Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Eva Stratt never had any intentions of forming a superhero team, Project Miraculous was never meant to be anything more than an extensive research effort, hell it was meant to contain and conceal the Miraculous so they never fell into the wrong hands. But a few days ago she woke up on the floor of her office with an alarm blaring and found that one of these highly dangerous artifacts she’d been guarding was stolen. A job that could only have been pulled off by someone on the inside, someone no one could remember. Someone who didn’t even have an employee file in their very extensive system. Someone who now has the potential to put the entire world in jeopardy with the power of the butterfly Miraculous. So really what choice does she have but to utilize the Miraculous she has left to make a superhero defense team?

Still though, Eva stared down at the miracle box dreading what she would have to do next, interact with more of those strange bug eyed looking creatures: the kwamis.

They were just such odd and demanding little things and her previous talks with just one of them hadn’t exactly been pleasant, but in fairness she hadn’t actually met to the ladybug cat one before. Perhaps she should give these creatures the benefit of the doubt.

“Ma’am.” Carl looked between her and the box. Right, she had a mission. Eva took a deep breath before opening the lid of the octagonal wooden box with intricate carvings. Different colored drawers began to slide open showing off small artifacts coordinated to the color of each drawer. Eva’s gaze couldn’t help but linger on the one purple spot in the circular top spot of the box missing it’s broach. She averted her eyes quickly, no use dwelling on a past she couldn’t remember anyway. Eva reached for the two miraculous in the center of a small yin and yang symbol: red earrings with black spots and a silver ring. The powers of creation and destruction, what could go wrong.

Eva careful placed the earrings in her ears and slid the ring onto her finger summoning the two kwamis she needed to speak with. They had these strangely bulbous heads on tiny odd little bodies that Eva held back a grimace over.

“So as I was saying the best cheese is-” The little black cat looking one stopped speaking and looked around at the cold sterile unfamiliar environment. “Waaaaaait this isn’t the palace.” His large green eyes looked Eva up and down. “And you’re not ol’ Louie unless you got some serious surgery.”

“Plagg I don’t think we’re in the 1790s anymore.” The ladybug one said in a high pitched voice looking around. When she spotted Eva her eyes grew wide. “Um miss it’s not a good idea to hold both of our miraculous at once!”

“Woof yeah I gotta agree with sugar cube on this one lady, you’re gonna want to to give one of us away, ooooh unless you’re gonna wish for a big wheel of camembert that’d be a great use of our powers!” Plagg said dreamily, drool falling out of his mouth at the thought.

“Plagg be quiet!” the red one hissed.

“Ah so you are Plagg?” Eva asked the black cat bug looking thing.

“Yeah, and she’s my sweet sugar cube.” Plagg gestured to the other kwami floating beside him.

“Wrong, my name is Tikki and I am the kwami of the ladybug miraculous.” Tikki bowed before flying closer to the woman’s face. “Now I really must insist you relinquish hold of one of us.”

“I have no intentions of keeping hold of either of you.” Eva told them flatly. “My name is Eva Stratt and you two are part of Project Miraculous, a years-long secret research endeavor on the Miraculous, kwamis, and their history-”

“Well jeez lady, you could’ve just let us out and asked us.” Plagg interrupted looking bored. “Would’ve saved you a lot of time.”

“Plagg don’t be rude!” Tikki chastised. “But he does have a point Eva, why didn’t you just ask us?”

“Because you kwamis were all deemed far too dangerous for human contact.” Eva explained then sighed heavily. “Until today. One of my colleagues on this project escaped with the peacock miraculous, wiping our memories of whoever they really were. I know whoever it is they can not have good intentions to do such a vile thing.”

“Riiiight so what do we have to do with this and do you have any camembert?” Plagg asked with a yawn.

“I need you two to select new holders and give us superheroes to help combat this mystery villain.” Eva stated.

“Why can’t you be a holder?” Tikki asked skeptically.

“To be frank with you I don’t trust myself with the power. I know far too much.” Eva admitted point blank. “Besides I am a bit old for it I think, bad back and all.” She joked, but felt stabbing pain in her lower back that she fought to ignore.

“What you? You don’t look a day overrrr…” Plagg flew around the red headed human trying to figure out her age but he was never good with human life cycles. “Four hundred?”

“I’m in my forties.” Eva told him.

“A swing and a miss.” Plagg shrugged.

“For this project I am asking you to choose holders you see as worthy, preferably ones who are youthful and would be able to keep up with your powers.” Eva instructed. “Bring the holders back here and they’ll be given top secret clearance.”

“Woah now lady, nobody tells Plagg what to do, besides whoever becomes the new Cat Noir isn’t gonna be some fall in line rule follower.” Plagg scoffed. “Miraculous of destruction holders don’t really do that.”

“Plagg this sounds important.” Tikki argued but Eva considered his words.

“Perhaps it is better if I don’t know one of the new heroes’ true identities, in case I become compromised.” It was always a possibility, especially with the akuma power of the butterfly miraculous. She was the only other soul who had the clearance to know what that power could do. Eva took off the ring and held it out for Plagg.

“Wow I didn’t think that was gonna work.” Plagg admitted before taking this cat Miraculous. “Uh I mean- yes that makes total sense you’re so smart lady I’m off to find some runny cheese- I mean a new worthy holder. Yeah, right here I go.”

And with that Plagg floated away phasing through a wall and going who knows where. Eva tried to keep the instant regret off of her face. It was going to be fine, it had to be fine.

“I’m not sure that was a good idea.” Tikki said what they were both thinking and Eva faked a smile.

“Only time will tell.” Stratt shrugged. “I’ll accompany you as you select a holder, we can look around. I did have a place in mind for potential candidates.” Eva walked out of the room talking calmly with Tikki as Carl followed a few paces behind seeing his boss talking to the air and hearing a small disembodied voice talk back. This was without a doubt the strangest security assignment he’d ever been given.

Ryland Grace tried to keep his legs from trembling as he was led through the juvenile detention center. He clutched his binder close to his chest as the boys his own age jeered at him and hollered things he couldn’t hear over the ringing in his ears. The guards walking behind him kept the other boys from getting any closer but that didn’t mean Ryland felt safe by any definition of the word. The two guards stopped in front of a metal door pushing a button that made a loud buzzer noise that made Ryland jump and the door creaked open.

It was just a small room with metallic walls and uncomfortable looking metal chair on either side of a metal table, all the furniture was bolted to the floor, one dangling light over head. Ryland had a guess at what the interior designer’s favorite music genre was but kept that joke to himself as the guards guided him in and told him to sit and wait before shutting the door behind them.

The boy sat bouncing his leg nervously and reminiscing about how exactly he’d ended up here in the first place. He hadn’t meant to get so upset at his science teacher but well- Dr. Williams was just plain wrong, and while he didn’t exactly regret calling the man a waste of oxygen, he did regret what the words lead to. Forced community service: tutoring a juvie kid as some kind of scared straight thing. Ryland knew it was just so he wouldn’t question authority ever again, even when said authority was a kill joy science teacher who was wrong in the first place.

