Man, I can't believe I haven't updated this story all decade!
(sorry)
Thanks everyone who left reviews! I don't respond to reviews much do to reasons unknown to me, so I hope you all know they're much appreciated!
Someone did ask if any other PJO characters would be making an appearance soon, and the answer is no. Sadie will make an appearance eventually, and hopefully I'll have a chance to work in other characters, but right now it's mainly Lacy + the MLB characters.
Enjoy!
Chapter 5: The Attack on Liberty
The morning after, Adrien could still taste trash.
"You could try some Camembert," Plagg offered, holding a piece of it up to Adrien.
Adrien stopped brushing his tongue for a minute to consider Plagg. "I didn't think you shared food."
"It's a one time deal," Plagg said.
"I'm touched, but that actually might taste worse."
"More for me." Plagg inhaled the piece of Camembert and resumed whatever he was doing prior.
Adrien sighed and put down the toothbrush. His tongue was a lost cause - he would be tasting trash all day. It would be amazing if he could focus on anything because of it, much less the big math test.
Adrien's phone dinged, and he chuckled at Nino's text.
is it bad I'm hoping for another akuma to delay the test
Adrien replied.
I think we all are
Breakfast tasted awful, and the taste of eggs and trash still lingered in his mouth as Adrien arrived at school.
"Dude," Nino greeted. "You missed the coolest akuma the other day!"
No, I did not, Adrien thought grimly. I almost wish I did.
"What happened?" He said instead.
They continued up towards the school as Nino launched into the events of the previous day. Adrien schooled his facial expressions into appropriate responses, acting surprised at the right times and portraying sympathy whenever Nino relayed a hero getting hit with garbage.
The two boys took their seats in the front, Adrien noticing that Marinette had beaten them to school that day.
"You're here on time!" Nino said. "Is the world ending?"
Marinette rolled her eyes. "No. Just managed a good nights sleep last night. With the extra studying I did, I feel prepared for the test today."
"If you feel so prepared you could've helped me!" Alya complained.
"I thought you were spending the day with Lila?" Marinette asked. "Helping her catch up on the chemistry assignment?"
"I was, but her mother needed help with something else, so I ended up spending the night by myself."
"Aw, babe, you should've called me!" Nino said. "I had the night free for once."
"Well that's two out of three," Alix commented as she walked in.
"Huh?" Adrien asked.
"Of our always late crowd?" Alix filled in.
Adrien chuckled. "What can I say? All the akumas lately have made traffic horrible."
"True - but Marinette and Lacy both walk to school. They have no such excuse."
"I have an excuse," Marinette argued. "I've been busy!"
Alya rolled her eyes. "Sure, girl."
Alix chuckled and went up to her seat behind Chloe.
"Hey, Adrien?" Marinette asked. "Can we talk later?"
Adrien smiled. "Of course! Since fencing starts a little later today, I'll be in the library right after school. Meet me there?"
Marinette nodded eagerly. "I'll be there!"
Adrien smiled to himself. Marinette was such a cool friend to hang out with, but she rarely sought him out by herself. Being able to spend some time with her would be great!
"Man! Seriously, you get some free time on the day I have to race home? That's not fair," Nino complained.
"It's not much," Adrien assured him. "I'd rather be at the sleepover on the Liberty, but I know that's not going to happen."
"If it makes you feel better, me and Nino aren't going either," Alya said.
"Yeah, I'm stuck babysitting the little dude tonight and Alya has another study date with Lila," Nino replied.
"That's too bad," Marinette said. "I've heard the new song Kitty Section is working on and it's great!"
"Next time girl," Alya said.
The classroom door opened with a bang. "I'm not late!" Lacy stumbled in, her coat half on her shoulders and out of breath.
"Correct. In fact, you are 3 minutes and 12 seconds early, a record for you."
Lacy pumped her fist in the air in celebration and joined Alix at their seats.
Miss Bustier walked in seconds later. "Good morning class."
"Good morning," they chimed back.
