Chapter Four

"He's just busy, like usual..."

"I'm Hawk Moth's son."

"...I have never been to school..."

"Please."

"I don't know what he'll do to me if I fail."

"Sorry."

"Gah!" Nino growled, throwing his pillow across the room. "This better not be a side effect of being akumatized."

He didn't want to get out of bed, but he also wanted his pillow, so with a sigh he stumbled over to grab it. He unceremoniously sunk back into bed, muffing a groan with the pillow. It was the middle of the night, meaning he had to be quiet if he didn't want Chris or his mom to wake up, but he also did not feel like sleeping despite all the excitement that had happened that day.

He couldn't get Papillon out of his mind, Hawk Moth's son's words continuously circling in his mind. The boy had been absolutely nothing like you'd expect the son of a supervillain to be, and a part of him wondered if it had been a ruse to get him to willingly be akumatized. That didn't make sense either– considering that he could have just forced it if he so wished, and also the fact that he had purposely allowed him to lose.

He had wanted to akumatize someone because Hawk Moth had told him to– and had clearly been afraid of what would happen if he failed. He knew nothing about this person's homelife, yet was already fearing the worst.

"There's nothing you can do about it, Nino," he muttered to himself. "You don't know who this dude is, where he lives– he said he didn't even go to school! Nothing you can do!"

Just some kid stuck with Hawk Moth with no help– that most certainly didn't reassure him. He turned over in bed, staring at the wall, as if hoping sleep would finally come. Of course nothing changed, feeling wide awake as his thoughts continued to haunt his mind. He closed his eyes in frustration, wondering if he should have told Ladybug about what had happened.

Of course he wasn't about to admit he had willingly been akumatized, or that he had remembered everything. But he could say someone else besides Hawk Moth had been talking to him– but what if she had assumed it was another enemy they were facing? And when Hawk Moth was finally stopped Papillon was dragged down to the same fate as his father?

So still nothing he could do. Not like he had a Miraculous to make a difference.

A flicker of movement in the dim room caught his attention, and he sat straight up as he saw the faint outline of a butterfly coming towards him. His mouth went dry, watching as the akuma fluttered down onto his pillow, a purple mask flickering over his face as it had earlier.

"Hello?" An uncertain voice asked.

"Dude," Nino whispered. "What are you doing?"

"I, um, wanted to talk?" Papillon said meekly. "I promise I'm not going to akumatize you again."

He sighed, leaning back against the wall. "Talk, huh?"

"If that's okay," Papillon said softly. "I just mean... It was nice talking to you earlier? But I'll leave if you want me to."

"Nah, dude, it's fine," he muttered. "I was thinking about you anyways."

"You were?" Papillon said, sounding surprised.

"Not everyday you learn that the local terrorist has literal sunshine for a son," Nino said.

"Sunshine?"

"Yep," Nino said. "So, tell me, what are you going to do next time your old man tells you to akumatize someone? I can promise you that not everyone will just let you like I did. Honestly, I'm still surprised that I did."

"Why did you then?"

"Wasn't just going to leave you to deal with Hawk Moth," he said.

"Well, I actually don't see him that much," Papillon said. "Except for when, um, he is upset. So yeah, you kind of helped me out a lot. I don't know what I'll do next time... but me and Nooroo will figure it out."

"Wait, what do you mean you don't see your dad much?" Nino said, sitting up. "I mean, I wouldn't want to if Hawk Moth was my dad– but he's still your parent!"

"He's busy with work and um, supervillaining. His– er– um... I dunno what to call her? His... assistant? She takes care of me."

"That's messed up, dude. Also, don't think I didn't hear you mention that New-boo thing again."

"No, you did not."

"If you didn't want me to know a name you should stop saying it so much."

"Well it's not a name you'll be hearing about anytime soon," Papillon insisted. "Both from me and anywhere out there in the public."

Nino chuckled. "Then what's the harm in telling me?"

He could feel Papillon's hesitation. He wanted for the voice in his mind to say something, tilting his head slightly, before finally he heard a sigh. "You can't tell anyone, okay? If word gets out then Father will know that I said something and... and I don't want him to know–"

"My lips are sealed, dude," Nino replied.

"Okay, so the Miraculouses themselves aren't what grants the users powers," Papillon said. "Instead there are creatures inside that inhabit them– and they're the source of the magic."

"...Magic creatures that live in jewelry?"

"They're like little animal fairies– at least I assume all of them are, I've only seen one... I'd have to ask Nooroo..."

