Guest Reviews;

Guest; Only if he was transformed into Chat Noir. She's in denial; first stage of grief.

Ladybug tackled him a bit too hard in her wrath. Of course, he covered most of them up with make-up and such so his father wouldn't know – as if he'd know anyway – but it probably rubbed off in the course of the day.

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Sometimes, Griffin Stone and I talk about random things. One of them was about Chat Noir and Adrien eating ice-cream. Why am I mentioning it here? Because I had a hard time deciding how Aspik would eat ice-cream. Probably something in between Chat's weird way of eating the entire thing in one bite, and Adrien eating it neatly.

As we discussed the differences between Chat Noir and Aspik, we also concluded something about them. Chat Noir devours his scoop in one bite; thus, he does not get brain freeze. The mutant freak. Anyway, this is my new head cannon.

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Also, thank you, to everyone who read my last emotional AN two weeks ago. The love and kindness you gave me really helped me during those weeks, and I'm doing much better now!

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Skip this, because this is just me rambling in excitement. LOL

GUYS. KILL ME NOW. All the trailers, plus those three new promo pics showing for Chat Blanc just left me…dead. I can't wait to cry, to scream, to laugh, and all of those feels when I watch it, whether it be late tonight or tomorrow morning. I'm probably going to die.

JOKE WARNING BELOW, just in case some of y'all take this seriously.

If the next chapter never comes out, that means my brothers failed to continue posting what's left of this, like I requested, and they are therefore not worthy heirs of my Will and will be cut out of it. Boys, if you ever read this, you better post the last prewritten chapters, or I will arise from the grave and slay y'all in your sleep. Have a nice day!

In all seriousness… I'm just super excited about Chat Blanc. Tell me all your thoughts thorugh PM or review! Have a wonderful day, and Kudos to all of you who made me feel loved!

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ANNOUCEMENT; THERE WILL MOST LIKELY BE AN INTERLUDE ON NOVEMBER 21ST, THEN NORMAL CHAPTER ON NOVEMBER 22ND.

Count on You

-Big Time Rush

Mr. Ramier handed the two of them an ice cream each, a cheery smile on his face. "Thank you so much, you two! It always makes Paris and I feel so safe to know there's superheroes around!"

Ladybug and Aspik followed him over to the nearest bench, exchanging a shrug. Aspik shrugged his shoulders the same way Chat did.

"I'm sorry for being akumatized again," Mr. Ramier addressed Ladybug, lowering his head in defeat. "But my pigeons…"

"Did choosing a new animal not work for you?" Ladybug asked suspiciously, clutching her ice cream tighter. She already knew what his answer - or, rather, lack of one - would be.

Sure enough, his pace slowed considerately as he awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck, all without saying anything.

A sigh escaped her, not at all hidden nor was it resisted, but Ladybug did feel a tad bit guilty when Mr. Ramier hunched his shoulders a bit more, staring down at his feet awkwardly.

"Hey," Aspik said, drawing both of their attentions towards him. "This ice-cream supposedly ties two loves together, right?"

Adrien knew that in real life. He wouldn't stop talking about it for a week straight once, insisting he'd find his soulmate if it's the last thing he did! While he told Nino, neither Marinette nor Alya found out what his flavors were.

Aspik was trying - and succeeding - to distract them from going toe-to-toe, and Ladybug was half-annoyed, half grateful. Mr. Ramier, a pacifist at heart, looked beyond relieved, his shoulders relaxing several inches.

"Indeed! In fact; two weeks ago, I met a stunning girl who looked just like how my ice-cream described she'd be! Andre is absolutely magical."

"That's incredible! Are you two dating now?"

"Only time will tell." Mr. Ramier shrugged, smiling down at his scoops.

Aspik leaned forward, offering Ladybug a huge grin, akin to Chat's.

She was hardly surprised, anymore. The two were practically the same person.

…And if they were?

Preposterous. Absolutely not.

But they were both such dorks, their identical huge smiles were only proof of that.

Aspik lifted up his ice cream in s silent toast, the flavors already melting together.

