Chapter Text
Truly,
She's being dramatic,
She's being dramatic right now, sitting on the floor, knees up to her chest, struggling to breathe. In this dark dark place, where with every shuddering breath she takes the walls seem to close in on her a little more.
She's been dramatic when she had panic attacks before. Thinking she can't breathe when she very much can, feeling sick when she's perfectly healthy, sudden claustrophobia when she isn't even claustrophobic.
And honestly she doesn't know why, why in the world is she so pathetic.
She's fine
She's more than fine actually
She’s Ladybug it’s fine
There's no need to panic
She’s fine
But she still can't breathe
And the air that should be traveling through her lungs, just isn’t
And gods can the blood pooling at her ears just stop
She needs to just stop
Jesus why can’t she just-
“Marinette please, I need you to breathe"
The buzz in her ears die down as a voice cuts through the hum.
"here lets do it together, in for 5, 1...2…3…4…5, okay now hold for 7, 1..-”
She knows that voice, it's Tikki's voice
Tikki, her oh so sweet sweet Kwami here to keep her sane and fine.
She finds that she doesn't deserve it, not really.
Instead she needs to be left here, alone, struggling to breathe and to be forced to figure it out herself, she deserves to be alone, for everything. So pathetic to still be needing help when everything is her fault"
“Out for-”
She feels herself start to let go of the breathe she had been holding, slowly coming to the realization she'd been following instructions, she hadn't meant to. She hadn't even payed attention that much, she couldn't even hear that well. She had meant to be able to do that alone. She should be able to do that alone.
However she couldn't have, like she couldn't the other times before, always needing Tikki to be by her side to help her through one her panic attacks.
She needs to get better, she needs to stop needing help, she needs to handle this herself. And right now she needs to open her eyes.
but shes so tired
And she just wants to go home.
“3….”
She just.
“4….”
Really,
“5..”
Wants to go-
“Marinette?”
Marinette takes a trembling breath, finally she feels air fill her lungs. She opens her eyes and picks her head up from the spot where it was once hidden, behind her arms and on her knees. Her eyes flick from the floor then up to Tikki. The small Kwami looks at her with big, worried eyes and opens her mouth, only to then close it a second after.
"Marinette..?" She says a little while after, voice quiet. "Are you…okay? I'm sure Chat Noir and the rest of the Miraculers can handle this fight without you" Tikki whips around Marinette, a forced smile on her face, trying to seem comforting. "we could take the day to maybe sleep? You haven't had a lot of rest lately, nor have you eaten, maybe you could go out to your favorite restaurant?" Tikki lowers herself down to Marinette' eye level, arms out. Shes trying so hard for her.
This whole act however makes everything so much worse, the hesitance Tikki has before talking, like anything she could say would bring Marinette back to a stage of a mental breakdown, and the excuses made up just for her, but letting Ladybug leave Paris up to anyone but herself is sickening. Just as much as Tikki thinking she can't handle it.
But she only has herself to blame for her Kawmi to not believe in her. To not have trust in her, to think she isn't worthy.
Guilt radiates through Marinette's body as she swallows saliva in a desperate attempt of trying to get rid of the dryness in her throat.
She hugs herself a little tighter before immediately straightening up.
“Sorry,I- i'm sorry, i'm fine,” Marinette shudders. She knows she wasted so much time, She knows that Paris has to be destroyed by now. “lets just transform-”
“Marine-”
She doesn't let her Kawmi finish as she rushes out her transformation phrase, cutting off the words of worry she knew Tikki would let out. Only for those who need it. She doesn't need it.
more like she doesn't deserve it
A bright flash of pink envelopes her.
Everything is fine now
Ladybug is here,
Ladybug who doesn't need words of worry,
who doesn't need excuses, Ladybug who can handle this, she's here and then she's up and out the bathroom stall.
—
By the time Ladybug gets to the middle of the city, half of Paris is already destroyed like she had predicted. But even with the mental preparation, seeing Paris like this, still hurts. It aches. Because it's her fault.
The roads that are destroyed
The Houses that are gone.
The People who live in those houses that are gone.
All. Her. Fault
But it's okay, it's fine, she can bring them back. She has to bring them back, that's why she's here.
She's thinking too much.
The superhero shakes her head, in a quick attempt to bring her focus back, before then whipping it around in a quick scan of her surroundings, and from the corner of her eye, she catches Chat Noir crouched on the edge of a building.
