Work Text:
Fèlin Foncée landed noiselessly in a darkened alleyway. Her black suit blended perfectly with the shadows. The tabby-like patterning of her long brown and black hair provided just enough contrast to break up her profile, heightening rather than hindering her stealthy advance. She approached a rear facing window between two lines of row houses and at the last moment whispered, “Plagg, claws in.”
Her costume glowed and evaporated, the little Kwami spun out and dove for her Hip-pack. She patted it gently,”Eat up quick Plagg, I don’t want that stuff leaving a smell in there.”
A muffled voice shot back, “Not my fault you always have such a busy schedule.”
Alya lightly poked the pouch again. “We can’t all be homebodies. Don’t fret, it’s two more days until you’re back with Cat Noir.”
A tiny sigh in response, “Camembert, oh how I miss thee.”
Alya turned the poke into a gentle pat then eyed up the brickworks in front of her. “Thank goodness for gaudy architecture.”
“Wait, you’re not-”
Alya jumped, cutting off Plagg’s protest. She caught hold of the facade and pulled herself up, working out muscles developed from Ladybug’s upgraded training regimens. Hand over hand, swing and catch. Hook with a foot and boost. She’d done this path before, but it wasn’t easy nonetheless. One last leap and grab and she pulled herself up into the recessed window. She peeked in and the words,”No way…” slipped past her lips before she shook her head and lightly rapped on the window.
The occupant of the room jumped as if caught, probably because he was. He panicked for a moment, trying to tug his way out of what he was wearing before giving up and coming over to unlock and open the window sheepishly. “You know, one of these days you’re going to come in the normal way again.”
Alya climbed inside, closing the window behind her, then turned around and touched a finger to Nino’s lips.”Kiss first, then we can talk about my acrobatics and your… wardrobe choice.”
His tawny cheeks colored in a way she would never cease to find adorable, but he leaned down, his arms going around her waist. Alya boosted herself up on her toes to meet his new growth-spurt induced height and their lips met in a gentle greeting. Alya let it linger, leaning into him just a bit, allowing her worn out muscles to relax against his reliable strength. Nino supported her as easily as ever, his strong hands guiding her back down to her heels as the kiss ended.
Alya smacked her lips playfully. “Okay, that almost makes up for,” she waved her hands at him as she stepped back,”all of this.”
Nino stepped back too, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly and pulling his green hood down in the process. “What? I just thought, you know… halloween and all…”
Alya stepped back in, she plucked at his cuff where three inches of thick brown wrist stuck out obtrusively. “Babe, you know I love you, but you’re not fitting into this even a little bit.”
Nino tugged and shifted fretfully with the stiff foam chest piece. “It was the biggest one they had. They don’t have much of a selection.”
Alya fussed along with him, trying to get the thing to sit right, but it was a lost cause. “None of the old heroes get a lot of love anymore.”
Nino turned to look in his mirror, frowning in growing realization and disappointment at his store bought costume. “But, Carapace is still cool, right?”
Alya went back up on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek. “He’ll always be the coolest from this girl’s point of view.”
He smiled. “Thanks babe,” then fought his way out of the foam and sweatshirt that made up the top of the Carapace costume.
Alya bit her lip and resisted the urge to cop a feel from those toned abs while his head was still stuck in the sweatshirt. As it was she flexed her fingers a few times. Later.
As Nino sifted through his randomly discarded t-shirts for a clean-ish one Alya’s eyes followed him. Penguino later. Lots of Penguino. She crouched to pick up and fold the carapace-top as best as she could. “So, what brought this on?”
Nino pulled on one of his newer Tees, Kitty Section’s latest, and turned back to her still looking embarrassed. “I dunno. I just miss it, you know?”
Alya stepped back in, taking his hands in hers and leading him over to another small clothes pile. She toed a jacket off his jeans and let his hands go. “I know. If it makes you feel any better, Ladybug hasn’t had to fight anything more aggressive than some rowdy car thieves since the park incident. There hasn’t even been a whiff of the Monarch or anyone else.”
Nino bent down to pick up his jeans and swapped out the too-tight-for-public costume tights for them. Alya averted her eyes out of politeness to his mood. Once he was done he reached up and gently turned her head back to him. “I know, I just liked making a difference, even a small one. You still help her, right? I know she’s got new heroes now, but if she ever gets more of the miraculous back, you’ll put in a good word for me?”
