Sixty-Six: Threads of Love and Friendship, Part One

It's finally the Weekend of Weddings: first up is one of the superhero variety in a somewhat unusual location with a very special guest.


While there could be worse ways to wake up, having your fiancé slowly kiss her way across your bare shoulder wasn't one of them. Still, given how it felt like I'd just fallen asleep after our final marathon pulling together the outfits for Alya's wedding, I was quite inclined to give myself over to a very cat-like tendency to ignore her subtle actions and continue to doze.

"Kitty," I heard a moment into my rather ill-informed plan, "seriously. You need to get up."

Unable to deny Marinette anything, I cracked open an eye and looked up at her beautiful face, surrounded by her dark hair. "What time is it?"

"Three-forty," she replied as she rolled away from me and stood in an easy movement.

If I'd had my feline ears at that moment, they would have shot straight up. "We're gonna be late," I said as I followed suit and slipped out from beneath the sheet. "Shit. I forgot the alarm."

"Same," Marinette said as she hurriedly tied her hair up into those twin pigtails I adored. "Tikki and Plagg are topping off in the kitchen," she added as I swiftly pulled the bed together and then followed her to the door of her room. "Unfortunately, we don't have time to make coffee."

"I'll find a way to survive," I said as I pulled her to me for a quick kiss. "I can't believe it's finally here," I observed. "It was a bit nip and tuck there."

"Oh, the ending was never in doubt for that story," Marinette laughed as she knelt to tie a sneaker. It occurred to me as I watched her lithe movements she'd already donned her workout gear. "Hurry up and change and I'll meet you out there."

"Yes, Princess," I smiled as I slid open the side of the closet that had been designated as mine. Quickly I changed out of my Ladybug sleeping pants and into a semi-compression muscle shirt, running tights of a complimentary color and microfiber shorts trimmed in a particularly familiar neon green. As I stuffed my feet into my running shoes, it occurred to me it had been months since I'd had a proper jog as a human; I figured the experience would be lacking somewhat, given I'd been soaring over the rooftops just a few hours earlier dealing with both a last minute preparations for the day and a nasty akuma. The latter had been a stark reminder that our carefully planned double wedding day could wind up going to Hell quickly, if Hawkmoth held to his current manic pattern.

Technically, the outfit was more like a prop, for the plan was to transform and make our way to the superhero wedding about to take place between Rena Rouge and Carapace. Once the wedding had concluded, we were to regroup at the Bakery for a post-superhero-wedding and pre-human-wedding brunch. As my final trip of the night had been helping Ladybug transport the suits and dresses to Marinette's old bedroom for the final outfitting of the entire wedding party, our arrival in workout gear would fit the narrative; of course, I doubted any actual jogging was in our future. Though I wasn't expecting there to be too many adjustments given how purrfect Marinette's tailoring often was, the timing also provided enough time to make any needed given the afternoon wedding.

Entering the main space of our apartment, I found Plagg on the counter halfway through an entire wheel of Camembert. He didn't even feign looking guilty when he caught sight of my frown, and instead double-downed with another large chunk. Tikki seemed to be considering her cookie as if it were a surprise, making me wonder if she'd eaten anything at all. From what I could tell – and I'd only been watching her a few months now – the red kwami could take hours to down the smallest of small butter cookies.

"Ready?" I asked everyone as I stretched. It wasn't as good as what I could do as Chat, but I did feel a vertebra or two crack satisfactorily.

"Yes," Marinette said as she took up position in front of me, the smiled a bit. "I never get tired of doing this in front of you," she said as she put a hand to my arm.

"I do," Plagg complained, and then belched to emphasize his displeasure as he floated toward me.

Rolling my eyes, I held out my ring. "Plagg – claws out!"

"Tikki – spots on!"

It was hard to take my eyes off Marinette as the transformation washed over her; save for the moment when my mask materialized across my face, I managed to soak up the experience of watching her go from beautiful Marinette to gorgeous Ladybug. Blinking back the sparkles at the edge of my now-feline vision, I smiled my Chat smile and held out a paw. "Milady?"

"Hang on," Ladybug said as she popped open her yo-yo and checked her texts. "Good, they are still in transit; if we hurry, we might get there about the same time. Let's go!"

