Robin scowls as he rides atop the Metropolis bus carrying the Paris students from the class they've dubbed the "Akuma Class."
"The Little Croissants are en route." He reports through his comm, hating the nickname Dick picked for them, but still using it.
"Good. Don't leave them." Batman growls.
"Tsk, I'm not sloppy. I'll keep an eye on them." Robin states.
"Aw, don't be so grumpy about it, baby bat." Nightwing says over the comm.
"I don't see why I have to be the one to watch them. Why can't you do this? Or Red Robin? Why did I get put on babysitting duty." Robin asks.
"Babybird is watching Gotham with Little Wing and I am keeping an eye on them from afar. We discussed why you were the one that had to stay closest to them." Nightwing says.
"Tt, being the same age as them is hardly a good reason." Robin grumbles.
"C'mon, baby bat, you could make friends with them. Besides, we aren't making you watch them alone, Superboy is already at the hotel waiting for them to arrive." Nightwing states.
Robin rolls his eyes, "Tt. You want me to make friends with a class full of kids that are constantly becoming supervillains against their will?"
"C'mon, Robin. We have to research them to see why they are targeted so much by Hawkmoth. That's why B arranged this whole thing. There has to be something going on with this class that attracts the akumas. We can't go to Paris due to the risk of getting akumatized, so we brought them here. Gotham is too dangerous for such a class, and Metropolis was our best choice. Nearly every student in this class has become an akumatized villain. The two that haven't become one have been targeted by the akumas multiple times. This class either has seriously bad luck, or there is something that attracts the akumas to them. This is the safest way to research them." Nightwing explains.
Robin scowls, "That doesn't mean I need to make friends with them, and why is Superboy joining me? He's not a detective. He'll only get in my way."
"Superboy is personable. He's also the same age as you and the Little Croissants." Nightwing says.
"Tt." Robin responds.
"Enough." Batman says over the comms, "Superboy is going with you. If nothing else, he will help you get close to the class. He'll make friends for you so that you can focus on studying them. I expect a report every night and anytime you find out something big. I will be traveling between Gotham and Metropolis as needed. You are not to leave the class alone. Understood?"
"Understood." Robin responds, jumping off the roof of the bus and quickly heading to the roof of their hotel.
He slips into his hotel room and changes as quick as he can, "Heading down to meet the akuma class." Damian says over the comms.
"Try to have some fun, Baby Bat." Nightwing responds.
Damian tsks in response. He finds Jon in the lobby of the hotel and stands beside him as the French students chatter around the entrance to the lobby.
Damian counts the students in front of him and scowls, "You were supposed to watch them as I changed, Kent. There are two missing."
A bang comes from the door to the hotel and Jon chuckles, "They're right there, Damian."
Damian scowls even more as he watches a pigtailed girl struggle to get past the door. The blonde with her does his best to catch her as she keeps falling after walking straight into the glass.
"Great. We're babysitting a bunch of idiots." Damian grumbles.
Jon chuckles and watches as the girl leans against the glass before it suddenly opens on her and she stumbles to the floor. Her suitcase flies open and her sock puppets stumble out with the fall. The blonde with her hurries to help her pick them up.
"Tt. Those are the only two in the class that haven't been akumatized." Damian tells Jon, "We shouldn't have to worry about them as much as we should watch the others."
Jon shakes his head, "I'm going to help them."
Damian stays against the wall as Jon approaches the two on the floor.
"Hey! You guys are the cool French kids that made that sock puppet movie!" Jon exclaims before gesturing towards Damian and the other kids in the room, "We're from West-Reeve school here in Metropolis. We're staying here with you for French-American Friendship week though! I'm Jon." He introduces.
Damian rolls his eyes as he sees the girl get flustered after accidentally touching the blondes hand. He watches as Jon helps them collect the last of the socks and zip up the suitcase. Jon chats with them a little longer before returning to Damian.
"Those two seem to really like each other." Jon says.
"Tt. It is none of our concern if they do." Damian says.
"Aww, but we could help them." Jon pouts.
"We are on a mission, Jon. We are not here to match-make our targets." Damian states.
"They aren't our targets, Dami. They're victims of a supervillain." Jon corrects.
