Reading books really does wonders to one's writing, huh. And by that, I meant that I had been stumped because I haven't read in a while and so my writing skills were not up to par to what I had envisioned. Of course, that isn't an excuse as to why I haven't updated. It's just one of the factors. Another factor is that I got a job, life got rocky, and covid is a menace to my family if you get what I mean. I hope you get what I mean. So please, stay safe, wear a mask, and wash your hands. If not for yourself, then for those who you care for.

Anyway, I won't delay you!

Enjoy!


"Sandboy just checked in, now nightmares can begin."

Well, this will be easy, Ladybug mused to herself. She had fought this akumatized villain before and she was pretty confident in her skill of subduing him in record time.

"Sandboy, have you been watching scary movies before bed again?" Ladybug called out to him.

Sandboy swiftly turned around. Before Ladybug could move out of the way, she was slammed by an array of evil dust.

"Not again," Ladybug moaned. She threw out her yo-yo, expecting it to just bounce back like an ordinary toy. However, it flew out and snapped back in her hand. She stared at it in bewilderment. If losing her powers wasn't her greatest nightmare, then what was—

My lady

Ladybug took a step back in horror as a white figure emerged from the dark shadow of the rooftop. Her hands trembled at her sides as she looked at the pale irises of an alternative reality come to life.

"Chat Blanc."

He said nothing, knew nothing, and was nothing but a shell of a nightmare. Sandboy pointed at her direction. Chat Blanc raised his hand and a white cataclysm formed in the palm of his hand. Ladybug dove out of the way just as the orb streaked past her and obliterated a skyscraper.

She paled at the sight.

Sandboy cackled. "Wow, Ladybug. I didn't need to do anything and you've made it tougher for yourself."

Screams pierced the air as Ladybug swung away with Chat Blanc following close behind her.

"Run away!" Ladybug cried at the citizens. She crouched down in the middle of the empty street and faced him. He raised his hand, white cataclysm at the ready. She sprinted at him, slinging her yo-yo around his arm, somersaulting over his head as he released the destructive power into the sky. It streaked through the atmosphere, sending a shockwave in the sky.

She rolled away and swung over to the river Seine, searching for a place away from the city and the people.

As the reporters and TV stations broadcasted the fight, there was one thought that everyone voiced out.

Ladybug couldn't do it alone.

Only one other superhero could stop him.

Chat Noir.

Adrien gripped the bars that surrounded him. His breathing came in shallow gasps. He stared at the newspaper clippings that were plastered on the walls—the black suit, the confident look in the eyes, the smirk.

Adrien longed for his ring. He longed for Plagg. Most of all, he longed to be Chat Noir.

"You can go." An elderly voice spoke up from behind him. Adrien jumped and whirled around. An old man was standing in the corner of Marinette's room. Adrien recognized him as the man whom he had helped on that first day of school. The old man said, "Ladybug needs you, Chat Noir."

"Who are you?" Adrien asked.

"My name is Master Fu," he said. Through the bars enclosed around him, Master Fu handed Adrien the miraculous box. "I am the Guardian."

Adrien took it from him with trembling fingers. He opened it.

A bright green bubble floated out and Plagg materialized. The cat kwami opened his eyes and settled his gaze on Adrien. A lazy grin spread on Plagg's face. "You really have to cry right now?"

"Plagg." Adrien choked out. He put the ring on and grabbed his kwami. Plagg yowled as he squirmed at Adrien's rough affections. "Ow—Adrien—you're squeezing me too tight—watch my whiskers—never mind!"

"I'm so sorry," Adrien sobbed. "I'm so sorry."

Plagg raised a nonexistent eyebrow at this. "Sorry? What for? What you did was right, even if it did hurt."

"I—"

"Now stop being a sourpuss and transform!" Plagg snapped. "We can talk later."

Adrien was immediately reminded of Ladybug's current situation. "Right. Of course."

"Plagg, transformez moi!"

He could feel the familiar, powerful energy rush through him. He smiled as he felt Plagg's presence. He and his kwami were one again.

Chat Noir opened his eyes and inspected himself. He flexed his claws and slashed through the bars like they were made of paper.

He was about to thank Master Fu, but there was no one in the room. It was like he wasn't there to begin with. Deeming that it could be dealt with later, Chat Noir leaped out of the window and ran off to back up his partner.

