Giant robot time part 2!
Disclaimer: if it wasn't mine in the last chapter, it's not mine now.
Chapter 25: Gamer, Part 2
Where was Ladybug?
Chat Noir dodged another blast from Gamer, jumping up into the bleachers and forcing the giant robot to turn. He had been fighting Gamer for a solid ten minutes now, and still no sign of Ladybug.
Chat Noir ran through the bleachers as Gamer fired, knowing he would have to change tactics soon. He couldn't stay on the defensive.
Changing his direction drastically, Chat Noir used the bleachers to push off and jumped on the robot's head. Gamer jerked up, unable to shoot at Chat Noir from that angle. Chat Noir almost lost his balance as the robot's head titles back, but grabbed onto the head and held on.
Gamer did his best to shake Chat Noir off, but the superhero dug into his inner stubbornness and held on. Gamer swung his head forward, and Chat Noir slipped forward and ended up over the window on the robot's head. Through the window, he could see Gamer rapidly hitting buttons. Behind him, Marinette was in the corner, staring Gamer down from her position. That was a difference from last time, but at least she wasn't injured.
Chat Noir gave both his best wave. Marinette rolled her eyes and Gamer made a face at him.
Gamer pushed a few buttons, and Chat Noir was forced to dodge as the robot's hand came towards his position. He landed on the ground, once again within Gamer's range. But the robot didn't fire again. Instead, Gamer reached at Chat Noir with his robot hands. Chat Noir jumped backwards, but still brushed with the outside of the hands, and the contact was enough to send him flying.
He collided with the floor of the stadium, the impact knocking the breath out from his lungs. He had no time to recover before a robot hand grabbed him.
Chat Noir squirmed as the hand lifted him off the ground, but wasn't able to loosen himself from the grip. The hand brought him eye-level with the window of the robot, just in time for Hawkmoth's mask to appear over Gamer's face.
And then the robot stopped.
Marinette froze when she saw Gamer pause.
Her partner was caught, and she had been about to make a move to save him - whatever the results might be - but now she was wondering if there was some unseen advantage she could exploit.
Hawkmoth's mask faded from Gamer's face, and Marinette grinned. Of course.
"What's wrong?" She asked, trying to sound clueless. She eyed Chat Noir out of the corner of her eye. How much time did he need? He was readjusting his position, reaching for his baton. By the look on his face, he was close to breaking free. All he needed was a little time.
"I, um," Gamer mumbled. "I don't actually have a way to grab his ring."
"Oh, but couldn't you bring him in here and grab his ring then?" Marinette suggested innocently.
Gamer hummed. "That would work." He pushed a few buttons, and the robot began to bring the superhero in.
"But wait!" Marinette grabbed Gamer's shoulder. "What if he tries to fight you? You're unarmed."
Outside, Chat Noir's baton slipped out and fell to the ground. It was up to Marinette to save him.
A plan began forming in her mind.
Gamer tapped his chin. "I guess I could leave him trapped, and reach out and grab the ring." He stopped the robot hand inches from the window, and stood up to open the window. Marinette slowly crept up behind him, watching as Gamer leaned out the window to grab Chat Noir's ring.
With a little shove, Gamer fell out of the window.
Marinette peered out the window. Gamer had grabbed onto a ledge on the robot and was flailing around.
Chat Noir grinned. "Nice work, princess. Now, would you mind freeing me?"
Marinette nodded and looked over Gamer's controls. She pushed a few buttons, and the hand released Chat Noir.
Chat Noir slid down the robot arm and went up to the window. "Would you like a lift down?"
Marinette nodded and let Chat Noir grab onto her. He jumped down the robot, catching himself on a ledge, and then jumped down to the ground. He brought her to the hallway off the side of the field.
"You'll be safe here," Chat Noir said, and Marinette nodded.
"Be careful," she replied.
Chat Noir grinned and did his signature salute before running back to Gamer.
Marinette made sure both the superhero and the villain were out of sight. "I think it's about time Ladybug arrived. Tikki, spots on!"
Chat Noir picked Gamer up from the ledge he was flailing on and sat him down on the bleachers.
"Game's over," Chat Noir declared.
"Not until Ladybug arrives," Gamer countered. "And it doesn't look like she's here."
"Then you need to look again."
Chat Noir couldn't help but grin as Ladybug swung down next to him.
"Sorry about that," she said. "I had other issues to deal with. But it looks like you handled him fine yourself."
Chat Noir shrugged. "Turns out that his robot isn't made for fighting people. Don't know what Hawkmoth thought when he created this akuma. Do you want to do the honors?"
Ladybug smiled and picked Gamer's glasses off his face. With a snap, the winds began to pick up again.
... I may have been picturing the scene in Meet the Robinsons (also not mine) with the T-rex trying to grab the kid, but not being able to because his head was too big and arms were too small, while writing some of this.