"We are here to watch them and study them. Nothing else." Damian commands.
Jon pouts but nods his head, "Alright, let's protect and study the Parisians and their socks!"
"Tt." Damian responds.
The French teacher claps her hands to get the attention of her students, "Listen up, students!" She calls, "You will go to your rooms by groups of four." She holds up some papers, "Everyone come take your itinerary, and when I come up in two and a half minutes, you had better be in your rooms, with the lights out!"
The Parisians groan, "Aw, come on! Can we stay up a little bit?"
Damian shakes his head and scowls as he sees a kid from their school speak to the Parisians.
"Hey! Sock buddies!" The boy Damian doesn't care to know the name of says, "We're throwing a little party on the roof if you're interested. Hand with us, but be quiet, ok?"
Damian scowls as Jon smiles, "Guess we'll have to go to that party too, Damian."
"Tt. We'll be there to study the akuma class." Damian tells him.
Jon nods, "Of course, of course."
He smiles wide and heads upstairs to his and Damian's room. Damian sighs and follows after him once the Parisian head to their own rooms as well. He watches where each student goes before finally entering his own room at the end of the hall. He has bugs in the hallway and by the windows of each room in case the students decide to leave their rooms.
Damian enters the room and finds Jon floating inside.
"Are they all in their rooms?" Jon asks.
Damian hums in the affirmative before switching on his comm.
"The akuma class are all in their rooms for the night, but I believe they will be sneaking out for a party on the roof soon." Damian reports.
"Have you learned anything from them yet?" Nightwing asks.
"They're a class full of idiots." Damian declares.
Jon shakes his head at him and uses his own comm to speak to Nightwing, "They haven't mentioned akumas at all and seem to be a class full of normal kids."
"Thank you, Jon. Keep your ears pealed, and Damian?" Nightwing says, "Try to enjoy the party."
"Tt." Damian responds.
~Marinette's POV~
Marinette and Alya peek out their door as soon as they hear Ms. Mendeleiev enter her room. They spot the other kids in their class and they all sneak into the hallway together. Marinette sneaks forward with Adrien beside her and Alya and Nino in front of them.
They only make it about halfway before they hear Ms. Mendeleiev call, "What's that noise?"
They're instantly in the nearest room, uncaring of who's room they broke in to. Marinette breathes heavy, her hand on Adrien's stomach as they hide against the door. Marinette suddenly realizes where her hand is and jumps away with a startled sound. Adrien smiles at her as she turns beet red before they slowly turn their attention to the residents of the room.
The boy that helped them collect her puppets earlier is in the room, his blue eyes are bright with mirth, and his hair is perfectly curled. Jon, Marinette recalls, is is name.
But Jon isn't alone, beside him is a boy with bright green eyes and dark hair. On his face is the most intimidating glare Marinette has ever seen, and she fights supervillains nearly daily!
"Oh, sorry." Adrien says, "We're so sorry."
"Uh…" Marinette adds, "Hi! I'm Marinette and this is my very good friend, Adrien, who is just a friend!" She clarifies with a giggle.
Jon chuckles, whispering to Damian, though Marinette can't hear what he says before he turns his attention back to them, "If you're looking for the roof, there are stairs outside." He points towards their window.
"O-oh!" Marinette says with a blush as they head to the window.
"Thank you." Adrien says, "Will you be joining the party?"
The green eyed by tsks as Jon smiles warmly at them, "We'll follow you right up."
Marinette and Adrien waste no more time as they climb out the window and up the stairs.
The party is in full swing when they get to the rooftop, students dancing, chatting, and playing games. Marinette smiles as she sees their friends interacting with the Metropolis students. Her and Adrien smile at one another before they begin dancing casually with one another.
~Damian's POV~
Jon hurries to the window to follow the Parisian's outside, "C'mon, Damian. Let's join them."
"Tt." Damian responds, but he does follow Jon outside.
Jon's eyes are wide as he takes in the party on the roof. The music, the dancing, and the many teens spending time together. Damian ignores all of that and simply accounts for where each member of the akuma class is.
"We are on the roof with most of the akuma class." He says quietly into his comm, "Jon, can you use your vision to find the missing student?"