Master Fu watched the superhero from below the streets. Wayzz landed on his shoulder. "Do you think that was a good idea, Master?"

"He needs her as much as she needs him," Master Fu said. "They are meant for each other after all."

Ladybug staggered, her foot at the edge of the bridge. She had defeated him once, she could do it again. But deep inside, she knew she couldn't.

Chat Blanc was someone she didn't have the heart to fight again.

He was the epitome of what could happen to Chat Noir and she had tried her hardest to prevent that from happening—to prevent people from changing him into something far from who he truly is.

Suddenly, the cobblestones crumbled beneath her feet. She swung her yo-yo up, but it was repelled by Chat Blanc's claws. Ladybug braced herself for the cold water.

Right before she could hit the waters, she was snatched away in midair by a black blur and landed safely on the other side of the river.

Ladybug gaped at him in shock.

Chat Noir grinned down at her. "I'm back at your service, my lady."

Chat Noir gently set her down on her feet. Before Ladybug could say anything, he placed a finger against her lips saying, "I know there's a lot to catch up, but we have an akuma villain to defeat."

Ladybug swallowed what she had been longing to say and simply nodded. Chat Noir grinned. Whipping out his baton, he said, "Go after Sandboy. I've got your back."

Ladybug shot her yo-yo towards the direction of where the akuma villain was last spotted. She said solemnly, "Don't lose."

"I won't," Chat Noir said confidently.

Ladybug zipped away and Chat Noir faced his doppelgänger.

"I know you look pretty dapper in white," Chat Noir called out, twirling his baton, "but a discount version can never beat the original Chat. And that's me."

He sprinted forward, metal clashed against white claws in an ear-piercing screech as the two Chats exchanged blows.

Their fight was a blur of black and white in the midst of people's nightmares come alive.

Chat Noir landed a few feet away, catching his breath. Chat Blanc raised his arm, in position to fire. Chat Noir braced himself, ready to dodge the strike. But then he noticed a pair of reporters huddled behind a car in line with the white cataclysm. Without a second thought, he grabs them and leaps to the side just as the car was blown in smithereens.

"You're back," one of them gasped. Chat Noir glanced at her. It was that lady reporter.

He gave her an easy-going grin. "When Paris needs saving, I'll be there to do my duty."

Guilt painted on her face. "Chat Noir, I want to apologize—"

"Run!" Chat Noir ordered as he pushed them into the alleyway. They ran for their lives. Chat Noir faced his counterpart who was stalking towards him. "Oh no, you don't. Leave the civilians alone."

He bared his teeth. "Your catfight's with me!"

Chat Noir dodged the white crescents that slashed through the light posts and swept his baton underhand. Chat Blanc leaped back. He landed on the top of a fountain, only to vault back to Chat Noir with his claws out.

Chat Noir grabbed his wrists and kicked him overhead. Chat Blanc tumbled but landed back on his feet.

"You really are more cat-like than me," Chat Noir teased.

Ladybug chased after Sandboy, dodging the blasts of evil dust, not risking another bout of nightmares to pop out of nowhere. Civilians were still screaming around as they ran away from induced zombies and large spiders that scaled the buildings of the city. Even Ladybug shuddered at the sight.

She ducked as another blast of evil dust exploded at the spot where her head had just been.

"Come and get me, Ladybug," Sandboy taunted.

Ladybug didn't rise to his jibe as she took out her yo-yo. It was time.

Lucky Charm

And out fell a trash can.

The two cat superheroes clawed their way up to the tallest skyscraper in the city. Their ricochet of blows threw them in opposite directions of the roof. Chat Noir tumbled before landing back up on his feet. Chat Blanc stood up and flexed his hand, white energy gathering once more.

"We're on the final showdown, huh." Chat Noir mumbled. He pocketed his baton and readied his stance.

Chat Blanc raised his hand. Chat Noir did likewise.

He uttered the word in a quiet voice.

Cataclysm

Ladybug heard the explosion and her breath hitched. If Chat Noir—no, she wasn't going to think like that. She would believe in him just like how he believes that she could stop Sandboy.

She peeked out from the side of the chimney. Sandboy was floating in the middle of the street on top of his magic carpet. Glancing around and connecting the dots, she stepped out to the open.

