HEADS UP.

So, with this turning more into Adrien is flawed fic, renamed it to A Romantic's Sting. Also, for personal reasons, moving onto Archive of Our Own. I will finish the fics I have up here, but everything new will be on Ao3.

Tikki rubbed her cheeks, wishing that her arms were long enough to reach her forehead to rub it like so many humans did when tired and frustrated. But cheeks would have to do. It was all she could reach and rub, trying to manage the frustration building up in her. She cracked her eyes open, eyeing the two kwamis across from her.

Plagg was playing cool, trying to look like he wasn't unnerved at all, though his twitching tail suggested that he was leery of this, didn't plan to get caught. Beside him, Pollen kept shuffling about, twitchy with her lips pursed.

"Let me get this straight," Tikki started. "Adrien is actually Chat Noir. And we just gave the bee to Chat Noir. Who is keeping it instead of returning it."

"Yeah…" Plagg confirmed, trailing as his tail swished behind him.

"He's in love," Pollen said, shifting as Tikki's gaze turned to her. "He's taking the chance to get closer to Ladybug."

Tikki started to rub her cheeks again. Giving Plagg a look, Tikki asked, "Do you know why the bee is out?"

"Hey! This was not my idea! This is all Adrien, take it up with him," Plagg hurried out.

"I may," Tikki grouched, "because this is missing the point. Ma— my holder, she's getting overworked, juggling a lot and bee being out was to help , be a third party member, a third support, this—" Tikki waved her arms around the locker, "isn't going to help!" Tikki darted up, rushing around in a blur, stressed and agitated. "This is risky! Dangerous! Only in extreme situations should someone be allowed to have two miraculouses!"

She stopped, whipping around and gazing down at the two.

"I've tried," Pollen sighed drifting up and pacing around Tikki, just as peeved. Below the two, Plagg sighed and flopped back, not in the mood for this. "The boy is set to spend time with Ladybug, but he has told me that after the first akuma attack, he will inform her that it's not cut out for him and will return the bee miraculous to Ladybug then."

Tikki frowned, crossing her arms as she considered this. "Well, at least he's not keeping you… but, there's supposed to be two heroes joining Ladybug, that was what was expected—"

"Look," Plagg voiced, sitting up and giving Tikki a tired look. "We've been handling akumas well enough, they're a pretty solid duo. Yeah, they still have some things to work out, but still a pretty good team overall. It's just one akuma, then Pollen is given back to Ladybug, and we can start rethinking who gets the bee."

"I would love to have a chance to take a look and see who's out there," Pollen voiced, sparing a glance to the locker door. "Though, that'd be easier if Adrien kept us with him."

"Talk it out with him," Tikki said, "get him to allow you in his bag so you can look at the classmates. Hopefully, an akuma will show soon, and the bee can be given to someone else, so we can truly have some help." Tikki frowned, finned tail drooping. She was so nervous about this, nervous about the outcome, of what could happen.

She can't ignore that Marinette was also partly doing this to get closer to Adrien, though she was also doing this because she thought Adrien would be a good teammate and help her and Chat Noir.

And if one only showed…

"Don't freak out about it, Tikki," Plagg voiced. "It'll work out in the end, I'm sure."

"They don't always work out," Tikki reminded.

"Well, this isn't the same time period," Plagg pointed out.

Pollen set a paw on Tikki's shoulder, raising a slight brow. "Plagg is… well, right. Things aren't the same as before, so perhaps we can be a little laxer with this."

TIkki pursed her lips before nodding. She can be. She has revealed the Guardian to Marinette, being the first between her and Plagg to break that rule. And things are the same as they were before, so maybe this will work out.

Floating up, Tikki declared, "I'm heading back. Pollen, talk to Adrien and see if you can get him to take you with him so you can start looking at potential classmates. Hopefully, an akuma will show soon and we won't have to stress Adrien having two and Ladybug still being down to one partner to help her."

Pollen smiled and nodded. "It'll work out."

Tikki offered her own tight smile back. "Nice to see you again, Pollen. Plagg, take care, don't eat too much cheese."