Jon nods and looks around carefully, "She's in her room."
Damian nods, "All croissants are accounted for."
"Jon, keep a periodic eye on the student in her room and report to us if she leaves. I'm on a nearby rooftop and have a clear visual of the rest of the class." Nightwing says, "Damian, it's time to put those detective skills of yours to work and talk to the akuma class. Find out what you can."
"Tt. Understood." He responds.
Jon smiles and grabs Damian's wrist, pulling him behind him and straight to Marinette and Adrien. Because of course Jon would decide to make them talk to the couple first.
"Hi, Marinette, Adrien!" Jon says as they approach.
"Oh!" Marinette exclaims, "Hi, Jon."
Jon smiles, "I didn't introduce you to my best friend, this is Damian." He leans in and mock whispers, "Don't mind the scowl, he's really a big softie."
Damian scoffs, but puts his hand out in front of him in greeting, "Pleasure to meet you. I'm Damian Wayne."
Adrien's eyes widen slightly, "Wayne? Like Bruce Wayne?"
Damian's scowl deepens, "Yes. He's my father."
"Oh, wow!" Adrien says, rubbing his neck, "I didn't realize he adopted another son."
Damian's scowl deepens even more and Jon intervenes, "Damian is his biological child. His mother kept him a secret and his father decided not to make big news about the situation." Jon explains.
"Oh, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to sound rude." Adrien says, "My father is Gabriel Agreste." He looks at Damian, "He's done business with your father in the past."
Damian nods, "Yes. I recall his venture into the fashion industry. My father likes your father's eye for designer suits."
Adrien nods with a smile and Jon speaks once again, "Anyway, you two speak amazing English. Your accent is very subtle."
Marinette blushes at the compliment, "Um, thanks. My family owns a popular bakery, so we get a lot of foreign visitors. I've been speaking English and French since I was a little girl."
Adrien chuckles, "My mother was from London and I've been a model for many years, so I've always spoken English as well."
"I've never been to Paris before, is it nice there?" Jon asks.
Marinette smiles, "Paris is beautiful."
Adrien nods in agreement, "I've traveled a bit for modeling, but Paris is home. It's a beautiful place full of amazing people." He says, as he gives Marinette a smile.
"Tt. There are plenty of other beautiful places in the world." Damian says.
"Ah, but Paris also has Ladybug." Adrien adds.
"Ladybug?" Jon asks, "She's Paris' superhero, right?"
Adrien nods enthusiastically, "She's amazing."
Marinette blushes and adds, "Cat Noir is amazing too. Ladybug couldn't do what she does without him."
"They fight akumas, right?" Jon asks.
Adrien nods, "Yes, but we only really have two villains in Paris. Hawkmoth targets vulnerable people and turns them into akumatized villains, and Mayura, his partner, creates sentimonsters by using their negative emotions to her advantage."
"Have you seen an akuma in person?" Jon asks.
Marinette nods, "It's hard not to in Paris."
"Have you been an akumatized villain?" Damian asks, their research is strong, but there is a possibility they missed an akumatization or two.
Marinette and Adrien both shake their heads, "Oh, gosh, no." Marinette says, "I hope to never be akumatized."
"Marinette and I are actually the only two in our class that haven't been akumatized." Adrien says with a nervous chuckle, "We've been targeted by the akumatized villains before though."
"Really?" Jon asks, "That must have been terrifying."
Adrien shrugs, "I trust that Ladybug will do everything she can to save us. There's nothing to be scared of with her around."
Marinette's cheeks turn even redder. Interesting, Damian thinks.
"What about you, Marinette?" Jon asks her, "Do they scare you?"
"W-well… Of course they do." She answers, "But Ladybug and Cat Noir always find a way to save the day."
"And if one day they don't?" Damian asks.
"They always will." Adrien says confidently.
"There's no guarantee of that." Damian says. "They're teenagers, aren't they?"
"So are Superboy, Kid Flash, and Robin." Adrien says, "But that doesn't hold them back."
"They have backup from the Justice League." Damian points out, "What kind of backup do your heroes have?"