The buzzer sounded again and Ryland fell out of his seat as someone else entered the room. Ryland looked up from his position on the floor and found a blurry image standing backlit looming over him. He adjusted his glasses and climbed back into his seat before properly looking at the other boy who had long dark hair and deep brown eyes. If it weren’t for the handcuffs and jumpsuit Ryland wouldn’t think he looked like a criminal at all. He was kind of handsome, pretty even, but Ryland forced that thought down because this kid was in fact a criminal. One who was glaring daggers at him that he had to teach science to now.

A large guard lifted up the juvie kid’s arms and undid his handcuffs warning the boy to behave in a harsh tone before he began to walk away.

“Wait are you just going to leave him uncuffed alone with me?!” Grace asked alarmed, he got his answer with a slam of the door but he could see the guard watching them from the other side of the small glass window in the door above the criminal’s head. The criminal kid scowled at him.

“I mean yeah, great, that’s cool um easier to learn the periodic table with free hands that’s what I always say.” Ryland laughed awkwardly as the kid sat down.

“Uh hi.” Ryland waved awkwardly as the other kid stared at him, his eyes looked like they’d seen some nasty stuff, he had this weird thousand yard stare like he was looking right through Ryland. Or like he wanted to beat the crap out of Ryland, the tutor couldn’t be too sure. “I’m Ryland Grace your uh science tutor and probably your math, english, and history tutor too unless they’re swapping me out for other ones? No one’s really given me all the details yet.”

“Nope, just you.” The kid answered him. His voice was deeper than any teenager Ryland had ever heard speak before.

“Oh cool, awesome, so it’ll just be us uhh bro-ing out I guess.” Ryland wanted to bury himself beneath the concrete floor. “So uh what’s your name?” He tried to read the name written in what looked like sharpie on the jumpsuit but it was smudged.

“Does it matter?” The kid asked in a melancholic tone.

“Um I mean kinda?” Ryland answered sounding unsure himself. “I mean I don’t just want to call you-”

“Convict? Freak? Juvenile delinquent?” The criminal boy snapped at him.

“I was gonna say jumpsuit kid.” Ryland replied in a quiet voice. “Those names don’t seem great for teaching.”

Jumpsuit kid scoffed. “Simon, not like you really care.”

“Simon huh? That’s a cool name.” Ryland should stop talking forever the way Simon was at him as if enraged that the tutor was still breathing. “Uh anyway the periodic table!” Ryland flipped through his binder without looking and held up a page.

“That’s a shirtless man.” Simon told him and Ryland double checked what he was holding up. He paled when he realized it was a shirtless picture of JFK he’d printed at the library.

Ryland scrambled dropping the binder, it landed in just the right way for the rings to open and scatter his papers everywhere. “Oh my god I’m soooo sorry I don’t know how that got in there I printed it for a um history report about hot American presidents – I mean influential American presidents who happened to be good looking! It must’ve gotten mixed up in my lesson binder for today that’s so random, I definitely don’t have a thing for a dead American president that’s so crazy, whaaaat why would you even think-”

Suddenly a laugh cut through the tense atmosphere of the room and Ryland looked up to see Simon busting it up. Ryland felt his cheeks flush with something other than embarrassment for once, the sound of this criminal’s laugh was music to Ryland’s ears. He knew he’d do anything to keep hearing it.

“Dude it’s ok.” Simon said between laughter. “You should see your face right now, it’s priceless.”

Ryland made a sound somewhere between a squeak and a yell. His face? Priceless? Like a piece of art Simon wanted to hang it in the Louvre perhaps? Oh he was on cloud nine-

“You look so funny man.” Simon burst his bubble and Ryland came crashing back down to Earth. “Here let me help you with those.” Simon was on the floor now too picking up Grace’s papers and when he handed them over their fingers brushed and Ryland felt a spark that tingled all the way down his spine. He was back on cloud nine again from the feeling and Simon’s big gorgeous brown eyes looking at him and that small incredibly hot smile.

Ryland knew this was a bad idea, a stupid terrible awful idea, but he couldn’t help it he was absolutely falling for Simon a juvenile delinquent he hardly knew all over a laugh, a smile, and a brushing of fingers. He was so weak. The rest of the lesson continued without a hitch, they went over some elements of the periodic table in more detail. Ryland kept cracking corny jokes in attempts to get Simon to laugh and was rewarded with a soft chuckle or an eye roll from his student which only encouraged him more.

Ryland was surprised to find that Simon was actually listening to and engaging with him as he taught. He asked thoughtful questions and seemed genuinely interested in what Ryland had to say which was incredibly new for the awkward nerdy teen. Other kids usually walked away when he rambled about Hydrogen but Simon only leaned closer with interest. This of course made Ryland’s heart skip several beats but he managed to keep his cool long enough to survive the tutoring session.

The buzzer sounded once more just as Ryland was getting in depth on Nitrogen and he nearly fell out of his seat a second time. “Yikes!” Ryland exclaimed, then immediately regretted it as the large burly guard in the door raised an eyebrow at him.

“Don’t worry, you get used to it.” Simon shrugged, giving Ryland one last quick smile before the guard came in and Simon’s face switched to a scowl. He had an appearance to keep up after all.

“Times up, convict.” The guard told Simon before grabbing his arm roughly to put the handcuffs back on.

“Hey!” Ryland objected but instantly backed down when the guard fixed him with a mean look. “Um, I mean, see you next time Simon.” He waved weakly at Simon whose brown eyes seemed to soften the tiniest bit.

“Yeah, next time.” Simon responds trying to keep any emotion out of his voice.

“Let’s go convict.” The guard pushes him out the door and Ryland wishes he could do something but just stays firmly in his seat internally hating how much of a coward he is.

Ryland is led out of the juvenile detention center and waits for his bus definitely not dreaming about he and Simon’s hypothetical future wedding. Nope, that’d be crazy! But they would so forgo traditional white if he had anything to say about it, the cake would be red velvet, and they’d totally have a karaoke machine.

Loud honking car horns pulled his head out of the clouds and he looked at the road only to gasp as he saw this little old man trying to cross a very busy street.

“Hey stop!” Ryland tried to call out but the man didn’t hear him, just kept walking blindly as cars zoomed around him. Ryland looked around, no other pedestrians were doing anything, in fact no one seemed to notice the old guy at all. Thinking too fast to talk himself out of it Ryland dropped his binder and darted to the button by the cross walk and pressed the walk symbol then ran out into the street. He prayed to the universe that his plan would work and the cars would get a red light. A large black SUV barreled toward him and the old man, Ryland held up his arms bracing for impact and squeezed his eyes shut but nothing happened. Ryland blinked opened his eyes to see the car stopped in front of him with an annoyed looking guy behind the wheel. Ryland looked up and saw the red light letting out a sigh of relief and then fist pumping before he helped the old man across the street. It was the single bravest thing he’d ever done.

Just as they’d made it back to the sidewalk, Grace turned and saw his bus driving away without him and groaned, of course. He picked up his binder thankful that the rings stayed closed this time and brushed off the dirt that had clung to it before he began walking.