"Hey, Sandboy!" Ladybug called out.

The akuma villain turned around. Ladybug glared defiantly at him as she held a trash can lid in her hand.

"Eat this!"

She hurled the lid at him. Sandboy ducked out of the way with a maniac laugh. "Missed!"

Ladybug grabbed the trash can and with a somersault, leaped at him. Sandboy rose up. But just as he did, the lid which had missed him had ricocheted off a wall on the opposite end and bounced back to where it came from.

It slammed on his back, knocked him off his magic carpet and straight into the yawning mouth of the trash can. Ladybug grabbed the lid and slammed it close, sealing it with her yo-yo before grabbing the carpet and landing on the ground.

She tore the carpet in two, releasing the akuma butterfly.

Untangling her yo-yo, she captured it and after purifying the butterfly, she let it go.

She watched as the white wings flew to freedom in the wide, blue sky.

Miraculous Ladybug

Both the bad luck superheroes stood back to back.

Chat Noir looked up at the sky.

Chat Blanc stared down at the ground.

He disappeared in an array of red swirls with soft parting words.

A little cat on the roof

Languishes without his lady

Ladybug didn't stick around for the cameras and the press. She had seen the bright light engulf the top of the building and fear gripped her heart. Was he alright? Did he win? Which Chat—

"Ladybug!"

Chat Noir waved at her from the front doors, only to topple over as she tackled him with a fierce hug. He lay winded on the ground, arms around his partner's waist who was sobbing on his chest. His cheeks heated up as he patted her back. "Aw, you missed me that much?"

Ladybug abruptly leaned back, glaring at him with tears streaming down her face. "Why did you have to do that, you silly cat? Do you know how much I – you left and I – how dare you!"

Chat Noir chuckled. "Wow, and here I thought I'd never see you stutter around my superhero self. But here we are."

"You couldn't even come around in your civilian self, asking how I am?" Ladybug continued her rant. "They were saying so much mean stuff about you, Chat!"

"But you were always on my side, weren't you?" Chat Noir said warmly. "Thank you, Ladybug."

Ladybug opened her mouth to say more, but her miraculous beeped, reminding her of her limited time.

"We'll talk later. Right now—"—she pulled him up— "—Paris is waiting for you."

Chat Noir turned around, eyes widening at the crowd carrying banners of 'WELCOME BACK CHAT NOIR' and 'PARIS SAYS SORRY', 'CHAT NOIR IS OUR HERO', and kids carrying bouquets of flowers in black, green, and red. Ladybug squeezed his hand. She saw the flicker of uncertainty on his face.

"Chaton, look at me."

She gently placed her hand against his cheek and said, "Paris trusts you. I trust you. You had every chance to become a supervillain after that time, but you didn't. And that's why you're a superhero."

The last sliver of doubt melted away. Chat Noir smiled. "Thank you, my lady."

"I'll see you tonight, Chat Noir." Ladybug said.

And as the spotted hero zipped away, Chat Noir faced the crowd. And when he did, he was welcomed back with apologies and open arms.

She was waiting for him at her rooftop.

Chat Noir landed gracefully in front of her. Marinette gave him a smile and gestured to the pile of cookies on the table.

"Don't mind if I do," Chat Noir said giddily as he grabbed one and bit in the chewy goodness. "Give my compliments to the baker."

"I gratefully accept your compliment," Marinette said with a tilt of her head. As she watched him savor her baking, she said, "You're not going to ask me anything?"

Chat Noir glanced at her. "What questions do you want me to ask?"

"I don't know, like, why am I Ladybug, or why was my nightmare about a white version of you, or—or—"

Chat Noir placed his hands on her shoulders, calming her down. Marinette stared up at him. He said gently, "Marinette, are you ready to answer those questions?"

Marinette froze. She shook her head.

"You can tell me whenever you're ready." Chat Noir lifted his hands from her shoulders and took her hands, saying, "But I don't question why you're Ladybug. I can't imagine anyone being Ladybug other than you."

"I can't imagine anyone else being Chat Noir except you," Marinette said just as sincerely. "You're no supervillain. And after what happened today, all of Paris knows that."

Warmth swelled in his chest. They watched the clouds drift by in the sky and felt peace in what felt like the longest time.

