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Chapter 15: Kept In The Dark

Everyone was dry, but they were miserable.

"My hair is ruined!" Chloe complained.

"It's exactly as it was when this whole thing started," Alix complained.

"No it's not," Chloé insisted.

Lacy sighed. "I could redo it for you if it's bothering you that much."

Chloé nodded, and Lacy moved into Sabrina's usual seat to start finger combing her hair.

Behind Alix, Max and Alya were comparing notes. Kim was trying to cheer up a somber Rose - Juleka having gone home for the rest of the day - and Nathaniel was double checking every page of his art notebook for water damage. Ivan and Mylene were whispering, Marinette had taken over her entire bench and seemed to be taking a nap, and Adrien and Nino were sitting dejectedly next to each other. Sabrina was nowhere to be seen.

Lacy started humming under her breath as she combed through Chloe's hair. The sound seemed to relax the entire class.

"I didn't know you could sing," Alix commented when Lacy paused.

Lacy blushed. "I don't, not really. Just a habit I picked up somewhere."
"Sing something," Alix suggested. "For real."

"Um, okay.

Look how she lights up the sky

Ma belle Evangaline.

So far above me yet I,

Know her heart belongs to only me."

The class fell silent for a moment, as Lacy continued singing.

"Je t'adore, Je t-aime Evangeline

You're my queen of the night,

So still,

So bright.

That someone as beautiful as she

Could love someone like me.

Love always finds a way, it's true

And I love you, Evangeline."

Chloé leaned back into Lacy as she sung.

"Love is beautiful,

Love is wonderful,

Love is everything, do you agree?

Look how she lights up the sky,

I love you, Evangeline."

Lacy finished her song, blushing a little when she realized everyone was watching her. Even Marinette had sat up.

"You need to sing more," Alix said.

"I don't know about that," Lacy said.

"Why not?" Alya asked.

Lacy was saved from answering by Bustier, who came into the classroom with a long face.

"Lila has been suspended indefinitely," she announced stiltedly.

"Good riddance," Alix muttered.

"Alix!" Bustier scolded. "As I was saying, Principle Damocles agrees that this class deserves a day off with all the high emotions involved. Please get some rest."


Chat Noir and Ladybug met up on their usual rooftop two hours later.

"How long do you think it will take Lila to cause another Akuma?" Chat Noir asked.

Ladybug frowned. "I'm surprised she hasn't caused one yet. We should stay alert."

"Agreed," Chat Noir said. "Oh, did you see those two students who were helping people evacuate? I think their names were Kim and - Lacy, was it?"

"I saw them," Ladybug said, trying to hide how proud she was of her classmates. "Why?"

"I was just thinking, what they did was brave," Chat Noir said. "They'd be good back up one day. Maybe we should pay them a visit to talk to them, maybe learn more about them?"

"Sometimes I think you just like talking to people instead of patrolling," Ladybug teased.

"Guilty as charged," Chat Noir replied.

"I wouldn't mind paying Kim a visit though," Ladybug admitted. "Do you know where Lacy lives?"

"I have a general idea," Chat Noir confirmed.


Kim was exhausted.

Just yesterday he had been a huge part of the Lila cheering squad, as Alix had dubbed them. Now, he had to deal with the fact that Lila had been using him - and then there was the physical exhaustion that came with swimming in a literal whirlpool.

He had been somewhere between asleep and zoned out when he heard a tap on the window. He darted up, surprised to see Ladybug waving at him.

He opened the window as fast as he could and let her in.

"Another Akuma?" Kim asked.

"No, not yet," Ladybug replied. "I just thought I'd visit and let you know I saw what you were doing during Wailer's attack. You helped a lot of people."

"Thanks," Kim replied, feeling a little star struck. "I was just doing my part, you know? A lot of people were helping out."

"Not as much as you were," Ladybug replied. "You've come a long way, as both Roi Singe and even before that."

"Thanks." He was definitely blushing now. "I would never had changed if it wasn't your inspiration. You and Marinette - she's this awesome girl in my class, who is always helping others. She's a lot like you, actually."

"I think I've met her," Ladybug admitted. "Anyways, I have to go - but I thought I'd let you know that what you did was noticed, and appreciated."

"Thank you, Ladybug. And let me know if you ever need me for anything."

"I will."


Lacy had free reign of her apartment that afternoon, so she took advantage of it and took a nice, long nap.

Or she would have, if she could have fallen asleep. Two hours after she came home, and she was still staring at the ceiling, not asleep but not wanting to get up.

Someone knocked on her window, finally prompting her to get up. Chat Noir, of all people, was waiting at her window.

"Hello?" Lacy asked when she opened her window.

"May I come in?" Chat Noir asked.

Lacy nodded, and he let himself in. He glanced around at the mess, looking a little surprised, and eventually choose to lean against the window pane.

"Is there something I can help you with?" Lacy asked, sitting on her bed.

"Not at the moment," Chat Noir replied. "I just wanted to thank you for helping your schoolmates earlier."

