Chapter Three
"Alight," Nino whispered. "You can akumatize me."
"Really?" Papillion said, clearly surprised at this, and he felt a surge of hope come from the empathic connection. "Thank you, thank you so much..."
"Uh, Nino. The name's Nino, dude," Nino said uncertainly. "So, um... how does this work anyways?"
"Well... er... what kind of powers do you want?"
"I, um– I dunno?"
"...Bubbles."
"What?"
"You were blowing bubbles. The akuma went into the bubble wand. You now have the power of bubbles."
"What does that even mean?"
"Er, let's see, let's do this how Father said he does it. Bubbler, I am Papillon, and I grant you the power of–"
"Bubbler? What kind of name is that?"
"Well it's your name now!" Papillon said, sounding defensive. "And it's not that bad! I, well, I grant you the power to bring people together! With your unpoppable bubbles no one will ever be lonely again! All I ask is that you act like you're after Ladybug's Miraculous and pretend to put up a fight in return."
"I agree if only it goes on record that 'the Bubbler' is a stupid name," Nino said, and he felt a dark energy rush over him. It was strange, the way his whole form transformed.
Everything felt different. There was a strength in his arms, a lighter hop in his step as he pushed himself to his feet. His small bubble wand had grown in size, now as big as a large sword, and he could feel a sheath of some kind strapped to his back. He slid the bubble sword into it, pulling it out to find the wand now had bubble solution stretched between the edges of the sword.
He felt some strange connection to the sheen of the bubble solution, which then began to swell. He watched in awe as bubbles formed from the bubble wand, seemingly responding to his mind as three fairly large bubbles floated around his room. He couldn't help but let out a laugh as he urged them to fly about, all responding to his thoughts with ease, the powers feeling nothing but natural despite it being new to him.
"You know, dude?" Nino said as he moved across his room. "This really isn't too bad– agh!"
He jumped, and Papillon spoke once more. "Is everything okay?"
"I am not doing this looking like that!" Nino cried, pointing to his reflection in his laptop screen, not sure what to make of the horrid thing staring back at him. His skin had turned blue, a strange red... antenna-thing was sticking from his head. His outfit looked like a bunch of balloons had been slid onto his arms and shoulders, like some failed clown act.
"Akumas are supposed to stand out."
"But I look hideous!"
"Do you have a better idea?"
"Any idea I have will be a better one than this!"
His idea was much better, in Nino's opinion.
He had kept the bubble wand-sword and sheath part of Papillon's design, alongside the bright colors at his insistence, but had changed his outfit for something much sleeker. Instead of mutilating his head into whatever the original Bubbler had been he had switched it out for a helmet, the visor being made from bubble solution.
He had kept the name Bubbler because he couldn't think of anything better, which Papillon seemed pretty smug about.
"That looks like a lot of fun," Papillon said wistfully as Nino jumped from bubble to bubble, making his way across the city.
"This is the most amazing thing ever!" Nino said, sending out another wave of bubbles in front of him, jumping from each of them like they were a trampoline. Normally doing anything from this height would be terrifying, but apparently courage was a part of his powers or something, as he felt no fear.
"So... what are you going to do? I mean most akumas that Father makes usually have a goal, but since I'm letting you be yourself I guess–"
"Yeah, I was wondering about that," Nino said. "Like is this how all akumas feel in the moment? Am I going to forget all of this when it's over?"
"No, Nooroo says only unwilling champions forget– it's more Generous for them not to remember. And I have the ability to heighten certain mindsets, which is why a lot of Father's champion's are so obsessed and angry and stuff. Also the Miraculous allows me to sense people's state of mind, which is how I choose out champions."
Nino grinned as he did a flip. "Champions? New-woo? What are you talking about, dude?"
"I don't know if I'm supposed to tell you any of this. Um, well, champions are what akumas are supposed to be. Champions of the Butterfly to help with fights and stuff, that's what Nooroo told me, but of course we're not exactly doing that. And Nooroo... um. No, I'm not allowed to tell you about him."
"Is that Hawk Moth's name?"
"No, and you won't be getting that from me either."
Nino landed on a building, pretending not to notice the people pointing up at him in fear, instantly recognizing him as an akuma. A goal... if he was pretending to be an akuma he might as well figure out one, and enjoy his powers while they lasted. He looked down at the people below him, who were looking up at him, and he hesitated.
