~.*~*~*.~

Him

~.*~*~*.~

He could not stop thinking about her. A strange weightlessness pulled Chat Noir's stomach upward as he floated among the clouds.

Literally.

The condensation of a cumulus spattered across the window of the helicopter as it took them over mountain tops and fields and winding roads. The early morning sun was rising, leaving the sky painted in pink and orange. Chat Noir pressed his nose against the glass, finding bits and pieces of Paris in the forest, far from home.

He wondered if Marinette was there somewhere, lost like they had been. Maybe not far from the home they had found in the woods. Alone. The thought made him sick.

A light clear of the throat drew his attention away from the window.

Ladybug's foot bounced impatient over her crossed leg, arms folded over her chest, staring at him. She pouted, her adorable bottom lip sticking out as she reached for his tail to pull him into the seat beside her, grumbling for him to put on a seatbelt.

The whole thing reminded him so much of his classmate that his thoughts immediately went back to her.

"I keep thinking about Marinette," he said, rubbing a sheepish hand behind his head and turning red for two very different reasons as Ladybug buckled a seatbelt over his lap.

"Don't," Ladybug snapped. She immediately went pink in the cheeks. "I mean, she's going to be fine. We're going to fix this."

Chat Noir pulled his tail into his lap, twisting it, trying very hard not to overthink things, which meant:

"This akuma is a plane in the neck."

Immediately Ladybug pulled out an eye roll. "We're in a helicopter."

"Okay, you got me." Chat Noir flashed a grin. "I knew that one wouldn't take off."

"Oh my God," Ladybug groaned.

He immediately felt the tension in his chest release. "Why did the helicopter get sent to his room?"

"No."

"C'mon, bugaboo, humor me."

"How long is this flight again?" Ladybug called to the pilot.

"We're twenty minutes out."

When Ladybug sunk back into the seat with a loud grumble, Chat Noir grinned. "He had a bad altitude."

"Chat Noir."

"Oh, I have another one… how can you tell when a plane gets tired?"

Ladybug's polka dotted hands covered her face.

"It starts soaring."

"I miss the tree puns."

"I knew you wood."

Ladybug uncovered her face to pinch his side. "I'm going to send you soaring in a minute!"

"No need." Chat Noir snapped her hand from his ribs and wiggled his brows at her. "I'm already on cloud nine."

She tweaked his nose so hard it hurt.

"Okay, okay, I'll stop! I'm sorry!" He rubbed his nose when she released it, feeling tears budding in his eyes. "So mean."

"We should start talking strategy," Ladybug said, suddenly all business even though the dusting of pink had yet to leave her cheeks. "What do we know about this akuma exactly?"

"Treehugger."

"Is that official?"

He shrugged. "Go for the bullhorn?"

"I mean, what do we know about her powers? Obviously she's bringing Paris to the forest and the forest to Paris."

"She's got a green thumb?"

"I swear, Chat."

"I'm serious," he said. "Remember the trees? They didn't just appear. They were growing."

Ladybug seemed to think that over for a minute, her blue eyes wandering back and forth in space. "Did you see her change anyone into anything?"

"No."

"So how do we account for the missing persons?"

"Besides us? I… they were teleported? We sorta came in with the Eiffel Tower, right?"

"Then why weren't there any other people in the forest?"

Chat Noir thought for a long time, imagining Marinette again, searching for her parents through the wilderness, determined to do something. He felt antsy.

"What if they just wandered off?" he asked.

"We would have seen something, Chat. Someone." Ladybug turned to gaze out the window as clouds whipped by.

"I really want to say I'm stumped," he said, "but...puns."

Her foot kicked the side of his boot while a smile curled the corner of her mouth.

"So the only evidence we have of her powers is teleportation and growing trees. And the only people we saw her attack was...us." Ladybug's nose scrunched and Chat Noir felt heat run through his limbs as she thought it out.

The news said there were at least a dozen people missing. Just because they only reported about two didn't mean…

"Penny for your thoughts, LB?" he said, trying to sound nonchalant.