Alya sighed. “It’s not that easy, Nino. I wish it was. I don’t like keeping you in the dark. You deserve better than this.”
She guided him over to his own bed and sat down, pulling him down beside her then laying her head on his shoulder.
“Ladybug’s got her reasons. I'm not helping her in the same way I once was either.” Technically true.
Nino’s arms slipped around her waist and he gave a squeeze. “You should be. You and your Ladyblog have been helping her since the beginning.”
Alya clicked her tongue. She reached up behind her and patted nino’s cheek. “Don’t be grumpy now, love. You saw what the Monarch did to her. I think she’s allowed to be a little bit cagey after that.”
Alya felt an involuntary shiver run through Nino, and her own body echoed it. There was really no denying that the akumatized Ladybug had been terrifying. It was a miracle Cat Noir managed to defeat her, and even so it had nearly cost them another hero and classmate, permanently.
Nino nodded his head against her hair. “Sorry babe. I just thought the costume would be a fun thing for the party. It not fitting kinda hit hard.”
Alya twisted in his arms, splaying a hand against his chest. “Well, then let’s leave heroes behind and get down to homework. If we get done fast enough maybe I’ll have time to show you that even if your girl isn’t Rena Rouge anymore, she’s still got plenty of foxy about her.”
Nino squeezed her gently again. He opened his mouth then rolled his eyes skyward and said, “Okay, I got nothing in terms of flirty turtle references. So how’s about I just say I’ll put on ‘date night volume three’ while we work?”
Alya flexed her fingers, nails digging at his chest through his tee. “You do that and we’ll never get work done,” she noted.
Nino grinned ear to ear. “Shame.”
Fèlin Foncée leapt across rooftops in hot pursuit of her partner. Ladybug was setting a murderous pace tonight. Fight half as much? Train twice as hard! It didn't help that plans and potential conversations were weighing her down. She realized she was falling behind and tried a full power leap, no baton.
Her powerful jump took her over the street, over the next row of houses, over the second street and... almost… Her jump turned into a flail as she realized she was going to come up short. Fèlin stretched to her limit, reaching for the edge of the roof scant inches beyond her grasp as she fell.
*Zip* *thwip*
Ladybug's yo-yo snagged her outstretched arm and the polkadot hero hauled her up. "Hmm, I caught a catfish it seems."
Fèlin gave her friend a withering look. "You did not just pun at me."
Ladybug blinked innocently. "What? Everyone loves it when Cat Noir does it."
Fèlin smoothed down her hair, poofed from her near miss. "That's because he's a loveable doofus. You on the other hand are an inspiring basket case. The two are completely different."
Ladybug hmmphed and folded her arms. “Empurress likes my sense of humor.”
Fèlin leaned in and nudged Ladybug. “She’s biased. I love you LB, but she’s super biased.”
Ladybug pouted and Alya giggled, a pout that big could only be deliberate. Ladybug grinned in return and pointed down to the street. “So, what’s got you distracted enough that you almost lost one of your nine?”
Fèlin tapped her fingers together,”That obvious am I?”
Ladybug leaned in and nudged her back. “You’re obvious. I love you FèFo, but you’re super obvious.”
Félin blew a raspberry at her bestie then came clean. “It’s one of two things really. The first one is easier. Do you think you might have time to make a special order costume before halloween? I know it’s a rush job, but it’d be a real help.”
Ladybug blinked then her eyes shot sideways and her hands immediately went to one of her pigtails. That’s Marinette for no. “Well, I um, I, really would like to, really I would. If I had any time at all I would jump at the chance, but you seem I’m already completely swamped as it is with work.”
Fèlin nodded. “I kinda figured that might be the case. I just wanted to lead with that. See, the other thing is, I’m wondering if I could borrow an extra miraculous for a day.”
From shifty evasion to wide eyed confusion; Ladybug turned her head back to Alya and blinked, ”Borrow a Miraculous?” She saw the shock fading on Ladybug’s face and a follow up question formed. “Why?”
Fèlin stepped back from the edge of the roof to lean on a chimney, suddenly worried. “It’s for Nino.”
Ladybug couldn’t cover her wince fast enough, Alya caught it, and the words that followed were what she’d expected. “Fè… I thought we’d settled this.”
