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“Welcome everyone!” Ladybug greeted and the other three heroes in the room, Chat Noir, Rena Rouge, and Carapace immediately gave her their attention. “I know we normally meet on the rooftops, but a kind man has gifted us the usage of this very awesome, very private complex which will serve as our base from now on.”
The heroes clapped and Chat sent a silent thanks to Master Fu or, better yet, Marianne. While Fu didn’t remember anything about the miraculous, she did and she had finally been able to find the keys to Fu’s old home and sent them to Ladybug with explicit instructions to use the old home as they pleased.
Naturally, Ladybug and Chat had immediately gone to work making sure that the two story complex was secure and usable. Once they were positive it was, they were quick to change things to fit their needs and their team.
The living room had become the meeting room, complete with multiple couches for team meetings.
The kitchen was stocked with the favorite foods of each kwami and snacks for their holders as well.
One of the bathrooms was the designated bathroom while the other was to be used for transformations so that kwamis could be fed without risking identities.
One guest room was a sort of planning room where Ladybug and Chat - and others who had been heroes for a long time such as Carapace and Rena - planned attacks and gathered information on Shadow Moth in hopes of bringing his six year reign to an end. The other guest room was turned into an open area for combat training.
Lastly, the master bedroom was used as a safe space for the kwamis. With the miracle box hidden in a compartment in the room only two of them knew about - the original duo - the kwamis, who weren’t with permanent holders, were free to lounge around the room.
All in all, it was perfect. Heck, the apartment even had an accessible door and windows for the heroes to sneak in and out without being seen.
The clapping died down and Ladybug smiled. “Since we finally have a more secure meeting place, we can take on training and using more heroes! With Shadow Moth growing bolder, we’ll definitely need the help.”
Rena nodded. “That makes sense. Do you need help picking out the newbies?”
Ladybug shook her head. “Nope. I’ve got four already lined up.” She sat at the table in the kitchen and sipped at the tea Carapace had prepared for them. “I think they’ll be perfect.”
Chat’s head tilted. “Four? Why four?”
“One for each of us to train.”
Chat’s eyes widened. “Train? We’re gonna be teaching them and stuff?”
Ladybug nodded. “I figured if we were adding new people to our ranks, they’d need to be properly trained so that they’re ready for any akumatizations.”
“So we’ll be like their mentors or big siblings,” Carapace hummed before snapping. “That’s totally rad, dude.”
“Mhm. And I’ve already decided on who gets who.” Bug grinned as the other three heroes waited patiently in anticipation.
Finally, Rena rolled her eyes. “Don’t leave us hanging, girl: tell us!”
“Carapace will be training the holder of the ox. Protecting is a major part of both of your miraculous so it would be good to have you train the holder so that they’ll be just as amazing at protecting those in need as you are.”
The turtle lit up with pride. “Righteous.”
She turned to the fox. “Rena, I’m giving you the holder of the goat. It has the power to create any object the holder desires. I figured who better to train someone who can create whatever they want than someone who can make people see whatever they want.”
“I’ll whip whoever it is into shape for sure!” Rena grinned, fist bumping Carapace.
Chat’s ears perked up as she turned to him. “For our favorite kitty, I’m pairing you with the holder of the tiger. It’s so obvious because, honestly: a fist full of powerful energy? Who does that remind us of?” Everyone chuckled but Chat found himself blushing when Ladybug kept his eye. “Not to mention, you cats gotta stick together, right?”
“R-Right! And I’ll be the purr-fect cool cat to help this kitten.”
Ladybug smiled. “I know you will. And for me, I’ll be training the snake holder.”
Rena’s eyes widened. “The snake? Are you sure?”
Chat nodded along. “We both know that losing the snake or rabbit would be game ending. It’ll be an instant win for Shadow Moth. Are you sure there’s anyone we can trust with it?”
“That’s true, my dude.” Carapace added. “What if they betray us?”
Ladybug paused before straightening her shoulders. “I’m positive. The person I have in mind is kind, patient, wise, and an overall amazing person. They will be able to handle the power better than anyone else. I know them and I believe they’re a great fit and I’m trusting my gut. Just like when I decided on the other three heroes. Just like when I decided on you two.”
