Chapter 18

"Wait, Mayor Bourgeois?" Nino asked incredulously.

"No, his name is André," Alya responded, but was just as perplexed.

"His younger brother, " Duusu clarified. "He's become a bit of the black sheep of the family. Never accomplished anything and never really got along with his older, prodigal brother. Trust me, there is no love lost there."

"I think I remember him," Adrien said suddenly. "Chloé and I would play together when were were younger, and I always remember thinking about him as her other dad. He was always there."

Duusu nodded in excitement to see Adrien remembering a bit more. "You were really young, so it's no surprise you don't remember him better, but he was working for the mayor back then. That's how your parents became closer to André. They both had small children, so it was only natural, but I can only imagine how that grated on Germain."

Adrien had so many questions that he needed answered, but he could see Duusu's strength waning. Fu noticed the same, and was just about to call off the questioning for the day when a loud crash sounded from outside.

"Daaadd," Adrien whined in exasperation.

Marinette smirked, but looked at Adrien worriedly. "I can handle this one Kitty. You don't have to leave too."

"Absolutely not," Adrien responded with a fire, grabbing her hand as he stood. Then softer, "we're a team." Then he gave a quick wave to Alya and Nino. "Talk tomorrow?"

"Definitely," Nino assured him, giving him a mock salute that made him smile.

The two transformed and jumped through the open window.

He hadn't said it explicitly, but Marinette could hear the words Adrien left unspoken. His mother had been a miraculous holder, and was still cornered and taken. He was not about to leave Marinette vulnerable to the same fate. He wasn't stupid enough to insinuate that she couldn't protect herself, but they were stronger together. That was the simple truth, and she wouldn't let him go out and fight alone either.

They skidded to a stop in the middle of a wide street a few blocks away from the akuma, an older man in maybe his mid-fifties dressed in what appeared to be large, white, padded jumpsuit.

"What are you supposed to be? The marshmallow man?" Ladybug asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Let's light a fire under him, shall we?" Chat grinned and rubbed leaned on his baton. She rolled his eyes in his direction.

"Ready?"

"I'm always ready to give someone their just desserts." She tried to ignore hi as she observed the akuma, who appeared to be eating everything in sight. Literally. He had become the size of the blimp, his white jumpsuit billowing out around him, and he stomped through the street guzzling street vendor carts and cars whole.

"Okay, let's go before he destroys Paris." She tensed to run.

"Don't be mallow dramatic, M'Lady.' he winked at her, but also got ready.

"I AM MASTER MARSHMALLOW AND I WANT S'MORE!" Master marshmallow roared

"You've got to be kidding me. I don't even want to know the story behind this one."

"I'm never kitten about you, M'Lady." Chat smirked and leaned over to kiss her cheek.

"Now I see where you get the puns from. Like father like son."

His face darkened a bit, but he smiled. "I'll have to remember to mention that to dear Papa when we confront him, but for now, shall we, Bugaboo? I've got a plan."

"Finally," she grabbed his hand, and the ran towards the fluffy destruction zone.

Alya was reluctant to leave. She had a strange feeling that they weren't done yet, with or without Adrinette/LadyNoir. She smirked. The ships had sailed, both of them. She was mildly annoyed that she wouldn't be able to gush about LadyNoir with all her loyal blog-followers, but seeing Adrinette so happy made up for it. She looked over at Nino, and was relieved to see that he wasn't making any move to leave either.

Master Fu had retreated into some back room, presumably to settle Duusu somewhere more comfortable and get the kwami some sustenance.

"I have a weird feeling about this place," Nino suddenly spoke from beside her.

"Weird good or weird bad?" Alya was genuinely curious as to Nino's feeling. He didn't often let onto it, and everyone only seemed to see the beatboy, bro exterior, but Nino was one of the best judges of character and was extremely perceptive about people and situations. He always said he could "feel the beat"in people-his way of saying different people gave off different vibes. It was what made him an amazing DJ; he could always read the crowd. But more than once, Nino had spotted a pickpocket or a creep when they were out together before even Alya's canny reporter eyes did, and steered them both out of their path.

"Weird like a change is coming." He paused, deciding. "Weird good."

With a start, Alya noticed Fu in the doorway, looking at Nino with a peculiar expression.

"You are very perceptive, are you not?"

Nino looked back unflinchingly, "People are easy to read if you know what to look for."

Fu nodded, walking towards them and coming to sit crossed legged on the other side of the mat. He move much more fluidly than his age would suggest. Marinette had whispered it to her when they walked in and Alya could barely keep her eyes in their sockets and her jaw from unhinging.

"Yet you are not at inquisitive as your friend here."

Nino paused, carefully choosing the words for his answer. "Alya is cleverer than I. She knows the way to ask things to get the answers she is looking for. She can interact with anyone and only give away exactly what she wants to get them to talk. I'm more of an observer. People reveal themselves with more than just their words, and I prefer to slide by unnoticed and go at my own pace."

Alya looked over at Nino, surprised by his candice. He was absolutely right. She knew Nino could cause a distraction as well as anyone else, that very afternoon had proved that, but usually she was the frontman in their shenanigans.

"Ah, the clever fox and the wise turtle." Master Fu nodded slowly. "I don't know how much Adrien and Marinette had time to tell you, but I am the holder of the miraculous. I protect them, but I am also guided by them. They direct me to those who are worthy to wield their powers. I am also a wielder myself." he paused and looked at them both. "I am an old man though, and no longer as spry as I once was. If all Duusu has told us is true, and I have no doubt it is, than this fight is no place for an old man like me."

Alya narrowed her eyes in confusion. Where is he going with this?

Fu looked at Alya.

"I knew it was you the moment you walked in, my dear. But you," he turned his gaze on Nino. "I have been waiting for you for many years, my son."

He started loosening a bracelet around his wrist. It was of brown leather with a piece of jade carved into the shape of a turtle. He placed it on the mat in front of him. Pivoting at the waist, he turned and pulled something else from a hexagonal chest. Placing it next to the bracelet, Alya could see that it was a gold necklace, with a hook shaped pendant that burned from white to a deep orange at the base. She had a sudden vision of Tikki being sucked into Marinette's earrings and Plagg into Adrien's ring.

"Are these-," she gasped, looking over at a stoic-faced Nino.

"They are yours," Master Fu stopped her.

Alya reached forward in excitement, but stopped when she realized that Nino still hadn't moved. He was staring at Fu with an indescribable expression. Fu reached over and placed a hand on the boys knee.

"I have done all I need to do and said all I needed to say. Wayzz and I are in agreement. You are who I was waiting for." He leaned back, and Nino nodded.

"Wayzz?" he asked, leaning down to pick up the bracelet.

"The kwami attached to your miraculous. He will guide you, as Trixx will you," Fu added looking at Alya.

They both slipped the miraculous into their pockets, not daring to put them on yet. Bowing deeply to Master Fu, they took their leave of the apartment, different people than when they had walked in.

Nino reached over and grabbed Alya's hand, needing to convince himself that she was there and real. She squeezed his hand gently in understanding and they started walking in the direction of their homes.