"Don't tempt me, Teek."

Tikki phased through the locker, rushing back to Marinette's bag. Left alone, the two kwamis gave a weary sigh.

They hoped it would work out…

Tikki was oddly quiet as Marinette slipped into her room, setting her things down, watching as the kwami floated out, cheeks puffed, looking agitated. Tikki's been like this all day, pouting in her purse, not cluing Marinette in at all why the kwami was so bothered. Even when she asked, Tikki wouldn't tell her.

Marinette was at a loss on what to do to improve the kwami's mood. She offered Tikki a cookie, played some of her favorite music, and still, Tikki went to sit on the umbrella Marinette had at the chaise, gazing out the window with a thoughtful frown. Marinette came to stand beside the kwami, reaching out and rubbing her finger against Tikki's cheek just like her maman would when she was down.

Tikki gave a start, blinking rapidly as she turned to glance up at Marinette. Marinette offered her a smile and gave her another affectionate poke. With a soft giggle, Tikki leaned back and nuzzled her, releasing a sigh.

"You ok?" Marinette asked. "You seem on edge."

"I'll be ok, just a… little worried."

Marinette tilted her head, brows furrowed. "About what?"

Tikki shook her head. "Are we going to go see Chat?"

"Yes! He's actually probably out there. Tikki, spots on!"

Ladybug hopped onto her balcony, closing the door behind her and turning to the city, hands on her hips. She breathed in and raced forward. This will be her second time seeing Chat after that little fight. She wondered if he was still going to be sour about it, or if he was going to be more open with her decision. She also wondered if Stinger Bee was going to be joining them.

She stopped on top of a building, frowning slightly. She hoped that this would go well. She wanted her team to get along. Not only would it promise a good time and a strong bond between them, a team that got along was a team that would be efficient with akumas.

And that was the goal.

Help with akumas.

And tonight, they were dipping their toe in the water, to see how well Chat and Stinger Bee got along. They should, they were similar enough both being very sweet and earnest, but just enough differences between them, with Chat being goofy and Adrien very poised. They were going to get along, it was going to work out.

No, it will work out!

"Giving yourself a mental pep talk?"

Ladybug jumped, turning to see a grinning Chat beside. With a huff, she gave the coy cat a shove, making him chuckle.

"No need to be so stressed, My Lady," he said with a slight tease. "I actually met, Stinger Bee."

Ladybug blinked, perking. "You did?"

"You were right," he said, "it wasn't a bad idea to get another teammate on board and we did get along very well." He watched her smile at the reassurance, shoulders sagging.

With a big smile, she said, "Excellent! I'll call Stinger Bee and see if he wants to join us for our first patrol!"

Chat tensed as she held up her yo-yo, ready to make that call and quickly stopped her. "Th-that won't be necessary!" Chat quickly said.

Ladybug blinked at him, head tilting slightly. "Why not?"

"I talked to him earlier," Chat lied, "he's busy tonight. But will join you for the next pawtrol."

"Oh. Ok."

"Also, we agreed that we'll cover night patrols together!" At Ladybug's raised brow, Chat said, "One of the reasons for this is because you're a little overworked, right? Catch up on some sleep and leave the night patrols to us!"

Ladybug pursed her lips and nodded. "O..k. Thanks, Chat. That would help, but if you need help, don't be afraid to call in!"

"Of course, My Lady!" He waved out to the Parisian roofs with a smile. "So, shall we head off for our pawtrol?"

"Yes. And if you corrupt Stinger Bee with puns, I am no longer going to bring you cookies."

Chat grinned. "But what if he's already a punner."

"I've only heard him pun once. If he was a real punner, he'd spam them every few hours like you." She raced off while Chat snickered behind her, amused with the fact that she had no idea. Just wait till she did her first patrol with Stinger Bee.

As the two raced away, looking through the streets, Ladybug felt full of relief and optimism at how much easier things were going to be with help. Chat meanwhile was patting himself on the back, pleased.

He was going to pull this off, he was going to get his chance to get Ladybug to love him and date him. This was going to work out.