Adrien yawned, snoozing at his desk.
Achy and tired weren't a great combination—it was truly miraculous that he'd made it through an unplanned, early morning photo session with only a cup of coffee and a fair amount of concealer…
An equally tired looking Marinette stumbled in to class at the last possible second.
He couldn't help but listen in as Alya piped up. "Cutting it a bit close, aren't we?"
"Sorry," Marinette's breathing was labored as she dropped her bag next to her desk with a noisy thud. "You know how I am when ideas strike…"
Though he didn't dare turn around, Adrien could hear the tiniest bit of mischief plain in her voice. Most importantly, she didn't seem to be nearly as worried as he'd imagined she would after that stumble off the roof...
"I spent a few hours up on my balcony, and the ideas just kept… scampering through my mind all night."
It was pure luck that Adrien bit his lip, stifling the guffaw that threatened to break out from his lips. She hadn't lied about her evening… not exactly. Scampering was definitely the right word… for the way that Multimouse moved.
Alya sounded unimpressed. "You really should get that hamster you've been talking about, Marinette. Let it do the scampering for you…"
Marinette chuckled. "Where's the fun in that?"
It was a struggle not to yawn, especially considering it was hardly her usual reaction while she indulged in one of her favorite hobbies: watching Adrien.
She'd been on cloud nine all last night after running the rooftops with him.
She blushed in memory of getting to cuddle close to him… something she'd never have been able to do without the aid of Tikki. But, he was smiling! A lot more than he usually did, too!
As ecstatic as she was to realize that maybe - just maybe - he'd found the whole thing just as lovely as she had, it was somewhat tempered by realizing how many of his own yawns kept sneaking in, prompting no small number on her own part in response.
She smacked her cheeks, forcing herself to focus and stare down at her notes before sneaking a subtle glance back at Lila.
She was particularly quiet today, which only made Marinette feel more ill at ease.
Especially as Lila glared right back at her...
With a heavy sigh, Marinette doodled absently in the margins of her paper, puzzling over how to train with Adrien - no, Aspik - tonight.
If Alya ever found out she was about to spend her evening (again!) with her crush, she was sure to tell her that the single-minded focus was a little ridiculous.
But as the city's resident super-heroine, it was just as important to see to it that he stayed safe, too. It was key to her own peace of mind.
Marinette rubbed the bridge of her nose, against the pressure of the headache that was starting to form.
She halfheartedly wished that she could ask Chat Noir to hold off on training with her civilian self for a day or two.
But that just wouldn't do. She'd already seen fear for her well-being in Chat's haunted green eyes. Asking him to wait would only add to any unease he felt about asking her to help in the first place. She couldn't give him any reason to think she wasn't able to handle the stress.
And, though she wouldn't want to openly admit it, she really didn't want her partner thinking any less of her...
"You're doing really well with the movement!"
She beamed under his praise, a mischievous gleam in her eyes, plain despite the mask. She was already feeling the tug of exhaustion, as Mullo's powers definitely paled in comparison to Tikki's strength reserves. But it was almost entirely worth it just to see her partner's softer than usual sense of encouragement. "Thank you, Chat."
He chuckled, parrying the ball she'd snagged from a balcony along the way. "Thank you! I know a lot of people who would have been too freaked out after that… well, close call the other night." He was suddenly serious, leaning his weight against the extended baton. "You're one of the few who would get back up on that horse…"
Multimouse's eyes narrowed, groaning as she chucked another ball wearily at his face. "That was awful."
"Neigh…" Chat smirked shamelessly.
She just sighed.
Chat Noir cackled. "I thought of it not too long after I dropped you off."
"That figures..." Spooling her tail up around her arm, Multimouse was left with little other option than to roll her eyes. If she encouraged him, Chat was sure to bring out the whole stable of puns he had waiting...