“Did you see that Eva?” Tikki asked from the passenger seat of the SUV. “That boy saved another person’s life!”

“Yes, that was a little stupid of him.” Eva commented. “But also kind.”

“It was brave.” Tikki corrected. “I think I found my new holder.”

“Are you sure? I have candidates lined up for-”

“Wasn’t the point for us to choose our new holders?” Tikki cut her off and Eva blinked at the kwami quietly respecting her boldness.

“You are correct.” Eva admitted. “If you think he is worthy, I respect your decsion.”

“I know he is.” Tikki said with a nod and Eva sighed.

“Then do what you must Tikki.” Eva took the earrings out and handed them to the kwami who smiled at her before flying out of the car. A few seconds later Tikki flew back into the car pressing the earrings into Eva’s still open palm.

“He doesn’t have his ears pierced.” The kwami reported and Eva bit back a laugh.

“We’ll have to follow him then.” Eva announced.

And so Ryland Grace walked home, earbuds playing music as he begged the cloudy sky not to rain and failed to notice the big black SUV that nearly ran him over following behind him as he walked.

Once he finally got to his destination on sore legs Ryland stopped and stared up at the cold brick building before him noticing for the first time how much it resembled the juvenile detention center he’d just left. The orphanage wasn’t exactly a prison but it wasn’t the best place to live either, no consistency. Kids constantly coming and going, most of them in rough shape mentally and some physically. Ryland was usually the most well adjusted kid there, and that was saying something because he was an introverted mess, he was just better at masking than the others. Ryland dashed up the concrete steps as soon as he felt a single rain drop and pulled the creaking wooden door open disappearing inside.

Carl parked the SUV on the street and Eva stepped out with Tikki floating beside her. “An orphanage? That’s quite convenient, you may be onto something with this boy Tikki.” Tikki smiled at Eva and Eva gave her a tiny whisper of a smile back. She was growing a little fond of this creature.

Eva strode into the orphanage and up to the front desk. “Hello I am here to adopt.” She announced.

It took surprisingly little time for her adoption of the boy Tikki had chosen to be approved, but Eva supposed having the authority of multiple governments on her side sped up the process. Ryland Grace now sat in the back of the SUV filled with a bundle of nerves and excitement that rendered him speechless.

He did cry when this turtleneck clad woman walked into the room he shared with three other boys, introduced herself as Eva Stratt, and told him he was coming home with her. But he was realizing as the car zoomed past familiar landmarks that he had no idea who this quiet woman was or her very tall silent driver. No one said anything the whole car ride.

Eventually the car pulled into this alleyway between two buildings and the adults unbuckled their setbelts getting out of the car, Ryland followed their lead. Ryland stopped as Eva walked up to the door to a building that was under construction.

“Uhh I don’t think we’re allowed in there?” He looked on nervously as Eva held the door open for him.

“It is okay.” Was the only response he got from her as she stood there impatient yet stoic all at once. Ryland turned and saw the driver who was holding Ryland’s bags and blocking the front of the alleyway, so really he didn’t have any choice. “Pretty sure there’s child endangerment laws about this, but ok.” He muttered as he walked in. Thankfully there wasn’t anyone around actively working on the building just those large plastic sheets where walls should be, dusty tarps over nearly every surface, and wires hanging from the ceiling. The perfect environment for a growing boy. Ryland thought sarchastically.

He tried to keep up with Stratt as she walked confidently around corners and under plastic towards an unfinished staircase leading up, then she pulled up the railing and Ryland saw that it wasn’t a railing at all but a lever. He heard a rumble then the stairs lifted up to reveal an elevator. Ryland stood dumbfounded as Stratt looked at him.

“Well, come on.” She told him and he made his legs move as his mouth dropped open. As he got in the elevator he noticed the driver from earlier had followed him close behind which sent a chill up Ryland’s spine because he hadn’t noticed at all.

Once the elevator doors shut Eva pressed some buttons on a keypad and took a badge on a lanyard out from under her sweater scanning it on a small screen. The elevator started moving and Ryland heard a noise above that he assumed was the stairs closing back into place.

He was awestruck and anxious, he wanted to ask so many questions to his new legal guardian but found she wasn’t even looking at him, so he turned towards the mysterious man who was already staring directly at him.

“Sooo what’s your name?” Ryland asked, he needed to have a normal conversation right now to ground himself from freaking out.

“Carl.” The man answered.

“Cool name.” Ryland told him and Carl just stared at him blankly so Ryland turned back around, but now the dam was well and truly broken on his mouth so he started asking questions and yapping a mile a minute. “Where are we? What is going on? This elevator is so cool and the way the stairs came up – insane, which makes me think you might be insane, really hope you’re not, it’d help if you explained some things-”

Ryland babbled on even as the elevator door opened to a white sterile hallway, following Stratt’s lead as she walked down it. Grace rambled on with questions and observations even as an automatic door hissed opening up to a small office with a desk and nice looking white carpet. There were blank white walls surrounding them with a couple of plants here and there, but it felt like a space you’d see in a magazine not very lived in or worked in, in this case.

Eva sat down at a pristine black chair behind the desk which seemed to mold to her back comfortably as she sat. She gestured to the smaller green chair in front of the desk that looked as if it had never been sat in once. Ryland sat and the chair squeaked at the pressure, the cushioning was very stiff, his never-ending stream of questions still going.

“Have you ever thought about piercing your ears?” Stratt asked cutting Ryland off. He was so confused he just sat there for a moment, finally shutting up.

“What?” Ryland squeaked, tilting his head looking at her like she just told him the sky wasn’t blue.

“Your ears.” Eva said blankly. “You should pierce them, it’d look good.”

“Ooookay?” Ryland replied. This was certainly a weird first conversation to have with the woman who was now essentially his new mom, especially after said woman wordlessly brought him to an underground office.

His new mother- no, legal guardian, swung around in her swivel chair away from him and started talking to someone else in a hushed voice.

“Can he see you if he doesn’t have his ears pierced?” Eva asked and Tikki looked at her unsure.

“I don’t know, all my previous holders had pierced ears.” Tikki answered honestly. “But I think he’ll see me if he holds the earrings.”

“We’ll try it.” Eva nodded before turning her chair back around. “Hold out your hands.” She instructed.

“Why?” He asked even as he obediently held out his cupped palms. Eva dropped red earring studs with black dots in his hands and suddenly a little ball of light shot out of them and a weird bug looking big headed little thing was floating up to him.

“Hi I’m Tikki!” The thing said and Ryland screamed, his arms flailing. The earrings fell in different directions and the creature disapeared.

“Shit!” Eva exclaimed quickly dropping to the floor and crawling around looking for the little earring studs. “Help me find them.”

“W-what was that thing?” Ryland asked jumping out of his chair. “Who are you really and what is going on?!”

“I’ll explain, but these earrings are one of the most important artifacts in the entire world and you just threw them to the floor!” Eva raised her voice for the first time and Ryland blinked at her.

