Alya jabbed Marin's side, waking up from "resting his eyes", and pointed towards Chloé. "Check out Chloé." She remarked, and Marin saw that she looked even more exhausted than he usually did. All-day Chloé had seemed more timid, and tired. But no one really mentioned anything because...well it was Chloé. No one
"Maybe she's missing Sabrina?" He yawned.
"Mister Dupain-Cheung, manners!" Ms. Mendeleiev snapped.
"Sorry, ma'am!" Marin whimpered out, bowing his head apologetically before he turned back towards his friend.
Alya shrugged her shoulders "They seemed fine last Friday."
Ms. Mendeleiev shushed them both, Alya giggled while Marin apologized once more. Suddenly, Chloé's hair is then pulled.
"Ow!" Chloé yelped out as she held her ponytail.
Ms. Mendeleiev glared at her, "What is it, Chloé?"
"Someone pulled my hair!" Chloé said as Ms. Mendeleiev then glanced at Mylène sat directly behind her, who was shaking her head.
"I didn't do it, ma'am, honest!"
Chloé shook her head, "It wasn't her, it's-it's some invisible mystical being. Like a leprechaun. Or a unicorn without the horn!" She insisted while everyone laughed
"Quiet, everyone! Eyes on your papers!" Ms. Mendeleiev ordered.
" Oh, it's happening again!" Chloé insisted as it looked like she was pulling something back.
"Chloé, sit down!" The teacher ordered as Marin narrowed his eyes, having a sneaking suspicion. He then walked towards the back of the room near Rose.
Things started being throw at Chloé, various supplies from the other student's desks. She slammed into the front desk, breaking Miss Bustier's vase as it shattered on the ground.
"Compose yourself, Miss Bourgeois!" The teacher ordered as it looked like someone was pulling Chloé's ponytail.
Marin stepped in, throwing Rose's glitter at what appeared to be attacking Chloé and a silhouette appeared before the entire class, and invisible being that immediately pushed Marin to the ground before running out of the classroom.
"See?! I told you!" Chloé yelled out, running out of the classroom as Adrien helped Marin to his feet.
"Good thinking." Adrien complimented as Marin averted his gaze.
"It was Rose's glitter." He explained as he held up the now empty bottle. "Sorry!" He called out towards her as she brushed it off.
"Don't worry about it!"
Ms. Mendeleiev clapped her hands together. "Everyone, in light of this recent Akuma possession you all are to go straight home!" She ordered. "I will inform the principal right now."
Marin quickly grabbed his bag and ran out towards the library. Tikki flew out "Somebody seems to have it in for Chloé." she said as Marin nodded.
"That's like saying people drink water." He remarked. "The hard part is figuring out who got Akumatized."
"Tikki, spots on!"
"Damaging my daughter's reputation is the same as soiling the reputation of the Mayor of Paris, umm, which is me. And an attack on Chloé is an attack on Paris!" The mayor proclaimed at a press conference. As Ladybug and Chat Noir arrived at the same time behind him.
"We'll find the culprit, Mr. Bourgeois. You have my word." Chat Noir reassured as the Mayor then led the two of them inside and directly towards Chloé's room.
"Chloé, my darling? Help has come!" The Mayor beckoned as Chloé then came out from her hiding place,
"Ladybug!" She called out in relief, trying to hug the hero but he sidestepped her attempt. "I knew you'd come to save me! You know, considering what good friends we are!" She remarked, batting her eyelashes at him. Meanwhile Chat Noir investigated the room with Chloé's father standing nearby.
"I have to put out an emergency call to all the biggest designers. Can you imagine? My daughter wearing department-store clothing? How humiliating." The Mayor remarked as both Chat Noir and Ladybug saw the closet filled with off the hanger sweatsuits.
Ladybug eyed the remote, "Do you have any security cameras?" He asked as Chloé immediately nodded.
"Of course! With all my adoring fans, I have to be protected at all times from the losers." She said pulling up various security cameras footages on her flatscreen TV.
"Have you had any run-ins with anyone lately?" Ladybug asked.
Chloé immediately shook her head. "I never have run-ins with anyone. Everybody absolutely loves me." She insisted.
"Really? Not even with your closest friend?" Chat Noir asked picked up a photo from a broken frame.