Félin held up her hands. Some things didn't change even in Lycée it seemed. She blamed their separation somewhat. It was hard to remain as close when you went to different schools, and when new avenues of support had opened up. There was a tiny twinge of jealousy at losing that exclusive connection, but she had come to terms with it, and it was healthier for her friend. “It’s not like that. I know why you made the choice you did, and I’m fine with it. It’s just… it drags on him.”
She pulled her hands back in and crossed her arms over her stomach.
“He misses it, and he doesn’t understand. I can’t tell him enough to help him understand. He’s been a trooper, no snooping, no asking questions. He puts up with my comings and goings and doesn’t ask. All I have to say is ‘I’m helping Ladybug.’ and that’s enough for him.” She looked back at her friend. “He doesn’t even ask about the new heroes; doesn’t ask if I am one, doesn’t try to guess. He leaves it all alone, for me.”
Fèlin sighed, surprised at how much was coming out. She hadn’t thought she was lying when she said she was fine with it. The knot in her stomach proved otherwise. She looked out over Paris.
“Ladybug, I just want to do something for him. I thought maybe, on Halloween when everyone’s dressed up as this or that anyway, we could spare one of our six for a night. I think it would make a difference to him.” She brought her gaze back to Ladybug. “Is it really too much to ask, after everything?”
Ladybug paused, and in that pause Fèlin felt foolish for doubting her friend. The pause was a sign of how much Ladybug had really grown. The pause was Ladybug considering the issue from multiple angles. Fèlin could watch it playing across her features. From the way her bluebell eyes darted as if reading her thoughts in the air, to the play of her fingertips against her thigh as she traced each path down all possibilities. Ladybug used to focus on what to do . Now she spent much more time considering what taking a course of action would do . Fèlin thought it was a good shift.
Ladybug’s eyes focused and a smile bloomed on her face. “I think we might be able to do it.” she held up a finger. “I’m going to run it by everyone first though. This is an all in agreement thing”
Fèlin nodded enthusiastically. She’d hoped, but not dared to count on Ladybug saying yes. She plucked her baton from her back and spun it in one hand. “Then let’s finish our patrol without further paws, M’Lady. I want to be the first at the rendezvous. ”
Ladybug facepalmed and groaned. “It’s the suit, right? It comes with the suit? This is all Plagg’s fault?”
Fèlin snapped her baton out for a vault. “Nah, but if you’re wearing the costume you might as well stay in character, right?”
She took the lead and soon Ladybug was zipping alongside her as they arced through the quiet Paris night.
"Snake bite attack!"
Fèlin winced at the shout beside her ear.
Ladybug yelped as Lilith pounced her from behind and wrapped her with arms and legs. Lilith's head tilted down to Ladybug's neck and the yelp became an 'eeeeeeee' before both slumped to the rooftop.
"Charming." Fèlin drawled without spite. Lilith let Ladybug up, but the polkadot hero was slow to rise, panting with her face redder than her suit.
Lilith shrugged and offered with a hint of cheek, "Isn't she always supposed to be ready for anything? It's just good training."
Fèlin snickered and lightly poked Lilith's side. "See, this is why we don't let you patrol on your own. You get up to too much."
Ladybug stood, her face and breathing slowly returning to normal. She shot Lilith a glare, but Fèlin caught the way she stood close enough to Lilith for their fingertips to entwine in the lightest of handholds. Fèlin was happy for them, both of them, even if the night and day of it still made her head spin from time to time.
Ladybug cleared her throat and glanced around. "I thought we would be here first. Clearly I was wrong. Are Cochon and Yellowjacket here too?"
Lilith shook her head. “Knowing those two they’ll end up asleep on each other somewhere and miss the whole meeting.”
Fèlin shot a quick glance at Ladybug. The close bond that the ginger hero had formed with Ladybug’s partner as the only one to know his identity seemed ‘professional’ enough, but the tripod of platonic intimacy between the trio always seemed one wobble away from a collapse.
Lilith for once seemed to pick up on what she’d said and hooked an arm around Ladybug’s neck, pulling her in close. “More time for us, right?” The fanged hero grinned.
Fèlin played along, cuddling up to Ladybug’s other side, ”Hey, she’s my bestie, no fair leaving me out.”
Lilith surprised her by peeking around Ladybug’s paralyzed self and winking, ”Who said I was?”
Fèlin let go quickly, earning a throaty laugh from the snake.
Ladybug regained control of her limbs and gave Lilith’s braid a tug. She got a pigtail tweak in return and soon the two were in a full scale pinch and tickle war. Fèlin’s right ear twitched, and she turned just in time to thrust the end of her baton up under Yellowjacket’s nose. The Bee hero put on an oh-so innocent face. ”Why hello, purrty lady.”