Marinette sends him a narrowed look, "Our heroes are doing the best they can. They are the only ones that stand against Hawkmoth."
"They're incompetent." Damian says. "If Hawkmoth were here, he would have already been defeated."
Marinette glares at him, "If Hawkmoth were here, the world would have been destroyed. Superman, Superboy, or any number of meta humans would have been akumatized and they would have been nearly impossible to stop. Ladybug and Cat Noir do everything they can to keep superheroes and villains out of Paris. It's already dangerous enough having normal people get akumatized. Imagine what would happen if someone in the Justice League were targeted."
"It's only a matter of time before Hawkmoth gets smart and moves elsewhere to target people." Damian states, as if it's a fact.
"Then Ladybug and Cat Noir will do everything in their power to stop him." Adrien says confidently.
"How are you so sure they would follow him?" Jon asks.
"Their responsibility is to the miraculous." Marinette says, "Not to the city."
"Then they would abandon their city?" Damian asks.
"N-no. That's not what I meant." Marinette says.
"Hawkmoth's goal is to get the miraculous from Ladybug and Cat Noir. He won't leave Paris because he knows they are there." Adrien explains.
"And if the heroes leave or hide the miraculous, there's nothing stopping Hawkmoth from rampaging until they eventually return to stop him. People have disappeared, been injured, brainwashed, and even died from his attacks. Ladybug's cure is the only thing that can bring them back and set everything right again." Marinette adds. "We have had zero, permanent, akuma related deaths."
Jon's eyes widely minutely, "And how many temporary deaths have you had."
They're silent for a moment before Marinette quietly answers, "Too many to count."
"You, personally?" Jon asks.
Adrien awkwardly clears his throat, "When someone is akumatized or gets hit by an akumas power, they don't really remember it. They get minor amnesia. I don't think there's a single person in Paris that knows how many times they've temporarily died."
"Then why do you all stay?" Jon asks.
"It's our home." Marinette says.
Damian nods in agreement, "I live in Gotham when I'm not in school. I… I understand staying in a home that is dangerous simply because it is home."
Suddenly the music changes to a guitar playing a slow tune.
"Oh!" Adrien says, turning to Marinette with a smile, "This is the song we danced to at Chloé's party, remember?"
"Oooh, yes!" Marinette says with a chuckle.
"Then, will you?" Adrien asks, putting his hand out towards her.
Marinette startles and Jon chuckles, "We'll leave you guys to your dance."
Jon and Damian turn away from them as Adrien pulls Marinette close. They stay close, listening for if the two add any more comments on the conversation they just had, but they don't speak any more before settling in each others arms for a dance.
Damian looks around and finds most everyone else dancing too. He sighs as he watches the akuma class. The rest of the party gives them little to no more information. They meet the girl that runs the Ladybug, but she seems to be more of a fangirl than a journalist. The other members of the akuma class are no help at all in their investigation.
Damian can see no really reason why these kids are being targeted aside from their naiveté and general closeness with one another. It must be easy to target a class full of defenseless teenagers.
Damian and Jon finally return to their room after the last of the akuma class heads to bed. They climb into their room and Jon sighs as he lays across his bed.
"They were all so nice!" Jon exclaims happily.
Damian grunts.
"Do you think we can visit them once their villain is taken care of?" Jon asks.
"Tt. Why would we visit a bunch of fools?" Damian asks.
"Aww, come on Damian, you seemed to like talking to Marinette and Adrien." Jon says.
"I was simply getting information out of them." Damian responds.
"I'm your best friend, Damian, you can't fool me. You were talking about home with Marinette." Jon says, "Admit that you liked talking to her, at least."
"Tt. I don't see how that's relevant." Damian scowls, "If you'll excuse me, I need to report to Grayson."
Jon rolls his eyes playfully and settles further into his bed, kicking off his shoes in the process.
"The akuma class are all back in bed." Damian says over the comm, "I will be emailing a written report to father. I believe that the two students that have not been akumatized know the most about the akumas and the miraculous. They were the only ones that provided any useful information tonight. The rest of the class seem almost oblivious to the full situation."
"Good job, Dami, keep a closer eye on them tomorrow, get some sleep. I'll keep watch tonight and will switch out with Tim in the morning." Nightwing responds.
