Author's Note: I'm sorry for taking so long. Life's been hectic. And sadly, I have bad news. This fic will be discontinued. Thing is, I really cannot bring myself to continue writing for something I feel the need to bash every few so often. Season 1 was great even with some problems, Season 2 just went downhill and Seasons 3 and 4 are just plain toxic. Look, I went from wanting to berate Marinette to being a bit more equal to "For Sovereigns' sake, Adrien, what the hell is wrong with you?" And don't start me on Alya being a really bad friend. Or the Love Square which is painfully toxic. Or even the stupidity of generally everyone in this show, which includes Gabriel. Dude, your Miraculous is super overpowered, just make a doctor akuma or something.
To sum up, Kuro Neko destroyed any remaining hope for Adrien (who used to be my favourite character but he went from being kind of my usual type to being a very shitty person so too bad, I don't simp for assholes. Sorry. Even though I could get where Adrien is coming from, just... the writers chose the worst options. Not that Marinette does any better, honestly.) and Qilin which isn't as controversial but the whole thing with how Chinese they tried to force it annoyed me and the fact Marinette has been unjustly apologising for stuff that isn't even her fault.
EDIT: Well, I apparently discontinued this a day before Strikeback came out (yay, a new dumpster fire of an episode, kinda). Felt a bit glad about my decision, really.
Anyway, this is supposed to be more of an elaboration. I actually had a plan for this story. Unfortunately, with the series throwing oil on their burning writers' room, I feel like I would not be able to write this without accidentally doing jabs and digs at some people, (Take in point I haven't really seen the show since Season 2's messy writing and is getting most of my information from blogs and some clips which aren't perfectly viable as a source but what I hear isn't helping) or just being generally saltier (is that the term this fandom uses now?). Thus I don't think I can give them the justice they deserved as characters. Therefore, I'm discontinuing this until I felt more comfortable and easier to write this otherwise it's discontinued for the foreseeable future.
Disclaimer: I do not own Miraculous
Adrien laughed at something Nino had said, smiling brightly. They were waiting in class for the girls to return and Nino had taken it upon himself to entertain Adrien. He had a sneaking suspicion that Nino still thinks Adrien isn't feeling well despite his affirmation that he felt back to normal.
Well, a little more attention to his wellbeing isn't so bad.
"Morning! Look what happened to our resident latecomer!"
"Shush, Alya. I happened to sleep longer this time!" Marinette complained, smiling sweetly to the boys, cheeks tinging pink when her eyes met Adrien's.
"Tell me about it. Adrien actually came earlier too!" Nino added, making Adrien roll his eyes. Well, sorry for sometimes needing to stay up late kicking akuma butt.
"By the way…" Marinette scanned the still-empty classroom, "Did any of you see Max around? I wanted to ask him about yesterday."
Nino shook his head, "No, I would have known if he's here. Kim is loud, remember?"
"Well, sorry for being loud." A voice cut in, smiling teasingly.
"Kim, I believe Nino has made a correct deduction about the volume of your voice," Max added next, tilting his head to greet the group.
"Max!" Marinette beamed and Adrien couldn't help but think she's so kind and rather cute, "Did it work out?"
"Yes." The short boy seemed almost embarrassed. "It was a tough endeavour but I concluded we are now on more amicable terms."
" 'Boohoo, my father was estranged but now we are a family again.' What a wonderful, unbelievable story." A very distinct voice entered their conversation and Chloe flicked her ponytail in disdain. "Doesn't change the fact that he's pathetic! As if a happy ending can come to you idiots."
"Chloe!"
"What? I'm right, Adrikins. You know that." Her smile scathing when Adrien hesitated to argue back.
He was saved by someone who never seemed to be able to talk to him. "Shut up, Chloe. Max did very well! I'm glad they are on better terms! Maybe if you try, you wouldn't have turned out to be such a bully!"
"Dupain-Cheng. Are you picking a fight with me?" Chloe narrowed her eyes, Sabrina carefully stepping away.