Fèlin dropped her hand and gave him a poke in the chest with her baton. “You should know better than to sneak up on a cat.”
He stepped back and dipped into a flourishing bow, sweeping his top hat off his head. “Apologies, of course. My Jubilant partner put me up to it, and I cannot refuse a pretty face.” He straightened up, “Which means it's just as well you ask so little of me.”
Fèlin waved him off with a lift of her chin just as a pint-sized pink hero stepped out from behind him and jumped, knocking his hat off. “I did NOT tell you to sneak up on her. I said ‘We should make her happy too!’” The pig hero’s curled ginger-colored bob tickled her cheeks as she bobbled her head in time with her explanation.
Yellowjacket clutched his chest. “Fair Maiden, you accuse?”
Cochon advanced on him, waving her tambourine and grinning, ”I Do-cuse!”
She charged but Yellowjacket was faster, he caught her and lifted her over his head, then flexed his fingers against her sides, sending Cochon into a fit of giggles.
Félin glanced back at the other pair to check that they had in fact calmed down, then cleared her throat loudly. The Bee and Pig froze, like two caught-kids and Yellowjacket set Cochon down. They stepped away from each other, each looking anywhere but the other three heroes.
Ladybug stepped into the mix, ”Right, meeting time. Get comfy everyone.” She paused and gave Yellowjacket an apologetic look,”Almost everyone.”
He smiled back at her and tilted his head, ”Some day.”
She nodded. “Tikki, spots off.”
The others followed suit, all except Yellowjacket. Chloé immediately stripped off the second jacket she was wearing and passed it to Marinette, whispering,”Knew you’d forget.”
Marinette took the jacket, pinking, and slipped it on before sitting close to her girlfriend.
Alya found herself a clean bit of rooftop and settled in, glad for her own fluffy turtleneck.
Yellowjacket plucked his top from the brim of his hat and gave it a spin. It spun in place and expanded. He let it drop to the rooftop and it paused its expansion, making a perfectly sized black and yellow ‘seat’. He gestured to it and Sabrina jumped onto it, curling her legs under her. She patted her lap and he turned around, tipping his hat to the others before leaning back to sit in her lap, earning a small ‘Oof’ from behind.
Alya snorted and shook her head. Goobers, but I think the goofing around helps him.
Marinette clapped her hands together once everyone was settled, ”Okay, weekly meeting time. I don’t think there’s a whole lot to report, is there? Still nothing Miraculous going on, and with five of us now even normal crime has gone down. Anyone got anything?”
Alya held her peace for the moment. Marinette hadn’t made eye contact to indicate it was a directed question, and others might have problems too.
Indeed, Chloé brought up her intermittent notion that they should branch out, cover more towns, and generally make more of a name for themselves as heroes independent from just fighting the Monarch whenever he showed up again. It was batted around but the consensus among the others was that the logistics would be extremely difficult without the horse, and while still students.
Marinette scooted closer to Chloé as the discussion rolled on. From her vantage Alya could see what Marinette was clearly trying to hide. When her leg blocked line of sight slipped her hand over to rest it atop Chloé’s own clenched fist. The fist uncurled and Chloé finally conceded to the wisdom of the group.
Sabrina, asking around the still-present wall of Yellowjacket, asked if they had a timeline for his reveal yet. This caused a general shifting from everyone. Even though not as invested as the rest, Alya still felt for the boy, whoever he was. With no Monarch to fight Yellowjacket’s identity being their ace in the hole shrank in relevance more and more. They’d invited him out, tried to include him as much as they could, but he was just Yellowjacket to them, or Cat Noir, or Mr. Bug, or any of his other hero identities. He could never just be himself.
He’s locked into what Nino’s locked out of. This thought prompted Alya to speak up into a discussion she usually kept quiet on, due to her own identity history. “I know it’s still scary, but maybe it is time.”
The other four looked her way, highlighting the unexpected nature of her contribution.
Alya gestured with one hand as she spoke, “When we started a miraculous was an identity. We got caught up in what it could mean, being that someone else behind a mask.”
Alya glanced at Chloé, but was sure to pour sympathy into her gaze, not recrimination.
“Some of us, too much.”
Alya swept her eyes back across the rest.