Carapace and Rena couldn’t help but agree.
Honestly, Chat couldn’t argue either. After fighting by her side for so long, he had learned to trust her gut: it was rarely wrong.
Ladybug clapped her hands together. “As long as there isn’t an akuma attack that day and they agree, I’ll be gathering these new heroes and bringing them to the base next Saturday in the morning. We’ll meet, do introductions, and get down to training. Sounds good?”
The three heroes nodded.
“Great! So meet up here around seven and I’ll bring them around eight.”
As Carapace and Rena loitered in the living room playing a card game, Ladybug tugged on Chat’s hand. “How ya feeling?”
“Good! Good.” He waved off. “I can’t wait to meet my little kitten.”
Ladybug rolled her eyes. “They may not like being called a kitten, Chaton. And are you sure? You seem a bit nervous?”
Chat snorted. “Me? Nervous? Pssh! I’m excited!”
She noted his quick foot tap, thrumming fingers, and flitting eyes. “Of course you are. Just… let me know if you need help making a schedule or thinking of ways to train or anything really.”
The black cat nodded before checking his watchless wrist. “It’s getting late so I gotta go! Bye guys!”
Then Ladybug was watching him slip out the kitchen window and she couldn’t help but smile.
Her partner would do just fine. He’d be an amazing mentor.
“Ivan Bruel, here is the miraculous of the ox which grants the power of Resistance.”
“Nathaniel Kurtzberg, here is the miraculous of the goat which grants the power of Genesis.”
“Juleka Couffaine, here is the miraculous of the tiger which grants the power of Elation.”
“Luka Couffaine, here is the miraculous of the snake which grants the power of Second Chance. You will use it for the greater good… if you’re willing. Can I trust you?”
“Stompp, Make Way!”
“Ziggy, Bleat It!”
“Roarr, Paint Stripes!”
“Sass, Scales Slither!”
Early Saturday morning, Chat Noir, Rena Rouge, and Carapace looked at the four new superheroes in awe and excitement. None of them could quite believe that their team of four was now a team of eight.
Especially Chat!
“Welcome team. I want everyone to meet our newest members! Minotaurox, Carpikid, Purple Tigress, and Viperion!”
There was a round of clapping and each new hero gave a little wave or smile.
“I’ve already told everyone about our training so now we’ll go off in our pairs! Let’s go!”
Ladybug clapped and there was a moment where it was completely silent and no one moved, but then Carapace threw an arm around Minotaurox.
“Woah! You’re a huge dude! Let’s go test out that suit.”
Mino smiled shyly. “Okay.”
After that, all the pairs broke apart and Chat took a deep breath.
He could do this. He could be a mentor. He could train this new hero! He could do it!
He could!
So Chat walked up to the purple cat and smiled at her. “Hey there, Kitten. Nice to meow-t you!”
A palm meeting a forehead echoed throughout the house a second before Ladybug’s voice followed. “Chat!!!”
A nervous laugh bubbled up his throat. “Sorry, Milady!”
Expecting a similar look of irritation, Chat was pleasantly surprised to see Purple Tigress giggling into her hand.
A smile sprung onto his face. “You like puns?”
She nodded. “Furr sure.”
His smile brightened a hundred percent. He now knew he could do this. “Awesome. Let me show you the ropes to this big old litter box.”
Tigress smiled. “Please!”
“- and you always wanna make sure you wait for the purrfect moment to strike.” Chat said and smiled as he looked over to Purple Tigress, who was hanging onto his every word. “You pound it and then bam! Hit ‘em with a well planned pun. Even if it doesn’t show on her face, our spotted leader loves it as does the rest of our team.”
Tigress nodded. “I’ll work on my pun game.”
Pausing in his strut across the rooftop, Chat looked at his new teammate where she sat on the ground cross legged. She was smart, excited to learn, and fun to hang out with, but… “You’re really quiet.”
“What do you mean?” Had he not had superhero hearing, he wouldn’t have heard her.
“You’re really quiet! I can’t hear you!”
Her eyes dropped to her lap and she shrugged. “I normally never have to speak up.”
Curious, he dropped down in front of her. “Why?”
“I’ve never had anything to say before and it’s hard to talk when everyone else is so much louder than you.”
