Thank you to Khanofallorcs for being the beta for this story! :)
Chapter Eleven
"Adrien, we need to talk."
Adrien was slightly startled as Nathalie walked into his room the next morning without even knocking, forcing Tikki to dart to the nearest place to hide– behind Adrien's back, which wasn't exactly the most secure place for a kwami. He couldn't help but swallow as Nathalie approached, but gave a smile to greet his father's assistant as he always did.
"Is there a problem?" He asked, feeling Tikki pressing up against his shirt.
"Last night you made a post on your Instagram account," she said simply, and he slowly nodded, knowing that this was going to happen. He had thought it would be his father that would have something to say though– but perhaps that had just been wishful thinking.
"I know," he said. "It was something I felt needed to be shared, is there anything wrong with that?"
A flash of annoyance shone in Nathalie's eyes, and she then took in a deep breath, adjusting her sweater. "Adrien," she said softly. "Little posts are just fine, but you should have not posted something so political."
Shivers ran through Adrien, and he felt himself taking in a sharp breath, trying to understand what had just happened. One moment Tikki had been pressed up against his back, and the next...
Had she just phased into him?
"Adrien?" Nathalie said sharply, but that did not stop the horrible sensation of something moving through him. Tikki had gone inside of him! He knew that she could move through solid objects– but it had never crossed his mind that he was fair game. His stomach twisted, because while she wasn't in a solid state right now he could still sense her within him, and it just all felt wrong.
He couldn't relax until she phased out of him– settled in the inner pocket of his white button up shirt, where she usually hid. He took a step back, and suddenly Nathalie was right at his side.
"You're pale as a ghost," she said, and before he could even say a word she was dragging him towards his bed– and frankly he was startled at the strength she was showing as she forced him to lay down, a hand being pressed to his head. "No fever– did you eat anything outside of what your chef made for you?"
He thought of the bite of a macaron he had last night. "Of course not."
"Were you coerced into making that post? Why are you–?"
He sat up, hand over where Tikki was now hiding. "Nathalie, I'm fine," he insisted, sliding off the bed. She tensed slightly, as if about to make him lay down again. "No need to overreact."
"You were white–"
"I probably just need something to eat," he said with a small smile. "Now, did the article cause anything negative to be said about me or Father?"
Nathalie closed her eyes, before letting out a small breath of air. "Things... things are being said, yes, but nothing more than your normal critics." She adjusted her vest once more. "However this 'BeetleBlog' video has created quite a stir this morning, and I do not want you to get caught in the crossfire. While your... friend may run this blog I think it would be best for you to take it down–"
"I helped make the video, Nathalie," Adrien said, causing the woman to pause. "Remember how I have been requesting time off to be with Alya? It was to help her with recording."
Nathalie's eyes were slightly wide. "I... I see. I thought it was because you were... interested, in the young lady."
Adrien stared back, heat flushing his cheeks. "You what? Alya, I mean–" Yeah, Alya was nice, but it had never even crossed his mind that she could be anything more than a friend. The fact that Nathalie probably thought he had been taking her on dates or something– he had no idea what to make of that. "I mean there is someone I like, but it isn't Alya–"
"I see," she said slowly. "And what made you feel it was so important to work on this video? I hope that you did not go into this thinking that there would not be a reaction or potential backlash–"
"We were hoping for one. Well, reactions. Good ones." He looked up at her. "Please don't tell me you think that these people are the ones to blame. They didn't have control of themselves– Monarch did."
Nathalie was silent, before closing her eyes. "I... I know that, Adrien. But still this was a risk–"
"Then shouldn't we make it clear that people know that they're not someone to blame?" Adrien said. "You just can't call this 'politics'– these are actual people's lives being ruined by Monarch. Thrown out of their homes or ignored by families– it's horrible!"
Again, Nathalie was silent, and Adrien gritted his teeth slightly. He wished that everything didn't come down to company and appearances, but that's if that was the only way he could get to Nathalie and possibly his father to listen...
"What if I were akumatized?" Adrien asked. "Or you? Or Father? Or anyone working within the company?"
"Adrien–"
"And if this is how Paris sees akumas, then what does that mean for us if one of us were to be akumatized? TVi's ratings have gone down since Alec was akumatized even after replacing him– it's not just the people but companies that suffer too. Wouldn't it be better for there to be some change out there rather than this prejudice the city has been carrying?"
