School was already bustling with students and parents, Adrien's class already beginning the day. The teen stood outside the classroom on his phone, hoping his father would pick up this time.
"You've reached the voicemail of Gabriel Agreste's office. Please leave a message."
"Hi father, it's me. It's Parent's Career Day at school, remember? I was hoping that you were gonna show up. Call me back." He hung up, putting his phone away with a sad frown
"You okay?" Plagg asked, floating above Adrien's shoulder.
"Yeah, whatever. Nothing new." The teen sighed, moving to re-enter the classroom. But clanking from the steps distracted him- maybe it was his father?
No, it was a man Adrien didn't recognize- though he was being followed closely by...
"Ella! Hey!" Adrien waved at her, his frown deepening when she didn't return the gesture.
"Is he a friend of yours, Ella." The man spoke, his grey eyes moving from Adrien to the girl.
"Yes, sir. This is Adrien Agreste."
"Son of Gabriel- I see the resemblance. Your father had requested multiple pieces from my company in the past."
"Uh... thank you, sir?" The teen didn't know what to say. Who was this guy?
"Now, Ella. Where is your classroom."
"This way, Father..."
...
...
It took all his willpower to not let his jaw at Ella's words. This man- this imposing, formidable man- was Ella's dad?!
Adrien let them pass, Ella's gaze remaining on the ground- refusing to meet his, before following the pair in. Marinette's father must have just finished talking by the applause. Adrien slid into his seat, shaking his head at Nino's silent question: his father didn't answer the phone.
"Mr. Maunt! I'm so glad you could join us!" The Mayor spouted, going over to the man.
"André. Always a pleasure. I assume you know my daughter, Ella Aurora."
Ella could feel every set of eyes in the room on her as her father spoke. This was the last thing she wanted, for people to know who her father was... It was hard enough to hide the secrets of her home life without people knowing she was the daughter of Paris' most prominent jeweler.
Ms. Bustier, ma'am, do you mind if my colleague here goes next? He has a very busy schedule and can only grace us with a few minutes of his time." The Mayor asked the teacher, as Mr. Dupain moved to the side by Marinette's seat.
"Of course, Mr. Mayor. Class, I would like to introduce you all to Ella's father."
The students applauded as Ella and her father stood in front of the class, the whispers silenced.
"My name is Damien Maunt, owner of Aurora Diamonds."
Ella kept her head down as her father discussed the basics of the business and other aspects. She ignored the eyes locked on her as the man she so much resembled described the types of jewelry handmade at the company, like the one Chloé had sitting on her desk. She held in her flinch and the urge to run as her father placed his hand on her shoulder, the grip tight enough to bruise, as he answered questions from the class.
"Thank you so much for coming, Mr. Maunt. We appreciate you taking time out of your busy schedule to attend today with your daughter." Ms. Bustier thanked the man once he finished.
"It was no trouble. Now if I may borrow my daughter before I go?"
Ella's gaze shot up, trying to keep the fear from her expression.
"Of course!"
'No, no, no!' Ella could feel her body start to shake, her gaze flying around to find Adrien, pleading silently for him to save her, as her father led her from the room.
In a way, Ella was glad she had Kiismet hide in her bag this morning, rather than her skirt pocket, as her father led the way down the hall to an empty classroom.
"In." Damien ordered, sliding the door open. Ella scooted in, keeping her eyes down. She listened to the wood slide shut, her father's steps approach...
"Look at me."
Ella's gaze move up just to the man's chest before a sharp slap echoed through the room. The girl's head snapped to the left, her bottom lip splitting and blood trickling down her chin.
"I do not see why Aurora willed you be sent here. Though it seems you have kept to yourself- the Agreste boy is the only one to be tolerated, as his father is a valued client."
"I'm sorry, Father..."
"If you were truly sorry, child, you would be dead by now."
Ella hung her head.
"Now, I must return to the office. Being as near to you in public is disgusting and exhausting. I do not want to see you for the next few days. Are we clear, Aurora."
"Yes, sir..."
"Good." With that, Damien left the room and the school.
Repressing the urge to cry, Ella slowly exited the classroom. Once again, she had to wonder why her father did all this. What did she do to deserve it? The teen could remember the first time he hit her just as clearly as the stairs in front of her...