Chat nodded. He understood that. Between his father, his job, and the public, it was very hard for Adrien to have a voice loud enough to be heard over them all.
“But that shouldn’t stop you!” Chat said gently. “Speak up. Even if you start off softly, you should speak up. Eventually your whispers will turn into an inside voice that will grow into a raised voice and then a shout and then a roar!”
Tigress’ eyes lit up with questions. “A roar?”
“Yes! A roar! Like this!” Chat threw his head back and shouted to the sky. “ ROOOOAR !!!” When he looked back at her, there was a happy smile on her face. “Wanna try?”
Shyly, she shook her head. “I… can’t.”
“ Yet. You can’t yet . But I’m gonna help you with that.”
Eyes wide as saucers, the new heroine looked at him in awe. “You will?”
“Of course, Purrple.”
Grinning, she nodded. “Okay. You’ll help me and I’ll help you with your flirting game.”
Chat chuckled. “My flirting game? You’re gonna help me with my flirting game? I’m good at flirting!”
Purple Tigress lifted a singular eyebrow and Chat felt his confidence waver.
“I’m… not good at flirting?”
She shook her head.
“Oh… What’s wrong with my flirting?”
She bit her lip and he sighed.
“Okay. Well… I guess I could use a little help. What should I do?”
Purple Tigress only smiled.
ROAR
Attempt 1
Speak up even when it doesn’t seem important.
Chat Noir’s words rang in her head over and over again even after their training finished. It was what was going through her head as Kitty Section gathered for their weekly rehearsals. Playing through their arsenal of songs, Juleka couldn’t help but think of how… nerve wrecking it was to consider speaking out.
Wouldn’t that be rude?
Would anyone actually listen?
Would they care?
The questions didn’t stop and preoccupied her mind as they finished rehearsal and were discussing colors for their costumes for an upcoming performance.
“Marinette wants us to pick our inner colors,” Luka told the group as he pulled up the texts from their mutual friend. “She says it’ll help her decide how to design the rest of our clothes.”
The band nodded.
“Black is mine.” Ivan said, twirling a drumstick between his fingers. “It’s the color of mystery and boldness!”
“Well, I want pink!” Rose said to the surprise of no one. “It’s just so cute and cuddly and bright!”
“I think I’ll go with teal.” Luka said. “It matches the color I feel in my song right now.” He turned to her. “What are you thinking, Jules?”
“I-”
“I think orange would be a beautiful color for her!” Rose squeaked. “It’ll be such a beautiful match with my pink.”
Juleka bit her lip. “Well-”
“No,” Mylene tutted. “I see her as more of a red. Dark and expressive.”
The girl in question frowned. “Um,”
“Maybe blue?” Ivan offered. “It’s the color of the Seine!”
Rose shook her head again. “How about-”
“PURPLE!”
Even though it had been barely above a whisper, the word echoed in the air around them as silence settled over the boat. All eyes fell on the goth and a surprised shock registered on all of their faces.
She had their attention so Juleka took a deep breath and pushed on. “My inner color is purple.”
There was another silence before Luka smiled at her. “Purple it is. Let me text our colors to Marinette.” Looking down at his phone, he began typing.
As the rest of the band continued to talk excitedly, Juleka felt a flame of happiness spark in her chest. It hadn’t been much, but it was enough.
One baby step closer to roaring.
To being heard.
FLIRTING
Attempt 1
Chat Noir let a lazy smile spread across his face as he leaned, in what he thought, in a sexy way against his baton. “You’re looking paws-itively radiant my- OW!” He hissed and rubbed his stinging hand. “What?!”
Perched on the edge of the tub, Purple Tigress swung her belled tail back into her gloved hand. “I said no puns.”
Chat whined. “But I thought you liked puns!”
“I do! But not in pickup lines or compliments. And I’m sure Ladybug - or whoever you’re flirting with - feels the same way. We’ve been over this. Now try again.”
Sighing, Chat shook himself and looked back at his reflection.
No puns. No puns.
“Hey, good looking. Has anyone ever told you that you’re the cat’s me-OW!”
“No-”
“- puns. I know, I know.” Chat groaned before sitting on the toilet. “Puns are just part of my blood! They flow out of me like water from a faucet!”