Chloé turned her head away. "Sabrina? Trust me, she's not a friend, she's more like...hired help."
Ladybug exchanged a glance with Chat Noir before the black-spotted hero turned towards her father. "Your daughter's safest in her room with the doors and windows locked. This enemy may be invisible, but it can't go through walls.
Chloé this time caught Ladybug's arm in her grasp, "I'm sure you'll make my life perfect again! Just like it was before! Maybe after this is all dealt with we could-" She began to say but Chat Noir immediately pulled him away.
"Thank you Chloé we'll be sure to take out the Akuma in a timely manner." He quickly said dragging his partner out of the room. Ladybug had a questioning expression on his face but wasn't going to dissuade his partner from taking him as far away from Chloé as possible. As the two entered the elevator, pressing the lobby floor Chat Noir noticed Ladybug deep in thought.
"Is something up?" Chat Noir asked.
"She's not telling us the entire truth."
"Should we go back there?" Chat Noir asked, even though he grimaced at the thought of doing so.
"No...we need to ask someone who knows Chloé..." Ladybug remarked pulling out his yo-yo, placing it on its phone function.
"Who're you calling?" Chat Noir inquired curiously.
"Adrien Agreste." Ladybug said and immediately Chat Noir's stomach started to sink.
"Uh, are you sure about that?" He questioned. "He's a model, probably really busy?"
"He's also her childhood friend unless you have a better idea."
"Actually..."
"Whatever you tell us won't leave this room." Chat Noir reassured as they both stood before Chloé's butler at the base of the stairs.
"Mademoiselle did have a run-in with someone." He remarked, explaining the entire story of Chloé's fight with Sabrina and how it ended. Ladybug thanked him before turning back towards his partner, who had the same idea.
"Sabrina seems to be our main suspect." Chat Noir said, picking up a rose to flourish before Ladybug "It's not going to be easy to find someone we can't see."
Ladybug glanced at the rose that Chat Noir presented before him and his eyes lit up as he immediately ripped out all the petals.
"Hey!" Chat Noir snapped in shock as Ladybug then scattered them before the exit points around them.
"Nice idea Chat Noir." Ladybug complimented. "With the rest of the exits locked up, we'll have a better idea where Vanisher is." He said taking off his scarf, now holding it in his hand as he stared at the entrance.
Chat Noir stared at his partner for a moment. "That's not exactly... Huh?" His ears twitched as he heard the petals move, his widened as he saw a few moves behind where Ladybug was standing.
"Look out!" Chat Noir called out as he took out his baton, but Ladybug was already warned, quickly tying up Vanisher with his scarf in one swift move and pushing her to the ground. "Oh." The hero murmured out as Ladybug then threw his yo-yo in the air.
"Lucky Charm!" From his yo-yo he caught a red paint can.
"Looking for me, Sabrina? I'm right here, come on!" Chloé called out, wearing a cosplay of Ladybug's suit, save for the scarf.
"Chloé, you need to leave!" Chat Noir called out as he then hear Ladybug yelp out in pain, clutching his shin in pain as it appeared Vanisher kicked him during the distraction. He dropped it paint can, which popped open on impact, spreading all over the ground. But it was close enough that they saw a vague silhouette of Vanisher.
"If you stop this ridiculousness right now, I might let you be my BFF again!"
"You've got no friends left, Chloé. And you'll never have any, EVER again! I'll make sure of that..." Vanished threatened as Chat Noir swung his baton at her, careful not to step in any of the red paint.
"You don't scare me! Everybody adores me!" Chloé remarked swinging her toy yo-yo.
Meanwhile, Ladybug grabbed Chloé's hand, limping over to the elevators were he immediately pushed her in.
"Hey! This concerns me too, you know!"Chloé argued. Just as Ladybug was about to press the button on her floor she grabbed onto his forearm. "Wait! The akuma has to be in the designer pin I bought her. She's wearing it on her sweater. Such an unfortunate ugly sweater. It was a gift from me.
"Miss Bourgeois, you'll be safer in your room. Please, just leave this to us." Ladybug asked as he pressed the button despite Chloé's cries.
Chloé glared at the hero. "Why aren't you listening to me? I'm telling you, the akuma is in her pin-" The elevator doors closed as he heard a crash. Seeing the Chat Noir had been stunned as the arm where his ring was sitting, was lifted up.