"Honestly," his smirk softened, "this is actually really nice… being able to take some time to focus on training. Ladybug and I were basically just thrown head-first into defending Paris, and we both had to muddle our way through. The first fight was rough… neither of us even heard everything we should've from our Kwamis."
"But you succeeded. And it all came together… eventually."
Chat Noir beamed. "I was impressed with her from the start—even in that first encounter against Stoneheart. But nothing convinced me of her inner strength more than when she threw down the gauntlet to Hawkmoth on the Eiffel Tower that next day. She was terrified, and dealing with people's doubts about her capabilities... but she stood up and stared him down anyways."
His smile was a little rueful.
"She's just… in a word… amazing." Chat sighed. "I'm just not sure I will ever be that impressive to her. Not if she doesn't think I can be as serious as she is."
"You're kidding, right?"
Chat looked mournfully abashed. "Not really?"
"You're her partner, Chat… something she's made a point of bringing up about a billion times in interviews." Multimouse smirked. "And I would know. Alya's made me read most of them."
She ran gloved fingers over the smooth face of her Miraculous necklace, choosing her words thoughtfully. "You are the one who ensures that she can save us all—every day. And I don't need to have read interviews with her to know that… though her words definitely lend credence to how much you're valued. You've saved me from getting hurt… more times than I can count. And, you've taken hit after hit for Ladybug. You're quite amazing yourself."
Chat frowned slightly… it was one thing to be tough for others—tough in the middle of a battle—but that toughness didn't protect him the way he needed it to. His suit could mostly protect his outer body, but his heart… that wasn't quite so invulnerable. As long as he was a defender of Paris, his feelings would probably have to come last, but he would do anything in his power to protect the people he cared about. Right now, this extra training could help two-fold… Multimouse gave the Miraculous team the option of getting help with they needed it, but also gave Marinette another level of protection for herself.
"Thank you, Mighty Mouse." His expression softened as he smiled at her. "What do you say we get back to sparring?"
She nodded, her buns softly bobbing atop her head.
Her breathing was labored as she sped just out of range in time. Multimouse winced as she peered back over at her sparring partner.
As they exchanged blows, it became obvious to both that Chat Noir's baton made him a little overpowered, so he stowed it... focusing instead on using his claws—though it was clear to Multimouse that he was still pulling his punches.
"I thought we were going to train for real," She huffed in frustration as he dodged beyond her reach. "This suit will protect me… but we both know an Akuma wouldn't be nearly so gentle."
Chat grumbled audibly, knowing she was right. But he'd barely telegraphed before flying wide with this staff, knocking her onto her back. Sapphire eyes flew wide open in shock, but she took his offered hand to right herself and start again.
Mentally, she took stock of her weapons on hand: her tail was a handy whip, but the range was all too limited; hand to hand would be questionable against Chat Noir's formidable claws; his ears were a little too canny, and she'd have to leverage a lot to sneak past his ready defenses...
Their back and forth had turned into a literal game of cat and mouse. And she could tell by the ever-present smirk on his lips that the same words were dancing on the tip of his tongue, begging for release.
Not that she'd give him the satisfaction.
"Cat's got your tongue?"
"If you had, you wouldn't still be asking?"
This set him off balance.
"You're playing dirty!" He sputtered.
Finding an advantage, she darted off, slipping under his legs. She wove her tail around his leg… bringing him down hard as she smirked. "And yet, you keep falling for it. Where is your head, Chat Noir? You'd do pretty well not to underestimate me." She grinned.
"I try not to…" He shook his head in disbelief. "You were actually running strategy with that Ultra Mecha Strike III tournament, weren't you?"
"When you're already at a height disadvantage… you learn to use any type of weapon you can get your hands on."
Chat gaped up at her slightly as the bright moon light glowed, ringing an angelic halo about her mousy ears as Multimouse reached down to help him up this time.
