Giant robot time!
Disclaimer: I do not own Miraculous Ladybug or it's characters. All rights to their respective owners.
Chapter 24: Gamer, Part 1
This was a horrible idea.
When they fought Stormy Weather, Marinette had been trapped. When they fought Timebreaker, Marinette had been frozen.
And now? With Gamer specifically targeting her?
This was going to be a disaster. But Marinette couldn't tell Chat Noir that, without telling him why. And as desperate as their situation was, Marinette didn't think she was ready for that yet.
"I'm sure it will be fine," Tikki said, peeking out of Marinette's purse. "It looks like you were just leaving school. It's still a while before Gamer comes after you, Marinette. Transform now and there won't be a problem."
"You're right, of course," Marinette replied. She looked around at the street corner she was on. "Tikki-"
Something went thump, and Marinette looked behind her.
Gamer had arrived early.
"We should still head for Marinette's," Adrien reasoned. "It would be a good place to watch out for Gamer, since she was his target."
"And you want food from her parents," Plagg added.
"Maybe," Adrien admitted.
"Good," Plagg replied. "You can't keep up with all these akumas with an empty stomach. Nor can I."
Adrien rolled his eyes. "I'll make sure you get some cheese."
He opened the door to Marinette's apartment, climbed up the steps and knocked on the front door. Marinette's mother opened the door with a bright grin.
"Adrien! What are you doing here? Come in, come in." Adrien walked in, repeating the same conversation from so long ago. But when Marinette didn't interrupt their conversation, like she had the first time around, Adrien began to worry.
"Is Marinette home yet?" Adrien asked.
"I think so," Marinette's mother replied. "We don't always see her come in. Why don't you go upstairs and see if she's up there?"
Adrien nodded. "Alright."
He walked up the stairs and knocked on the trap door, only entering after he received no reply.
"Marinette?" Adrien called as he peeked into the room. And was caught completely off guard by the large amounts of poster in her room.
Of him.
"Looks like she might be a little obsessed," Plagg noted.
Adrien felt himself blush. "Shut up, Plagg. Looks like she isn't here. Gamer must have gotten to her already."
"So does that mean no cheese?" Plagg whined.
"I'll get you cheese later. Plagg, claws out!"
"He's already at level two," Marinette hissed, stopping to catch her breath behind a car.
"The Unclocker's powers really had an effect this time," Tikki noted. "But I'm sure Chat Noir will be here soon, and then you'll have time to transform and finish the battle!"
The car vanished into pixels, and Marinette was forced to run again. She stumbled as her ankle gave out, crashing into the road. The road scraped her arms, and the outside of her hands started to bleed.
Behind her, Gamer was leveling up again.
"Level three already," Marinette whispered.
"Not so victorious now, are we?" Gamer taunted.
"Alright, Gamer," Marinette called. "You win."
"Think you'll save yourself by admitting defeat?" Gamer questioned. "Then again... do you admit that I'm a better gamer than you?"
"Yes!" Marinette replied.
"And do you forfiet your position in the tournament?"
"Yes!"
Gamer's robot reached out and picked Marinette up. He opened the window on his pyramid head, and Gamer grabbed Marinette and pulled her in.
"Max?" Marinette asked.
"You will watch my victory!" Gamer replied.
"But you've already won," Marinette stated.
"Against you," Gamer answered. "But now, I will face the boss level - Ladybug and Chat Noir!"
You'd think a giant robot would be easy to find, but Chat Noir did not find Gamer easily.
As he ran across the rooftops, he tried to reach Ladybug through his baton, but she didn't pick up. Hopefully that meant she was already engaging Gamer, or taking Marinette to safety. But when Chat Noir found Gamer, the giant robot was by himself and unchallenged.
And already at level three, of course.
"Hey, tin can!" Chat Noir called, landing on the street behind Gamer. "Why not pick on someone your own skill level?"
"Impossible," Gamer responded, turning to face Chat Noir. "No one is at my skill level. I am the best."
Chat Noir extended his baton. "Wanna bet?"
Gamer fired, and Chat Noir dodged easily. He jumped up onto a streetlight and then back onto the rooftops, already knowing where to head to.
Gamer trampled behind him, aiming and missing as Chat Noir led the robot down to the stadium.
If Ladybug was waiting for him anywhere, she'd be there.
Marinette watched Gamer intently control his robot, trying to decide what the best course of action was.
The akuma was right there, in his glasses.
But if Marinette broke the glasses now, would she arrive back at the hotel detransformed? She was almost sure she would, and that was something that could never happen.
But there had to be something she could do from in here.
She watched Chat Noir leading Gamer to the stadium, and hoped that Chat Noir would be able to hold his own. Chat Noir leaped over the stadium's wall, and a second later Gamer followed.
Marinette was jostled as Gamer landed roughly on the stadium's green.
"Chat Noir," Gamer called. "Are you ready?"
Chat Noir extended his baton. "Are you?"
And yes, I absolutely had to add in that part of Adrien seeing Marinette's room with all of his posters. Sue me.