She seemed to shake off the deep thought in an instant. "Don't get hit."

He gave her a two finger salute.

"I'm serious, Chat Noir. You can't be the fall guy today. We've been gone too long. Too much is at stake."

"But I'm always falling for you," he joked. Ladybug did not appreciate his wink and he sighed, realizing he had crossed over the line again.

"I won't get hit," he said in a far more serious tone. "This kitty is as agile as a…cat."

"Redundant," said Ladybug.

"And obvious."

She smiled for him and it lit up his world.

Then the world shook.

Or rather the world far beneath them jerked closer and Ladybug's fingers had clamped into his thigh.

"What is that?" the pilot gasped.

"Ladybug's hand on my thigh!" almost, almost squeaked out of Chat Noir's mouth, but luckily she spoke up first, releasing him.

"The akuma!" She unbuckled her seat belt and pressed her face against the glass as a vine barreled at the helicopter. "Why is she this far from Paris?"

Chat Noir swallowed back his shock and managed to unbuckle his own seatbelt just as the helicopter jerked again. His backend lifted off the seat, nearly floating, and his hand slammed against the metal roof.

A long vine screeched against the window. The moment it disappeared, another came in its place, slapping at the tail end of the helicopter enough to turn them midair.

Ladybug and Chat Noir slammed sideways into the wall of the helicopter and then backward into the floor, a tangle of limbs as the pilot struggled to right them before it spun completely out of control.

"You okay?" Ladybug asked Chat Noir, grasping the seat to climb off of him.

Flushed, he managed a grunt. "Do you think she came looking for us? Can Hawkmoth control her from here?"

"Nothing about this akuma makes sense." Ladybug's hand was already on her yo-yo and her game face was on.

"You ready for this?" he asked her, nerves licking up his limbs.

"Let's make this quick."

Chat Noir unbelted his staff. "Gotcha. Mr. Pilot, sir, we're going to need you to drop a bug-bomb."

"What?" the pilot called, maneuvering to dodge a growing tree. "This is insane!"

"Just let us out here," Ladybug said. "The akuma should leave the helicopter alone once we leave."

"We don't have parachutes. It's too dangerous! You could get sucked into the blades!" yelled the co-pilot.

"I think we can pass on the parachutes then." Chat Noir expanded his staff and gave a sideways glance to Ladybug. "Vines?"

She nodded. "Vines."

"Open the door, s'il vous plait."

"But…."

"It's okay, sir, we're superheroes," said Ladybug.

"And this cat's got nine lives."

"Pretty sure you're down to three."

Chat Noir laughed as the door began to open and a blast of wind snapped at their faces.

"We're still a good way from Paris!" shouted the co-pilot as the helicopter jerked sideways. "It'll take hours on foot!"

"Not for us!" Chat Noir shouted back, giving Ladybug a wink.

She gave him her hand and they grasped each other's wrists just as a vine snapped from the earth.

They leapt into the sky.

Wind bit at Chat Noir's cheeks and rushed into his ears. Everything was loud and a sudden terrible clunk sounded just as his baton caught a massive growing vine. He grasped his baton with his other hand, Ladybug attached. Her yo-yo shot out, wrapping around the moving plant and she swung free of his grip, straddling the vine like a horse.

Chat Noir snapped his head back to the terrible gut-wrenching sound of warping metal and saw the helicopter going down.

The tip of the vine they hung on had tangled into the helicopter's blades and smoke rose as the engine fought to keep going through the jam. The vine snapped and then froze, as if it had finally finished its accelerated growth and found its permanent home in the sky. (So the plants weren't "aware" at least, Chat Noir noted.)

The helicopter gave a final sputter and dangled helplessly a mile above the earth.

"I'll get the pilots!" shouted Ladybug. "Look out for Treehugger!"

"Perfect name, right?" he called back. He swore he could see her eyes roll even though he was watching her back, swinging up the vines to reach the helpless helicopter.