In the sight of her partner, Ladybug sighs and a small smile grows, grateful to see him here.
The relief she feels by seeing him though is slightly overshadowed by the sense of fear she feels after feeling that relief. The fact that it only takes one person, her partner, to calm her down well, she doesn't like to admit that she doesn’t mind the feeling. And that in itself is scary.
However that discussion needs to be held at a later date. For now Paris is her utmost priority.
Ladybug throws her yo-yo in the direction of Chat Noir, seemingly catching his attention when he looks up at her and smiles, getting up from his cat-liked crouched position.
“Why hello M’lady,” he starts, his tone playful. He takes a bow then continues ”You are fashiona- oh" he stalls "are you okay?” His smile drops now, his eyes squinting as he watches her land in front of him.
Ladybug blinks at him while getting up from her landing. She opens and closes her mouth before looking around, making sure the Akumatized villain isn't anywhere near. When she doesn't see them nearby she turns back to him.
“Yea i'm fine, lets get this over with, I was busy” She rushes out. It’s a lie, another to hide the hundreds of other ones, lie after lie after-
Not now,
not. right. now.
Can she focus, this isn't about her
Ladybug murmurs, criticizing herself for her thoughts getting in the way of her work, jumping away from Chat Noir and starts following a common patrol route they take in an attempt of finding the villain. Chat follows, right on her tail.
“Busy- that's why you were late?” She hears him ask right from behind her, she takes a quick glance to see he has an eye brow raised.
The topic of conversation should've ended already, the fact it hasn't is irritating her. Honestly what does it matter right now?
Ladybug sighs, "yep, when you're busy, you sometimes arrive late to things" She sounds so bitchy
Either Chat Noir doesn't notice or decides to ignore it in favor of saying “It looks like you were crying-”, and Ladybug’s shoulders go up
Had the suit not been hiding her eyes? Is the question she asks herself, she had assumed, all these months, of her crying and sobbing before transforming, that her eyes had been reset in a way. Now she looks so pathetic, not leader like at all.
Ladybug continues jumping from rooftop to rooftop, trying to hide the surprise she had from what Chat had said.
“Wasn’t” she answers curtly a short while after, changing directions of the rooftop path she's been going on.
Chat Noir deadpans at her from her right, she can barley make out his face mid leap but she feels his attitude.
“The Miraculous doesn't hide what color your eyes are m’lady, if you aren’t okay you know you can talk to me right?”
She stops at a rooftop, overlooking Paris, and crouches, she knows under her is an abandoned building. She keeps that thought for later. The superhero takes a breath as she frantically whips her head around.
She really needs this Akumatized villain to show itself, she doesn't want to play hide and seek anymore.
“Yes kitty, thank you, really appreciate it” she knows she sounds insincere but she doesn't want to bother chit chatting (she hates how that sounds like a pun) about something that really isn't important, they should be focused on the akuma.
It's her fault they aren't
Chat Noir huffs, “Right- okay, if you appreciate it, can you actually talk to me then? This is the 7th time you've shown up with your eyes all red just this month, and I know you're not 'getting something stuck in your eyes'" he mocks, taking up a high pitched voice "each and every time you come like that" He raises his voice an octave on the last bit.
Ladybug watches him from her crouched position, she scoffs before she starts thinking a little deeper about what he stated just then.
7th? She remembers last week, that day was unfortunate, crying in her room, feeling her chest feel like it's going in on itself, it happened as soon as she heard the akuma's demands from outside. Bad panic attack that she took a bit to calm down from, once again with the help of Tikki. But the other 6? She doesn't remember those at all.
Maybe it's the fact that she realizes that he isn't trying to be anything but kind to her, or the fact that shes been bitchy towards him this whole interaction that causes her to start apologizing
“I- sorry I'll stop crying, I just-” she doesn't get her words out when she spots the villain and her tone trails off, not one they fought before, Ladybug sighs already assuming this fight is going to take longer than usual “Lets just get this over with yea? I promise you won't have to deal with me crying anymore, i'm sorry” She doesn't let him reply as she once again jumps away.
But she does see the look of horror dawn on his face.