Miss Bustier placed her bag on the desk and gave the class a warm smile. "Wonderful, you're all here on time! We can start right away!"
Adrien sat down at a table the back of the library and pulled out his bag. He didn't have much studying to do - he had plenty time last night after the akuma, when he needed anything to distract from the garbage taste left in his mouth - but he wanted to at least look like he was doing what he told his father he would.
Hidden in between his text books was the historical fiction story Kagami had lent him, and his hand was just reaching for it when someone cleared their throat behind him.
Adrien lit up. "Marinette! I'm glad you could make it!"
Marinette smiled. "Thanks. What I want to talk about is important - and not that easy to talk about. I, well I uh, it's about-"
"Hey, it's okay." Adrien gestured for Marinette to sit down besides him. "We're friends, right? You can tell me anything you want."
"Oh, okay," Marinette said. "It's about Lila."
"What about her?" Adrien asked.
"Well, really it's about you, and the way you've been - well, passive around her."
"Oh?"
"It's just - I know you want to take the high road, but some of what she's doing is having serious consequences, and I just don't feel like you're behind me a hundred percent."
"Of course I am," Adrien said. "And I've begun to notice those consequences too, but I don't - I guess I don't really know what to do. Confrontation isn't really my style."
"I know, and I think that's good - most of the time," Marinette agreed. She looked away, nervously, but Adrien wasn't willing to let the topic drop. If there was something he could do for his friends, he wanted to know.
"Is there anything specific I could do to help?" Adrien asked.
"Maybe speak up when Alya's accusing me of just being jealous?" Marinette asked. "Or doing more to make sure Lila's not pushing me out of the group. Things like that."
Adrien frowned. "Has she? Been excluding you?"
"A little, Yeah."
"Oh. Marinette I'm sorry - I never noticed! I would have said something - but I guess I'm always excluded too, because of my schedule, so it's harder for me to notice."
Marinette blinked. "Oh, right! I didn't even think of that. I guess it's wrong to get mad at you when you can't go either!"
"I guess if we're not there, we can't notice the others not being there either," Adrien said.
"I guess not." Marinette chuckled. "You are a nice friend, Adrien. It's why I felt like I could talk about this with you!"
"And I'm glad you did!" Adrien agreed. "I wouldn't want to upset you! I really value our friendship, and I'm sorry if you've felt unsupported."
Marinette turned bright red, and Adrien mentally backtracked. What did I do this time? Had he embarrassed her somehow?
"I value you - I mean, your friendship too!" She squeaked out. "I have to go!"
Adrien blinked, watching her leave the library. "See you?"
He could hear Plagg chuckle in his shirt.
"Think you could do that?" Luka asked, holding his phone awkwardly in one hand as he put his guitar away.
Adrien nodded on the other side of the screen. "Just give me a few days to practice. I'm planning on being at the rehearsal next Wednesday - and Kagami's coming too!"
"Great!" Luka replied. "The more the better! By the way, I wanted to thank you for what you did for Juleka last week. That was really cool of you."
Adrien couldn't help but smile at Luka's genuine comment. "It was no problem. She'll make a great model one day."
"That's what I keep telling her," Luka agreed. "With your help, she's really gaining confidence. I couldn't thank you enough."
Luka turned his head towards something in the background. "Sorry, I thought I heard-" His eyes widened. "Aku-"
The call disconnected before he could finish.
"Looks like I'll be visiting the Liberty a little earlier," Adrien said.
"You don't know that's what he was going to say," Plagg complained.
"What else could it be? Plagg, claws out!"
It was a quick run to the Liberty.
The akuma was easy to spot. She was dressed in muddy brown, in a flowery dress that billowed behind her. One hand was wrapped in a white material, the other in black. With each hand she was lobbing giant mud speedballs. From the rooftop Chat Noir was perched on he could see Ivan, Mylene, and Rose hiding behind the steering wheel, Marinette and Luka already unconscious on the deck, and Lacy and Juleka crouched near the side of the boat. The akuma was closing in on Alix, another mud ball forming.
