This was supposed to be my contribution to Felinette month. Now it's only about two pages of sorta-Felinette stuff and five pages of other junk.
Also, Félix's costume is identical to his original concept art in the 2D version.
I think Félix also is a little OOC. Oops.
(:)
"Alright," Chat Noir said on the video, the back of his head leaning against what appeared to be a window. "I have a… formal dinner, I guess, to go to tonight. I won't be able to make it to patrol. But… uh, turns out my cousin is visiting Paris. And, apparently, he figured out my identity last time he was over. So, he's taking over my Chat Noir duties just for tonight. I… uh, I know that's not really the strategy we agreed on, but with how active Hawkmoth is getting I don't like the idea of either of us patrolling alone. Don't worry, Plagg'll Cataclysm him if he doesn't give back the ring." He huffed out a sigh. "Gotta go now. Cat-ch you later, LB!" The video snapped shut.
Ladybug's eyes narrowed, and she lifted her gaze to Chat Noir's cousin – when he had arrived, he had introduced himself as Félix the Cat; it was good to know that being a huge dork ran in the family – her distrust maintaining the same level. "Great," she grunted, "so, why didn't he send this video to me, again?"
"I don't know." Félix the Cat hissed, huffing a little in frustration. "Just because we look alike does not mean I know everything that goes on in his mind. Maybe he thought Hawkmoth could intercept the message and take advantage of my inexperience. Or perhaps he didn't want you to yell at him over text or whatnot. I do not know, Ladybug."
Ladybug rolled her eyes back at him, crossing her arms stubbornly. Besides apparently being a dork – deep, deep down inside – and having messy hair, that was about where the resemblance ended. His personality was sour and bitter; he seemed ready to kill something at the drop of a pin. Even his costume was different; his ears and tail looked authentic and his bell was comically big. His cat eyes at least looked sort of similar to Chat Noir's, but…
Ladybug had heard plenty about his family. She was not a fan.
"Regardless, I've heard plenty about his family. I'm not a fan." Ladybug huffed, glaring at Félix the Cat stubbornly. She didn't want some rando to be here; she wanted her good old Chat Noir. "How do I know you didn't force him to do this?"
"I don't know. I didn't sign up to being here, you know. I actually volunteered to be at the dinner, instead, but he insisted, something about me being 'uncivilized' and 'uncouth' and 'lacking proper manners'. He was certain I would give away the swap right away. I certainly did not ask to be here in the middle of the night while it is freezing, and I did not want to be here with you."
"Great!" Ladybug grunted, narrowing her eyes. "The feeling's mutual!"
"Do not worry," he admonished in exasperation, "he'll be back tomorrow night. Then we can finally be rid of each other."
"Sounds perfect to me." Ladybug huffed. "In fact, let's get a head start right now! I'll go east, you go west." She ignored how offended Félix the Cat looked at being told what to do and wheeled herself away.
She had gotten a good ten blocks away before she heard him land behind her, mentally rolling her eyes. "What do you want?"
"He insisted I didn't leave you alone." Félix the Cat mumbled, clearly annoyed. "So as much as I would love to leave you alone to your own devices, he would surely order Plagg – a vile little beast – to Cataclysm me if I ever departed from your side."
"Ugh." Ladybug stamped her foot in annoyance, exasperated with this stupid guy. She wondered if she's react to Chat Noir the same way if Félix the Cat had been her partner from the beginning and Chat Noir was the new addition. At least Chat Noir was actually nice and caring. "Fine! He's so… persistent. He's not even here, and… ugh! Okay, you can come. Just… just shut it."
"I expect you to do likewise." Félix the Cat responded, reaching up to touch his neck and chest, looking like he was trying to straighten a tie, which… wasn't there. His expression even turned momentarily confused, before he appeared to realize what the problem was, removing his hands and placing them back at his sides.
"Duh." Ladybug scoffed, shaking her head, turning her attention to the distance. She unwound her yo-yo and tossed it into the distance, waiting until it grew taut before letting it pull her away.
Félix the Cat released an annoyed groan behind her, exasperated, and followed.
They traveled in absolute silence; not a word passed between them, nor a breath exhaled in the other's general direction. In forms of communication, the only thing exchanged was a few gestures from Ladybug to warn him to sudden changes in her path, such as when she turned sharply to the left.
A precious few times, Félix the Cat missed the leap and slammed smack into the side of the building he had been aiming for, and- well, she had been forced to help him up, to her utter annoyance.
