Chat Noir found himself perched on top of the Eiffel Tower not long after sunset. The city of Paris glittered below him, but his mind was racing too much to notice the pretty sights. There were just too many things to think about, and they flowed from one to the next without stop. There hadn't been a single akuma attack since Ladybug. Where was the unpurified akuma? Why wasn't Hawkmoth attacking when he had the upper hand? Did Master Fu know where Marinette was? He said this happened before. A long time ago, Ladybug told him that there had been Chat Noir's and Ladybug's before them. So another Chat Noir used cataclysm on Ladybug? What happened to her? Master Fu also said he'd see Marinette. How was he supposed to find her?
The breeze picked up and brushed the little string bracelet against Chat's wrist. He touched it lightly, but didn't look at it. It had been a gift from Marinette. It was a small thing, but it made him feel close to her again.
"Oh, Marinette," he said softly into the wind.
He rotated the bracelet on his wrist that she'd once proudly claimed brought good luck. The other day Alya yelled at him and said Marinette was in love with Adrien. Could that possibly be true? He thought she was still mad at him from the gum incident on his first day at school. She hadn't talked to him much, and every time he tried to converse with her, she seemed so upset she couldn't get out a single word. He knew that she wasn't shy because as Chat Noir he could converse with her just fine. In fact, she seemed so completely at ease around Chat that it only proved she hated Adrien.
Except, she hadn't hated him. She'd loved him.
Chat felt his cheeks get hot. He loved his Ladybug with all his heart, but knowing that someone loved him as Adrien tugged at him. Marinette was an incredible girl. She was kind and brave. He thought of all the times she'd been helpful to him and Ladybug. She was talented, that was for sure. She also didn't look at Adrien and see a model. Could she really love him for just...him?
A flash of red pulled his attention back to reality. Chat Noir turned just in time to see something fly off behind a building. His breath caught in his throat as he could have sworn he saw the string of a yo-yo in front of the red blur.
Could it be…?
Chat Noir stood up as he remembered what Master Fu said. They were going to find a new Ladybug. He frowned. A new Ladybug. He knew he'd need her help, but he wasn't interested in someone new.
The string and red flash appeared again and this time the site almost brought Chat Noir to his knees.
"Ladybug…."
She moved a little less gracefully, but it was her all the same. Her black hair was down, and flew behind her as she swung clumsily towards the next building.
Chat leapt off his perch and raced towards her. It couldn't be his Lady. But maybe Master Fu fixed it. Maybe something happened. Maybe just maybe….
As he got closer, the truth pushed it's way to the front of his mind. He dropped down on the terrace next to the girl who was struggling to figure out her yo-yo. She looked nothing like Ladybug up close. Her hair was too long, she was much taller and her posture gave away her insecurities. This was not his Lady.
She turned and gasped as she spotted him. "Chat Noir!" Even her voice was different. It was soft and quiet and almost was swept away by the wind.
He tried not to cringe. "Hey…Ladybug?"
She bit her lip. "I…uh...I guess. Tikki told me, you know, uh, that Ladybug was busy and you know, needed someone to take over for a little while. Are you a…uh…the real Chat Noir?"
Chat nodded in response to her question, but he'd only just barely registered it. He was mostly hung up on what Tikki told her. Ladybug was busy. She was only taking over for a while. Did that mean Tikki knew something he didn't? Was Ladybug alright after all, or was Tikki lying to make the transition for this new girl easier?
Either way, this was the new girl he would have to work with. Chat swallowed. "The one and only."
She smiled shyly. Even though she was obviously excited, her voice was still so quiet. "Wow, you're amazing. I can't believe it. And I'm like this." She glanced down at herself, then quickly blushed. "It's uh, going to take some getting used to."
"That makes two of us," Chat said to himself.
He didn't want to automatically dislike her. It was unfair. He knew that she was just thrown into this whole mess, but frankly, he didn't want her around. She couldn't even figure out her yo-yo. She would just get in his way, and he needed to find Marinette.
Chat cleared his throat. "Look, I don't want to bug out on your first day and all but I've got some things I need to take care of and-"
He was cut off as a loud explosion came from off in the distance. Both him and temporary Ladybug turned to see a glowing light fade off in the distance.
She gasped and clutched her yo-yo to her chest. "Oh no!"
An all too familiar laugh echoes up the alleyway towards them. It was soft, but Chat's extraordinary hearing picked it up.
He jerked upright as the recognition hit him. "Kingpin!"
Three truths screamed in his mind at the exact same time.
One: Kingpin was the akuma that got away. It was back.
Two: Marinette could be there. She probably was there. Master Fu practically said as much. Maybe.
Three: Ladybug, albeit the wrong one, was with him. She could use Miraculous Ladybug healing and set everything back to the way it was before Kingpin attacked the first time. That was before he used Cataclysm.
His eyes widened as the plan unfolded before him.
Chat Noir grabbed Ladybug's wrist and pulled her towards the edge of the building. "Come on!"