🐾 At Night I Rule🐾

“I’m trying! Shut up.” Hearing Chat speak she looked up, trying to fight everything, to focus on something. She was shaking and scared and her vision focused enough to watch him fall.

“Chat…. CHAT!!!!” She screams, running as fast as she could. The outline is pulsing in her head, Hawkmoth is screaming at her and yet she runs and slides, catching the ledge with one hand and sending her whip to wrap tight around his ankle, gasping as he catches and her arms were pulled hard, shaking.

“Chat I can’t believe you! You fucking moron! You idiot I… I couldn’t let you die.. I’ve failed enough people.. I can’t let you die.. Not now.” She pulls hard, slowly hoisting herself up before pulling him. The entire time Hawkmoth is screaming at her, and she’s shaking in turn, slowly hoisting him up and over the edge before dropping her whip.

“I can’t believe you! You idiot! Y-” She screamed in pain, stepping back away from Chat. “Get out of my head! I’m done! I dont want this! I…” She waves her hand, releasing Ladybug and looking up at Chat with panic in her eyes. “Chat! The whip! The ak-”

The ground is gone, and she’s falling.

☾🐾☽   He didn’t have to wait long to see if his gamble paid off as his eyes shot open at the sudden direction change. A smile came onto his face as he felt the whip around his ankle and glanced up to see that he was being hoisted up to safety. It was clear that his gamble paid off as he took a few deep breaths to calm down his heart rate. Thank god Ladybug didn’t see him pull that stunt he wouldn’t hear the end of it.

“I trust you with all my heart Akumatized or not.”

☾🐾☽   Once he was safely on the beam he gently shrugged his shoulders. He probably could have survived the fall in Avatar form. Would it hurt like a bitch? Oh absolutely, but he would still be alive if his gamble failed. Though what happened next caused his eyes to go wide. He wasn’t in a position to instantly jump back off the beam once he saw Baracuda fall. He scrambled around and saw his baton at the same time Ladybug was regaining her senses.

“LB Akuma whip!”

☾🐾☽   He cried out as he grabbed his baton and threw himself (yet again) off the Eiffel Tower. Only this time he had his baton that he secured to his back as he fell towards Baracuda.

“I’m talking about Marinette. You told me yourself, he thinks I’m a bad influence on you, except I don’t know where he got that idea from. It probably doesn’t help that I’m damaging to his brand” she slurried the last phrase with large air quotes and a deep mocking tone.

She didn’t want to be the reason he wasn’t allowed to go to school. She wasn’t going to let him sacrifice his freedom so that they could date. He had so much more than her there…

“I could use a massage… Hey… since you’re asking me now… what if I… make fakes?” she muttered sheepishly. “I mean we could still look like ourselves, but maybe dress a little nicer, and we’d still have our kwami if something went wrong. Plus it can’t be that hard to make convincing enough suits right… or at least the masks.”

“Using your father’s money in defiance of his wishes to lavish his lady. How enticing…”

|| Bad for the brand how? You’ve won his design competitions before, I’ve worn your work at fashion shows before and people loved it. I think he’s simply not happy with the fact I’ve found love without asking his permission first. ||

☾🐾☽  His father was incredibly controlling when it came to his personal life. He tried to get him to stop hanging out with Nino because of the way Nino talked. The only people his father seemed to not mind was Chloe and Lila. Chloe made sense to him but he couldn't understand why Lila was on Gabriel’s exclusive approved list. Though just because she was on the list, doesn’t mean that Adrien had any interest in spending any time with the liar outside of what was necessary.

|| You’ve done more than enough to earn one in my opinion. Though speaking of fake masks, I never thought of asking Plagg if he could do something different with our costumes. Maybe they could make it so that way only the only magical part of our costumes are our masks and my ears and then we could wear whatever else we want to. ||

☾🐾☽  Hearing her next comment brought a sly grin to his face. When most teenagers disobey their parents it’s usually in the form of lashing out or disobeying their parents. His form of rebellion is using his father’s money to treat his lady.

|| I mean what he doesn’t know, won’t hurt him right? I’m not planning on spending enough that it would even come up on his radar either. ||

“I’m pretty sure this one did… let’s see if lighting strikes twice!”

“Sure honey, let’s go up to the balcony and I’ll push you off.”

She was faster than normal, a clear sign her Maestro was in effect. She clasped her whip and flipped it around, using the microphone-end as a flail as she boxed him.

“Shut up shut up shut up! You don’t know anything Chat!” She was shaking, using the enhanced speed and agility to fight against him. Her heart was breaking, Hawkmoth was yelling, and she wanted it all to stop. To end. It was too much.

“You never watched your mother murder your father in cold blood in front of you! You never lost your whole family in one night! Don’t pretend to know me! Don’t pretend to care just so you can keep a clear conscious!” She was yelling and angry but there was a sadness behind her eyes, her body shaking as she finally backed off, the butterfly appearing.

“Be quiet Hawkmoth. I know. I’m working on it. She…” There’s a pause. “No. Even if I take them Chat can stop me. No shut it. Be quiet. Be QUIET!” She’s holding her head, waves of pulsing sound rocking out from her as she screams in pain, seeming to glitch back and forth as she cries.