She had just turned four, her mother and her returning from playing in the snow. Ella remembers running into the lavish apartment, not wanting to wait and take off her boots or jacket- she wanted to tell her daddy about all the fun she had! She had made it to to the kitchen when a hand collided with her cheek, sending her to the floor.
Ella remembered her mother's screams as the man picked up the little girl by her throat, no words leaving his mouth but the glare in his eyes sent shivers down Ella's spine and tears down her cheeks in rivers...
'Two weeks later I met that old man...' Ella noted, pushing the locker room door open. Her brain didn't really register if there was anyone in the room, instead going right to the bathroom to wash the blood from her face. A few seconds later, a little ball of blue and black phased though the wall and collided right into Ella's cheek.
"NEVER MAKE ME WAIT IN YOUR BAG AGAIN! DO YOU KNOW HOW SCARED I WAS?!" Kiismet wailed, her little paws clutching tight to her user's skin. Ella blinked before wrapping her hand gently around Kiis and pulling her away to look the kwami in the eye; Kiis clung to Ella's thumb in response.
"I'm sorry, Kiisy. I just thought-"
"I don't care. You keep me in your pocket from now on. I don't care the reason why you think, I'm staying in that pocket and never leaving you alone ever again- especially with that man." The kwami spat, but there was no venom behind a majority of the words, just the last few. Ella smiled, careful of her split lip, and nuzzled her nose into Kiis' belly.
"Thanks for being my kwami and friend, Kiisy."
"Of course, beany. But you gotta know- there's another akuma running around."
"Asking Hawkmoth for a day off would be too much, wouldn't it?" Kiismet giggled at Ella's sighed words before floating up.
"Ready when you are, Elly!"
"Alrightie- Kiismet, touch the sky!"
Raven quickly darted out of the bathroom, but her entrance was accompanied by the running into and over of Cat Noir.
"Still falling for me, are we angel?" Cat winked, catching the girl with an arm around her waist. Raven blushed but in turn reached up and wrapped her arms around Cat's neck.
"I think it's safe to say we've both been doing the falling, kitty~"
"That's a purrfect deduction, my beautiful bird~ now I think it's time to go help Ladybug save the day!"
Nodding, Raven gently booped Cat's nose with her forehead before pulling her arms away and leading the way out of the locker room. From their spot, they saw Ladybug dodging blaster fire and heading out the door after a giant robot cop?
"Something tells me getting arrested here might not be the best idea." Raven commented, running for the door. Cat smirked and jumped ahead, redirecting the blast aimed at the mayor to the car he was getting in.
"You are disturbing justice, Cat Noir. You are going to pay for this."
"You can add bodily harm to the charges!"
Cat jumped around, dodging the lasers. The teen managed to get behind the villain and climb up his back, brandishing his staff but Rogercop grabbed the staff and knocked Cat into the trashcan. Raven jumped in, her grappling hook catching nooks in the armor to keep the villain from moving.
"Listen! You're Sabrina's dad, and a good cop! Don't let the evil person who gave you these powers make an evil cop out of you!" Ladybug called from the top of the school steps.
"Justice must prevail in the streets of Paris!"
Rogercop fired lasers at Ladybug from the arm Raven didn't have wrapped up, but the spotted heroine dodged them. She tries to reach Rogercop, but he swings her into the school's court via over the roof.
"The Mayor must pay for getting rid of his best police officer!"
"You seem to be forgetting about me!" Raven shouted, darting forward. She ripped her hook free, preventing the laser from hitting her. She spun it quick, moving to throw it around his torso, when the purple butterfly appeared over Rogercop's face... and the villain grabbed Raven by the wrists and lifted her up to eye level.
Raven fought, kicking her legs while trying to swallow the panic and fear building in her chest, and the memories threatening to cloud her. That stupid butterfly was still there, obviously telling Rogercop to take her miraculous.
"Did not wanna do this so early- Raven's Flight!" A bright flash and Raven changed, her wings flapping as she darted into the air. The villain watched her go back into the school before he turned to his car that pulled up.