Damian doesn't respond, he's simply gets himself ready for bed.
~The next morning~
Marinette waves her hands as she tries to get the automatic doors to open. Once they do, she walks forward, only to run straight into the door. Adrien looks at her with concern and she tries waving her hands again.
"Tough luck, right?" Marinette says nervously, "We always end up together! I mean, stuck together." She laughs nervously and sighs.
Adrien smiles warmly at her, "I don't mind being stuck somewhere with a friend like you."
"Right! As friends!" Marinette nods, "It's all good!"
She moves back to waving at the door and when that doesn't work, she tries her best to pry open the door and squeeze through it. Adrien catches her when she inevitably falls though and she tries a new plan. Eventually, they both fall through the door as it attempts to close on them. Marinette lays across Adrien's back until she finally manages to get up.
"I'm forry, I mean! Sorry!" She yells, helping him stand, "I'm so sorry!"
"No worries, Marinette, we made it through." Adrien says with a chuckle as they join their classmates and finally begin the tour.
"This is the famous sabre of Marquis de Lafayette." The tour guide, a young man with blue eyes and dark hair says, "And here is the necklace he presented to George Washington as a symbol of friendship between the French and the American people."
Mr. Damocles tries to get a closer look and the tour guide stops him, "Careful! The security system is very sensitive! You don't want to be accidentally setting off the alarm." He turns his attention back to the class, "Let's go to the next room, where we'll see the Statue of Liberty located in New York!"
Marinette and the rest of the class happily follow along as the young man explains the different exhibits. She notices Damian's scowl aimed at her and Adrien and flushes. Jon smiles at her and gives her a small wave.
"France gave the Statue of Liberty to America in 1886." The guide says, "Gustave Eiffel built the armature for inside of the statue!"
"Marinette, could you take a quick pic of Lafayette's sabre?" Alya asks, "I completely forgot, and I gotta film the tour."
"Of course!" Marinette says, turning back towards the exhibit they just left.
She walks past Damian and Jon and ignores their curious glances, getting out her phone for the picture. She startles as she hears someone else enter the room.
She gasps as she sees Adrien behind her, "Uh… A-Adrien?"
"Marinette?" Adrien responds, walking towards her.
They startle as Jon and Damian enter the room after them.
"You two shouldn't leave the tour group." Jon says with a smile.
"O-oh!" Marinette responds, "I'm just taking a picture for Alya."
"And I'm looking for Nino's headphones." Adrien says.
"Tt." Damian crosses his arms, "Be quick about it." He turns and leaves the room with Jon following.
A beep pops up on Adrien's phone and he opens it up to his akuma alert.
"Akumatised villain, Robostus, is spreading pains in Paris." Nadja Chamack says on the screen, "And, so far, no sign of Ladybug and Cat Noir!"
"What?" Marinette gasps, looking at the destruction shown in the video.
"Robostus? But Markov can't have been akumatised in Paris," Adrien says as Marinette peeks at Tikki and the cat toy, "he's right here with us in New York!"
Suddenly the door to the room closes and the power goes out. Marinette and Adrien hurry to the door trying to open it, but it won't budge.
"Adrien, Marinette! Is everything alright in there?" Jon calls from the other side.
"I don't know, the power just went out!" Marinette calls back as they hear loud footsteps above them, "There's something on the roof!"
"Hang on! We'll get the door open." Jon calls back, but they don't get a chance to open it before the villain from the plane falls through the roof. Sending debris towards Adrien and Marinette.
They jump in opposite directions, hiding behind pillars and avoiding the destruction. Marinette watches as the villain shoots at the display case, laughing evilly, and grabbing the sabre.
"Hey! I thought your thing was new technology?" A voice, Robin, calls from the hole in the roof.
"What are you planning to do? Use the sabre as an antenna?" Superboy asks rom beside Robin.
Marinette gasps at the sudden appearance of the heroes.
"I don't have time to play with annoying kids!" The villain yells, shooting at them.
Superboy flies inside, avoiding each shot, and Robin is quick to join him. Tossing projectiles at the villain.