Before she got a chance to fire again, Chat Noir landed behind her.
"Didn't know Hawkmoth was a baseball fan," he quipped, bringing the akuma's attention towards him.
"Baseball?" The akuma screeched. "Can baseball do this?"
She rapid-fired her mud balls, and Chat Noir dodged each shot. The akuma huffed with annoyance, before raising her arms again and fire a steady stream of mud. Chat Noir dodged, and the akuma forced him towards the side of the boat.
"I didn't think heroes ran," the akuma taunted.
"I'm not running," Chat Noir replied. "I'm just tired of being hit by smelly projectiles."
"Well then, I won't hit you."
The akuma snarled and fired, and the ball flew straight towards Juleka. By instinct, Chat Noir moved his baton to block.
The ball rammed into the baton and stuck.
Chat Noir pulled on his baton, and it pulled against the mud but didn't shake free.
"Now back to you." The akuma turned to Alix, raising her hands to fire.
Chat Noir separated his baton, leaving one half in the mud, and tossed the top half at the akuma just as she fired.
The mudball flew at Alix at high speeds, but something else - someone else - rammed into her and knocked her down. The mud collided with the deck just as the baton hit the akuma in the face.
Chat Noir turned to see Lacy helping Alix move towards the escape, where Juleka was edging them on. He glanced up, hoping to see a sign of his partner, but no luck.
No Ladybug meant no cleansing the akuma, which meant Chat Noir's first responsibility was getting the civilians to safety. He made a gesture for the three remaining classmates - Rose, Ivan, and Mylene - to make for the same exit before turning back to the akuma.
Chat Noir dove for his remaining baton half, grabbing it just in time to roll away from mud ball. He dodged another, making for the door to safety. He closed it behind him with a bang, cutting off another mudball.
"What about Luka and Marinette?" Rose asked.
"They'll be fine," Alix commented. "Puddler is after me."
Chat Noir sputtered. "Puddler? What time of name is that? And why is she after you?"
Alix shrugged. "No idea."
The door shuddered from another attack.
"You guys should head somewhere safer," Alix said.
"We're not leaving you," Lacy argued.
"Yeah, no way!" Rose agreed.
Chat Noir turned to Juleka. "This is your houseboat, right? Where's the safest place to hide?"
"This way."
Juleka led them down to the same room Captain Hardrock had kept her hostages. Chat Noir could hear Puddler following them down the hall, huffing about irresponsible teenagers.
"Our room is right in here," Juleka said. "Mom made sure it was safe when the akumas started happening."
"Alright, everyone inside," Chat Noir ordered. Juleka helped him usher their classmates into the small bedroom.
"Chat Noir, is there anything I can do to help?" Alix said.
"Not right now," Chat Noir said. "We can't go on the offense until Ladybug gets here. Besides, it's usually her that comes up with all the plans. Just stay safe with your friends."
Alix nodded, and with her safely in the room, Chat Noir closed the door and stood guard at the other side.
It wasn't long before Puddler caught up. She was heaving and snarling, a mudball already forming in her hands.
"Where is that child!" Puddler demanded.
"Which child?" Chat Noir asked.
His eyes caught a flash of red behind her.
"The skater one!" Puddler said. "That little girl-"
"You have a problem with little girls?" Chat Noir asked. "Because I see a very scary one behind you."
Before Puddler had a chance to look, Ladybug's yo-yo came flying at her. The yo-yo wrapped around Puddler's torso, and with a tug she was flying down the hallway behind her.
"Great timing as always, my Lady," Chat Noir said.
Ladybug didn't look impressed - but then again, while her outfit was spotless, her pigtails were coated with mud.
"I'm not a little girl," Ladybug said, crossing her arms.
"That's not what I meant," Chat Noir replied.
"I'm not a little girl either!" Alix called from behind the door.
Ladybug sighed. "Fine. Any idea where the akuma is?"
Chat Noir shrugged. "My best bet would be one of the gloves. They stand out the most."