For her part, Purple Tigress did seem understanding as she reached across the small bathroom to rub his shoulder. “You gotta power through it! You can make all the puns after you whisker away!”
Chat snorted. “That was a good one!”
Tigress grinned. “You think so? I’ve been trying to work it in for a while.”
“Yeah, it was amazing!” An idea popped into Chat’s head. “Hey! If you keep up the puns, then maybe I’ll be able to keep them out of my practice. How about it?”
“Sounds like purrfect plan.”
Smiling, Chat turned back to the mirror. “Is your name Google? Because you got everything I’m searching for.”
Tigress shrugged. “Another.”
“You’re so sweet you must be made out of chocolate.”
“You’re more charismatic than that, Chat. Give it a little bit more umph!.”
Chat took a deep breath before beaming at his reflection. Giving himself a good look over, Chat winked before biting his lip. “You must be a campfire, because you're super hot, and I want s'more.”
“Wow.”
Chat froze and turned towards the open door of the room only to meet the wide eyes of Minotaurox and the humor filled eyes of Carapace, who was barely keeping it together.
Cheeks flushing, Chat held up his hands. “It’s not what it looks like.”
“It’s cool, my dude!” Carapace assured even as he struggled not to laugh. “Most people think that self-love is very important.” Chat felt relief throughout his body… until the turtle went on. “I would just practice… with the door closed.”
Then Chat was staring at the other side of the bathroom door.
Tigress giggled so much she fell into the tub.
ROAR
Attempt 3
It was just a normal day in Ms. Bustier’s class. They were going over self regulatory activities to help ease the mind and calm the body - an initiative given by the school board to decrease the number of akumatizations coming out of the school.
Today’s lesson was about meditation.
As the last person ran - tripped because, of course, it was Marinette- into the classroom, Bustier clapped her hands. “Okay! This week we’ve been studying the five steps of meditation. Who can name Step 1?” Rose’s hand shot up. “Rose?”
“Be aware of the present moment!”
“Perfect! Step 2?”
“Subdue your negative thoughts!” Max chipped in.
“Step 3? Mylene?”
“Be mindful of your feelings!”
“Step 4?”
Alix raised her hand. “Be even more aware!”
“Good. And the final step?”
There was a short silence as her classmates thought hard about the last answer. Juleka’s mind filled with the conversation from the day before and, step by step, she recalled each one until, in a loud, clear voice that everyone could hear…
“Unwavering commitment.”
All eyes turned toward her and Juleka felt shy with the attention until Adrien, all the way from the front row, smiled. “That’s right! I remember that now!”
Ms. Bustier clapped. “Great job, Juleka. Step five is having unwavering commitment in your process. Amazing! Great job everyone who answered!”
Then the class went on and Juleka continued answering questions, pride in herself growing with every word.
FLIRTING
Attempt 5
On this day, Chat found himself on patrol with Purple Tigress, Caprikid, and Rena. Individual training had ended and now they were giving the newbies the chance to see what a patrol was like.
It was a quiet night, not even a robber was stirring, so when they paused on top of a building overlooking the lower side of Paris, Tigress nudged Chat.
“What?”
Leaning in, she covered her mouth and whispered, “Try out some of your lines on Rena!”
His eyes widened. “Right here?”
“Right now! See if it works.”
Taking a deep breath, Chat thought over his best lines in his head before approaching the other pair.
Leaning on his baton, he winked at her when she glanced at him. “How you doing there, Rena?”
Eyebrow lifting, she looked at him curiously. “I’m good. What’s up, Chat?”
“Not much. Just wanted to check in with you.”
“Why?”
“Because I think you are suffering from a lack of Vitamin Me.”
There was a beat and then Rena cackled. “Oh my god!”
As she continued to giggle, Chat glanced behind him.
“Keep going!” The purple feline mouthed.
“Oh no!” He gasped and Rena’s laughs cut off.
Scanning the area, she tapped her flute. “What did you see? A villain?”
“No! I just wanted to tie your shoes so that you won’t fall for anyone else.”
Another beat where Rena and Caprikid stared at him like he was crazy before she responded. “Chat, I’m not wearing any shoes.”
