Disclaimer: I do not own Miraculous Ladybug or DC Comics.

International Relationships II

"Talking"

"Thinking"

In his defense, Adrien tried to stay away from Gotham's supervillains. Once he started transforming and prowling the streets at night, he made sure to keep his focus on muggers and other such criminals. He'd give them a beating and leave before the victims had a chance to thank him or the cops to show up. Stay under the radar, stay out of Batman's sight. That had been the plan.

He should've figured that plan went out the window when he first ran into Catwoman. There were some nights when she would join him in taking out the criminals. Their relationship had taken on a teacher-student quality. She would give him tips on how to watch and track where people were going, how to properly move his limbs when striking, and where the best spots for food were. It was a good relationship and Adrien found himself starting to trust the older woman. The only thing he wished she'd stop with was calling him her sidekick.

Still, even with that relationship. Adrien was determined to make sure that he didn't run into any more Gotham supervillains. He should've known better to make that silent promise. If he didn't have his doubts about Plagg being involved, he'd strangle the black kwami.

Riddler was the first one he ran into. While prowling through the backstreets one night, he heard a woman scream from inside a building. Thinking someone was being attacked, he rushed in.

There was no woman, only a hollowed-out room. The walls had been knocked down to create space. But that didn't matter since the floor had been removed, leaving only a large drop to very sharp spikes. There were strips of the floor left standing over the pit but there was no pattern or shape to them.

At the other end of the room stood the Riddler, dressed in a green suit and black bowler hat, cane in hand and a purple domino mask over his eyes. Said eyes found Adrian and frowned. "You are not the Bat," he said.

Panic started to rise in Adrien. So he did the only thing he could think of doing: put on a show. "Bonjour, monsieur," he said, bringing back his accent as he bowed. "I apologize if I wandered into somewhere I shouldn't, but a cat's curiosity cannot be denied."

"Hmph, you must be someone trying to be Gotham's latest superhero. Do you think you will give yourself glory if you defeat me, the Riddler?" His laugh had a mocking quality that set a person's teeth on edge.

"A superhero, moi?" Adrien asked, ignoring his teeth. "No, M. Riddler. I am but a humble cat, going where I wish."

The Riddler stared across the room at the teenager. He might've been dressed up like a cat, albeit one with a coat and a staff, but there was no doubt what he was. "You can't fool me. You're trying to be a superhero. While I could applaud at your efforts, the fact your chances of success will negate any feeling my attention would give you. But!" He raised a finger for emphasis. "I will not have it said that I am unwilling to help the lesser intelligent. So," he declared, pointing the finger at the teenager, "I will give you a chance."

"A chance?" he repeated, eyeing what remained of the floor.

"Yes. You have the honor of first attempting my latest trap. It's simple. All you have to do is get across and reach me. If you succeed, you will be allowed to live lamenting the failed chance of taking me in. If you die, well…" His shrug might've seemed apologetic, if it wasn't for the smug smirk on his face. "I don't need to say it, do I?"

"You do not, M. Riddler."

The cane snapped up and pointed at him. "Then come! See if you're able to beat my ingenious design! Try to be my intellectual equal!"

Adrien looked long and hard at the death trap. It seemed simple enough. But he was hesitant because it couldn't have been that simple. Catwoman had talked about the Riddler enough time for him to guess the supervillain liked to go overboard with his plans. So if Adrien couldn't see what the trick was, it would probably appear somewhere while he was trying to get across. He would have to tread lightly and keep an eye for any change.

But there was also another way he could go about it.

The Riddler waited to see the teenager try and get through his death trap, eager to see how he would make a mistake. Instead, the teenager turned around and headed for the door. It took him a moment to understand what he was seeing. Once he did, anger started running through him. "What are you doing?" he demanded.

"Leaving, M. Riddler."

Leaving? He was leaving? The Riddler projected his mocking laugh. "So, you admit that you cannot conceive of a solution. At least you can admit that you're not as smart as me."

Adrien's hand was on the knob, ready to leave. But that last remark rankled him, rankled his pride. "It's not a matter of smarts as it is perspective," he said, looking back. "You enjoy riddles, monsieur. Would you permit me asking one to you?"