“But we’ve learned since then. The Miraculous isn’t an identity, it’s a tool. We’ve learned to use these tools, while still being ourselves. But we’ve still got one of us who is stuck in the past through no fault of his own. For Yellowjacket, the miraculous is still his identity. Whoever he is, he can’t be known and respected and cared for as himself.
“There’s always going to be some risk. With how we swap the Miraculous, knowing who he is doesn’t mean that someone could get the cat by default though. I think maybe we’ve reached a point where the cost to our friend and ally is greater than the value we get from keeping this secret.”
Alya realized how long she’d been talking and stopped abruptly. Yellowjacket was looking at her in awe. Marinette was thoughtful. She couldn’t see Sabrina. Chloé gestured at her and hmphed. “Why didn’t we let her talk sooner? That’s all anyone could say on it. Let the silly kitty free!”
They all looked at Marinette, who was still in thought, still doing the calculations that Alya had noticed earlier in a different context. She seemed to reach a decision and looked up, making eye contact with each of them in turn and sounding like Ladybug, even without the mask. “Let me think about it a little longer. I know we do things together most of the time, but this is something I have to take responsibility for as the Guardian. I- I don’t want to keep you hidden, Kitty. I just need to be sure I’m not missing something before we do this.”
Yellowjacket seemed more shocked than anything else. His face was a blank of surprise and perhaps even a touch of apprehension. From behind him though, a fake-deep voice said, “Of course, M’Lady. Take all the time you need.”
Yellowjacket jerked forward into a seated bow at the waist, his face still a mask of surprise. Sabrina, one hand planted in the middle of his back appeared as he bent. She swept his hat off with her free hand, holding it out to the side for him.
He blinked once more in confusion, then grinned. He took hold of his hat and deepened his bow of his own accord. “It would seem my protegé has remembered my own words where I did not. I wholeheartedly concur with my small-voiced self though, Marinette. Take the time that you need, but I will indeed be happy the day I can face you all as my whole self.”
Marinette seemed relieved, and for some reason Alya felt tension leaving herself as well. She wasn't’ sure why she should feel tense about Yellowjacket’s identity being revealed. So it was a bit of a shock when Marinette turned to her. “There’s one more thing. Alya would like to borrow one of the Miraculous, to give to Nino for an evening. He's someone I've missed having on our team, and it seems he's missed us too. I think it sounds like a viable idea, but this is something I wanted to run by everyone. What do you all think?"
Alya fought to keep a straight face. She'd expected to have to plead her case. Instead Marinette had brought it up, and backed it before the discussion even began. She knew her bestie was wonderful, but every now and then she was still surprised.
Chloé spoke first, sharp and fast. "Why does he want it?"
Alya kept her cool. "He doesn't. He doesn't even know. I want to surprise him because I know it still gets to him now and then, not being able to help. I thought Halloween would be perfect. No one will know, with all the costumes, but he will still know."
Yellowjacket toyed with the rim of his tophat. "I don't see the harm in it. He was always there for us in a scrape. I miss having him here too."
Sabrina tried to speak around her occupant then finally pushed Yellowjacket out of her lap. He landed on the rooftop and her hands went instantly to his hair to soothe while she spoke. "I think it's a cute idea. Do you know which one? I think we kinda need the Ladybug and the Cat, even for a night."
Marinette intervened. "We hadn't gotten that far yet. I wanted to run the idea by you all first. Is everyone okay with letting Nino use a miraculous for a night?"
"Absolutely." Yellowjacket grinned, leaning back against Sabrina's legs.
"Me too." Sabrina chirped from her seat.
All eyes went to Chloé. "Well, I'm not."
Alya tensed, Yellowjacket tilted his head in confusion, Sabrina squinted in thought, and Marinette voiced her protest, “Chloé!”
The blond would not be quelled. She pulled her knees up and hugged them as she shot back. “What? I’m serious. Think about it! He’s probably been aching to use a miraculous again for who knows how long? We all know it feels awesome, and having that taken away… whatever the reason… it’s the kind of thing to mess with you. You want to let him use one for one night? Ridiculous, utterly ridiculous! You’ll just end up reminding him of what he’s lost and make everything worse.”
She glared around at the others.
“If you’re going to let him use one, let him use it for a couple weeks at least. Send him on a patrol or two. He can go with Alya. We’ll give her paper fox ears to go with her uniform.”