Immediately Ladybug threw his yo-yo, wrapping it around Vanished as he pulled her towards him, slamming her against the elevator doors.
"Aw, look who's come to the rescue." She grunted with an amused tone. He broke her purse off, realizing it wasn't the possessed item as Vanished cackled. She pushed off against the wall knocking him back.
"Ladybug!" Chat Noir called out as he threw the paint overhead. It fell on both his partner and Vanisher, who was more visible. Immediately Ladybug reached for the pin on her sweater, crushing it under his foot at the Akuma flew from the broken pieces.
"No more mischief from you little Akuma. Time to purify!" Ladybug said as he swung his yo-yo towards the possessed Akuma, capturing it in one motion. Then opening it once more, watching the newly purified Akuma fly away. "Bye-bye, little butterfly."Miraculous Ladybug!" Ladybug called out as everything turned back to normal. There was no more pain anywhere, and Ladybug was wearing his formerly fallen scarf.
"Uh, what happened? What am I doing here? Oh no! The brooch Chloé gave me!" Sabrina looked around in worry but relaxed as Ladybug handed it back to her.
"Any chance you could make better friends?" He asked with some concern as Sabrina looked away with a sheepish smile.
Sabrina insisted as Ladybug helped her to her feet. "I know Chloé can be much sometimes, but she's not that bad, honest!" She quickly hugged the hero, thanking him and Chat Noir and then walked out of the hotel cradling the pin that was gifted to her.
Ladybug held up his fist, expecting Chat Noir to return the gesture, but surprised when his partner glanced at him.
"Why didn't you listen to Chloé? She was only trying to help." Chat Noir inquired.
Ladybug sighed, placing a hand on his hip. "It could've been anyone's guess on which item was possessed. Besides, Miss Bourgeois is an unreliable source of information given her, "friendship", with Sabrina." He explained as the two walked out of the hotel as they were suddenly swarmed by reporters. All of the attention was overwhelming as Ladybug's earrings started to beep. As he started to back away, Chat Noir smirked at him in amusement.
"Don't you ever want to embrace all the love?"
To which Ladybug smirked at, "Heroes don't need recognition when they do the right thing. Besides," He said as Chat Noir crossed his arms with a smile. "you can handle a little more exposure."
"I do live for my audience." Chat Noir remarked as he watched Ladybug escape the paparazzi.
Suddenly someone else stood above the crowd of reporters, clearly, it was Chloé wearing a reversed version of Ladybug's suit, right down to the earrings. "If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have defeated Vanisher. And now, I'm going to defeat you!"
Chat Noir's eyes widened in surprise. "Chloé?"
Antibug snarled at him, "Utter wrong you mangy cat, I am Antibug!"
"Mangy?!" Chat Noir snapped back, then crossed his arms with a cheeky smirk. "I'm not the one who showed up to the party in a bootleg outfit."
Antibug looked like she was about to explode. "Shut up! Where's Ladybug?!"
"Aww, does poor little rich girl not wanna play Ladybug's better half?" Chat Noir teased, trying to buy time for his partner to transform back.
Antibug gripped her yo-yo in hand, one with reversed colors, aggressively attacking the hero with a malicious smile. "We both know compared to Ladybug all you are is dead weight!"
Marin had managed to make it to the roof before he transformed back, his Kwami landing on the palms of his hands as she looked up at him, exhausted. Immediately he reached for the cookie pouch in his messenger bag but realized the only thing left were crumbs.
"Tikki please tell me you didn't eat all the cookies," Marin asked as Tikki shot him a guilty smile.
"Don't worry Marin, you'll find something..." Tikki murmured out as Marin sighed.
"Ohhhhhh, you're lucky you're cute sugar cube." Marin groaned as he placed his Kwami on his shoulder. Then out of the corner of his eye, he saw Chat Noir fighting against a new enemy. One that had an outfit that resembled his, except the colors were reversed, and there wasn't a scarf.
"Chloé?!" Marin remarked in shock as he recognized the blonde hair.
"Must have heard what you said in the hotel..." Tikki murmured out as Marin gently nuzzled her face with his hand.
"Hang in there sugar-cube." Marin tried to reassure as he then ran towards the hotel's kitchens just one floor below.
Antibug cackled in amusement as she evaded almost off of Chat Noir's attacks, while he kept getting hit with assortments of furniture that were on the deck.