"Oh? Do you think you have a riddle that I, the Riddler, cannot answer? Well, I shall indulge you." He leaned on his cane, the perfect picture of smug confidence. "Go ahead and ask."

"Very well. Why would a cat care about riddles?"

The silence hung with a deafening roar. The Riddler just stared, mouth agape. Adrien didn't need any more answer than that. He walked out, leaving the supervillain behind. It wasn't until he was a few blocks away and on a roof that he remembered to start breathing again.

If that had been the only time Adrien had encountered a supervillain, it would've been perfectly fine by him.


He encountered Poison Ivy next. Well, "encountered" might've been a safe word. It was also full of understatement.

In hindsight, taking a stroll through one of Gotham's parks was a bad idea. Adrien had thought it was safe since it was one of the small parks, hardly big enough to fit a block. If Chloe had seen it, she would've left without missing a beat. Then again, Chloe didn't consider anything less than the Tuileries Garden to be a park.

Still, the place had looked nice, and Adrien wanted a break for a moment. He didn't realize a few trees weren't supposed to be there until one of them tried stabbing him with a branch. He had to call upon every bit of his fencing training to avoid the branches and even then, he knew they were herding him somewhere he didn't want to go.

A throaty chuckle nudged against his spine as he landed on his feet. "That's enough," said a sensual yet dry voice. The trees leaned away, returning to their original positions. "And just who is foolish enough to walk amongst my babies, alone?"

Adrien turned and looked upon a throne, as much as a throne could be made from branches and leaves. Yet that didn't compare to the woman sitting on it. The green skin and red hair made it quite obvious who it was.

Poison Ivy.

As much as he wanted to run, there was no way Adrien could. Not with all the trees surrounding him. He was going to have to bluff. His encounter with the Riddler two weeks ago gave him enough of an idea. "Bonjour, mademoiselle," he said, bowing low. "A wonderful night, is it not?"

Her smirk seemed to promise interesting things. Adrian had to summon the memory of his lady's smile to counter it. "Yes, for a time," Poison Ivy said. "But then that'll change. You still haven't answered my question."

"Ah, my pardon, mademoiselle. I am but a humble cat."

Her eyebrow quirked in amusement. "Just a cat? I would've thought you were something more."

He shook his head. "No, just a cat who chose to wander. And it would seem I have wandered into your garden." He bowed again, keeping it low. "If a cat's presence has sullied your garden, I can only offer my sincerest apologies. It was an honest mistake."

Waiting for a response seemed much longer in silence. Adrien kept his head bowed, not daring to look into her eyes. He had heard about how men could fall victim to Poison Ivy simply by being close to her. Already he could smell something in the air that hadn't been there before. It was cloying and threatened to overwhelm him. Breathing through his mouth helped, somewhat.

Her laugh rolled across his shoulders and sent butterflies to his stomach. "Someone offering apologies for wandering where he shouldn't? And here I thought I heard everything." Poison Ivy leaned forward, just enough to attract attention but not suggestions. "Say I forgive you. What will you do?"

"Go about my wandering, mademoiselle."

"And you wouldn't try to stop me?"

"Stop you from doing what?" It was a good assumption that she was planning something. But if he was ignorant about it, his chances rose. He raised his head and looked her in the eyes. "You are simply here, enjoying the night. Why would I dare interrupt something such as that?"

That wasn't the answer she had been expecting. Her eyes narrowed at the boy before her, searching for hidden meanings. "You're a superhero, and you're willing to just let me go? Hmm, the Bat's standards must be slipping."

Adrien was a little insulted by that. He had been a superhero in Paris! But he stopped the anger before something stupid rushed out of his mouth. He wasn't a superhero here. "I am no superhero, mademoiselle."

She gave him a long look, letting him know just what she thought of his statement. He was dressed up like that and he wasn't a superhero? "Then what are you?"

"Simply a cat." He hoped she bought it. He had done everything he could not to provoke a fight against her.

"A cat? You?" She didn't believe it for a second. Gotham certainly had its share of the crazies (probably more than it had any right to) but this was just pushing it. She was clearly looking at a boy who was dressed up in a catsuit and a mask. The only thing missing was his symbol.

Still, he had been nothing but polite since they started talking. He paid attention and didn't try to be threatening. If it was simply a mistake on his part, then she didn't need to do anything more. She didn't believe that he was a cat, but maybe he wasn't a superhero.

