Their second day at Gotham Academy is mostly uneventful, with Lila again trying to goad Adrien into sitting with the class but again failing. At least this time she doesn't dump a glass of water on Marinette.
It's that evening when anything actually happens. They've had a few days to settle in, and now it's time for a couple of Parisian heroes to hit the rooftops of Gotham.
Ladybug takes Elektra with her for their first night out in Gotham. Her own suit is darkened to blend into the shadows of the Gotham night, and her brother's own orange is darkened as well, his stripes already dark. Ladybug doesn't want more of their team seen outside of Paris than need be, nor does she want both halves of the most powerful miraculous seen away. Elektra is the obvious choice, his stealth and senses an extra advantage should it be needed.
And it feels a little nostalgic, too. Michael had been ecstatic to receive the tiger miraculous one day during an akuma battle, and had been even happier to be made the first permanent addition to the miraculous team, long before they made the rest of the team permanent and revealed their identities. Ladybug had chosen him, and Chat had trusted the boy who she trusted with her life. The two got along great, though it was at first Ladybug who oversaw his training and patrols. When they'd revealed their identities, he'd just given his sister a knowing smile and told her she couldn't hide anything from her twin.
Gotham is a lot different at night than Paris is. It makes sense, the city of lights being different than the city of crime, but there's also a sort of familiarity in these new, strange rooftops that they run along. It's just as freeing to run along the buildings here as it is back home. The two heroes chase each other around, tagging and dodging, and stop a mugging or two on the way. Eventually, they slow to a stop and take a break on a high rooftop, secluded from the ones around it.
"You can come out now." Elektra called out, piercing golden eyes glowing in the night.
Two figures stepped out of the shadows of the roof and into the light of the moon. Red Robin and Red Hood.
"How did you know we were here?" Red Hood asked warily, hand on a gun in a holster at his side.
Elektra's position was totally relaxed as he gave them a grin. "I could smell you the moment you started following us forty minutes ago."
Red Robin actually took a step back. "You could smell us?" He asked. "Are you two metas?"
"I'm a tiger." The hero said simply, as if that actually answered the question. Ladybug stepped in front of her brother, rolling her eyes at him before putting on a serious look as she turned to the members of the bat gang.
"We're here because we have a, business proposition, let's call it, for you guys and Batman." She said diplomatically.
Red Hood was still giving them a wary look, but Red Robin seemed intrigued. "Go on."
Ladybug shook her head. "I don't want to go through everything more than once. Can we plan to meet up?"
They set the meeting for the seventh day the class will be in Gotham, a sunday. It's thursday night, but Ladybug wanted a day to communicate with her team, and they'll be busy the sixth day. The class is taking a day trip to Metropolis, which Marinette easily could have left out, but she wasn't that vindictive. Mlle. Bustier was proud of her for including the tour of the Daily Planet for Alya, but the only praise Marinette cared about that came from it was Mme. Mendeleiev's. The woman might have been strict, but she was a good teacher, and she cared a lot about the students at the school.
Three days passed by quickly, and then it was time for them to meet with Gotham's vigilantes. Time for them to meet Batman.
When they reached the meeting point, ten minutes early, Ladybug and Elektra were not the first ones there. Red Hood and Red Robin were already waiting, and Red Robin let them know Batman would be there shortly with Nightwing and Robin. It was a tense and awkward couple minutes, but soon the others arrived, and Ladybug stepped forward to introduce herself and her brother.
"Hello, Batman, Nightwing, Robin." She also nodded her head to the two she'd already met. "Red Robin, Red Hood. My name is Ladybug, and this is Elektra, one of my team members. We're the Parisian heroes."
"There are heroes in Paris?" Batman asked gruffly. "We've never heard anything about this."
"That's because you were not meant to know." She explained calmly. "There is an information block up specifically so we do not get the attention of the Justice League. If any one of them came to Paris, I fear we may not be able to handle it. Our villain preys on emotion, and latches onto negativity. He possesses and brainwashes his victims, giving them powers and sending them on a revenge fueled rampage. If someone who already had superpowers or training were to be akumatized, I fear we very well might not be able to beat them, and Hawkmoth would win. That cannot happen. If he gets his hands on the miraculous of the ladybug and the miraculous of the black cat, he will have access to the ultimate power, to a reality altering wish. But balance does not care for the whims of mortals, and it will devastate the reality we live in, no matter what he asks for."