“They don’t want me anymore! You.. you don’t understand!”

“ You think I don’t know anything! I know a lot more than you think!”

☾🐾☽  He snapped at her as he used his baton to defend himself against the whip. If they were talking about shitty and broken families then he could definitely relate on that front. While his father didn’t kill his mother, he’s still suffered at the hands of tragedy within a family. Finding himself quickly running out of room to work with, he needed a plan and he needed it ten minutes ago.

“You are right, I didn’t see my mother kill my father in cold blood. But I have lost my mother overnight and my father is anything but the man who raised me. I know it’s not exactly the same but I know the pain of losing someone who raised you.” 

☾🐾☽  Hearing the one-sided argument, he looked around at the sudden reprieve he’s gotten. He wasn’t seeing much and he knew that using Cataclysm wasn’t going to buy him much more than enough time to escape. However, if he also used Cataclysm he would inevitably be forced to retreat and ultimately leave Ladybug along unprotected. He had one option, draw Baracuda away from this place long enough to either give the other heroes a chance to get here and free Ladybug or a chance for him to recharge Plagg and get ready for round two. He was about to take another step back and then he felt nothing but air under his foot. 

☾🐾☽ He gently chewed his lip as a dangerous and stupid plan came to mind. He was banking a lot on Pixces still being there, trapped underneath all of that hate and betrayal. He was betting on that part of Baracuda to break Hawkmoth’s control and ultimately help him snap her out of this madness. If things go wrong, well... he didn’t want to dwell on how powerful the Miraculous Cure is.

“You know what, you say that we don’t want you but you know that isn’t true. I care about you a lot and nothing is going to change that. Which is why I don’t want to fight you anymore. So I’m just going to take myself out of this equation. I know that the hero I trust, the hero that I know will always have my back regardless of being in costume or not is still in there. The one that I care about, the one that Ladybug cares about, the one that Tiaowen would adopt in a heartbeat is still in there...”

“Then you know what I have to do.”

She frowned and worked her way between him and Ladybug, whip in hand and eyes dark as they watched him carefully.

“It doesn’t matter. Paris doesn’t want me anymore. You’ve seen the interviews on the Ladyblog Chat, the anonymous comments. That many people can’t be wrong! And if they don’t want Pixces the Hero who has defended every citizen they can…. well then they’ll get Barracuda. And I’ll show no mercy.”

She begins to sing, bouncing between her feet as she powers herself up. Her Empathy Maestro ability, something that was almost as powerful as his own cataclysm. She grins before launching forward, much faster than before. It seemed she’d attack first.

“I do.”

☾🐾☽ He knew what was coming, an inevitable fight. His baton was out, ready for the battle. Seeing Baracuda placing herself in-between his partner and Baracuda made things difficult for him. The fact that Ladybug was immobilized and out of commission made his options limited. If she wasn’t here or if she was able to defend herself, he had much more room to work wiith. However, with the threat of losing her Miraculous and being incapable of handling it a very real threat  Chat needed to stay near. 

“But they can be!  Remember Copy Cat? When I was framed for stealing a painting? I know having that many people turn on you hurts, it hurts really badly. But they were wrong, between me and Ladybug we were able to prove them wrong. Those people who say who don’t want you are wrong. How many people have you protected from getting hurt? I think I can speak for them, they appreciate everything you do. I appreciate everything you do, everyone on the team appreciates what you do.

You also know that you are something special right? Tiaowen, the most experienced holder on the team can’t do some of the things you can. I can’t do some of the things you can unless I have help from Ladybug. That’s saying something big.”

“Kitty, this is your father we’re talking about. You don’t think he’d try to keep you away from me in all ways possible? I wouldn’t be surprised if he just pulled you out of school anyways.”

She hated thinking of that time. Watching him hurt, desperate for an answer before destroying Paris in confusion and anxiety. That one can stay firmly in the past.

“So am I just showing up or is this going to be an an actual date?” she smirked, flicking his bell

|| You know he could try as much as he wants but anything less than moving out of Paris could keep me away from your side at the end of the day bugaboo. ||

☾🐾☽  A genuine smile was on his face as he spoke from the bottom of his heart. While he would be upset if he got pulled out of school because of this, he wouldn’t let it stop him from seeing her. His father could put on as many locks as he wanted, but now that he had a reason to actively go outside, he would do everything in his power to figure out how to get around those locks.

|| Up to you, I don’t think the people at the restaurant would mind what you wear. I think you deserve a massage before dinner to work out all the possible knots Hawkmoth could have caused but I don’t know how well that would work with your costume on. 

She paused. She knew that as long as Hawkmoth was still out there they could never rest. The akumas kept coming at them and in fuller force than before. She had to wonder if his father knew…

“We’re doing it transformed though.” she finally looked at him, then off to the side. “We don’t need your father trying to break us up for the ultimate akuma again…” 

She didn’t know if he would buy that answer. It was more of an excuse to be on call during their date.

|| I figured that was going to be your condition. ||

☾🐾☽   A quiet sigh escaped his lips as he rubbed the back of his neck. While his ideal day would have included getting her a full body massage, nails, and hair done before a nice dinner out. For one that would draw a lot of attention to them that he didn’t want he to have to deal with as a civilian. He also felt like if he could get her to go as a civilian she wouldn’t think about Hawkmoth as much. Though he was going to relax at all he was going to have to cut his losses and run with it.

