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Ladybug stepped into a corner of the room, not-so-subtly hiding behind a leafy plant. Overwhelmed and underprepared by this ostentatious gala, she needed a space to relax, even just for a little bit.
This was not her comfort zone, and she was ill-prepared for just how badly the night was going. Ladybug was confident, strong, caring, and compassionate, but right now, she felt more like Marinette, uncoordinated and a complete mess.
Ladybug looked around for the person she needed the most at times like this. The person who excelled at these pompous events. The person she’d always leant on when she had a crisis of class. She needed her partner, Volpina.
She peered over the foliage for her partner. They had been separated a while into the gala, and she hadn’t been able to keep track of her in the sea of black ties and oppulance.
Ladybug wondered if Volpina had bailed already. She wouldn’t blame her. The confession had only been two months ago, and the public had been rather harsh.
They both knew the public might not react well. Ladybug grimaced as she tried to forget about the rage and hurt she felt after being told. But knowing one of their superheroes started out as a fraud, liar, and thief was a lot to process for most people.
But after Master Fu’s death, it just seemed right.
Ladybug wobbled as she leaned up over the plant’s leaves to try and find Volpina faster. How could finding a bright orange superhero be so hard?
Her search yielded success. She spotted Volpina on her own, leaning next to a door as she looked at something on her flute-phone.
Volpina fiddled with her hair, rubbing it between her fingers, before sighing and stepping into a side room.
Ladybug frowned, and decided to follow her.
She found Volpina in an empty hallway off of the Gala, sitting against the cold marble walls, and staring out the windows.
Volpina startled as she noticed Ladybug.
“Uhh, hey…” Volpina said, not meeting Ladybug's eyes
“How do you like the gala so far?” Ladybug said. Unsure of how to continue, she defaulted to casual conversation.
“Fine, I guess. I just wish I could change my suit!” Volpina exclaimed, her annoyed persona betrayed by the twinge of sadness in her voice. “It’s great for fighting crime, but there are a dozen better looks I’d rather wear to an event like this. And the food here is so fancy, like please, other food than caviar exists! And the people here are awfully-”
“Volpina…you don’t need to impress me…”
Volpina closed her eyes as she took a deep breath, paused, and then let it out. She looked at Ladybug.
“Why am I here?”
“To show to the public, the people who fund charities in our name, and the media that you’ve changed?” Ladybug offered, sitting down beside Volpina.
Volpina pointedly side-eyed at Ladybug.
“Okay fine. It’s because you’re able to charm anyone within a 10ft radius of you, and I’m horrible at these events. I just spilt half a bottle of probably very expensive wine on some old rich dude’s lap.”
Volpina smirked, “Well, at least we’re being honest with each other. I do wish I could change my suit though, maybe then I could be someone other than Volpina.”
She shruged, looking defeated.
“People are nice on the surface, but they keep giving me these looks.”
Ladybug rubbed Volpina’s shoulders. “We’re superheroes, we were going to stand out no matter what. And besides, I thought that was the entire point of your suit. With an outfit like that, you’re going to be turning heads no matter what. Like mine when we first met?”
“You’re not wrong. I just…I got my miraculous through lying. I lied to mater fu, and then I lied to the entire world,” Volpina said, her voice quiet and trembling.
“Then you confessed.”
“I still think that was the stupidest thing I’ve done.” She laughed a quiet, sad laugh. “I can’t keep myself quiet even when I’m only hurting myself.”
“Volpina, I know you. You’ve taken more blows for me than I want to count, even before you ‘turned good’. You’ve come such a long way.” Ladybug leant her head against Volpina’s shoulder. “If this is all too much, we can leave. You’ve made so much progress, and I’m so proud of you.” Ladybug affirmed, voice quiet but strong.
Volpina looked to the ground and sighed. “No, we should stay. Like you said, right? ‘Doing good just requires doing.’”
Ladybug stood up and offered a hand.
“So, ready to get back out there and turn some heads?”
Volpina grabbed the hand.
“So ready.”