She didn't trust him. Honestly, if her life as Ladybug had taught her anything, it was that she could only really trust Chat Noir to be there for her no matter what. (Tikki was great, too, but she didn't really know what it meant to be human, which meant her advice was occasionally subpar.) Despite how much Chat Noir trusted Félix, she didn't like him. She wasn't even sure why Chat Noir had handed off his ring so quickly; she thought he was more careful then that. But, she supposed, it was a quick, easy way to fill both parts without leaving her on her own. And the fail safe of Plagg Catacylsming Félix the Cat if he stepped out of line was pretty good, too.
However, Ladybug just couldn't shake the feeling that something was… wrong. This wasn't right.
They were almost done with patrol – nearing her school, where patrol would end – and fairly close to the Agreste mansion when her heart started thudding even more, her mind screaming at her that something was going to happen, that something was wrong! Ladybug frowned, but around her nothing was weird. Pursing her lips, she forced her too-tense shoulders to relax, lowering as she pretended to let her guard down.
Now that she thought about it… it was very odd to have Félix the Cat following her. She and Chat Noir usually parted ways while on patrol, covering as much ground as possible within the hour which their patrol sat in. Why would Chat Noir insist on having someone accompany her? His family was terrible and she had made it clear whenever he talked about them – no matter how obvious it was that he loved them – that she would rather die before having to be friends with them. So… so why did he-?
Ladybug turned to ask Félix the Cat just as he leapt, claws outstretched.
Ladybug uttered a gasp, barely having enough time to lift up her arms to protect her face before his claws snagged into her suit, twisting himself so that he kept a grip on her even as he managed to flip neatly over her. He landed feet first, flipping his arms forward, which, in turn, yanked her over top of him. Her face was pressed into the concrete before she was able to properly register that she had been right.
Her next attack was much better prepared; tugging her arms out of his grip, Ladybug jerked her body around so that she could deliver a swift kick to his face.
"Okay, what is wrong with you?" She spat, rolling easily to her feet while he was still recoiling. "Evidently, you missed the hint that getting the Miraculous isn't that easy! Honestly, you should've figured that out ages ago from watching the news!"
With a deadpan expression, Félix the Cat rubbed his nose with one hand and showed off the ring with his other. "Evidently, you missed the fact that it's easier then you may think."
Oh Kwamis. "Where." Ladybug snarled, swinging her yo-yo in a circle. "Did. You. Get. That."
"I already told you." He smirked, flicking his bell dramatically, and Ladybug couldn't help but think of Chat Blanc. "My cousin so graciously gave it to me. Though, I will admit, the video was a fraud. It really is fascinating how much I look like him. All it took was some cat-contacts and a costume that Uncle thankfully had on hand."
Ladybug narrowed her eyes at that, shifting her position into a more steady fighting position. "Graciously gave?"
"Perhaps that it too kind to him." Félix the Cat purred, "he put up quite a fight. Alas, I'm afraid I cannot dispose of any more information then that which I have already given." He bowed deeply. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some fancy earrings to steal~!"
He's quick. Ladybug noted, dodging his claws, but I'm quicker! It took only a simple flip to surprise him, landing softly on the ground behind him. Félix the Cat took too long trying to figure out where she went. Well, not too long. But longer then Chat Noir would've. Félix the Cat wasn't dumb; he just wasn't attuned to the instincts his Miraculous granted him.
Ladybug snapped her yo-yo across his back, the aim to tangle him up, but he flinched in the opposite direction she thought he would, messing up the direction of the yo-yo, so it wrapped loosely around him. To her chagrin, he easily shook it off, and attacked again.
Félix the Cat's subpar attacks weren't what were concerning her, though. (She might be more if he just used Cataclysm already, but, hey, it was no Chat Noir.) He had somehow gotten Chat's ring, and from how he had worded it… "What have you done with Chat Noir?!" She seethed, because she just knew he was in trouble. And that strange tingling in the back of her head wouldn't leave. There was danger close that she didn't already know of.
"Wouldn't you like to know?" Félix the Cat smirked, fangs glistening from the streetlights below. "I can't tell you that, dear bug, unless if you were willing to pay me… the price running these days are two earrings for one visit."
"In your dreams." Ladybug snarled, eyes narrowing. "What say you; I win this little duel and you tell me where Chat Noir is and give back your Miraculous. You win, I give you my Miraculous and tell you about my own cousin. I'm sure you'd flip if you met her."
"Yeah, I'm going to pass." His brow crinkled, and he shook his head. "You really thought you could play on my competitive spirit like that, hmm? Well, you may have been able to goad my cousin like that, but I'm cut from different cloth."
"I kind of did." Ladybug admitted. "Turns out you're not quite as dumb as I figured."
