Notes: …y'know, I like this gimmick SO DAMN MUCH, we're gonna do it ONE MORE TIME… 😂 (I've been permanently traumatized by the word 'loop'. We were putting Fruit Loops in breakfast bags the other day and I CRINGED.)
Marinette's 29 Valentine's Days
Day Twenty-Eight, Loop Twenty-Seven: Free
When Marinette woke up the morning of Friday, 14 February, Valentine's Day, it wasn't to the blaring of her alarm. It also wasn't to a gentle humming in her ear or an incessant tapping on her roof.
When Marinette woke up that morning, it was to a ticklish flicking against her nose.
It was easy enough to ignore at first. In her half-awake state, she swatted at her nose without any thought to the cause (probably just some hair that had fallen into her face through the night). And when the tickling persisted, she groaned and rolled to press her face into her pillow. With her nose now covered, the feeling moved to her ear – only it wasn't a tickle anymore. It was a sharp, stinging flick. She slapped at her ear with a grumble, and for a moment the annoyance left her in peace.
…until it bit her.
She bolted up with a yelp, her hand clamped over her ear, and stared into the glowing eyes of a grinning snake kwami.
"Misssstressss," Sass said in greeting, inclining his head. She blinked at him, her mind racing as it tried to catch up with her: where she was, what had happened, why Sass was biting her…his tail swished behind him, the picture of innocence, and her eyes narrowed at him in an annoyed glare. She didn't buy it for a second. She was dimly aware of Tikki giggling behind her – about as aware as she was of the knocking above her head.
"Marinette?" Luka called through her rooftop hatch, knocking again. "Are you all right?"
"…you bit me," she gaped. Luka knocked again, more urgently. Sass's smile was almost demonic. "Sass. What the hell?"
"Ssssorry, Missssstressssss," he said. The little shit actually sounded smug. "I was under the impressssssion you like being bitten."
Marinette froze. It only took a few seconds to register what he had said, but those few seconds felt like an eternity. She felt the heat rising to her face. Felt her jaw dropping open. And then she screamed.
She snatched at him, oblivious to the giggling of her own kwami behind her, but he phased through her ceiling with a hissing laugh. She growled and threw the hatch open, chasing after him.
"Mari – whoa!" Luka cried, teetering back as she crashed into him. She swiped behind him, but Sass hovered just out of reach. His tongue flicked out, as if he was scenting the air, but Marinette knew better. She knew Sass. She knew he was mocking her. "Marinette, easy! Darning –"
"Don't you 'darning' me, Couffaine!" she snapped. She turned her head and tugged her ear out for his inspection. "He bit me!"
Luka's eyes widened, and he reached out to run a finger against her ear. She was too pissed to be affected by the touch.
"Holy shit," Luka breathed. "You're bleeding."
…what?
"Sass!" Luka snapped, turning to glare at his kwami. Sass looked completely unrepentant.
"You ssssaid to wake her," he said, his tail still swishing. "I woke her."
"Wake her, not bite her!" Luka scolded. Marinette gulped at the look on the tiny god's face.
"Of coursssse, Masssster," he said, bowing his head. There was a certain gleam in his eyes that set Marinette's teeth on edge. "I forgot that'sssss your job."
…Marinette was struck by the sudden realization that Sass, under no circumstances, could ever be allowed to meet Dingo.
She was pretty sure her jaw had dropped open. She knew Luka's had, too. They were both gawking at the little shit, but Sass just continued to grin, his tail twitching behind him.
"You…you…" Luka spluttered, blinking at his kwami. He seemed to be struck dumb. "You asshole."
…well, ok. Not that dumb, apparently.
Marinette couldn't help it. She snorted, choking a little on a laugh, and as Sass's grin grew she pressed her face into Luka's shoulder. Her hands fisted in his shirt, clinging desperately to him as she tried not to laugh. Luka groaned and wrapped his arms around her, tucking his face against her neck as Sass began to snicker. He took a deep, steadying breath, and Marinette shivered at the feeling of his warm breath against her skin.
"…I asked him to wake you up because I knew we had to get to Hannah before the akuma and after yesterday I didn't…well," Luka grumbled, cutting himself off with a cough.
"Masssster didn't trussssst himsssself around you, Missstressss," Sass snickered. He dropped onto Marinette's head, his tail curling around her ear and rubbing where he'd bitten. "I am sssssorry. I did not mean to bite quite ssssso hard."