"Come on. Clearly, I'm not the only tired one if it's this easy for me to beat you up…"
She walked to the outside wall of the staircase enclosure of the abandoned warehouse they were using for practice terrain… she turned and slid down the wall… already seated by the time he joined her. He was being uncharacteristically quiet.
"I love being up here at this time of night."
"What's your favorite part?"
Chat blinked. "Of being up here?"
"Mmmhmm…"
"The lights." He answered automatically, his green eyes glowing as he peered out across the Seine. "And the freedom."
"You don't have that?" Multimouse whispered.
His ears twitched. "Not… usually. Not outside of the suit, anyways."
"I didn't mean to pry." She bit her lip, scrunching up her nose as she mimed sealing her lips shut. "Secret identities and all."
"Don't worry about it." He smiled sadly. "I'm just figuring out what I could actually say that might not be too much…"
Multimouse winced, settling her achy muscles back against the cool brick wall.
"My father is very… protective. Outside of school, I don't get to spend much time with my friends… so being able to literally run around Paris? It's amazing."
"It is kind of cool, isn't it?" She smiled, the wind ruffling little wisps around the neat buns in her hair. Hesitating, she peered out into the night, barely stifling a yawn. "I mean… I've been up on the rooftops before. On my balcony of course… and the few times you've carried me. But it is a little different, isn't it?"
"It's a rush, right? The adrenaline and all?"
"Does that make you act more reckless?" She blushed, hugging her arms around her knees. "I mean, I've seen on the Ladyblog… where you've taken big hits for Ladybug. Or a dive down the side of a building without your baton… and only your claws to slow the descent." Multimouse frowned. "There have to be plenty of people who would worry about you, outside of the suit as well as in. And, Ladybug herself can't want that either, would she? I mean, you're partners, right?"
"I can't hesitate." His smile was far sadder than she'd even seen in. "If I did? I can't count the times that Paris might have lost Ladybug." Chat's eyes slipped closed. "I have people I want to protect, too."
"I can understand that." She whispered, eyes locking with his. Her head tilted, resting against her knees which she was still hugging close to her chest. "Wanting to protect everyone..."
"If Ladybug is there, she'll find some way bring everything back. I trust that she will make that happen. I trust her..."
His gaze was sharp in the darkness. She was sure that he'd notice her anxious gulp, but he just shook his shaggy head and peered out into the darkness. "Bringing in extra helps is one of the only other ways I can think of to support her. Well, it'll also be a big advantage to have extra abilities and ways to fight against Hawkmoth.
He dusted himself off… watching her carefully as he offered the hand up. "So we ought to get you home, too?"
Multimouse's eyes widened at his extended claw. "We're turning in already?"
He winked down at her. "You said you had to use every weapon available, right?"
"Sure…" She murmured, a bit puzzled.
He tapped his head meaningfully. "You don't need me to spar with you for you to exercise your best weapon."
Multimouse giggled at that for most of her trip home, wearily slumped against Chat Noir's back.
It might not have been the most heroic way home, but she could use every ounce of rest she could get...
As soon as Chat Noir was out of sight, Ladybug transformed. Rushing first to Master Fu's before masking her path the few blocks over to Adrien's...
She bit her lip, struggling to focus. Chat Noir was far more attentive and thoughtful than she'd ever thought. And it was wreaking havoc on her composure.
If they weren't always rushing from this crisis to that, would she be privy to more of that thoughtful side of him?
He'd always been easy to work with… months of teamwork had honed their skills as team mates. And, she couldn't deny that she liked him. Chat Noir was her friend, after all...
But darn it if he didn't occasionally move her heart—much as Adrien had under the rain that day—when he put the puns away and let himself be open and honest.
Now, it was becoming clear that she was right to insist upon on secrecy and not revealing herself as Ladybug…
...maybe Mullo's armor wasn't quite as strong of a barrier around her own heart.
Aspik was barely holding it together... Ladybug was as close to him as she is when with Chat—possibly even closer, as Sass wasn't nearly as mobile.