“Then how have you been running through my mind all day?”
That seemed to take her out as Rena broke into a laughter fit so big, she had to hold on to the confused Caprikid to stay up.
“Chat!” The foxy hero wheezed. “I can’t. Chat!”
Chat wasn’t sure how to take that but Purple Tigress seemed just as entertained.
When she caught her breath, Rena straightened, wiped the tears from her face, and patted Chat on the cheek. “Those were some good lines, Chat, but I’m sorry to say that I’m already taken. Better luck next time.” Turning she nodded at their mentees. “One of the locations for the most akumatizations is the Seine. Let’s go check over there.”
As Rena and Caprikid jumped from the roof, Purple Tigress squeezed Chat’s shoulder. “You did a really good job.”
Chat perked up. “You think so?”
“Absolutely! She said that the lines were great! And you’re only practicing right now!” Tigress tapped her chin. “This just means you have to pick single targets next and I know the perfect ones.”
She grinned evilly and Chat was instantly worried and curious at the look in her eyes.
ROAR
Attempt 7
“You call that art? I’ve seen better art in the garbage, which is where this belongs!”
Juleka fought an eye roll at the sound of Chloe’s shrill laughter as she tried to focus on reading the new lyrics Rose had written.
It was just another day at school with Chloe being absolutely horrible to their classmates for no reason. One would think that, during this free time given to them by the art teacher, Chloe would be doing something productive.
One would be wrong.
Chloe was taking the time to break apart everything everyone in the room had created and Juleka couldn’t lie: some of her criticisms were extremely creative.
But still.
She really hoped that Chloe would get bored and leave. It was so easy to get disheartened when making things from the heart and no one deserved to get their works stomped on.
Unfortunately, Chloe didn’t plan on stopping and, in fact, stopped in front of Juleka and Rose’s table next.
“And what garbage do we have here, hmm?” Ripping the paper out of Juleka’s hand, Chloe scanned the paper, even as Rose tried to grab it back.
“If you must know, those are lyrics for Kitty Section’s next song! Give it back please.”
Chloe cackled. “Are you serious? No wonder your band is going nowhere if this is the type of dribble they sing! This song is so boring that I-”
Juleka felt her anger building in her with each insult. No one deserved to be trashed like this, especially not Rose.
“- and to think, you’re the writer for that little band. Ridiculous, utterly-”
“Give that back to Rose!”
The words seemed to startle Chloe. Juleka wasn’t surprised: the words had been loud even in her own ears.
Chloe stared at her as if she’d grown a second head before shaking herself. “What did you-”
Taking a deep breath, Juleka placed both hands on the table and stood. “I said: Give. That. Back. To. Rose. Right now.”
Looking up into the girl’s face, Chloe seemed to lose her voice for a few moments as her mouth flapped for a couple of seconds.
When the blond did nothing, Juleka snatched the paper back and quietly sat back down. Turning to Rose, she smiled. “Ignore her. This song is really good! Luka will have so much fun composing its music.”
Rose lit up from the inside. “Thanks, Jules. I can’t wait to show him.”
FLIRTING
Unplanned Attempt 7.5
Training in a five minute time loop was wild. Chat Noir knew he was in one and he could feel that things were… different with each chance, but he tried to make the best of it. After all, he was the seasoned hero and he had volunteered to help train Viperion.
Even though it seemed Viperion was already quite knowledgeable and talented when it came to his miraculous. It only took, according to him, fifty seven tries for the snake hero to last a full five minutes in hand to hand combat with Chat Noir - which was a feat due to Adrien’s upbringing and training. However, it had tired him out and Chat found himself lunging forward to catch the snake before his face planted against the roof.
“Woah, there.”
Viperion chuckled softly as Chat helped him to his feet. “Sorry. I’ve never fought while also doing the Second Chance thing.”
Chat grinned. “It’s fine! That’s why these training sessions are so important, so I don’t mind. It’s all in good practice and fun!” His grin tipped into a smirk as one of the pickup lines he’d been practicing earlier rolled off his tongue. “Not to mention that I finally get to know what it’s like to be touched by an angel.”