Marinette broke the silence by asking, "Why was Evan alive after being hit by Cataclysm? I thought it was a power of destruction."

"It is." Chat Noir looked at his claws. "But Cataclysm is different from your Lucky Charm. Cataclysm can be controlled. It responds to the wielder's will. You would never be able to kill someone if that wasn't your intention. Cataclysm destroyed Foxface, but it didn't kill Evan."

Marinette gave a sigh of relief. "You know, you still didn't answer my question. When will you reveal your identity to me?"

Thunder rumbled in the distance as dark clouds started rolling in. Chat Noir stood up. He smiled down at her.

"You don't happen to have a black umbrella now, do you?"

Marinette gave him an odd look. "I actually do. Although I did borrow it."

"Are you going to return it any time soon?" Chat Noir called out with a grin as Marinette fetched the umbrella from her room.

"I-I was going to," Marinette said in embarrassment as she returned with the black umbrella, wincing as the wind picked up, "I just didn't get the timing right."

Just as she had poked the umbrella out her skylight window, she accidentally pushed the button, opening it wide. "Chat Noir, I'm so sorry! Did I poke you?"

"No harm done, Marinette."

She drew out a sigh of relief. But then she froze as she stared at the pair of sneakers in front of her. She knew who those pairs belonged to.

"Are you going to return the umbrella to its rightful owner?" Amusement danced in his voice. "Because the rain is going to pour at any second. Chats aren't really fond of water."

Marinette slowly lifted the umbrella, revealing the crouched figure in blue jeans up towards the black shirt with coloured stripes and white jacket. It lifted up some more to reveal a chin resting on the palm of his hand as his grinning lips said cheekily, "But then again, people always say that I'm dripping with good looks."

Green eyes glittered with mirth and full affection as Adrien Agreste met her gaze. "Hello, Marinette Du-Pain Cheng. Care to return my umbrella to me?"

Lightning crackled in the sky and thunder rumbled, bringing back the memory of a first love.

Marinette shoved the umbrella in his hand as she leaped out and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. Adrien tumbled backward as he steadied her while still holding the umbrella in his other hand.

He heard a sniff.

"Marinette, are you crying?" Adrien asked in panic. This was not how he planned his reveal to go. "Marinette, I'm so sorry—"

Marinette leaned away and there was such fire in her eyes that Adrien quickly swallowed up what he was going to say.

She punched his arm. Adrien winced as he rubbed the spot. She really could pack a punch even without the Ladybug powers.

"That was for the debate," Marinette said angrily. She punched his other arm. "That was for always putting yourself down."

Adrien groaned, "Is this really how our relationship is going to go, my lady? Because—"

Marinette placed a shy kiss on his cheek and withdrew, face blushing red.

"—I could get used to it," Adrien finished breathlessly.

"That was for everything else," Marinette said softly, "for standing up for me, for being with me, for saving me, both as Chat Noir and as Adrien."

"You did the same for me, both as Marinette and Ladybug." He took her hand in his and said sincerely, "We have each other's backs. That's how it works."

Their eyes met and something sparked between them. It had nothing to do with the force of nature, nor was it a literal spark. Maybe it wasn't a spark at all as their first spark had ignited a long time ago. But it was something.

They leaned in.

And then the first raindrop fell on his nose. Adrien blinked and then sneezed, accidentally snapping the umbrella shut over his head.

Marinette stared at him and then burst out laughing. Adrien lifted up the canvas and sulked, but it didn't stay on for long as his lips twitched and he was laughing with her.

He opened the umbrella wide as their peals of mirth danced above the downpour of the rain. Their conversation was cut short, but it didn't matter.

They were sheltered in each other's company and at that moment, nothing could be more perfect.


And the end!

Thank you so much for sticking around until the end! I am terrible at updating and I was gonna do the reveal in another chapter, but then again, you've waited around for too long. That reveal was written out, but then again, I could just make a separate story from that.

And for those who came from the old Dabble in Drabbles three-shot, here ya go! A reveal! Finally! Ehehehe

If you were wondering what Chat Noir's nightmare could be, it was being a supervillain, and thus, his and Ladybug's nightmare converged.

Anyway, I hope you liked it! Thank you so much for reading and I'll see you when I see you ;)