"And let me guess, 'New-woo' is this fairy inside your Miraculous?"

"Yep!" Papillon said. "He's purple and can fit in the palm of my hand, and has these little butterfly wings. They aren't really fairies, they're called kwamis, and they're bound to their Miraculous and have to obey whoever has the jewel– it's kinda like a genie and a lamp!"

"You seem way too excited about this."

"...I had no one to tell about it before," Papillon said, presence shifting in his mind. "So um, that's it I guess? If you say the right words the kwami goes into the Miraculous and that's how you transform, their powers becoming your own. Kind of like... Sailor Moon!"

"Hawk Moth's son likes Sailor Moon."

"...What's wrong with that?"

He let out a chuckle. "Nothing, my dude, nothing at all. So... Nooroo, what does he think about everything that's going on?"

"He doesn't like Father," Papillon said with a shrug. "He likes me, I think– or at least I'm just... more talkative than Father? He wants me to give him the Miraculous though but I can't... I mean I could, but then we'd lose our only way to... to do stuff."

"I'm on the fairy's side of this, I'm afraid. Do you really think what your father is doing is right, man? You said yourself that you didn't want to akumatize someone, so why let it continue?"

Nino didn't know what reply he was expecting, but he was surprised when he sensed his link with Papillon fading. They had both been sitting quite comfortably in each other's minds, not pressing or searching, just talking– but now he felt some sort of barrier forming up between them. A sudden wall that was blocking his path even though he had intended to go no further.

"I shouldn't have told you anything."

"Papillon?"

"I don't like what me and Father are doing– but it is the only way. I know how we're doing this, it isn't right... but what we're trying to do isn't wrong– okay?"

"I get that you're under pressure, but–"

"Father and I have the same goal." Papillon insisted, the barrier growing stronger, and Nino could no longer even get a glimpse of his emotions. "Do I wish Ladybug would just hand over the Miraculous so there wouldn't be any fighting? Yes– but clearly that's not going to happen."

"Papillon–"

"Maybe I am desperate enough for someone to talk to– but not enough to let you milk me for information! I'm not going to let you turn me against my family!"

"I wasn't trying to–"

The connection was suddenly severed as the akuma butterfly flew out from his pillow. Nino watched as the small creature fluttered about his room, the dark energy from it melting away as he reached out to touch it. A small white butterfly was what he found in his palm, no sense of magic about it as he came into contact with it. Nino closed his eyes, letting it flutter about his room once more.

The shift in his demeanor had been sudden, and though Nino knew it was his words that had triggered it he didn't understand why. Papillon had been acting like an unwilling party up until now– he didn't think it was too much to ask if he really wanted Hawk Moth's attacks to go on.

...But Nino would be lying if he hadn't been fishing for any information he could get. Anything that could be used to stop Hawk Moth... no one would pass up on that. They would be crazy. So if his son had happened to let a few things slip he wouldn't have hesitated to take that information to Ladybug, even if he would have to admit to being akumatized.

He guessed Papillon did have every reason to be suspicious and cautious of him if he truly did hold the same goals as Hawk Moth.

But what would those goals be? Everyone had come to the conclusion that it was just for power and control, but that didn't seem like something Papillon would be on board with, especially seeing how he didn't want to mind control anyone to get to their goal. It would have to be something important enough to keep him loyal to a man such as Hawk Moth... or maybe it didn't. If Papillon had been raised in the sort of environment his life seemed to be... Heck– didn't he say that he didn't even go to school? If his only influence in his life was Hawk Moth...

Nino watched the butterfly flutter about some more, before going to his window to open it so the creature could leave. However even with freedom wide open the little insect didn't fly towards it, just continuing to drift across his room, before settling on his desk. Nino sighed, waving his hand above it to get the butterfly back into the air– but it only flew across his room once again and landed on his bed.

In the end he had to trap the bug under a glass and physically take it to the window in order to let it go.

"Hey, Nino, can we talk?" Alya asked as he headed into school the next day.

"I'm sorry for anything I did while akumatized," he instantly replied, and Alya rolled her eyes.

"Not that, I know you weren't in control of yourself. You... you were a pretty strange akuma, actually," she said. "Though... I do want to ask you a bit about um... why were you akumatized?"

"I was feeling lonely and a tad too empathic," he said as they climbed the stairs, heading up to Miss Bustier's room. "My first mistake."