"Ass. Hole," Luka seethed, and Marinette choked on another laugh. He was right, of course. About Sass being an asshole and about getting to Hannah. She grinned up at him, and he smiled wryly. "I thought it would be better if I removed the temptation. If I'd known he was going to bite you, though…"
"He tried shaking her first," Tikki said, zipping up to rest on Luka's head. He glanced up at her and grinned. Marinette felt Sass's tail swish by her ear again.
"I flicked her first," he said, and Marinette reached up to flick his head. Both kwamis snickered.
"Marinette's just a very deep sleeper," Tikki giggled.
"Good to know," Luka hummed, and Marinette felt her face flushing. She pressed it back into his shoulder, tightening her grip on his shirt like she wanted to shake him. He said it like Tikki was imparting some secret wisdom he might find useful later. She felt him press his lips to her temple, and she groaned. "C'mon. If we hurry, we might actually reach Hannah before the akuma."
"I'm so glad one of you is finally being responsible," Tikki said sweetly, though there was nothing sweet about the look she shot Marinette. Marinette rolled her eyes and stuck her tongue out at her kwami, who just giggled in response. Marinette called for her spots before Tikki could say anything else, effectively silencing the kwami.
"Scales slither," Luka whispered, and she felt Sass disappear from her head as Luka transformed. Before Viperion could pull away from her, she tugged him down into a quick kiss. He groaned, briefly tightening his hold on her shoulders before he reluctantly pushed her back. "Mari. Darning. You know I'd love to continue this, but…no more kissing until we break the loop."
"I know," she sighed, her eyes barely opening to look up at him. A strangled sound escaped him, and despite what he had just told her he tugged her back towards him for another hard kiss.
"God, you're distracting," he mumbled against her lips, making her giggle.
"All right," she said, pushing him back so she could climb onto her balcony. The sun was barely up. She lifted her arms high above her head, arching her back in a stretch. When she turned back to Luka, she caught him watching her appreciatively. She reached for her yoyo and started swinging it, a knowing smile on her face as he looked away. "Let's end this."
She gave him one last look, and, with the lightning-fast reflexes she had honed over years of battling akumas, aimed a swift slap at his ass before throwing herself off the roof, her laughter ringing out above the city behind her. She heard him running behind her a few moments later, his own laughter chasing her and wrapping around her heart.
The early morning run in the cool February air was just what Ladybug needed to clear her head. Luka was right. There would be time for them later, but they had to get past today first. And to get past today, they had to get to Hannah. She knew what she was doing now. She had a plan. And, she thought with a smile as Viperion fell into step beside her, she had Luka. They were going to catch the akuma. They were going to break this stupid loop. And then…
…but that would be later, she thought with a determined nod. They landed on the roof of the flower shop on Rue de Bretagne, and without a moment's pause she swung over to Hannah's balcony. There was a light on inside, and through the thin curtain she could see Hannah sitting on her couch. She appeared to be alone. Viperion landed beside her, and she reached out to squeeze his hand.
"Ready?" he asked.
"Let's end this," she said, an echo of her earlier words. His lips quirked in a grin and then he was pressing them to her forehead.
"Go on," he said. "I'll keep watch."
Ladybug nodded, gave him a quick kiss ("For luck," she said when he groaned), and slipped off the railing she was perched on. She caught his eyes lingering as she approached the door, but then he was tearing his gaze away and turning back to watch for the akuma or any approaching butterflies. She took a deep breath, raised her hand, and tapped on the glass door. Hannah pulled the curtain back a moment later, and while she looked scared she didn't really seem all that surprised to see Ladybug standing there. A shaky hand reached out to grab the latch, and then she was opening the door.
"L-Ladybug," Hannah stammered, and Ladybug dipped her head towards her.
"Hannah," she said, her voice firm but kind. "We need to talk."
Hannah looked down, biting her lip and toying with the sleeves of her sweater. Ladybug laid a reassuring hand on her shoulder, squeezing gently. Hannah looked back up, and Ladybug put her best smile on. She hoped it was kind enough.
"Tell me about Geoff," she said. Her eyebrows rose as the color drained from Hannah's face. She looked behind her, her eyes darting towards Viperion's back, before she nodded. She was still shaking.
"A-all right," she said, swallowing thickly. "Come on in."