"So why ask us for help now, then?" Nightwing asked cautiously, taking in the new information.
Ladybug grimaced. "We might be doing okay now, but the attacks have been getting worse and worse. We almost didn't- we-" She didn't realize her hands were shaking so badly until Elektra took her hands in his, flattening her fists. She took a deep breath, giving him a grateful nod. He didn't say anything, smiling softly as he took his place beside her once more. Ladybug took another deep breath.
"The point is, we can't hold out forever." Ladybug said grimly. "We need help and we don't know where else to turn. As the Guardian and as Ladybug, it is my responsibility to both lead my team and protect the miraculous, but underneath our masks, we're only human. There is only so much we can do, only so long we can put up a fight, only so long we can protect Paris before we fall."
Elektra took this moment to set a hand on his sister's shoulder, and she untensed the tiniest bit. There was a lot sitting on her shoulders, more so than the rest of the team. The boy looked at the gathered Gotham vigilantes. "We need backup." He told them. "We're in a pretty bad need for some backup soon, and it wouldn't hurt to have help from some of the world's greatest detectives as we try to figure out the identities of Hawkmoth and Mayura so that we can take them down."
The vigilantes all looked back and forth at each other, seemingly conversing silently. Then Batman turned to them and nodded. "We will do what we can to help you, Ladybug, Elektra."
Before the two relieved heroes can thank them, there were suddenly two more figures on the rooftop. The vigilantes all immediately draw weapons, defensive, but Ladybug snaps into a straighter posture. "Report." She orders, stepping over to her other team members. Chloe and Adrien had come along to protect them if the need arose, Chloe going with both the bee and the fox to keep them hidden unless they were needed.
"Viperion messaged." Miel de Renard responded. "Vervada has exhausted all three of her elements twice, and Viperion can't hold out much longer, not even without his timer."
"Lucky bastard had the audacity to become an adult before the rest of us." Elektra commented. One of the bats gasped at that, but the heroes were no longer paying attention to them. "Guess we're in for a long night."
Ladybug turned to the vigilantes. "This isn't going to be pretty, but you're welcome to follow along and get a closer look at how all of this works."
Rather than send all of the vigilantes, Batman had Red Hood and Red Robin go to observe, splitting the rest of the vigilantes off to finish patrol in Gotham. Ladybug thanked Batman again for his agreement to help, and unified Kaalki's miraculous with her own.
Back at their headquarters, a seemingly abandoned building they'd managed to buy out without notice with the combined wealth of Adrien, Kagami, and Chloe, Miel de Renard de-unified and immediately went to the dining room table. They had turned the second to last floor of the building in the more business oriented side of Paris into their home base, equipped with multiple bedrooms, an infirmary, a kitchen and living room, and a dining room they used for conference and strategy planning. All other floors of the building were left empty to promote the building looking unused and ward off break ins.
Honeybee brought up a projector and flew through the reports she could find while the others gathered with her. Bringing up a projector, she spoke. "Mère de Brouette, Barrow Mother. Her two sons, daughter-in-law, grandchild and unborn grandchild were in a fatal car accident. Hawkmoth took advantage of her grief and mourning and akumatized her. There's a sentimonster out, too, a pale, ghostly figure protecting her and attacking any living thing it sees."
"Attack zones and paths?" Ladybug asked.
"She's mostly just drifting around Paris." Honeybee answered, flicking through screens quickly. "She's wailing for her family, and the sound is shattering glass and cracking stone. She's proven to be wild like a banshee, using her voice to attack, her screams are able to generate sound waves that can throw attackers back and burst ear drums. Viperion and Vervada haven't been able to get close with the sentimonster protecting her, but her akuma and the amok should both be on her person, in photos she has tucked into her dress."
"I'll let the team know we'll be arriving shortly to let them recharge." Chat said, sliding the communicator of his staff open.