"Yeah. What about it?" Marinette met her cold gaze with a defiant one of her own.
"Before this could potentially escalate into a fight… I'm alright, Marinette. Chloe has a 0.001% chance of angering me. I know where I stand."
Marinette dropped her glare, turning to Max, "You sure?"
Max nodded and Chloe huffed, "Pathetic. Family is stupid."
"Says the girl who goes around announcing who her 'daddy' is," Alya muttered, catching Chloe's stink eye with glee.
Chloe made to say something probably mean when Adrien got up and grabbed her arm, "Let it go, Chloe. If you want to fight, we can do it outside."
"You?" Chloe scoffed, "Since when do you have a backbone?"
Marinette looked like she was ready to explode and the rest of the class is filing in so Adrien sighed and tugged his old friend outside.
"Lily, make sure to come back here on time, alright?" Her aunt repeated, "We don't want to wait so long."
"I know. Thank you." The petite brown-haired girl forced a sincere smile as her aunt gave an equally fake one back. She tried to pretend she didn't see the exasperated sigh as the door's window clicked shut.
Lily gave her own sigh, trudging up her new school's steps, wondering if she could even make friends at this time of year.
And the first thing she hears as she entered the school is a commotion on the second level. Strangely, everyone else had noticed but quickly power walked by, not even lingering to watch the argument.
She checked her table and found, with a cringe, that she would have to walk by those two blondes to get to her class. Lily sighed again.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
She cursed her stupid decision a minute later.
"-can't just say that!"
"You have no right to lecture me about it!"
"And you do?!"
"Of course I do!" The blonde girl flipped her ponytail wildly, nearly hitting Lily. "Compared to those peasants, my father is exceptional!"
"Chloe-"
"You know you can't win, Adrikins. Your father is worse than anyone else!"
Lily cannot help but note the boy had hesitated, which only fueled the other girl's smugness.
"Just because we have family problems doesn't mean you should insult others!"
"Why not? They are all idiots thinking their family is nice and wonderful and happy. They are deluding themselves!"
'Adrikins' moved to retort again when Lily stepped in without thinking, fiddling with the straps of her bag. She almost could have sworn the entire school gasped at her action and now holding their breath. "Um… I don't think that's nice… Everyone's families are different and I'm sure they love their families… You're being insensitive."
"Insensitive?!" The blonde shrieked. "Do I even look remotely insensitive to you?"
"Chloe! Chloe, stop! The day just started." And the blonde boy made a grab to hold the girl back, despite having been arguing just a second ago.
"Let go of me! What type of idiotic peasant even dared to call me - Chloe Bourgeois - insensitive!"
Lily swallowed harshly. Bourgeois? The mayor?! No wonder no one is coming up to stop them or even listen in! What has she done?!
"That's not even why you're angry!" The boy interjected, green eyes desperately telling her to book it. Now that she was actually paying attention… Oh no… Adrien Agreste?!
She just pissed off two famous people in the five minutes she was in school.
Chloe's eyes sharpened into chilly ice blades, scanning her. "Hm… I bet you have a warm and fuzzy family, huh. You do realise they are simply acting the part so you will take care of their disgusting aging bodies when they are too old, right? Or are you that stupid that you never noticed?"
Lily's hand snaked to her throat where her precious locket lay, she trembled when she noticed Chloe having noted that movement and her smile turned positively devilish.
Chloe barked a harsh, mocking laugh even as Adrien tried to calm her down. "Oh! They are dead, aren't they? Hahaha! Good for you!"
Lily's hand tightened over the locket, the shock and fear shifted to horrified anger. "What."
"Seriously, Chloe. That's insensitive and rude. Cut it out! She's new!" Adrien hissed, trying to tow the girl away but apparently, the strength of a stuck up bully can overpower any attempts of reconciliation.
The blonde scoffed, "Can you blame me? Acting all high and mighty when she doesn't even have parents to love her in the first place. Pathetic."
"Chloe!" Adrien shouted, horrified and guilty green eyes shifted to the frozen, shaking Lily.