That was just like him, huh… The boy in the mask turned out to be the best person it could. She had always wondered if it was possible Adrien was her chaton, but quickly dispelled the idea after he made a lame excuse about why his kwami was in the same school… Turns out he was covering his butt.

“One night. That’s it. I don’t know how much more Paris would be able to handle without us.”

|| You know they were doing just fine without us before Hawkmoth appeared, I’m sure they’ll be just fine without us as long as Hawkmoth stays quiet. ||

☾🐾☽  He pointed out with a smile, he valued her opinion greatly and understood how much she cared for Paris. However, they were the city’s magical protectors, and mundane problems weren’t why they were called into action. Don’t get him wrong, he loved helping out civilians when he had time to, but it wasn’t his number one priority.

Pixces’ hand comes up to wipe her face before she tips her head back and sighs, eyes closed as she focuses on the feeling in her legs, her hands, her body slowly working itself out. She sighed and Xiiang floated before nodding, looking up at Ladybug.

“This happens a lot, especially when she over exerts herself. You just don’t see it because by that time the Akuma is gone and she’s not needed anymore.”

She turns slowly, hand touching her mask and smiling. She would be the first. It would make it easier for them, right? The mask was undone and fell off, Neptunia’s smile never leaving her face as she waved at her. She then signed again, chuckling lightly.

“She’s surprised you didn’t notice sooner though, how many dark-skinned, white-haired girls with poly… polyc…” Xiiang pauses as Neptunia spells it out, then points to her eyes. “Right! Polycoria. Anyway she’s pretty unique-looking and is surprised you didn’t figure it out sooner.”

☾🐾☽  Ladybug looked between Pixces, Xiiang and Tikki with confusion on her face. There have been times where she’s pushed herself past her limits and never ended up in this bad of a state. Or at least she doesn’t think she ends up in this bad of a state. She ultimately ends up sleeping the entire ordeal off or at least attempts to, sometimes school and civilian responsibilities don’t allow her to properly sleep off those nasty attacks. Though concern was evident on the spotted heroine’s face. There a small part of her that felt guilty for not realizing how much Pixces was sacrificing for her and the rest of the team.

“ I didn’t know that this could happen to you. Is there anything I can do to help avoid this situation in the future?”

☾🐾☽ Ladybug had a feeling that there was a reason that Pixces didn’t let her or Chat see her like this. Though now that Ladybug knew that this could happen she wanted to do everything in her power to make sure it doesn’t happen in the future. Hearing the chuckle snapped Ladybug out of her thoughts of what to do better in the future. It was at this point that she noticed that Pixces’ mask was off. Now that she knows who is behind the mask it makes a lot more sense as her own chuckle left her lips.

“In my defense, I thought it was like Chat’s eyes or my hair when I transform with Aqua Tikki. I thought it just came with the Miraculous”

☾🐾☽ With Neptunia’s identity revealed, Ladybug felt like it was her turn to share. She reached behind her head and first pulled out the rubber bands that kept her hair up in her signature pigtails and then moved to remove the red and black mask. Once she was done, Marinette gave the biggest smile she could muster.

Pixces smiled as he left, moving to nab the now tweeting kettle and pour the hot water into her cup. She then rummaged through a cupboard, listening to Ladybug as she produced honey. Honey was good.

She thought about it as she breathed in the steam, feeling the tightness in her throat ease up slowly.

“Maybe… reveal….?” She mused, though her voice sounded like an eighty-year old smoker, and she had to move to the sink to cough, a bit of red staining the silver as she washed it away. She went way too far.

“I think she’s saying maybe you reveal your identities?” Xiiang’s voice piped up, patting Pixces’ hair gently as the hero sputtered into the sink. “Something with the Avatar state as reasoning perhaps?”

☾🐾☽  Ladybug continued to stare at her hands until Tikki brought two Chocolate Chip Cookies over to her. A  smile came onto the heroine’s face at the gift and she started nibbling on the cookie. There was a lot going on in such a short time and Tikki’s gift was a small reminder that she needed to take it easy. The world wasn’t going to fall apart in the next five minutes if she stops and takes a deep breath. Hearing Pixces voice snapped Ladybug back to reality and she frowned. 

“He isn’t the only one who should be taking it easy. “

☾🐾☽ Concern was evident in her voice as she stopped nibbling on her cookie and focusing solely on Pixces. Though an eyebrow was raised at Xiiang’s suggestion. It did make some sort of sense.  The Lucky Charm wasn’t always the clearest of powers but this time it seemed fairly obvious what the object was telling her to do. 

“We are up to 3 people who can reach the Avatar state... so maybe that is it.”

☾🐾☽ Ladybug took her free hand and gently touched the mask on her face. She’s thought about the reveal a few times now. She’s just never thought about what might cause it.