"Flattering, really." Félix the Cat goaded, seconds before she delivered a firm kick to his ribs, sending him reeling backwards. He hissed, clutching at his chest in pain. "I'm going to have to split, Ladybug. It's been charming meeting you, but I've got to- CATACL-"
Ladybug cut him off, smashing her yo-yo against his mouth, effectively silencing him. "Great. Good for you." She shoved him completely to the ground, pressing one foot threateningly against his chest. "Now, listen, you little twerp. You tell me where Chat Noir is, or, so help me, I'm going to smack you into next week. Honestly; by the way you've been acting you think you're some prodigy, but you're really not."
"I could say the same about you." He spat out, as she removed the yo-yo, snarling angrily. He seemed to know better then to call Cataclysm, even though Ladybug was already reaching for his ring. "If you truly were as brilliant as you say you are, you'd know-"
Ladybug startled, rolled out of the way of Hawkmoth's sword, the villain's staff seeming to appear out of nowhere. Ladybug rose a few meters away, snarling at the newcomer and at Félix the Cat.
"I knew it!" She bellowed, stamping her foot in frustration. "Wow, just wow. You're just a family of super villains all wrapped up in a pretty bow, aren't you? For crying out loud, is Hawkmoth your Uncle?"
The withering look Hawkmoth sent Félix the Cat was nothing short of absolute hatred and ridicule; his fury that his nephew dare compromise their identities rained down on them.
"Get up." Hawkmoth snarled frostily at Félix the Cat, not bothering with confirming Ladybug's inquiry, knowing that she knew it to be true. Félix the Cat obeyed, stumbling to his feet shakily. His fingers still remained curled around his chest, labored breaths coming from him. It appeared as though Plagg had neglected to give Félix the Cat proper magic-protection, and perhaps Félix the Cat had even broken a few ribs. Well, Ladybug thought with a strange combination of bitterness and triumph, that's what he gets for thinking he can take on Ladybug!
She might've been feeling just a little full of herself due to her actually realizing the ruse before he even attacked.
"Well," she growled at them, grip on her yo-yo tightening even more. "Glad to meet your acquaintance again, Hawkmoth. Where's Mayura? Aren't you two a duo?"
Hawkmoth once again glared at Félix the Cat. "I suppose my foolish protégé has, at very least, spared those details. You'll find out soon enough, foolish bug. In case you haven't noticed, you're sorely outmatched."
"I noticed there was two of you." Ladybug bantered right on back, "but numbers don't win a battle. I think Chat Noir and I proved that during the Hero's Day battle."
"Hero's Day… what?" Félix the Cat grumbled under his breath, brow furrowing.
Valuable info, Ladybug mused, Félix the Cat neglects to watch the news. He probably doesn't know how Hawkmoth fights, nor does he know about Chat Noir and I's weaknesses.
"Do it." Hawkmoth commanded, obviously seeing Ladybug's gears turning.
"Cataclysm." Félix the Cat snarled, curling his hand into a tight fist even as it heated up with raw energy.
"Ugh," Ladybug lamented, raising her fists up into a fighting position. "Let's just get this over with."
As if her words were a trigger, Hawkmoth and Félix the Cat attacked as one, snapping down sword and baton alike down upon her, Ladybug activating her yo-yo to smack away the weapons. Félix the Cat had no qualms with trying to snag her with Cataclysm, putting her out of action. Ladybug snarled a little every time she barely managed to dodge Cataclysm, knowing full well what it'd do if she was touched. While she was certain it would be easy enough to dodge without Hawkmoth's interference, his presence was like a thorn, as wherever Félix the Cat was, he was on the opposite side, ready to attack every dodge she made. It was frustrating.
She was used to fighting with Chat Noir, not against someone with his same powers! There, however, were three things going for her; first of all, Félix the Cat was obviously inexperienced and thus couldn't work well with Hawkmoth. Secondly, Félix the Cat really had no clue what parts of her to target to really wear her down; she was fairly certain she could keep this up all day. Lastly, Félix the Cat had no protection against her attacks, either. He was slower due to the injuries she had already inflicted upon him, and if she just applied pressure to those spots, he would gradually get worse and worse. (Just like what happened to Chat Noir that one time he had been effected by Cataclysm… the longer he fought Mayura, the more wore-down he got, and the worse his ribs decayed. She was fairly certain he had gotten hit by a second Cataclysm even later on in the same battle.)
Ladybug was atop the school – to her horror, they had steadily been pushing her backwards, and her heart had done a little somersault when she had landed momentarily upon her own balcony before jumping the rest of the distance to her school – by the time she managed to get enough of a distance between herself and them to really use her yo-yo.