"...You have very strong points," she finally concluded.
"You aren't going to make me take down the post, are you?"
"As of now it seems that no public conclusion has been drawn regarding the video released last night," Nathalie stated. "If this idea of 'victims' truly does become the media's voice, then I suppose it will be beneficial for your post to remain."
"Besides, people would start talking if I were to suddenly take it down," he added.
"I will talk to your father and the PR team regarding this," Nathalie said. "But for now it will remain. Please finish getting ready, your breakfast will be on the table soon, and I will go over your schedule with you."
"Wonderful," Adrien muttered as the door shut.
"You would think she would at least knock," Tikki said, drifting out of his pocket. "That was much too close."
"You know what is too close– phasing inside of me!"
"I needed to hide, Adrien."
"Look, Tikki, when I say you're close to my heart it doesn't need to be literally," Adrien said, shuddering as he remembered the sensation.
Tikki crossed her arms. "And what if I hadn't been hidden when she had dragged you to bed? It would have been over, Adrien– both you and Lady Noire would have had to give up your Miraculouses."
Adrien froze. "What?"
"When I told you no one could know your identity I meant it," Tikki said, drifting in front of him. "It would leave you vulnerable, and for both your protection and mine new holders would have had to be sought out."
"B-but Lady too?" Adrien said. "That's not fair, she shouldn't have to pay if I was the one to make a mistake–"
"When I say you two are partners, Adrien, I don't mean in just name," Tikki said, drifting close, gaze soft when she saw his panic. "Plagg's and my Miraculouses are linked, and so are our holders. We must be awoken together, and if one of us needs to find a new holder then so does the other. You two are linked just like Plagg and I are– and neither would be able to form a connection with a new partner."
Adrien felt even more dizzy than when Tikki had phased into his back. The idea of losing Tikki and being with Lady, of losing this freedom he had gained... it was horrible. But a guilt was already building up just from the realization that his mistake could force Lady to lose this all as well.
"I'm sorry, Adrien," Tikki said softly, nuzzling his cheek. "I didn't mean to worry you with such information. You just need to keep protecting your identity as always– that's all."
He nodded, and Tikki made a soft chime-like sound of worry. He gave her a small smile, before going to get ready, not wanting Nathalie to burst into here again if he were late for breakfast.
"Up next we will be looking over an interview featuring those who have been akumatized– the first time any have spoken out since the attacks began." Nadja Chamack said from Marinette's phone screen, who was staring down at the device as the news story played. "Which reveals frightening insight into what these victims have gone through, even after being touched by Crimson Beetle's healing light."
"Oh, don't act like your news station wasn't part of their struggles," Marinette muttered.
"This video has gained over three hundred thousand views overnight, and that number has been steadily rising. It has received mixed reactions thus far, and though we have reached out to multiple people– including Mayor Bourgeois himself and the police department, no comments have been made."
A clip from Alya's video, the one of Aurore, played briefly.
"A mere collège student," Nadja continued. "Being completely isolated in her own home– and this is just one of several minors who has been subjected to an akumatized state. Is this how all these children are being treated in their own homes, in our own city? Attacked from both the inside and out?"
"Well what do you know, kid," Plagg muttered. "Your crazy idea actually worked."
"One news station," Marinette said. "TVi's broadcast was suspiciously 'neutral' on the whole thing, and I haven't had a chance to look at some of these articles that have popped up. I was looking through the comments on Alya's video, and there are nasty ones, and some people think that Monarch can still see through their eyes now or something... that's not true, right?"
"All connection is severed as soon as the akuma is out of them," Plagg said. "And hey, even if it wasn't everyone, you had a plan and it worked. Even got your rude reporter friend to change her tune. Hmm, you might have been a good match with Sass."
"Sass?"
"Kwami of Opportunity," Plagg said, eyes still locked on the screen. "One of the ones associated with Time, like Fluff and Passtel. They're pretty strong, though us Alphas still outmatch them in raw power."
Marinette bit her tongue. "The comments on the news article are looking pretty split too."
"Meh, better split than everyone leaning the wrong way," Plagg plucked the phone from her hands. "Okay, don't you need to get ready for school?"