They matched Chat Noir's flavors, strawberry with chocolate chips, blueberry, blackberry. Ladybug had refused to admit what they might entail for Chat Noir when he mentioned it with a smug smile, but she couldn't ignore the way her heart squeezed when seeing Aspik's flavors all lined up. Honestly, she was too eager for them to be soulmates; she'd take any chance she could get.

Poor Chat.

'Poor Chat, indeed.'

She rolled her eyes at the thought of Chat pouting, his big green eyes staring up at her hopefully.

To take her mind off of her former partner, Ladybug slowly began eating away at her cone, watching Aspik trying to figure out how to put it in his mouth.

Aspik looked like he wanted to shove the whole cone in his mouth, but also wanted to lick it daintily.

It was very conflicting thing to see; him biting his lip, opening his mouth wide, biting his lip, opening his mouth wide, repeat.

He looked just like Chat Noir his first time; like a confused fish.

Finally, he settled on eating the first scoop in a single bite, actually managing to make it look polite and that's how you were supposed to eat ice cream.

He managed to do the same for his second and third scoop, and then finished the entire cone by shoving to completely in his mouth, no longer looking in the least bit decent.

How he didn't have brain freeze at this point would have been a mystery if Ladybug hadn't once asked Chat Noir how he devoured his ice cream in ten seconds without getting the infamous headache. He had paused for three minutes, then admitted he had never gotten brainfreeze, and didn't expect to. Some people simply did not get it, and he was one of them.

And apparently Aspik was one of them, too, seeing as how he could eat every scoop within seconds, not even pausing after devouring the third and largest one.

It was always weird watching someone eat an ice cream cone so fast without pausing.

Ladybug glanced down at her own cone; she had begun nibbling at it the moment she had received it, and it was now down to the cone. (Which she didn't really care for. It was handy to hold the ice cream, but it had always tasted more like crunchy-cracker-like-cardboard to her.)

"How did you enjoy your ice cream?" Mr. Ramier asked, breaking the silence as he addressed Aspik.

"Oh, it's very good. Thank you, Mr. Ramier." Aspik politely returned, nodding his head as a small grin pulled at his lips.

The pigeon-obsessed man smiled back, before twisting his head to look at Ladybug. "Such a polite young man. Almost as polite as Chat Noir."

Ladybug almost laughed. If she had to list ten words to describe her partner, 'polite' would not be one of them.

However, now that she thought about it, when dealing with the older generation, he was shockingly calm and collected, speaking to them with great respect. Her kitty had been very polite. Funny that she hadn't noticed until now.

Ladybug was able to hold back her giggles with the realization, putting on her serious mask and stiffly nodding at Mr. Ramier. She honestly was racking her brain for a good response, when Mr. Ramier changed the subject.

"I'm sorry for being re-akumatized. Again." Mr. Ramier lamented. "I really do want to heed Chat Noir's advice, but nowadays…"

"-it's hard to do your own thing when everyone else's wishes are different. You want to go with the crowd, but you also have your own opinion. It's a Stale Mate." Aspik finished, cocking his head to properly look at Mr. Ramier.

Mr. Ramier smiled back down at him, and the three of them settled into comfortable silence.

That is until Aspik's bracelet blinked three times, beeping simultaneously.

"Oh, I should probably be heading away to detransform." Aspik blinked, standing up. "Thank you for the ice cream, Mr. Ramier."

"Yes, thank you, Mr. Ramier." Ladybug echoed simply, offering him one last nod.

Mr. Ramier smiled at her in return, then beamed at Aspik. "You'll make a fine replacement for Chat Noir. I hope to see you again so we can get more ice cream!"

Aspik laughed at that, shaking his head. "We'll see, sir! Have a good day, and good luck with that woman!"

"Thank you!" Mr. Ramier returned, smiling after them as they left.

Ladybug led the way; down the street, super-jump to the top of the nearest building, run across the rooftops for five blocks, slip back down to ground level amidst a deserted street.

"I can't believe Mr. Ramier!" Ladybug exploded almost instantly, not noticing Aspik's flinch at her sudden outburst. "He's just like the rest of the town; hating on Chat Noir! It wasn't his stupid fault! It was all Hawkmoth! But nooo, it's all his for being upset! And he just-"

"Woah." Aspik rested his hand on her shoulder, silencing her. "It's okay. People will be people. And frankly, people are idiotic."