Ladybug caught Viperion's eyes one last time before she followed Hannah inside. A blanket was thrown over the back of the couch, a steaming mug of something – tea? – sitting on the unbroken coffee table. It all looked so…normal, without an akuma tackling her into the ground or Viperion unconscious on the couch or Hannah cowering in the corner. It just seemed like a normal flat on a normal morning, and Hannah was just a normal woman getting ready for work. No one would ever suspect they'd been reliving the same morning for a month now, not going by the how that room looked.
Hannah sat down on the couch, wrapping the blanket around her like a shield. Like it could protect her from what was coming – like she had finally realized what was coming and what part she'd been playing in all of it. Good. They needed to be on the same page, Ladybug couldn't help but think. She found, despite her personal frustration, she actually felt bad for Hannah. The woman must be terrified. How much worse must it be to know you were the cause of Paris's troubles but not realize why?
Hannah continued to fidget with the sleeves of her sweater. When that proved an insufficient distraction, she reached for her tea and raised it to her lips. She didn't actually drink it, though. She continued to sit there, staring blankly at the table as her thumb batted at the teabag tag. Ladybug pursed her lips, glancing at the clock on the wall. They were running out of time. She needed Hannah to start talking. She needed…her eyes caught sight of a photo near the clock. She remembered seeing it the day before, but she hadn't actually seen it. What with fighting the akuma and everything. She clipped her yoyo onto her hip and walked over to the wall, smiling slightly.
It was an old photo, from what looked like a birthday party. Two girls Ladybug didn't know were in the forefront, the one wearing an ostentatious crown and screaming with both arms thrown over her head, victory signs waving high. The other girl was clinging to her waist, her cheek pressed against her side as she grinned up at her friend. There were other people in the picture, of course: a boy with dreadlocks blowing into a party favor, another girl with glasses tossing confetti, another boy balancing two plates of cake in the back. On the left, though, were two familiar – if younger – people. Hannah stood to the birthday girl's left, her hands on her shoulders, eyes closed, and mouth open in her own scream. And behind her…that was definitely Geoff. Standing there smiling at her like she was his world, a party favor held in front of his face as he smiled stupidly at the screaming girl.
Ladybug had seen that look on Geoff's face quite a few times over the past month.
Glancing at the other pictures along the wall, Ladybug saw more of the same. Most of the pictures held groups of people, but Geoff was in every single one, and he could usually be found looking at Hannah with stupid, soft eyes. There were only two that looked recent – closer to their current ages – and those were the only ones where Geoff was not hugging her or hovering nearby. One looked to be from a conference of some sort, and they stood in suits with three other people, holding up awards with curt, professional smiles. The other seemed to be from another work function, though this one was more casual. Hannah was posing with two other women at the forefront of the picture, but Geoff could be seen with the group in the back, looking at her like…
They had a history. A story. Ladybug just wasn't sure how that story had played out, but she had a feeling if Hannah would just talk to her…
She walked back over to the couch, her eyes glancing back at Viperion as she went. The sun was getting higher, but he still stood at the ready. He had pulled his lyre out and was idly plucking at the strands.
It took her a moment to hear the melody through the closed door, but she would recognize it anywhere. A genuine, soft smile curled her lips as she looked back at Hannah.
There was another picture on the coffee table, lying face-up in a simple black frame. It was another one from when they were younger, but this time Hannah and Geoff were the only ones in the focus. He had his arms wrapped around her shoulders and his lips pressed to her cheek in an exaggerated kiss, and her hands were fisted over her mouth as she laughed. Her eyes were closed and her face was so red the camera had had no problem capturing her blush. Ladybug frowned and reached out, laying a hand on Hannah's shoulder. The woman tensed under her touch.
"Hannah, who is Geoff?" Ladybug asked quietly. Hannah took a deep, steadying breath and released it on a sigh. She put her mug down before answering.
"He's…complicated," she said. Ladybug fought the urge to roll her eyes. Well, obviously. She walked around the couch and sat on the table in front of Hannah. She pointedly ignored the photo, instead leaning forward to rest her elbows on her knees. When Hannah realized Ladybug was waiting for her to continue, she squirmed deeper into her blanket. "We've known each other forever. I feel like I've been in love with him just as long. We were kids when we first met, and Geoff…Geoff was always special."
Ladybug had to smile. She knew how that went all too well, she thought with a glance towards Viperion.
"We were always close. Ran in the same circles, paired up on school and community projects a lot…we even dated a little in lycée. He…he was always out of my league, though," Hannah continued. Ladybug frowned, glancing at the photo. She remembered the other photos, especially the recent ones. She wasn't really seeing that, or at least where Geoff would think it was true. If anything, she'd gamble he felt that opposite: that she was out of his league. "Geoff is…Geoff is a presence. People always love him. And he loves them back. And I…I couldn't compete with that."