"Since when do you care about me getting to school?"
"Well if you're late you might rush out the door and forget about my cheese," Plagg said, eyes scanning over the comments Marinette had been reading. "Go on, go take like five years to get ready like you always do."
"Some of us have standards."
"I have standards– I only eat the best and finest quality of cheese after all."
"I saw you steal one of Manon's string cheeses once."
"..."
"Plug in my phone, will you? I don't want it dead when I leave for school."
"Sure thing kid," Plagg said, zipping off as she headed for the bathroom. He landed on her desk, continuing to scroll through the comments the people were leaving on the article, before flipping over to the BeetleBlog to read what had been said there. His frown slowly turned into a scowl the more he read, the humans' spite not only saying things about the akumas. His paws tightened around the phone, and after a moment he pushed it away with a sneer, curling up on the desk.
"Stupid humans."
"Did you say something?" Marinette called.
"Nothing!" He called back. "Um– Just don't get your stupid human techonolgy! It's confusing and lame!"
"The charging port should be on the bottom of the phone."
"Uh-huh," he called back, ears flat against his head.
He missed Tikki.
Poor Alya looked so overwhelmed at school.
"Alec has been giving me tons of advice," Alya said, pouring over her phone as they waited for the teacher to come in. "Like with my footage of Stoneheart a ton of different websites and stations just took my footage and I was just excited by the fact that it was on TV– but Alec said this time I can't let that happen."
Marinette had designed the little Ladybug logo that was featured in the video, making it clear it was made by the BeetleBlog, and already Alya had found several reuploads and even one attempt to crop out her new logo. She had gone full out in this video, credits being listed at the end for all who had helped, and an email for people to contact her if they wanted to use any footage from her article– and Alya had woken up with multiple emails sitting in her inbox requesting permission.
"You're doing awesome," Marinette said as she sat down next to her, sliding her a box of cookies. "Eat up, you need a sugar rush."
"I didn't expect it to be this big," Alya muttered.
"I warned you," Max said as he walked past their desks. "No one has been able to get proper interviews with the heroes or of those who have been akumatized– and you got all eight of the second one. Throw in the fact that you are young and inexperienced, and that you presented a major moral dilemma that our city is facing– it was nothing but expected that this would catch the attention of France. The fact that you have gained a good following helped spread the word, along with other influences like Adrien posting a link and Marinette sending the article to Nadja Chamack helped what was a recipe for becoming big to gain even further traction in a shorter amount of time."
"Forward the emails to Alec," Marinette suggested when she saw the distressed look on Alya's face. "He probably knows which people are the best to give them access to your footage."
"Good idea," she said, some light returning to her eyes as she turned all her focus to her screen once more.
One thing they had yet to talk about was the comments cropping up on both the video and even other places on her blog. Alya had not deleted any of them so far, and while Marinette could see why she wouldn't want to be accused of avoiding any criticism there were definitely a handful that needed to be taken down from content alone. They were the ones that stood out the most, even in a sea of compliments and even just comments considering what had been presented in the video.
Marinette turned her gaze towards the door when she saw Ivan and Mylene enter, as the two of them usually arrived either early or at the very last minute to avoid attention. She smiled as they made eye contact, and was glad to see that they weren't on edge– and she hoped they had been reading the more positive words that had been starting to appear. She waved, the two of them making their way to their seat– only for them to be intercepted by Kim.
"Ivan," Kim said, eyes flickering between him and Mylene as he blocked their path.
"...Yeah?" Ivan said softly after a moment.
Kim grinned. "I see you finally told her how you feel."
Ivan flushed slightly.
"Ha! You owe me fifteen, Alix– I told you they would get together!" Kim called, letting out a whoop.
"You may have won this round, but wait until the race next week– I'm going to crush you!"
"I won't go easy on you just because you're going to be the little birthday girl!"
"You two are official?" Rose squeaked, and Mylene nodded sheepishly. "Oh my gosh– that's so cute! Congratulations, you two!"
"Awesome," Juleka said softly.
Marinette smiled softly as she watched her classmates– a tension that had been lingering for far too long finally gone.
She looked down at her phone, refreshing her news app, looking at the articles that were still popping up. It wasn't perfect, and she hadn't been expecting a magical change overnight– but something had changed, and that was what was important.
