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The battle against the Illustrhater had finally ended.
Paris was safe.
Again.
Ladybug swung across the rooftops, but for once she didn't feel victorious.
She felt… afraid.
Not of Chrysalis.
Not of another akuma.
Of responsibility.
Cat Noir landed beside her, balancing effortlessly on the edge of the rooftop.
"You've been quiet ever since the fight."
"I'm thinking."
"That's usually dangerous."
She managed a tiny smile.
"You noticed I kept trying to do everything myself."
"You were treating us like interns."
"…Sorry."
Cat Noir leaned against his staff.
"You don't have to apologize."
"Yes, I do."
He looked surprised.
Ladybug rarely admitted when she was wrong.
"I forgot something important."
"What?"
"We're partners."
Silence settled between them.
The evening breeze carried across Paris.
"You've always trusted me with your life," Cat Noir said softly.
"I have."
"But?"
Ladybug stared toward the Seine.
"I'm the Guardian now."
Those words still sounded strange.
"So every mistake I make doesn't just affect me anymore."
She looked down at her earrings.
"If something happened to me…"
Cat Noir's joking expression disappeared.
"…Don't."
"No, listen."
"If something happened to me, the Miracle Box would need a Guardian."
He waited.
"I've been thinking about who should take over."
Cat Noir smiled.
"I bet someone on the team would—"
"No."
He blinked.
"No?"
Ladybug slowly reached into the small Guardian pouch attached beneath her yo-yo.
Inside rested a glowing golden jewel.
A Kwagatama.
Cat Noir stared.
"…Ladybug?"
"I already made my decision."
His smile faded.
"You did?"
She nodded.
"I trust a lot of people close to me with my life."
"I know."
"But there is one person who's been beside me from the very beginning."
Cat Noir looked away.
"My partner."
His eyes widened.
"My equal."
"…Bug?"
"The one who always catches me when I fall."
His heart nearly stopped.
"The one I know will protect everyone before protecting himself."
She stepped closer.
"Chat Noir."
He looked at her with complete disbelief.
"I want you to become my deputy."
The rooftop became impossibly quiet.
"…Me?"
"If anything ever happens to me…" Ladybug started
"Tikki will give you my earrings and you will become the new holder of the ladybug miraculous." She finishes
"But what about Plagg?" Chat Noir asked.
"You will assign Plagg to a new holder." Ladybug informs
Golden light swirled into Ladybug's hands before forming a delicate Kwagatama.
Cat Noir had seen miraculous magic many times.
Yet somehow…
This felt sacred.
Ladybug held it out.
"This contains the memories I'll need to pass on."
He stared at it instead of taking it.
"You trust me…that much?"
"I always have."
"You don't even know who I am."
"No."
"And yet…"
"I know exactly who you are."
He looked up.
"I know your heart."
His breath caught.
"I know your courage."
She smiled warmly.
"I know the hero you choose to be every single day."
For once—
Cat Noir had no joke.
No pun.
Nothing.
Only tears threatening to form behind his mask.
"You've never asked who I am."
"I don't need to."
"You've never doubted me."
"I never will."
He slowly accepted the Kwagatama.
The instant his fingers touched it, it shimmered softly.
Almost approvingly.
"I…"
His voice cracked.
"I don't know what to say."
Ladybug laughed quietly.
"That might be a first."
He laughed too.
Then grew serious again.
"If this means what I think it means…"
"It does."
"You'd trust me with every Miraculous."
"Yes."
"The kwamis."
"Yes."
"The Miracle Box."
"Yes."
"…Your legacy."
Ladybug nodded.
"Yes."
Cat Noir looked at the glowing jewel in his palm.
"I promise."
His voice was stronger now.
"If that day ever comes…"
"It won't."
"I know."
"But if it does…"
He placed a fist over his heart.
"I'll protect the Miracle Box."
"I'll protect the kwamis."
"I'll protect Paris."
He looked directly into her eyes.
"And I'll make sure your kindness is never forgotten."
Ladybug's eyes watered.
"You really are impossible."
"I prefer irreplaceable."
"There he is."
He grinned.
"Couldn't stay emotional for too long."
Ladybug giggled.
"Good."
"Because if we both start crying, Paris might flood."
She rolled her eyes.
"Cat…"
"Yeah?"
"…Thank you."
"For what?"
"For always believing in me."
He smiled more softly than she had ever seen.
"My Lady…"
He took one knee.
"…it would be the greatest honor of my life."
Ladybug blushed.
"Must you always bow?"
"I absolutely must."
She sighed dramatically.
"One of these days I'm going to forbid it."
"But not today."
"…Not today."
She held out her hand.
He took it.
Together they looked over Paris.
Guardian.
Deputy.
Partners.
Equals.
Neither of them knew what the future would bring.
But for the first time since becoming Guardian…
Ladybug didn't feel like she was carrying the Miracle Box alone.