Thanks to all who have reviewed, and I apologize for not getting around to respond to reviews as much as usual. The whole be-more-active thing during December didn't work, so...
Disclaimer: Still not mine
Chapter 5: Mr. Pigeon, Part 1
"Oh come on, we have to have chips somewhere..." Marinette muttered, closing the cabinet louder than what was strictly necessary. "Looks like we'll have to go to the store."
"Don't worry Marinette," Tikki piped up. "You have plenty of time. If you remember, he first time you fought Mr. Pigeon it was a while before either you or Chat Noir showed up - and even longer before you found him!"
"I know," Marinette replied. "But it's supposed to be more dangerous this time, right?"
"But Mr. Pigeon is a kind soul underneath the akuma," Tikki added. "He wouldn't hurt anyone - he just wants pigeons to take over Paris!"
"Yeah, you're right," Marinette agreed. "I guess to the store it is."
Adrien glanced over his shoulder again, looking for his bodyguard. If his father found out about this...
Most likely, he wouldn't be around to witness his response - the battle with Stoneheart ended the moment Ladybug crushed the Akuma - but he had no idea if the changes made lasted.
Adrien grabbed the chips off the shelf and made his way to the check-out, surprised when he recognized someone in the line in front of him.
Marinette smiled nervously at him, and Adrien waved at her. Being at the front of the line, she didn't have time to wave back before paying for her food.
Which was the exact same bag of chips he was buying.
Ladybug landed on a building next to the hotel where - if her memory was correct - Mr. Pigeon would be. She had her bag of chips next to her, and was only waiting for her partner.
It wasn't long before he arrived.
"Sorry I took so long," Chat Noir said, holding up a bag of chips like hers. "I had to run a little errand."
"Looks like we had the same idea," Ladybug replied, holding up her own bag of chips.
"Well, what can I say?" Char Noir questioned. "Great minds think alike. So, what's the plan?"
"I'm thinking we go in scatter the chips and see where that leads us," Ladybug replied, opening her bag of chips. "Ready?"
Chat Noir nodded as he opened his bag of chips. And then sneezed.
"Well, we're definitely in the right place," Ladybug commented.
"I really hated this one," Chat Noir complained.
"I know, but Mr. Pigeon was one of the kindest akumas," Ladybug said. "If something goes wrong, it will hurt us, not anyone else - unlike Bubbler or Stormy Weather."
"Yeah, I know," Chat Noir agreed before sneezing again. "Doesn't mean I have to like it. So, are we taking him down or what?"
Ladybug grinned. "Ready when you are."
"Ready."
And then they charged.
Ladybug hit the roof of the hotel just as pigeons were beginning to swarm their bait, and started spreading out her chips onto the ground. Chat Noir landed a second behind her, and soon the pigeons were preoccupied with the chips.
"Where are you Mr. Pigeon?" Chat Noir called with a stuffy-sounding voice.
"I'm right here."
Ladybug and Chat Noir turned to see Mr. Pigeon standing on a flock of pigeons - how did that even work? - just off the edge of the roof.
"I see you've distracted my little friends," Mr. Pigeon admitted. "But unfortunately for you, chips only last so long."
"We don't need long," Chat Noir replied, holding up his half-empty bag of chips. The birds under Mr. Pigeon's feet started getting agitated, and before Mr. Pigeon could calm them, they flew at the food and dumped their rider on the roof. Chat Noir tossed his bag away as the birds flocked to it, and Ladybug smugly walked up to Mr. Pigeon as Hawk Moth's mask appeared over his face.
Just as she was approaching him, he blew his bird whistle and, to the sound of Chat Noir's sneezes, another flock of birds appeared.
"Huh?" Ladybug said intelligently.
"Thought I'd be defeated that easily?" Mr. Pigeon asked. "Well, you greatly underestimated just how many of my friends are in Paris. Coo! Coo!"
The birds swarmed Ladybug, and she was forced to spin her yoyo into a shield to keep from being overwhelmed. The birds backed off for a moment, and Ladybug thought she had them under control.
Then the other pigeons finished their food and attacked her from behind.
Surprised, Ladybug momentarily dropped her shield, and almost instantly two of the pests grabbed the yoyo and started tugging it away from her. Ladybug held on until she was at the edge of the roof, but by then too many birds were pulling on her and she could only lean back against their weight.
Behind her, Chat Noir was fighting through his allergies to defend her as she played tug-of-war with the birds, doing his best not to hurt any of the pests but still keeping any from slipping through his guard and attacking Ladybug.
"Paris belongs to the pigeons!" Mr. Pigeon declared. "Now, hand over your miraculouses before the rest of my troops get here.
"There's more?" Chat Noir asked, somehow managing a sneeze while keeping his defense up.
"Oh, there's much more coming," Mr. Pigeon declared. "You are outnumbered. Give me your miraculouses!"
"Not a... chance!" Ladybug said, still fighting the pigeons.
A bird slipped through Chat Noir's defense and nipped at Ladybug's ear, and Ladybug wondered if the birds could really take her earrings off. And she couldn't defend herself, with her hands full...
Another pigeon dived at her, and she resorted to head-butting the stupid bird. To her surprise, it worked and the bird flew off. A couple more birds joined the tug-of-war, and Ladybug found herself almost pulled over the edge.
"Chat Noir, a little help!" Ladybug called.
"I am helping!" Chat Noir replied.
"I mean with the yoyo!" Ladybug replied. "I don't know how much longer I can hold on!"
"Ready to surrender yet?" Mr. Pigeon asked.
"Not quite!" Ladybug replied, ignoring her arms cramping.
Chat Noir sneezed, and then yelped. Ladybug could only glance back, but she saw a couple pigeons attacking his ring hand. The attack was making his defense falter, and soon more pigeons were dive-bombing Ladybug.
Another one nipped her ear. A different bird nearly managed to gouged her eye out. A third grabbed hold of her hair and started tugging. That one got a whack from Chat Noir.
All the while Ladybug was running out of strength to hold on.
Chat Noir sneezed violently, and a bird flew at his face and forced him to abandon his baton-spinning and cover his head. About five more birds zoomed past the two superheroes and added to the tug-of-war.
Ladybug almost tipped over the edge, and in an attempt to keep her balance, she let go of her yoyo.
Sorry not sorry about that cliffhanger...