“What?!” He shrieked.

Eva ignored him as she spotted one of the studs and found the other soon after tucked near a foot of her desk.

“It’s fine, I found them.” Eva’s voice returned to it’s calm controlled demeanor. “Never lose them again.”

“I- I think I want to go back to the orphanage.” Ryland told her, whimpering.

“Just listen to Tikki.” Eva said as she stood now in front of Ryland, she grabbed his hand firmly and once again pressed the earrings into his palm then closed his fist keeping her hand over his so he wouldn’t drop the Miraculous again.

“Eva’s right you really shouldn’t just throw miraculous around.” The red thing was back and speaking to him and he stood frozen with fear.

“What are you?” Ryland asked on the verge of terrified tears.

“My name is Tikki! I’m a kwami and you have been chosen to be the new Ladybug!” Tikki smiled as she excitedly floated around him.

“But I’m not a lady?” Was Ryland’s confused response and Eva couldn’t help but laugh. It was a nice sound to come from such a stoic lady, though not nearly as dreamy as Simon’s laugh. Ryland missed Simon, a few hours ago tutoring in the cold metallic walls of a juvie made more sense than whatever the heck was going on now.

Just as Ryland was calming down the slight bit he hears a new voice. “I come in now!”

He’s not sure where the person is who's speaking but it sounds tinny like it’s coming through a phone.

The voice is both human and robotic sounding like a grown adult who just figured out how to form sentences, but theres also some strange musical chirping behind it. Suddenly the automatic sliding door to Stratt's office opens and something rushes inside. Then it stops and Rylands forget how to breathe. There is this faceless rock creature with spider like limbs in a sphere made of a glass looking substance in various polygon shapes. Stratt’s hand tightens around Ryland’s closed fist as he launches into a confused high pitched scream.

Still screaming Ryland looks around he notices that no one else in the room is freaking out. Stratt, Carl, and Tikki seem more concerned by him than the spider rock thing that just rolled in. Of course, why would't they be? This was par for the course so far.

“Whaaaaaat-” Ryland trails off looking at Stratt not even able to form a coherent question anymore. He wondered if she’d even answer his unformed question since she’d ignored all of his intelligible queries so far.

“This is -” Stratt let go of Ryland’d hand and gestured at the rock and it made this musical high pitched noise, Ryland flinches wanting to cover his ears but too afraid of dropping the earrings to do so. “But we call them L dash one one zero one B.” Stratt says this as if it explains anything at all.

“L dash one one zero B help!” The creature in the ball announces. “Give tips to new Ladybug!”

Ryland notices that everyone is looking at him and points to himself with his free hand. “Me?” His voice cracks as he asks, but he already can see the answer in the looks (or lack of there in the rock thing's case) he's given. Ryland looks to his guardian for an explanation, Eva Stratt takes has deep breath.

“They are an Eridian, a being from another planet in another galaxy in a universe different from our own.” She states this ground breaking information as casually as a coffee order. “When we were doing research on the Miraculous, this Eridian came through a worm hole. We set up a translation program and they tap into the frequency of speakers to communicate.” Eva pointed to the speakers high up on the walls that Ryland hadn’t noticed before.

“I am Ladybug on Erid, statement.” L-1101B chirps happily.

“That's correct, they are the Ladybug of their dimension.” Tikki confirms and Ryland looks between the three of them baffled.

“But they don’t have ears?!” Is what tumbles out of Grace's mouth ineloquently. This actually gets Eva to crack a smile.

“The Miraculous in their world attaches to their forms differently.” Eva explains as L-1101B rolls forward and shows off a red circle with black dots embedded into its...carapace? Exoskeleton? Ryland in't sure.

“Miraculous no work here, statement.” The Eridian informs Ryland sadly.

“Yes, it seems their Miraculous powers only work in their home dimension.” Tikki says sharing in the alien’s somber tone.

“O-okay but wh-” before he can finish talking, not really sure what he was about to ask, he feels a punching pain in both of his earlobes and lets out a loud yelp, somehow keeping his fist clenched around the earrings. Ryland turns around, earlobes pulsing in soreness, to see Carl standing him behind dual wielding earring guns. “When did you even- why would you have those?!”

“Because we needed a way to pierce your ears.” Carl says simply.

“So you ambushed me with a piercing gun?!” Ryland questions incrediously.

“Is necessary.” The rock alien chimes in.

“Necessary for you to become the next Ladybug of course!” Tikki tells him cheerily. “Ladybug is a magical superhero that is summoned into action when there’s evil in the world and there’s about to be a great surge of evil in Paris.”

“Uh...huh.” Ryland looks at her doubtfully, wondering when he hit his head to have this insane level of concussed fever dream.

“I’m serious Ryland Grace!” Tikki flies up closer to his face. “The world could very well be in danger soon and I chose you to be the next Ladybug, so put those earrings in and listen up!” Ryland gulps then does as he’s told and puts the studs in his freshly pierced ears, for such a tiny thing this kwami could be pretty intimidating.

“After you transform you'll get a magic yo-yo that you can use to swing around.” Tikki starts explaining. “Throw it in the air and say lucky charm and it'll give you an object you need to save the day, but you'll be on limited time when that happens before you transform back, so you'll have to hurry up!” She speaks slowly at first but then starts getting excited and her speech becomes rapid fire as she bounces around in the air. “Then you'll find a way to break the akumatized object the super villain has - usually something tied to what made them an akuma target in the first place- and break it. Then you capture the akuma butterfly in your yo-yo to purify it and throw the lucky charm in the air saying ‘Miraculous Ladybug!’ and these magical ladybugs will swoop in and clean everything up! It’s as simple as that!” Tikki looks satisfied as Ryland’s head spins.

“What’s an akuma?” Is his first question once he gets his brain to think straight.

“An akuma is a little butterfly that turns ordinary people in emotional distress into super villians.” Tikki informs. “They’re controlled by the holder of the butterfly Miraculous.”

“Oh right okay.” Ryland says in a way that indicates he is not properly processing or any of this information, he keeps looking toward the door silently wondering if he can make a break for it.

“L-1101B and Tikki can properly train you.” Stratt informs him. “With the two of them as guides I’m sure-”

She is abruptly cut off by the wail of an alarm and red lights flashing all around her office, Ryland covers his ears as he looks around frantically. Carl has run to the wall opening up a secret panel and revealing a large number of monitors. They show feeds from cameras all over the city and Ryland had never quite realized how much of a surveillance state he lives in until just now. Ryland’s eyes bounce around from screen to screen overwhelmed. There’s a girl with crazy pigtails on most of them using some kind of weather based powers to blow cars out of the street, freeze people in ice, strike the ground around her with lighting and all sorts of stuff that makes Ryland’s blood run cold.

“Akumatized villain attacking the city.” Carl announces. “We need to mobilize now.”

“But what about training, question?” L-1101B asks tapping one of their limbs against the sphere.

“We don’t have time, he’ll have to learn by doing.” Stratt presses a hand on Rylan’s shoulder. “Ryland Grace repeat after me: Tikki spots on.”