If things could get better here in her classroom, then she knew they could elsewhere too.
Adrien knew that there was something strange about his present the moment Alix began opening others– because none of them seemed like actual birthday presents.
Nino had given her a bag of rocks. They weren't even pretty rocks or anything, just what looked to have been picked up randomly at a park. Kim had happily presented her with a 'you must be this tall to go on the ride' sign with a cartoon monkey holding its hand up at said height– which was taller than Alix. Kim had been laughing his head off at this– at least until Alix jumped across a table, slamming into him and knocking him to the ground.
The only present that seemed remotely normal so far was Marinette's– a beautiful skirt she had clearly made herself, made from a white silky fabric, covered with lilies. It looked amazing, but Alix had held it up with a narrowed gaze, while everyone else began chuckling as if she had received another bag of rocks.
Rose had given her a plush unicorn, which was sitting on Alix's lap despite not looking like her style, and Juleka gave her a makeup bag– which had once again earned a series of laughs despite it being a normal birthday gift. At least it seemed like a normal gift– but the only birthday parties he had really been to were Chloe's, which he had always known were over the top, and of course the wonderful impromptu one that had been held for him last month. He was glad that Nathalie had given him the day off to hang out for Alix's, though he wasn't sure if his father had known about it or not.
"Well, how do I look?" Alix asked, smearing eyeliner across her eyelid, and Adrien couldn't help but twitch.
"Um..." Adrien began, trying to be as nice as he could. "Er, do you um, know how to put on eyeliner?"
Alix grinned at him. "Yeah, of course I do." She smeared more of the eyeliner across her face, quite clearly making it as messy as possible. "How about now?"
"Um..." He looked about, but the only one who looked as confused as him was Alya.
"I have some makeup wipes if you need any," Alya offered, hesitant.
"That would be nice, actually."
After the makeup had been removed it was Nathaniel's turn to present his gift, which appeared to be a sketch like he had given Adrien at first. He was relieved to see another normal gift– at least until Alix turned it around for everyone to see. It was indeed a drawing of her... dramatically posed to look just like the Mona Lisa, and everyone began cackling.
"Okay– what exactly is going on?" Alya demanded, resulting in more scattered giggles.
"It's payback," Kim simply.
"More like tradition at this point," Nathaniel said softly.
"Alix always gives everyone a prank gift on their birthday," Marinette explained with a smile. "So we all do the same back on hers."
"Guess someone should have told ya, newbies," Alix said with a grin. "But hey, it means I might actually get something worthwhile this year."
"Excuse me!" Kim said indignantly. "Do you know how much I went through to get this very important sign?"
"I'm pretty sure you stole it."
"I had it custom ordered, thank you very much!"
"Wait, what do you mean prank gifts?" Adrien asked, furrowing his brow. "Alix gave me a nice gift for my birthday."
Alix flushed slightly, and everyone else began cracking up. She crossed her arms. "I didn't know that you would actually like the makeup, okay!"
He blinked. "That was supposed to be a joke? There was some really nice concealer in there that matched my skin tone perfectly!"
"Coincidence!" Alix insisted with a wave of her hand, and she leaned forward, yanking Adrien's gift from his hands. "New topic! I'm opening this one now!"
She tore off the wrapping paper, and her eyes widened as she looked down at the box in front of her. Adrien perked up slightly, grinning– because she had gone on and on during one of their games of basketball about how much she had wanted this kind of rollerblade. She stared down at it, then looked up at Adrien, just staring.
"I did get the right size, right?" He asked uncertainly.
"Is this a joke?" She asked, shifting the box slightly. "Are there going to be a bunch of canned beans inside or something?"
"Of course not!" Adrien said. "You said you really wanted these, didn't you?"
"I c-can't accept this!" Alix said, pulling back from the box slightly, and he didn't understand– didn't she want these? He had thought that she would be excited upon opening them, but now he couldn't help but feel slightly hurt.
"Why not?" He asked quietly.
"These are way too expensive!" She said. "I can't let you spend that kind of money on me, there's no way!"
"What's wrong with a gift?" Was it because it hadn't been a prank gift? Everyone was strangely quiet through the exchange, and he couldn't help but wonder how he had messed up this time. Every now and then he'd say or would do something that would make some of the class chuckle, but clearly he had made a mistake with this.
