…Why do I feel like sneezing?

Marinette's eyes fluttered open to see Tikki floating in front of her face, placing a fin to her mouth for silence. She was cradled up in someone's arms, shrouded by a large cape. A wedged cape.

…Raven?

"No way," she could hear Alya's gasp, "did she de-transform?!"

"Ladybug," Chat Noir's voice was strained, "are you okay?!"

They're here…

"I'm alright, Chat," she answered back as Tikki gave a tiny nod, "just a bit sore." She gave a chuckle. "Never thought I'd be belly flopped by a Minotaur."

"You, with the phone," Raven spoke now, "call the authorities and have Killer retrieved. I'll meet up with them soon; he won't wake for at least five hours. A cage of enforced iron is required for restraint. Chat Noir, disperse before you de-transform, as well."

She didn't hear any footsteps. "…Really, Chat," she said, "I'm fine. Just go. I'll talk to you soon, okay?"

"…Don't ever scare me like that again, m'lady," he ran off, "please."

…I'm so sorry, Chat. Trust me, you weren't the only one who was scared.

As much as she wanted to see him, she clung to Raven's shoulders as he stood and ran off, away from her friends. She just caught a glimpse of Lila's heels pass by as Tikki slipped into her purse again.

At least we won…


Raven leaped up onto her bedroom balcony, and let her step down as he pushed his cape back. "Fool."

"I get it," she shoved him back, "you don't like me. Can we drop it now?"

He cocked an eyebrow. "I beg your pardon?"

"All you've done since we've met is accuse me of being an amateur, not good enough, unable to fight anything beyond HawkMoth," she turned her back to him, fists clenched, "don't tell me you thought I was blind, too!"

Beep-beep-beep-

FWOOSH!

"…You," she slowly turned back to him, "you used your power, too, which means…!"

Before her stood a young man with dark curls, deep eyes and a dark green long sleeved shirt over black pants. He wore thin rimmed glasses and a silver watch that ticked by. On his shoulder sat a small, dark blue Kwami with brown eyes and tiny wings. "Hey," it waved, "name's Wiing. Unlike a certain somebody, I don't mind being sociable."

Marinette gawked as the boy pulled out a granola bar from his pocket, opened it up and began to feed Wiing. "…You're…normal…"

"You seem shocked, Miss."

"It's Marinette."

"Pleasure. Oscar," he crumpled the granola bar wrapper up and stuck it back in his pocket, "New Yorker. Not that you didn't know that already."

"…Well, this doesn't change anything," she crossed her arms, frowning, "though I'd love to know how you figured out I was Ladybug the other night you saved me. Even though I could have handled it by myself."

"I often collect information before arriving in new territory," he explained, "and...I saw Tikki peek out of her purse while I was patrolling."

Marinette glanced down at Tikki, who sheepishly grinned. "Sorry."

"And I never said anything about not liking you, in or out of costume."

Wiing snickered. "Oscar's always been hard to deal with, but the guy's got good intentions, I swear."

I never expected him to be so…average, she almost chuckled at the sight of him fixing his glasses, then again, who would ever expect me to be Ladybug?

"Master Fu would love to meet you," she said, "so maybe, if you're not busy after dealing with Killer, I could introduce you."

Oscar gave her a sad smile. "Sorry. I've always been a loner, and creating connections with you Master would only cause more troubles for all of us. Too many villains to keep an eye on; it's best to keep us separate."

"Are you sure?"

He nodded and began back to the railing as Wiing gave the teeniest burp. He stopped and glanced back at her. "Cooperative work has never been my strong suit. That has nothing to do with you, Marinette. You're a strong hero and good at what you do…better than I gave you credit for. I apologize."

"But we did work together. I mean, yes, it was chaotic, but it was something."

"Something out of a movie, perhaps."

"At least promise me that you'll try talking to the other American miraculous holders."

"…Maybe," he smirked as Wiing flew near his single earring, "Wiing, SPREAD OUR WINGS!"

His costume flashed on, and as he grabbed his hook shot he aimed at one of the buildings across the water. "Nuh-uh," she shook her head, "you can't possibly reach out that far-"

Shing!

The beak flew out and dug into the roof of an apartment over the bridge. Her eyes widened as Raven stepped onto the railing. "…I stand corrected."

He gave her one last look. "I suppose we both do." He flew off, his cape flapping in the wind as he flung himself over the water and onto the rooftop across. She watched him leave before sighing and leaning against the railing. She could still see the lights of the Eiffel Tower as they slowly dimmed into darkness.

"Marinette," Her mother's head poke out of the bedroom hatch behind her, "oh, there you are. Alya's here. Don't be too long before heading to bed, okay?"

"Got it, mom," she turned as Tikki slid back into her purse, shutting it, "I promise."

Alya hopped up onto the balcony. "You'll never believe what you missed after we split up in the crowd, Marinette," she listened her to best friend recall everything that had happened before holding her phone tight, "I thought I was gonna have a heart attack!"

"Is it okay to say that I'm not sorry I returned home early?" She wrapped her arm around Alya's shoulders, smiling. "I'm just glad you and Lila, and the heroes, made it out in one piece."

They watched the waves of the water lap against the bridge, sharing a good laugh as Alya showed her a photo she had managed to take of Chloe making the funniest expression on the stage with her microphone.

It's the little things.

So yes, it was a complete stranger behind Raven's mask, but that didn't stop Ladybug from making everything work out. That's what it means to be the leader! Gosh, I can't believe I accidentally put Roger Cop in the character listing instead of Adrien. My bad! Aw, well, despite a mistake here and there, I had a lot of fun writing this penultimate.

Until the next chapter!