Cat groaned, his head aching. He turned his gaze to the fight, no longer seeing Raven or Ladybug around... instead, Chloé was getting into Rogercop's akumatized vehicle!
"Chloé, no!" Climbing out of the trash can, Cat takes one last look around for Raven and Ladybug before taking off for the car.
Rogercop drives, following the tracker he placed on the Mayor when the roof echoed with a thud. Looking in the rearview, Cat Noir is there. With the push of a button, the car changed into an aerial mode, taking off. Cat hung on tight, smirking when a familiar yo-yo lashed onto the spoiler, pulling one partner up beside him.
"Miss me? Where's Raven?"
"I didn't see it, but I think she used her power already- she's probably recharging."
"Come on, Kiisy! Can't you eat faster?" Ella paced in the locker room, wringing her hands together. The kwami in question was stuffing her face with walnuts, the cinnamon sugar falling off in clumps.
"Ready?" The bird swallowed hard, nodding quick
"Kiismet- touch the sky!"
Raven took off, speeding through the air looking for her partners. Luckily, it didn't take long to spot a red and black blob falling a hundred or so feet ahead of her.
"Ladybug! Lasso!"
The team leader whipped her yo-yo up, catching Raven's ankle and allowing her fall to turn into a swing.
"Thanks Raven!"
"No problem! Where's kitty?"
The sound of an explosion alerted the pair to the teen in question, free falling from the villain's vehicle. Like a shot, Raven took off, her arms wrapping around Cat about ten feet above the ground. The feline teen was tense, before his eyes peeked open to see his beautiful crush.
"Well, hey there angel. I'm head over heels to see you again." He moved, his lips meeting Raven's cheek in a sweet kiss.
"You're welcome, my handsome kitty."
"Seems like you owe Raven one now, Cat Noir."
"Gladly," the teen wiggled his eyebrows at the girl, who blushed but winked, "and I'll take the credit for that." Cat pointed at the smoking car flying away from the trio. They followed after the car, but as it passed the Eiffel Tower with the heroes falling steadily behind, Ladybug stopped.
"There's no point running after him anyway. He's way out of our reach now." She sighed.
"Well, if it's the mayor he wants..."
"He'll be heading straight for the City Hall." Raven concluded.
"Do I sense a plan?" Cat smirked, his eyes glinting mischievously.
"Besides the obvious one of heading to City Hall and kicking some robot butt?" Raven giggled at Cat's pout, drawing a sigh from Ladybug.
"You two, I swear, are gonna drive me insane."
"You love us, you know you do, bugaboo~"
"Bugaboo?!"
"You're welcome!" Raven cooed, hiding behind Cat from Ladybug's swatting hands.
After Ladybug and Raven finished their little spat (all the while, Cat laughing as he was used as a shield), the trio headed over to City Hall, landing at the back of the police gathering. On the large screen before them, the Mayor relinquishing all power to Rogercop.
"Our mayor has jelly for a spine..." Raven muttered, as they watched Rogercop take up the screen.
"Ladybug, Cat Noir and Raven are now outlaws. They must be hunted out and taken into custody immediately."
"Well crap." Raven and her teammates dodged the charging officers, taking to the rooftops.
The sun set a bit ago, the teens finally managing to hide on the rooftop across from the city hall.
"So now, we're the nation's most wanted felons?"
"And we haven't done anything!"
"Exactly! You can't accuse someone without proof! We should go and defend ourselves in the Court of Law!"
"Not while Rogercop's the Chief of Justice."
Cat sighed, shifting slightly to allow Raven a more comfortable pillow out of his shoulder. The feathered heroine was taking her turn at a nap, after running for hours this afternoon. The other two had taken short naps as well, only when they could find hiding spots.
"How many times have the three of us saved Paris?" Ladybug's eyes narrowed before she smirked, getting an idea.
"We're still saving Paris. Wake Raven up- I have an idea."
Cat did so, and Ladybug filled in the pair on her idea. Agreeing that it would work, Cat and Raven moved to the edge of the building, allowing the helicopter search light to find them. Cat used his staff to get down, Raven held tight against his side. As the pair land, Cat swept Raven into a little dance.
"Something about Paris just makes you wanna dance. Wouldn't you say, mon merle?"