"I don't really think he expected you to," Ladybug said kindly. She frowned, thinking of Geoff's face whenever he was around Hannah. When he walked away from her door alone. "I think he just wants you there."
"Geoff doesn't…Geoff can't…we aren't together anymore," Hannah said stiffly. "We were going…different places. Directions. So we broke it off our last year of lycée, and…you know. Things happen. I never thought I'd see him again. He would just be the one that got away, y'know? A bittersweet memory."
"Until he showed back up in your life?" Ladybug asked, and Hannah nodded.
"I got this great job straight out of university. Most people aren't half as lucky. Turns out Geoff got the same job," Hannah said, laughing bitterly. "I'm showing up to work the first day, and he's in the cubicle next to me. It was awkward, at first, but everything had always been so easy with him. So…we're friends. We made it work. And…"
Her hand came up to her neck, and Ladybug's eyes narrowed at the heart-shaped pendant there. Hannah's fingertips caressed the smooth gold.
"I wasn't supposed to fall back in love with him," she said. Her voice sounded watery. "I don't think I ever stopped, but…he was my lycée boyfriend. Childhood crush. Those things never last past school, not in the real world. And not when…Geoff deserves so much better. So much more. I'm just…I'm a wreck, Ladybug."
"Don't you think that's his place to decide, though?" Ladybug asked. Hannah's eyes snapped back to her, and she smiled at her. "He seems pretty crazy about you, Hannah. If that's what's been upsetting you, I don't think you have anything to worry about. Geoff loves you."
"I was going to confess to him today," Hannah said. She frowned, scrunching her nose. "God, that sounds so cheesy. Saying I'm going to confess like this is some teenage romcom from the nineties….I just…I wanted him to know how I felt. How I still feel. But then I kept thinking…there's no way he's going to feel the same, not anymore. Or there's no way he should. And I…I don't even know what's happening, Ladybug. I thought…I was having bad dreams. I kept trying to tell Geoff I still love him, and things kept going wrong, and then you were there yelling at me and…"
"Wait. You don't know what's happening?" Ladybug asked. Her eyebrows rose, and Hannah shook her head. Ladybug winced. "Hannah, you're being akumatized. You've trapped Paris in a time loop."
"Wh-what?" Hannah gasped. Ladybug gestured to Viperion.
"It took us a while to figure it out, but Viperion's powers draw on time. He picked it up before I did, actually. Though he thought he was having bad dreams, too," Ladybug said with a small smile. She giggled, and Hannah's eyebrows rose. She looked baffled. "And some good ones. Some really good ones."
"But I'm not akumatized now," Hannah protested, as if that should make a difference. Usually, Ladybug supposed, it would.
"It's a little complicated," Ladybug said. She shrugged and gripped the edge of the coffee table, scuffing her booted toes against the carpet. "You actually kidnapped Viperion…yesterday? The day before? But he finally got to see what was happening. It's…time makes this complicated."
A strangled sound escaped Hannah. She grabbed a throw pillow and rocked forward, pressing her face into the cushion.
"I think you're trying to tell Geoff how you feel, but when something goes wrong you're getting upset and Hawkmoth finds an opening. I don't even know if things are going wrong or you just think they're going wrong, but –" Ladybug started, but Hannah's bitter laugh cut her off.
"Oh, they're going wrong," she moaned. "They have to be. Of course they would be. Geoff doesn't want me anymore. How could he? Look what I'm doing."
"Oh, come on, Hannah," Ladybug sighed. "That's…there's no way that's true. Have you seen the way he looks at you? Geoff is nuts about you."
"Geoff is just really sweet, and he'd never do anything to hurt me," Hannah mumbled, "but he doesn't love me."
"Who ended it, before?" Ladybug asked. Hannah peeked out from her pillow, her fingers gripping her pendant again.
"…me," she mumbled.
"Why?" Ladybug pressed.
"Because he deserved to be happy," Hannah said, looking down. "He deserved to find someone better. Someone more like him."
"And did he think that, too, or were you just projecting on him?" Ladybug asked. From the way Hannah looked at her, she figured she probably sounded a little more annoyed than she had meant to. She winced and held up her hands. "Sorry. That was…it's just I know a thing or two about assuming how someone feels and taking that assumption as truth. Just because you don't think you deserve him doesn't mean he thinks he doesn't deserve you."