She doesn't know how to feel about that
—
The fight isn't as crazy as Ladybug assumed it’d be, Rena Rogue pops up for a second just for a quick illusion before they capture the akuma, honestly it's one of their quicker ones for an akuma that destroyed all of Paris in the span of an hour.
But a quick fight is a quick fight that she is happy about.
And after a quick talk with the Akumatized victim, a gift of the pendent, she's up and ready to leave.
And right when shes winding her yo-yo to throw, someone calls her name
“Ladybug” the voice causes her to still.
She had gotten used to not reacting to the use of her name, just in case she's in civilian form and she would to accidentally react to someone saying “Ladybug”. It was training Chat Noir and her took when they were younger.
This time however she hesitates, because it's Chat Noir who called her. Chat Noir who never says her name. Bug, Buggaboo, M’lady, even just Lady, but never Ladybug unless it's serious. Unless he’s trying to make a point.
She turns to him slowly. She doesn't bother putting on a smile.
“Are we gonna talk?” Chat Noir asks, tone worried, sad even, his ears are down turned.
“Nothing to talk about “ She mutters in reply, her eyes go between Chat Noir’s face, which screams that he doesn't believe her, then with Rena Rogue, who's looking at her in confusion, hearing the conversation that she has no context to walking in.
“You sure?” he asks, quieter than he was talking before.
“Yes,” she replies, and god can she try a little harder to be convincing?
His eyes shift between hers in quick succession “Ladybug, you know I'm here for you right? you don't have to stop cry-”
“Yea, thank you” she cuts him off.
Its quiet for a good few seconds, an awkward amount where no one says anything
“….okay,” Chat Noir mumbles, breaking the silence. He licks his lips, something he does when he’s thinking, he turns to Rena Rouge, Ladybug notices how he tilts his head towards herself quickly. An obvious ‘since she won't talk to me, you should try’ Ladybug hates it but can't dwell on it too much before he continues “That's all I wanted to say, patrol tonight?” He flashes a smile, his canines hidden, it's not a real smile.
She learned Chat Noir was a model way back when they first got their Miraculous's. He would sometimes flash a smile towards her and her heart would skip a beat because he reminded her so much of Adrien. But his teeth had changed a couple months after the beginning of their superhero activities, sharp canines/fangs taking the place of his human ones, in suit and out. She'd tease him about it if it wasn't for the fact that it affected his self esteem. He had admitted once, that no matter how much he enjoyed the feature, he felt abnormal, how his photo shoppers would get angry if too much canine showed in his perfect “real” smile. She had learned to tell the difference between his real and his overly perfect smiles. She had also learned not to mention his modeling after that.
She narrows her eyes towards him because of that fact, that fake smile, before she sighs and thinks.
She bites her lip as she debates her options. She doesn't, not, want too but she also doesn't want to get interrogated, which she knows that's the only reason he's actually asking about patrol, a subtle “since i'm asking you about it, you can't back out and say you didn't remember”. God he's smart and is backing her into a corner.
But at the end of the day, well, it doesn’t really matter what she wants, Paris needs to be protected. She smiles “Yea, tonight”
“Okay” he replies, giving a final look to Rena before using his stick to jump away.
It's quiet for about 5 seconds before Rena makes an attempt to go near her, but Ladybug doesn't let her get a word in before saying she's in a rush and jumping away.
She jumps from rooftop to rooftop going all the way back to the building she made a mental note on earlier, she has 4 hours left of school but honestly, that's the last place she wants to be, and showing up home way earlier than she's suppose to is gonna make her mom ask questions and she really doesn't want to lie to her right now.
She doesn't really wanna lie to anyone right now,
She just wants to… be alone
So much for wanting to go home.
The ceiling, or what's left of the ceiling, is entertaining enough for Marinette to watch for hours. Or well she assumes it's been hours based on the gradual change of lighting from the window right behind her head. From a bright blue sky, to now an orange look shining in front of her.
“Marinette-”
Marinette hums
“You- you should go home”
She doesn't want to go home, lying right here, staring at the ceiling is just fine.
Instead of saying that however Marinette hums in reply.
Tikki groans in annoyance “Marinette this isn't safe”
Marinette exhales through her nose as she turns her head towards her Kwami.
“It is, Ladybug is here, i'm Ladybug we're just fine."
Tikki blinks at her, shaking her head in what Marinette could only describe as utter disbelief, before closing her eyes and taking a deep breath.