“Wait Miss Stratt I don’t think-” Tikki tries to object.

“T-tikki spots on?” Ryland repeats without really thinking about it and Tikki is sucked into one of his earrings. Ryland feels himself float as a white light envelopes him, he sees swarms of ladybugs surround him taking over his whole body as this nice warm sensation rushes around him. When the white light dissipates he finds his vision is unfocused and blurry. Stratt gently removes his glasses and he blinks seeing perfectly without them for the first time in a long time. Ryland brings his hands up to see them now covered in a spandex-like material that’s red with black dots.

“What is- did I- huh??” Ryland spits out unfinished sentences as every part of his body that he can see is enveloped in the same form fitting material. It’s surprisingly breezy and comfortable.

“Grace transform, amaze amaze amaze!” L-1101B does what looks like jazz hands in celebration. “Grace ready for mission!”

“Mission?” Ryland is beyond confused.

“To defeat the akumatized villain, now go!” Eva points to the door before he can protest.

“I- how am I supposed to do that?” Ryland asks, throwing his hands up. “I’m just a kid I’m not some hero just because I got my ears pierced and a magic bug said so! I can’t stop that.” He points to the screen where the pigtailed girl is burning holes in the ground with intensified sunbeams.

Carl does the most insane thing possible and turns a dial which unmutes the monitors so Ryland can hear hundreds of voices screaming out for help, crying, wishing for someone to save the day.

Ryland’s eyes dart from screen to screen until he spots the juvenile detention center. There’s a group of juvie kids in the fenced in yard throwing stones at the floating weather controlling maniac. The adult guards are running away but the incarcerated kids are fighting back, it makes Ryland’s heart swell. Then Ryland’s heart sinks in horror as the villain points her umbrella at them and freezes the entire area in a thick block of ice.

He thinks about a boy he’d only just met today with kind brown eyes who chuckled at his dumb science jokes. Who actually listened when Ryland taught him about the periodic table. The boy whose laugh was so beautiful it made him envision an entire future together. Simon. Ryland stares at the screen as tears well up in his eyes.

“Lucky charm fix.” L-1101B tells him as Ryland’s breathing gets heavy.

“He’s right.” Stratt says, still pointing at the door. “Only your Miraculous Ladybug powers can fix this now, once you purify the akuma and throw your lucky charm into the air everything will go back to normal and all those people will be saved.

“You have everything you need.” Carl states stoically. “Now go!”

Ryland is frozen for a moment before shaking his head and coming to the very sane and logical conclusion that this is either a dream, a very elaborate prank, or he’s fully entered into an unmatched state of psychosis. Because he can’t accept a reality where everyone’s fate, where Simon’s fate depends on him. At this point he should just play into it right? He’ll wake up or snap out of it eventually anyway, so no harm in just living out a hero fantasy. With that in mind Ryland rushes out the door and steps into the elevator ready to go, that is until he realizes he doesn’t have the ID badge required to make the elevator go up and has to yell for Stratt to come help him.

His delusional fantasy was surprisingly full of a lot of technical issues and red tape, which if he was honest sounded very on brand for him.

Simon was confused to say the least when a guard came and yanked him from his cell with no explanation an hour after Ryland had left. Simon kept protesting that he didn’t do anything to deaf ears as he was led down hallway after hallway until he was at the front desk of the juvenile delinquent hall.

“Today’s your lucky day convict.” The guard behind the plexiglass told him. “Someone’s claiming you as a ward.”

“Ward?” Simon questioned.

“It means you get to go.” The guard told him with an eye roll.

“I-I’m free?” Simon asked not quite believing his luck.

“Sure, until you do something stupid and land right back here.” The guard laughed cruelly but Simon didn’t care, he was getting out.

They had him change into his old ratty unwashed clothes and gave him the small bag of possessions before shoving him out the door. Simon holds the small tree pendant tied to a cord up to his face, he never thought he’d see it again. A guard snaps at him to hurry up so he puts the necklace on and tucks it under his old shirt. Simon squinted in the harsh white clouded light of the outside and saw a tall woman with a bleach blonde braid, large sunglasses covering most of the upper half of her face, and a long black coat standing before him.

“Simon?” The woman asked.

“Uh yeah.” Simon answered.

“My name is Ava and you are now my ward.” She turned around and walked toward a limo. “Come on, we have things to do.”

Simon followed but stopped just before the limo as he heard a noise, there was a girl with a cane who had fallen over on an uneven piece of sidewalk.

“Come on kid!” Ava called from inside the limo impatiently.

Simon tried to ignore his instincts, not wanting to piss off the lady who’d just freed him but he couldn’t help it. He walked over to the girl and helped her up handing her the cane.

“Thank you.” The girl said gratefully. “I’m usually better at feeling when the ground gets uneven.”

“It’s not on you, the city should really fix this sidewalk.” Simon told her and the girl smiled.

“I suppose you’re right.”

The limo beeped loudly behind them and Simon got up. “Will you be alright?” he asked ignoring his own savior.

“Yeah I can take it from here.” The girl told him with a grateful smile.

Simon left her then reluctantly climbed into the limo and Ava immedatley chastised him. “You will come when you are called and do what you’re told.” Her voice was stern and cold as steel. “Or I can have you sent right back here, got it?”

“Yes ma’am.” Simon grumbled, he didn’t bother trying to defend himself, what was the point? Authority figures never listened to him anyway.

Plagg had been rummaging through a nearby trashcan in search of some forgotten cheese when he saw the whole thing go down. “Oooh a bad boy with a heart of gold!” The kwami said to himself then gasped as he noticed an old particularly runny piece of cheese in the garbage. “And I found cheese? Oh this kid is a good luck charm for sure!” Plagg gobbled up the old cheese before following the limo.

When the limo stopped Ava opened the door and led Simon out where he gaped up and a large gated mansion that loomed over the sidewalk in a way that was simultaneously luxurious and creepy. He stood in awe for a moment before practically jumping out of his skin by a familiar sounding buzzer. Simon looked around scared for a moment that he was back in juvie but when he saw the gate slowly opening before him he realized that must be the sound it makes to open. He sighed in relief while also cursing his luck.

Simon followed Ava into through the large ornate black doors into the dimly lit mansion with thick closed curtains. Ava flipped a switch causing a chandelier to illuminate above them, and Simon gasped. The thing was really pretty the tiny crystals reminded him of stars, god he’d missed stargazing. You’d never guess it but he was actually a huge astronomy nerd.

“Cooool.” came out of Simon’s mouth at sight of that shimmering chandelier, not because of the large decorative light itself, but because he realized he could actually stargaze again. Tears started to well up in his eyes.

“Yeah the chandelier is nice.” Ava said flatly. “I’ll show you to your room.” Ava walked ahead of him and started climbing the large set of stairs.

Simon slowly followed, looking around trying to take in all the details of this enormous foyer. He had to focus to keep up with Ava in each turn of the hallways that felt impossibly long, finally she stopped at a black door with a gold name plate above it that read Convict and fished a key out of her pocket opening the door.

