To Rose Tiger: Marinette might have overreacted a little bit out of grief…

To Lyger 0: Funny enough, if they had told the HOP that they had a handle on East Asia, Marinette probably would have kissed him in gratitude! With the amount of responsibility she's had on her shoulders, having New Atlantis take some of that load would have been appreciated – if they had told her.

"You wish for a day to yourself?"

Tyran-X nodded heavily, his shoulders slumping from exhaustion. It had been over a year since Béa's death – the anniversary of her funeral was tomorrow. That had been the only time he had seen or visited her grave – he hadn't been able to face it before now. The pain had just been too recent, too fresh. He had heard her desperate cries as she finally succumbed to the smoke, reverberating in his mind, constantly for the first weeks after it had happened. For the first three months, he had woken up in the middle of the night, every night, thinking that his phone was ringing. Night Bat had actually interrupted one such nightmare when he had appeared at the window of his small-but-too-large apartment and held out the Dinosaur Miraculous, offering him the opportunity for revenge.

It had been not long after the funeral, and Claude had spent most of that day sitting at the kitchen table, staring into his glass, trying to decide if it would be worth it to drown his sorrows. After the funeral, everyone had left – his parents lived only a few blocks south of them, and Béa's parents had talked about moving a little closer to the city, but they had all gone home. A couple of friends had stopped in before the funeral, trying to keep his mind off of things, but once the funeral was over… The apartment was just too quiet and empty without Béa's bright laugh.

His work had given him a couple weeks off, but without anything to occupy his time, he had been left alone with his thoughts. Béa had died because she had been in the wrong place at the wrong time. The Heroes of Paris – Ladybug and Cat Noir – had abandoned her to the flames. But the whole city seemed to think they were the greatest thing in the world because they had stopped Hawk Moth! How many people had been hurt by Hawk Moth before they finally managed to defeat him? How much unnecessary pain and suffering had been caused by the Heroes of Paris since then? Who was going to hold them accountable for their actions?

Without any motivation to do more that day, Claude had just gone to bed. Only to be awoken a couple hours later by Night Bat's tap on the window. Claude hadn't looked back.

At the time, the rage – the anger – had been all-consuming. And no matter what he did, the rage never seemed to diminish. It had been the end of last year when he was finally able to think about it without completely losing it. Even now, he still hadn't spoken to his in-laws about what had happened, about his shame and guilt. He had been able to do nothing while their daughter burned to death. And yet, at the moment all of the rage was far surpassed by an overwhelming exhaustion. One year ago, he had buried his soul mate, the light of his life. He would never love someone like that again – never meet someone like her again. And in spite of the trepidation in his heart at the prospect, it was past time for him to visit her. He let out a breath, meeting Night Bat's gaze. "Y–yes," he answered hesitantly. "After more than a year of working for you, I think you owe me that much."

Night Bat arched an eyebrow in amusement. "You think that we owe you something, after we gave you a miraculous, gave you a place to stay and people around you, gave you a purpose, and even gave you the thing you wished for the most: an opportunity for revenge?" His nostrils flared and he shook his head. "Have you forgotten what the Heroes of Paris took from you? What their actions cost you?"

Tyran-X's eyes narrowed, flashing with rage. "I will never forget that," he retorted, his mouth set in a thin line. "And I will not stop until they have paid in blood for what they did to Béa." His shoulders fell. "But I have not seen Béa's grave since the funeral. I–I wish to return."

Night Bat sat back in his tall-backed chair, steepled his fingers, and gave Tyran-X an evaluating look. "You wish to visit your late wife's grave," he repeated. "Looking for closure?"

"I… don't know," Tyran-X admitted. "But after so long, I want to see it once more – to see her."

"And yet, thanks to the actions of the Heroes of Paris," Night Bat pointed out, "you cannot see her anymore."

Tyran-X's eyes narrowed. "Do you think I forgot that?"

"I am merely stating the obvious flaw in your intention." Night Bat raised an eyebrow. He was about to continue when the phone on the desk rang, and Night Bat looked down at it, frowning. Finally he pressed the speakerphone button, looking up at Tyran-X as he did so. "Yes?"

The Lynchpin's digitally-altered voice rang out in the office. "I assume you have been following the news regarding these… Monsters?"

Night Bat nodded slowly. "I am aware of them."

"Do you know anything of them?"

Tyran-X stroked his chin, watching Night Bat ponder the question. Considering how long Night Bat had been around – how many terrible and awesome events he had witnessed – might he have some special insight on this?

Night Bat gave the phone an amused smile. "Now why would you think that I know about them?"

The phone was silent for a moment. "Do not play games with me," Lynchpin warned.

Night Bat shook his head in annoyance but did not speak for a long minute. "No, I have not seen anything like them before," he finally stated. "Now what about them?"

"They are coming for Paris."

Tyran-X's eyes widened at the announcement. Of course he had seen the news stories over the last month – everyone had. Four different Monsters had appeared from nowhere and torn their way across the planet, heedless of everything the various heroes had thrown at them. And then all the news speculation suggested a connection between these Beasts and the mysterious illness that had spread like wildfire through Paris, closing down schools and businesses. Even his parents had been required to quarantine for a week after his mother's salon was shut down by it. Tyran-X pursed his lips. Paris was beginning to devolve into chaos, and the Heroes of Paris could do nothing. Yet another example of how the Heroes of Paris didn't really do what they claimed to do.