He was supposed to attack people, wasn't he? Play the role of an akuma... but how was he supposed to do that? He looked down at his bubble sword, then at the people below. He couldn't actually... he couldn't just start attacking people. But if he didn't that would probably make him stand up as an akuma...
If anyone knew he was doing this willingly, that would be bad. That would put a spotlight on him as his family that he most certainly didn't want. His sword felt heavy in his hands, and he had to remind himself that his powers weren't dangerous. It wouldn't be hurting anyone. He was this far already, and he had a role to play.
Heart hammering in his chest he waved the giant bubble wand, sending a volley of bubbles down onto the people below.
It wasn't anything dangerous, he told himself, just trapping people in bubbles a few feet off the ground. If anything it could be a bit of fun, he at least saw one kid laughing... but still his heart felt heavy at what he was doing. Shaking slightly as he made himself continue one.
...What was he doing? Did he really just do that? Why was he doing this–?
"Don't blame yourself." Papillon said. "I'm the one making you do this."
"I agreed to it."
"Why did you, anyways?"
"...Wasn't going to leave you to deal with Hawk Moth, dude," Nino said, making more bubbles for him to bounce across. "Besides, I think I have an idea for a 'goal'. You said my power was to bring people together, right?"
"I dunno, it sounded fancy."
Nino snorted. "Well, there's this girl in my class–"
"Ooo– do you like her?"
"Wh-wha?" He stuttered out. "No! I mean, I don't have anything against her, she's just not my type? But, um, it's her and her best friend. This friend of hers– she's head over heels for her, and this girl is just blind to it."
Papillon was quiet for a moment. "...They're both girls?"
"Yeah, you have a problem with that?"
"Um... I– no? I guess I just... didn't know that was possible?"
"You need to get out more."
"So you want to... get them together?"
"Yeah. I guess. Trap them in a bubble and have them talk about stuff? Maybe they could be together and be happy finally. I dunno. That's her apartment up there," he sent out another wave of bubbles, carefully hoping his way over to Alya's window. "Was here for a group project once, hopefully she's in here..."
"You're going to break into a girl's room and kidnap her?" Papillon asked. "Is that okay?"
"Happened to a few of my other classmates with akumas," Nino said briskly. "Besides you're the bad guy here– I'm just the puppet!"
"You have full control all over yourself!"
"Oh no, too late!" Nino said, leaning forward and tapping on Alya's window with his sword.
Alya pulled the curtains aside, stared at him for a moment, before opening her window. "Hello... who are you?"
This girl had no sense of danger when it came to akumas.
"I'm Ni– the Bubbler," Nino said. "And, um, do you think you can come with me?"
Alya stepped back. "Please don't say you're in love with me."
"No, why does everyone think that?" he muttered.
"Good, my classmates have already had several akumas like that," Alya said with a sigh. She narrowed her eyes at him. "So why are you here, akuma? Do I know you or does this have something to do with me being the Ladyblogger. Or...?"
Her eyes widened, and she stumbled back, and he wasn't sure why she was suddenly afraid now. He sighed, and popped his visor so she could see his face. "Hey, dudette, it's just me."
"Nino?!"
"Bubbler, actually," he said, since that's what akumas did. "And no, I did not pick that name."
"Why were you akumatized?"
"Peer pressure," he replied. "So... wanna go see Marinette?"
"Um–"
"Too bad, you don't get a choice, because I'm supposed to be evil right now," Nino said in a monotone voice, waving his bubble sword. Alya let out a yelp as she was engulfed in the giant bubble, which he caught on the end of the bubble wand, and he headed back out on his path of bubbles, jumping across the road. "Don't worry, they're unpoppable!"
"That's supposed to be reassuring?" Alya cried, looking down at the fall below them with wide eyes. "Put me down, Nino!"
"After you and Mari have a heart to heart."
"Why?"
"For a reporter you sure are blind," he muttered. "Also are you going to post anything on your blog? I mean usually Ladybug shows up by now, and I'm kinda supposed to fight her... now that I'm saying this out loud I'm just realizing what I'm getting myself into."
"Sorry," Papillon said.
It didn't take long for them to reach Marinette's house, Nino landed on the balcony with ease. Alya was still floating in the bubble, phone out recording the whole thing, because even when kidnapped by an akuma her blog still came first. He knelt down, tapping on Marinette's skylight.