In the end, she waved her hand and the exit appeared. "If you wish to wander, then wander," she told him.

Adrien bowed again. "Merci, mademoiselle. May you have a pleasant night." Her eyes stayed on him as he left. There was a questioning feeling to them that could've turned dangerous in a second. He kept his pace constant until he was out of the park. Then he leapt up to a nearby roof.

That was where Catwoman found him, on the ground with his back pressed against the wall. "Kitten!" she exclaimed, rushing over to check him over. "You look as if you've seen a ghost." He looked fine but she knew that could be deceptive.

"No, not a ghost," he answered. "Poison Ivy."

Warning bells went off in her mind at that. Ivy was a neutral figure nowadays, but everyone knew all it took was one idiot to send her back to being a supervillain, especially when she was alone. "Are you alright?"

He nodded. "She didn't come after me. I had simply wandered into her spot by mistake. We talked and she let me leave."

"Just like that."

"Yes. She was quite polite."

So, all things considered, he should've been fine. So why was her pupil (and wasn't that still a strange notion?) sitting there as if he had witnessed something horrible. "What happened, kitten?"

Adrien looked up at her. "Is Poison Ivy somehow allergic to pants?" It was a question he never though he would ask. The memory was still fresh. Poison Ivy reclining on her throne, wearing nothing but a tight shirt and underwear.

The question registered with Catwoman and she looked at her pupil again. This time, she understood why he was sitting so. He was doing his best to suffocate a part of his body. Worry left her as a mirthful smirk crossed her lips. "Oh, Ivy must've felt really comfortable if she went out like that." Her pupil's eyes widened in surprise. She couldn't help but laugh. "You should feel lucky, my handsome kitten. There are plenty of boys who would've killed to witness what you've seen."

What she didn't know was it wasn't Poison Ivy that put Adrien in that position. It was the image of his lady in that position, wearing the same clothes.


The next two supervillains Adrien met happened at the same time. That was because it was an ambush, for him.

He was just prowling through the alleys, keeping an eye out for possible threats. He walked out into a backstreet and found himself facing a firing squad. There were a lot of guns pointing at him, with a lot of angry faces. A quick glance behind told his entrance had been cut off.

"Well, well, ain't this nice?" asked a greasy voice. A rotund man waddled forward through the men, using an umbrella like a cane. He might've seemed jovial but the eye glaring behind the monocle betrayed how he felt. A taller man followed. If his divided-colored suit didn't make it obvious, the burns covering half his face announced who he was.

Fear shot down Adrien's spine as he looked at the Penguin and Two-Face. "We were wondering if you were ever going to show up, little cat," Two-Face snarled. There was a gun in one hand while the other fingered a coin.

Adrien spoke before thinking, instantly going on the bluff. "Pardon, messieurs. I was not aware we had an appointment. What can this cat do for you?"

The Penguin jabbed the air with his umbrella. Such a move should've been ridiculous, yet he made it threatening. "What we want is you out of our business. You realize how much of a mess you've been making?"

"A mess? Me?" He gave them the affronted hand on his chest. "How could I cause you such a mess? I've gone out of my way to avoid you."

If it had been a different time or situation, their stunned looks would've been hilarious. The men surrounding him glanced at one another, unsure of what was happening. The Penguin couldn't believe it. "Avoiding us?" he repeated.

Adrien nodded. "Yes. It would've been impossible for a cat such as me not to have heard of Gotham's villains. Why would I want to cause trouble for myself when I want to wander?"

"Should've thought of that before going after our men," Two-Face said. The coin started moving through his fingers. "You think we wouldn't notice our men sporting bruises and injuries?"

"I only hunt those who annoy me."

The scarred man laughed. It was a horrible sound that wheezed out of his throat. "You make it sound so simple." His voice was different, softer and with a regretful tone. His coin flicked up and was held by two fingers. Everyone could see it. "Why don't I make it simple for you too?"

The Penguin snapped his eyes over at him. "Harv, don't even think about it! We're not gonna let this little shit just walk outta here." The umbrella pointed at Two-Face, ready to do something in terms of damage.