Simon blinked as Ava turned the light on to this large empty room with humongous windows lining the left wall letting in the natural cloudy white light, there was another sliding door on a wall that jutted out.

“This is your private bathroom.” Ava opened the sliding door revealing a black and gold themed bathroom with a large bath, golden shower head, ornate sink, and a gold toilet where the lid opened on it’s own. Simon’s eyes widened at the sight of a bathroom he never would have imagined in his wildest fantasies of making it rich. Clearly he’d been day dreaming small.

“That’s your bed.” Ava pointed to a twin sized mattress in the middle of the floor with just a thin gray blanket and one very flat looking pillow.

“Oh.” Simon said disappointed. It didn’t match the expectations the opulent larger than life mansion had set, but it was probably better than kid prison or the street so he figured he shouldn’t look a gift horse in the mouth.

“You are to stay in here and keep quiet, someone will get you when it’s time for dinner.” Ava told him sharply as she turned on her heel and headed for the door.

“Wait I-” Simon reached for her, he had questions, like why had this rich lady taken him in? How did she afford to live in a crazy huge mansion? Why was his bed just a mattress when everything else had been the height of luxary?

“What’s going on here?” Was the only question that tumbled out of Simon’s mouth instead.

Ava stopped and glared at him over her shoulder and Simon noticed she still had her sunglasses on. “You are my ward.” She stated matter of factly, with a sharp air of authority. “You will do as you are told and not ask questions, or I will send you back. Do I make myself clear?”

Simon’s face flashed with fear for a moment then sadness and finally landed on a scowl as he broke eye contact and stared at the floor.

“Good.” Ava took his silence as a yes and watched as Simon clenched his fists. She slammed the door behind her and locked it, after a moment she allowed herself to smile. All according to plan.

Ava walked confidently down the hallway and went into her study taking out another key to lock the door behind her. There she walked to the large painting behind her desk, it was a copy of The Execution of Lady Jane Grey that took up almost the entirety of the black marble wall behind Ava’s desk. She opened a desk drawer and grabbed a small tv remote she kept hidden in a back panel then pointed said remote at the painting pressing the “tools” button on the lower left. She heard the sound of locks opening behind the painting before the art work moved forward revealing itself to be an enormous door. Ava slipped inside and pressed the “info” button on the middle right side of the remote to close the painting behind her and took satisfaction in hearing the locks click shut once more.

As Ava walked down a darkened hallway small lights flickered on in time with her and she entered an enormous room with a domed ceiling. Pressing the mute button on her remote caused the metal shades over the dome to recede revealing a massive stained glass window depicting a simplistic shape of a butterfly. Tiny white butterflies fluttered around, with one dark purple one tapping against a small glass container in the corner. Ava undid her black tie dropping it to the floor letting her purple butterfly broach see the sunlight. Nooroo flew out of the Miraculous right on schedule. The little purple butterfly-like kwami flew up to her with large pleading eyes.

“Master I beg you to reconsider.” He begged in a tiny pathetic voice.

Ava rolled her eyes beneath her sunglasses. “We’ve been over this Nooroo, there’s no other way.”

“B-but there’s always a-another way.” Nooroo stuttered.

Ava ignored him as she commanded: “Nooroo dark wings rise!”

The kwami was sucked into the Miraculous and Ava’s body was cocooned in a brilliant purple light. The light cocoon broke with scattering butterflies fluttering out and Ava was now adorned with a dark purple suit that fit her like a glove. Her sunglasses were replaced with a silver mask resembling butterfly wings and her braided hair went from blonde to white. Her skin had become a shade of violet and her irises were now an even neon blue with the whites of her eyes turned pitch black.

Ava twirled around a cane that had materialized during her transformation as she looked out the stained glass window.

“You know this is a bad idea, right?” A nagging voice rang out behind her and Ava spun around startled with her cane at the ready only to see Nathalie with her hand up catching the weapon just before it could strike her face and glaring at Ava.

“Don’t sneak up on me Nathalie!” Ava snarled through gritted teeth and Nathalie held intense eye contact, her light blue irises shining with intensity.

“Be more careful Ava.” Nathalie bit back before pushing the cane to the side. “Seriously though, adopting a juvenile delinquent to akumatize him, did you really think this through?” The woman’s dark blue bun didn’t move at all as she tilted her head slightly in question, though the red streak in the front of her hair bounced slightly.

“Of course I have!” Ava snapped defensively. “That kid is a ticking time bomb and primed to be akumatized as many times as I need.”

“Right.” Nathalie responded flatly. “And you don’t think it’ll be suspicious if you keep sending the boy you just adopted after them?”

Ava stepped back but tried to look as if she was resolute. “I know what I’m doing.” It was a weak defense, neither of them really knew what they were doing anymore and they both knew it.

“You don’t think if you akumatize Simon that Stratt might put the pieces together?” Nathalie held up her tablet with the paperwork. “We are on record as his guardians, this isn’t something we can take back.”

Shit, she had a good point. Ava was starting to regret tuning her assistant out so many times before this. “So what do you suggest?” Ava relented with an aggressive sigh.

“I suggest you use him more strategically.” Nathalie told her. “And akumatize someone else.”

“Hmm.” Ava considered. “I could send him to a public school, he’s bound to cause problems and teenagers are so ripe with angsty emotions.”

“Finally you’re thinking.” Nathalie sounded relieved and Ava looked offended. “Now let’s pick a first target.” Nathalie typed something in on her tablet. “Hmm I’m seeing some news reports about businesses closing, personal ads that reek of desperation and loneliness, and protests over the mayor’s new statue. All of these seem like good recipes for high emotions.”

“I’ve already found the perfect victim!” Ava announced ignoring all of Nathalie’s suggestions, Nathalie frowned. “There’s a young woman who lost a contest to be a teen weather girl by a very wide margin of votes.” Ava tells Nathalie with a sinister tone as a little white butterfly landed gracefully in Ava’s outstretched palm. “Her stormy emotions are perfect prey for my akuma.”

Ava turned toward her assistant who looked thoroughly unimpressed. “You expect a high strung teenager to break into a secure secret lair?”

“Nathalie you know as well as I do how powerful my akumas can make someone.” Ava gently stroked the butterfly’s wings as she spoke before trapping it in her hands. A dark energy swirls around and when she opens her palms a black butterfly with uneven crackling lines of purple shoots out and flies rapidly out the window.

Ava laughs to herself and Nathalie suppresses an eyeroll.

Aurore Beauréal stomped her way to the elevator at the news station trying to tune out crowd cheering for the girl who beat her at the polls. Stupid popularity contest. All Aurore ever wanted to be was a meteorologist and now her dreams were crushed. As soon as she was in the elevator she hit the closed door button and screamed.

“IT’S NOT FAIR!” Aurore wailed to herself, sound reverberating off the metal walls. She’d worn a dress with little suns a translucent raincoat with a matching umbrella. Aurure had taken effort to dress the part while the other girl just wore jeans and a t-shirt like she didn’t even care. And still she was seen as a better fit by the voters at home. As her emotions swirled and tears ran down the wannabe weather girl’s red cheeks a little black butterfly phased through the closed doors and attached itself to her umbrella.