The first thing she did was wrap her yo-yo around Félix the Cat's wrist, yanking him towards her easily, a smirk playing on her face. She snapped her yo-yo back onto her waist with the same movement of grasping his wrist with her hands, holding his Cataclysm threateningly up in the air. Hawkmoth's brow crinkled, and she knew he recognized the move. After all, he and Volpina had been the one to first create it with their allusion of Akumatized Ladybug VS Chat Noir.
"Surrender." Ladybug hissed threateningly, despite Félix the Cat's desperate struggles. "I do not want to do this, and I don't think you want to lose your nephew."
Hawkmoth snarled and paused, but his eyes were not fixated on Félix the Cat's face, but rather the ring, and Ladybug's stomach stirred uneasily from the realization that he didn't care about Félix the Cat, himself, but rather about claiming both of the most powerful Miraculous. "I," Hawkmoth spoke carefully, slowly, despite the obvious crinkling of his brow, "do not believe you would go as to far as you kill Félix."
"Félix the Cat." Félix the Cat corrected, prompting Ladybug and Hawkmoth to share an exasperated look.
"Listen," Ladybug huffed at Hawkmoth, pretending – with her words, at least – that Félix the Cat had not spoken, "I don't want to, but I will, unless if you tell me where Chat Noir is!"
"He is safe," Hawkmoth responded instead, frown deepening. Despite obviously not caring about his nephew, he certainly knew that with Félix the Cat out of the picture, Ladybug reclaiming the Black Cat Miraculous was as easy as pie. "Safe as I can keep him, safe as he can be for when the time comes."
"What did you do with him?!" Ladybug howled, her gut squishing unpleasantly. "What do you mean 'when the time comes'?! What are you planning to do with him?!"
Hawkmoth's grimace twisted into a smirk, and he settled his cane in front of him, chuckling grimly. "Well, put simply, a life for a life. There is a reason, after all, I've been so keen on preserving him. But, if you surrender your Miraculous with no struggle, I just might let him go free."
"It's rude to leave people out of your conversations." Félix the Cat noted, rolling his eyes in frustration.
Hawkmoth's expression conveyed his utter hatred. Honestly, it was terrifying how much he hated his family. It was just horrific.
Ladybug barely had directed a sympathetic thought towards Félix the Cat before he slammed his heel into her foot, prompting a surprised gasp from her. Her grip shifting enough that he was able to break free, stumbling forward several steps, pivoting fast enough it grated his ribs, a soft gasp bursting from his lips.
While Félix the Cat hesitated, Hawkmoth charged, cane in hand and raised to come down ontop of Ladybug. She lifted her wrists defensively against him, the sword crashing down into her. The blade didn't cut her; it was more for stabbing then for slashing, but the friction still hurt. It didn't help, either, that Félix the Cat extended his staff towards her legs, upsetting her balance and sending her crashing to the ground, Hawkmoth mimicking her earlier position on Félix by pressing his foot into her chest, cutting off her breath.
Ladybug gasped, choking desperately as she clawed at his foot desperately. Black spots appeared before her face, Hawkmoth's mask fading in and out of focus to the point where she wasn't sure if she was seeing purple or silver at any one given time, or if he was even there anymore. His physical presence was obviously pressing and unforgettable, but visuals…
Ladybug gagged again, feeling him kneel down, his fingers closing tightly around her earrings. She had no doubt that he would rip them from their placement on her earlobes, and she closed her eyes tightly, hissing weakly as the last of her breath left her. At least she would-
The weight on her was gone. She had been kicked roughly in the side a split second after it had left, but it was gone. (She had a feeling the kick was accidental.)
Ladybug inhaled sharply in pain, rolling weakly to her knees, grasping at her throat and stomach, gasping in pain as her chest heaved. Air, beautiful, sweet air, filled her lungs, bringing back her vision and clearing up all the spots. Her hands were still red, she saw. She was still transformed. So… why had he left without-? Without stealing the earrings? That didn't make… why?
Arms behind her lifted her up, supporting her from all sides, gentle and soothing.
Ladybug coughed raggedly, wrapping her arm around the shoulders connected to said arms instinctively, gasping when said arms didn't try to, I dunno, steal her Miraculous and claw her to shreds.
"Shhh," it occurred to her a minute later that she hadn't been hearing anything very well either until now, and even the gentle noise took a moment to register. "It's okay."
"Chat?" She blinked, focusing her gaze on his face, and… wow. His face was blue. He had no mask, but, being blue, she couldn't put a real name to the face. His cat-eyes were now purple, though. "You're okay!"
He offered her the barest grin, clasping her hand in his, "in the flesh," before lifting his head to snarl at Hawkmoth and Félix the Cat, both of which were staring at him in shock.
