Chapter 4: Black Butler

"I am Black Butler and I'm here for Chloe Bourgeoisie. Bring her to me now!"

Another akuma after Chloe, what a shocker. Ladybug thought as she stared at the akuma in front of her.

She had just walked outside of school when she heard the ear splattering scream. She managed to rush back inside and transform in a secluded spot quickly before confronting what she suspected was another akuma. Sure enough, after scanning the area for a moment she noticed a young man in a black butler outfit, throwing plates and knives at civilians from his tail coat. He looked relatively normal in his black, button up twin tail coat, black pants, black shoes, black tie, and white collared shirt, but the mask on his face proved he was an akumatized victim and not just another regular butler. As he prepared to throw another set of knives at some unsuspecting people, Ladybug wrapped her yo-yo around his wrist and pulled.

"I don't know what Chloe did to hurt you so, but hurting her and terrorizing the city isn't going to fix anything." Ladybug said as she landed on the ground several feet away from the villain.

"I DON'T CARE!" Scream Black Butler as he pulled on the string, yanking Ladybug off her feet. "So long as she gets what's coming to her, if you knew her you won't be protecting her."

Ladybug stood up, rewinding her yo-yo as she replied, "Regardless of what Chloe has done, she's still a citizen Paris and it is my duty to protect her."

"If you insist on getting in my way, then I won't hold back." Black Butler began throwing a series of knives and plates at Ladybug. She began swinging her yo-yo, either blocking each attack or dodging out of the way. She threw her yo-yo at Black Butler a few times only to be blocked by a plate and met with another series of knives.

This volley went back and forward several times without either side gaining any ground. Where is that cat? Thought Ladybug as she rolled, dodging an incoming of knives. I could really use his help right about now. I guess I'll just have to make due until he shows up, perhaps I can figure out where the akuma is.

Taking a different approach, Ladybug swung onto a nearby rooftop to get a better look at the akuma from a safe distance. Where is it, where is it, ah ha! As he twisted his arm to throw another set of plates towards Ladybug, his sleeve rolled up ever so slightly, revealing a purple colored watch on his wrist. That's where the akuma is, now all I have to do is find a way to get it off him…

"Hello Buginette." Ladybug jumped, startled by Chat Noir's sudden appearance.

"Chat?"

"In the flesh."

"What took you so long?" Ladybug asked in annoyance.

Chat Noir's ears perked up a little as he replied. "Couldn't wait to see your favorite kitty? That make me purr…."

"Duck!" Ladybug cried as she tackled Chat Noir to the ground, barely missing a wave of plates shot their way.

Chat couldn't help the way his heart pounded as Ladybug lay on top of him. She was so close and so warm. The memories of their kiss, still fresh in his mind, was driving him crazy. Luckily the moment didn't last long as she quickly got off him to face the akuma. He missed the feeling of her weight on him, but knew that this was not the time or place. They had a job to do.

"So what are we looking at?" Chat asked as he stood up.

"His name is Black Butler and his powers appear to be limited to throwing random knives and plates which he grabs out of his coat pocket." The two heroes began running across the rooftops, spinning their unique weapons as they conversed.

"I suspect the akuma is in the watch on his left arm."

"What is he after?" Chat inquired.

"Chloe," Ladybug sighed. "I don't know how, but she's pissed him off in some way."

Chat Noir thought about the conversation he had with her earlier when she admitted to getting a waiter fired. Butler, waiter, they are both in the service industry, not too far of a stretch to think it's him. As Black Butler leapt onto a rooftop to continue pursuing the pair, they jumped down in between two houses.

"Where are you?" Black Butler yelled as he began to search for them.

"Time to jump into action!" Chat began as he prepared to attack the akumatized victim from below.

"Whoa there kitty." Ladybug grabbed Chat's tail as he attempted to leap into the air. "I think we should try a different approach."

Ladybug paused to make sure that Black Butler was out of ear shot before tossing her yo-yo in the air.

"Lucky Charm!" And out of her yo-yo dropped a job flyer.

"…I know these are supposed to be random, but seriously, a job flyer? How is that going to help us?"

Ladybug frowned as she read the piece of paper. It was a flyer for a job at the florist shop near the Mayor's hotel. She had seen the help wanted poster outside the window when she passed the place a few days ago on her way to her favorite fabric store. She had visited the shop many times before getting equipment and seeds for her small garden on her balcony. The owners are a sweet elderly couple that have been running the store together for over 40 years. After seeing the help wanted poster, Marinette decided to go in and talk to the couple. Apparently they'd been looking for help for a few weeks without any luck; the store was relatively secluded, so only regular customers were able to view the sign. Marinette suggested they post the help wanted poster online, but the couple said they didn't know how to use a computer and didn't want to be bothered with the hassle of trying to learn just for the sake of finding a new employee.