Chat Noir quickly turned his attention to the base of the vine and loosened the tension on his baton, allowing it to slide down the massive plant until he was able to take foot on a protruding branch. He snapped his baton closed and tucked it behind his back.

He tried hard not to think of the last time he dealt with a massive vine and the overwhelming fear that he would fail, and the last time he'd see Marinette was when he'd caused tears to stream down her face. He shook his head and brought himself to the present.

"I'm gonna guess that wasn't just a lucky shoot at a random helicopter," he called down to where he guessed the akuma was hiding, "and you were trying to root us out."

Nothing but the sound of metal and Ladybug's distant shouts to the pilots answered him.

Pouncing to the next branch of the vine, he called down to the much too still treetops: "Nothing? That was two puns and they rhymed!"

Chat Noir leapt like his namesake from one branch to the next, green eyes scanning the depths of the forest canopy. The mountains were far off now, only tiny bumps in the horizon and this close to the city the ground below was clear of snow. Farmland and quaint French villages were scattered among the bare trees and evergreens and, if he squinted just a little, he saw a darker spot, just a hint of movement through the foliage below him.

"There she is."

He reached back for his baton the same moment a tree grew beneath him.

Branches bloomed from the massive trunk like a redwood on a high-speed timelapse. It plowed into the vine and shoved Chat Noir off his perch and onto a newly grown limb. His claws dug into bark, scrambling to stay on as the tree catapulted toward the sky. Sticks scratched at his suit and one sliced into his cheek enough to draw blood, but all he could think about was Ladybug and the pilots.

He watched as the vine holding the helicopter bent and snapped in two, sending the smoking helicopter toward the earth. It groaned as gravity pulled it down, metal blades still attempting to whirl as pieces of vine halted their progress.

"Ladybug!" he screamed and right before he took the leap after it, he spotted (ha!) red swinging from a tree branch that had expanded above him. Ladybug was holding two full grown men: one on her back and another under her arm.

Chat Noir climbed toward her as the massive tree continued to expand. "LB!"

He was worried for a moment the tree would never stop and she would be moving away from him forever, until it broke the atmosphere. The air grew thinner and the bite of winter wind shook the newly formed leaves until they let go of their branches and twirled in a whirlwind around him.

Digging into the bark, he continued his climb and breathed a sigh of relief when he could hear Ladybug's voice calling his name.

"On my way!" he yelled up before peering down. The trunk of the tree had stretched so wide that it took over the forest it had sprung from. At the base, smaller trees had been leveled, lying horizontally where they had once stood tall, and a puffy white cloud hovered below its lowest branches.

"Wow," he breathed.

This akuma was definitely a powerful one. He could only imagine how much damage might ensue if Mayura turned this massive tree into a sentimonster to help.

"Gonna keep that thought to myself," he muttered as his claws dug into another branch.

By the time he got close enough to Ladybug to help, he took a ragged breath and spat, "I'm winded," just as another gust burst through the branches.

"We need to get the pilots to safety," said Ladybug, voice every bit the super hero. One was holding a jacket tight over a cut in his arm and the other was unconscious on her back, a bruise blooming above his brow.

"On it," said Chat Noir. "I know I'm not as pretty a ride as the Lady, but…" He jabbed a thumb at his back.

Ladybug snuck behind him and snagged his belt-tail one-handed, yanking it off his waist.

"Uh…"

"To keep pressure around your arm while you hold on," she was already telling the conscious pilot.

Chat Noir yanked it from her hand and helped the pilot tie it on. "I feel violated."

"So do I," said the pilot, eying the belt warily.

"Okay, you're good. Hop on. We've got a lot of trunk to deal with."

Once the pilot was on his back, he cast Ladybug a look. Her eyes were working over the tree to the forest below, calculating.

"You look like you've got a plan, m-" he cleared his throat, catching himself. "Care to share? Because I'm stumped."

"You've used that one already, twice," she said.