He'd suspected it yesterday, but Sass definitely couldn't get around as easily as Plagg. He wasn't able to make it up onto the higher rungs of the Eiffel Tower solo. His arms were wrapped, vise-like, about her shoulders… but that wasn't so great for her balance.
He clung to her more tightly on the suddenly steep climb up the second rung of the tower. His nose was practically buried in her hair, leaving him as little more than dead weight on her back as she struggled to propel them both upwards onto the decks that most of the tourist's would avoid. It was a little jarring that he wasn't able to do this own his own. It was one thing to be unable to climb up as a civilian. But with a Miraculous in hand?
Really, it couldn't be helped. He'd already gained a fair bit of control over the basics of playing his new instrument, and aside from the advantage of being able to avoid most of the onlookers, the Eiffel Tower seemed like it would be the best place for him to learn to use the lyre to his best musical advantage… and avoid any sour notes. Being hauled around like a sack of potatoes wasn't very a-peel-ing, but a slip up as Aspik could mean he'd end up a mashed mess on the Paris street below.
He shook his head, puzzling out the lay of the land for this level. Their last training sessions had helped… but it hadn't exactly been informative. "I know I can play the lyre now… but I don't really get what it can do."
Ladybug smiled, a bit winded from the climb, gentling helping to settling him to his feet as the yo-yo string slowly lowered them down. "That's why we're here. Unfortunately, you know about as much as I do. "
He sighed, peering down at the tiny instrument. Aspik's lyre wasn't exactly ideal for defense, meaning he'd have to be a lot more agile on his feet if anyone got in close… And they should probably test to see if the lyre could even take a direct strike...
"Maybe this could emit reverberations through the air like Guitar Villain did or, I could become something of a pied piper for unsuspecting civilians and Akuma." He looked hopeful at that last option.
Ladybug beamed, clearly delighted with his sudden enthusiasm and apparent battle recollection.
Already, he was a blushing, floundering mess. As sure and confident as he was in his ability to protect her at any other time... in this state, he was still at a loss how he'd manage. In his own mind, puns and protection went hand and hand… but there was nothing else that Ladybug more firmly associated with the 'far cooler Chat' than his puns and witty battle reportee.
That's probably part of the reason he just can't pull off puns with all of Chat Noir's usual panache. He's not quite so sssssmoooth. The 'chill' he gets from Plagg isn't quite what Sass provides. Where Plagg's preternatural calm was able to keep him way more even-keeled than he felt at times, Sass was far more no nonsense—right down to a bit of a cold-blooded, chilling effect in his veins…
It was lucky for him that Ladybug was being so warm; it meant he didn't have to worry as much about being around her as he'd thought.
It wasn't until the third time that he'd tried—and failed—to impress Ladybug with his wit, that she'd spoken up.
She blinked, staring at him as if he'd suddenly grown fangs "Are you… trying to act like Chat Noir?"
"What makes you think ssso?"
Her smile softened. "I'd much rather you act like yourself."
Aspik sighed, pointing to one of the too many Gabriel billboards with his face that littered the skyline. "Do you mean like that? Because that's not really who I am either... I can barely even be the person my Father wants me to be most of the time."
Ladybug stood to her full height, staring him down. "I want to see the boy who faced off with Riposte. The one who trusted me when Gorizilla was wreaking havoc through downtown Paris." Her hands fisted upon her hips. "I want the boy who saves his friends… in big ways and small."
She closed the distance, peering up at him, a sweet smile lingering on her lips. "But most of all, Adrien, I want you to feel comfortable. Act like you would around your friends... because once the battles actually start, you'll want to keep all your energy on staying focused… not on playing a part."
He grinned. "I suppose I can manage that…"
"Excellent!" Ladybug cheered. "Because I think we've got a problem that you can help with…"
As tiring as the early photo-shoots (and the occasional re-shoot) so often were, it was nothing to how he currently felt. Adrien sighed, plodding up the stairs about 20 minutes tardy to Madame Bustier's class... at least he had used those 20 minutes well with his cat nap in the car on the way to school.