Ladybug squared her shoulders and turned to Red Hood. She held a hand out to him. "This is the miraculous of the fox, Red Hood. You will use it only to keep yourself and Red Robin safe during the battle. You will not engage, and you will return it to me after the battle is done. Can I trust you with the power of illusion?"
Red Hood stared at her for a moment, then nodded. "I'll keep us safe." He swore.
"Good." She gave him a tired smile.
When he transformed, Red Hood's outfit did not change much from his vigilante costume. The reds all turned a deep orange, and his helmet was replaced with a similarly colored hood and a mask covered his nose and mouth. White tipped ears rose from the top of the hood, and bright orange eyes glowed from his shadowed face. Alongside his curiously recolored guns, there was a flute holstered to his belt. A single, shock white bit of hair curled down onto his forehead, completing the look.
"Well, don't you look foxy." Elektra smirked at the boy, and Chat laughed while Honeybee and Ladybug both groaned.
Barrow Mother took some time to defeat. It was a long and hard fight, lasting until the early hours of the morning. Elektra took on the sentimonster, being the best suited for melee fighting and distracting the ghostly figure from protecting the akuma. Viperion and Vervada helped where they could once they were able to recharge. The others took the akuma on directly, but even with the sentimonster distracted, it was hard to both protect the civilians caught in the crossfire and attack the akuma. Her powers were strong, though maybe not as devastating as that of their worst foe so far. Chat Noir and Honeybee both had to recharge before the fight was finished, but they managed it, and Ladybug was able to purify both the akuma and the amok before reversing the damage to the city of lights.
The exhausted team returned to HQ to recharge, and Ladybug merged with Kaalki to portal Red Hood and Red Robin back to Gotham. Red Hood had detransformed and made to give the fox miraculous back, but Ladybug had told him to hold onto it for now. They'd need to be able to get a look at the fights in Paris again anyways, and Trixx would be able to give them some more insight into the situation as the bats helped out. Red Hood accepted the honor with pride, happy to become the fox again when in Paris.
With everything else settled, the miraculous team gathered in their base of operations to take care of wounds and sleep off the exhaustion. The miraculous cure might work on everything else, but having been bonded so long to each of their own miraculous, the cure didn't always fully affect them. Luckily it was never too bad though, and as Guardian, Marinette knew a couple potions to make to help out with the healing process.
If anyone noticed how tired four particular teens were on the trip to the botanical gardens and following picnic the next day, they didn't say anything. Marinette nearly fell asleep on Adrien, Chloe was sluggish in her texting, and Michael more or less stared into nothing as he completely ignored his food. The rest of the class was focused on their own things, mostly Lila, but it meant they didn't have to make excuses.
The two days after that were nice, the class touring several different businesses around the city, designed to give them a broader career introduction. The team met up with Batman and his team once more to go over what little information they did have on Hawkmoth and Mayura.
Then everything got thrown out of line again on the eleventh day.
"Ugh, how long do we have to wait here?" Chloe huffed, tapping her foot against the tile floor of the department store as they stopped by some mattress displays. There was another guy nearby, but he was preoccupied by his phone.
"I texted Alix, she and Nathaniel are going to come meet us and then we'll hit the art supply store." Marinette told the impatient girl. "Lila was headed off to the food court when they split off from the class, so we'll be far away from her."
"It's not so bad." Michael grinned, holding up his bag. "I found silly string!"
"If I find any of that in our hotel room later, I will castrate you, Dupain-Cheng." Chloe glared.
"You're mean." Michael pouted.
"At least she doesn't have Kagami here right now?" Adrien offered in a lame attempt to cheer the boy up.
"Yeah, Kagami would just straight up gut me." Michael said. "Your girlfriend is scary, Chlo."
"My girlfriend is gorgeous, thank you." Chloe huffed. "My very own sword lesbian."
Marinette checked her phone again. "Looks like they're almost here. We should head out to meet them by the entrance."
Just as she said that, the lights went out.
"Look out!" Michael warned, dropping his bag and tackling the guy standing nearby that had been preoccupied with his phone. A thud and a clang, something hit the sign behind him and then the floor, narrowly having missed hitting him because of Michael's reflexes.