"…what?" Hannah asked, frowning, and Ladybug groaned.
"Relationships are complicated, Hannah," Ladybug sighed. She waved her hand vaguely in the air. "Love is…messy. I don't know if you remember, but I've told you a few times now this time loop has messed up my own Valentine's plans. That I was trying to tell the guy I like that I like him. And you assumed it was Chat Noir."
"Because you're Ladybug," Hannah said meekly. "Everyone knows Ladybug and Chat Noir belong together."
"We really don't, though," Ladybug said with a huff. "I hate that everyone thinks that. I hate that Chat still thinks that. Chat is a dear friend and a trusted partner, but he can never be more than that. My heart belongs to someone else. But that's kind of what I'm getting at."
"I don't understand," Hannah said, frowning.
"Just because Chat loves me doesn't mean I love him," Ladybug said. She winced at her own words and waved a hand in the air. "Not how he wants me to, at least. And just because I think I love someone doesn't mean they have to love me, either. And sometimes you think someone can't love you, because they're so far out of your league or you've just hurt them too much for them to ever look at you that way again, but then they think you're just what they're looking for and it's their choice to make, anyway, not yours, and…God, I'm not making any sense, am I?"
"You're kind of rambling," Hannah said. Ladybug winced again.
"Yeah, I do that…" she sighed. She lifted her head and looked out the window, at Viperion's back. Her eyes travelled down his suit, over the curve of his spine and lower, and she bit her lip against her smile. "It's just…I think you're overthinking things. I do that, too. Sometimes it's useful, but sometimes it just gets in the way. You need to stop getting in your own way, Hannah."
"But…oh, you can't understand! You're just a kid!" Hannah huffed, standing suddenly. She wrapped her blanket tighter around her shoulders, pacing away from the couch. Ladybug remained sitting on the table, watching her warily. She was trying to not be insulted. "It's not that easy! Geoff's had years to realize I was right – why would he take me back now? I'm so stupid…so stupid! I ruined everything, and –!"
"Ladybug!"
Ladybug looked away from where Hannah was tugging on her hair, Viperion's shout drawing her attention back to the window. A purple butterfly was flapping its way towards them. Ladybug jumped up, her hand moving to her yoyo.
"Hannah, you need to calm down," she said firmly. Hannah looked up, tears swimming in her eyes, and froze when she saw the butterfly. "You need to listen to me. You're not stupid. You're scared, but love is scary. All you can do is take a chance. If you love Geoff, you have to tell him."
"But…he's going to reject me," Hannah whispered. She swallowed, looking down as she reached for her necklace again. "He should reject me…"
Ladybug's eyes widened as an akumatized Hannah shimmered into existence on her side of the balcony doors. She heard Viperion curse as he turned his back on the butterfly, sliding the door open and quickly pinning the akuma's arms behind her back. She snarled, but Viperion kept his hold on her. There was a brief moment of scuffling, and she heard him mutter Second Chance, setting his bangle. Hopefully that would buy them some time.
"What are you doing here?!" the akuma screamed, glaring at Ladybug. "Stop interfering! Stop –"
"No, Hannah, you stop!" Ladybug snapped, stepping towards the akuma. Her eyes widened, and she paused. The fight seemed to leave her, and the unakumatized Hannah behind her whimpered as she pressed herself against the wall. Ladybug stood between them, her arms raised in a placating gesture. She looked between them, her eyes narrowed in a firm glare. "Stop listening to Hawkmoth, and stop listening to your own doubt! Listen to me! Geoff is not going to reject you. You need to talk to him and trust that it will all be fine!"
"But –!" Hannah started, and Ladybug groaned.
"Ok, and even if he does, or it doesn't go perfect, then ok! You have to find a way to make that work, too!" she said. "Just…give him a chance. Give yourself a chance. Even if you spill burning hot coffee on his crotch, that doesn't mean you've ruined everything!"
Viperion choked, ducking his head as he coughed for a moment, and they shared a secret smile over the akuma's shoulder.
"Hannah, do you trust me?" she continued, looking at the woman pressed against the wall. It took her a long moment, but Hannah finally nodded. She turned to the akuma, mentally cursing when she saw the butterfly outline around her eyes. "Hannah. Er. Akuma-Hannah. Stop listening to Hawkmoth. Listen to me. Do you trust me?"