"It must be the Paris air, and being here with you, my handsome kitty."
"You two won't be dancing after I'm through with you. Arrest them!"
"Awe, does that mean they won't be joining us?"
"I don't think so, kitty."
It didn't take long, dodging and defeating the officers. Cat tossed the last one into the pile the pair had generated, brushing his hands free of dirt.
"Okay, show's over. Sorry, no encore tonight." Cat bowed, Raven joining him.
"Are you ready to go, kitty cat?"
"As much as I'd love to stay here and spend the night dancing with such a beautiful purrincess, I'm sure Ladybug would have something to say." Cat winked, wrapping his arm around Raven's waist before jumping into the building.
The pair found the fight, sliding in the door. Their entrance distracted Rogercop enough for Ladybug to flip over to them.
"Took you two long enough."
"Blame the flirty kitty, bugaboo."
"Hey!" "Stop calling me that!"
Rogercop blew his whistle. "Get Ladybug, Cat Noir and Raven!"
His order caused the cuffs on Chloé and Mr. Bourgeois' wrists to activate, pulling the two at the heroes. Cat and Raven though, knock them out the door and shut it.
Rogercop continued shooting lasers at the trio, missing every time. The teens maneuver their way across the room, hiding behind the conference table.
"The akuma must be in his whistle. We've gotta get to it!" Ladybug spoke, clutching her already summoned Lucky Charm.
"How?"
Rogercop cut off Cat's question, drawing the heroes from under the table. They manage to get across to the other side of the room behind a wooden wall, hunkering down again.
"When you're ready, LB."
Ladybug used her Lucky Vision, Rogercop's arms, a second oven mitt and a belt on a coat beside the teens lighting up. She grabbed the belt, an idea forming.
"Okay, I have an idea but I still need something like... a ring."
"A ring?" Raven questioned, but was cut off by Rogercop punching a hole in the wall, making the teens dart away. Ladybug grabbed the second oven mitt, and they hide behind the metal cabinets by the desk.
"Where am I gonna get a ring from?" Ladybug groaned, peeking her head out. Raven looked around the other side, leaving Cat in the middle.
"Ladybug, over there!" Cat spoke after a few seconds, pointing across from them.
"That's Chloé's bracelet! Exactly what I need."
'That's the thing her father spent ten thousand Euros on?' Raven raised an eyebrow, watching Ladybug yo-yo the bracelet over to her.
"You two fend off Rogercop as long as you can."
"Ready, Raven?" The girl nodded, smirking.
"Cataclysm!" Raven darted out first, drawing fire from the villain. While she grabbed the attention, Cat used his Cataclysm to destroy the floor beneath Rogercop, who fell and got stuck. Meanwhile, Ladybug used the two mitts attached to the belt to cover Rogercop's hands in makeshift glove/handcuffs. She used the belt to tie the hands, and then snatched Rogercop's whistle.
"Gotcha!" Ladybug stomped on the whistle, releasing the akuma.
"No more evil-doing for you, little akuma. Time to de-evilize! Gotcha! Bye bye, little butterfly. Miraculous Ladybug!" Tossing the Lucky Charm in the air, the heroes watched its energy revert everything back to normal, and Rogercop turn back into Roger.
"Uhh... what am I doing up here?"
"Pound it!" The trio chanted, smiling at their success.
"As Rogercop would say, "Justice has prevailed in the streets of Paris!"" Cat smirked, his miraculous beeping drawing a small frown.
"I'd stick around, but then you'd see me without my mask and... you wouldn't be able to resist me." Cat smirked, wrapping his arms around Raven's waist.
"Hm.. maybe one day, kitty kitty. But for today? I'm ready for a catnap."
"That's my line!"
"Get a room you two!" Ladybug chuckled, shooing the pair towards the open window. Cat's smirk widened, extending his staff to launch him and Raven out the window up to the roof opposite.
"Can we meet up tomorrow night? I don't wanna keep you up if you're tired."
"Of course. Meet at the tower deck around ten?"
"I'll see you there, mon petit ange~" Cat leaned forward and pressed a kiss to Raven's cheek, drawing a soft giggle from the girl.
"Goodnight, Cat..."
"Goodnight, Raven."