"Do you have any idea why the Bubbler wanted me and Marinette to talk?" She asked. "I mean you literally came to my house, kidnapped me in a bubble, and dragged me to Marinette's house."

"Maybe you two need to talk?"

"Yeah, but about what?"

"You'd have to ask the Bubbler," he replied, a ghost of a smile on his face. "Or maybe Marinette herself, maybe she has something to tell you."

Alya gave him a strange look as they reached their seats, but didn't say anything else to him as she went to sit at her desk. He wanted to look behind him, to see if his words had at least gotten her thinking about what seemed so obvious to him, maybe even outright tell Alya– but he knew that would be going too far– Marinette's feelings were her own to tell. So instead he just scrolled through his phone, trying to think about anything else that didn't involve akumas... or Papillon.

Marinette burst into the classroom just a few minutes before the bell rang, panting.

"There you are, girl!" Alya said in excitement. "You won't believe what happened yesterday– Ladybug carried me home in her arms!"

"Really?" Marinette said, voice slightly strained as it always was when Alya talked about Ladybug. "Was it any different than last time that happened?"

"Well..." Alya trailed off, and he could imagine the blush climbing on her face. "We actually talked for a little bit and... and I mean it felt more like some fan talking to a hero? Like, it felt like a real conversation! The thing is it's always felt like that with Ladybug... the first day she appeared she felt so human, not like an invincible hero you see in comics, and I guess I just love seeing more of that side of her?"

"I get what you mean," Marinette said wistfully. "I'd love to get to know Rena Rouge, I hope she makes another appearance."

Wait– what?

"H-huh?" Alya said with a slight stutter.

Marinette let out a chuckle. "Let's just say I finally understand what it's like to have a little crush on a hero– Rena Rouge is hot."

Confusion was rushing through Nino's mind– this was Marinette Dupain-Cheng, the girl that had been head-over-heels for Alya ever since the first day they met! The one that had so desperately been trying to get her best friend's attention, but had always been overshadowed by Ladybug– but had never given up hope on trying to tell the girl of her feelings.

And now she had suddenly changed her mind because some new hero had suddenly shown up?

"Y-you what?" Alya stuttered, though Nino had no idea why she would. "Didn't you say you had a crush on someone...?"

Marinette let out a warm laugh. "What, am I not allowed to have a celebrity crush? I know that I don't know Rena Rouge personally, but as far as looks go... those are eyes I could get lost in for hours!"

...Was she trying to make Alya jealous?

"What do you think of her?" Marinette asked, sliding closer to her friend. "Come on, I can't be the only one that finds the new hero cute."

Alya let out a nervous laugh. "W-well I dunno if she's my type–"

"What do you mean?" Marinette said, nudging her. "She's gorgeous! Golden eyes, no hesitation despite this being her first fight– that's the kind of hero I'd want sweeping me off my feet!"

"Ladybug doesn't hesitate either!"

"And don't get me started on her figure–"

"M-mari!" Alya yelped, and Marinette began laughing– and Nino didn't understand what was going on. Using Rena Rouge to get Alya jealous? Well, it was definitely making her flustered– though he didn't know why!

A slight headache formed near his temples as he tried to think about it, and he reached for his water bottle to take a long drink. His thoughts instantly drifted away from heroes, villains filling his head instead– and at the front of his mind was Papillon. Even as Miss Bustier clapped her hands together to start class he didn't fade from his mind, wondering how someone could be both afraid and willingly supportive of Hawk Moth, feeling that what he was doing was wrong– but yet wanting to reach the same goal.

Their conversation last night hadn't ended on the most pleasant of notes, but he only felt concern as he thought about the boy. He had to be about his age by the way he sounded, yet the way he talked wasn't anything like his classmates. There had been a desperation for conversation, and a strong curiosity that drove whatever he said.

He wondered just what he had gotten himself into as he found himself wishing for a butterfly to come flying through the window– just so he could talk to the boy once more.

Tap-tap.

Alya glanced up at her window as she heard the faint knocking on the glass, eyes narrowed suspiciously at the curtains. Chances are it was just a pigeon pecking about, and there was no need to go and check... but she was curious. Last time it wasn't a pigeon though, it had been an akuma that had kidnapped her... so again she probably shouldn't go and check.

But that had led to Ladybug rescuing her, so...

Alya pushed herself to her feet, heading over and pushing the curtains open to see what was outside. She jumped back at the figure hanging right outside her window, a smile spreading over her face after a moment.