"What the-" Adrien's voice was cut off as the noise of something heavy falling to the ground sounded. In the very little light, Michael could see that Guillame had been knocked out, but by what, he couldn't tell. Then something came into contact with the back of his head, and he could see no more.
When they all woke, it was to darkness. The class seemed to have been gathered, some whimpering and crying, others silently panicking. This went on for a few minutes, before someone finally spoke.
"Welcome, french students! I am the Riddler!" The voice declared. "I've gathered you here, within this maze, for some fun! In order to get out, you'll have to navigate through and avoid my men as you search for the five riddles that will give you the answers to the locked doors. The area you are in now is the only safe zone, and you have two hours before I get bored! Have fun!"
The crying and whimpering picked up. Chloe felt around until Adrien took her hand, knowing what she was looking for. He grabbed Michael's hand as well, to direct him to Chloe. "You two need to go out there." Chloe whispered.
"Did you not hear him? There are armed guards no doubt roaming around." A voice whispered harshly.
"Who are you?" Adrien asked. "I thought he took the class, or did I mishear that?"
"Uh, I think that was his plan." The guy whispered. "But your friend knocked me out of the way of something when the lights went out, so they nabbed me, too."
"Ah, phone guy." Chloe responded. She squeezed the boys' hands before releasing them, signalling them to go. With the night vision afforded to them because of their miraculous, they would be able to try to find the riddles and avoid guards on the way. "There's no way we can just sit here and let that guy get bored. We have to do something."
"Or we could wait for Batman." The guy offered.
Chloe shook her head, but he couldn't see it. "They took our phones, I already checked. So until someone who's phone they didn't take manages to find out what's going on, we'll be stuck here on our own."
The guy started to speak, but a sob cut him off.
"Marinette!" Chloe exclaimed, swooping to the girl's side and gently rubbing her back. "Talk to me, sweetheart. We're in Gotham, we're not even in Paris. It's going to be okay."
"Not again." Marinette whispered. "Not again, not again, not again. Please, no, no no no no." Hands scrabbled at her throat, heaving in breaths like she was drowning.
"It's okay." Chloe cooed. "We're not there. It's over, it's never happening again." A tear splashed down onto Marinette's shoulder, but they both ignored it, one in panic and the other trying to comfort her friend.
"I can't breathe." Marinette gasped. Her fingers tugged at her shirt's collar, at the chain around her neck. Too constricting, too close, too much. One hard yank and the chain went flying to the side. "I don't want to be here. I don't want to do this again. I don't want to die. Please, please not again."
"Shh." Chloe held Marinette tightly. "He's gone. Erebus is gone, and he's never coming back. The nightmare is over. We're in Gotham, now, we're not even in Paris. He wouldn't be able to get all the way out here, anyways."
"What are you talking about?" It was phone guy again. He seemed to be taking the situation in stride, but it was clear from his voice that he was confused at the reaction of the french class. Yes, most of them were completely terrified, but no one seemed to be focused on the villain who had kidnapped them, but on the fact that they could not see and it was similar to something that had happened before.
"It-" Chloe was cut off by a gunshot somewhere in the maze, and Marinette shot into a straighter position, pulled from her panic attack. Screams echoed out around them, and more students began to cry. Chloe felt Marinette shift as she began to move. "Marinette, no. You can't go out there, it's too dangerous."
"You say this after sending those other two boys out there?" Phone guy asked incredulously. Chloe turned to him on instinct, and that gave Marinette the chance to slip away. She didn't have senses enhanced like the boys', but years of being Ladybug had sharpened her skills.
It wasn't difficult for Marinette to take down a guard rounding a corner, before climbing a short wall to keep her advantage of stealth and get above her enemies. Able to think clearly through her panic now, she realized where they were. A laser tag arena in the mall, meant to be convoluted for running around in.
Chloe desperately wanted to follow, but she couldn't. Someone needed to stay to protect the class, and she couldn't leave the boys to try to herd them by themselves when they got back. So she bit her lip and sat back, oblivious to the guy she'd just spoken to making his own escape from the safe zone.