"Where did you-" Félix the Cat stuttered, eyes wide in surprise, and perhaps fear. "You said- Uncle, you said he wouldn't-"
"How did you get the Peacock Miraculous?!" Hawkmoth demanded, stumbling to his feet from where Chat Noir had knocked him off of Ladybug and into the roof. He still looked dazed. Now that Ladybug really looked at Chat Noir, she realized that the reason why he was blue – which she had forgotten to register as odd – was because he was wearing the Peacock Miraculous, the jewel sparkling on the shoulder closest to her. He was… gorgeous in blue. She didn't like comparing Chat Noir and the color blue – Chat Blanc – but it fit him. It was quite pretty.
Ladybug pushed off of him, fully recovered now, and grappled for her yo-yo swinging it back and forth in circles.
"Heh," Chat Noir – what would he be called, now? Paon? Juno? Oiseau Bleu? Delphic? Icarus? - chuckled, cocking his brow at Hawkmoth. "Wouldn't you like to know? It's an interesting story, really, but I won't bore you with the details. Hmm, can it be interesting and boring? Awww, well, I'll tell you at our next family dinner. For now, I believe, there was a bit of a mixup. See, you obviously attacked Ladybug, here, who, hey, is my best friend. But, no hard feelings, everyone does it. Just keep a mind open for next time, and try to avoid killing her, thanks. Anyway-"
"Do you ever shut up?" Hawkmoth snarled, grip on his sword tightening, obviously trying to resist the temptation to hurl his staff at them at top-speed.
Juno Bleu's – that's what Ladybug decided to call him – gaze tightening, and he snarled angrily at Hawkmoth. "I shut up for 16 years of my life because I thought it'd make you happy! Obviously it didn't stick, did it, Father?"
Ladybug had figured as much by that time, but it still felt like a punch to the gut to have it confirmed, and she tensed up immediately. Poor Kitty... his father…
Hawkmoth growled at Juno Bleu's accusation, loosing all self control as his sword hurled through the air, with the full intent to plunge through Juno's eye.
Juno hit it away easily with his fan, snarling in wrath. Ladybug, however, caught the sword before it went too far, clutching it tightly in one hand. They glanced at each other in perfect sync – Ladybug tried to ignore the happy tingling in her stomach from the glance, because he was hers and despite everything that had happened that night he was back, and, yeah, he looked a little strange, but she could practically sense his aura; he was the same as ever inside, and he'd never hurt her, despite what his family wished – and, with a single nod, split in opposite directions, Juno Bleu attacking Hawkmoth, easily dodging the attacks, and Ladybug locked in combat with Félix the Cat.
She tossed Hawkmoth's staff at Félix the Cat almost without thinking, and he caught it with his Cataclysm hand without thinking at all. It crumpled to dust, and the ring released five beeps, causing Ladybug to realize, though she hadn't taken note of it, that Félix the Cat only had a single minute left before timing out. He was not even a threat anymore. Keeping an eye on Hawkmoth and Juno – the two appearing to be near equals, the fact that Juno was unused to his outfit the only deterring factor on his part – Ladybug made quick work of Félix the Cat, prying off his ring easily.
She pivoted without bothering to look him in the face – there would be time for that in a few seconds – and called her partner's name, tossing the ring over with impeccable aim.
Juno Bleu easily caught it, breaking into a roll to avoid the sharp kick Hawkmoth aimed toward where he had been but a second before. As he slipped the ring onto his finger, Plagg materialized, a relieved grin upon his face even as Juno Bleu fed him and combined the Miraculous, "Plagg, Duusu, unify!" a majority of his suit regaining a darker hue, and a bell appearing along with his outfit. Two little cat ears popped out of the hood he was wearing.
Yep, that… that was her kitty alright.
Ladybug barely had time to grin at him before her legs disappeared from under her, causing her to slam into the ground awkwardly.
"Hmmf." Towering over her, Félix the Cat – who, now that she was really looking at him, was obviously Adrien's cousin, Félix. (his name really should've been a dead giveaway.) And if Félix was Adrien's cousin, and Félix the Cat's cousin was Chat Noir, that meant that Chat Noir was either Adrien or Adrien's cousin's cousin which… well, if it was the second option, that meant that there were three Adrien lookalikes running around Paris, because Félix claimed he looked a lot like both of them – adjusted his cuff with a roll of his eyes, looking annoyed. "That suit was heavier then I accounted for. Next time I'll have to make the necessary precautions to ensure that it doesn't slow me down."