"Don't worry, Penguin," he said, going back to his first voice. "It ain't gonna be like that. Heads, we kill him quick. Tails, we kill him slow." The Penguin considered the coin for a moment before a nasty smirk stretched across his lips.

Things weren't looking good for Adrien. The bluff wasn't working. The only thing he could think of was doubling down. But how? It's not like he could be more than he already was.

…Or could he?

The thought quickly grew into something that resembled a plan. He only hoped it worked. "So, that's how my life will end? Leaving it up to chance and luck?"

"If you want to call it that," Two-Face said.

"Hmm, not a very good choice to make." That got him several laughs and sneers. The fear pushed him to keep going. "Can I assume that you've all heard how black cats are bad luck? That if one crosses your path, terrible things will happen to you?" He gave them a moment to consider his words. "Have you ever wondered how those tales started?"

It didn't take them long to understand what he was implying. The Penguin snorted and laughed. It was grating sound that was an insult to penguins everywhere. "You saying you're a black cat, boy?" he asked, sneering the question.

"No. I'm the black cat." Adrien looked at Two-Face. "If you wish to leave my fate to luck, think very carefully about it. The outcome might not be what you want." For all the confidence he gave the criminals, he was silently looking for a way out. If he used Cataclysm on the ground, that would give him enough time to get away. But it would destroy the street and possibly the surrounding buildings. And there was no Ladybug to fix the damages afterwards.

Could he do it, just to escape?

The answer came quickly enough.

He couldn't. All he could do was hope they'd take his bluff.

Two-Face considered his coin for a moment and shrugged. "The coin will decide," he declared in his second voice.

As the coin went up, an explosion went off and smoke engulfed the street. A shadow swooped overhead, getting the criminals' attention. "It's the Bat!" someone screamed.

"Don't forget about me!" A woman suddenly appeared beside Adrien. He could've noticed the way her clothes showed her body or the fact her blonde hair was done up in pigtails, with each tail having a different dyed color. Instead, his attention was drawn to the very large hammer on her shoulder.

"Oh shit, it's Quinn!"

That shout got Adrien's attention too. Harley Quinn smiled. "Aw, you know me. You're first!" She charged right at the criminals, hammer ready to swing.

It quickly became chaos on the street. Adrien couldn't see much, thanks to the smoke, just enough to know the criminals were being taken out by someone else. And considering that first shout, it was obvious who it was.

Batman.

That was Adrien's cue to run. Or at the least, move very quickly back the way he came. He noticed Catwoman in the fight but wasn't sure if she had noticed him. Best not to worry about it.

He didn't slow down until the sounds of the fight died away. Now he could breathe a little easier. Perhaps he hadn't been noticed. That hope stayed strong until he turned a corner and encountered a scowling green domino mask.

"And where do you think you're going?"

Adrien's first thought was "How did he get here so fast?" which was then followed by "Crap." He had done his best to stay out of sight from Batman, yet Robin was able to find him. This was not a good night.

"Well?" Robin demanded, glaring at the older boy.

Considering the situation, he figured it was best to keep up the act. "Bonjour, Monsieur Robin." He bowed, just enough to convey respect. The superhero might've been younger but there was no doubt he would be able to fight. "A fine night to wander, is it not?"

"Tt, you weren't wandering. What were you doing meeting with Two-Face and Penguin?"

"I was not meeting with them. They had this nonsensical idea that I was interfering with their business. I was doing nothing of the sort." He pretended to glance back. "It was quite rude of them, non?"

Robin considered his words. There was a reason and no evidence to detract it. But there was something else he could do. "What's your relationship with Catwoman?"

Panic flashed through Adrien for a moment. She had said she wouldn't reveal him! He quickly decided to bluff, somewhat. "Catwoman? She is a cat, same as I, just as you are a bird."

The scowl tightened. "I am not a bird!"

He pretended to frown. "But are you not a robin?" He gave it an airy wave, as if the matter was not important. "Cats go where cats go. There are times when we wander alone, and times when a fellow cat is fine company. If I meet a fellow cat who wants to play, I would be a poor cat indeed to say no." He stepped forward and to the side, ready to walk around. "Now, don't you have a fight to get back to?"

A sword appeared right before his eyes. It was a katana, well-forged and sharpened. "Don't move another step," Robin threatened.

