Almost all light vanished as Nathanael entered the schoolyard jungle. Only small pockets and patches bled through the openings in the vines. Everything was suddenly warmer, more tropical among the leaves. It was like being transported into a rainforest. Nathanael peeled his sweater off and tied it around his waist, the sweat still soaking through his undershirt.
"Mari-erm, Ladybug?" Nathanael cried. He could hear sounds from great distances, but nothing that sounded like Marinette. She said that she would find him, but he was beginning to wonder just how far her powers went in the end. What if he just got lost? What if he never saw the light of day again, and Marinette would be in great trouble without him. That wouldn't do. He had a lot of homework due.
Just as he was beginning to lose hope a figure landed in front of him. Nathanael jumped back in fright. Ladybug rose from a crouch and smiled widely at him. Despite his racing heart and the sweat pouring down his body he still felt his heart melt a little. He noticed that she too had sweat beading her brow and dripping down her face.
Well she is hot. He thought against himself and felt a blush spread across his face. Thank goodness it was already reddened from the heat. Maybe extreme heat is what he needed to keep his emotions safe. It was nearly worth it. Extra so when Marinette was right next to him. In a really tight and form fitting suit that-
"Nathanael," Ladybug said and snapped him from his thoughts.
"What?" He blurted a little too loudly.
"Hi," she said.
"Hi. Uhm… so what… what do you need me to do?" He asked, trying to regain himself and stop focusing on Marinette and how lovely she looked in red.
"Okay, I've got a plan," she said in a hushed town, getting closer and more confidential. "It's not exactly glamorous."
"Whatever you need," he said, breathing in her scent. She smelled like vanilla.
"I think the Akuma got to that girl who takes care of the garden here. I don't know her name, but I see her around tending to it. Something must have had to have happened to give her the powers to control plants. Honestly she's really docile."
"This is docile?" Asked Nathanael, motioning around at the forest.
"Well yes it certainly is a problem, but I mean she's not attacking anyone. All she does is move and grow this jungle more and more. The jungle itself collects people in its wake, trapping them in the flowers. Anyway, the only way to make her hostile is to attack the plants. Then she comes to it and fixes it with a watering can. I think that can has the Akuma."
"Oh, like the way my pen did?"
"Yes. Whatever item the owner has that is significant to them or their trauma is what the Akuma goes into. Hers must the watering can. If we can get that can away from her, I can break it and transform the Akuma back into a butterfly and her back into… well not this. And the jungle will go away."
"Okay so that seems pretty straightforward, but I don't really see what role I'm supposed to play in this."
"That's the part you're not going to like," said Ladybug with a sheepish laugh.
"Are you sure that this is a good idea," pleaded Nathanael. Ladybug stood next to him, with her hand on his back for support.
"Oh yes, I'm sure it's a good idea. The question is if it will be a good reality. You know what you need to do?" She asked.
"I wish I didn't," said Nathanael with a gulp.
"Don't worry, Nathanael, I'm gonna be right here and if something goes wrong I'll come out and help. Now go," she said and pushed him out into the clearing. He looked back to the cluster of trees they had been hiding behind to see Marinette slingshotting up into the canopy. He let out a sigh and crept further into the clearing.
Distantly he could hear humming from somewhere above him. Or beside him. Or just around him. It had to be coming from the Akuma-ed girl. Marinette was right. It didn't sound very threatening or angry. It sounded contented and pleased. Nathanael swallowed down his anxiety and headed toward a large, exposed vine on the ground.
In his pocket he had his pencil and he reached for it, hands sweating from heat and nerves. He could almost feel Marinette's eyes burning holes in the back of his head as he flexed his fingers and hovered them just above his pocket. Why did he let her rope him into this?
"I'm so sorry," he whispered and grabbed the pencil from his pocket. As swiftly as he could manage he took the pencil and stabbed it into the vine. The pencil stabbed through the vine a decent amount and the plant let out a huge tremor, which lead to the sound of a screech. Nathanael tensed up and felt his heart beat painfully.