"I..." She looked completely lost, looking around at the others for some support. "Because I can't get you anything like this in return?" She said uncertainly. "My family can't afford that."
"It's a gift," Adrien insisted. "You're not supposed to give me anything back."
"But this is too much!"
His vision blurred slightly. "I'm sorry," he muttered, not quite sure what he was apologizing for. "I just wanted to get you something you'd like."
"Adrien, dude, don't look so down," Nino said, bumping up against him. "Alix is just too shocked, that's all." He looked up at her. "Don't me so hard on my bro, okay? Do you want the skates or not?"
"Of course I want them!" Alix exclaimed, which of course only made Adrien more confused. "These things are freaking amazing, rated one of the best in all of Europe!"
Nino grinned slightly. "So show your appreciation, Alix, and put them to good use for the race this afternoon. Adrien– you're going to get Alix peanut shells for Christmas, okay?"
"What?"
"Peanut shells. That's the gift you're giving Alix for Christmas, got it?"
"...Okay?"
Still somewhat confused he watched as Alix now eagerly opened the box, a giant smile on her face– just like what he originally expected when having ordered the skates. She took them carefully out of the packaging like they were gold, before throwing off her shoes and immediately slipping them on, muttering 'awesome' over and over under her breath.
Kim crossed his arms. "New wheels or not, I'm still going to beat you in that race!"
"If you think you have a chance against me on foot then you're crazy!"
"I'm the fastest in the school and you know it!"
"You'd have to be able to run fast, like the chicken you are!"
"Who are you calling chicken?"
Marinette sat down next to Adrien, placing her hand on his knee. He couldn't help but stare at it for a moment, the closeness feeling both amazing, but for some reason his mind began panicking at the same time.
"Everything okay?" She asked. "You seemed pretty torn there for a minute."
He rubbed the back of his neck, eyes flickering to her hand. Her fingernails were painted pink with tiny little flowers on them, and he was sure she had painted them herself, because she just had that kind of talent. He wanted to pick up her hand to look at them closer, maybe run his hand over them to see if the polish was sleek like when his makeup artists put a gloss on his nails for a shine...
"I, er um, yeah," he said brilliantly, trying to pull his mind back to the actual conversation. "I just um, didn't expect her to act like that with the gift..."
Marinette smiled. "Don't take it personally, she just didn't know how to react, that's all."
He watched as Alix stood up with the new skates on, pushing off from her seat, letting out a laugh. It only took her a couple of strides of experimenting, before beginning to pick up some speed on them.
"Why would she say she wouldn't take them though?"
"Well..." Marinette looked over at Alya.
"Because you're filthy rich and she probably felt pressured like she would have to match your gift next time she got you one and she doesn't want to take out a loan," Alya said shrug.
"Alya!"
"Well it's true!"
"She didn't want the gift because it was... too nice?" Adrien asked, eyes flickering between the girls. It made some sense, he guessed? ...But at the same time he was even more confused. "But she already got me a nice gift for my birthday, she doesn't really think that I want–"
"Dude," Nino said, setting his cap on Adrien's head to cut him off. "Don't think about it too hard. It was a nice gift, and she didn't know how to react. Though maybe for the next birthday party... have a bit of a budget?"
"I have one, well more of an allowance than a budget?" Adrien said. "I do have the money I earn from modeling too but I keep that in savings– why not splurge on my friends? Me and Chloe always did that."
"Because we can't always exactly splurge back," Marinette said. "That's why Alix was a bit overwhelmed, she's not like Chloe able to buy you something of the same value."
This was only making Adrien more frustrated. "But I don't want something of the same 'value', I just wanted to get her something she'd like."
"You're so innocent, Sunshine, it's adorable," Alya said, stealing Nino's cap from his head– which made Nino protest as she set it on her own head. "Just take Alix's reaction as a good thing, it means she's not going to try to take advantage of your generosity or money."
"Give me back my hat!" Nino said, and Alya held it up as high as it could go in reply.
"Trust me, I get plenty of lectures about that," Adrien muttered. "And the whole 'whom you associate with will reflect on the company's name and my name'. If Nathalie isn't one of her generous moods to let me sneak out I basically have to justify who I want to hang out with."
