Lila had let the man stew in his indignation for the rest of the night. She smiled in the early hours of the morning when he was clearly drunk and outraged. He wanted to find those girls and show them a man was better than a woman was. She grinned and called out.

"Nooroo, dark wings rise!"

***

The first explosion woke Marinette. She came to in Zoe's bed in the hotel. They had come up here after the party and after a quick change into pajamas, had gotten into bed right away. She untangled herself from Zoe's arms and rushed to the window. She gasped as she say an akuma rushing towards the hotel, throwing explosives as he ran.

"What on earth, the new villain's first akuma is an explosion maker?" She looked at the bed where Zoe had not stirred, still in blissful slumber. "Better wake her up."

At that moment, Pollen phased in from outside. "I would not, Guardian. I was spying on what he wants. It seems like he is after you and my queen for some imagined slight. How unrefined. I suspect if she believes you are being targeted, my queen will be very upset and be unable to hold back."

Marinette blinked in surprise. "Wait, he is after us? I cannot imagine anyone we could have slighted last night."

Pollen shrugged. "Jealously is a nasty thing, my Guardian. It does not always have a reasonable explanation. You and my queen are beautiful, young, and in love. Many would long to be in either of your places."

Marinette nodded, that she could understand. "Alright. Then I will go out and face him alone. Pollen, if the Akuma breeches the hotel, wake her up at once to transform."

"As you wish, my Guardian. I will protect our Queen."

Marinette kissed her on the top of her tiny head and ran towards the open window. "Tikki, spots on!"

She jumped mid transformation and sped out into the dark city. She grabbed her Yo-yo from her belt and tossed it at the victim.

"Ladybug. Here to defend the sluts are you?"

She grimaced at his words. "People have the right to love whom they want. Man, woman, non-binary and everything in between. You have no right to try and impose your ideals of heterosexuality on anyone else."

He tossed a bomb at her and she easily deflected it. "Mariposa said you would not understand."

"So, Mariposa is the new villain. Let me guess, she wants the miraculous?"

"Ha, no. What she wants is that girl, Marinette brought to her. Alive. She told me I can have that other girl, Zoe Lee."

Marinette saw red as she jumped down and punched the Akuma in the face. He went flying and hit a billboard with Adrien's face on it.

"Oh, I see what Pollen meant. I need to be impartial and not let me feelings control my reactions. I could seriously hurt him, if I sent him flying and he changed back before he landed. Bigot he might be, but he is still a victim of a dark holder and deserves to be treated as such. "

The Akuma struggled to its feet and tossed another bomb at Ladybug. She twirled her yoyo, ready to deflect it. But it blew up just before it reached her and sent her flying back towards the hotel. She used her weapon to send her flying back at him though and kicked him from his feet again.

"Time to get you to stop, Lucky Charm!"

***

Zoe woke to the sound of magical ladybugs flying around the room. She blinked in confusion and then ran to look at the window. Ladybug stood over a bent over figure. The man was retching into the gutter. Zoe saw some damage being restored.

"The butterfly is back. Why didn't Ladybug wake me?" She asked as Pollen joined her.

"She was going to, my queen. In fact, she was here in the room. I convinced her not to, due to him targeting you and Marinette. I was worried you would not be able to control your strength yet."

Zoe patted the Kwami's head. "Thanks for worrying about me. Where is Marinette?"

"Right here!" Marinette called from the doorway as she came in. "Sorry I left you, Zo, but I wanted to warn the rest of the hotel. You were sleeping so peacefully though; I could not bring myself to wake you while the Akuma was being held off down the street."

Zoe smiled at her partner and pulled her into her embrace. "That's fine. I was just worried when you were not in the room. Did you know he was targeting us?"

Marinette nodded. "I heard him shouting about us as he came down the street. I trusted Ladybug to protect us while I alerted your stepfather."

"That was very brave you, Marinette. Please wake me next time though. We could have gone together."

Marinette blushed. "I was banking on him not knowing where your room was."

Zoe giggled, that was certainly true. Only Marinette and Chloe had known where in the hotel her room was. "I was so worried when I didn't see you here, is all. So, there is a new villain."

"Yeah. But our heroes will deal with it. I have faith."

"Yes." Zoe said, her determination at an all-time high. "Yes, they will. Come on, let us start our lazy Saturday. Tomorrow, we should really start work on our costumes for the contest at the end of the month."

Her partner nodded eagerly. "That will be fun and I'll have plenty of time to finish the costumes."

The two enjoyed a lazy Saturday together in her room. She had come to a decision. She would tell Marinette soon that she was Vesperia. If she could read Marinette's mind though, she would find a similar thought.

'I need to tell Zoe I am Ladybug.'

Next time: Fluffy Zoenette day and costume planning