He stood, frozen in place and watched as a girl ran into the clearing. She was barefoot and wore a short green dress. She had a large sun hat and sunglasses and her hair in long braids. In her hand was the tainted watering can, and she held it with an iron grip. In a flash she was in front of him.
Her hands moved from the ground to the sky and a new vine riped from the soccer field and wound around him like a snake before it rocketed in the air, with him as prisoner. The girl ignored him and his nervous cries as she began to water the injured vine. As her back was turned Nathanael saw Ladybug sneak into the clearing.
He watched as Ladybug snuck toward the girl, shooting out her yo-yo to grab the watering can. The girl refused to let go and was spun around to face the superheroine. She sent vine after vine to catch Marinette, but the lucky bug avoided each plant. Nathanael tried to wiggle free from the vine, but it just held him steadfast.
At once a new idea struck him. He caught Ladybug's eye and gave her a wink, all he could really manage in his strangled position. Rearing back as far as he could, he crashed forward to sink his teeth into the vine. The plant dropped him immediately. He braced for impact, knowing that he had bought Marinette enough of a distraction for her to grab the watering can.
However, the earth never caught him. Instead he landed heavily into something else. After a moment he opened his eyes and was surprised, if not delighted, to see that Ladybug had caught him. A new blush threatened to make him burst. She had chosen to rescue him. He stared into her eyes awed, until she twisted around to stand him upright.
"Well there goes that plan," she muttered as he found his balance.
"Not necessarily," said Nathanael, feeling a little more brave knowing he really did have Marinette to protect him. "She only focuses on the plants. If I can go fast enough maybe you can use a Lucky Charm to stop her."
"Well it's a long shot, and given our track record…"
"Do we really have anything to lose?"
"I guess not. Just be careful. I might not always be there to catch you," she said.
Nathanael smiled knowing that was lie and ran back into the clearing. Behind him Ladybug was conjuring her Lucky Charm. He picked up a rock and tossed it at the garden girl. Just as he suspected, the rock didn't seem to phase her as she tried to leave the clearing. He picked up another rock and used it to crush a small bed of flowers, running away before her vine could capture him.
He barely escaped it, but just enough to bring the rock down on a small vine, sevoring it. The girl turned to him, looking sick with grief and stress, attempting to send another plant his way. He jumped away and it missed him. They could only grow up and if you missed the growing spot you were fine.
He kept this up for a short time until one finally caught him and shot up much higher than the first time. A dizzy feeling washed over him as he watch Ladybug run toward the girl with a… what was that? A scarf? Yes a scarf. She used it to ensnare the watering can and snatch it from the girl. She then threw it on the ground and crushed it under her foot.
A black butterfly escaped and she caught it in her yo-yo, turning it back to white. Then, in a dangerously cute manner, she reversed the effects of the jungle. Nathanael plummeted down to the earth and landed on top of her, knocking Marinette to the ground.
"And I thought you said you wouldn't catch me," he said with a laugh. Marinette laughed and they rolled over on the ground, face to face laughing.
After Ladybug had taken care of the Akuma-tized girl and transformed back into Marinette, she and Nathanael got back to their trip to the library. The sports clubs and teams were back to enjoying the normal, not rain forest field. They strode down the hall, listening to the sounds from outside. It was a deeper peace than before, now that their adrenaline had been used up.
"So," said Marinette brightly. "I guess I owe you."
"What? N-no you don't," said Nathanael, pulling his sweater on.
"Actually I do," said Marinette. "You've helped me through two really messy situations."
"I'm just happy to help, Marinette."
"Don't for a second think I'm not entirely grateful for you. It's surprisingly nice to have someone help me."
"Does this make me your sidekick?" Nathanael said with a tired laugh. Marinette's eyes widened.
"Nathanael oh my god. You are. You are my sidekick. You Manbug."
"Manbug?" Asked Nathanael, horrified.
