Ladybug raced across Paris, adrenaline flooding through her body as her yo-yo string whistled through the air. This was it. This was their chance to take Hawkmoth down, once and for all. As long as her Kitty could hold the supervillain off long enough for her to reach the Eiffel Tower, they might finally be able to defeat him.

There!

Ladybug squinted, brow drawing together in a frown as she approached. Instead of the loud clangs and shouts she'd been expecting, Hawkmoth and Chat Noir were standing face to face… talking?

She dropped to her feet next to her partner, jumping up with her fists out. "Chat! Everything alright?"

Chat shot her a grin. "Of course, M'Lady. I was telling Hawkmoth all about how we were going to finally take him in."

Hawkmoth scoffed. "Where? Back to kindergarten? The two of you are barely old enough to be in school, let alone defeat a powerful Miraculous holder such as myself."

"Actually, I was thinking more the geriatric center," Chat shot back. "You know, for old butterflies like yourself. If you make it that long, at least. Apparently butterflies have pretty short lifespans."

"You have a lot of nerve for a mangy alley cat," Hawkmoth growled.

"Uh-" Ladybug frowned, holding up a finger. "Aren't we going to, y'know, fi-"

"You could say I have quite the catitude," Chat snickered, completely ignoring his partner.

Hawkmoth leaned forward, resting his hands on his cane as he snarled. "Sooner or later, every bad-tempered feline crosses the fabled rainbow bridge. I hope you're ready for the big journey."

"Yes, but cats have nine lives, AND we're also natural butterfly hunters. You really want to test me?"

Ladybug jumped as a female voice groaned in her ear. "They've been at this since we got here,"

She turned, looking up into Mayura's unnatural blue eyes. "But- it took me ten minutes to cross Paris!"

Mayura just nodded defeatedly, plopping down on a nearby bench. Ladybug hesitantly joined her, gingerly sitting down next to the supervillainess. "So… you're not going to fight me?"

Mayura shook her head, rubbing her temples. "Currently, no. It's been a rough day."

Ladybug looked at the arguing duo, who's conversation had only gotten more heated, then back at the peacock holder.

"... Want to talk about it?"

TEN MINUTES LATER


"... and then he said I was such a 'great employee'!" Mayura waved her sarcastic finger quotes around in the air before throwing her arms up in defeat. "I try and I try and I try, but I just… I can't tell him."

Ladybug hugged one knee to her chest, the other foot dangling off the ledge of the building they were sitting on. Below them, a tiny Hawkmoth gestured wildly to the small black figure that was Chat. "I get the feeling. I still haven't been able to confess to my crush yet and I've been in love with him for ages. I see him literally every day, we WORK together, yet I can't work up the nerve."

Mayura sighed, leaning back on her hands. "Love is hard, isn't it."

Ladybug nodded with an echoed sigh.

After a moment, Mayura looked at her with a smile. "So, tell me about your boy."

FORTY-FIVE MINUTES LATER

Ladybug licked her ice cream cone, catching a strawberry drip before it fell onto her red suited hand. "I mean, I've been dreaming of a chance like this for my whole life! This competition might be my chance to get my designs out there!"

Mayura leaned across the tiny parlor table, setting her spoon in her empty bowl. "You want to know my advice?"

Ladybug nodded, crunching into her cone. "Please," she mumbled through a mouth of ice cream and waffle.

"It doesn't matter what they say about your designs. Fashion design is all about the individual. Don't try to follow the trends or do what you think they'll like. Your brand should be all about your unique style. That's what'll draw people to you."

Ladybug tapped her chin thoughtfully. "You really think that's enough?"

"If it isn't, you'll know you're not cut out for the design biz," Mayura said with a smile. "It's the only thing all the best designers have in common."

TWO HOURS LATER


Marinette sighed, resting her head against Nathalie's shoulder. "Being a superhero is hard, y'know? On top of always being behind in schoolwork, sleep, and friend stuff, it's very… lonely."

Nathalie nodded, stroking Dusuu softly on the head. "I understand completely. I may not have schoolwork- or a social life, for that matter," she added wryly, prompting a giggle out of Marinette, "but I do still run a company. I'm surrounded by people but I can't connect with any of them."

"Exactly! I don't have the same life experience as anyone my age!" Marinette groaned, looking up at Nathalie. "I mean, I can kind of connect with Adrien, since, y'know, Chat Noir - which was a whole shock in and of itself-"

"I still can't believe our bad luck," Nathalie interjected with a bitter laugh.

"YEAH. Our luck sucks," Marinette said with a laugh. "And who would have guessed that Hawkmoth and Chat Noir were related?"

Nathalie shook her head. "That'll be some fun family drama to work through. As the liscenced Agreste Family Therapist, I'm not looking forward to it."

"Neither am I," Marinette sighed. "Let's just promise to not do anything to prompt that reveal ahead of schedule."

"Agreed," Nathalie said firmly.

FOUR AND A HALF HOURS LATER


"Ladybug! There you- what is happening."

Ladybug broke out of her hug with Mayura, quickly wiping a tear off her cheek. "Chat? What are you doing here? I thought you were still arguing with Hawkmoth?"

Chat stared at her and the supervillainess, who still had her arm around the short superhero's shoulders. "Uh… he had to go… something about an urgent… uh… meeting… or something…"

Mayura smacked her forehead. "I totally forgot! I need to get going too." She pulled away from Ladybug,

"See you this Saturday?" Ladybug asked, smiling up at Mayura.

"I wouldn't miss it," Mayura said with a grin. She darted off the rooftop, leaving a happy Ladybug and stunned Chat in her wake.

"Uh… Marinette? What just happened?" Chat asked, slackjawed.

Ladybug shrugged. "Y'know. Girl stuff."

"Oooookay?"

Ladybug shook herself, gently slapping her own cheek as she turned to her partner. "So! How'd the Hawkmoth confrontation go? Did he surrender?"

Chat shook his head, watching his partner cross the roof. "Something about getting us next time and a trip to the animal shelter, I think. Where are you…"

Ladybug balanced delicately on the edge of the roof. "I promised Alya I'd make it to girl night tonight and I'm definitely going to be late at this rate. Sorry, Adrien. Fill me in on everything next time?" she called apologetically over her shoulder as she jumped off the roof.

"I… guess?" Chat waved slowly, numb with shock. After a moment, he blinked, brain finally clunking back into place.

"WHAT JUST HAPPENED?"

SATURDAY, DURING LUNCH


"I still can't believe Gabriel Agreste is as punny as Chat Noir," Marinette said with a laugh, stirring her soda with her straw.

Nathalie shook her head. "I couldn't believe that Adrien was as big a pun goof as his father. I've never seen him joke around like that before."

Marinette smirked down into her drink, taking a sip. "I guess you could say that he's a chip off the old hawk?"

"I hate you."

BONUS


"What do you mean you won't tell me Ladybug's secret identity? Nathalie, do you know how hard I've worked to find out? Taking her Miraculous would be so easy!"

"Sorry sir. I can't break the girl code. We've come too far."

"WHAT GIRL CODE?!"