The little black creature and I stare at each other before he flies away over to my desk. "Hey, what are you doing?" I rush over to my desk and he starts flinging things on the floor, then stopping when he finds a piece of paper. He mimics writing in the air and I hand him a stub of a pencil. I watch spellbound as the little creature begins to write.
"My name is Plagg and I'm your Kwami. I grant you the powers of destruction, but under no circumstances rub my belly or your finger may be chomped. I'm not a genie." "But why are you here, and why me?" I ask. Plagg begins writing again. "Ask the Supreme, he has all the answers. Now, do you have any cheese?"
My head is spinning, but I think I have a plan. "I'll get you cheese if you lead me to the Supreme. Okay?" Plagg gives me look, but raises a tiny hand, paw? I'm not sure. "Wait here a moment," I sprint into my closet and dress all in black. Its late and as much freedom as Father gives me, I doubt he'd let me wander the streets of Paris this late.
Miraculously, I leave the house unseen, but my heart is bumping around in my chest. Plagg flies ahead, looking back very few feet seeing that I'm following him.
Eventually, we reach a small house with a candle burning in the window, and Plagg gestures to the door. Taking a deep breath, I knock. The door opens and a small man with piercing black eyes finds me standing there. "Um, I believe you call for me?" "Are you Adrien Agreste?" I nod. "Come in, we have much to discuss."
What a difference walking into the small room has. At Marinette's, I felt right at home, but here I feel if I touch anything, I'll be in major trouble. I sit down at a small table and The Supreme goes over to the stove, pouring two cups of tea. Then he sits down across from me. "I need your help, Adrien," he says. I take a sip of tea. "A Miraculous was stolen from me, and I need it back. That's where you and Plagg come in." Miraculous, I think to myself. In the dim fog of my mind, I remember Mother mentioning a Miraculous, or perhaps it is my mind playing tricks on me as usual. "Adrien, pay attention!" He slams a fist down on the table. "Sorry! Miraculous, okay." "Yes, the Butterfly Miraculous was stolen from me from the evil Hesperia. With your powers of destruction, you and Toxinelle will be able to get it back."
"Toxinelle?" "She is the holder of The Ladybug Miraculous, and your partner." I mull this over. "So, instant girlfriend?" I ask hopefully, and The Supreme rolls his eyes as if to say, "Why did I pick him?"
"Don't test my patience. I will you instruct you about your Miraculous, then I will give you a map where Toxinelle is waiting for you." I try to pay attention, I really do, but all I think is maybe I'll get a new friend!
Finally, the Supreme sends me off to the park with barely a goodbye. Plagg keeps pulling at my arm, and I have to shake him off. "Don't worry, I'll keep my end of the deal."
Goosebumps rise on my arms as I open the iron gate to the park, the smell of cherry blossoms heavy on the breeze. When I walk past the swings though, I finally crack, transforming. "Plagg, Daggers Out!"
A green flash fills the air, and with a high pitched yelp, I hit the deck, covering my eyes. Great, instead of the Cowardly Lion, I'm the Cowardly Kitty.
"Oh, great, I thought I was getting a strong and buff partner, not a shivering kitten!" I leap up, finding myself staring at a girl in a red-and-black suit, looking like she'd rather be anywhere but here. "Hey!" I get a better look at her with my night-vision and my lips begin to twitch. "Are you a Cockroach? Ow!" "Call me a cockroach again, and I'll feed you to 'em!" she hisses. I can't help myself. "No, your a hissing Cockroach!" "Take a look at yourself, Fleabag!" she hands me a small compact.
"Hey, there, handsome," I grin. My suit is all black and a have a sliver spiked bell on my collar, and best of my hair is green and spiky! Talk about a transformation! "So, I assume your Kwami told you about the Miraculous?" Toxinelle asks. "No, the Supreme did. That's how I knew were to meet you. My Kwami just wants cheese."
"Its getting late, so let's pick a meeting spot for tomorrow," she says. "Ooh! Andre's ice cream cart!" "Fleabag, we have a mission to follow through, its not instant girlfriend." We decide to meet by the alleyway by one of the Starbucks before school.
"See you around, Fleabag," my new partner says, but I grab her wrist. "Wait, what's your name?" Okay, I know it, but proper introductions are good, right? "Toxinelle. And you?" "Claw Noir. Or you can call me Fleabag," I wink. She rolls her eyes and disappears into the night.
Okay, so maybe Toxinelle isn't the warm and cuddly type, but a guy can dream right? On the way home, I promise Plagg we'll buy cheese tomorrow when the shops are open, and I want to give Marinette some flowers.
After all, we are friends, right?
My luck of sneaking back in isn't so great when Father comes out of his office. "Adrien, what are you doing up this time of night?" I can't tell him, and it wouldn't matter anyway. If he has no time for me, why should I bother?
I brush past him, trying not to hear his calls. But I sink into bed, I find tears leaking out of my eyes. My life has changed, but why do I long for what life used to be like?