I been getting complaints so I deleted a bit and ended the former chapter the way it's now.
Well, last chapter I got on reserve, let's see.
It might be possible that I'll miss the next few upload dates on my schedule.
Not like anyone would care a lot but thought I'd say it just in case.
Enjoy~


"So, Carapace.", Ladybug grinned. He could tell she had thought about him a lot before even doing so much as smiling, "What's your superpower?"

Chat propped himself up on Ladybug's shoulder, leaning around her and let his eyes wander up and down the other boy's body, smirking.

"I'd say it's got something to do with a shield. Maybe protecting. Or time? I mean, Turtles are super slow, maybe you can slow down time."

Carapace laughed, shaking his head as he turned away from the sunset, leaning back a little more.

"Turtles can actually be pretty fast and no, my power has nothing to do with time, sorry to disappoint you. But it's a shield, yeah.", he pulled the shield from his back and got to his feet, positioning himself next to the other two, turning away so he could show them safely. Behind him, he heard Ladybug getting to her feet and peering around him to see what he was doing. He smiled and slid his arm into the given holders, grabbing the steady handle that was installed on the inside.

"So, according to Master Fu, my superpower works a little like Chat's cataclysm or Lucky Charm."

Chat stood as well, accompanying Ladybug behind the new superhero.

"But I thought you could do a shield?", he questioned and Carapace chuckled.

"Yep. It just morphs into what I need at that moment. For example, the shield could expand to a ball around me to keep me safe or it could create kinda like force shields, shielding someone or something that I want to protect. I can make it as big as I want, I think, and it's gonna last as long as I want or until I detransform."

Chat already laughed.

"Sooooo, it could just turn into a ball and you'd have to stay in there until you detransform?", he cackled as Carapace half turned to him, shooting him a deadpanning look.

"Sure, because that's how protection works. No, I can still kind of decide what to do with it. Like, you can choose to destroy something by turning it into ash but you can also choose to just stop making it function, like a short circuit for an electronic device."

Ladybug gave Chat a light smack on the back of his head, then she turned to Carapace again.
"Could you show us?"

He nodded, smirking at Chat who rubbed his head with a pout, then he widened his stance.

"Shellter!", he exclaimed and the pattern of his shield began to glow. A wall of light emerged from the shield and expanded, faster and faster, until it touched down all around the three heroes on the roof, creating a dome in which a soft humming noise could be heard. Carapace allowed himself to relax and looked up at the swirling lightly cyan shield, grinning.

"Cool…", he breathed, then lowered his gaze again to knock against the surface. His hand went right through.

Ladybug stepped next to him, tilting her head at his hand that was outside now.

"And now?"

He laughed, bending his hand to knock against the shield from the outside. It sounded like glass this time, echoing through the dome.

"I think the shield is letting those from the inside through. Or maybe us as the superheroes? I dunno yet, but it's worth trying out."

"Could also be that the Miraculous is letting people with a Miraculous through. Or maybe it's the same with Chat's cataclysm, you can choose who gets to pass and who doesn't."

Carapace shrugged, pulling his hand back in without a hindrance.

"I dunno, maybe."

Ladybug smirked as she looked over to Chat who stared at the shield with wide eyes, already giggling to herself.

"Well, we could find out. Cara, try to concentrate on not letting anybody in or out!"

He smirked as well and concentrated on hardening the shield in his mind, then Ladybug pounced on Chat and pushed him out. Their partner stumbled right out of the shield, looking at them indignantly.

"What? Oh come on guys! You could've hurt me with that, bugaboo!", he whined and his voice sounded muffled due to the shield and Ladybug giggled louder.

"Poor kitty. Now come in again – if you can."

Carapace stepped next to her, snorting as Chat stepped into the dome again.

"So, I can apparently not influence a shield that's already been created. Maybe if I create a new one and concentrate on it."

"Or my theory with the Miraculous was right, that the shield lets through Miraculous wielders but not civilians.", she theorized, soothing Chat by going up on her tiptoes and pressing a chaste kiss to his cheek. His face immediately softened and he wrapped an arm around her waist to steady her. Carapace bit his lip and looked away as he whispered something in her ear, feeling jealousy bubbling up in his chest.

He knew he wasn't allowed to tell Alya, even if he wanted to. Master Fu had said that he needed to gain their trust first. And it was never good to have civilians know their identity, that had been proven time and time again while he had still been one but had known Marinette's and Adrien's secret.

It made them way too close to the action, way too easy to target. Even if they could be helpful. But Hawkmoth knew who Ladybug was and they had been there fighting with him when they had restored the Ladybug Miraculous.

Over the summer the Akumas had always found a way of involving Nino and Alya and it was honestly getting dangerous. Nino was just glad to have a Miraculous himself now.

Like this he could keep himself and, more importantly, Alya safe.

A small smile snuck on his lips as he watched the swirling cyan in front of him. He'd be able to keep her safe. But really this time, by not letting her take the cat Miraculous again, by not letting her run right into the action anymore and by being able to take a hit for her. He lifted his hand and watched his fingers going through the shield, the lightly cyan wall of light caressing his features but not letting him feel anything. He hummed to himself, pulling his hand back again as a beeping sounded from his wrist. He watched one part of the shell becoming dark green like the bracelet underneath the symbol, one part of five.

