Chat Noir crouched next to a peaked window on the roof of the building from Alya's picture. He looked down on a park not unlike the one he had just left. In its center was a fountain, with statues similar to the Well Wisher: winged women with togas holding up animal horns that spouted water into the basin. Chat couldn't remember the name of it, but he knew it was one of the most popular wishing well fountains in all of Paris. Usually, even in the late evening, it was surrounded by lovers and children who would throw coins in and make wishes.
It was clear to Chat how the Well Wisher had gotten her name and why she was upset. The fountain was covered in long swaths of white, and was cordoned off with city maintenance barriers. Even without his enhanced senses, Chat could smell the dung from here. Some vandals had contaminated the water, and then thrown toilet paper all over the statues. It would be days until the fountain was running again.
The Well Wisher arrived shortly after Chat Noir did, flying and landing on a bench not too close the fountain. She wrinkled her nose at the smell. Chat waited to attack. Where's Ladybug? Capturing the akuma won't do anything if she's not here.
The akuma seemed to be wondering the same thing. "Ladybug!" she called out. "I know you're out there!" Chat Noir watched carefully along with the Well Wisher. He hadn't seen his partner anywhere when he first arrived, but that didn't mean Ladybug wasn't somewhere nearby. But if she wasn't here…where was she?
"Ladybug!" The Well Wisher said, louder this time. "If you come to me, I can help you find Chat Noir. I know you love him. I can grant your wish!"
Chat sucked in a breath. Ladybug, if you're there, don't…
Too late. One of the trees opposite Chat rustled, and Ladybug dropped out of it. She held her yo-yo tightly in one hand, wary of the akuma, but still willing to talk to her. Chat Noir felt a pang in his chest. This was so dangerous, something Ladybug would never do unless she had no choice.
That's not Ladybug. It might look like her, but it wasn't his Ladybug. Not anymore.
"You know where Chat Noir is?" Ladybug asked, her voice clear in his ears from his enhanced sense. Chat's heart raced, and not in the good way. No no no no no! But the akuma didn't approach Ladybug.
Instead, the Well Wisher smiled. She pulled something out of her pocket and started twiddling it around her fingers. "No, I don't. But you do." She pointed to Ladybug's yo-yo. "Have you tried calling him?"
Ladybug looked down at her yo-yo, then back at the akuma. "He didn't answer me when I called." I ran out of time, Ladybug! I wasn't Chat Noir then! "Chat said he would be back, but I haven't seen him." Her voice wavered. "What if he doesn't love me back?"
Oh.
"Why don't you find out? I won't hurt you, Ladybug. Just call him."
Chat Noir realized what was going to happen moments before it did and pulled his baton out. He silenced it right before the green paw lit up with the call. Should I answer it?
"Chat Noir!"
He looked down at the pair of figures on the ground as Ladybug shouted his name. They both stared back at him. Uh oh. The light from his baton must have lit up enough that it illuminated his hiding place. Chat pushed off his panic, grinned at them, and leapt across the roof, away from the park below. As he darted down the opposite side, he heard Ladybug's yo-yo zip its way to the roof. Ladybug was giving chase. Chat wasn't sure what he would do once they met up, but at least she was away from the Well Wisher. He heard nothing from the akuma.