A chorus of voices filled Aurore’s ears as her vision was clouded by purple. “Greetings Aurore, I am The Swarm.”

“Wh-what’s happening?” The girl’s voice trembles as she looks around, the elevator is gone and she’s standing in this endless swirling purple void.

“I am here to offer you a deal, I can help you show everyone that you have everything it takes to be the best meteorologist in the world.” The Swarm’s multiple voices range in pitch, gender, and age all seeming to harmonize without song in Aurore’s ear drums.

“Really?” Aurore feels a twinge of hope, suddenly her fear of the voices and the void fades away, emotions blocking out logic.

“Of course my dear.” The unified voices tell her. “All I ask is that you find these artifacts called Miraculous and bring them to me.” Suddenly two images flash into Aurore’s mind, small red circle earrings studs with black dots and a chunky silver ring. “I will guide you to them but first I’ll let you guide the weather for us all.”

“I’ll do it.” Aurore agrees without hesitation, looking ahead as a black smoke envelopes her body like a cocoon and when the smoke clears her blonde pigtails have turned into indigo and lavender swirls. Her dress has turned black with a lightning bolt belt and her became long white gloves. A black mask fits around her eyes and over her now gray skin.

“Now Stormy Weather go show them what you can do.” The voices tell her and Aurore swears she can hear applause in her mind, everyone cheering for her just as she’d hoped for.

Stormy Weather points her now purple umbrella at the elevator doors and a blast of hurricane level wind shoots forward ripping the doors away and sending them flying down a hallway smashing against a wall. People who happened to be in this hallway stare at her and scream as she steps forward.

“Oh look.” Stormy Weather observes. “I already have fans.” She grins maniacally as she twirls her umbrella around and snowflakes begin to form, the entire floor starting to freeze.

Simon’s frown deepened as he threw his threw his pillow against the wall which landed with a soft unsatisfying flop. He grabbed the pillow and pinned it to the wall before punching it repeatedly. Simon knew it was too good to be true and yet he let himself have hope for a few minutes. Let himself believe someone wanted to free him but no, he looked out the window at the high gate that surrounded his new living space. He’d only been moved from one cage to another, it wasn’t freedom, it was a prisoner transport.

Simon let out an anguished cry before slamming both fists against the wall with no pillow to cushion the blow. He hissed at his sore hands, he’d dealt with much worse, but still he held his palms close to his chest as he glared at the pillow as if it was to blame.

Just before he could start beating up the pillow again, Simon heard a tapping against his window and turned to see a small floating ring.

“What the hell?” Simon questioned aloud as the ring insistently rapped as if knocking in a chaotic rhythm. He would never be able to explain why but he cautiously moved to one of the windows and opened it. The ring flew in and smacked him in the forehead, Simon closed his eyes at the small pain, when he raised a hand to the spot he heard a voice.

“Oh man you do not know how hard it was to follow that limo!”

Simon opened his eyes to see a small floating black blob thing with a strangely cat like face that was way too big for it’s tiny stubby body. The teen gasps but before he can move his hands the little parasite or whatever stops him.

“Wait don’t drop the ring!” It orders him and Simon hates how he freezes. “Put it on so we can keep talking, if you’re not touching the Miraculous you won’t be able to see me.”

“The Miracu-what?” Simon moved his hands away from his forehead, but closed his fist around the ring.

“The Miraculous!” The black cat blob thing said as if it were obvious. “I’m Plagg and that ring is the Miraculous of the hero Cat Noir.”

Simon just stared at him blankly and Plagg groaned. “Humans can be soooo sloooow you put on the ring say ‘Plagg claws out’ and you’ll transform into a stylish super hero with the power of destruction when you say ‘cataclysm’ it’s all very simple.”

Simon dropped into a sitting position on his mattress. “That’s insane, is this- are you real?” He asked genuinely questioning his reality. Wouldn’t be the first time he ever hallucinated, but it had been a long time.

“Of course I’m real.” Plagg scoffed.

“Then explain it more.” Simon challanged.

“Ugh fine.” Plagg relented. “Your power is called a cataclysm it destroys anything you touch with it.” Plagg looked around suddenly distracted. “You got any cheese around here kid?”

“Cheese?” Simon huffed. “Fat chance, warden Ava won’t let me out of my room and I doubt she’d let me eat until she says so.” He pushed his knees up and balled his fists as he curled himself into a sitting ball of teenage angst.

“You could always sneak out.” Plagg suggested and Simon uncurled himself and stared at the blob stunned. “Just transform into Cat Noir and slip out the window, simple as that.”

“I...I’d be free.” Simon realizes and Plagg smiles at him. “Okay, yeah okay why not?” If he was going crazy anyway he might as well lean into it, if it didn’t work no one was around to see him anyway. And if it did work, he’d have his freedom.

Simon slipped the ring on “Plagg, claws out!” he yelled and the floating cat thing was sucked inside the ring.

Simon felt his clothes changing over him as he was enveloped in black and green light. There’s something on his head now touching his hair and a breeze at the back of his neck. When Simon opens his eyes again he heads for the large bathroom mirror and gasps at his reflection. He’s wearing this form fitting jumpsuit that looks like it’s made of leather but feels much more comfortable on his skin. There’s a large golden bell sitting just below the collar and a belt wrapped around his waist that forms the shape of a tail. There’s a black mask over his eyes which are now bright green and cat like, the whites now a lighter shade of green. He’s holding some sort of small metallic pipe. His black hair which now has bright green highlights is done up in two tiny twin braids that lead back into a high ponytail. There’s some sections of hair that escapeed the tied up fate which frame the sides of his face and some stray locks dangling over his forehead, and despite being tied back his hair is still strangely messy. There’s a metal pipe looking thing in grasped one of his fists.

“Bizarre.” Simon says to his own reflection. He shakes his head and heads for the window he’d left open and after a deep breath takes a leap of faith and the ground is coming into view much faster than he anticipated. Shit he can’t fly?! All the best superheroes in comics can at least fly! He’s screaming eyes closed when he feels a different sensation, a swaying forward. When Simon opens his eyes again that metal pipe thing has expanded one end touching the ground while the other propels him forward over the high fence surrounding the mansion. Once the pipe hits against the wall it retracts and he tumbles over the side landing perfectly on his feet, surprised to find it didn’t hurt.

For the first time in a long time Simon is free, feet planted on the sidewalk with no one barking orders. Who cares if he looks like a weird fashionista leather cat boy? He’s free! Simon lets out an elated whoop before running and taking a pole vaulted leap up to the nearest rooftop. He’s sprinting above Paris now feeling the wind in his hair and he can’t stop laughing with pure unadulterated joy.