Alya had been building to a proper boil when this last sentence cut the legs out from under her. She blew out her anger in a breath and jabbed a finger at Chloé. “You did that on purpose!”
Chloé blinked in a confusion too sincere to be a mockery. It was a strange sight. “What?”
Marinette reached out and caught hold of her girlfriend’s jacket. She pulled Chloé to her and whispered something Alya couldn’t catch before saying louder to the group. “What say we all to this new plan?”
Four ‘Ayes!’ chorused back and three voices were raised in laughter, Alya’s included. Marinette was whispering to Chloé again, their heads held close. Alya took the hint to look anywhere else, and found Yellowjacket and Sabrina grinning at her. Sabrina was draped across Yellowjacket’s top hat as they sat. I need to have a talk with that girl. I don’t want to be a buzzkill -that’s a terrible joke- but there are limits. At the very least I want to know that they know what they’re all doing… for Adrien’s sake.
“Alya… Alya!” she was pulled out of her thoughts by Marinette’s voice. Her bestie wore a big grin. “So, who is Nino going to be moonlighting as?”
She’d put thought into this, Alya grinned back. “I know exactly which it should be.”
It was a familiar evening and a familiar sight. Nino's dad had let her in and told her Nino was 'doing his thing.' Chris had made a face at her and got himself a headlock and noggie in exchange. She'd opened the door quietly to the darkened room. How many times have I told him not to work with the lights off? It'll kill his eyes.
Nino sat as he did many nights, hunched at his computer. He had his headphones on, and his fingers tapped keys and turned dials at his specialized keyboard intermittently. The green light of his computer screen bathed him in an aura that matched his lost miraculous.
Alya squinted past him, but still couldn't make heads or tails of his passion. Lines squiggled and jumped, overlapping and diverging. Nino tapped a key, cutting one short and starting another. Some blended and brightened. A turn of a dial sent a waveform climbing across the screen. This was the boy who hated math and thought science was dull. Yet he would turn the scrawling numbers and shapes into music under his touch.
She slipped her arms around his neck from behind and pressed close. Her greeting went unheard but he pulled his headphones off, turned in her arms, and asked ritually. "What was that, babe?"
She just liked to hear him call her babe every time.
"I said, 'I love you.'"
He looked both pleased and uncertain. "Love you too, babe. Did I do something good that I don't know about?"
Alya leaned in and touched noses with him. "You weren't complicated."
The confusion got deeper. He brought his arms up to draw her across his lap. "Well you got me feeling pretty simple right now."
Alya leaned her shoulder comfortably against his chest. "I've just been thinking about our friends. I love them all, but their lives are so…"
Nino finished, "Complicated."
Alya scrunched her nose at him. "Exactly. You and me, we've never been like that. Well, except for the time you let a silly movie put ideas in your head."
Nino looped his arms loosely around her waist. "Still sorry about that, babe."
"And I'm sorry I let the secret linger long enough to give the idea even a little merit." She sat up abruptly, narrowly missing his nose. "But enough gloom! I have something wonderful for you!"
Alya tried to stand but Nino squeezed her around the waist and held her in place as he said, “Something else you mean?”
He leaned in for a kiss. Alya pulled his headphones off and blocked his lips with the headband, ”Yes, something else… but put a pin in that kiss. We’ll see just what it turns into after you see what I’ve got.”
Alya climbed out of his lap and brought him to his feet as well. The green glow from his screen reflected off Nino’s glasses. The halo of light in the darkness felt right. Alya reached into her hip pouch and drew out the miraculous. She’d had a big speech planned, officious and cocky sounding. She knew it would draw a laugh from him, but in the moment she just brought her hands up and placed it on him instead. This was too important to make light of.
The collar morphed as soon as he put it on. Changing rather dramatically into a pair of headphones hung around his neck. Nino blinked, then reached up to touch it. “Is this…?”
Alya pressed her hands together, watching his eyes for signs she’d been right to do this. “It’s not permanent, but I talked to Ladybug. She misses you. They miss you. I’d asked just to borrow it for Halloween night, it’s not the turtle but I thought it might still be fun?”
His fingers toyed with one of the earpieces of the headphones. He seemed more in shock than anything else. Alya caught sight of the orange glow of Barkk behind him. The dog Kwamii had her paws over her mouth covering a conspiritous smile.
Nino looked back at her. “You did this… for me?”