"Oh?" Lacy asked. "But I didn't really do much."

"You dove back into a whirlpool to help people," Chat Noir argued. "Don't sell yourself short."

"I'm not, I just - I mean, there wasn't really a risk anyways, with Ladybug's powers."

"It can still be scary," Chat Noir replied. "Trust me - I'd know."

"I guess." Lacy shifted uncomfortably. "But it was you and Ladybug who saved the day."

"We fought the Akuma," Chat Noir Agreed. "But if it wasn't an Akuma - if it was just a natural... whirlpool... in the middle of the city - my point being, you were brave. Now, please just accept the compliment."

Lady's brain had short-circuited. Her, brave? That seemed impossible. She wasn't brave, she wasn't a hero, not like Piper was, or even someone like Marinette. She was just her.

But Chat Noir looked genuine. He was genuine, Lacy believed. And she couldn't help but blush a little at the compliment.

"I'm glad I could help," Lacy eventually replied.

Chat Noir smiled and was about to say something, but his staff beeped.

"Chat Noir, we have another Akuma. The Ladyblog says it's at the Louvre."

Ladyblog? Alya was supposed to be resting.

"On my way," Chat Noir replied. He winked at Lacy. "See you later."


"Three akumas in one day," Marinette said, flopping down on her bed. "I hope Hawkmoth is calling it a night."

She was tired. So tired that her vision was already dimming -

"Marinette! There's another Akuma!"

"What?" Marinette asked sitting up. She blinked her eyes, realizing the creeping darkness wasn't coming from her fatigue.

"Great," she muttered. "Tikki, spots on!" Even her transformation didn't do much to light up her apartment, and when Ladybug landed on her rooftop, she found she couldn't see farther than her arm.

Ladybug brought up the Ladyblog, and then when that came with nothing, another favorite news channel. The Akuma was still new, so not much information on it was available. The darkness was emitting from one particular spot - Lila's apartment, Ladybug noted. Not a huge surprise.

Ladybug's yo-yo beeped. Ladybug answered it, and Chat Noir's face appeared.

"Bad news," Chat Noir said.

"I know, I'm right outside the radius of the most intense darkness."

"I didn't mean the Akuma," Chat Noir replied. He grimaced. "My night vision isn't working."

Great.

"What about your staff's flashlight?"

"It works, but not well. I'm en route to your location - I hope you have a plan."

"I will. Hopefully."

Chat Noir hung up, and Ladybug settled to wait for him.

Something hit her hard against her back, sending her toppling off of the roof. She hit the pavement hard, but when she stood up, nothing felt broken.

No one was around.

She felt a little bit of air, and saw just a slither of movement, before being blasted back again. She landed in a heap near an apartment building.

Someone laughed.

"Ladybug, she's on your right!"

Ladybug swung her yo-yo, her flashlight still on, and a figure was briefly illuminated. She looked like an older woman, with dark blue makeup, hair, and clothing.

"That glimpse is all you're going to get, Ladybug."

"In here!"

Ladybug followed the voice, diving into the building. The door closed with a thud.

Ladybug looked up to see Ivan holding the door shut.

"Thank you," Ladybug replied.

"Of course," Ivan answered. "Is Chat Noir on his way?"

"He should be here any moment now," Ladybug said. "What do you know about the Akuma?"

"You know Wailer? The Akuma from earlier?"

Ladybug nodded.

"This is her mom. She's angry because she didn't realize what was going on with her daughter. I don't know what she's calling herself, but she's near invisible and is plunging everything into darkness."

"That's about what I gathered," Ladybug said. She activated her yo-yo. "Chat Noir, hold off for a second. We need back up."

Ladybug glanced over at Ivan.

And I know just who to grab.


Master Fu's apartment was right on the edge of the darkness, mostly unaffected but still just slightly darker than normal.

Marinette rushed to his apartment. "Master, we need help with this akuma!"

"This is the fourth one today," Master Fu commented, letting Marinette in. "Hawkmoth is getting restless."

"Are you getting enough rest?" Wayzz questioned.

"I'm fine," Marinette replied, kneeling at her usual place.

Master Fu retrieved the miracle box. "I think you know which miraculous to fight this battle with. Do you have someone in mind?"

Marinette nodded. "I know just who to give this to."

"Wait," Tikki said. "Don't be too hasty. Ivan is a good friend, but do you really trust him to keep his identity a secret?"

"What do you mean? Ivan will take this responsibility seriously."

"Yeah, but that doesn't change the fact that he's horrible at keeping secrets," Tikki said.

Marinette hesitated. "You have a point. Still, I can use him once, can't I?"

Still, doubt began to seep in. Ivan was one of the steadiest people she knew - maybe she should save him for another miraculous.

"You're right," Marinette relented. "But who else can I call on?"

Out of her own ideas, Marinette mentally ran through the suggestions Chat Noir had and - oh!

"I know! She'll be perfect for this miraculous!"


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