Ladybug's shifting her position, grinding her elbows into the ground as support, and whipped herself around, knocking the legs out from under Félix, akin to what he did to her. She felt victorious as he crashed to the ground, Ladybug leaping to her feet as he fell, whipping out her yo-yo to tangle him up. For once, she was actually able to keep him tied up, by knocking him unconscious with the club end of the yo-yo. She abandoned him to dash towards Juno Noir – new name for his new outfit/combination – and Hawkmoth.
Ladybug slammed her elbow into Hawkmoth's side just as Juno Noir brought his fan down upon Hawkmoth's head. Hawkmoth jerked in surprise, but gripped Juno Noir by the bell and slammed him face-first into the ground.
"Chat!" She yelled in anguish, tensing in fear as Hawkmoth mounted his foot atop Juno's head, pressing down hard. "Leave! Him! Alone!" Ladybug snarled, smashing into Hawkmoth with her full strength, managing to usurp him from his position. Chat Noir was the tank of the operation – technically he was the defender, the shield, but, technically, still the tank – she was the lithe athletic one. She wasn't supposed to have to muscle her way out of something. Oh, yeah, she was also the brains. The athletic brains. She was not meant for this. But for Chat Noir… for Juno, as he was for the moment, she would. She'd do anything for him. But nothing for his good for nothing family. Not for his father or cousin. Quite frankly the reason she was beating his father into the ground.
"This," Ladybug hissed out from between clenched teeth as she pinned Hawkmoth down, "would be a perfect time to pull out an Amok or something, wouldn't it?"
"Right!" Juno Bleu agreed, withdrawing a feather from his fan. It turned blue in his hands, pulling magic from the air around him, or perhaps from within him, depositing into the feather. It would've probably been the prettiest thing Ladybug had ever seen, if she could actually look over her shoulder at him. As it was, she was busy folding Hawkmoth's arm behind his back, even as he growled threateningly. She had the upperhand temporarily, but for how long?
Not long enough, as Hawkmoth dethroned her easily by jerking his position roughly to the right and then to the left, upsetting her balance by doing so.
Ladybug rolled to her feet, huffing in frustration. She and Hawkmoth faced each other, eyes never leaving each other even as Ladybug backed up so that she stood along side Juno Noir, the duo's hands barely brushing. She felt him press the feather into her palm, and she, in turn, tucked it into her earring. She closed her eyes, tightly, and almost grinned; she could feel his voice in her head clearly.
'Heh, okay, this is weird.' He laughed.
'Quite.' She responded, shuddering a breath. 'Do you have a plan?'
'No. Not really. In all fairness, you're the one who told me to make an Amok.' He defended himself, chortling quietly. 'I figure it can be kinda like a computer node, you know?'
'A computer node?'
'You know, like, a pathway between the two computers. Or, in this case, two brains. So we can work in sync. Like always.'
'I could use this to confirm you're the real Chat Noir.' She teased, though she knew that it was plainly him, by how open and friendly he was. She could tell he was hiding nothing from her, but she didn't go digging.
'True.' He agreed. 'Though I hoped that would be evident, since I knew the transformation words, and– KWAMIS, LOOK OUT-'
Apparently, they had taken too long, because Hawkmoth struck, doing his best to strike them both down despite them being armored up. It worked only as much as knocking them both to the side, and they were forced to depart from each others' sides, but they could keep on communicating despite the loss of physical connection. Mentally, though, it was perfect.
'Should I actually summon an Amok?' He inquired, and she could feel his self doubt withering around in his skull, like a plague he didn't even realize existed. He was oblivious. 'I think we'll both technically have the ability to use it?'
'An Amok is probably a bad idea. I don't want us to cause a… well, Sentibug could think for herself. I don't want to cause another Sentibug-like being. It'd be cruel to create something with the ability to think and then take it away from them. We'd have to let it run free, and I don't want to just… do that'
'Granted.' He agreed, and his mind heaved a sigh of relief, relieved that she had the same thought process as him. 'Just a… computer-brain node, then.' He beamed, 'I prefer it that way, in all seriousness.'
Ladybug and Juno shared a grin over Hawkmoth's shoulder, moving in near perfect sync; better then they had ever before, with the brief exception of Frightningale. Juno Noir tossed Ladybug his baton – she had received at least a little practice with it, before, as Lady Noire – and he kept the fan, since he, too, had received more practice with it then she. Both were armed and (a little more) dangerous.
Ladybug launched the baton, as Juno Noir wrestled with Hawkmoth and drove him backwards, straight over the tail end of the baton and rolling across the ground in an ungraceful heap.
Juno was upon Hawkmoth in the next moment, curling his fingers around the Miraculous as tightly as he could. Hawkmoth instinctively kicked Juno Noir off, and, unfortunately for the super villain but luckily for the heroes, the movement caused the brooch to break off of his suit. The pin providentially remained firmly gripped in Juno Noir's taloned fingers, even as Juno smashed into the ground face first. His tumble turned into a shaky stand, and he wiped his face without thinking, to check for blood.