“I-”
She didn’t get to finish. She got her kiss, and then some. Nino swept her up against him, pulling her onto her tiptoes in a fierce embrace. When their lips met he kissed her. They weren’t sharing a mutual expression as was their way, instead he was pouring emotion into her through the contact. Admiration, love, devotion, awe, hunger, joy, all of this and more. Alya melted under the assault, letting him take her weight and floating in the moment. When it ended Nino was panting and Alya clung to his arms to keep her knees from giving out. They staggered a step from mutual imbalance but he had her. She leaned her head on his chest.
“So, I did good then?” she quipped.
One of Nino's hands found its way up to run through her hair. "Nah babe, this is the worst. You just keep findin' new ways to remind me how I don't deserve you."
Alya poked him in the chest, but only lightly. The lilt in his voice told her he was joking. They'd gotten past that stage, and both happier for it. "I haven't told you the best part. It seems one night wasn't good enough. It's going to be now through Halloween at least. A couple weeks for you to be that hero we all know you are once more."
She felt a slight tremble run through him. He squeezed her again and she laid her hand against him to soothe the emotional buildup. He spoke with a thickness to his throat. "What about you? Will you be out there too?"
I hate this. Alya tilted her head up and reached up to cup his cheek. She brought his gaze down to hers. "Don't ask me that, love. Just go out and be a hero." She paused, smiled, and added, "Just be nice to any cute heroines you patrol with-
She turned her touch into another gentle poke.
“-but not too nice either."
Nino squeezed her again. The quiet moment was suddenly interrupted by a chipper voice, ”So are you gonna transform allreadyyyy?”
They both looked up. Barkk had glomped the top of Nino’s head and crawled her way across the brim of his hat to peek over it down at him.
“I’m always curious to see what each new holder will look like. It’s been so much fun having five holders instead of just one. You’ll make six now, that is so cool! No one’s ever turned my miraculous into… whatever those things are. I have no idea what we’ll look like!”
Nino smiled at the upside-down Kwami, ”Hey there little dudette. We will soon, I promise, I just gotta show my girl something special too before I do. Can you hang out? If not, I think there might be some leftover chicken thighs in the fridge, bone-in chicken thighs.”
Barkk’s eyes sparkled. “Ooo, this dog’s on the hunt!” she flipped down off Nino’s hat brim and then flew off, swooping down close to the floor before sniffing experimentally then phasing out through it.
Nino asked after her, ”She’ll be alright, won’t she? That was a good idea wasn’t it?”
Alya turned his face back to her, “God you’re cute.” She boosted up on her toes to kiss his chin. “Barkk will be fine. All the kwamis have gotten better at navigating the human world since they’ve been staying with holders. Now… what was this about something special?”
Nino let her go and stepped back, a touch of sweet sheepishness slipping into his posture. “Well, you saw how bad my Carapace costume was. I was thinking I could get one custom made, something cool you know? But See, I’d already spent a lot of money on something else. The person gave me a great deal, working for cost you know? But even the materials are expensive, because I wanted it to be the best.”
Alya let her confusion show. She knew he’d done something, his sheepishness made her think he’d done something foolish, but knowing him it would be endearingly foolish. Still, she couldn’t let him off the hook too easily. He was adorable when he squirmed. So she folded her arms and shifted all her weight to one foot. “Honey. What did you do?”
Yep, the perfect response. He scrambled quickly for his closet, opening it he came back out with a box and a black cloth bag, ”It’s not all done yet, but I have what is. It’ll be done by Halloween, she promises.”
Nino juggled opening the box and bag at the same time, nearly dropping both but all at once succeeding and presenting the contents to her with both hands as the box and bag fell to the floor.
Alya stared. Her heart thudded in her chest and she knew she’d have to make her teasing up to him a hundred times or more. She unfolded her arms and reached out slowly, gingerly, as if what he held might disappear. “They’re… perfect.”
Nino went from nervous to a look of hopeful pride. “Well, Marinette is good at what she does.”
Alya took the mask first. Of course Marinette would know every little detail. Nino had been a genius to go to her. Alya turned the mask over in her hands. She had no idea what Material it was, but it felt pliant, yet flexible in her hands. The colors matched perfectly, bringing memories with them. Alya touched the back and found an edge, a covering easily peeled away. She pulled without hesitation.
Nino warned quickly, “It’s adhesive.”
Alya could barely speak, “I don’t care.”
With the backing off she raised it up, her hands knew what to do, even if she’d never had to put it on herself before. The fit was right, though the original never clung so tightly. This wasn’t magic. Magical though, wonderfully magical.