Tears stung her eyes and she glared at what was supposed to be the daughter of the mayor. "They love me. And they would continue doing so if it wasn't for the accident."
She was very aware of how tight her fingers were getting, she wonders vaguely rather she was bleeding. "Unfortunately, for you. I assume your parents had never given you any love! For you to turn into such a vindictive bitch!"
She spun on her heels and stomped off, angry tears slipping free of her control.
She thought she heard the boy call out for her but who cares? Those two seemed like friends. Being famous and rich and rude. There was even a nickname.
Jerks, all of them! How she wished she could claw their faces off!
"The Orphanage. I am Hawkmoth. I shall grant you the power to right the wrongs the world has done to you, to reunite your family. All I ask in return are Ladybug and Chat Noir's Miraculous."
Lily didn't know what was happening but she didn't care. The power thrums just outside her reach and she crooned, "Gladly, Hawkmoth."
And the Orphanage stepped out of the dark fog.
Marinette had watched the fight outside, along with the rest of the class. She had wanted to stop it since she kinda had instigated it but Alya stopped her, focused on the fight.
And then the new girl came. She was tiny, just a bit taller than Alix which had made the rollerblader complain. She was brave too, talking against Chloe when everyone dares not to.
And it was going kinda well until it didn't.
The girl had run away crying and Adrien had tried to chase after her and would have if Chloe hadn't grabbed him back. Marinette couldn't even get through the crowd near the window to even attempt the chase herself.
It immediately backfired when a loud cackling surged through the school.
'Goddamn it, Chloe!' was probably the thought running in every student's head at that moment.
She saw the guilt on Adrien's face increase by ten times, the boy grabbing Chloe and dashing out of the school before the supervillain could even declare who's her targets.
Marinette hit the ground, crawling through their legs and slipping through the door. She doesn't even care how weird she was being, she needed to transform.
When she reached outside, she spied the akuma in the far distance so she changed direction, hurtling towards the closest alley. "I shouldn't have made Chloe mad."
"It has already happened, Marinette. Adrien had made it worse, even if he isn't quite aware." Tikki answered soothingly, "We need to focus on the akuma first."
"Yeah. You're right." Marinette took a second to stable her breath. "Tikki! Spots On!"
Oh man, oh man, oh man! Maybe he should have approached the problem differently!
Why is he so stupid?
"Adrien, let me-"
"No! If you weren't aware, Chloe, there's an akuma targeting you right now!"
Chloe shrugged, "So?"
Oh my god. Where can Adrien dump her?
"Maybe the trash."
"Shut up, Plagg." He admonished the same time Chloe asked, "What was that?"
Of course, now Adrien had to tell her it was nothing but before he could, Chloe's eyes widened and concern flared in them. "Adrikins! Move!"
"Wha-!" Chloe had shifted, using her weight to push him away, sending him flying a short distance away. He looked up in time to see Chloe get hit by a yellow beam and promptly fall unconscious on the pavement. "Chloe?"
"She will now understand what is love, Adrien Agreste." The akuma gazed down at him, lips smiling sinisterly. "So would you."
Adrien didn't bother with a response, only rolling to the side to avoid the beam and then up to his feet. He tore down the street, trying to find a hiding place as the supervillain calmly laughed as she tracked him.
"There!" He leapt, dodging the beam and rolling right into a small corner. "Plagg, Claws Out!"
Oh, this is so much better.
Unhooking his baton, he extended it to lift him onto the rooftop just in case the akuma was waiting for Adrien to emerge. "Hey there! What's got your hair in a frenzy?"
"Chat Noir. Where is Adrien?"
"Carted to safety. Now it's impolite if I'm the only one with a name. Who are you?"
"The Orphanage." The akuma touched two fingers on the jewelled clasp on the center of her dress and brought it up to her lips. "I wonder if a cat will have a family."
"Yeowch!" Chat yelped, jumping over the beam and scurrying away.