“You haven't eaten” Tikki basically whines when she recovers, putting her arms out as emphasis.
Marinette runs her her hands down her face and groans “Yes I did”
“No you haven't"
“Tikki, yes I did” she replies a little louder
Tikki huffs
“Then what did you eat huh? Cause last I remember, you skipped breakfast” Tikki practically yells as she points one of her little paws towards the superhero.
Marinette rolls her eyes and makes herself sit up, hands holding her from behind. She’s not stupid enough to forget to eat, she had to have eaten at some point during the day. So she starts recalling her memories of food. She thinks for a moment
And another moment.
And…and….
She comes to the conclusion that she can't remember what she ate, but that in it's self doesn't mean she hadn't eaten, she had, she swears she had.
Her throats gone dry again, so she swallows saliva before turning her head towards Tikki.
She hesitates before replying, basically already knowing where this was gonna go “I..don't remember but I-”
Tikki scowls “No Marinette, no you didn't eat, you didn't eat, you didn't have lunch at school, nor breakfast at home, not even a snack. You need to go home and eat.” She finishes off crossing her arms in front of her.
“No Tikki i'm just not-” her voice trails off as ringing from her bag is heard. Right, she has a patrol.
“No- Marinette no, the suit can only help so much, if an Akuma does come, you won't have enough energy to fight it if-”
“Okay!” Marinette says harshly before then wincing, she turns away from Tikki, grabbing her phone from her bag, turning her patrol alarm off, ignoring the missed calls from Alya. She huffs a sigh then turns back to her Kawmi “okay” she says softer. “I'll ask Chat Noir to go eat with me, okay?” Marinette finishes.
She hadn't meant to sound that harsh, she meant to sound stern.
Tikki gives a worried look but sighs and nods her little head, though hesitation is shown throughout the “wringing” of her paws.
Marinette looks away from her while saying her transformation words. She cant bring herself to look at the pity written all over her Kawmi's face.
She says an apology towards Tikki in her head, and she feels Tikki forgive her somehow.
Once Ladybug is back she leaves the building.
“So" Chat Noir starts, dragging out the "o", "where did you wanna eat again?” he asks, pushing a button on his staff while the two superheros sit on a ledge, specifically the ledge of her abandoned building but Chat Noir doesn't need to know.
Meeting him there was quite awkward in itself, as she came out a window and went to the roof, only to see him about 2 rooftops away, and as as quickly as she could she sent a message off to him about her location.
“You choose.” Ladybug replies, scanning the area below, no Akumas to make note of.
Chat Noir hums, presumably scrolling through options as her eyes flicker from building to building, person to person, before she stops and stares at nothing.
At some point her thoughts drift off, zoning out.
Recently, the Akumas have been becoming a lot more violent, a lot more angry.
It honestly scares her, it scares Marinette.
And as a leader, Ladybug has to keep her team safe.
And well, they are safe. She's there, always, so it's fine, she's taking care of everyone.
But she has to admit there's been a shift between her identities.
She doesn't understand why but her stomach keeps getting into knots, not just as Marinette, but as Ladybug too.
She doesn't like that
But nothing new has happened so it’s fine
Just perfectly fine, not good nor bad just…fine..
Is what she keeps telling herself,
Because the alternative to fine is that everything is not fine, that things are going to change soon. Because Ladybug isn't suppose to be feeling the impending doom Marinette always does.
Stop, she tells herself, its your anxiety, it's fine, Chat Noir is fine, Alya is fine, Adrien is fine, Nino is fine, everyone is fine. A repeated mantra she hates to admit she's had to use more than once or twice to calm herself down. Only as Marinette however.
Ladybug breathes deeply as she brings her focus back, she continues her search of any negative emotion or akuma.
Chat Noir tail flicks and it catches Ladybug's attention. Any terrible thoughts from before are quickly forgotten as quick smirk plays on her face, she snorts when his tail flicks again.
Another feature they talked about, how much control Chat Noir has over his animal features, i.e his tail and his ears. This isn't unnatural per say, Alya also having control over her ears and her own tail, but the rest of the Miraculers don't report having a "phantom feeling".Perhaps Sabrina but even she says it's limit is at her "dog ears"
Chat Noir's phantom feelings are special however, having stated he can still feel the tail and ears out of the suit.
Chat Noir's gaze snaps towards her from the sudden sound. “what?”