"Yet your dad lets you hang with Chloe without complaint?" Alya asked, and Nino finally yanked his cap from her grasp, putting it back on his head.
"Her mom's the reason why my father was even able to get his name into the fashion world in the first place," Adrien replied. "They claim to be old friends, but honestly I think they both care more about the connections than they do companionship." He smiled. "Fortunately Chloe and I don't see our friendship like that."
"Oh yeah?" A voice snapped a little ways away, pulling them from their conversation. They looked over towards Alix, who had a hand on her hip as she stood across from Kim. "How about we do the race right now then?"
"You're so on!" Kim said.
"Well, looks like we're gonna have to wait on cake then," Nino muttered.
"A real shame too," Alya said. "It was a Dupain-Cheng cake."
"Is there any other kind of cake?" Adrien asked with a smile.
"Do you guys just want me to bring in a cake everyday to class or something?" Marinette asked, rolling her eyes as she reached for the sign she had made for the race.
"That would be amazing," Nino said.
"Heaven, actually," Adrien corrected.
"I see how it is," Marinette said with a grin. "You're all just friends with me because of the bakery, aren't I? When I get married it's just going to be for my family's cooking."
"Well I think a date has to come before marriage," Nino said with a wink, leaning towards them. "So, how about we take you ladies out for ice cream after the race?"
Alya looked between all of them, Nino waiting for a reply, Marinette blinked at Nino, while Adrien felt heat rising in his cheeks. For a half moment Adrien felt his panic building as no reply was offered, but then Alya let out a laugh.
"What? Is Marinette's family cake not a good enough dessert now?" She linked arms with Marinette. "Guess all snacks you bring from now on should go to me, if the boys aren't going to appreciate it."
"I'll appreciate it!" Adrien said swiftly, and Marinette flashed him a grin.
"That's true, gotta keep you safe from that diet you're on," Marinette said with a grin, and Adrien tried to think of something to say back– but the witty remarks that often were on the tip of his tongue seemed to have jumped ship in that moment.
"Um, yeah," he brilliantly said, as the girls went to join the rest of the group.
"Gah, did it sound like I was joking?" Nino asked as they stood as well. "Or was it too casual for her to think I was serious?"
He felt frustration growing in his gut, because the perfect line had just popped into his head, and it was much too late to use it now. He tucked the pickup line away, because the next time the opportunity presented itself he knew that he couldn't waste it.
"So, Alya then?" Adrien asked, bumping up against Nino as they stood up to follow the rest of the group.
He let out a nervous laugh. "Do you think I have a chance?"
"Well according to today, none of us do."
"Dude!"
"Ready to go down, shortie?" Kim asked, stretching out as they prepared for the race, grinning. "Fancy new skates won't save you– you haven't broken them in yet!"
"Skates aren't like shoes," she said, rolling her eyes.
"Of course not," Kim replied. "Shoes you actually have to do the work for yourself– skates are the lazy man's way of running."
"Lazy?" She snapped. "I'd like to see you try some on without falling on your big face."
"At least you can't fall– you're so close to the ground you'd probably hardly feel a thing!"
"So... are you two going to race, or just trash talk each other?" Marinette called, she and Alya holding up the sign she had made.
"Just giving her a chance to back out without losing her pride!" Kim called with a grin. "I got this race in the bag!"
"I'm going to leave you in the dust!"
"Why? Because your skills are so dusty it's going to cover me?"
"Is that supposed to make sense?"
"I got this," Alya said as their small group let out a groan. "On your mark–!"
"Wait I'm not ready!" Kim cried, bolting over to their starting line. Alix did a quick spin on her new skates, before rolling up next to him.
"Ready to go down?"
"Yeah– down in history!"
"Alright," Max said, stepping between them. "We have a simple track for the race today– from here down to the fountains, which you must completely circle at least once before making your way back here. First one back is the winner, and will be officially named the fastest in the class. Which according to any simple logic would be the one on wheels..."
"I don't need wheels to win!" Kim said with a grin.
"Alright," Max said. "A simple countdown from three should be fair. Three, two, one–!"
Alix and Kim immediately took off, the two speeding down the path the moment Max had given the signal to go. Kim was a big talker– but he did manage to hold pace with Alix nearly halfway to the fountains, where she finally started to gain some proper ground. Marinette and her classmates let out cheers as the two approached the fountains, where Kim once again started to make the race more even, Alix seemingly not used to the sharp turn in her new skates. Kim called out something to her, bolting forward towards Max who stood as the finish line.
