Lucy sat with Marinette while face-timing with Adrien on the floor of Alya's livingroom while Alya and Nino played a dance game on her TV. The group had decided to hang out until the evening to watch the WorldCup fireworks from Place de la Concorde Ferris wheel. As in most cases, Adrien could not get permission to join his friends and instead had to settle for a virtual hangout through their phones.

"They're so in sync with each other," Marinette commented as she watched Nino and Alya twirl around.

"You're right." Adrien agreed. "Someday I hope I'll find someone I can share everything with as they do." He sighs. "But until my father starts letting me go out more often, that probably won't be happening."

"Don't worry princess. One day your prince will come." Lucy joked earning a nudge from Marinette while Adrien just chuckled and rolled his eyes.

"Are you sure your dad won't let you come? It's such a bummer." Marinette told him to which Adrien gave a nonchalant shrug.

"You know how overprotective he is. One day he'll realize I'm not a child anymore, but we're not quite there yet."

Lucy was happy to see Marinette growing somewhat more comfortable around Adrien. Even if it was just over the phone. A few days ago her family was offered to be on TV and have Jagged Stone come into their home and bake with them. Marinette had convinced her parents to allow it but ended up almost spilling the beans about her Adrien obsession in the process. When Lucy had gone to school that day she had already prepared herself for the possible complications that may have arisen with that but it seemed Marinette had managed to convince Adrien that she was just a really big fan.

"A big fashion fan huh?" Lucy remarked as Adrien told her about the encounter.

"Yeah, I mean it makes sense. Designing is one of Marinette's main hobbies. Of course, she would be a fan of my father's work, and thus also a fan of mine." Adrien said causally. "But, you've been to her home before right? You probably already knew that. Were those there when I was there to practice for the gaming tournament?"

Lucy gave a small snort. "Yeah, I know all about it. And, uh, no. Pretty sure she cleaned up a little so you wouldn't get freaked out. That was still pretty early on in your friendship after all." Adrien nodded.

Lucy leaned back and rested her arms on the back of the bench they were sitting on in the courtyard and glanced at Adrien, offering him a chip from her bag. He happily accepted, tossing it into his mouth. Salty snacks not being something he could indulge much in at home.

"I gotta ask," Lucy said, her curiosity getting the best of her. Adrien raised his eyebrows at her, waiting for her to continue. "If it had turned out Marinette did have a crush on you and took this unusual opportunity to be like 'hey, yeah, so...the thing is, I have these photos because I think you're the bee's knees and I...I don't know, wanna lick your face.' how would you respond to that?"

Adrien blinked at her. "How would I respond...to Marinette telling me...she wants to lick my face...?"

Lucy rolled her eyes ad scoffed. "Well, no not those exact words, I just mean if she had the hots for you and admitted it, what would you do?"

Thinking about it a moment, Adrien gave her a stump look. "Honestly...I have no idea. Marinette is...great. I really value her friendship and her place in my life but..."

"Say no more," Lucy said, holding up her hand to stop him. She bit the inside of her cheek, pondering on Adrien's response. He had openly admitted it. Adrien was not into Marinette romantically. She shouldn't have asked. It would be so much easier to continue to help Marinette if Lucy could remain blissfully unaware of Adrien's feelings, or lack thereof. Well, maybe in time he would develop the feelings. All hope was not lost for her dear pigtailed friend.

"If I'm honest...I kinda...have feelings for someone actually." Well shit.

Lucy tilted her head to the side and looked back at Adrien who was avoiding her gaze.

"Might I ask who this lucky person is?"

Adrien finally brought his eyes back to her and Lucy was taken back by the strain he suddenly had in his face. His cheeks flushed and eyes squinted, neck tendons exposed.

"Hmmmmm, yoooooouuuu know what, it's not important." He finally managed to squeeze out.

"Wow," Lucy said. "Okay...keep your secrets...I'll remember the next time you try to get something out of me."

"No no no!" Adrien said a panicked look crossing his features as if he really thought the bonds of trust between them had been severed. "It's just...there is nothing going on. She doesn't know and to be honest...she isn't really available I don't think..."

"Like she has a boyfriend?"

"Uh..no," Adrien explained. "More...emotionally unavailable."

"Emotionally unavailable," Lucy repeated. "Is it Kagami?" She then asked with wide eyes.

"What? Why Kagami?!"

Lucy shrugged. "I don't know. I like Kagami but she's very...high strung. Just thought that maybe if she was the chick then maybe you couldn't tell her because she is too hard to read emotionally."

"I..." Adrien started, shaking his head. "No...she's..."

"Oh, and by the way, licking the face of the person you like is a totally normal thing."

"Oh, we're circling back to the licking thing now...Um, okay..is that what you do when you like someone? You lick their face?"

"Mhm," Lucy nodded. "How else do you mark your territory? Pee? Gross."

