Author's note: So sorry everyone! It has been a busy few months but I'm back and with two Chapters, hope you enjoy! Now, let's see how our favourite heroes deal with a new akuma.
Chapter 4: Carnation
Vines suddenly sprout from the ground, impaling cars and houses. Marinette looked up in alarm, dropping her homework and quickly transforming into Ladybug. As she runs across rooftops, she hears a piercing scream and zips off to that direction. At this point she knows Paris like the back of her hand, but the area the cries are coming from are very familiar to her, a place she was at mere hours ago. Claire's house. An overwhelming sense of dread almost stops her in her tracks but the panic urges her on. She promised herself she'd be better, has she caused yet another akuma? After what seems like an age, she arrives, placing herself opposite the very same balcony that she first saw the crying girl. She observes a cage of vines, and Claire is trapped inside. The blonde is much like she was when they first met, completely distraught, but overall still normal – she's not the akuma then. Ladybug bites her lip, pondering her next move, who could have done this to her? She surveys the area but no akuma is in sight. In hiding? Or has it left to collect more victims? No time to hesitate, she cannot let her doubts control her. First things first, free Claire.
With practised speed and accuracy, she jumped over the cage, flinging out one of her yo-yos at the vicious plants below. Yelping in surprise and dismay, she has to fling herself back again as the vines swallowed her weapon, almost pulling her in too. Good thing she hadn't used the yo-yo needed to cleanse akumas...and the one holding all the other miraculous inside. The sound makes Claire look up and she spots the heroine, smiling in relief.
"Ladybug!"
"Hold on, Claire! I'll get you out but first I need to know who did this to you, and why?"
"Oh ladybug, I tried to be brave like you but now my manager has gone crazy! It's all my fault"
With that, Claire hides her face in her hands, sobbing. The heroine automatically tries to get closer but the vines react immediately, thorns sprouting out menacingly. She has no other choice but to retreat to the nearby rooftop for now and think of a plan. Lost in thought, she can't help but pace back and forth as her anxiety grows…Claire is blaming herself when the real blame is the so-called heroine of Paris.
"I'd like to use some of that fertiliser" Chat Noir appears next to her, playful as always. Usually she can brush it off but that akuma has taken an innocent civilian hostage, because of her. She let this happen, how can he just joke around like their lives mean nothing. All the pent up frustration she had built up at herself, came bursting out before she could stop it.
"This isn't a joke, Chat Noir, you need to take this seriously or I'll do it on my own!".
She regrets her words instantly, seeing the hurt expression on his face. It's an expression she's only seen a handful of times before, but she knows it means that he's upset and starting to doubt himself. Mentally, she scowls at herself, two stupid mistakes in one day. She must do better. Chat Noir is her partner and she trusts him more than anyone else. It's time to stop hiding behind this perfectionist wall she has. All this reminds her that around him, she can be herself.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean that" she staring at the ground in shame. "All of this? It's my fault Chat, the akuma, I'm the one who gave her the advice that put her in danger! I'm the one who should be off this mission, I'm the one who you don't need". Mariette in her suit can't help but continue to talk down to herself, maybe the likes of Lila and Chloe have been right along. She sadly sinks to the floor.
"Bug". Her partner's voice snaps her out of her dark cloud. "Listen, none of this is your fault. It's Hawkmoth's. Just like you said when we first started, he's the one taking advantage of these innocent civilians. We will find him someday, but right now we need to focus on the akuma, okay?" He gives a comforting, genuine smile and reaches his hand towards her.
A small blush makes its way on her face as she slowly puts her hand in his. "He's so warm", she thinks, her blue eyes meeting his green. Just for a moment she's reminded of something. A rainy day, a boy with an umbrella….
Adrien?