Alix gritted her teeth as she rounded the fountain, once again trying to gain speed as the two of them rushed forward. She grinned at Kim as she passed him, before putting on a final burst of speed as she zipped past Max, claiming her victory.
"Ha!" She called, spinning about as she came to a halt. "Take that! Told you I was going to win!"
"Awesome job, Alix!" Rose beamed; her, Juleka, and Nathaniel swiftly making their way over to her. "You rocked those new skates!"
"Heh, they're even better than I thought," she flashed a grin at Adrien. "Not too shabby, pretty boy, though I'm pretty sure I could have won in my old ones too."
"Yeah right," Kim grumbled, having come to a pause near the finish line, panting. "That wasn't a fair race."
"Um, excuse me?" Alix asked, crossing her arms. "Are you implying that I cheated?"
"Yeah! We agreed to the race when you didn't have those new fancy skates!"
Max laid a hand on Kim's arm, but he shrugged it off. Alix rolled up towards Kim, glowering up at him despite the height difference between them. "Excuse me? We never made a bet on which skates I'd be using– it's not like I told you to go wear bunny slippers or something for the race! Besides, you didn't complain about it before the race."
"Well, I demand a rematch with your old skates."
"Yeah, and I'd win again and you'd demand another rematch because you can't accept that I'm faster. Better to be a loser than a sore loser, Kimmy."
"Or how about you just admit that you're nothing without a pair of skates," Kim said. "You act like it's some amazing feat, but you aren't even using your own feet."
Alix rolled her eyes. "Sounds like someone can't admit they're a slowpoke."
"Who are you calling slowpoke?"
"Oh, grow up."
"Guys," Alya said, her quiet voice filled with panic, which rose as Marinette glanced at her. "Guys, above you– run!"
Those listening turned their eyes skywards, which widened as they saw a black butterfly fluttering down towards them, dark energy ripping in its wake. Marinette stared wide eyed at it, having seen the akuma after it was freed, but it was only now that she was seeing what happened before it claimed its victim, the creature drifting down towards Kim and Alix.
Alix was the first to see it, moving back with wide eyes, and Kim didn't even have the chance to say anything as the butterfly landed on his shoe, merging into it with ease, a purple mask appearing over Kim's face.
"Kim?" Alix said slowly, but he didn't seem to hear her. His face was stoic, the light of the mask pulsing, and Kim's expression twisted into something more sinister.
"Yes, Monarch," he muttered, which sent their small group scattering. Kim turned his head towards Alix, sneering. "And my name isn't Kim anymore– it's Speedstar."
Black energy washed over Kim, engulfing his entire form. As it faded there no longer stood their friend– his entire outfit was now patterned red and yellow, lightning bolts zigzagging down the sides of his shoes, pants, and sleeves, all ending in a star at the end. His hair was still black, but the once dyed golden end was now as red as his costume, also shaped as a star. A black masked covered his face, and a pair of long black gloves ran up his hand.
"Well Alix," he said, holding out his hand, which was pulsing with energy. "I will admit that you are fast– and if you don't mind I'd like a little bit of that for myself."
He bolted forward, but Alix reacted quickly, ducking as he came charging towards her, pushing off and skating away as fast as she could. Kim– Speedstar– looked as if he were about to chase after her, but instead he turned towards who remained of their small group, smiling. He lunged towards Rose, cutting off her scream as he tapped her with his glowing hand, causing her to freeze up, the light of his hand flaring up as it was drawn into him.
"Rose!" Juleka cried, rushing towards her, gasping as the girl slowly began to fade away. She clutched her tight, glaring up at him. "What did you do to her?"
"Quick to leap to her defense– I'll most certainly be taking that," Kim replied, tapping Juleka with his glowing hand as well, causing her to stiffen up as well. Marinette watched in horror as her friend slowly began to fade away along with Rose– who was now almost completely gone.
Speedstar turned towards the rest of them, rushing at Nathaniel as he tried to run. He was a blur as he moved forward, much swifter than before, tapping the redhead on the shoulder with ease, causing him to freeze up as well as his glowing hand surged up even more. By now both Rose and Juleka had completely faded away, whatever remained of them now absorbed into Speedstar, who seemed to become faster with every person he touched.
