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Nino grabbed Adrien by the arm and ran. Their school was yet again in the middle of an akuma attack. Through the windows he could see Ladybug fighting what looked like a mutant construction worker. The typical yellow helmet had transformed to cover his entire head, the colors of his suit resembled the vests Nino was familiar with seeing people in that field wear. But the last he checked, construction workers weren’t usually walking around spinning a giant chain in their hands with a wrecking ball on the end.
The school shook again as the weapon made contact with the walls. Rubble fell all around them. One piece nearly struck Adrien, but not before Nino pushed him into an open supply closet and out of harms way. Once the shaking stopped and some dust settled, Adrien ran to the door that had slammed shut in the chaos. It wouldn’t open, no doubt blocked by a ton of debris on the other side.
Adrien huffed in frustration.
“Uh. You’re welcome?” Nino raised an eyebrow at his friend’s reaction.
Green eyes turned to meet him and they were impossible to read in the moment.
“Sorry. Thank you, Nino. Are you okay?” Adrien sounded nervous. His eyes darted around the room. No windows, no other doors. He looked panicked. Nino assumed it was because of the fact Adrien didn’t liked to be locked up. Maybe he was feeling claustrophobic?
“I’m okay. Are you?” When Adrien ignored him and started rummaging around looking for a way out, Nino continued. “Listen buddy, Ladybug and Chat Noir will beat this dude. Then the magical ladybugs or whatever will fix everything and we’ll get out of here. Don’t worry!”
“I didn’t see Chat Noir out there, did you?!” Adrien turned to face him with an intense look in his eyes.
Nino gasped. What did Adrien have against Chat Noir? Nino felt himself getting defensive on the cat hero’s behalf. “I didn’t see Chat Noir out there, but I know that he will be.”
“How do you know that?”
“Because Chat Noir is dependable.”
“Really? I didn’t think you had such a high opinion of him.”
Nino winced. “Dude, I wish you could forget all those awful things I said about him. He’s an amazing guy. I was just mad and jealous because I jumped to the wrong conclusion. I said some stupid things. Things I didn’t really mean. If it weren’t for him, I’m not sure Ladybug would still be fighting. I can’t help her right now. None of the other holders can. It’s just her and him. We have to have faith in them both.”
Adrien’s eyes widened, but he wasn’t sure how to respond to that.
“I mean, I almost feel bad for watching it because it was a private moment, but did you see the viral video of her on the roof? I know it was fuzzy and there’s no way to hear what was said. But anyone could tell by the way she was sitting up there that she felt completely defeated. Then he showed up. He lifted her up and talked to her.”
Nino chuckled a bit.
“What?” Adrien asked. His attention was now fully on Nino’s words.
“It’s kind of funny. I mean, not the situation obviously, but what happened up there. You know how she can repair what’s broken with her powers right?”
“Yeah?”
“Well, up on that roof she was what was broken. Chat Noir talked to her and it was like he was able to pull her broken pieces back together. And here I thought his power was destruction. There’s far more to him than that.” Nino crossed his arms again in determination. “No one should doubt him. I regret that I ever did. I know he’ll show up to help her. He’ll show up to protect Paris! You have to believe in him. He’ll be there.”
Different emotions crossed Adrien’s face as he processed the words. He looked shocked, then touched, and suddenly his face held a look of fiery determination. For reasons Nino did not understand, Adrien opened his over shirt a bit and nodded.
“I really needed to hear that.” Adrien began. His eyes a bit misty. “Chat Noir will show up to help Ladybug.”
“Exactly!”
“Even if he has to do something crazy, like oh I don’t know… reveal his secret identity to his best friend to do so.”
“Right! Chat Noir will do whatever he can to be there so there’s no need to worry and…” Nino trailed off. Adrien looked at him with an amused smirk on his face.
Nino considered a few things in the moment. When was the last time he was with Adrien during an akuma attack? Wasn’t he always hiding somewhere else? Conveniently where no one else was? Adrien had been looking for a way out as soon as they were trapped in there. Adrien was not convinced Chat Noir would show up. Why would Adrien doubt Chat Noir would be there? What was with the look Adrien was giving him right now?
Then the possibility dawned on him.
“Am I—am I the best friend?” He pointed to himself.
Adrien laughed and Nino could feel the relief radiating from him.
“You are.”
“Wow.” Nino wrapped Adrien in a hug. “Your secret is safe with me. You know that right?”
“I do. We can talk about it later. But for now, Plagg, Claws out!”
Adrien transformed, Cataclysmed a way out and joined the battle outside. Nino watched in awe as the duo took care of the situation. His best friend had just become Chat Noir right in front of his eyes.
The next thing he knew, everything had been restored and he was sitting next to Adrien in class as if nothing had ever happened. Other students were discussing something with the teacher, but Nino knew he’d remember nothing about this lesson.
Seeing the Miraculous on Adrien’s finger brought him comfort, Paris really was in good hands. Nino was lost in thought as he stared at the piece of jewelry.
“Psst. Take a picture it’ll last longer.” Nino’s eyes followed the whisper only to see a very amused kwami peaking out from Adrien’s shirt.
Adrien looked at the kwami and back to Nino before whispering. “Nino, this is Plagg.”
“I guess you’re the reason my buddy here smells like Camembert all the time?”
“Something he should be thanking me for.”
“Yeah, right.” Adrien muttered softly as he rolled his eyes.
Nino smiled.
Adrien was Chat Noir. Plagg was his kwami.
Despite not having access to the turtle Miraculous Nino was happy he could still protect something very important— Adrien’s secret.