As Ladybug continue to stare at the flyer, Chat decided to speak up about his suspicions on who the akuma victim was.

"I think Black Butler was an employee who was fired from the Bourgeoisie Hotel thanks to Chloe."

"What makes you say that?"

"Erm-well…" Damn! How can I tell her how I know who he is without her figuring out that I heard it from Chloe? "H-he's wearing a butler outfit and you have a job flyer in your hand, plus he's after Chloe. Getting someone fired would be right up her alley."

"It makes sense," she admitted. "Ok, here's the plan."

"Argh! Where did they go?" Black Butler cried as he continued to search for Ladybug and Chat Noir. "Forget this, I'm going after Chloe!" He growled in frustration.

"You will continue to search for Ladybug and Chat Noir, get their miraculous, and give them to me or I will take away your powers and you'll never be able to exact your revenge. Understood?" Hawkmoth demanded.

"Yes Hawkmoth," Black Butler sighed. This guy is more demanding then that little blond. Why can't I ever find anyone nice to work for?

"Cataclysm!"

Black Butler paused as he noticed the building crumbling beneath him. Panicked, he jumped down to the street only to come face to face with Chat Noir.

"Hmph, you think you can defeat me!" He began as he lunged at Chat Noir. Chat jumped backwards onto a lamppost as Ladybug descended from above.

"We aren't here to defeat you." She said as she placed her yo-yo back on her hip and began to walk towards him.

What is she doing?

Ladybug slowly came to a stop a few feet away from Black Butler. "I propose a trade, this job flyer for your watch."

Black Butler looked at the flyer and laughed.

"I know that's a fake, it red with ladybug spots all over it. Clearly that's your lucky charm."

"It may be a fake, but the job is real. You'll be working at a florist shop for a nice elderly couple. It will replace the job you lost at the Bourgeoisie Hotel and all it will cost you is your akumatized watch."

Black Butler hesitated before taking the flyer and reading the contents. This is exactly what I need, with this I can help out my parents and continue going to school. Well worth losing my powers over.

"Deal." He said as he moved to take off his watch.

"How DARE you try to defy me!" Hawkmoth screamed in Black Butler's head before attacking.

"Gah!" Black Butler cried as he fell to the ground clutching his wrist.

"What's wrong?" Cried Ladybug and Chat jumped down from the lamppost beside her.

"Hawkmoth is trying to take control!" With barely a moments pause, Ladybug swiftly removed the watch and flung it to the ground.

"No more evil doing for you little akuma. Bye bye little butterfly."

"Miraculous Ladybug!" She cried as she threw the flyer into the air.

"Bien Joué."

"Huh, what happened?" Ciel exclaimed in confusion.

"You were akumatized by Hawkmoth, but everything is better now." Ladybug said as she helped him to his feet.

"Better, how can anything be better? I've been fired from my job and nothing is going to change that."

"May be not, but there's a job opening at this florist shop that I think might just be what you're looking for." Ladybug briefly explained the job opportunity to Ciel before sending him off in the direction of the shop.

Beep

As the two heroes watch Ciel disappear down the street with a grin on his face, they noticed that their respective miraculous were down two points.

"Sorry to cut this short, bug out." Ladybug began as she pulled out her yo-yo.

"Ladybug wait!" Chat cried.

"What?"

"I need to speak with you."

Ladybug cringed at his words thinking what had happened yesterday. She knew that they needed to talk about it, she knew that she needed to tell him flat out that she wasn't interested, but that didn't mean that she wasn't dread having the conversation. She'd hoped to at least have a few days before having to face Chat Noir again, but an akuma just had to show up the very next day.

"We don't have time, our miraculous are about to time out." Ladybug stated hoping to push off having the conversation for a while.

"Then let's meet tonight at 8:00, a top the Eiffel Tower. We really need to talk."

"I…"

"Please" Chat said.

Ladybug looked into Chat Noir's pleading eyes. She could see his sincerity and vulnerability clearly. It was such a stark contrast to his usually cocky, confident behavior that it caught her off guard.

"A-Alright, I'll meet you tonight at 8:00." She stammered out before swinging away.