"Heh, we're friends, aren't we, Kim?" Max said as Speedstar turned towards him, backing up slowly.
"We sure are," Spedstar said, grinning– just for a moment looking like Kim. "And I know that you're a quick thinker– you won't mind sharing that, would you?"
Marinette felt horrible as she turned and ran, feeling sick at the thought that it was a good thing Kim was targeting the others first and not her– but if she was taken before she could transform she wouldn't be able to help stop him. Besides, she had seen where the akuma had gone, and that was information she needed to get to Crimson the moment he showed up.
She darted into an alleyway, and Plagg didn't even complain, just flying out of her purse, allowing her to summon her transformation– leaping up towards the roofs as she became Lady Noire.
Speedstar seemed to have successfully drained Max, Nino, and Adrien by this time, as none of them were anywhere in sight. He had now turned his attention towards Alya, who was backing away, seemingly trying to keep Speedstar talking. He was replying, but he was also stalking closer, clearly intent on trying to gain even more speed.
Lady Noire didn't waste any time, leaping down from the roofs and running on all fours towards Alya just as Speedstar lit up his hand once more. She grabbed Alya as she charged forward, throwing her over her shoulder as she bolted across the street, dropping her friend on the grass as she turned around, drawing her baton.
She barely managed to turn in time, Speedstar speeding over towards her with a snarl. She swung her staff as hard as she could, knocking him away in a single blow. He staggered backwards, before glaring up at her, and it was now that she realized that his eyes were an electric yellow instead of Kim's regular gaze.
"Well you showed up quickly," he mused. "You know, I could use some of that."
She tried to shift into a defensive position, but Speedstar was already bearing down on her, far faster than he had been before. She opened up her mouth, trying to raise her staff, when a voice reached her ears and a flash of red bolted in front of her.
"Lady! Look out!"
The next thing she knew Crimson was throwing himself between her and Speedstar, the akuma's glowing hand pressing against her partner as he stiffened up at the contact. Her eyes went wide, and she felt something within her shift as Crimson Beetle slowly began to fade away.
"Crimson!" She cried, and somewhere in her mind another voice was crying, ringing with a desperation she didn't know one could feel. Plagg's energy writhed about her, and pure fear came crashing over her. "Crimson!"
She could feel the vividness of Plagg's fear, tangible and consuming as she threw her arms around Crimson as he slowly began to vanish– but despite it coursing through her it was separated from her own emotions, but they too echoed that fear. She didn't know what to do in that moment as she held her fading partner, but every echo of her told her that this wasn't right.
Then he was gone, along with the pleasant energy of his presence, something she didn't even know she could sense until she could no longer feel it. She just stood there, shaking, looking up as Speedstar grinned.
"The energy of a hero!" He chuckled, looking over himself. One moment he was there– then next he was a blur as he sped across the street– then back in front of her just as quickly. "Now this is power– little Alix doesn't stand a chance against me!" His eyes locked on her. "Don't worry, kittycat, I haven't forgotten about you either."
Speedstar's hand lit up once more, and she knew that she couldn't outrun him this time.
He paused as a flash of light appeared above them, the two looking up to see a pulsing white portal forming above them. Moments later a mess of red hair peered through, a band of gold resting on her head, eyes scanning the scene below. Speedstar's hand closed into a fist, glowering up at the new threat, while Lady Noire stared, blinking tears from her eyes.
The woman cursed under her breath. "Your Burrow brought us too late, Cottontail!"
"Who are you?" Speedstar snarled, the light around his hand flaring up.
The woman didn't offer him a response, instead turning her eyes towards Lady Noire. "Don't worry, Kitty, we'll fix this!"
Then she retreated back into the portal, which vanished just as quickly as it came. Lady Noire stood there for a moment, but the feeling of something being wrong felt stronger than ever– and this time she wasn't the only one to feel it. Speedstar paused, looking down at his arms the same moment Lady felt tingles running through her own body, and those who had gathered near the fight let out cries themselves.
A white light filled the sky, racing out across the city. Lady Noire did not have time to even raise her hands to block the brightness– because the moment the light touched her, reality ceased to be.