"Yo, Mari!" He called. "Are you home?"
No answer.
"Oh come on," he muttered. "Am I supposed to go track her down or something now?"
"Why do you even want Marinette and me to talk?" Alya asked. "You know I can just call her, right?"
"Not as dramatic," Nino said with a wave. "Any idea of where she might be?"
Alya opened her mouth to respond, probably to snap that she wasn't about to sell out best friend to an akuma, when a voice behind them cut them off. Nino couldn't help but tense up, the raw anger in the voice nothing but frightening.
"Put her down now," the voice snarled, and Nino slowly turned, finding a very angry Ladybug standing on Marinette's roof, gripping her yoyo tightly, blue eyes burning bright. "And maybe I'll go easy on you, akuma."
Nino's mouth was dry, and he hastily stepped away from the trapped Ladyblogger. The yoyo flew out, wrapping around the bubble as it was drawn up towards Ladybug. Alya had immediately perked up, eyes shining brightly at the sight of the hero, her camera turning from Nino to Ladybug.
"And showing up on scene is the greatest hero in our city– Ladybug," she said excitedly. "Ready to fight Hawk Moth's newest akuma– the Bubbler. Er– no sign of the new Rena Rouge, yet."
"Hi Ladybug," Nino said uncertainly, giving a wave– because never had he seen the city's hero like this. She was their protector, a figure of safety, someone to count on– but right now it looked like she was ready to gut him.
Which made sense, since he was the akuma right now.
"You need to ask for her Miraculous," Papillon said.
"I don't think she's in the mood for requests, butterfly dude."
"All akumas demand the Miraculous," Papillon reminded him. "If you don't want to raise suspicions then you have to play your role!"
"So, um, Ladydude... what are the chances you'll give me your Miraculous?" Nino asked uncertainly, and he heard Papillon sigh within his mind. "Help a bro out? Asking for a friend."
"Just attack her or something!"
"Um, okay..." He sent out a wave of bubbles at Ladybug, who easily popped them with several quick lashes of her yoyo before they could hit her– so apparently the 'unpoppable' part only applied to the giant bubbles. Or maybe to the ones with something inside of them? Or maybe Ladybug's yoyo was just that strong.
"Why don't you hand over your akuma," Ladybug growled, walking towards him, and he stumbled back. "I don't have time to play games today, Hawk Moth, so call off your little puppet."
The yoyo came flying at him, and he raised his bubble wand. "Oh, wow, rude, you're acting like I'm not even here."
Ladybug didn't reply, instead charging right at him. He let out a yelp at the sight of anger in the hero's eyes, jumping off of the side of the balcony, summoning a bubble for him to land on. Ladybug swung down right after him, and he leapt onto another bubble. He knew he was supposed to be facing her, but flight or fight kicked in– and the dangerous gleam in Ladybug's eyes was telling him to run.
"You think you have the right to go after innocent citizens!" Ladybug snarled. "You should have known that anything you did in my city would bring me to protect it, akuma!"
"Eep!" Nino yelped, ducking to avoid her yoyo. "Um, well– you will never defeat me Ladybug? I'll never hand over my bubble wand, my akuma will be safe forever?"
Ladybug grinned, her focus shifting to his bubble sword, and Nino tried to will the bubble he was on to rise up into the air. It moved fairly quickly, but Ladybug's yoyo was quicker, snagging around his ankle. She swung herself up towards him, while he tried to shake the device off of him, but it had a strong grip.
The hero landed on the edge of the balcony, and with a sharp tug yanked him down from his bubble. He let out a cry as he fell, slamming into the side of the bakery, but the magic the akuma granted him protected him from the blow, and the pain seemed to fade right away. He let out a grunt as he dangled there, before Ladybug began to haul him up. Nino panicked, before releasing a wave of bubbles out at Ladybug.
They exploded in her face, sending her across the balcony, but her grip on the yoyo didn't loosen. He found himself still being dragged up onto the balcony, Ladybug pouncing on him the moment he was pulled up from over the edge. He let out a grunt as she pinned him to the ground, and while he tried to wrestle her off she ripped the bubble wand from his grip with ease, and he of course made no attempt to get it back as she backed away.