"Looks like you need to recharge, hm?", Chat's voice broke through to him and Carapace lifted his head, smiling at the other hero.

"Yeah, looks like it. Well, I still got a few minutes.", he replied, then he cast his gaze down again and the small smile reappeared on his lips.

"Ooh, I know that look.", Ladybug teased, coming closer, "You got someone special, Cara?"

The boy met her gaze and grinned, nodding proudly.

"The prettiest girl in the whole world. I just-… I guess I gotta readjust with her and-… And this…", he gestured up and down his suit, shrugging. Ladybug placed a hand on his shoulder, smiling at him with a wink.

"It's gonna be okay, trust me."

Carapace snorted, gesturing between Chat and her.

"Well, you guys got it lucky, you're both superheroes. Even if that has its downsides, too, I guess… But still. I don't know how to juggle real life and this here yet and I haven't even fought against an Akuma.", he hung his head and added in his mind that he had at least not fought an Akuma in the suit yet. It would've probably been a dead giveaway to tell his friends, though.

"Yeah… I get you… Well, we've kept our identities a secret for years, too, and we got through it. Of course, it's not easy at first but believe me, Carapace. You're gonna be able to get through it, just as we were."

Ladybug leant her head back and watched as the shield disintegrated to air as he pushed a button on the inside of the shield, then he smiled and nodded, placing the shield on his back again to have both his hands free.

"I guess so, yes… So, guys, I have four minutes left. I'll go home now. Uhm-… See you tomorrow for patrol?"

Suddenly, Chat smirked very smugly and leant on Ladybug's shoulder again, wiggling with his eyebrows.

"Oh no, Cara. We've – or better, I – got something else to do for you. We actually talked to Master Fu and he said you have to train to be the guardian of the Miraculous. We know you're already taking lessons with Master Fu-"

"And we also know when so we won't come barging in while you're not in suit.", Ladybug briefly interrupted, earning a short nod from Chat before he resumed.

"But we thought we'd give it a shot as well and train you to be more in sync with us as well. After all we're a team now! So, Carapace, you interested in a few hours training with me tomorrow? Bug here can't come, she's busy with a project of hers."

Ladybug elbowed him in the side and even if it was meant loving, Chat faltered a little, wheezing slightly. Carapace chuckled at his best friend.

"Yeah, sure. I'd love to train with you guys, it can only help. So, uh, tomorrow afternoon? Around five, maybe?"

Chat nodded and gave him a thumb up, his tail swishing behind him excitedly.

"Absolutely! Don't you worry, Cara, I will properly prepare you to die in honor."

Carapace stilled and stared at Chat who still grinned at him, then he slowly squinted his eyes.

"Aaaaaaalright. I think you watch too much Anime, bro. Anyway, I'm out, I need to be home soon anyway. See you tomorrow, then, Chat! Bye, Ladybug!"

He just merely saw Ladybug turning to her boyfriend as he already took off, ripping the shield underneath his feet to glide over to the next building and start running from there. It wasn't far to his home but he still wanted to be careful so he took the longer way, just to be sure that nobody saw him.

But just as he was about to turn back, though, to get to his own house, he realized where he was. Across the street he saw a very familiar illuminated room, behind a big glass front and a balcony in the highest level of the house, under the roof. He hesitated, crouching down as his girlfriend stepped into her room, not looking out of the window but just strolling over to her laptop, sitting down on her desk and clicking a few times before beginning to type. She probably just came from tucking the twins in bed. The second beeping sound lightly startled him and he flinched, the movement in the semi shade from the street lights below attracting Alya's attention. Her head turned and he froze, their eyes locking together. For a moment, nothing happened.

He didn't even see her reaching for her phone, either to film him because he could be an Akuma or because she wanted to meet the new team member. They just looked at each other and he could've lost himself in her eyes but the third beep ripped him out of the trance.

Alya tilted her head as he stood up, now her fingers searching for her phone that she had thoughtlessly tossed next to her keyboard. He grinned and gave her a little greeting with two fingers to his forehead, then he winked and scrambled off.

Her surprised expression when the boy vanished into the dark, only faintly showing his silhouette over the dimly lit sky from the city lights was priceless and Nino chuckled to himself before sighing.

He wouldn't be able to tell her. He couldn't.

Well, he could, but-… Fu had been right to say that Nino wanted his team to trust him before revealing his identity. Plus-… It was probably better to keep his family out of this for as long as possible.

He had seen how alert Marinette had always been during an Akuma attack, exactly knowing that Hawkmoth could attack them at any time. And just like Alya and Nino, the Akumas had sometimes decided to take hostages to get where they wanted.

Marinette blamed herself for this. Even at her friend's and parents' begging to listen, to understand that she wasn't at fault, Nino saw how it crushed her. How it weighed down on her.

And everytime one of her parents or friends had been captured, he saw it in her eyes how scared she was. How dangerous it was for her to fall back into the past, to break under what she had to go through once more when she saw in how much danger she had brought her loved ones.