"Cat Noir should have told me Robostus is back." Marinette says to Tikki in her purse. "I hope he's not in trouble."
"What do we do, Marinette?" Tikki asks.
Marinette looks around at the destruction and sighs in relief as she sees the tour guide leading their classmates out of the building efficiently. But the fight between Robin, Superboy, and the villain is still on going.
Marinette gasps as Superboy takes a hit to the gut and it seems to do damage. He groans, but gets back up and continues to fight.
"He's been modified by some type of magic!" Superboy calls to Robin.
"Robin to Justice League! Techno-Pirate has been enhanced… Ahh! He scowls as his comm is short circuited but Techno-Pirate's interference, so he tosses it away.
Suddenly, Red Robin jumps into the fight, "What'd I miss, guys?"
Robin scowls at him, "Techno-Pirate got an upgrade."
Red Robin attacks with his staff, "I can see that. Do we know what it is?"
"It's magic based." Superboy supplies.
"Then you should get out of here." Red Robin orders.
Superboy shakes his head, "I'm fine. Let's take him down."
They all jump into the fight together and Marinette watches in awe for a moment before Superboy is hit again and falls to the ground. He's able to stand once again, but struggles to fly.
"Nobody escapes my sight!" Techno-Pirate calls, shooting masters out towards them.
Robin is suddenly flung towards Marinette and she gasps as he struggles to get back up and the support beam they're under starts to crumble.
"Vacation is over!" She calls, "Tikki, spots on!"
She transforms quickly and wastes no time collecting Robin from his spot on the ground. The boy stiffens in her arms, but allows himself to be supported. They move away from the rubble and head towards the fight, but pause as a familiar figure runs toward them.
"Ladybug?" He asks.
"Cat Noir?" She asks in return.
"What are you doing here?" They ask together.
"Uh… It's a long story!" Cat Noir says, "Where's Marinette?" He asks with concern.
Ladybug releases Robin, who is fully able to support himself now, "I got her to safety. But why aren't you back in Paris?"
They turn towards the fight and watch as Superboy and Red Robin get flung into a wall.
"I'll explain later!" Cat Noir says as they rush into the fight.
Ladybug wastes no time wrapping her yo-yo around Techno-Pirate's legs and sending him flying into a wall.
"You've come all the way from Paris just to help us out?" Jon asks as Cat Noir helps him stand.
"Yeah." Cat Noir says, playing along, "We thought it'd be a friendly gesture to give you guys a hand in honor of French American Friendship Week!"
Ladybug rolls her eyes at him as Robin gives him a disbelieving scoff. They don't have time to talk anymore before Techno-pirate sends a laser beam their way. They all jump in opposite directions and start the fight again.
"See that!" Jon exclaims, excited to meet the Parisian superheroes, "They don't need anyone's permission to start helping!"
"That's right. He never asks for anything." Ladybug says, jabbing at Cat Noir with her words, and kicking the villain, "Do you, Cat Noir?"
She avoids the villains lasers as she jumps back.
"Robin, did you get ahold of the league?" Red Robin asks, hitting techno-pirate over the head with his staff.
"I couldn't, my comm short-circuited, but we don't need them. This is our mission. We can handle it." Robin responds.
Red Robin ignores him and comms the Justice League, "Red Robin to Batman. Techno-pirate has been enhanced by some type of magic. The Parisian students are on their way back to their hotel in their bus." He says as they fight Techno-Pirate, "Ladybug and Cat Noir have joined the fight."
Ladybug is unable to hear the response on the other side of the comm, but she continues to fight and yell at Cat Noir.
"'Just go and rest easy! Yeah, leave Paris with me!'" She mocks as she swings and kicks the villain.
"I… I didn't know I was going to leave!" Cat Noir defends. "It was a last-minute decision, that's all!"
Cat Noir is hit from behind and lands on top of Ladybug.
"Do you realize that because of you, there's no one left in Paris to protect the city?" She asks him.
Cat Noir gives her the saddest face she has ever seen, but they have no time to deal with that. Techno-pirate crashes through the doors of the museum and outside.
"He's running away!" Superboy yells as they all run to follow and he flies.