Ladybug glared down into the cold, unfeeling eyes of Gabriel Agreste. The most probable subject, and the one she had honestly already guessed. Her stomach curled in anger, at all the abuse Adrien had suffered at his hands, at all the pain Chat – because, she knew now that was really Chat Noir's true identity – had endured because of him, and he hadn't even…. Hawkmoth hadn't even regretted it, not even after finding out who Chat Noir was. Not once had he looked at his son and told him he loved him and how much he cared, and… and...
Ladybug's fists tightened.
'Hey,' Juno Noir comforted, mentally laying one hand over hers even though in reality he didn't so much as flinch. 'It's alright.'
'No,' Ladybug protested, 'It's not okay! Not okay at all. Kitty… Chat…'
Juno Noir had already closed the distance between himself and Hawkmoth, his green-and-purple eyes softening even as his feathered tail lashed dangerously behind him. "Father," he started, and Ladybug found her mouth gaping at how friendly and open he sounded. When push came to shove, Juno… Chat… Adrien still loved his father. He would do anything to heal the broken rift in his family. "I know this wasn't how you wanted this to go. It isn't how I wanted it to go, either. I know that… that you want Mother back. I do, too. I love her so much, but this is going too far. Killing others, even if Ladybug brings them back, manipulating me, bribing Félix and Aunt Amelie into joining with the rings… that's not the right way to go. Nor is everything else that you've been doing and I think… I think you know it's nonethical. Father, that's not the way you raised me. This isn't the way you raised me."
"I raised you to be obedient!" Mr. Agreste roared, but he stayed down despite the fury building in his eyes. "I raised you to follow commands and respect your elders! You are doing neither of those things; instead you're disregarding your mother and I, not to mention everything we've taught you!"
"No." Juno Noir insisted, kneeling beside his father and laying a hand courteously on his shoulder. "This is the way I was taught. To put a stop to injustice in the world, to serve others and treat them as I would like to be treated. I never thought, never guessed that I would eventually be forced to bring you in, but I will if I must. Father, you had every chance to change. I'm still willing to give you that chance. But you need to-"
The slap echoed in the silent night, vibrating off of buildings and ringing through the air.
Ladybug choked on her breath, dashing the last few steps between herself and Juno Noir. Juno Noir's eyes filled with tears, his lips pursing. He trembled all over, but he got to his feet despite the red mark forming on his cheek.
Ladybug settled one hand on his shoulder blade, huffing in anger at Mr. Agreste. How dare he slap his son for being right? He just… he just…
Without thinking, and without regarding how hypocritical it was, Ladybug slammed the baton down upon Mr. Agreste's head to knock him into unconsciousness, uncaring if it gave him a concussion whenever he woke up.
Ladybug snarled in wrath as he slumped, moving her hand from Juno Noir's shoulder blade down to his hand, squeezing it tightly. His eyes were wide and horrified, traveling from his father's collapsed form back to Ladybug, but he made no complaint. He just grasped her hand tightly in response.
And then he started to cry, sobs wracking his body as he fell to his knees, Ladybug coming down with him even as he tried to wipe away his tears and cover his mouth simultaneously with his free hand.
"It's okay," Ladybug chirped, her heart reaching out to him as she hugged him tightly. He wrapped one arm around her, forearm. not wanting her to leave, not wanting her to let go. Because, with all that had happened that day, he had suffered the most. He had last every family member he had; they had all turned to the wrong side, had all abandoned him for their own personal interests. Plagg had been ripped from his grasp, and he had likely been held captive since… who knows how long. A day, at most. "Just let it all out, Kitten. It's going to be okay. I'm here for you, I'm here…"
His grip on the Butterfly Brooch slipped, and it clattered to the ground. It's purple gem and silver wings sparkled in the moonlight, casting a reflection of light onto Juno Noir's face, a butterfly symbol plastered onto him. The son of Hawkmoth. The son of Hawkmoth, doing what was right. Doing what he could to protect Ladybug despite everything. The son of Hawkmoth, battling Mayura to get the Peacock Pin so he could escape and come help her. The son of Hawkmoth, who betrayed Hawkmoth for the greater good. That was who he was, and her heart went out to him.
Sometime in the last few minutes, the Amok must've been recalled, because Ladybug realized she could no longer hear Juno's voice, and Juno had already detransformed, Duusu crying beside them even though he had no idea why Chat Noir was crying in the first place. Well, maybe he did know, but Duusu was the Kwami of emotion. He didn't exactly need a reason to have an emotional moment.
