Chapter Text
Things were getting out of hand. Marinette sat in her room furiously typing, her computer open to the Ladyblog forums. She had checked the page curious to see the Parisian's reactions to the new superheros that had debuted in the last few days, but after only moments of reading found herself enraged beyond reason at what she was seeing.
Bugsnake1010: Like, who needs Chat Noir when Viperion is right there? RIGHT THERE?! He's 10x hotter and more capable than that dumb cat.
Buggin_0ut18: Right? Ladybug needs to ditch the leather clad loser sidekick for a partner that actually keeps his focus when confronting an akuma.
Foxy__Rouge: Puh~lease who needs any of the guys when the lovely Rena has her back #ladyfox #OTP But forreal any one of the new heros are better than Chat
Tikki had originally argued with Marinette when she set up the Ladybug_official account on Ladyblog, saying it was unsafe and that people might try and track the IP address she was posting from. But that's what a VPN was for, and honestly up until now Marinette hadn't used the profile very often. It was just a convenient way to send out important updates on the fly or to squash rumors and misinformation quickly. Now, however, it was a crucial platform for her to defend the honor of her kitty.
Ladybug_official: Please don't talk like that, guys, Chat Noir is one of the bravest and kindest people I have ever met. He is absolutely necessary to the team. I wouldn't be able to do half of what I do without him, he's my partner, I need him.
This was met, surprisingly, with taunts and uproar and rebuttals with lists of supposed mistakes that Chat had made. And over the next few minutes Marinette's replies had gotten less and less polite. Something, that soon had people questioning her identity.
Queen_Bee_Stan_Sabrina: How do we even know you're actually Ladybug? For all we know the ladyblogger operates that account in order to get more views. Surely the REAL Ladybug is smart enough to realize she'd be better off without 'Hack Noir'.
Marinette saw red, her hands curled into fists, she was literally shaking with rage. Without saying a word, she began feverishly moving about the room gathering blankets and clips and string. Tikki hovered worriedly over the keyboard, watching Marinette assemble a makeshift backdrop out of sheets and blankets.
"Calm down Marinette. They don't know what they're talking about. As long as you know the truth that's all that matters. Chat Noir knows you need him" Tikki said, attempting to placate the infuriated blue haired girl.
Marinette didn't answer as she finished hanging the last sheet. She had created a makeshift tent over her compter that would shield her bedroom from the view of her webcam, preventing any nosy fans from identifying her by location.
"Tikki, Spots on" she growled, ignoring the whine from her Kwami as Tikki was swept magically into her earrings.
A couple clicks later and she was live.
"Is this proof enough for you? I'm Ladybug. The one and only. And I'm telling you all that you're wrong about Chat Noir. He is, quite possibly, the most important member of the miraculous team. A couple of you have mentioned that I occasionally throw Chat at the Akuma to break a possessed item. Do you have any idea how much precision it takes to Cataclysm a specific item when being PHYSICALLY THROWN AT SOMEONE? I do. It's ridiculous. And if Chat wasn't so good at his job he might've missed and hit the Akumatized victim instead. But I still occasionally throw him anyway, and you know why? Because I know he wont miss! He's that good! I would trust Chat with my life. He has been my most loyal and stable Ally. And if you think for one minute..."
As Ladybug's rant continued, acrossed the city, in the glass walled bedroom of his mansion, Adrien Agreste stared slackjawed at his computer screen. His expression a mixture of horror, elation and awe. For Ladybug was live on the Ladyblog viciously defending Chat Noir; and there on Ladybug's desk, in plain sight, for all the world to see, was the lucky charm keychain that Adrien had made for Marinette.