"You sound like captain obvious!" Red Robin jokes as Robin tsks.
"Why didn't you tell me that you were leaving?" Ladybug asks.
"I was afraid you'd get angry." Cat Noir responds.
And you were right, because, as you can see, I am angry!" Ladybug yells as they follow Techno-Pirate onto a rooftop.
:Surrender, Techno-Pirate!" Red Robin yells, "There's nowhere to run now!" He yells as they surround the villain.
"Cataclysm!" Cat Noir calls.
"Lucky Charm!" Ladybug calls at the same time and her lucky charm falls into her hands.
"A bicycle pump?" Robin asks with a scowl.
"What are you gonna do with that?" Cat Noir adds.
"I may have an idea, but you wouldn't like it." Ladybug says, still upset as she puts the charm behind her.
"Why run away when I can finally get me revenge by eliminating the kids of America's most beloved heroes!" Techno-Pirate suddenly yells and send lasers towards them.
Superboy flies into the air, avoiding the lasers as Ladybug and Cat Noir jump in front of Robin and Red Robin. They use their weapons the block the hits from the magical lasers. Spinning them much faster than humanly possible.
"Milady, I didn't tell you because I was afraid of losing your trust." Cat Noir says.
"Well, I can't trust you anymore, can I?" Ladybug responds with a glare, still blocking the lasers as Robin scowls behind her.
Cat Noir gasps and suddenly drops his staff. Techno-Pirate takes advantage of his distraction and grabs Cat Noir, sending him flying towards Ladybug with his cataclysm ready.
Ladybug gasps, but suddenly, Superboy sweeps in front of her, blocking Cat Noir and taking the hit from his cataclysm. His eyes widen and he falls to his knees before his skin blackens and and he falls to the ground. Unmoving.
Marinette's heart stops. Her eyes widen as tears fill them.
"Superboy!" Robin and Red Robin yell, running to the unconscious hero.
"No!" They hear from the sky as superman breaks the sound barrier and punches Techno-pirate through building after building.
Superman doesn't follow the villain though, he turns to his son and falls to his knees. Sobbing as he carefully holds him in his arms.
"What have you done?" He asks Ladybug and Cat Noir, through tears.
Robin looks away from the scene, unable to watch, and Red Robin is quietly talking on his comms.
"It's my fault." Cat Noir says.
Batman suddenly lands on the roof, he glances at Superman and Superboy on the ground before glaring at Robin, "Why didn't you notify us sooner?" He turns his glare on Ladybug and Cat Noir, "And you, what are you doing here?"
"I… I might be able to help." Ladybug says.
Robin scoffs, "With your magical bicycle pump?"
Ladybug sets her shoulders, "Precisely." She says as she tosses it into the air, "Miraculous Ladybug!"
The Ladybugs fly through the air, fixing the damage done during the fight. They all watch with baited breathe as Superboy's body regains its color and the boy gasps for air.
He screws his eyebrows in confusion as he looks around, "What happened?" He asks.
Superman ignores his question and pulls him into a bone crushing hug, "Jon! Thank Rao you're okay."
Ladybug and Cat Noir's eyes widen at Superboy's name being Jon. He couldn't possibly be the same Jon that they've been spending time with. Could he? Ladybug looks at Robin for a moment and catches him scowling at her the same way Damian has been. There's no doubt in her mind now. Jon and Damian are Superboy and Robin. The Supersons, and they just nearly killed one of them.
Cat Noir sighs in relief and Robin gives them an uncharacteristically encouraging nod.
"You two are too too dangerous." Batman growls and Ladybug and Cat Noir.
"No. Fa- Batman, they tried to—" Robin starts.
"And you." Batman turns his glare at Robin, "You were supposed to watch the French students. Not abandon them to jump into a battle you couldn't win on your own."
"Tt. You put me in charge of their safety. Superboy and I had the situation under control." Robin argues.
"Clearly." Batman responds sarcastically.
Red Robin walks up to them, "Is this a bad time to inform you we're missing two members of the akuma class?"
Batman growls in frustration, "Which two are missing?"
"Marinette Dupain-Cheng and Adrien Agreste. They weren't with the rest of the group when the attack started." Red Robin reports.