Alya was doing her best not to cry. It was happiness and longing all mixed together with the kind of overwhelming that true love can be when it becomes so routine you forget just how deep it runs. She reached out for the other thing Nino held. She lifted it to her lips and blew the notes, clear and clean. There would be no illusions from this flute though. She didn’t care, this reality was better than any illusion she could ever create.
She lowered the flute and looked back up to Nino. He was looking at her, and she could see it in his eyes. It might be a costume and a prop, but he still saw her; his Rena Rouge mistress of illusion, the twilight fox. It took her back to the beginning and everything they’d done and been together. She didn’t trust her voice. She just leaned in, pressing her forehead to his chest. She kept a sob in check and took a deep breath. “You’re amazing.”
His arms went around her again, ever so gently this time. “I’ve got to keep up with my girl, don’t I?”
That turned all the emotions brewing into a laugh, and that laugh wrapped them in its protective warmth. The shivering feeling of being overwhelmed faded and she was comfortably full up of joy. She pulled back enough to look up at him again, touching one hand to the mask. She was rapidly getting used to the adhesive. “I think I’m the one who has to catch up. You did all this, on your own. I came up with my idea only after seeing yours.”
Nino tilted his head. “Well, I did miss it too, you know. You’re amazing in everything babe, but I’m not gonna lie, you make one fine fox.”
Alya grinned and gave him a little push, stepping back. “Well then, until Barkk gets back let me get a little practice in.”
To his curious look, she danced. She knew the poses by heart. She’d done them both in and out of costume countless times. A cocksure smile, a coquettish glance, a victory pose, a battle stance, a Lady on high, an impish harasser. She knew all the moods of Rena Rouge and put them on display. It didn’t have quite the same panache in jeans and a flannel as it might have in a skintight bodysuit, but every time she glanced back at Nino she saw the light in his eyes. He saw her as her hero self, no matter what she wore.
Once more their moment was interrupted by well intentioned precocity. “Trixx!”
Barkk flew full tilt at Alya’s face. She zipped back and forth as if trying to peer around the mask.
“Trixx! Trixx! Is it Trixx? Did we find Trixx?”
Alya winced both internally and visibly. She held up her hands to ward off the tiny and oh so eager kwami. “No, no. I’m sorry Barkk, I’m sorry. It’s just a costume. It’s just me Alya, not really Rena Rouge.”
Barkk’s ears, once perked, now drooped.
“Oh,” She said, floating down and back.
Her retreat was blocked. Nino scooped her up in one hand and pet her between the ears with a finger. “Don’t worry little dudette. I know that Ladybug and the other heroes will find Trixx, and if there’s anything us normal folk can do to help you know we’ll be there in an instant too.”
Nino’s intervention bolstered Barkk’s spirits. Her ears lifted again and she nodded. “Thank you. I just miss Trixx. He was the best at hide and seek, but I could always sniff him out!”
Alya reached out to scritch under Barkk’s chin, doubling the attention to hopefully double the support. “Hey Barkk, why don’t we try out Nino’s new costume?”
That perked her right up. The dog Kwami spun into the air and circled Nino’s head before supplying, “Just say ‘Barkk on the hunt!’”
Nino clenched a fist and grinned. “Barkk, on the hunt!”
The transformation overtook him, and when He stepped out of the glow Alya could only think one thing. God, he’s sexy in spandex.
Nino’s costume was mostly in the tawny color of bark, with a white chest, gloves, and a thin white line up the middle of his otherwise brown mask. At his neck the collar did not hold the Dog’s usual ball, but instead had a gold tag with the letters BT on it. The ball itself hung on a short chain like an earring from one side of the standout part of his costume. The headphones over his ears; each topped with their own antennae, making him the perfect attentive looking canine.
He spread his arms, “What do ya think, foxy lady?”
Nino’s costume reflected the care he’d been putting into his physique. Broad in the shoulder, narrow in the waist, with a sturdy bullish stance. Alya tapped her flute to her lips and grinned, “I think I might have a new pet.” She stepped in and flicked his tag. “What do I call this cute puppy?”
Nino flicked his ‘earring’ and struck a pose; one hand on his headphones and the other giving a thumbs up. “Call me the Bass-Tone Terrier.”
Alya shook her head and stepped in, touching her mask to his. “I’m going to call you, mine.”