The akuma flew after him, her cape fluttering in the wind, held down on her elegant dress with that jewel Chat had observed before. Her outfit seemed almost like a Sister's, with the headdress and all.
The akuma is probably in that jewel. No, locket. The one the new girl was holding as she ran off.
Ladybug should be coming soon. If he grabbed the locket, this could be over quickly. He can't afford to miss more lessons than he already has.
Oh no, he was losing the akuma's focus. Probably wanting to hunt down Adrien again, Chat whirled. "Hey, Nun! What happened to getting my Miraculous!"
Orphanage hovered lower, fingers to her lips again and Chat had to dodge. Good, just stall until Ladybug-
"Alya! Why can't you stop running into danger!"
"That's the new girl! Chat Noir is currently engaging the supervillain." Alya was narrating, keeping her camera on them.
Chat Noir agreed with Nino when the Orphanage swerved towards them, the beam she had prepared aimed to fire.
Goddamn it.
Chat jumped down, changing to all fours as he knocked Alya out of the way, scooping her and Nino up as he sped off. "You two need to stop this."
"Sorry." Nino said sheepishly then added, "You're strong."
"Pretty sure that's been established, Nino." Alya deadpanned before turning shining eyes to Chat. "Would you-?"
"No."
"You haven't even heard my question yet!"
"I'm sure he knows, Alya." Nino sighed. "Oh, Chat Noir, did you see Adrien? He ran out and-"
"He's fine. Got him out of the way." Chat replied, warming a bit at his friend's concern before sobering. "Is the akuma following us?"
Nino twisted his neck to check, "Yes. She's not firing any beams."
"She's talking to Hawkmoth," Alya reported, having zoomed in her camera to catch the faint light of the mask.
"And here I was hoping she would lose concentration and go hunt Adrien down."
Both of his friends winced. Nino mumbled, "Ah… she would, wouldn't she?"
"Things happened?"
"Yeah, Chloe decided to be a bi-!" Alya screamed. "Look out!"
Chat swerved, sliding across the ground on his heels, nearly tripping as he regained his balance and his charges. "Okay, I really should drop you off somewhere!"
"Where's Ladybug?!" Nino shouted, gripping Chat tightly around the neck as the catboy leapt high to avoid another beam.
"She will be here!" Chat Noir reassured, his voice cracking doesn't help matters. "I hope."
Ladybug swung over the buildings, cursing the speed of the akuma. Did she already go down an entire street?
"Where's Ladybug?!"
She heard a frantic scream and her vision narrowed. What is Chat doing?! Even for his record of recklessness, he can't seriously be dodging and fighting with two civilians occupying his hands?!
She looked closer and almost had to consciously swallow the horror growing in her stomach. Alya and Nino. Why is she surrounded by idiots?
Ladybug was going to swing down when Chat's eyes widened and he tossed the students away from him, spinning to face the beam headfirst. "Chat!"
She hit the ground hard, stumbling towards him as Chat laid on the ground unmoving. Alya and Nino didn't seem to hurt but they are fretting over Chat Noir.
"Oh god, Chat Noir! Wake up! Please!" Nino was shouting, shaking the superhero by the shoulder and looking progressively more panicked. "Chat Noir!"
Alya spotted her first and immediately ran to her side, "Chat Noir-! He-!"
"I saw." Ladybug said curtly, warily glancing at the stopped akuma, who had a very satisfied expression. She glanced back to them. "Both of you, get out of the way. I cannot defend Chat and the two of you at the same time!"
"R-Right!" Alya nodded frantically, reaching over to tug the frozen Nino away, the boy protesting about Chat Noir but Alya dragged them away. "Ladybug, please, take care of him!"
Ladybug gave a dutiful nod, "Of course. He's my kitty."
She made sure Alya and Nino left then she kept an eye on the akuma as she crouched down to Chat Noir's side. "Chat. Chat, are you alright?"
The stupid cat gave a murmur, a dopey smile appearing on his face as he snuggled into a ball. Okay, first? That was cute. Second, doesn't seem to be something like Shusher. Third, he's just asleep, thank goodness. Fourth, that doesn't change the fact that he's out of the fight.