Robin tsks, "They were in the room Techno-Pirate broke into." He turns to Ladybug, "You said you got Marinette to safety?"
Ladybug nods, doing her best to remain confident, "I did. She's probably on her way back to their hotel now. But…" She pauses, "I didn't see Adrien."
"I did." Cat Noir sheepishly adds, flinching as Ladybug glares at him, "I got him out of the building just before I ran into you."
Batman nods, speaking into his comms, "Oracle, check the security cameras nearby for our missing students. Nightwing, I want you to return to Metropolis and comb the streets for them. Techno-Pirate is still at large." Ladybug can't hear the response on the other end as Batman turns to Red Robin, "You head to the hotel, keep an eye on the rest of the class." He finally turns to Robin, "And you are to return to your post and make sure nobody else goes missing."
Robin nods and he and Red Robin make their way off the building.
Batman turns his attention back to Ladybug and Cat Noir, "Wonder Woman trusted the guardian of the miraculous' judgement, but it's clear to me that you two are untrained, unprofessional, and underprepared to handle the job you've been given. We've stayed out of Paris to give you a chance to do your job with minimal interference, but I see now that we were wrong to remain uninvolved. If you wish to stay in America, then you must return your miraculous to the guardian so that he may choose a replacement." Batman growls, "You are not welcome here as heroes."
"Batman!" Superboy calls as he leaves Superman's arms, "They didn't do anything wrong."
"They killed you!" Superman yells, still struggling with his anger.
"I'm not dead!" Superboy yells back, "Ladybug bought me back."
"It's true we made a mistake," Ladybug adds, "but I've fixed everything!"
"If your power is fixing his mistakes," Batman says, gesturing to Cat Noir, "then Paris is even more doomed than we thought."
"What would have happened if Superboy hadn't jumped in front of you? If your partner had killed you instead of my son?" Superman asks.
Cat Noir's breathing grows ragged.
Ladybug places a hand on his shoulder, trying to comfort him, "We have to go." She whispers.
They turn to run, jumping off the rooftop and quickly climbing into the sewers below the city. They're thankfully not followed as they run through the sewers.
"Ok!" Ladybug says as they stop at the point in the sewer that divides, "Let's feed our swamis and get back to Paris to take care of Robostus." She says as she takes out her yo-yo to look at the news.
"Today, Paris was attacked by a villain who ultimately disappeared on his own." Nadja Chamack reports, "Clara Contard is on the scene." She says as the video shows the destruction of Paris.
"Parisians are surprised." Clara says, "Why didn't Ladybug and Cat Noir step in? And will Ladybug repair the damages caused by the villain?"
Ladybug gasps, "We waited too long to return to Paris." She buries her face in her hands, "There's nothing I can do any more." She sobs.
"Can't you just do a lucky charm when we're back in Paris?" Cat Noir asks.
Ladybug looks at him with tears in her eyes, "My power allows me to create a magical object that repairs damages caused by a specific villain. But the villain is already gone." She cries.
"Then there's no longer a chance for repairs?" He asks.
Ladybug shakes her head and covers her eyes with her hands, trying to hold in the tears. She turns and walks to her side of the sewer.
"It's all my fault." Cat Noir says sadly, "You were perfect, as always. Batman was right to want me to return my miraculous to the guardian." He walks to his side of the sewer, "I left Paris without telling you. I ruined everything. And if you hadn't used your lucky charm, I would have killed Superboy. And if he hadn't protected you, then…" He pauses, "I… I would have k-killed you…" He says quietly.
"Spots off." Ladybug says, calling off her transformation and catching Tikki.
"Claws in." She hears Cat Noir say, "Please forgive me, my friend."
"No!" She hears Plagg yell.
"I renounce you, Plagg." Cat Noir says.
"What!" Marinette gasps, turning towards the divide in the sewer and watching as Cat Noir, in his civilian identity, places his ring on the ground.
"I never want to risk harming anyone again. Least of all you." Cat Noir says, before running off.
"Wait!" Marinette yells, gasping and turning to hide her face so she doesn't see his identity. "Cat Noir?" She calls with tears in her eyes, seeing that he's now gone.