What if Ladybug and Chat Noir decided not to use the temporary heroes whose identities were exposed by Miracle Queen?

Team of Two

Chapter 1: Snake Skin

"Ladybug, I've been thinking about something," said Chat Noir when they met for patrol.

Ladybug was worried and distracted. She had taken on the role of Guardian after Master Fu passed it on and lost his memory. It was no wonder that she felt overwhelmed.

"What is it?" asked Ladybug.

"You know that I saw the face of Viperion," said Chat. "I saw him detransform when we fought Miracle Queen."

"You're right. I forgot about that. You recognized him?" asked Ladybug nervously.

Chat realized she wouldn't want him to claim Luka as a friend since that would give away too much about his identity.

"Silencer. Luka Couffaine, the lead guitarist of Kitty Section," said Chat. "Bob Roth put them on TV. They performed in masks, but they were shown unmasked, too."

"Well, you're right. Don't tell anyone," said Ladybug.

"The thing is, Hawk Moth saw his face too, and since he's been on TV we have to assume Hawk Moth knows his name. You can't use him as a hero again."

Ladybug looked horrified. She had been with Luka when he got stung by Miracle Queen's bees. He was stung as a civilian, mind-controlled to report to Miracle Queen, and given his Miraculous by her. Miracle Queen was Chloé Bourgeois – she may not have known Luka, but she knew all the others as classmates. She could have told Hawk Moth every single name!

"I can't use any of the others as heroes again, either. They've all been compromised!" said Ladybug.

"That's a real blow to our team," said Chat. "I guess you don't have a big pool of new candidates you trust?"

"I don't," said Ladybug. "I wasn't expecting this at all."

"It's going to take some time to find more," said Chat. "I can help. In the mean time, I have an idea."

"What is it?"

"We both did well with Unify, so why don't we do that more often when we need extra power?"

"It's not quite as good as having another person to help, but I think that's a great idea," said Ladybug. "As Guardian I have access to all the Miraculous and kwamis."

"Can you carry a bunch of Miraculous with you? You don't have pockets in that suit." said Chat.

I can create a portal to them with my yo-yo, though I would rather Hawk Moth didn't find out about that," said Ladybug.

"That's meow-verlous," said Chat.

"Let's do it," said Ladybug.

"One more thing," said Chat. "As Guardian, you make the rules. I think you should know my civilian identity. There's no more need for that silly rule Master Fu made that we both have to give up being superheroes if the other finds out."

"I'm not so sure that I need to know that," said Ladybug. "If I was ever akumatized or mind-controlled I could give you away. Then Hawk Moth could take both our Miraculous and get his wish. And I can't tell you mine. It's even more serious now because if I'm caught as the Guardian then Hawk Moth gets all the kwamis."

Ladybug thought, "There's also that Chat Blanc business, where he knew my identity and somehow our love destroyed the world. But I don't even dare hint about that."

"But you need a way to get in touch with me as a civilian, don't you?" asked Chat. "A burner phone, or something?"

"People in your civilian life would notice you have a second phone," said Ladybug. "I'll buy a small vibrating pager you can hide in your pocket. I can buzz you silently and you can get away from whatever you're doing and transform. Then you can use your staff phone to pick up my message."

"This feels purr-fect to me. We'll be a team of two," said Chat. "We'll be closer than ever, and who knows where that will lead?"

"Don't go there, kitty."