As soon as Jason had gotten away, he'd have to get more information about whatever had happened in Paris later, he transformed with the fox miraculous he still carried. As soon as he's in suit, he can see what the others can't - there were henchmen patrolling the arena in night vision gear, and up on the second level he could see Robin quietly taking guards down. As the smallest, he'd likely squeezed in through the vents, while the rest of the family must have been outside, fighting through Riddler's men there.
Looking around, Jason noted that Marinette had met up with the boys, and they were making their way to the main entrance. Good, they must have been able to find and figure out the riddles, though how they managed that past the henchmen and in the dark, he'd certainly like to know. Content that the students would be safe for the moment, Jason made his way to the second level to help Robin clear out the henchmen.
While the boys stood guard, Marinette entered the answers of the riddles into the keypad on the door's handle. It clicked open and she sighed in relief before sending the boys back to the safe zone to start getting the class out.
When they arrived back, Chloe immediately took charge in organizing everyone, sending them three at a time with the boys, Adrien in the front and Michael in the back to keep an eye out for any still-patrolling guards. Marinette remained at the door, opening it only just a crack to let the students and teachers out, trying not to allow the glow of vests and laser guns attract any unwanted attention.
It took awhile to do it, but eventually the entire class is out and Chloe and Marinette step into the vest room to find themselves face to face with Batman.
"Batman, sir," Marinette said, stepping forward. "We've gotten all but one civilian out, two of our friends are in there searching for him, but other than that it's only the Riddler's henchmen."
Batman studied them for a moment, then nodded and sent them on their way. Marinette and Chloe both blinked owlishly at the light of the small store and mall courtyard past the glass window walls. Most of the class was still in hysterics, panic from the memory of Erebus no doubt still lingering. Many looked to be supporting shock blankets given to them by various paramedics or officers, and it looked like both teachers were giving statements to the police.
The girls were both ushered over to a paramedic to be looked over, but still running on adrenaline and in hero mode, they were declared okay and released to wait anxiously for the boys.
A short while later, Adrien and Michael are escorted out of the laser tag arena. Marinette shouts her brother's name as the two girls rush over to the boys, Michael leaning heavily on Red Hood, transformed with the fox miraculous. Nightwing is with them as well, and he helps the injured boy to the paramedics while Adrien and Chloe remain with the fox hero.
"There was one more guy." Chloe said, stepping up next to the tired looking Adrien. "He wasn't in class, but the kid who got shot pushed him out of the way in the original attack and he got caught up with us. I haven't seen him come out of there, is he alright?"
"We got him out, but we had to use a different exit because of some of the Riddler's henchmen." The fox assured her. "He's alright, already gone home. Just a usual day in Gotham for him."
"Thank you," Chloe responded, trailing off as she looked at the hero.
"Uh, Foxglove!" He said quickly.
"Your name is Foxglove?" Chloe asked, eyebrow raised.
"Yep! I gotta go now, hope you guys have a better trip. Bye!" Foxglove turned and ran back into the laser tag arena. Chloe shrugged and slipped her arm around Adrien's shoulders, guiding him over to the rest of the class. Marinette, Michael and Mme. Mendeleiev were nowhere to be seen, likely gone to the hospital already. They'd have to visit as soon as everyone was settled back into the hotel.
"You told them your name was Foxglove?" Tim asked, eyebrow raised as he sipped his coffee.
"I panicked, okay!" Jason exclaimed, shoving his hands in his pockets. "We didn't exactly plan to have me debut in Gotham, but I couldn't just leave them defenseless."
"You did the right thing, Jason." Bruce said, thumbing through a file as he moved from the computer to the debriefing table.
"Hmm." Jason was going to say more, but then he pulled something from his pocket with a confused expression. "They're on that sponsored trip, right? This belongs to one of those students."
"I need to check in with them and the teachers staying with them, anyways." Bruce mused, heading back to the computer for another file.
Jason tilted his head as he looked at the dog tag. "Nalia Lavayez. Wonder who that is?" He asked. Behind him, Bruce froze midstep.
"Where did you get Jon's friend's dog tag?" Damian asked. "The twins never take those things off, they belonged to their mother."
The files Bruce had been carrying crashed to the floor.