Carefully, we snaked through my suite, still full of our living room furniture; easing onto my balcony beyond, I leapt up and stood on the railing, then easily lifted Ladybug to me. It was a dark and moonless early morning with just a hint of the coming dawn in the air, making it easier to mask our escape from the apartment. As I held her close to me, I impulsively kissed her before leaning into her ear. "I love you with all of my heart, Ladybug."

She smiled and quickly kissed me on that spot of my nose not covered by the mask. "The feline is mutual," she whispered, the pun making me grin slightly.

We leapt together into the extremely early morning and made our way across the rooftops of Paris to the location Ladybug had chosen for the nuptials. Her reasoning had been impeccable, as always, for in selecting the gridwork just below the top level of the Eiffel Tower, she'd ensured it would be a spot only superheroes (and one wizened Guardian) would be able to reach and difficult to view by civilians – both from above and below. Despite wanting to keep it on the down low, House of Gabriel had somewhat coincidentally started an ad campaign that, among other things, paid to keep the lights on the tower all night for a few days, including, conveniently, the night of the wedding.

As we approached from our apartment, the magnificent structure was lit from top to bottom; the sight of it nearly took my breath away as we landed just off to the side of one of the legs. Leaping again, I hit the side of the cold metal and quickly vaulted from one point to another, my claws easily finding purchase; I did worry about the scratches I created as I worked my way higher, wondering what some future civil servant would think when they next tried to repaint the Tower.

Upward I went, trailing Ladybug and her yo-yo only by a feline body length; she made one final loop and gracefully swung around to land on the girder in question, and I dug my claws in one last time to flip myself onto the surface into my cat stance. It was my third visit in less than ten hours, as evidenced by my handiwork already present. My stash of special candles had been carefully arranged around a spot centered on one girder and overlooking the Trocadero plaza in the distance; rose-colored ribbons were tastefully tied here and there, and in one corner was a small table with a tiny cake from the bakery with two very recognizable action figures set into the icing on the top. The slight glow of the coming sunrise in the distance made for a jaw-dropping tableau.

Life-sized versions of the cake toppers were already standing in position as I unfolded myself and stepped to Carapace. "Dude," I smiled as I fist-pumped him. "Congratulations."

"Thanks," Cap replied, smiling.

"Rena," I continued, slipped around the turtle-themed hero and pulling my other friend into a hug. "I'm so happy for the both of you."

Rena quickly kissed my cheek. "Thanks, Chat," she said.

My feline eyes darted downward. "Good heavens," I said, masked eyes widening. "That kitten is going to be huge!"

"Tell me something I don't know," Rena chuckled. "Hourly bathroom breaks don't even begin to describe it."

"Me-ow."

"Yeah."

I looked at her. "Oh my kwami. You're having twins?"

"Surprise!" Rena smiled wider. "Seems like all those years of babysitting my sisters will come in handy."

"Ladybug is going to need to rethink the baby shower-"

There was a polite cough from the corner and we all turned to see Master Fu standing quietly at the edge of the girder. I'd stopped wondering years ago how he managed to get around without the Miraculous that technically was his but on long-term loan to Carapace. "Master," I smiled widely. "Right on time."

The Guardian smiled enigmatically and moved to stand between our two friends.

"Chat… can he…?" Carapace asked, inclining his head toward Fu, eyes wide in surprise. "I thought we needed someone official for this."

"My young friend," Master Fu replied as he pulled out a small book, "I am fully vested with the power to join two Holders in matrimony; it's a long-standing tradition dating back to a time before memory. But," he smiled slightly, "in the eyes of Paris, it will be meaningless. Legally speaking."

"Ah," Rena chuckled. "Well, that works for me."

Fu looked to Carapace. "Same," the turtle smiled.

"Then let's begin," Fu said softly. "Positions, please, Chat and Ladybug."

I moved to stand behind Carapace, and Ladybug did the same for Rena. Fu stood between then but a little off center and held the book out slightly. "Place your hand here, Rena, and the cover it with yours, Carapace."