The class wasn't there, but Madame Bustier had kindly left a note on his desk, directing him to the library so they could work on their group Research projects.
Another flight of steps up to the top floor of the school showed his class busy at work. Half were in the process of carrying heavy stacks of books, and the other half had faces lit behind screens as they pulled up research.
Nino waved him over to their table.
"Poor thing is tuckered out." Alya explained, "She was telling us earlier about the birthday presents she was planning."
Nino shook his head. "She must have been up all night. Marinette barely made it up the stairs before she crashed…"
Adrien's lips curved softly as he settled into the empty seat beside her.
Alya shrugged. "We're just getting in what research we can now. I know that Marinette will look over everything later. But if she's that tired, she's no good to us right now anyways."
Adrien sighed, peering down at Marinette's head nestled atop her arms.
It wasn't like her to lie… but she was obviously much more tired than she'd let on last night, and had worn herself out by helping Chat.
The least he could do was return the favor...
Adrien had been busy, furiously copying down notes.
The ruckus in the library had faded into a dull roar as groups settled in and buckled down to work. It was soft enough that he could easily make out Marinette's soft snore which underscored the steady rise and fall of her breathing.
Part of him was a little jealous, and he busied himself by pushing through as much work as possible so maybe he could sneak in another cat nap himself...
It was only the finely tuned superhero instincts that had suddenly perked his ears… (that and Plagg kicking him in the chest from his pocket), that alerted him to the subtle, ominous creak of wood.
His pencil dropped, eyes noticing only one single motion from the corner of his eye. Instinct took over and he reacted, arms flinging out to halt the backwards motion of Marinette's chair.
Adrien glared up from where he caught Marinette, keeping her from tumbling back out of the chair and onto the ground. Her head bobbed sleepily, and she sunk against him like a marionette with its strings cut.
"Be careful!" He bit out, his muscles straining to right her chair without waking his friend.
"Oops!" Lila smiled cheerfully. "I'm so sorry! I didn't quite notice you there over all these books."
Adrien shook his head, peering anxiously over at the shelves where Alya and Nino were busy grabbing more books from the stacks. "You need to be more careful. Someone could have gotten hurt…"
Lila's flinch was barely even noticeable. "I promise. I'll be very careful next time..."
Adrien was sure that they were supposed to be getting work done. Alya and Nino had nearly finished up with their piles… and they only had about a quarter of an hour left before class time would end.
He would have gotten more done, except that Marinette's near fall had left her crowding his already limited space. At one point, he'd decided it would be easier just to let Marinette lean against him—this way, at least she'd be saved from hurting her neck.
Aside from that, he'd been drafted into an impromptu Journalism emergency.
Alya leaned in across the table with a low voice. "I managed to snag Ladybug last night as she was coming off patrol. She gave me an interview, but she wanted a favor."
Adrien's brows furrowed. "What kind of favor?"
"A secret one," Alya confided. "At least it was supposed to be. She had a story she wanted me to quash if I could, and even gave me a mini-interview and everything. After all of the craziness about Chat Noir pouncing on his new little mouse friend, I guess she wanted to keep her own new recruit out of the spotlight."
Adrien was pretty sure that he stopped breathing...
"And?" Nino pressed.
"And…" Alya smirked. "It seems like she clearly had good instincts. I just got a picture of the pair of them awfully cozy together up on the tower…" She frowned at her phone. "But this picture is actually pretty blurry. Not sure they'll be able to publish this, although the gossip will definitely flow."
Adrien cleared his throat. "What—what did she tell you?"
Alya smirked. "The name of her new recruit: Aspik."
"Some sort of snake?" Nino wondered.
