Chapter 5: The Cat Came Back

Ladybug went back to Adrien's room.

"Adrien, you're a great person, but as a Cat hero... it didn't work so well..."

"What did I do wrong?"

"You should have listened to me, and let me take the lead."

"Aren't you and the other guy equal partners?"

"You're not as experienced. You made a big mistake tonight."

"Kuro Neko was a special case. I think the former Chat would have had just as much trouble with an akuma who could control cats."

"With him I could have fixed it, like I did with Dark Cupid. I guess... I need a Chat who is in love with me."

"Are you sure he still is? He quit on you."

"That's the reason he quit. He can't handle my rejection."

"You know that for sure? Maybe it's also because you're keeping secrets from him. Have you told him who Rena Rouge and Carapace are, and that they know each other's identities?"

"I keep all the temp heroes private for security."

"Even if Shadow Moth knows them all?"

"I don't have proof of that. He's only directly attacked Nino and Alya."

"So far. It's good that you're retiring those two."

"Shadow Moth doesn't know you. If you're willing, I might try again with another Miraculous, but I need to get the Cat back. I miss Chat Noir's humor, and even his flirting."

Adrien handed back the ring. "I enjoyed working with you. I'm sorry it didn't work out."

"No hard feelings?"

"I'm disappointed, but I'll get over it."

Marinette talked to Plagg, asking him to set up a place and time where she and the former Chat could meet without her seeing his face.

It wasn't easy to get him to agree to meet at all. Plagg went back and forth with negotiations.

"My former holder has questions and he won't even consider coming back unless you're honest with him. He won't ask for your identity, but he needs open communication."

"All right, I guess we do have some issues to talk about."

"And you need to meet face to face, but both using a Miraculous. Not just around the corner from each other or with him wearing a mask. Quantum masking is more effective."

"I can let him use Stommp. I haven't given the Ox kwami out yet."

"Extra strength may give him confidence. I hope you can talk him into coming back."

Plagg took Stompp's nose ring to Adrien.

They met on a pre-arranged rooftop. His transformation looked a lot like Chat since it was black leather. Even the nose ring looked good on him.

"For this conversation, you can call me Oxbow."

"Oxbow, I really need you back as Chat Noir. I made a mistake thinking I could replace you. I miss you. I don't need a perfect partner. I need you."

"We'll see. My first question is: did you tell my replacement any secrets you haven't told me?"

Ladybug told him about Rena Rouge and Carapace, who they were and how it happened that they learned each other's identities.

"I think you should have told me before."

"I probably should have. I have to be so careful, as the Guardian. I'll tell you one more thing I didn't tell him."

She went on to tell him about Rena Furtive.

"Her power is too good to waste. She could follow Shadow Moth invisibly if he shows up on the battle scene again. But she works best when nobody knows she's there."

"Will she tell Nino about this?"

"I told her not to."

"She'll go along with that? Nino may be bothered by her slipping off on missions."

"She asked me to trust her. I know she'll find a way to make it work without telling him."

"Secrets between partners make everything complicated. If I had known two heroes knew each other's identities and that you were okay with it, without knowing how it happened, I would have been really hurt."

"I'm sorry. I thought the less people that knew, the better."

"One more secret I have to know. Why was Viperion on standby that night when time went crazy? You had something to tell me, then said it was nothing."

"I'd rather not say."

"That's too big a thing to keep from me. If you really want me back, tell me the truth."

"All right... It was because of Su-Han. He demanded that someone needed to know your identity in case of an emergency like Moolak. His akuma object was in a locked safe that you could have Cataclysmed. I used nine heroes to get to him."

"Even if you knew my identity I couldn't have responded any faster. I was in the middle of something and I couldn't get away. That happens sometimes. My civilian life is complicated."

"Su-Han also said he thought you might become a rogue holder like Shadow Moth, and we needed to know who you were, since your power is so destructive."

"You really trust me that little? After all this time?"

"I don't feel that way. It was Su-Han. If I didn't give him your identity he would find a way to get your Miraculous and give it to a new holder."

"Why Viperion? You thought I would react badly to being asked for my identity, and you wanted to be safe? Don't you know I would have told you?"

"I wanted to ask your identity and get the answer with Viperion listening in. He would Second Chance the conversation, and be able to tell Su-Han without me remembering your name. I don't want to know – it's too dangerous."

"So what happened? Is that why time went crazy?"

"I think the plan went through, but there were long-term consequences that ruined everything, so future me sent Sass back to undo the whole thing. He said he saw a Lucky Charm with the image of a watch showing 1:00, the time the Second Chance started. That's all he remembers now about that timeline. I asked him. A long-range Second Chance can do that."

"So Luka telling Su-Han my identity caused a disaster?"

"I think so. This time I stood up to Su-Han and refused to get your identity at all. He backed down. If he didn't, I was willing to fight him rather than lose you."

"Why didn't you tell me any of this the other night? You said it was nothing."

"I just wanted to erase the whole thing like it never happened."

"Wait a second. What was your original plan? If you got my identity and reset the loop, I wouldn't remember that you asked at all. Were you going to tell me?"

"Well, ummm..."

"You weren't, were you?"

"I wanted to keep things simple. It would be better if you didn't know."

"So you conspired with Luka to steal my identity and betray it to a man who hates me. Gee, I wonder why that didn't turn out well?"

"Don't take it like that! I wanted to protect you. I had good intentions."

"The road to hell is paved with those. Here's what I think you should do: give the ring to Su-Han and let him appoint a new Chat Noir."

"I don't want a new Chat Noir. I want you back. I'm really sorry."

"In another timeline you betrayed me."

"In this timeline I didn't."

"You planned to."

"Please forgive me," said Ladybug, starting to cry. "I'll do anything to make it up to you."

"I'm probably being very stupid, but I'll give you one more chance. You're going to have to start treating me better as a partner. No more lies and secrets."

"No more lies and secrets, I promise."

"You're on probation with me."

"I'll try my hardest."

"Give me the ring."

She got it out of the yo-yo and gave it to him. Plagg appeared.

"Welcome back, kid," said Plagg. "I missed you."

"I missed you, too. Stompp, Plagg, Unify! Plagg, Stompp, Divide!"

Chat Noir was back. But for how long?

The End