Ladybug was hanging upside down by her yoyo, dangling in front of Alya's window. The hero was grinning at Alya, giving a small wave, before showing off an item in her hand. Alya's heart leapt, glancing at her phone, but saw no akuma alert. She hurried over towards the window, pulling it open as Ladybug flipped herself upright, landing on her window sill, the box that held the Fox Miraculous in hand.

"Is there an akuma?" Alya asked, heart racing.

"Not that I know of," Ladybug said. "I was just going to go for a patrol, and got permission to take you with me. Want to come, partner?"

Excitement pulsed through Alya. "You couldn't have had better timing, I just finished up my history homework." It hadn't been an easy assignment, and she had texted Marinette in celebration once she had finished. "Wait, what do you mean by 'permission'?"

Ladybug hesitated, before offering out the Fox Miraculous, which Alya took as the hero climbed in through her window. Alya glanced around her room quickly, wishing she had time to clean up. Ladybug was in her room! Ladybug shut the window and tugged the curtains shut, and Alya then felt comfortable to open up the box, summoning Trixx in a flare of golden light, the fox-tail pedant resting inside as it always before. Trixx's sky blue eyes peered about the room, before settling onto Alya.

"Good to see you again, Rena," Trixx said, her tail swaying. "Shame that we're going to have to say hello and goodbye each time."

"Trixx, please don't start this up again," Ladybug said, the Fox Miraculous changing to a spiral as Alya slipped it around her neck. "As for your question, Alya... Miraculouses are dangerous in the wrong hands, and as such there's a lot of rules to protect them– so I just can't grab one whenever I'd like."

"Maybe we could get them out of the wrong hands if we had more help..." Trixx said, trailing off– before zipping in front of Ladybug. "Right now Nooroo is going through when I went through, and at the rate we're going we're never going to save him!"

"We will, Trixx," Ladybug said to the kwami. "I promise."

There were tears in her eyes. "Nooroo is a young kwami, Ladybug. Compared to many of us he's what you humans would call a child. He's never been in corrupt hands before. He doesn't deserve this."

Ladybug scooped up Trixx. "He doesn't– no one does. That's why we're going to bring him home."

Trixx zipped off of Ladybug's hands, hovering in front of Alya. Her gaze was bitter, but it didn't seem directed at any of them. "You know the words."

"Let's pounce?" Alya said uncertainly, not quite sure what to make of the exchange she had just heard. With a burst of golden light she was drawn into the Miraculous, transforming Alya as the energy danced about her. As the transformation faded Rena Rouge stood next to Ladybug, swaying slightly.

She could feel something in her mind, lingering traces of frustration, one that she knew wasn't her own– was this Trixx?

"...It's hard," Ladybug said softly. "It's not just magic in the wrong hands, it's a living being as well that's been captured. It's hard on their fellow kwamis, knowing that one of their own is out there... even more so with Trixx, who's had more than their fair share of corrupt holders."

"He doesn't seem too happy," Rena muttered, her hand falling over her heart for a moment. "I... I think I can feel him?"

Ladybug gave a small smile. "It isn't uncommon to be able to sense your kwami's emotions. Usually they use it as a means to help guide you." She turned. "Come on, let's patrol," Ladybug said, moving back towards the window. "It will be good practice for the next time we go into a fight– and it's a good way to get to know the city and keep an eye out."

"Have you ever found an akuma attacking while on patrol?" Rena asked as Ladybug pushed the window open, reaching for her yoyo.

"A few times, but that's not why I patrol," Ladybug said, throwing her yoyo across the street. She stepped out onto the window sill, before looking back and offering Rena her hand. She accepted it, trying to keep herself from flushing as she was pulled in close– the two of them swinging across the streets and landing on the roofs on the other side.

"What's the reason, then?"

"My goal is to find an akuma before it infects anyone," Ladybug replied, taking off running to the north, Rena a pace behind her. "That prevents an akuma from forming at all– but if I'm lucky I can see what direction the butterfly was coming from."

"...You're trying to track them," Rena Rouge said, eyes widening slightly.

"Exactly," Ladybug said, doing a flip as she leapt over an alleyway, and Rena felt her breath get caught in her throat. She just moved with such ease, such grace– she was so amazing. "I try to keep my patrols as random as possible, that way Hawk Moth can't formulate any patterns of mine while I'm trying to look for some with his actions."

"You could triangulate his location with the butterflies," Rena said in realization, excitement racing through her.