"Ugh, sorry so unoriginal, LB. That climb was no joke. I'm bushed."

Even though she rolled her eyes, he caught a hint of her smile. Worth it.

"Why isn't she attacking us?" Ladybug murmured, eyes glued back to the earth below.

Chat Noir adjusted the pilot on his back with a grunt. "You mean the tree was a peace offering?"

"I mean we're vulnerable and she's not taking advantage."

"Yet," he said. "I get the sense she's a very patient gardener. Gonna wait until the right time to prune."

"That's what I'm afraid of," said Ladybug. "We need to get these men somewhere safe."

"Leave us at the base of the tree," said the pilot. "We already sent out an SOS. You two need your hands free."

Chat Noir met Ladybug's eyes. "The miraculous cure will fix their injuries and send them back."

They both gave a nod.

"You're already hurt," she said, gesturing to his cheek.

He rubbed at the cut, giving a shrug. "Just a scratch."

"Just be careful, Kitty."

"Don't worry, Bug. This cat always lands on his feet."

As he slid down a branch, careful with the cargo on his back, he heard Ladybug snort, "I've seen evidence to the contrary."

It took them nearly ten minutes to make it halfway down the mountain-sized tree and there was nothing, no sound beyond the wind, their climbing and the grunts of the injured pilot.

"This akuma is creeping me out," Ladybug said, swinging slowly from branch to branch with the unconscious co-pilot on her back, eyes darting, ever vigilant.

Chat Noir gave a nod as he leapt onto another limb. "She's got a guerilla warfare kinda thing going on. Hit and run."

"Why didn't she come for us sooner?"

"Think there's a chance she's rogue?"

"She started off in Paris. Seems unlikely," said Ladybug before she let herself down from yet another branch, dangling slowly from her yo-yo string like a spider.

"Maybe she wanted to wear us down first, strand us in the forest without food or water? Hope we didn't get much sleep."

For some reason, Ladybug's cheeks had flared up by the time Chat Noir had reached her. He tried not to read too much into it.

"You okay?" he asked. "Fully recovered?"

She gave a hum, avoiding his gaze and he tried not to read into it, the memory of her flushed with alcohol, wine basking his lips.

They both lowered down to the next limb, finally touching the top of the forest canopy below the massive tree. Birds called out, crying for the homes and nests flattened by the massive trunk.

"Who knew you could deforest a forest with a forest?"

"Kind of defeats the purpose of tree hugging," grumbled Ladybug.

Chat Noir grinned before casting a look over his shoulder at his passenger. "Doing alright, sir?"

The pilot on his back gave a nod and adjusted awkwardly. "I'll feel better once we're on solid earth. Flying is a bit more comfortable."

"I don't think he's enjoying the kitty-back ride, bugaboo."

"What a surprise," Ladybug said flatly even though Chat Noir swore her cheeks went pink again.

Maybe it was just wishful thinking that the near-kiss still had her unnerved, but either way he enjoyed how pretty she looked when she got bashful. He had fallen in love with her confident determination, but the softer moments were so rare that they might have hit him even harder.

She's in love with someone else, he had to tell himself. Again and again.

They made it to the ground without any further sign of the akuma. The tree trunk's base was as wide as a football field. The pilot settled beside his unconscious partner against the bark, Chat Noir's belt-tail still tied tightly around his arm.

"You want this…?" he asked, giving his arm a light lift.

"Yes," said Chat Noir.

"You'll get it back when we defeat the akuma," Ladybug scolded. "Sir, it's best you keep pressure on. That gash looked pretty deep."

Chat Noir's ears went flat. "I feel naked."

"Bobcat Noir," Ladybug snorted.

He stuck out his tongue in disgust before turning to the foliage. "Should we wait for her to come to us?"

"I hate the idea of leaving them here for her to use as bait," Ladybug said, yo-yo twirling absently around her hand, head gesturing back to the two men at the base of the tree.

"But?"