"Okay I was trying to think of something that would compliment Ladybug, but Manbug sounds kind of like an awful science experiment gone wrong."
"How about just Nathanael?"
"Mmm that's not super enough."
"Super Nathanael?"
"Now you're just being silly. Don't worry, I'll think about it."
"Good to know I can rest easy," he said with a smile.
"You can always rest easy with Ladybug on the case," she said with a thumbs up.
They had reached the library and Marinette held the door open for him. They went to the same spot they had gone last time. Nathanael sat cross legged, pulling his whole body into the chair and Marinette crossed one leg on her lap. They both reached into their bags and searched for their workbooks. Gathering his courage Nathanael took a deep breath. He looked at Marinette, taking her in for a moment.
"So what if I asked for a favor?" He asked.
"I told you, I owe you," she said simply. "I think it's only fair. You're my sidekick, not my slave."
"You're allowed to say no," he mumbled quickly. "But if you wouldn't mind, I would love to… or well, I'd like… or it would be useful if you would be willing to do some pose modeling for me?"
"You mean stand in different poses as you draw me?" Asked Marinette.
"If that wouldn't be a problem?"
"Of course not," she said brightly.
"What really? You'll do it?"
"Yeah I don't see why not. Why don't you come over this weekend? We can finish up our project and you can draw me in my natural environment."
"Come over… to you… your house? Where you live?" Nathanael asked, his eyes widening and his cheeks warming.
"Well to its credit, the first floor is a bakery," she said with a chuckle. "But for the sake of conversation, yes where I live. You'll like it. My parents are super nice. They'll love you."
"Okay then," he said nodding his head with excitement. "I'd love to do that."
"Wonderful then. Anyway, are you ready to start?" Marinette asked.
Nathanael dug through his bag and pulled out his workbook. He dug around further but for the life of him he couldn't find a pencil. He tore his bag apart before remembering that his pencil was probably in the middle of the soccer field. Giving her a sheepish grin and putting his bag down, he rubbed the back of his neck.
"I don't have a pencil," he said weakly.
"Nathanael, the artist, doesn't have a pencil?" She asked playfully.
"Well if memory serves, a certain bug made me lose it," he said quietly. Marinette rolled her eyes at him.
"Go borrow one," she said.
"Good plan, boss," he said with a mock salute and pushed himself to standing.
Nathanael plodded to the other side of the library to where the extra office supplies were kept. He grabbed a new pencil and began to sharpen is when Adrien came over and inspected the pencils and erasers himself. Adrien nodded at him, and when he stopped sharpening his pencil Adrien crossed over to him casually. He reached for the sharpener but stopped to turn to Nathanael.
"So I heard you and Ladybug were getting a little friendly?" He asked with a smile.
"Excuse me?" Nathanael asked. There was nothing threatening in Adrien's tone, it was more like worry.
"Someone said they say you and Ladybug on the soccer field," said Adrien.
"I was in the wrong place at the wrong time."
"And that time happened to be on top of her?"
"Well I did fall from towering heights. It's not really my fault she was right underneath me. She's a tough cookie, I think she could handle someone of my size falling on her. Why does it matter?"
"Oh nothing," said Adrien casually, almost warmly, but still with that hint of nervousness. "Someone just said that maybe you're Chat Noir."
"What?" Asked Nathanael before a huge laugh escaped his lips. The librarian shushed him and he smothered the rest of his laughter. "I'm anyone but Chat Noir. Have you seen him? Or me? We're nothing alike. You're a better match than me. Chat Noir wasn't even there today."
"I guess you really shouldn't believe all the gossip you hear," said Adrien with a small laugh. "Sorry, man, I'm just curious about Ladybug."
"Who isn't," said Nathanael. "Anyway… I'll see you around."
"Yeah, see you," said Adrien as he raised his hand to sharpen his pencil. As he did Nathanael caught the ring he was wearing. He felt something stir in his mind, but he couldn't quite pin it down. He stared for a moment longer before finally returning to Marinette.