Fifth? She now has to disengage for the second time in two akumas. Why can't her partner ever stop being so ridiculously reckless?
"Hey! What did you do to Chat Noir!" Ladybug yelled to the akuma, gaining it's attention.
"I made him learn what love is." The akuma said matter-of-factly, tilting her head as if it was an obvious conclusion.
"By making him sleep?"
"By making him dream." The Orphanage looked positively delighted, spinning in place as she spread out her arms. "Everything he yearned for, the love he didn't understand, the joy of having it! An endless dream that would never be shattered! He will not lose it as long as he chooses to stay. Isn't that great?"
The akuma had a brilliant smile, really believing that being trapped in the dream world is an amazing thing, as if she was doing a favour. "Then what if he doesn't?"
The akuma frowned at Ladybug's defiance, pouting as she pressed. "He wants it. I can feel it. He loves it there, he doesn't want to leave." She tilted her head again, lips curling. "He doesn't want it to vanish again. Desperation.. Mmhmmm. I like it. He understands now!"
"Understand what?" Ladybug prodded, she had seen the fight. Had seen the girl's pain as she clutched her locket- Ah, so that's where the akuma is - but she didn't understand what making others dream would do for her.
"My feelings!" The akuma shrilled, "My family was ripped away from me in a sudden accident. So much loss." She pointed at Chat Noir, "He gets it. He's like me. And you will get it too! Once you dream!" Her fingers touched her lips and Ladybug was running, escaping. Her arm held tightly to Chat Noir, who snuggled closer to her and- was he purring?!
She would need so much sugar to deal with this.
"Chat, come on, kitty, you have to wake up." She nudged, even as she tumbled from a swing into an alley, hearing the Orphanage taunting her to come out.
"Mmm." Chat's lips lifted in a bright, free smile. Joyful, unbridled. And then he laughed, a clear, joyous laugh that felt like a fresh breeze over a grassy land.
She had never seen him so open before. What type of dream is he having? What does he see that he desperately doesn't want to let go?
"I'm sorry, Chaton." Ladybug brushed his hair slightly, "You have to wake up."
She reached to slap him.
"Mum! You have got to try these!" He smiles, offering the delicious cheesecake to her through his filled mouth. "She makes such great food."
"Of course, sweetie." His mother reached out to place a hand on his hair, ruffling it and making him lean into her hand.
Warm. Caring. Home.
"She makes great clothes as well." His father added as stiffly as he always did but softened when his mother sent him a sweet smile. His father's eyes warmed and lips turned up into a smile that he hadn't seen in so long.
The sky is beautiful. The weather is pleasing. They are all here with him, happy and smiling. Together.
The only thing that could make it better…
"Adrien!"
His ears perked up, spinning around to envelop the new arrival with enthusiasm and glee. Dropping her, he bowed to kiss her hand. "Hello, Milady."
He felt her small, warm hand push him away with a finger, giggling. "Don't be such a needy little kitten."
"I'm always needy with you, Bugaboo!" He plopped down beside her, leaning his head on her shoulder, letting her stroke his head. Mmm, she's as good as Mother. She gives him warmth, happiness and so much belonging.
Slap!
He flinched, shooting to his feet, hand touching his cheek where he felt the painful sting. Eyes wide, he saw his family frozen in movement and slowly turned to face Ladybug.
Gone was the civilian outfit or merriness, replaced by the cold, analytical, always duty-first Ladybug.
Panic settled in. No.
No.
Not again. No more.
He turned pleading eyes to Ladybug, "Change it back."
"You know you can't stay here."
"Change it back!" He surprised himself with the rawness of his voice, of the desperation and desire. "Please, Ladybug. I can't lose this. Not again!"
"It's not real." She said, calm and composed. Always so unflappable.
"I know that! But-!" He closed his eyes, trying to bring back the laughter and the smiles.
"You have to wake up."