"Seems like it." She chuckled softly, showing Nino and then Adrien the blurred picture of he and Ladybug standing face to face, barely a foot apart. The telephoto lens—and the darkness—had only been able to do so much with the picture.
"Wasn't Chat out with the Mouse for a while?" Adrien coughed. "Why would they only have one grainy picture?"
Alya shrugged. "Beats me, but the guy claims this is the only one. And that he was the only one fast enough on his feet to get it. He's sent me stuff before, and just gave me a heads up as a courtesy before he gets interviewed by Nadja Chamack."
Nino's brows rose. "You didn't want that interview?"
Alya laughed. "Not with an article already ready to drop."
Adrien shook his head. "So why did you need our help?"
She pressed her fingers to her temples. "I tried to think for like an hour before I could get to sleep. But I swear, there is no good Ladybug-Aspik ship name."
Nino's sigh was audible. "Do they really need one?"
Alya whispered. "Try asking that to all the fangirls… besides, only one picture? Clearly they were trying out new powers… and if they were that close without much provocation, the internet will definitely be abuzz for more."
Adrien tried to shrink behind his hand.
She slid the list over to Nino.
"Laspik? Aspbug?"
"How about: L'Aspik?"
"Ladypik?" Nino arched a brow. "Really?"
"Yeah…" Alya muttered. "That one was really awkward…"
Adrien shook his head, wondering how his life had somehow managed to be this ridiculous. And he'd thought the chunks of Camembert doomed to live in his pockets for the foreseeable future had been rough.
His finger trailed over some of the other suggestions on Alya's list:
Lapik
Ladik
Laspdik
Aspug
"No way. Sounds like ass-pug."
Alya meanwhile, was back to poring over the picture. "I mean, this guy clearly has some sort of magical, musical weapon… like some sort of tiny harp? The guy who caught this blurry picture only got one shot before… well, before deciding he didn't want to take any others I guess?"
"You think this... Aspik guy might be dangerous…?" Adrien whispered conspiratorially, guilelessly raising his eyebrows.
"Well, music hypnosis type stuff and snake charming could possibly go with the villainous atmosphere… Snakes don't often have the best reputation."
"...but he's already charming…" Marinette nuzzled into Adrien's shoulder as she murmured softly... but not soft enough that Alya and Nino hadn't noticed.
It was a pure mercy that the pair looked at one another, and not towards him, or they'd have seen the brilliant shade of red on his face.
"Hmmm…" Alya tapped a finger upon her lip, thoughtfully.
Nino snapped his fingers. "Snakeycharm."
Adrien snorted, hoping his blissful amusement might hide the overwhelming tide of warmth suffusing his cheeks...
Alya just gaped over at Nino, stunned into silence.
"Is that it?" Nino's brows rose over his glasses. "Dude. Is that is? Did I win the internet?"
Alya snickered softly. "It's too good not to use…"
"And you say I'm not creative enough, babe."
"Do I?" She simpered coyly.
Adrien hardly even registered the grumble beside him, until Marinette's brows wrinkled. Her eyes stayed firmly shut. "Stop hissspering, I'm trying to sleep over here!"
Adrien just goes wide-eyed, meeting Nino's equally shocked expression. Alya simply looks bemused, not-so-secretly slipping her phone into her hands.
Adrien beamed, trying not to shake with visceral laughter as the weight of her clearly unintended pun landed…
Clearly and thoroughly sleep-dazed—and unaware of her situation—Marinette rubbed an eye as she grumbled again... then laced her arm over Adrien's and snuggled even closer to him. This time, Adrien didn't escape notice as his face turned ever redder.
Nino just sighed, and scribbled a few more notes into his notebook, and Adrien struggled to do the same with his... unexpected handicap.
Smirking and unrepentant, Alya lifted her phone up to snap a picture of the pair…
Not one of them noticed the deep scowl directed at their table from across the Library.
Notes:
Thank you all for your lovely feedback! Your kind words really keep me going!