Both boys froze for a moment before Viperion laughed and straightened up. “You’re a real charmer, Chat. If I were Ladybug, you definitely would’ve had me there.”
As Viperion went off to feed his kwami, Chat couldn’t help but feel proud… and a little confused as to why he wanted to try out even more lines on Viperion…
But that was a thought for another day as a kangaroo the size of a skyscraper appeared in the middle of the city and it was time to fight evil yet again.
ROAR
Attempt 8
“So you’re saying someone has to scream this line for the song to work?” Ivan asked as the band sat around the deck of The Liberty discussing Rose’s new song.
“Exactly! It’s echoing the lead singer’s words and giving it more pizazz ! Normally I would scream it, but I’m the lead on this song so I can’t.”
Luka fiddled with the ring on his finger. “I’ll be singing the tenor notes so I-”
“I’ll do it!”
Surprised, Rose turned to Juleka. “Are you sure? It has to be scream-screamed.”
Juleka smiled confidently. “I can do it.”
And when they played through the song, she could do it. In fact, she screamed so loud into the microphone, Anarka ran up on deck to see what had happened. When she found out, Anarka immediately crushed her daughter in a hug.
“Ye got lungs like yer ma! I’m so proud yer finally putin’ em to good use.”
FLIRTING
Attempt 10
The first major teamup of all eight heroes happened a lot sooner than Chat thought it would. The newbies had been training for about three weeks when Shadow Moth hit Paris with a mega akuma: a little girl upset about not getting her favorite flowers. It was such a small thing, but the villain Aroma and her sentimonster, Bloom, wreaked chaos on the streets as Aroma turned people into flowers and Bloom made them… well, bloom and litter the streets in thick, sticky pollen that was near impossible to get out of.
However, with some wise Second Chances from Viperion and a powerful punch from Purple Tigress, the heroes were able to secure the win.
“Pound it!”
As the other four heroes waved and disappeared, Ladybug, Chat Noir, Viperion, and Purple Tigress went back towards the base. They’d just walked in through the front door when Ladybug sneezed once and then twice.
Viperion handed her a piece of tissue. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah.” She waved them all away. “It seems the ladybugs missed a few pieces of pollen. I’m o-uh-uh- achoo!”
As she dabbed at her nose, Chat couldn’t help himself. “I’d say bless you, but it seems God already has, Bugaboo.”
Everyone in the small hallway froze and Chat felt a nervous shiver down his spine. He wondered if he’d chosen the wrong moment for the line… until he noted the dark red coating his lady’s cheeks and a proud grin on Tigress’ face.
This one was a win and it felt amazing.
ROAR
Success
A couple of days after the mega akuma was taken care of, Ladybug called a meeting to establish the official patrol schedule and partners.
The schedule was a thing of beauty. It somehow managed to take all of their hectic schedules and mesh it into one huge year long calendar with revolving partners, alternating weekends, training sessions, future checkpoints that made it a possibility to add even more heroes, and even a backup list in case someone couldn’t make their patrol.
Honestly, Tigress didn’t know how Ladybug had managed all of that. It honestly amazed the purple cat so much that she couldn’t help but shout out, “You’re so furr-king paw-some, Ladybug!”
Chat and Carapace immediately burst into laughter as Ladybug and Rena looked at the tiger in shock.
“Wh-What?”
Tigress shook her head. “Look at all the hard work you put into being such an amazing leader! You’re furr-king paw-some and deserve all purr-raise!”
Ladybug was stunned for a long moment before smiling. “Thank you, Tigress. I really want us to win.” She glanced to the side where Chat and Carapace - and now Minotaurox - were in tears on the floor. Turning back to the smiling tiger, Ladybug sighed. “I just… what made you say that now?”
Tigress smiled. “Well, you’re amazing and Chat said that, even if it doesn’t show on your face, you love puns!”
“Did he now?” Chat’s laughter stopped abruptly at her tone. “If you would excuse me for a moment.” Standing, she grabbed the long piece of leather near her feet and exited the room, dragging Chat out behind her.
The rest of the heroes were looking at one another, unsure of what to do or if they needed to rescue the black cat hero, when a scream echoed through the room.
“YOU TAUGHT HER PUNS? PUNS?!”