"I don't want to." His voice was small but when he looked up, Ladybug's blue eyes didn't waver. Of course it wouldn't. She doesn't get it.
That's right, she doesn't. Shove her away and the dream will continue. You want that, don't you?
He does, he really really does. But… He glanced back to the frozen image of his family's smiles and tried to memorise every single detail, every single sound and desire.
"You know, I really hate how easily you pull my strings, Milady." Adrien raised a hand.
"I know." Ladybug smiled sadly, her hand reaching out. "I'm sorry, Chaton."
His hand grasped hers and the world shattered.
It took a minute and despite the time constraints, Ladybug hadn't wanted to slap him again and when she considered maybe she had no choice, the open smile of his vanished into one of pain.
"Chat, I'm sorry but you have to wake up." The words did the trick, she thinks as Chat shot up, wheezing and choking.
There was a distinct sound of control.
"...Ladybug?"
Oh gods, he sounded so small and broken.
"I'm here." She placed a hand on his back, rubbing it as Chat trembled to get under control.
He rasped weakly, "How long…?"
"A while. A few minutes, I think."
"Oh." His cat ears drooped, the two of them didn't say anything for a while then… "Her power?"
"I think it is to make people see the dreams they want. Ones relating to family, love. She sounds like she lost her own family so she wanted people to be able to go back to it and maybe… also wanted people to know that pain of-"
"Of getting it ripped away."
Ladybug cringed at the lost look in Chat's green eyes, "...Yeah."
"Chat? Are you sure you are alright?" Ladybug asked when the boy made to get up and not even making a joke of him having been lying on her lap.
"Fine, fine. We should hurry to purify-" Chat Noir froze halfway to standing, cat ears standing straight up. "Oh gods… Chloe."
"What does Chloe got to do with this?"
Chat whirled towards her, eyes wild in horror. "She got hit. She got hit. Her mother- Sorry, Milady. Can you go on without me for a while?"
"Wait, what?! Slow down, I'm not understanding!"
"I'm sorry!" Chat Noir unhooked his baton, "I will be back as soon as I can! I just- I just need to check on her."
"Chat Noir!" Ladybug shouted after him but her partner had already launched himself away. "Seriously?! We have an akuma to purify! And why Chloe of all people?!"
She threw her yoyo out, hooking it and swinging away. If Chat is not going to be useful, she should at least deter the akuma. Sigh, she needs so much sugar after this.
Chat dropped into the closest alley, detransforming with a flash. Plagg whirled out, arms crossed, "First you get all sappy and now you left Ladybug? What are you thinking?"
"I'm sorry. Just for a while. Chloe needs me, not the 'mangy cat'. I know she can't contact me when I'm Adrien but I'm worried."
"For that stinging human? She does more harm than good-" Adrien grabbed the kwami and shoved him into the pocket.
"Shh Plagg. I know." Adrien tiptoed out, relieved when he heard Ladybug engaging the akuma. He nearly forgot he was a target as well.
He found Chloe easily and… well, he guess that was his own expression while in dreamland. He could let her sleep and wake up later but… he didn't want her to stay longer inside there, to feel happy because the longer it is, the worse the feedback of it not being real hits. He only had it under a few minutes and he already felt like something had touched that fragile spot in his heart and brought a sledgehammer to it.
He gently shook her, "Chloe, I know how nice it is in there but it will hurt when you wake up. So please, at least wake up when I'm here to console you."
"Sap."
"Shush, Plagg." Adrien sighed, shaking Chloe again, making her grumble in annoyance. "It's not real, Chloe. You know full well your mother wouldn't be all cuddly and nice, I get that you want it to happen but we can't just run from reality, right? Remember what you said to me when Mum disappeared? Chloe!"
Plagg suddenly redrew his head, followed suit by a loud crash. "Oww…"
"Ladybug?!"
"Oh! H-Hi!" Ladybug waved awkwardly, her eyes sharpening to Chloe. "What are you doing?"
"Um…" Adrien hoped she doesn't ask about Chat Noir. "I'm trying to wake her up?"