He couldn't help but let out a sigh as she snapped the bubble wand over her knee, a small black butterfly fluttering up from it. However in the same moment he felt something snap in his mind, his connection with Papillon shattering. He pulled back in surprise, the akumatized energy washing over him, the powers and costume of the Bubbler washing away, along with the enhanced strength.
"Papillon?" He couldn't help but whisper as Ladybug caught the butterfly, but no voice replied. His mind felt strangely empty, and while that should have been a relief... he was feeling anything but that.
"Miraculous Ladybug!" Ladybug shouted after she released the purified butterfly, tossing her yoyo up in the air. A wave of pink light rushed out, sweeping away all the bubbles he had formed, freeing Alya from the one that she had been trapped in.
Ladybug leapt onto the roof of the bakery, catching Alya as the bubble popped, pulling her in close as they slid down towards the bakery. The blogger stared up at Ladybug, obviously living the dream in the arms of the hero. Ladybug didn't set her down even as they were safe on the balcony, merely turning towards Nino as she held Alya bridal style.
"You were akumatized," she said– and her expression was completely different than before. Soft, worried, caring. "But it's over now, and Hawk Moth has no control over you anymore. How are you feeling?"
"...Dizzy." Nino said, eyeing her warily. He knew that he wasn't supposed to remember what had happened, but every moment of his akumatized state was fresh in his mind– including the way Ladybug had looked at him. He understood that to her he had been an enemy in the moment, but still it had been frightening to see one he saw as a protector look at him so.
Ladybug carefully placed Alya in Marinette's chair. "Is it okay if I take you home in a little bit?"
"Of c-course!" Alya said, sitting up excitedly.
"Awesome," Ladybug said, picking up Nino with ease. "I'll be back soon."
Nino didn't say anything, not quite as frightened as he might have usually been as Ladybug swung them across the street, as he had been up just as high as the Bubbler. What was catching his attention though was the flush of pink in Ladybug's cheeks, clashing with her mask.
The idea seemed unlikely, but could the hero admire Alya as much as the blogger admired her?
The Butterfly Miraculous beeped one final time, the transformation falling from around Papillon, and Nooroo tumbled out of the brooch. The kwami took a moment to find his balance in the air, not quite used to being partnered with a young holder– which drained his energy quicker than an adult holder.
"How are you feeling?" Adrien asked, holding out his hands for Nooroo to land on.
"I'm hungry," he said softly, ruffling his wings. "How about you? You didn't exhaust yourself with transforming, did you?"
Adrien shook his head. "No... that was really strange though. Will I get used to it?"
"The Butterfly is different from most Miraculouses," Nooroo replied. "You did well for your first time, young Master."
Adrien gave an uncertain smile. "Just call me Adrien, please." He made his way over to the mini fridge in his room, pulling it open. "You said you were hungry– what do you want to eat?"
Nooroo had a preference for red wine, something Gabriel rarely supplied for him since it was his preference, and he doubted that Adrien would have anything of the sort in his room. "Do you have any juice? Or fruit?"
"I have cherry juice," Adrien said, pulling out a plastic bottle. "Would you like that?"
"Yes please," Nooroo said, flying over to the top of the fridge as Adrien poured the cherry juice into the little cap for him. He drank it as quickly as he could, watching as Adrien flipped the Butterfly Miraculous between his hands. "You took a risk leaving the champion with memories."
Adrien winced. "I... I just didn't want to force anyone to... to attack others..."
"I know it's hard," Nooroo said softly. "I don't like doing it either."
"Can't you... Can't you stop Father from using your powers?" Adrien asked. "You're magic, after all."
"I am bound to my Miraculous," Nooroo replied. "I must obey my holder. If you were to free me or give me permission to leave I could..."
Adrien swallowed. "I c-can't do that, Nooroo. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry."
"I know," Nooroo said, his wings sagging slightly. "I wouldn't forgive myself if I left you to your father's wrath."
"I can't disappoint him," Adrien whispered. "He's trusting me. He's actually trusting me. And Mother... I can't just not help her..."
Nooroo decided not to mention that Adrien had chosen to do the opposite by letting the akuma purposely lose. He didn't need to stress out the child further– Adrien was trapped here just as much as he was. He finished off his cherry juice, putting the cap back on before flying over to join Adrien.
"I understand that this is hard for you," he told the boy.
"If we can do this though we can get Mother back," he said softly. "Then the attacks will stop, and everything will be okay. Father will be his old self again."