"I'm trying to figure out their strategy. It'd be helpful to know if it's Hawkmoth's or the akuma's. Hawkmoth wouldn't hesitate to use them, but a rogue akuma...I'm not sure if that's worse or better."

"I thought we decided she wasn't rogue since she started in Paris?"

"She hasn't said a thing about our miraculous."

"Maybe Hawky finally realized it was redundant."

"Maybe…" Ladybug looked deep in thought for a moment. "Let's go on the offensive and root her out."

"Root." Chat Noir grinned and flicked his staff. "Gotcha. Stick together?"

"You dork," she said affectionately. "Always."

He went warm all over and tried to keep his head cool. "Let's keep a sightline between the trees. I'll take the top?"

"Probably better I top. I'm a little more agile in the branches."

"I will gladly bottom, then." Heat swam up to his ears when Ladybug stared at him in disbelief, completely pink. "I meant take the bottom!" he sputtered, "I mean, under you! under ground ! Not underground, on the ground. I'll do the ground! Scout the ground!"

A snort broke out from the pilot behind them.

"No more puns," Ladybug said, trying to sound firm, but her voice caught in the middle.

"I swear, that was completely unintentional. You said you'd t-" Chat Noir stopped himself. Remembering how she'd worded her position made it worse. His face went on fire and he hooked his arm around it. "Going now."

The cold wind against his face did nothing to quell the heat. Chat Noir catapulted for what seemed like an eternity before he heard Ladybug catch up, her light tread bouncing against the treetops above him.

"Don't go so fast," she snapped down at him in a whispered hush.

"Sorry," he squeaked. Why did everything seem to have a double entendre? He shook the thought out of his head and cleared his throat. "See anything?"

"Some snapped branches, footprints. I'm sure she went this way."

They moved like a single unit despite all the awkwardness, his body her shadow beneath the forest canopy until it was gone.

They broke out into rolling hills of farmland. Chat Noir came to a stop as a herd of cows meandered past and Ladybug dropped delicately to the ground by his side.

"Well," he said, clearing his throat again and not daring to look at Ladybug directly, "if she went this way she sure can moo-ve."

Laughter erupted by his side, so sweet and genuine that he had to look at her.

"What?" he asked.

"You," Ladybug giggled, wiping at her eyes. "You are so ridiculous, Chat Noir."

He smiled even though he still hadn't quite worked off the embarrassment from before. "I'd like to think I know how to lighten the moo-d."

"You're milking it now," she snorted.

If his tail has been attached, it would have flicked with giddiness. There were very few things that ranked higher than Ladybug punning with him.

"You got beef with me, LB?"

She went silent, eyes widening at something in the distance. "I think I was right about the akuma."

Chat Noir followed her gaze. A row of trees seemed to be springing up in a path, their branches reaching into the sky. A barn creaked and moaned as tree roots ripped into the foundation and horses sprang free, whinnying and galloping away from the rising forest.

"She's headed for Paris," said Ladybug.

From atop the hill of clear land, they could see the city, just a small gray patch nestled among the green in the distance.

"Home sweet home," Chat Noir said dryly. "Why is she showing us the way?"

"Good question. I don't like it."

"Maybe Hawkmoth is too lazy to leave?"

"Or he wants this over as much as I do."

The cow puns seemed far behind them, her voice stern and tired.

"So we follow the trees?" he asked, watching as they continued to spring up in a neat line, growing years tall in minutes.

"I don't know. It's probably a trap."

Before he could stop himself, his fingers had found the edge of her hand, just above the base of her pinky. "I'm with you no matter what."

She twisted her hand until it nestled in his. "I know." She gave him a squeeze. "Let's go."

"After moo."

Ladybug pinched his palm even though she was trying her best not to bust out laughing.

Chat Noir smiled. "I'm going to make a mental note that cow puns are your udder favorite."

"They're legen-dairy."

With that, Ladybug threw him a wink and tossed her yo-yo until it connected with a growing tree. She took off through the sky, over the cows, and Chat Noir wondered how he was ever going to get over her after this.