They were just lucky Hawkmoth hadn't done anything in his civilian form yet.

As bad as it was that he was so intelligent, this was to their advantage. He wasn't stupid enough to try and harm Marinette or her family and friends as a civilian.

At least.

After a short run he finally reached his own home, his heart still racing from meeting his girlfriend in the suit. Well, he hadn't met her, really. But she had finally seen him fully. He asked himself if she would be quick enough to figure him out, too, as she had figured out Adrien and Marinette as well.

And even if his heart longed for her to know, he hoped it would take her a long time. Maybe even not at all, until he revealed his identity to his friends.

He crouched down on the roof of his house, carefully glancing over the edge to see that the street was empty. He praised his parents under his breath for choosing such a quiet street to have their home, then he carefully dropped down from the roof, using his shield beneath him as a puffer. Safely and quietly he set foot on his windowsill and checked his room. The air was clear so he opened his unlocked window and slid inside, clipping his shield to his back again.

"Wayzz, shields down.", he whispered as the fourth beep sounded, leaving him with one more part of the shell right before he detransformed.

The little Kwami flew out of his bracelet and Nino scrambled to catch him, securely cupping both his hands around the green god.

"Hey there, buddy.", Nino grinned as Wayzz blinked at him, then he let his little friend down on the pillow on his desk and pulled the bowl of sunflower seeds closer, handing the little Kwami one.

"Thank you, Master Nino.", Wayzz smiled at him, leaning back against the pillow as Nino snorted.

"Dude, you know you don't have to call me master."

His Kwami merely shrugged it off, lazily waving a paw at him.

"Sure, sure.", he replied and Nino rolled his eyes, pushing his desk chair closer to start up his computer. On the screen a picture of the Squad lit up, a picture that they had taken over the summer.

Marinette looked way better already. She had gained a bit of weight after this torture and she had already found back to trusting them a little more. Her eyes still weren't really there in the picture, she was just a little too thoughtful and drawn back, but she had tried so hard to get back to her former self after they had restored her Miraculous. Tikki and Adrien had massively helped by getting her back on track and Alya and Nino had been there for her the whole way. By now, it almost seemed like the old Marinette was back, even if she sometimes had backlashes.

But whenever something like this happened she knew she could trust her parents and her friends to be there for her. She knew she wasn't alone anymore and that was probably why Nino loved this picture so much.

He smiled and typed in his code, then got to the desktop.

A picture of Alya and himself showed, one Marinette had taken without them noticing. They had sat on Alya's bed, both with crossed legs and their knees touching. It had been a sleepover, as Nino recalled, because they had both been in their pajamas.

Their foreheads had leant against each other and they had listened to a new track Nino had mixed, Alya looking down at his phone with a relaxed expression, Nino looking at her, cupping her hands that held his phone on which the earphones were plucked in, scrolling through the pictures in his gallery.

He remembered that she had found something embarrassing just moments after this photo had been snapped, some drunk selfie he had taken at some point after turning sixteen, between all the photos of his family, vacations and his DJing stuff.

She had giggled so adorably as he had scrambled to get the phone from her, falling back and coaxing him to fall with her. He had blushed when he had found himself on top of her and she had laughed, kissing him softly before Adrien had groaned, telling them to get a room.

Nino smirked at the memory, his lips still tingling as he thought back to it.

"What are you smiling about, young master?", Wayzz asked softly, shifting on his pillow to be able to look at his wielder. The boy chuckled and leant back, still looking at his screen.

"Oh, just-… Realizing how lucky I am to have a girl like Alya."


"Widen your stance, Carapace.", Chat instructed while walking around him, nodding slightly as Carapace followed his advice, "With a good stance you can't be brought out of balance so easily. Like this you'll be able to have a better defense."

He did his best not to look at his teammate, knowing exactly that Adrien normally should've been at home practicing the piano instead of standing in the stadium with him, training him in martial arts. Oh, what his father would say to that if he knew.

Chat came to the front again, grinning brightly as he mimicked Carapace's stance, bringing his hands up in a position to fight.

"And now, I will attack you and you try to stay standing, alright?"

The boy gulped and nodded, softly clenching and unclenching his fists nervously. He knew what Chat was able to do. He had seen him fighting before.

"A-Alright.", he stuttered, his eyes trained on his best friend's every move as the black clad superhero surged forward, hooking his leg around Carapace's and trying to push against his chest to get him to fall. Carapace pulled his leg away and turned, still facing Chat but quickly bringing both feet firmly to the ground not to leave a weak spot.

His sparring partner grinned, nodding as he went back in the starting position.

"Very good. But what if I tried something else?", Chat smirked and before Carapace could react, Chat had already grabbed his arm and thrown him over his shoulder. His partner laughed at the surprised expression that the boy couldn't hide as he found himself lying on the floor, having trouble breathing.

"Don't worry, Cara. You'll get used to reacting faster."

He stretched out his hand and Chat took it, pulling him up to his feet again.

"And again, let's go!", Chat enthusiastically exclaimed while Carapace merely groaned.