"I suppose I am not overly surprised by that news," Night Bat acknowledged. He paused. "What is your interest?"

"Other than the fact that we are in Paris?" asked Lynchpin rhetorically. "I think that is interest enough. I would prefer not to see my city destroyed by five rampaging monsters."

"Five?" Tyran-X interjected, starting in surprise.

"Another appeared in Japan, only a couple days ago."

Night Bat hummed. "And you wish to use the chaos of the Beasts' appearance to create a distraction? Perhaps to make a move against the Heroes of Paris while they are otherwise occupied?"

"Not exactly…" Lynchpin began. "My preference is to be seen on the other side of that divide."

"You want to help the Heroes of Paris against these… Creatures?" Night Bat scoffed. "I doubt that they would accept such an alliance – or that they would accept certain of our 'colleagues' as ad hoc teammates." He nodded to Tyran-X.

Tyran-X folded his arms, glaring down at the speakerphone, his stomach churning. Team up? With the Heroes of Paris? He had only agreed to join Night Bat and Lynchpin because they were going to make the Heroes pay for what they had done!

"All the same, even if they would mistrust us at the beginning, I think it would be wise for me to be seen helping the Heroes of Paris," Lynchpin explained. "After all, if I am to control Paris, I would prefer to control a Paris that is still intact. Cooperation may accomplish two goals: legitimize us in the eyes of the public and allow us to get close to the Heroes. After all, what better way to get close to the Heroes of Paris than as one of their so-called allies? Speak to them tonight, and offer an alliance."

Tyran-X pursed his lips, swallowing down the bad taste in his mouth. After everything that the Heroes of Paris had cost him – "You want to work with them?"

Night Bat held up a hand in warning, and Tyran-X growled. "No, there is some merit to the idea," Night Bat allowed. "Unusual circumstances do make for strange bedfellows. Perhaps this is our best move at present." Tyran-X furrowed his brows, scowling darkly at him. Night Bat frowned, examining Tyran-X's face. "You want your revenge, do you not?" Tyran-X nodded, mouth set in a thin line. "Then play along with this, and wait for your opportunity."

Tyran-X clenched his jaw. "Fine."

"You may go to visit your wife… let it be a reminder of why you fight," Night Bat told him. Tyran-X's breathing hitched. Night Bat raised an eyebrow. "But if you want your day tomorrow, you will accompany me tonight."

Late that night, Tyran-X stood beside and slightly behind Night Bat, directly beneath the Eiffel Tower, arms folded and lasso in hand. In spite of the warmth during the day, the night air was still cool. Tyran-X's gut churned. This was exactly the kind of weather in which Béa had loved to walk. Many nights they would walk up and down the Seine for hours, talking. At least once they had stopped right here, under the Tower, just to stare up at it, illuminated by the lights. But no more. For his part, Night Bat stood calmly, as thought he hadn't a care in the world, looking around expectantly. Night Bat's eyes drifted upward, just as Tyran-X felt something long and thin against his throat.

"Good evening, Ladybug," Night Bat greeted her as she let herself down by her yo-yo. "Cautious as always, I see?"

"We can never be too careful when we're dealing with a monster," Ladybug replied. Her eyes didn't leaved Night Bat's face.

"Looking for practice, before the five Beasts appear?" asked Night Bat.

"I'll take it where I can get it."

"So tell me," Night Bat continued, nodding toward Tyran-X and Cat Noir, whose staff had not moved from its position against Tyran-X's throat, "are you alone, or are more of your little friends around?"

Ladybug's smirk didn't reach her eyes. "Why don't you try to attack and find out?"

"Do not tempt me, child," Night Bat answered her, his eyes flashing black. "You know I am more than capable of defeating you, all on my own. And as you see, I brought a friend. At least one…"

"Your definition of 'friend' needs some work," Cat Noir observed, glancing at Tyran-X, who glared back at him, his grip tightening around his lasso. "Do you threaten and manipulate all your 'friends,' or is this one special?"

Ladybug's mouth set in a thin line. "Oh, I really want to test that boast," she told Night Bat, dropping into a fighting stance, yo-yo clutched tightly in one hand. "I have not had a great day, so a chance to work out some issues on your face sounds pretty good…"

Night Bat quirked an eyebrow. "Trouble in paradise, my dear?" he asked, nodding meaningfully to Cat Noir, who growled. "Perhaps we can give that a try. But perhaps you ought to hear me out first."

Ladybug folded her arms.

"You are facing an unprecedented threat," Night Bat began. "Five different Monsters, all on their way to little old Paris. Now what are the Heroes of Paris to do against such a threat?"

"What does it matter to you?" Ladybug demanded, eyes flashing.

Night Bat chuckled humorlessly. "Very little," he told her. "Cities come and cities go. However, my current partner/employer is strangely attached to this city, and he wishes to offer his – meaning my – assistance in confronting this crisis. If we have an agreement, my team will help you to protect your city."

Cat Noir scoffed. "And what does your employer want from this 'arrangement'?"

Night Bat turned his gaze on Cat Noir. "To still have a city, mangy cat."

"You expect us to trust you?" Ladybug asked, brows furrowed.

"If you wish for our assistance, you will."

Ladybug folded her arms, glaring at Night Bat. "If you want us to trust you, it would be a good start for you to return the miraculous that you've stolen."

"Over my dead body," growled Tyran-X.