Their conversation took a turn. Then it took another when Catwoman showed up. "Robin, what are you doing?" she asked, giving him a stern look. Adrian wasn't sure how hands on hips could be threatening, but she did it.

Robin acted as if her appearance didn't matter but Adrian noticed the slight worried look in his eyes. "He's been spotted alongside you on many nights. He has not been identified. Not even Oracle can figure out who he is. Who is he?" he demanded. "What's his relationship with you?" There was a small note of something else in his demand. Adrian wasn't sure what exactly it was.

The adult's eyes looked back and forth at the two boys before sighing. "Am I not allowed to have a protégé?" she asked with an arched tone. "I found this handsome kitten one night and decided to teach him some things. Is this coming from Batman?"

"It's coming from me."

Well, this was starting to sound like something else. It also sounded like something Adrien shouldn't be involved in. "As pleasant as it was to meet you, Monsieur Robin, it is time I went back to my wandering. There is a city to roam after all."

The sword stayed on point, two inches from his nose. "You're not going anywhere, not until I get some proper answers."

"Alas, I don't feel like giving you them. But I am generous enough to give you a hint. Your teacher, Monsieur Bat, he is friends with a fish, non?" Robin was confused. Good, it was abstract enough. Adrien smiled, just enough to show a hint of teeth. "Perhaps you should ask the fish just how his city sank." He grabbed hold of the sword, careful not to cut himself. "Cataclysm."

The sword rusted into nothingness, stunning the other two in the conversation. Adrien gave Catwoman an apologetic look before walking past them. He moved quick into another alley and hid inside a shadowed spot, behind a couple of trashcans. "Claws in."

Plagg flew up into the air after the transformation and glanced out to the street. "Alright, looks like they left," he announced, flying back over to his kitten. "That was fun, by the way. Are you going to do more of that?"

"Maybe another night," Adrien said as he stood up. "I'm tired and I've got school in the morning." He walked out onto the street, the picture of someone hurrying home. If Catwoman or Robin were to pass by him now, they wouldn't notice him.

The kwami accepted the answer. Plus, there were more important things to worry about. "I'm going to raid the camembert when we get back. I'm wiped!" he declared, diving into Adrien's pocket.

His partner didn't believe him for a second. "That's the first time I've used Cataclysm since coming to Gotham."

"I know! I'm out of shape. I need something that'll get me charged up and ready to go!" There was only one thing that would do the trick. The secret stash of camembert. For emergencies only, of course.

Adrien gave the little black cat a long look. "That's reminds me, Plagg. Just how much of everything was your fault?"

"Adrien, how could you think that of me?"

"Very easily." He had been in Gotham for only three months and already he's running into supervillains, not to mention Robin. This wasn't what he wanted. What's next? He was going to run into Batman himself?

…It was a good thing he didn't utter that aloud, or things really wouldn't have gone his way. The knowing look from Plagg didn't help. "Shut up," he told the kwami.

End

Author's note: Thank you for all the reviews you've sent me.

This chapter was definitely an "Actions have consequences" sort of tale. This isn't Paris. The bad guys don't just go away after the fight. Adrien might be trying to hide from Batman, but he also has to consider the villains.

From what I know about the Riddler (and granted, it's not much), the best way to beat him is not to play. For Adrien, he knew that he wouldn't be able to beat the game. There was no one that needed saving and he was doing his best to stay under the radar. Why would he stick around?

If anyone is wondering just what Adrian was trying to do after Poison Ivy, remember that he's a male and a teenager. Having been in that position myself, there have been a few times I've tried suffocating a part of my anatomy, usually crossing my leg. You see any teenager or young men in the world who suddenly do that, odds are they're trying to suffocate that part.

I'm not exactly sure what Damian's relationship with Selina is in the comics. So I'm having him see her as a pseudo-mother, especially considering who his actual mother is. He would be suspicious of Adrien and might even consider him a rival. Actually, that might be interesting. Jon Kent is Damian's friend, but Adrien becomes the rival (completely one-sided, of course).

As for Adrien, as much as he's trying not to stand out and be a superhero, he's accidently started the seeds for his own legend. If he had known that, he probably wouldn't have used the black cat angle or mentioned Atlantis. But again, actions have consequences.

I'll see you all next chapter!