"It's not that simple, Adrien."
"He wouldn't hurt Ladybug," Adrien said, but Nooroo could sense the doubt in his heart.
The kwami hesitated, knowing that his master wouldn't take it well if he told Adrien what exactly a wish entailed, but still the thought was tempting. Adrien was his only hope of getting out of here, someone that didn't consider the actions of Gabriel as right, but Adrien was just as much a victim as he was. Even as Gabriel's son he knew that the boy wasn't safe, and Nooroo had fond memories of the boy from when he was young.
He couldn't put Adrien in danger, even if it meant giving up a sure way of freedom.
Adrien's bedroom door was thrown open, both of them jumping. They turned, seeing Gabriel and Nathalie entering, and Nooroo dove for Adrien's pocket. He knew that he wouldn't be left in the hands of the boy, but he didn't want to leave him.
"Well?" Gabriel said, not sparing a greeting as he stalked towards his son.
"I... I akumatized someone," Adrien said quickly, looking away. His eyes darted across the room, eventually landing on Nathalie– whose gaze was softer of the two. "It wasn't enough though, L-ladybug won, I'm sorry, Father–"
The man sneered at him. "Don't waste your words. Do not tell me that you honestly expected to lay claim to the earrings so easily when I have yet to do so?"
"N-no, of course not–" Adrien said hastily. "I just didn't want to disappoint you–"
Nathalie stepped forward, laying a hand on Gabriel's arm. "We watched the attack from the Ladyblog," she said, her touch silencing Gabriel before he could speak. "It was a swift defeat, but I am very impressed with how you handled it for your first time."
'I' she had said, not 'we', because of course Gabriel wouldn't be satisfied. No matter what Adrien did he would never please his father, though Nooroo would never say that to the boy's face. All the man cared about was bringing his wife back, no matter what it meant for the city, or even his own son.
There was a bruise on Adrien's cheek, which was taking on a purple tint around the edges. And Nooroo still remembered the tears that had streamed down Adrien's face when he had been taken to the basement, seeing his mother's body stare back at him from the coffin. The painful sorrow and fear that had been radiating from him as his father stood stoically behind him, making no attempt to even comfort him.
"Nooroo," Gabriel snapped, and the Butterfly peered out from Adrien's shirt. "Tell me how Adrien handled the Miraculous."
"He used it perfectly, sir," Nooroo said softly. "He did have struggles, though they were similar to all who first donned my powers, including yourself."
He had used it perfectly. He had used it to create a proper Champion, not a mere puppet.
"Mmm."
Both Nooroo and Adrien knew that was the closest thing they would get to approval.
"You will keep the Miraculous with you until morning," Gabriel finally said. "You must become accustomed to sensing the emotions around you, even when not transformed. At breakfast you will return it to me."
Adrien perked up ever so slightly. "We'll be having breakfast together?"
"I believe that's just what I said," Gabriel said coolly. "Don't tell me that you're now struggling to understand the simplest of words."
Adrien lowered his head, and said nothing.
Nooroo tucked himself back inside Adrien's pocket, relief rushing through him as he realized he would have just a little more time away from Gabriel. No more words were exchanged, only the sound of footsteps as Gabriel and Nathalie exited the bedroom. Nooroo could sense Adrien's churning emotions, and the way he slowly relaxed as soon as he was free from the man's presence.
"We get to spend more time together," Adrien said with a smile, looking down at the kwami. "Awesome, right?"
Nooroo hoped that Adrien never lost his positive outlook on life.
"I much prefer spending time with you," Nooroo said.
Adrien slowly sat down onto the bed, fingering the Miraculous. "Nino."
Nooroo pulled back slightly. "What?"
"Nino, that was the name of my... champion." Adrien smiled slightly. "He was nice."
"You were lucky you came across him," Nooroo agreed.
"Do you think... I could talk to him again?"
Nooroo narrowed his eyes. "With the Miraculous? I mean it's definitely possible, but I doubt your father would be happy that you were using it in such ways."
"You wouldn't tell Father, would you?" Adrien asked.
The kwami swallowed. "I wouldn't want to, but if he ordered me to I wouldn't have a choice. I don't think you should take the risk, Adrien."
"I know," he whispered. "It was just nice to have someone to talk to."
Nooroo landed on his shoulder. "You can talk to me."
Adrien smiled. "Thank you."