Adrien stared at her, mouth open as he tried to process the nonsense that had just come out of Lucy's mouth.

Lucy chuckled to herself at the memory when Alya's sister walked into the room. Nora was a tall woman with a strongly built woman with orangeish black hair and vivid orange eyes with a hint of gold. Her hair is tied into a ponytail while her left eyebrow has what appears to be a slit going through it. She also has a beautiful mark underneath her right eye, and her fingernails are painted with black nail polish. Nora wears a yellow cropped tank top with white edges with a black spider design on the front. White bandages wrap around her hands and wrists, and she wears black elbows pads. She also wears yellow shorts, which have a white upper band with the word "Anansi" written black capital letters on the front and two horizontal black lines wrapping around the rest, two black downward-bent lines on each side of the shorts, and white edges of the shorts' legs. Beneath her shorts are black short leggings. She also wears knee-length black boots with yellow toe caps and heels and a yellow spider logo on the shins. Lucy had been around Nora on two other occasions and in that time learned that the female wrestler was very overprotective of her family, her younger sisters especially. So when Alya tried to explain to Nora that they all planned to go see the fireworks that evening, it didn't surprise Lucy when the elder sister felt the need to interfere, telling her there had been way too many Akuma attacks that week. Alya tried to argue that being at home doesn't mean you are safe, referring to the time her younger twin sisters were akumatized while in bed. Nora dismissed it, saying it wouldn't have happened on her watch.

"You mean like the other day at the square?" Alya argued gaining Adrien's curiosity.
"What happened?"
"Well… we came across a man handing out flyers," Marinette explained. "Nora thought the man was akumatized and wanted to turn Alya into a banana-zombie."

Nora crossed her arms in slight embarrassment. "Uh...uh...how was I supposed to know it was some stupid costume? And besides, what would happen if the Ferris wheel stopped working 'cause some akumatized dude refused to pay his fare? Once you fly-weights can actually defend yourselves like me," She said flexing. "we'll talk about it."

"It doesn't matter, because Ladybug and Cat Noir would save us if there were any problems." Marinette reminded Nora who scoffed.

"Uh-huh. And what if Mister Whiskers is catching a mouse and that Beetle's been sprayed with bug spray? What do you do then?"

Lucy snorted and tilted her head back in amusement. "Mister Whiskers! Ha!" Marinette gave Lucy a deadpan look.

"I can protect Alya if I have to," Nino argued, only to be laughed at by Nora.

"Oh yeah? And how exactly are you planning to defeat the villain? A dance-off?"

Nino looks down. He knew he wasn't the toughest guy but he would never stand by and watch anything bad happen to Alya. " I'd… do anything to protect Alya." Alya looks to Nino, touched by his admission, but Nora didn't agree. She was sure the Nino cared for her little sister, that much was not something she was questioning. However, Nino was not a tough guy, and if something bad happened she would not rely on him to protect her family. To prove her point she made a deal. If Nino could beat her in an arm wrestle, then Alya could go with them to see the fireworks. It wasn't a fair fight, and it wasn't meant to be. If Nino couldn't win against a normal person in an arm-wrestling match, how could he protect Alya from a supervillain? Even though Nora had the upper hand, so would an Akuma. Marinette, seeing no other option, distracted Nora, claiming she saw an Akuma out the window and while Nora looked, took Nino's hands and helped him win the match against her. Nora was not fooled and knew that she had been cheated, but Alya put her foot down, claiming she was going to see the fireworks and that Nora would have to get over it. Lucy, Marinette, and Nino awkwardly followed, not wanting to stick around for Nora to have the opportunity to lash out. Adrien of course, still on Marinette's phone.

OoOoOo

Fireworks in Paris, as it turns out, come out significantly earlier than they do in America. The sun had yet to completely finish setting when the group found themselves watching the display from the Ferris Wheel. Lucy glanced at Nino who did not seem to be enjoying the fireworks as much as everyone else.

"What's up? Alya asks, noticing Ninos somewhat gloomy expression.

"Oh...ah, nothing," Nino told her, bringing his eyes to the fireworks. Nino couldn't help but let Nora's words get to him. She was right after all. He didn't stand a chance against an Akuma and if Alya ever ended up hurt because he couldn't;t protect her well...he simply couldn't bare it. Alya was this brave, courageous, somewhat reckless girl who seemed to always take danger in stride. Sure she got a little scared but that never stopped her from chasing villains down, especially if she could get a story out of it. Nino, was the opposite. He avoided danger and had no interest in risking his safety or the safety of those he cared about. As if his doubts could be heard an Akuma made its appearance. This one taking a similar form of a spider, Anansi, Nora, Alya's older sister. Anansi breaks off the group's car and bringing it to the ground harshly, the friends inside slamming into the walls.

