Bloom and Marinette are walking through the Trocadero, heading for Adrien's current photoshoot - they planned on 'bumping into him' and inviting him to a smoothie. And, maybe getting a ride back to Mari's place depending on how it goes - because, Adrien or Cat Noir, her brother is a gentleman and wouldn't not offer if they needed a ride somewhere. He's offered her a ride back to her place often enough...even if that was trying to make her slip up.
Bloom helps a woman with her baby stroller, while her son is throwing a tantrum about not getting a lollipop, and Marinette goes to ask Adrien about that smoothie. Right up until that baby gets Akumatized over wanting a lollipop.
Bloom pulls his mother out of the way, muttering "That man has gone some issues…" She never thought he'd sink this low - she knew he was perfectly capable of some truly despicable things, including destroying the world by Akumatizing the wielder of the power of destruction and Akumatizing his own son, but it takes a truly sick, twisted psycho to mind-control a baby of all things.
The woman nods, saying "Akumatizing a baby…it's just sick!" And that's not even mentioning the outrage she feels coming on about the detail that it's her baby!
Bloom says "Go hide, Ladybug, Cat Noir, and Dragon Fyre will bring your real child back soon!" When she gets to Cat Noir after transforming, she finds him leading August towards the river - nothing to destroy there, smart.
That particular Akuma is definitely the most innocent Akuma they've ever encountered - topping even Nino and Nathan, who sent all the adults up into the sky in bubbles but didn't hurt them and attacked Chloe with a giant hairdryer and some berets. August, however, simply sits on the ground and plays with his 'toy cars' - real cars, but all three heroes seriously doubt anyone will be suing them.
Ladybug grins at a thought, and asks "You think Hawk Moth's throwing a tantrum because August won't listen to him?" Because the usual mask keeps appearing and disappearing, and August pauses when it happens only to go back to playing.
Cat Noir full-out laughs, and says "Oh, definitely." And that mental image, Hawk Moth stomping his feet and shouting himself hoarse like a three-year-old, is going to be one he's going to treasure for a long while. And, he can already hear Plagg laughing hysterically in his head.
Ladybug and Cat Noir watch as Dragon Fyre makes fireworks for August - who knew she was so good with kids?! - and Ladybug says "The Akuma's got to be in his bracelet."
Cat Noir nods, and says "The real challenge is gonna be getting to it - we don't know if it can do anything, after all."
And then they see a large spout of flames appear in the air, and they…converge into a shape in the air. A dog, to be precise. An August-sized dog. It runs around him, and August claps his hands and says "Puppy!" It then turns into a cat, which curls its tail around the bracelet for a moment - turning it black, but not releasing the Akuma just yet.
Ladybug mutters "Jeez, must've beefed up the strength on it."
Cat Noir grins, and says "I got this, Bugaboo. Cataclysm!" He leaps up, using his staff for a boost, and lands on August's wrist just in time to catch the bracelet. Ladybug catches the Akuma while Dragon Fyre catches August and Cat Noir uses his baton to keep from landing face-first on the ground. August's mother comes running over at once, thanking them profusely and cuddling her son.
Dragon Fyre watches as the pair leaves, then asks "Can we all agree he's losing his touch? Because that was..." 'Pathetic' would be one word she'd use. A combination of hilarious and disgusting would be another - because, seriously a BABY!
Cat Noir nods, and says "Yeah...unfortunately, ladies, this Alley Cat's gotta get going. See you later?"
Sooner than you think, Brother. Dragon Fyre and Ladybug go hide and transform, before running out to
Adrien breathes a sigh of relief when he sees Bloom and Marinette in the Trocadero - Bloom must've had Marinette go hide somewhere safe. Smart as always, Super-sis.
Marinette lets out a relieved breath, and says "Glad you're okay, Adrien. We saw that woman's baby get Akumatized and had to go hide. What about you, did he think you were a lollipop to?"
Adrien shakes his head, slightly confused because he knows his sister wasn't hiding, she was making fireworks for August, and says "Not me, but he thought my bodyguard was. Where'd you two hide?"
Marinette says "We split up to hide, actually. Bloom went one way, I went another."
Adrien relaxes slightly, then sees his Bodyguard pull the car up and asks "You two want a ride back home?"
Before Marinette can completely spaz about the offer, Bloom says "Actually, Adrien, that would be fantastic. C'mon, Mari."
They end up sitting exactly like at the interview, Bloom between her two partners - unlike at the interview, though…Mari's hardly breathing she's so excited and nervous at the same time. Bloom rolls her eyes, then decides to snap her best friend out of her spiraling thoughts - because, currently, she's going on about how a tire will blow out, she'll fall right into Adrien and he'll never want to even see her again because she accidentally kissed him. "So," Bloom pseudo-casually asks, "anybody up for a lollipop?"
Marinette and Adrien both give her disbelieving looks, and she pulls three of them out of her pocket.
"I might've snagged a few as I was going past the cart. It was supposed to be a last-resort bribe for the kid…August was his name, right Mari? In case he thought I was one." She also left some coins she found while on Patrol for the lolipops - she does keep an eye out for any loose change, and scoops it up via magic.
Marinette nods her head, then says "You've gotta be kidding, Bloom."
Adrien adds "That is so wrong on so many levels."
Bloom smirks, asking "You want one or not?"
Both Adrien and Marinette reach over after a moment, and Marinette mutters "You're absolutely helping with Manon next time."
Bloom grins, and says "While I can't promise any fireworks, I can keep her entertained some."
Marinette just groans and shakes her head, popping the lollipop into her mouth to try and disguise the grin forming on her face.
Adrien just shakes his head, staring out the window as he sucks on his own lollipop - the only other person his sister jokes around with like that is Ladybug. He puts it down to Marinette feeding her as Dragon Fyre at Ladybug's request - and he just heard Bloom facepalm, but he's going to guess it's at some of Marinette's antics.
Plagg, meanwhile, shares a glance with Bloom, who gives a slight shake of her head - translation, no he doesn't want to know what obliviousness his kitten is up to this time.
AN: Hey, everyone! What, you thought I was gonna have Bloom beat up poor August?! Sorry, but no, even our favorite red-head has her limits. And baby-beating, as it were, is past them by a long shot.
In unrelated news, think I'm gonna hold off on giving Bloom, specifically, one of the temporary power-ups until she gets Believix - which, seeing as everyone who keeps up with the Ladyblog knows she's a Fairy, is just a matter of getting her Enchantix. 'Cause, I don't wanna write myself into a magical meltdown of sorts because Bloom's magic can't adapt to one of the Miraculous power-ups at just Charmix. Fun, right?
Luckily, Bloom's magic and Longg's makes it easier to get her out of sticky situations.
Anyway, enjoy! More updates coming soon!