"I…" the akumatized Hannah started, her mouth working soundlessly for a few moments before she also nodded. The butterfly mask flickered over her eyes before the akumatized Hannah grit her teeth and it vanished entirely. Ladybug smiled at her.
"Then trust me on this. I've been reliving this day for a while now," she said a little bitterly, sending the akumatized Hannah a stern look. She had the decency to hang her head contritely. "Every time, you are the one running away. And every time, Geoff is running after you. So can we all agree that maybe it's not going to be perfect, but maybe Geoff still deserves the chance to decide whether or not he wants to love you back?"
"Sounds fair," Viperion chimed in. She caught his eye over the akumatized Hannah's shoulder, and she felt her cheeks flush at the look he was giving her. "You're not the only one in the relationship, Hannah. Sounds like Ladybug knows what she's talking about."
"But she's Ladybug," Hannah said, fidgeting with her blanket. "Of course it sounds easy when you put it like that. Of course it's easy for you."
"It really hasn't been," Ladybug said, laughing a little manically. "I was really stupid for a really long time, Hannah. I'm very lucky my boyfriend is very patient and understanding."
"He's just really stupid himself," Viperion added, smirking a little. "Especially where you're involved."
"Shush, you," she chided, and he winked at her.
"It's ok," he said. "You can be stupid together."
"Viperion!" she groaned, burying her face in her hands. "Not helping!"
He at least looked a little apologetic when she looked back up from her hands. She turned back to Hannah, who was shaking her head.
"Today was supposed to be perfect," she mumbled. "I've messed things up so bad."
Ladybug walked over to her, laying both hands on her shoulders. Hannah looked up at her, and Ladybug smiled.
"Hannah, it's never going to be perfect. Life isn't perfect," she said gently. "All we can do is our best. Maybe you stutter through your entire confession. Maybe you spill something on him. Maybe everything goes right, but an akuma restarts the day and he doesn't remember any of it. Maybe he gets really sick because the akuma keeps restarting the day and he's time-sensitive. That doesn't mean you stop trying, though. You love him, right?"
Hannah looked down and bit her lip. After a long moment, she nodded.
"So doesn't that mean it's worth trying again? If you love him?" she asked. She turned away from Hannah and walked over to the akumatized Hannah, who had been staring at the floor with tears silently running down her cheeks. She placed one hand on her shoulder, giving it an encouraging squeeze, and tipped her head up with the other. She was smiling kindly at the woman. "You kept telling me to give them a chance. That that was all they needed. You need to give yourself a chance, too, Hannah."
"…I'm scared," the akumatized Hannah whispered, glancing away when Ladybug's hand kept her head in place. Ladybug looked back at Viperion and nodded. He looked uncertain for a moment, but he let her go and stepped away from them with a nod. Before the akuma could react, Ladybug pulled her into a hug.
"Love's scary," she said, "but I think that's part of what makes it worth it. So what do you say, Hannah? Can I purify your akuma? Can we actually make it to Saturday?"
Ladybug pulled back, and she was disheartened to see the butterfly mask flickering over the akuma's eyes again – but it was just a flicker, and then it was gone and her lips were set in a firm line. She reached up and tugged the pendant from her neck, placing it in Ladybug's hand as the black mist overtook her. When it cleared, another Hannah was standing there. Her eyes rolled back into her head and she fell backwards, but Viperion was there to catch her. He gently set her down on the couch, and when he turned back to Ladybug the smile on his face made her stomach backflip. It was a stupid smile, and she wanted nothing more than to kiss it off his face.
But they still had a job to do.
She looked down at the pendant and closed her fist over it, smiling in satisfaction when she heard it crack. A purple-black butterfly fluttered out of the broken necklace, and Ladybug reached for her yoyo and swung it after the butterfly with a command of No more evil-doing for you!
"Bye-bye, little butterfly," Ladybug said with a smile, unzipping the compartment on her yoyo and watching a beautiful white butterfly flutter away. Her grip tightened on her yoyo, a laugh bubbling out of her. She looked at Viperion, a wide smile on her face as she tossed her yoyo back into the air with a victorious cry of "Miraculous Ladybug!"
They had done it. They had actually done it.
The loop was broken. Hannah would be fine. Hawkmoth had once again been defeated.
Ladybug turned back to Viperion as the Miracle Cure swarmed the city, a brilliant smile on her face. He was smiling, too, and then he was laughing and she was laughing, and he was holding his arms open for her, and honestly she didn't see what was keeping her from running into them.
So, as the light of her ladybugs washed over them, she did.