Ladybug inwardly fumed, preparing herself to lash out, but her teal partner wasn't done yet.

"Listen, Mr. Ramier is just trying to follow the crowd. I'm sure it's already tough for him to feed his pigeons, even though everyone is against the practices. He wants to, but he doesn't want to be more of an outcast then he already is."

Ladybug glared daggers at him, narrowing her eyebrows. "Well, then! The rest of the city should change their minds!"

Aspik grinned at that, mirth in his eyes. "Well, I've got no problem with you busting into the mayor's office and demanding he sign a law making it illegal for people to be against Chat Noir."

Ladybug missed the humor in his tone, crossing her arms. "Believe me, I would if I could. But just…ugh. I hate this stupid city."

"But you still protect it." Aspik shrugged, gazing at her fondly, watching as she grinned in submission, body losing her tension.

That's about when Aspik held out his fist.

And that's about when Ladybug began to panic.

As Marinette, Ladybug never liked doing traditions that started with one person to move onto another. It just…wasn't right.

It began with that person, and it should end with that person.

Ladybug and Chat Noir's pound-it was one such example.

Sure, Ladybug did it with the three temp-heroes on a regular basis and had even once did it with Plagg. But Chat had always been present - or his Kwami had - or he had just left the scene, whenever Ladybug did a pound-it with someone else.

The fist-bump was for Chat Noir.

Not here. With…with Aspik.

So, when Aspik held out his fist, body already twisted to face the direction he would leave, Ladybug froze, hesitation filling her. She…she shouldn't. Couldn't. Not now. Not ever. Not until he came back. If ever.

Seeing her pause, Aspik slowly lowered his outstretched fist, confusion filling his face. "D-did I do something wrong? Ladybug?"

No, no, no, you did nothing wrong! Ladybug's mind chanted while her heart twisted. Don't look so depressed! It doesn't look well on your beautiful, precious face!

'Hey! My face is beautiful!' Chat's voice complained, but she ignored it in favor of Aspik.

"No, no, you didn't." Ladybug assured the newest hero, eyes darting up to the roof of the nearest building.

"But…?" Aspik prompted, barely relaxing.

"But the pound-it was - is - the ting Chat Noir and I did." Ladybug explained, giving in. "I…I think, if I really want to accept that he's gone… I mean, not my partner right now, I've… we've got to do something else."

"Like what?" There was no angry, snooty tone in his voice, but pure, genuine curiosity. "A phrase-change? High-five instead?"

Ladybug perked up, turning her complete attention to him. "Yes! I-I mean…I…yes. I'd like that."

Ladybug realized, in the back of her mind, that the two of them looked strange, obviously ready to depart but standing in the middle of the street. Their heads were cocked in thought, identical concerned looks plastered across their faces.

At long last, Ladybug held out her hand, smiling gently. "Well played?"

Aspik blinked at her hand for a second, a wide grin spreading across his face. His expression was contagious, as Ladybug found herself copying his smile.

"Well played!" He returned, high fiving her back.

Ladybug remembered Chat Noir and she hadn't even needed to think about the phrase "Pound it" before they said it; almost like second nature. Sure, everything else that fit together in harmony had come with time, but that was a sign that they were meant to work together perfectly.

Master Fu had told her multiple times that the reason she and Chat Noir were so linked was in part due to, not only having the Cat and Bug Miraculous, but also due to their destiny to be partners.

She and Chat Noir were supposed to be partners, and their Miraculous only added to that, being yin-yang, fusing them together more closely. In theory, they were supposed to be best friends, an unstoppable duo. But they were given the choice to be a couple; they were not forced to be together. For this, Ladybug was grateful.

Still, she was so used to Chat Noir and her having such a deep bond, months of practice or no, that Aspik not instantly pulling a new phrase out of the hat at the same time as she had her heart leap in worry before she reminded herself that things were different now. She had a new partner. She had Aspik.

With that thought in mind, Ladybug grinned at him, sharing a quick nod before they both pivoted and fled the scene.

They left so rapidly that Ladybug missed Aspik fiddle longingly with his ring.