Ladybug's eyes glinted. "Here."
"Wait! You shouldn't-!" Adrien trailed off when Ladybug smacked Chloe's face and the girl stirred.
His lady looked way too smug. "Did you see Chat around? He said he wanted to check on Chloe."
"No! I mean, y-yeah! He left just as you… um… crashed."
"Why are cats so independent?" Ladybug rolled her eyes, checking her yoyo's messages. "The two of you better hide. The akuma is out to get you."
"Thanks." Adrien whispered, "Good luck!"
Ladybug blushed slightly, swinging away. "You too."
"Chloe, do you want to go somewhere where commoners can't see you sob your eyes out?" Adrien asked without bothering to look down, giving her space.
Chloe nodded weakly then growled. "I will ruin her."
"Don't you dare, Chlo." Adrien sighed deeply, helping her up. "You started it. She just wanted you to know how it feels."
"Well, I hate it."
"We are going to apologise together after this." Adrien crossed his arms, hoping he sounds authoritative. "If you said what you did to her to me, how do you think I would feel?"
"Oh." Chloe turned away and it was clear she realises what she had done which was… a rare thing. Adrien will take whatever victories he can get. "Fine. Don't expect me to be all sweet and rainbows."
"Do I ever expect that?" An explosion made him wince. "Um, Chlo? I don't want to leave you alone but…"
He winced again at the resignation in her eyes. "Go. I'm not important, I know."
"You know that's not true. I will treat you later, alright? After the apology." Adrien smiled, patting her back. "Just the two of us. Like old times."
"Alright." Chloe hugged him which he returned, Chloe probably had guessed he was hit too. "Be careful."
"Thanks. I will see you." Adrien ran a distance before crouching behind a bench, Plagg flew out with a thoughtful expression.
"Hm, that was weird." Plagg pointed vaguely to where Chloe had been. "Are you sure it's the same girl?"
Adrien shrugged, "Chloe has issues."
"Does nobody?"
"Let's just transform." Adrien raised his hand, a flash of light later, he vaulted towards where his lady was keeping up the distraction.
"Sorry." A thump beside her.
"About time!" Ladybug glanced sideways at her partner. "The akuma is in the locket."
"The pin on her cape. I know." Chat began to spin his baton in time with her yoyo, deflecting a beam, eyes following it. "You have a plan yet?"
"She needs to touch her locket then her lips to fire off those beams. At most 3 is the limit. Weird condition, I know." Ladybug listed off quickly, "She can mostly hover but she isn't really fast. Her beams are the real problem."
"Got it!"
The two of them scattered, running in opposite directions to flank the akuma. Chat leapt, slamming his middle-length staff down on a beam, eyes narrowing to the locket. At the same time, Ladybug lassoed Orphanage's legs, tugging her downwards.
"Let go of me!" Orphanage shrieked, her fingers brushing on her jewel then slicing her arm through the air. Instead of a beam, it was a circular blast of energy.
Chat, still in the air, yelped as the energy hit him, sending tumbling through the air. He fumbled to right himself when Orphanage pointed her fingers at him. "Time to return, kitty cat."
"Chat!" With a flick of her waist, the yoyo unfurled from Orphanage. Another sent it locking Chat's legs and with a mighty tug, she pulled him roughly down to the ground, away from the beam. "You alright?"
He didn't answer. Too busy looking at where the beam had gone, green eyes shimmering in longing.
"Don't you dare." Ladybug chided. "No matter how good the dream is, don't go throwing yourself in front of the beams! It's not real."
Chat shuddered, picking himself up. "I heard her voice, Milady. It's hard. Can we finish this quicker?"
Voice? A woman? What type of girl can make Chat wish to go? Ladybug thought he had a crush on her. Ignoring the uneasy feeling in her chest, she threw the yoyo up. "Lucky Charm!"
"A picture?" Ladybug scanned the photo of the new girl being hugged by her parents. They had big bright smiles, happiness practically oozing from the photo. Chat Noir made a strangled noise at it, turning away. "Alright. I know what to do. Get ready to-"
"-get the locket. I know." Chat finished her sentence, "I won't get distracted."
