Chapter Text
Marinette wasn't sure what to think when the akuma alert went off before she went to bed that night. On the one hand, it could bode well for her trip to Orlando so that Shadowmoth might not attack in such a short time span as attack rates have been going down significantly over the past couple months. On the other hand, all of Shadowmoth's previous major attacks all came in quick succession, one akuma right after another. Transforming, Ladybug made her way to where the alert said the Akuma was. Chat Noir was also on his way as she could see his form peeking above the rooftops.
Over the past few years, she's leaned more and more on Chat, both in and out of combat. He became her absolute best friend, Alya came second of course but it wasn't very close, with Adrien trailing behind them both. Chat seriously toned down his flirting, but their banter was still light and certainly more flirtatious than most friends. She couldn’t wait until Shadowmoth was defeated and she could learn about the boy who’s been her confidant, her support system, and on bad days the reason she got out of bed. She was sure that once she met her unmasked partner, he would seriously be in competition with Adrien for her affections, but until then, the model still had an unknowing grasp on her heart despite Luka and Chat’s attempts to be hers.
"You ready to wrap this up quickly Kitty?" Ladybug asked as she caught up to him, matching pace as they leapt across the Parisian skyline.
“Of course milady. My father’s been acting stranger than usual lately, so he decided to send me away on a trip he previously said I couldn’t go to; like he told me not even ten minutes before I transformed. I haven’t even gotten to pack cause I was trying to figure out how to tell you.”
“Oh, so we're both gonna be out at the same time. That’s not gonna be fun to work around.”
“I know we’ve talked about it before, but maybe giving your mom the horse miraculous would be the best option.”
“Yeah, you’re probably right, but I really don’t want to spring this on her right before I leave. It’s not gonna be a fun talk.”
“Sorry Bugaboo, you know I would have told you sooner had I known.”
“I know Chaton, we'll figure this out after the battle, but focus up.” They landed a few rooftops away from where the alert stated the akuma was, waiting to see the severity of the threat.
“It looks like only a sentimonster. Strange.”
Floating at rooftop level but not over any building was a large crosley style radio with large eyes that sat between the various speakers in the center of the device.
“Yeah it’s, just a floating old timey radio. Let's be careful ok?” she noted cautiously, unsure of what their foe had in store for them.
“Is radio making a comeback because I think you’re in the wrong decade.” Chat quipped, making their entrance known, each sporting a defensive stance.
“Ladybug, Chat Noir.” The radio sentimonster broadcast with Shadowmoth’s voice. “I cannot go on any more. I’m sorry for all the pain I’ve caused.” A drawer popped open in front of them revealing two miraculi and their kwamis holding each other tightly; neither of them hesitated in greeting them both with cheers and face hugs.
Ladybug stared at the creature with her enemy's voice wide eyed, absentmindedly stroking Nooroo’s head. So many thoughts were running rampant in her mind, she couldn’t hold them all in. “Why are you stopping, and why did you start this crusade in the first place?”
“When my wife and I first found the miraculous, we were intrigued, but my wife, she fell in love with Duussu and his airheaded and over emotional nature. However, she slowly grew sick and unwell; no one could figure out why. Once I finally realized that it was the broken peacock miraculous causing her deteriorating health, it was too late, she fell into a coma. My plan was to use the ultimate wish granted by the combination of your Miraculouses to go back in time and stop ourselves from finding the Miraculous in the first place. I knew the price, equal exchange. Someone else would have suffered the same price as my wife, or my wife would have died early anyways. But even so, I wouldn’t have been burdened with the knowledge of magic and having a possibility of fixing it.
Fixing a coma would have been a hefty price I’m sure, but I cannot reverse her death without fear of it’s repercussions. I know I cannot fix what I’ve done, but I have a son. If people find out who I am, he will surely be targeted for revenge and I couldn’t bear that. Nooroo can take you to my house if you so desire but please, I don’t want my son to hate me if he doesn’t already. Is there anything else you would like to ask before you dispel the amok?”
Ladybug was hesitant to say anything so Chat Noir grabbed both miraculouses and pinned the peacock to his suit. “I’m sorry to hear about your wife. I lost my mother a few years ago and it tore me and my father to pieces, after her death my father didn’t handle it well at all. I still have hope for my father to change, so maybe your son can forgive you too one day.”
“Thank you Chat Noir, that... means a lot.”
“Shadowmoth,” Ladybug started, trying very hard to speak clearly instead of grinding her words out as she felt inclined to do. “I have lost relationships, I’ve seen my loved ones twisted into horrible versions of themselves, but I’ve also learned how to use magic to help people and I’ve met my closest friend. I’ll take time to consider if I will learn your identity, but know that if I don’t make a visit along with the full force of Parisian law enforcement, it’s because I want your son to live life safe from the hatred of strangers. Treat your son well.”
“Of course, and I’m sorry for everything I’ve caused.” Ladybug heard the honesty in his voice, the way it broke in pain. If she were to lose someone close to her, and she had the ability to try and bring them back only for it to slip away, she wasn’t sure she would be able to take it either.
She turned to Chat with tears threatening to form, giving him a slight nod. “Go ahead, Chat.”
Chat Noir unified with the Peacock Miraculous becoming Peachat and snapped his fingers, dissolving the sentimonster into nothing.
“Well, that takes care of that. I guess, pound it?” He asked with a tilt of his head and a slight upturn of his lips.
“Pound it!” she said with a soft smile, nearly falling to her knees as soon as their fists connected.
“You alright Bugaboo?” he asked while steadying her.
“It’s all over, it's really all over.” She breathed out with wide eyes. She spent the last three years of her life fighting Shadowmoth, keeping secrets, learning magic, and in a snap it was all over.
“Yeah, I guess it is,” Peachat replied with a slight frown forming.
“Oh my god, I can have my life back.”
“Will I still get to see you m’lady? Out of the mask maybe?”
Ladybug looked at her partner and realized how sad he looked. It took her a moment to figure out what the problem was. He thought he would be losing her. Well that wouldn’t do. Bringing her hand up behind his head, she gently started scratching behind his cat ears.
“Yeah, not today, but maybe once we get back from our trips. I still have to deal with the fact that Shadowmoth is really gone.”
“Yeah, you’re right, too much information all at once,” Peachat nodded slightly with his eyes closed, enjoying the scratches his lady was giving him.
“Soon though,” she promised.
“Soon.”
“Enjoy your trip Kitty, you need to pack, don't you?” she asked with a raised brow.
“Yeah, I’ll get- achoo- stupid magic feathers still giving me allergies.” He wiped his nose with his arm which only made his allergies worse as feathers now adorned his arms.
“I’m gonna need those too if you don’t mind,” she smirked at her partner doing her best to hold in her laughter.
“Oh, duh, yeah.” He dropped the peacock transformation and handed her both the Peacock and Butterfly Miraculous. “This might be weird, but can I get a hug?”
“You don’t even have to ask kitty. Come here.” As Chat wrapped his arms around Ladybug, she knew that it felt right. She knew that once that mask came off her loving partner, she might finally fall to his charms, and she couldn’t exactly find herself being upset about that.
“Can I get a hint about your identity milady?” Chat asked as he held on to her.
“Hmmm, how about we tell each other where we're going?” she suggested.
“Oh, I’m heading to Orlando,” he said. Ladybug pulled away from him and gave him a curious look.
“Really? Same here, maybe we’ll run across each other there too!”
“We’ll find out when we get back won’t we?”
The two of them said their goodbyes and went their separate ways back home. As Chat soared across the city, he couldn’t wait to see everyone’s reaction to his surprise addition to the trip and he was looking forward to spending the entire week with Marinette.