"All those arms, that's convenient, but you destroyed my scratching post." Chat Noir spoke as he stepped into the scene. Anasi instantly went to attack him, tossing him to the Ferris Wheel. As he dodged her next punch, the Wheel dislocated from its rigs and began rolling out of place. With no other choice, Chat Noir went after the Wheel to save the people inside, leaving Anansi to get ahold of Alya.

"Now that you can't cheat anymore, cappie, show us just how you plan to protect your friends. Come and get her if you're not a fly-weight!" She told Nino before jumping away. Nino glared after Anansi. The odds were against him, but Nino couldn't let Alya stay if Anansi's grasp without at least trying to save her. He quickly chased after the Villan, leaving Lucy and Marinette calling after him.

"Nino!"

"Nino wait!"

Nino stopped only to look at Marinette with a small glare. " I'm not a fly-weight and I don't need your help to prove it!" He said before hurdling over another car.

Lucy shook her head and looked at Marinette who seemed concerned for her friend's safety.

"He's an idiot." Lucy scolded. Marinette sighed. "He just wants to save Alya and prove himself."

"Alya isn't in danger Mari. Anasi is her sister. The only one who's going to get hurt is Nino for letting her egg him on like this," Lucy explained.

"That's all the more reason to worry. We need to get out of here." Marinette said, getting a nod from Lucy.

"You go ahead, I'm gonna call my mom and warn her." Marinette nodded before running off, needing to find a place to transform. Lucy walked off and pulled out her phone, quickly dialing her speed dial.

"Hey, what's up?"

"Talia! Spider Akuma. She has Alya, and Nino has decided to go on a suicide mission to save her."

"Oh, for fucks sake, alright." Talia hangs up the phone across town and rips off her waitress apron while making her way to the back door.

"Hey! Where are you going?!" Her manager shouts, his hands on his hips. Talia groans and turns around with a pout.

"Ugh, I'm sorry... . Cramps...you know from..."

"Say less." The young manager said, suddenly embarrassed. "We aren't that busy right now anyway...go...take care...of that."

Talia gave him a thankful smile before turning around and rolling her eyes, strutting out the door.

OoOoOoOoO

Nino groaned watched Ladybug and Chat Noir fight Anansi, only for Chat to try and save Alya. leading him to get caught in Anansi's web.

"Pssst, Nino!" Nino turned his head to see Lucy crouched behind a car. His eyes widened as he ran over to her.

"Lucy Goosey! What are you doin' here dudette?"

Lucy reached up and snagged Nino's hat off of his head, whacking him with it. "What am I doin? What are you doin!?"

Nino looked down and clenched his fists. "I just wanted to prove myself...I would do anything for Alya! She has to know I-"

"Nino," Lucy said curtly. "I know you wanna help Alya. But kidding yourself killed isn't the way to do that."

A sigh escapes Nino as he looks up at Lucy. "I'm tired of being afraid all the time Lucy. I just wanted to be brave this one time."

"You can still be brave if you're afraid Nino," Lucy said, placing her hands on his shoulders. "That's the only time a person can be brave." Ladybug lands nearby after being tossed by Anansi. Lucy and Nino run over to help her get unstuck from a web that clung to her foot.

"Are you okay, dude—uh, I mean, Ladybug?" Nino asks, getting a nod from the Heroin.

"Yeah, but we're gonna need some help! Lucky Charm!" She calls out, getting a square candle to appear in her hands. " A candle?" She wonders. "Of course! But I don't have enough time to do a round trip."

"Maybe we could help you?" Nino suggests before regretting it. "Uh, I get it. It's cool. I'm no superhero. I'd tried to save Alya, but… guess I'm not strong enough."

"Let me tell you a secret, uh…" Ladybug says, picking up Chat Noir's staff that had been tossed in her direction while he had been trying to fend of Anansi.

"Nino. The name's Nino." He told Ladybug, unsure if they had ever really been properly introduced.

"Nino. When you're facing a supervillain, strength doesn't make a difference. Courage and determination do." She hands Nino Chat's staff and smiles. "We can't let Anansi get Cat Noir's Miraculous. Use this to defend yourself and distract her. I won't be long." She said before leaping away. Nino looks at the staff wide-eyed before looking at Lucy.

"What am I supposed to do with this?!" He asked bewildered. Lucy shrugged.

"Pretend she's a big spider pinata?" Nino shoves the staff into Lucy's hands. "I can't...you should do it."