Looking directly at Carapace, Rena smiled and put her gloved hand down on the book; Cap was grinning foolishly as his green-covered palm covered the back of her glove.

Fu said something under his breath, and for a moment, nothing seemed to happen. Then, in a burst of green-brown light, an ethereal filament of energy snaked out of the small book and slowly wrapped itself around the two hands, almost like a vine of ivy that had grown of it's own accord. Both Cap and Rena started as the ribbon touched their gloves, but to their credit, let the process complete; once Fu was satisfied the spell was in progress, he turned to Carapace.

"Carapace, I bind you to your soulmate using the ank-won, the power of love incarnate. This is the truth of love, the very essence of devotion to another. Do you accept this solemn promise to be one with Rena Rouge? For if you do, the ank-won will bind your heart to hers forever and beyond."

Carapace looked to Rena, and it might have been an aftereffect of the spell that allowed me to see the pure, unadulterated adoration he had for the woman in the mask across from him. Slowly, he nodded. "Yes," he said simply. "I do."

Smiling, Fu looked down and watched with all of us as the green portion of the vivid energy ribbon darkened. Nodding, he turned to Rena. "Rena Rouge, I bind you to your soulmate using the ank-won, the power of love incarnate. This is the truth of love, the very essence of devotion to another. Do you accept this solemn promise to be one with Carapace? For if you do, the ank-won will bind your heart to his forever and beyond."

"Hell yes," Rena said without a moment of hesitation, her eyes radiating the love we all knew she felt for her turtle.

The brown shade of the ribbon darkened, though if anything, the energy seemed even more intense.

"Chat Noir, Ladybug, place your hands atop those of your friends."

Ladybug reached around and I did the same, placing my paw upon her gloved hand, and then upon theirs. A second ribbon burst from the book, this one in black and red, and swiftly intertwined itself around our hands and the existing ribbon. Despite the protections of my costume, I could feel the energy sizzle over the back of my paw.

"Chat, Ladybug, I bind you to Rena and Carapace using the ank-roh, the power derived of the love from friendship. Do you accept this solemn promise to be there for your friends, to support them always, no matter what, no matter where? For if you do, the ank-roh will keep the four of you together, bonded in true friendship, forever and beyond."

"Yes," I replied.

"Without question," Ladybug added a fraction of a moment later.

Fu smiled, then said something under his breath again. A small burst of energy over our four hands lit up the small space and then became something like the ladybug helpers my partner called upon, rushing through the area and surrounding the four of us from head to toe. That same electrical sensation sizzled across my costume, and by the time the light faded, something had changed for me. While I wasn't entirely sure how to describe it, there was a feeling of connection now to my friends that I'd never felt before; from the looks on their faces, I could tell they were sensing the same thing, too.

It was so pure, so solid, it felt physical enough to take my breath away. The feeling faded after a few heartbeats, but left behind an echo that I could still sense if I focused on it. I knew the glow of friendship – if that was what I could call it – was just a reaffirmation of what I had always known, and always felt, for my best friend and his soulmate.

"It is done," Master Fu said softly as he stepped back again.

"Thank you," I said to the Guardian as Ladybug and I gave Cap and Rena some space for a moment.

"My pleasure," he smiled. "It's been a few years since I'd had the privilege. But I must go."

"Of course," Ladybug replied before giving him an unexpected hug. "We'll see you later this afternoon?"

"I wouldn't miss it." And with that, Master Fu disappeared into the darkness.

"Well done, Milady," I said as I took Ladybug into my arms. "That was beautiful."

"I thought it would work out," she smiled as we watched the happy couple hug.

"It did indeed." I nodded toward our friends. "Should we give them a moment before we start to clean up?"'

"Absolutely," she sighed happily, and then snuggled closer. "They won't have many more moments like before the kidlets arrive."

I started. "Wait. You knew about the twins?"

Ladybug laughed. "Of course I did. I'm Ladybug."

Puling her close to me again, I kissed the top of her head. "You are indeed," I replied fondly as we stood together, watching the lights of the city slowly dim as the first rays of morning light began to appear on the horizon. The warm golden glow washed over the tips of Paris, the purrfect coda to the early morning wedding.

As romantic locations went, Ladybug couldn't have done any better.