"I guess Sabrina was good for one thing!" She laughed in amusement as Chat Noir panted heavily, still holding his staff. "Aren't you tired of playing second fiddle to Ladybug?" She asked walking towards him, swinging her yo-yo as the hero tried to retain the distance he had made. Still waiting on his partner to return...hopefully.
"Aren't you tired of copying Ladybug?!" He bit back, his back hitting the railing of the deck. He was only distracted for a moment, but it was enough time for Antibug to make her move. She knocked him using a nearby porch-lamp, laughing in amusement as she stood over his unconscious body.
"Tikki!" Marin complained as he saw his partner tied up to his own baton, being shaken by the Villainess who was smiling like a child in a toy store.
"Just a little longer..." Tikki murmured as she chewed the cookie Marin had found in the kitchen. Now he had broken into Chloé's apartment bedroom, and could only watch as his partner was being tormented with a news helicopter flying by. "You have to save Chat Noir." She said.
"Me?! Are you nuts!?" Marin asked. "I'd get creamed in a heartbeat, I'm not Ladybug."
"You are Ladybug, with or without the costume!"
Marin sighed heavily as he heard Antibug speak up.
"If you beg, maybe I'll allow you to be one of my new servants."
Chat Noir laughed, "Never! Not with a fake like you. Ladybug and I are a team, he'd never let me down." He said with confidence, only to be shaken up again as Antibug jumped up and down on the pole that kept him dangling.
Marin's heart swelled with guilt, looking around he then spotted something of Chloé's on the ground. Picking it up he recognized the shape of his mask. Suddenly getting an idea he opened up her closet finding exactly what he was looking for. "Tikki, I'm going to need your help," Marin remarked as the Kwami nodded her head.
"I know you can hear me Lady-brat, wherever you are. You're going to have to choose. If you want to keep Chat Noir alive, you'll have to give me your Miraculous. And if you refuse, well then take a good look at Chat Noir, because this will be the last you'll ever see of him. I'm going to count to ten! One…!"
"Uh… could you make that 20?" Chat Noir asked, but was silenced once more.
"Two! Three!" Antibug stopped for a moment, smiling maliciously. "Nine!"
"Hey!" Chat Noir called out in a panic, silently hoping... Suddenly, he looked up in shock as he a red Kwami hovering before his eyes. "Who are..." Then the Kwami revealed itself to Antibug. Waving as it quickly flew away.
"Ladybug's Kwami!" Antibug called out immediately abandoning Chat Noir to fall in favor of chasing down the source of Ladybug's power.
Chat screamed out as he began falling towards the ground. But caught his breath as he suddenly stopped, feeling that he was being pulled back to safety by his belt-tail. Chat Noir had a questioning expression as he was sitting on the deck, his baton was reset back to it's smallest form and he turned to see a person in a large black hoodie covering most of his body and face, wearing a ladybug costume mask.
"Hey kitty cat." They greeted.
Chat Noir's eyes widened at the pet name only one person called him. "Ladybug?!" He said in shock, looking towards where Anitbug was still running around the hotel. "But, your Kwami..." His words faltered as the same one phased through from the floors, smiling happily as she nuzzled her partners face.
"She's a trickly little one."
"But, our identities..."Chat Noir faltered once more, unable to believe that his partner was near him right now without his normal ladybug attire, save for one exception.
"We're an unstoppable team." This person remarked with a smile, repeating what he himself said earlier. "But I would never abandon my partner."
"So, you think you're so smart, huh? Mangy cat!" Antibug snapped as she had returned, standing before them with an angry expression. Chat Noir stood protectively before his partner, with his baton in hand.
"Round two, Faux-bug?" Chat Noir asked a furious Antibug. Then glanced back at his partner and Kwami.
"Ready?" His partner asked his Kwami who nodded. Under his breath he muttered something, transforming into this normal hero suit.
"Ladybug?!" Antibug said in disbelief as her former hero transformed right in front of her.
"Sorry to keep you, Chat Noir." Ladybug remarked as he stood right next to his partner, who simply shrugged his shoulders.
"Personally, I'd wait a lifetime for you, my Lady. But I'm glad you're here now." He remarked as both of them turned towards Antibug who fled onto the roof of the building.