"Theoretically," Ladybug replied. "But Paris is a big place, and densely packed. Even if I could just narrow it down to a few blocks there could be hundreds of people living in that area."

"Could you follow the butterflies you purify?"

"They don't go anywhere, just fly aimlessly until they disintegrate, usually within a few hours," Ladybug replied, and when she saw the shock on Rena's face she let out a small laugh. "They're not real butterflies, they're made of energy created by the Butterfly Miraculous. Kind of like the ladybugs you see in my healing light."

"Oh," She blinked. "That makes a lot of sense, actually."

"As for the other reason I patrol," Ladybug said as she made her way up the side of a taller building, Rena behind her. "It's for this."

She came to a stop as she reached the top, looking out as she waited for Rena to join her, the Fox heroine landing next to her a moment later.

"Whoa," Rena said, looking out at the view. Paris lived up to its name of the City of Lights– the night sky dark, but the city aglow. Straight ahead was the sight their city was known for, the Eiffel Tower standing tall in the night.

"Nothing beats the view from up here," Ladybug said, sitting down, leaning back against a chimney. "It's just so peaceful... and that's the other reason I patrol. To unwind, to pretend my life as a hero and civilian doesn't exist– focus on nothing but relaxing."

Rena sat down next to her. "I can't imagine how stressful it is, protecting the city on your own."

Ladybug smiled at her. "Well, it helps that I'm not alone anymore."

Rena Rouge felt her face grow warm. "I'm... I can't believe that you picked me."

"Who else would I choose?"

"I..."

Ladybug laughed, a melodious sound, echoing through the night. Rena watched her, not sure what to make of the hero. Ladybug had spoken like her choice was so simple, obvious. She seemed completely happy with her wielding the Fox Miraculous, and seemed to trust her... but she could not understand why Ladybug saw those things in Alya Césaire. She was a self proclaimed reporter, hero expert, and fangirl– and none of that seemed to add up to true hero material.

"Well, I'm guessing you're getting used to the attention that comes with being a hero," Ladybug said with a smile. "I'm sure you get plenty of comments on that blog of yours."

"...It's weird to see people talking about me, without them knowing it's me," Rena said, looking out at the skyline. A blush climbed her cheeks, and she buried her face into her hands. "My best friend called Rena Rouge hot– I didn't even know how to respond to that."

"Is that a bad thing?"

"Huh?"

"Her thinking that."

"No..." Rena said, shifting. "I'm just sure if she knew it was me she wouldn't think that." She shrugged. "Not like I can really say anything, because identities and all that."

"You're not uncomfortable, right?"

Rena laughed. "With Marinette? No way– I'm flattered if anything. Well, except for when she was asking if I thought Rena Rouge was attractive, now that was awkward! How do I even respond to that?"

"Smile and nod," Ladybug said.

"...I'm guessing that happens to you too, then?"

Ladybug cracked a grin. "You're not the only one with a best friend with a crush on them."

That was a weird thing to think about, Ladybug with a best friend. Not that Rena didn't think that she had one– but when she thought about Ladybug outside the mask she usually thought about her trying to hide her double life, ready to sprint off to be a hero at a moment's notice. Adventuring with her kwami. Maybe walking down the same street as her but not even knowing that Paris' beloved hero was right there. But... a best friend. A family. A normal life was something that Ladybug had. Rena Rouge had always known that, but this was her first time truly thinking about it.

"Well, whoever is your best friend must be amazing," Rena said slowly.

Ladybug's best friend had a crush on Ladybug– and didn't even realize the object of their affection was right in front of them. She knew that there was magic that helped hide identities, Ladybug had confirmed that in a past interview... but man, this friend must be blind.

"They are," Ladybug said, looking off at the city, a fond smile on her face, and Rena felt her heart lurch.

She was not going to be jealous of this best friend. It was not her place to be jealous, that was petty. Besides, it was her that was up on the roofs with Ladybug, looking down at the City of Love together, not this best friend. She was not going to let her emotions get the better of her– besides, anyone who was Ladybug's best friend was probably one of the best people in Paris.

"As awesome as it would be to have you as a best friend," Rena said. "I'm afraid when it comes to best friends I have the best one of all."

Ladybug stared at her, and Rena felt her heart thump– had that been something rude to say?

Then the hero gave her the sweetest smile– one that would have made Rena's knees go weak had she been standing. "It probably means the world to her that you admire her so much."

"Marinette's amazing," Rena replied, looking off at the Eiffel Tower in the distance.