“IT WAS THE FIRST THING I TAUGHT HER!”
The other six heroes in the room tried to keep straight faces as the shouting continued.
“AND YOU SAID I LIKED IT?”
“YES! BECAUSE WE ALL LOVE PUNS!”
“NO WE DON’T!”
“YES WE DO!"
"NO WE DON'T!"
"ARE YOU- ARE YOU KITTEN ME?”
“NO! I MEAN, YES! I MEAN… STOP LAUGHING CHAT! THIS IS NOT FUNNY!”
“YOU’RE RIGHT! IT’S PUNNY !”
And then no one in the room could keep a straight face.
FLIRTING
Success
Not even a full twenty four hours later, Ladybug, Viperion, Chat, and Purple Tigress tackling another akuma together.
This one was a doozy.
It ended up being a fifteen year old girl who had been given one too many responsibilities by her parents. This led to her being akumatized in Bogged, a scale with overwhelming weights on both sides with the power to zap someone and make them feel so heavy, they wouldn’t be able to even lift themselves off the ground.
Honestly, it was a brilliant plan. If Chat Noir and Ladybug were too heavy to move, Shadow Moth would be able to just walk up and snag their miraculous right off of them! And, for a while, it felt that it would actually happen too!
Thankfully, Viperion was there to prove Ladybug’s words nearly a month before true: he watched, he waited, he understood, and they won.
But not without symptoms because, even after casting the miraculous ladybugs, Ladybug was having a hard time standing properly. Chat, of course, rushed to his lady’s side and helped her rest against him for a moment. “You feeling okay?”
Her nod was a little hesitant. “I… think so. Just give me a few minutes to get used to normal gravity again and I’ll be fine.”
True to form, she was able to stand moments later and, after a sneaky nudge from Tigress, Chat grinned at her.
“Oh wait! Your hand still looks a little heavy. Let me hold it for you.”
And, even though she regarded him with wide eyes, Ladybug allowed him to slip his hand into hers and thread their fingers together.
Looking over his shoulder, Chat beamed at Tigress, who gave a small clap in excitement, before Viperion cleared his throat, drawing Chat’s attention.
The snake gave him an easy, teasing smile. “I’m here too.”
Surprise ran through Chat, but words flowed from his lips. “I know: that’s why I have two hands.” Then he slipped said other hand into Viperion’s and was shocked at how… nice it felt when he spotted the blush on both of their cheeks. “Shall we?”
When they made it back to the base and Chat left the still blushing bug and snake in the hallway, Tigress immediately pulled him into a hug. “You did it!
Chat smiled. “So did you with the way you shouted those puns so proudly yesterday!”
Tigress’ face glowed from the praise. “Well, I did have the best mentor.”
“Just like I had the best mentee!”
“We’re such a clawsome team!” She agreed and the two hugged again as Ladybug looked on in a mix of happiness and resignation.
Turning to Viperion, she sighed. “The puns are just gonna get worse and more frequent, aren’t they?”
“Yep.”
“From both of them?”
“Oh, absolutely.”
Ladybug's head fell back and she stared at the ceiling. “Great. Just great.”
Viperion held back a chuckle. “It is your fault... just a little.”
“How?”
“You were the one to team them up, weren’t you?”
Realizing she was indeed the one to do so, Ladybug groaned and spoke without thinking. “How clawful!”
Eyes wide, Viperion couldn’t fight off his amusement anymore. “Was that a-?”
Banging her head against the closest wall, Ladybug nodded. “Yes, I regret it.”
“Yet you’re in love with the pun king.”
Ladybug sputtered for a moment before turning and poking the snake hero in the chest. “Yeah? Well… So are you! Now shut up before I give you extra patrols!”
Laughing to himself, Viperion raised his hands in surrender. “Yes ma’am.”
Her next words were forgotten when she jumped from the loud ROAR that filled the house as it left the purple tiger's lips moments before Chat embraced her again with 'That was great... and loud!'.
As she watched the pair, Ladybug felt warmth radiating in her chest. Despite her groaning, she honestly didn’t regret pairing the two together at all because seeing Chat and Tigress together proved what she had already known:
Her partner was an amazing mentor and she hoped he knew that now… even if it meant she had to endure more puns.