"That's what I was thinking. Lucky charm!" Ladybug held up the spotted object. "A folder?"
"Maybe there's papers in it?" Chat Noir suggested.
Ladybug opened the folder, but it was empty.
"Guess not." She glanced around the small room, and then back to Puddler, who was just standing up again.
"Her gloves," Ladybug muttered.
Puddler lobbed another mud ball at them, but they easily dodged.
"I need your claws," Ladybug decided. She held up the folder pointed in the middle. "A hole right here."
Chat Noir obliged, and Ladybug looped her yo-yo string through the whole and tied the folder secure under the yo-yo - all while dodging another blast.
Ladybug tossed her yo-yo, and the edge of the folder collided with Puddler's glove, ripping it.
"Wrong hand," Puddler chimed.
"Just using the process of elimination," Ladybug replied.
She tossed her yo-yo, and even though Puddler tried to dodge, the edge of the folder still ripped against her glove.
The akuma flew out.
Chat Noir let himself relax as he watched Ladybug purify the akuma. Another akuma beaten, and he hadn't even needed to use his cataclysm.
"Miraculous Ladybug!"
The ladybugs flew through the air, cleaning up the mud left on the ground and in Ladybug's ponytails.
"Pound it!"
"What happened?"
Ladybug and Chat Noir turned to the akuma victim, now returned to her normal self. Her two gloves had reformed as mud-covered grocery bags, and her pair of work slacks were coated with mud.
"Are you alright?" Ladybug asked.
"I - yeah," the woman replied. Her eyes widened. "Was I akumatized?"
"Psst." The door behind them opened slightly, and Alix peaked her head out. "Is it safe yet?"
"You," the woman said, her voice emotionless. "You were the one."
Alix fully stepped into the hallway. "I'm sorry, I don't know what you're talking about."
The woman scoffed. "Of course you don't. You didn't even look at me - even when you skated through that mud pile and ruined my best slacks and my groceries."
"Oh, I'm sorry. I was running late-" Alix shook her head. "I should have been watching where I was going. Can I make it up to you somehow?"
The woman's shoulders slumped. "No, it's alright. Accidents happen. I just had a hard day."
"Why don't I take you home?" Chat Noir asked.
"I don't want to trouble you-"
"It's no trouble." Chat Noir turned to Ladybug. "See you later?"
Ladybug nodded. "Later."
"So how did you get knocked out by Puddler?" was apparently the wrong way to start a conversation.
Ladybug's expression turned sour. "She snuck up on me. That's all."
Chat Noir held his hands up. "Just asking."
The two of them were on the top of the Eiffel Tower, watching the city below them. The intention of the meeting had been to patrol, but neither had the energy to - and Ladybug definitely didn't have the patience.
"Everything alright?" Chat Noir asked.
Ladybug sighed. "Being knocked out like that wasn't fun. I didn't even have the chance to transform - and if my kwami hadn't woken me up, you would have been left by yourself!"
"I can handle myself," Chat Noir replied. "And you would have woken up eventually."
"Yes, but-" Ladybug sighed. "I'm starting to think that we need a new strategy. And more teammates."
Chat Noir perked up. "I noticed someone during today's fight who would make a great teammate! She was fast enough to keep from being hit by Puddler, and she's really mature!"
"Who are you thinking of?" Ladybug asked.
"You remember Timetagger? And Bunnyx?"
Ladybug shook her head. "I know that Alix is ready for her Miraculous, but the bunny Miraculous isn't to be used lightly. We'll call on her when we really need help."
"Okay, what about Marinette?"
"Chat-"
"She was a lifesaver as Multimouse," Chat Noir continued. "Even if she was a bit careless afterwards, it's only because she trusts us."
"I'll think about it," Ladybug replied. "But keep your eyes open for someone else."
"I only have eyes for you, my lady," Chat Noir answered.
Ladybug rolled her eyes. "I need to go. I'll see you later, Chat Noir."
"My heart will eagerly await your presence."
Chat Noir continues to be one of the fun-ner characters to write.