The two heroes followed after their target, seeing her use her yo-yo to pull the pool cover towards her. Giving them more room to fight.
"I'm thinking the Akuma is in her earrings." Chat Noir remarked as they both stood with their weapons ready. "She was already wearing them when she was akumatized.
Ladybug nodded. "I'll handle this part, you take a breather kitty cat." He said, already noticing Chat Noir's exhaustion from the previous fight.
Chat Noir nodded, sitting down for a moment on one of the pool chairs as Ladybug took the lead. Antibug took a step back, looking like a cornered animal as Ladybug showed no hesitation on his face.
"Anti Charm!" The villainess suddenly yelled out, throwing up her yo-yo. Ladybug mirrored her actions, "Lucky Charm!" Both of them received far different items.
Antibug laughed victoriously as a giant sword fell into her hand, while Ladybug held a banana. "What? You're going to defeat me with fruit? Are you some kind of child?!"
Ladybug merely smiled at her, somehow ticking her off even more so than if he actually responded. She charged towards him, jumping up high, and thrusting her giant weapon down as Ladybug merely folded his hands behind his back, sidestepping her attack as he dropped banana peel. As Antibug tried to pull her weapon out of the broken pool she slipped on the marbles. Falling onto her back as Ladybug quickly removed her earrings. Breaking them under his foot as the Akuma then flew out.
"No more mischief from you little Akuma. Time to purify!" Ladybug said as he swung his yo-yo towards the possessed Akuma, capturing it in one motion. Then opening it once more, watching the newly purified Akuma fly away. "Bye-bye, little butterfly." He then threw up his lucky charm. "Miraculous Ladybug!" Returning everything to normal.
Chloé turned back to normal, looking up in confusion as Ladybug and Chat Noir pounded fists.
"Ladybug?" Chloé question as Ladybug helped her to her feet, handing back her costume earrings.
"Chloé, I'm sorry about earlier. I would've defeated Vanisher sooner if I'd taken your advice." Ladybug said, being the bigger person as Chat Noir just stared at him in disbelief.
Chloé giggled flirtatiously "Oh, huh. In that case," She remarked tucking a lock of her behind her ear, then grasped his arm. "I might just have to stay your most devoted fan after all!"
The sight made Chat Noir flatten his ears.
"Maybe if you're free after this, we could spend some time together?" She recommended looking up at him with adoring eyes.
Ladybug gently pushed her way, " Thank you for the offer, but I think you should work things out with your friend Sabrina. She really cares about you."
Chloé hummed for a moment, shrugging her shoulder, "Mm. Well, since it's coming from Ladybug. Then perhaps we could-"
"Thank you Chloé!" Chat Noir cut in, grabbing his partner's arm again. "But we need to leave." He smiled, flashing his teeth, but it disappeared as soon as he turned his back, still grasping his partner's hand until they both jumped off of the roof.
The next day Adrien walked towards his classroom, noticing Sabrina smiling happily with a new broach on her sweater as Chloé seemed to be in a good mood. He was happy for the two of them as he then walked into the classroom, seeing that the teacher's vase was replaced with a bouquet of pink camellia flowers. He turned back towards his classmate, chuckling under his breath as he noticed Marin was resting his head on his arms, his head was turned to this side.
Adrien looked back at his classmate, noticing a pink petal sitting atop his bed head, putting two and two together. Carefully, he removed, not, not wanting to wake him up. But immediately snapped his hand back as he heard footsteps.
"Hey, dude!" Nino called out walking in with Kim and Max.
Adrien snapped his head towards his friends, trying to look natural as he smiled in greeting as Nino sat down next to him.
"Is Marin asleep again?" Kim asked poking his friend's face as Adrien started to get worried. But his classmate was in a deep slumber, undeterred by the physical contact.
"Yeah, but maybe we shouldn't bug him?" He suggested as the class began to fill up. "There's still time before class start-"
"Cool, let's draw on his face," Kim said mischievously taking out a marker from his backpack.
Max suddenly stepped forward. "Kim no, that's permanent marker- KIM!"
Notes:
- Marin stole the hoodie and mask afterward, it wasn't like he had any way to return them. (You may even see the hoodie again in the future ;) )
- Chat is a jelly kitty :3
-Marin doesn't really mind Kim's pranks, getting him back later one way or another.