“Nothing” Ladybug replies in a sing song tone.
“Aw come on Bug tell me, why’d you laugh” His eyes seem to grow larger as he leans over towards her
“Laugh? That wasn't a laugh” Ladybug argues, pushing his shoulder back.
“Snort, laugh, snicker, basically the same thing for you. All the actually matters is that I cause those laughs” He replies, a huge smirk taking over his face.
Ladybug smiles as a sense of admiration washes over her.
“You're silly and full of yourself-” she replies, finally looking away from her partner and towards the street again.
“Sigh, aren't I always, the silly part, not whatever else you said.” Chat Noir licks his lips as he right ear flicks.
However all that Ladybug could focus on was the first word of his sentence.
“You did not just say the word sigh”
He turns to her, eyebrow raised, “Its funny” he states matter of factly, like it's obvious
Ladybug squints her eyes at him “Funny is not what I would use to describe saying 'sigh' out loud” she ends off with a scowl.
Chat Noir sticks his tongue out at her “You have zero sense of humor” he replies as he stands up and stretches, his hands over his head, from side to side, “Luckily you don't need one to eat, I found a place, follow me” He sounds giddy. Ladybug raises a brow but follows him anyway.
“When you said you found a place, I had thought-” She pauses and looks around “it was someplace that wasn't known, or at least” she pauses again and turns back to look at her partner “an actual restaurant”
He turns to her and gives her toothy grin, then turns back to her bakery, because of course it just had to be her bakery.
“This place is amazing Ladybug, why find something new when you can go to where you know you'd like” He gestures towards the bakery "besides this is still food, it feels a bit late for steak or anything of that sorts”
Ladybug looks at him with an unamused look, “right” she turns towards the door and takes a breath.
She really doesn't wanna see her mom right now but, she had to admit, having one of their pastries sounds delicious right now.
“Alright come on” she sighs walking towards the door. She hears Chat Noir cheer from behind her and she can't help but smile at his antics.
The ring chimes from above her as she walks towards through the front doors and towards the front. Maman looks towards her and shoots a smile.
“Ah Ladybug, Chat Noir, nice to see you both, what would you like today?”
Ladybug shoots a small smile back before overlooking the options in the display case, trying to see what she hasn't eaten in a long time.
Chat Noir steps right up the counter "Good afternoon Mrs Dupain-Cheng, I would love a tray of raspberry macaroons pretty please” Chat Noir says, as his tail does a quick flick that Ladybug can't help but smile to, “Oh and with an added tuna sandwich” He adds with a smile.
Sabine smiles and nods her head before turning towards Ladybug.
“And for you Ms Ladybug?”
“Two chocolate eclairs please.” She replies, tilting her head with a smile, then she hesitates, “and can I also have two breakfast sandwiches?”
Tikki would want her to eat more than an eclair, right yes, for Tikki. And definitely not because she's feeling dizzy and because she feels her stomach ache.
She thinks she could hear a "I told you so" from her kawmi but she ignores it.
“Of course” Sabine replies with a smile, writing down their orders on a piece of paper.
After a few more clarifications on what macaroons Chat Noir wants and what Ladybug wanted in the Sandwiches. They pay for their food (though a fight with her mom about it for a good 5 minutes was needed) then go back to their main rooftop together, the one right in front of the Eiffel tower. The best view in Paris.
They share their food, Ladybug hands over one of her eclairs while Chat Noir gives her half his macaroons. It's a tradition they always did, get one food to share, another for yourself. She doesn't remember when this started or why, but it doesn't really matter, she likes doing this with him.
“Oh my goodness, these are delicious, Marinette's parents always outdo themselves.” Chat Noir grumbles, devouring the macaroons,
Ladybug smiles and tries not to react to the topic of herself and her parents, they need to start training that part of their brains again.
She takes a bite of her sandwich before replying "Yea, I love coming there after a long day from school" that's not a lie, its all true, she does love going home after a long day from school.
Chat Noir nods finishing up his last macaroon and unwrapping his sandwich, "Speaking of school, has it got you stressed out?"
what a random question
"Uh no, Same old same old, wish my AP's weren't taking up a lot of time though" Ladybug replies finishing up her eclair
"Same, especially AP history, its kicking my ass" He replies
"Oh your school offers it too? It's so much writing I honestly wish I hadn't taken it"
Chat Noir nods his head adding a "same" before munching down on his sandwich again.