Ladybug nodded and Chat slinked into the shadows. She stepped up to the Orphanage, waving the photo. "Hey! I know how much you miss your family but you shouldn't hurt others because of it."
Orphanage growled, "What do you know, Ladybug? You have a loving family with barely any pain in it!"
Ladybug twitched at that potentially secret identity discriminating information. "Yes, I have a kind and gentle family. And I will protect them with my utmost ability. However, you are hurting the ones that are still hurting from the loss of their family members." She lifted up the photo to show the smiles of her family. "You hated it when Chloe mocked that loss and yet, here you are, pulling out the hidden wounds and twisting it to hurt more. Is that really what you want to do?"
The Orphanage's feet touched the ground, tears glistened unshed in her eyes, the butterfly mask going unheeded. She reached to take the photo, staring at it in a daze. Chat crept up and with a whispered 'sorry', unclasped the cape, taking the locket.
He opened the locket, eyes widening and then tossed it to Ladybug. Inside the locket laid the same picture Ladybug had conjured up. With a heavy heart, she carefully breaks the object, catching the akuma and purifying it.
She then crouched down beside the now-normal girl, offering the locket in the palm of her hand. "This is yours."
The small girl lifted her head, her tear-streaked face looked grateful as she traded the locket for the Lucky Charm.
"Do you remember?" Chat Noir asked softly as Ladybug clean up the mess of the attack.
The girl shook her head. "It's vague. I know… I hurt people."
"Not by choice." Chat kneeled down, that same wistful smile on his face. "Do you want a lift?"
"Chat." Ladybug walked back over, glancing worriedly between them. Chat raised a fist, waiting. She blinked, vaguely realising they hadn't done that in a while so she bumped her fist with his. "Pound it."
Chat grinned, even if it was a little strained. "Cat-ch you later." He vaulted away with the girl in his arms.
Huh. Smiles and puns. Maybe she wouldn't need to worry so much. Ladybug hooked her yoyo and swung back to school.
When Marinette finally got back to school, there was a commotion at the bottom of the stairs. Looks like Chat Noir had delivered.
Drawing closer, she heard Adrien's wonderful voice thus she squeezed her way to the front of the crowd. "-terrible to you. I'm sorry."
"It's alright. I got over it." The new girl replied, trying to smile.
Adrien pressed, "You don't get over it. I know how it feels."
"You are just saying that."
"My mother was sick. No one told me what's happening and one day, last year. She disappeared without warning and no one knew what had happened." Adrien elaborated softly, tiredly. "It's different from a death but the 'not knowing' really hurts."
"Oh." The new girl didn't give any consolations, Adrien didn't seem bothered by that, almost relieved actually.
A tug behind him and Marinette saw Chloe lingering, the two blondes exchanged expressions before Chloe stepped in front, actually looking apologetic.
"I-, I'm so- sor-!" Chloe let out a frustrated growl and Adrien patted her back in encouragement. Chloe deflated, "I'm sorry. It was wrong of me to mock your parents' death."
"You know I won't forgive you." The girl replied coldly.
"You don't have to." Adrien cut in, "Chloe is used to people hating her- Ow!"
Chloe hid a small smirk, withdrawing her hand from Adrien's elbow. "Good. I simply wanted to apologise. I went too far." With that, Chloe flounced off, leaving Adrien sighing, apologising and then running after Chloe.
The new girl was left alone.
"Chloe apologised. Scoop!" Alya spoke up right beside Marinette and made her squeak. "I got it on video. You want it?"
Marinette pretended to think then smiled, "No."
"What?"
"Chloe made a step today. I shouldn't mock her for trying." Marinette then made to walk to the new girl. "Now, if you will excuse me. I think I'm going to make a new friend."
"I'm coming too, girl!"
Marinette thought she might be going on too strong but the thankful smile so reminiscent of the one in her locket Lily gave her… made it worthwhile.