By the time Chat Noir had run out of tears, Duusu was busy flitting around Mr. Agreste and Félix, seeming curious about their unconscious forms, but he didn't comment.
Chat Noir wearily got to his feet, stumbling slightly as he did so despite Ladybug's supportive grip, and the two of them moved together to untangle Ladybug's yo-yo from Félix's body and then yank Mr. Agreste over so that he and his nephew sat back to back. Ladybug tied them both up with her yo-yo, too, to minimize their chance of escape.
While they sat back to admire their work, Chat Noir took the Butterfly Brooch off of the concrete roof, taking both the Peacock and Butterfly Miraculous into hand and then passing them both over to Ladybug. (Duusu disappeared as he removed the Pin.)
"No," she disagreed, folding his fingers around them gently. "I think… I think they should stay with you for the time being. All three of you have been… treated similarly. It'll be good for you to have someone relatable to talk to."
Chat Noir shifted, staring first down at the duo Miraculous, then back up at Ladybug. "But… but what if I can't keep track of them? What if I loose them? I already lost Plagg once today, I don't want to risk loosing more, and-and-and-"
"Chat," she chided, brushing his hair away from his forehead. "Adrien, that wasn't your fault. I don't know how Félix and your father found out your identity, but trust me when I say that I seriously doubt it was due to you being irresponsible. And even if you did, we took down Hawkmoth! Paris is safe, now, and I think that more then makes up for it. There's no one else I trust more to take care of Nooroo and Duusu while they're recovering from their Miraculous being misused then you. And, besides, Plagg's had plenty of no-good holders. He'll know how to handle this, well, too. Besides, I think they should stay in the family, don't you?"
Chat Noir's gaze went down to the Miraculous again, and he held them tightly to his chest, squeezing his eyes shut. "Thank you, Ladybug. That means so much, and I can't even… even…"
"Of course!" She chirped, cradling the back of his neck with her hand and pulling him gently towards her so that their foreheads rested against each other. "Chat, you're my partner. I'm not going to- wait, hold up. Where are you going to be sleeping tonight?"
His eyes went blank for a few minutes, and he pulled back, brow furrowing. "Uh- I don't-? I'm not sure? I'm not sure if I'll even have a chance to sleep. I mean, I have to report Nathalie, and Aunt Amelie, and Félix, and Father, and turn them into the authorities, then I'll have to make a legal report and probably provide some proof for my statements, and I also have to get medics down below to take care of Mother since she's not exactly dead, just in a coma, but then I've gotta-"
"Woah, woah!" Ladybug yelled, irritated. "No way, no. Nuh-uh. I am not letting you not sleep tonight! It's been a stressful day – for you most of all – and you need your beauty sleep! We'll call the authorities and hospital together, okay? None of that dumb solo-act stuff."
"...they'll look for me. Civilian me, I mean."
"So what?" Ladybug sniffed, rolling her eyes. "Just say you were having a sleepover with Nino, or Marinette. I doubt they'd believe your father or Nathalie if they said otherwise; they are super villains, after all. And those two would be all too glad to back you up."
"How-" his eyes flickered with confusion, obviously not being able to comprehend how she knew his friends' names. And a question danced in his eyes, too, Why Marinette? Why her out of all of my friends? Ladybug, why?
She couldn't answer, not yet. "And with both of us, we should be able to get at least a little sleep tonight. And even if we still have work to do by, say, midnight, how are they going to stop us for leaving? I'd like to see them try!"
Chat Noir just blinked slowly at her.
"Kitty," Ladybug softly crooned, raising his hand to her lips to kiss them, "you and me against the world. We've been together all this time, facing off against any threat that comes our way, and I'll be by your side this time, too. Now, and forever."
(:)
This honestly wrote itself. I started with the idea of Félix the Cat (2D Félix) and current-Ladybug meeting up, and since, hey, it's Felinette month, why not? He was supposed to remain good throughout the whole story, and they were even supposed to fight an Akuma! But then I realized he'd probably attack her during the Akuma, if push came to shove, and I didn't actually like the Akuma at all, so that didn't happen. It was a random decision to include Hawkmoth, and I then I went "AnD ThEN ADrIen ShoWS uP wItH ThE PeACOcK MiRAcuLOuS" and yeah.
Juno Bleu is a combination of Star-The-Writer's idea for a peacock Adrien and one of Griffin Stone's ideas for a peacock Adrien. Juno Noir felt natural after that. (You would not believe how many names Griffin gave me. XD It was pretty hard to narrow it down!)
Also, I decided against giving Peacock-Adrien the feather allergy. Let's just say they're artificial feathers, and thus not real.