"Well is anything else stressing you out?" he asks,
Ladybug turns to him in confusion, mid way of unwrapping her sandwich
"Umm no?" She replies "why are you asking?"
Chat Noir finishes off his sand which and throws the wrapper in the bag it came in.
"No reason, just thought I could help or you wanted to talk about it"
Oh right, that's why we're even on patrol
Ladybug blinks at him, not knowing how to react. She feels terrible though, making him worry about her when it should be the other way around. She should be taking care of him, he's on her team, he's her best friend, but instead she was selfish again and focused on herself and cried in that bathroom stall letting Paris get de-
"Your allowed to cry y'know, that wasn't why I was asking what was wrong, to make you stop, I just wanted to help you little bug." He turns to her a puts on a small smile "you don't have to handle everything alone, it is us against the world remember?" He tilts his head.
Ladybug swallows the lump in her throat, she hesitates before speaking " I know, I know that, I don't know why I had said that earlier" she gives a laugh, hopping its convincing "I think I was just out of it i'm sorry"
Chat Noir gives her a unamused look "Stop saying sorry, you don't have to apologize"
But she does doesn't she, for everything. For all of the lies she tells people, for the times she has disregarded Chat Noir about the Miraculous's, when she knows that for him, his powers mean everything, absolutely everything. She knows that, and its a constant habit to just do everything herself and not tell him.
"I do though, I've disregarded you countless of times about the miraculouses because my role as guardian has me in a metaphorical higher position than you, but we started together, you should've been the guardian too"
"Hey, stop overthinking, we've talked about this before, the guardian position only works for one person because of the command ability. It's okay, you were trying to take the burden on yourself, but you've gotten better, you let me in the know now" he laughs " we are partners Ladybug our habits are to protect each other, your methods are just a little more extreme, let me take the burden off of your shoulders a bit" He smiles warmly at her, She feels sick.
Ladybug sighs "right yea" she replies.
He's in the know, but he isn't is he? He doesn't know about Gaberial Agreste, nor about how she lied to the whole world, nor about how how the new butterfly holder has figured out her identity twice now, nor about Kagami, Felix and Adrien being Sentimonsters. He doesn't know about Chat Blanc.
oh god Chat Blanc
"I have to tell you something" she says curtly. Chat Noir turns to her and tilts his head in confusion.
"You finally wanna talk about it?"
"It's about mon-"
A rigingn is heard from both of the superheros weapons, an akuma alert that they had managed to plug in from their normal phones, thank you Pegasus.
But this means an akuma got past them, an akuma got past her, a civilian in distress and she wasn't able to-
"Hey," Chat Noir grabs her shoulder and turns her towards him. "I was looking around the whole time okay?" Ladybug squints and him and slightly shakes her head in confusion "I didn't see any akuma fly by, this akuma was across town," he picks up his baton and shows her the screen. and he's right it was, with no way of them seeing.
but you could've been running around to make sure, her thoughts scream at her now look, you can't tell him about Monarch anymore, it's all your fault
"They're already akumatized" Ladybug snaps out her thoughts to look at Chat Noir "It wasn't our fault, we needed the energy to fight okay? Please don't get hang up on this" he begs, sad eyes looking into hers, it makes her feel weak.
"Yea, okay " she replies as Chat Noir drops his hands from her shoulders, they both get up, "lets hurry before they hurt anyone" she mutters out as Chat Noir picks up their trash
"Aye aye captain," he salutes, spinning his stick before vaulting across Paris, not before throwing the trash away at a nearby recycling bin. Ladybug following close behind.
The superheros follow the screams they hear from below and the cracks on the road, they end up at the Louvre.
"Ah! Ladybug and Chat Noir, you can't stop me from getting back what is mine, I'll beat up anyone I want."
Chat Noir snickers,"We haven't even said anything buddy, what if we don't want to stop you?" Chat Noir says as he leaps onto a light post from the rooftop he was at, spinning his staff.
The villain stills for a second and Ladybug takes this time to call in Rena Rouge and Carapace.
The villain hasn't shown their power but they're big, meaning they probability of them having super powered strength is high, Carapaces shield will help, and Rena Rouge causing a distraction would be a big help so non of the superheros themselves would be at risk.
"You don't wanna stop me?"