"Nino-"

"I'm not like Alya or you Lucy! I'm not-"

"Not what?" Lucy asked, her tone shifting to a serious one. "You think this doesn't freak us out too? Alya isn't up there having a good time Nino, and I am just as freaked out by that-" She said pointing at Anansi as she tugged on Chat's ears. "as you are." She shoves the staff back into Nino's hands. "Ladybug gave this to you because she believes in you and your ability to hold off Anansi long enough for her to do whatever it is she needs to do and get back without you dying and if Ladybug believes you can do it, I sure as hell do to. The only thing that's left is for you to believe in yourself." Nino gripped the staff and nodded before heading off to distract Anansi. Lucy leaned against the car she was behind and bit the inside of her cheek. In most cases, Lucy didn't fear physical harm from Akumas. She tried to remember that every time an Akuma came to play, destruction was inevitable and she was sure that people probably got hurt. It was Ladybugs magic that put everything back to normal and healed those who might have been injured in the attack. This Akuma was a little different from the typical ones, however. She wasn't freezing people, mind-controlling them, or trapping them in a void. She was a big sister, trying to prove that the world was dangerous and was willing to physically harm her little sister's boyfriend to make an example out of him.

"There you are!" Tigress said, landing beside Lucy.

"Finally! What took you so long?!" Lucy asked, getting an eye roll from Tigress.

"Unfortunately I have other responsibilities and wait-" Tigress halted, noticing Nino fighting off Anansi. "What is he doing?" She asked, pointing at the boy with her eyes narrowed.

"Trying to be helpful which is a lot more than what you are doing right now!"

Tigress watched as Nino antagonized Anansi, leading her to charge at him. Cursing under her breath, she called upon her power to quickly run over to Nino and get him out of the area. "Whoa, thanks dude- I mean"

"Sure, dude," Tigress said bac, patting his head before running back toward the Akuma. Ladybug landed beside Nino, thanking him for holding off Anansi while he could. She then presented him with the turtle miraculous, telling Nino that it's a protective miraculous and that she would need his help. From a distance, Lucy watched Ladybug show up with her new hero friend and raised an eyebrow. She supposed it was a similar situation as one that had happened a few weeks prior. Ladybug had gotten helo from a Fox miraculous holder to take care of Alya's sisters when they got akumatized. Chat had come talk to her about Ladybug keeping secrets from him a few days ago, telling her that Ladybug was aware of Rena's identity but he wasn't given that same privilege. When Lucy had inquired about it to Talia, the dark-haired girl told her that a Chinese man had come to visit her and explained that he had bestowed the responsibility of distributing temporary miraculous and that the more people aware of identities, the more dangerous things become. Talia explained that she couldn't tell Lucy much else, or she would never hear the end of it from Roarr, who made a point to appear and scold her for giving even the small amount of information that she had. The clan of super animals came through as they always did. Though the destruction of Arc de Triomphe turned out to be a necessary part of the plan. As always, there was nothing to worry about though, for Ladybug said the magic words, and everything was restored.

OoOoOoOo

"Hey, you okay? You weren't too scared, were you?" Nino asked, running up to Alya and Nora back at the Ferris Wheel, Lucy and Marinette not far behind.

"I'm fine," Alya assured him. "I saw that you tried to save me."

"Uhm. Actually… no, I didn't do much." Nino said uncomfortably. "It's not like I'm a superhero or anything." He says laughing making Lucy raise an eyebrow at him. Without the power of the miraculous, Lucy's mind was free to ponder on Nino's behavior as well as the events she just saw take place without her mind being put into a fog. So...Nino, got to be a superhero for a day after all?

"I know perfectly well what you're like," Alya whispered to Nino who wanted to be flattered but couldn't really tell if he should be worried or not, so indeed laughed again, even more, uncomfortable than before. A buzzing from her pocket had Lucy stepping away from the group. She answered the facetime call with a smile.

"Lucy! Glad to see you are alright." Adrien spoke through the phone.

"Glad to see your wifi is back up and running," Lucy remarked with a smirk. "You missed all the action."

"Right...yeah, not sure what happened there," Adrien said, rubbing the back of his neck. "I just wanted to make sure you were okay."

"I'm fine. As is everyone else in case you were wondering."

"Of course!"

"Mmhm. Got to see a new hero by the way. Turtle guy."

"Turtle guy huh? That's what he goes by?"

"No, not even close. I must be dyslexic though because every time I try and say it, it comes out something goofy like...Capri Sun." Lucy said squinting.

"Capri Sun? Like the juice?"

"That's the one."

"I don't think that's right."

"I'm positive it isn't.

The two carried on with their light-hearted conversation, carefree now that the Akuma had been taken care of. Blissfully unaware of traumas they would have to face firsthand only a few days later.

Another chapter! I really wanted to get some of these out mainly because I've been off work for a week so why not, but also because the next chapter to come is "Sandman" which I have been really looking forward to. I'm not sure if I will be able to get it out as fast as these past few chapters, being that it's hopefully going to be one of my more serious chapters but who knows! I hope you enjoyed this one and remember to comment and like and all that jazz! Your support always motivates me to want to write more frequently! As always I will see you in the next chapter!