than she would know how to answer. No one else saw through her lies better than her mother.

Gingerly, she finger combed around the damaged section pigtail, examining it in the mirror with a grave expression. She tugged both ribbons out of her hair.

Change was coming. She had kept it this way for so, so long. But now, it seemed like she had no other alternative.

Tikki could only console her for so long before one thing had became clear: even with all of her fantastical Kwami powers, Tikki couldn't fix her hair. Making adjustments to the suit itself was one thing, especially as her body grew. But Tikki's powers didn't extended to fixing aspects of her own body, even if was to conceal her identity.

She had shut her phone off and closed her eyes to the rest of the world, but she wouldn't be able to shut the world out for too much longer.

If Hawkmoth had any sense of decency, she'd at least get a few hours to deal with this mess before she'd been called in to fight whatever new threat he'd found to throw at them.

With a sigh, she tied a pink scarf around her hair, hoping it would obscure the damaged ends for now.

She jostled a still-sleepy Tikki from her tiny, pink bed in the desk drawer. Her Kwami's tiny hands, running her eyes. "Marinette?"

"How long do you think it will take to make the hood?"

Tiny blue eyes blinked, narrowing as they registering the scarf. "Since it is temporary? Just a few minutes, I think."

It was almost noon when Chat Noir could stretch his legs again atop the now hot rooftops. He didn't dare stay in one place for too long. Not while he was desperate for any sign of Ladybug.

He knew she must be worried. He had even coerced Plagg into transforming again at home just to see if he could call her up and check on her.

But it was as if Ladybug had gone entirely silent.

At least her namesake blog had come through in a big way.

He had only made the suggestion that Paris band together to protect his Lady.

Alya, ever quick to pick up and run with an idea, must have spotted it as the likes built up on his comment and ran with it, encouraging everyone to go and get a trim or a cut in solidarity.

The #shehasourback #wehavehers campaign was trending like wildfire. Users were posting selfies left and right. Salons posted images of their long lines, some even calling in all their staff for extra support, even on the weekend.

If Hawkmoth was watching for one girl to change her hairstyle, they would give him thousands.

He grinned, recognizing a very familiar pair of blue eyes coming out of one of the hair salons near the school. "Marinette!"

He waved, when she looked up, startled.

"Chat Noir?" Her hand drifted to fuss with her locks, her signature pigtails now notably missing. "Is there an Akuma nearby?"

"Nope," he grinned, sliding down to street level on his baton. "Just out searching for Ladybug. You went all out with the hair. Are you going to post a selfie to the Ladyblog?"

"I…" She blinked, a frown passing over her face for the barest second. "I...don't know. Maybe?"

"You should." He grinned, patting her shoulder. "It's really cute. I know Ladybug will appreciate your support."

"Uhhh…" Her eyebrows rose. "Thanks?"

"Not at all. Thank you, Princess." He winked at her, before turning on his heel and bounded back up to roof level.

His lady had to be out here somewhere.

Once Chat Noir was safely out of sight, Marinette pulled out her phone, ducked into an alley, and looked up the Ladyblog.

Her hand covered her mouth to stifle her gasp.

Tikki flew up onto her shoulder, safer in the shadows. "I told you everything would work out, Marinette."

She nodded, although words were failing her at the moment. She wasn't even sure how long she spent, scrolling through page after page of pictures. Leaning against the chilled brick wall as she pored over Alya's campaign announcement. Memorizing every single work from the lone, anonymous post that had started the movement.

Marinette was never more thankful to be out of her suit. Someone would definitely have caught a picture of Ladybug crying.

Unless she missed her guess, she had a certain kitty to thank.

Ladybug ran atop the roofs, yo-yo in hand and open in a desperate sprint towards Chat Noir's location.

He was always protecting her. Even when she'd been convinced the situation was hopeless.

She closed the screen, sure she was headed in the right direction and sent the yo-yo flying. She'd move much more quickly, once her feet left the rooftop.

Chat Noir had even told her her hair was cute. With just a few words, he'd suppressed the tide of self-doubt that still was there...even if she knew logically that those doubts weren't anywhere near as important as keeping her friends and her family safe.

Not that he knew it was her when he had spoken them.

Not that he even knew they were the words she'd needed to hear.

When she'd spotted him, his face lit up as he spotted her, halting in place as he'd waited for her to land.

He hadn't anticipated that she wasn't going to slow down.

"Ooof!" He grunted, as her momentum carried her into the hug that nearly sent them both sprawling back onto the roof. She didn't dare say a word, burying her face into his neck as her arms wrapped around his shoulders.

With a reverent care so his claws didn't accidentally scratch her scalp, Chat Noir smoothed his gloves over her hair. "It looks lovely, LB."