Once a call is sent out she closes her yo-yo and starts spinning it walking jumping down towards the villain. She opens her arms.
"No Mr-"
"Anirage"
"Mr Anirage" a lazy smile falls onto Ladybug's face, "I mean consent to getting beaten would be nice, but if you don't consent to us stopping you then I guess we can't" she turns to Chat Noir and puts on a overly friendly tone.
"Isn't that right Chat Noir?"
"That's right m'lady, we should leave this fine gentlemen alone here and go on our merry way."
The villain looks perplexed and is quiet until a purple masked suddenly materializes on their face. Ladybug takes that a sign to jump at them.
"Actually on second thought, I'd rather the people of Paris stay safe!" She grits as she throws her yo-yo at Anirage, it bounces of him after it hits him square on the side of the head.
"Damn bug you're gonna pay for that!" he shouts as he runs at her but she easily jumps over him.
"Not so fast Anirage, unleashing your rage against other people" he turns and runs at her again, throwing a fist, she doges to his right, and he runs past her, having trouble stopping until he does, he turns around to her again putting his fist up "Is wrong, have you considered any other methods" she jumps from foot to foot as he huffs and somehow making smoke come out of his nose.
Rena Rouge appears at her side "For example, therapy!" Anirage runs at them, his head aimed straight towards the superheros. Ladybug spins her yo-yo and grabs Rena Rouge, getting ready to swing away.
"Shelter!" Carapace's scream is heard from behind them as his shield develops around them, protecting the hero's. Anirage runs straight into the green structure, he bounces off it slightly, he groans as he fumbles about before gaining his balance back and rubbing his temple.
Ladybug quickly turns and glances at Carapace, nodding her head and he drops she shield, she looks at Chat Noir and mouths a "stay put" she sees him groan but he nods as he jumps down his light post to stand next to Carapace, she rounds around Anirage who still has his eyes closed as Rena Rouge continues to talk to him
"You know it's better to talk out your feelings than to," Anirage shakes his head, seemingly to gather his bearings, he winds his fist and throws a punch at Rena but she jumps back towards Carapace and Chat Noir "use physical violence!" She screams at him, cupping her hands around her mouth.
Ladybug quickly walks up behind him, ready to jump on his shoulders, getting to fix this Akuma this fast with no lucky charm would be a record.
She's about to jump until, "Stop talking" Anirage screams as somehow the boxing gloves on his hands seem to grow bigger and he punches the ground. Ladybug yelps as the ground shakes beneath her, an earthquake seemingly materializing out of just a punch.
The yelp alerts Anirage, he turns around, the earthquake somehow not affecting him, Ladybug stumbles about trying to catch her bearings but it's too late, Anirage grabs her shoulders and he wounds his fist up before punching her straight in the stomach, and sends her flying into a nearby building wall. She hits hit and falls forward on her knees and elbows.
Usually that'd be it, she'd shake it off, the miraculous suit taking most, if not all, the hit. This time ,however, she doesn't get up. She struggles, getting up before falling back down, her vision is blurry and spotty with black before she blinks it away.
I cant.. get up She thinks to herself, saying curses under her breath, trying but failing miserably to stand. She heaves heavily, swallowing saliva, a metallic taste mixed in. She ignores it
Ladybug lets out a shaky breath, then tries again, she lifts her knee up and places her weight on it, then her other leg, she slowly stands up, and for a second shes fine, her vision is fine and her balance is fine. She huffs a laugh, then turns to look at the fight ready to run back in. then her chest itches.
Ladybug looks down as she coughs, and it hurts, it hurts so bad. she feels saliva fill her mouth for a second and it slightly drips down her mouth
gross
Ladybug licks her lips and the taste of iron is there again, she opens her eyes to see red liquid on the ground, she's confused for a second before she wipes the remaining saliva from her mouth. When she looks at the back of her hand its clear, bright as day. Blood is coating the black spot of her gloves.
She coughed up blood, right here right now, that was blood. Coating her suit, Caused by Anirage's punch at her, the Miraculous suit didn't take most of the hit this time.
Then it dawns on her what the implications of this development is, the new butterfly holder has just gotten stronger, and their suits no longer give them the same protection as before.
Ladybug heaves a breath as she once again turns to look up at the fight. Just to see Chat Noir running straight at Anirage who in turn is wounding up his fist.