Simon should have known it was too good to last. A rush of wind hits him from the side pushing him back nearly knocking him off the roof before he leans forward for balance. Simon looks around to see that there’s some weird flying kid with purple pigtails facing away from him. She’s twirling an umbrella that’s somehow generating massive amounts of wind. As he’s processing this new insanity he is buffeted by some small hard little things that feel like pebbles. Simon manages to catch one of the objects and realizes it’s hail. Okay so there’s a kid with weather powers now, whatever. Just when he thinks it doesn’t concern him he hears it, the screams.

A chorus of screams echoes from the streets below so loud that Simon wonders how he hadn’t heard it before. He turned and peered over the side of the roof closest to him. There are cars overturned in the street, people running, taking cover where ever they can, and the screaming so much screaming he can’t take it. Simon balls his fists, feeling that he has to do something about this. Plagg did say he’d turn into a superhero after all.

“HEY!” Simon yells toward the pigtailed weirdo, she turns to face him and he tries not to flinch at the sight of her sickly looking purple skin. “KNOCK IT OFF!” He demands in his scariest juvie tough kid sounding voice.

The girl doesn’t seem intimidated in the least, in fact she looks bored as her eyes dart up and down taking him in. “And who are you supposed to be?” She asks in a snotty tone that makes Simon’s rage bubble in his chest.

“I’m…” He isn’t sure what to say and thinks back didn’t Plagg say he turned into someone when he transformed. The memory came back to him in an instant and without thinking he announced: “I’m Cat Noir and I’m here to kick your ass!”

The girl blinked at him taken aback for a moment and Simon smirked satisfied until she raised the back of her hand to her mouth and let out a haughty laugh.

“Yeah okay, I’m Stormy Weather and I don’t play around with dumb little cat boys.” She pointed her umbrella at him then stopped suddenly and made a face Cat Noir couldn’t decipher.

“Cat Noir has one of the Miraculous we need!” The Swarm’s many voices rang out in Stormy Weather’s mind. “Obtain his ring at once.” The voices commanded.

“With pleasure.” Stormy Weather replied grinning. Cat Noir was running to her but she simply raised her umbrella as he lunged in the air towards her.

What happened next caught both hero and villain off guard as a flash of red and black collided with Cat Noir just as an icy blast shot forward from Stormy Weather’s umbrella. Cat Noir felt something connect with the side of his body and send both him and whatever was now on top of him careening, he landed flat on his back farther down the line of connected roofs. The pain wasn’t nearly as bad as it should be, which Simon was thankful for. Green cat eyes shot open in alarm when he heard a groan on top of him. There was a blue haired guy hovering a few inches above his face wearing a red mask with black dots, as if today hadn’t been weird enough already.

Ryland was just barely getting his bearings after stupidly knocking into the person he was trying to save. He felt a dull ache throughout his body and somewhere in the back of his mind he knew he should be hurting way more than he actually was. He tried to sit up but found his body was held back by something and that’s when Ryland opened his eyes to see a glaring cat boy glaring up at him. Ryland assessed the situation, the two were tangled in his yo-yo string and he was hovering on top of this random guy.

“Oh man I am so sorry!” An apology immediately tumbled out of Ryland’s mouth as he scrambled to reel in the yo-yo string.

“Get off me!” The leather suited boy growled as he shoved Ryland’s face up.

Thankfully Ryland located his yo-yo and found that squeezing it made the wire-like string retract, fascinating.

“Who are you?” The black cat boy was now standing in a defensive pose fists ready as Ryland sat staring up at him, the guy seemed oddly familiar in a way he couldn’t quite place. He had never seen someone who dressed like this in his entire life.

“Oh I’m- Rrr-” It took Ryland a second to remember he shouldn’t say his actual legal name and course correct, he pretended to cough to cover the R sound. “Ahem, I am Ladybug, and you are?” Ryland tried to sound formal when he asked.

“I thought you were a boy.” Cat Noir blurts out looking the Ladybug person up and down, shit was that a rude thing to say? Simon was a delinquent sure but one of the only things he respected was another person’s identity.

“I am!” Ladybug’s voice came out embarrassingly squeaky. “Ladybugs are a species of bug that has more than one gender, lady being in the name does not in any way indicate that-”

“I’m Cat Noir.” Simon cut the other guy off and scrunched up his nose. “Are you with her?” He pointed his thumb toward Stormy Weather who was watching them floating speechlessly with an open mouth.

“NO!” Ladybug answered quickly scrambling to his feet. “I’m here to stop her – HOLY SMOKES!” Ladybug turned to notice the massive sharp icicles that were shooting up from the ground pointing in the air just where Cat Noir had been before Ladybug crashed into him.

“WAS SHE TRYING TO KILL YOU?!” Ladybug was practically screeching the question at Cat Noir who was now also staring at the icy death spikes that certainly would have impaled him in shock. Ladybug turned to Stormy Weather and shouted: “WERE YOU TRYING TO KILL HIM?!”

“That fool has the other Miraculous we need.” The Swarm’s voices were hostile in Stormy Weather’s head. “Seize their Miraculous by any means necessary!”

Stormy Weather floated toward them twirling her umbrella in a way that shouldn’t have been as menacing as it was. “Hate to break up this dorky meet cute, but your forecast calls for DOOM!” She cackled as lightning shot down towards the heroes.

Ryland froze and time seemed to slow down as he locked eyes with a bolt of lighting heading straight for his face then suddenly he was jerked sideways as Cat Noir pulled at his wrist.

“Come on!” Cat Noir yelled running and leaping off the side of the building pulling a very confused Ladybug with him.

“Can you fly?!” Ladybug questioned as their feet touched nothing but air.

“Nope!” Cat Noir answered as he pulled Ladybug closer to him by the waist and held his metal staff out, it extended and vaulted them across the street below. They landed on the roof of another building before Ryland could even process it.

Cat Noir stood in front of Ladybug in a fighting stance gripping his staff. “Come fight us yourself you coward!” He shouted toward the villain and Ladybug seriously hoped she didn’t follow his command.

“Hmm nope!” Stormy replied laughing as she pointed her umbrella again. This time Ryland was ready to dodge but Cat Noir started forward like he was about to vault over to her again.

Ladybug ran and grabbed him by the waist with one arm throwing his yo yo out with the other in the opposite direction of the pigtailed maniac. The yo yo wrapped around a fire escape below them and Ladybug ran toward it pulling a resistant Cat Noir with him.

“What the hell are you doing?!” Cat Noir yelled in the other hero’s ear as he tried to move his body forward but Ladybug only held on tighter with a strength that was more than a little impressive.

“Saving your butt!” Ladybug answered as he jumped down and used the centrifugal force to propel them down then stuck his legs out to kick open two wooden doors in the alley below them. This lands them in a thankfully abandoned restaurant kitchen. Less thankfully there’s oil still bubbling in the fryers and fire is rising on stove tops. Ryland lets go of Cat Noir to turn things off then quickly grabs the other hero by his belt tail when he starts toward the open door.

Simon is surprised by this guy’s strength and the strange sensation he feels when his belt is pulled as if it’s another limb. Weird. He also somehow can’t get free from one hand gripping his belt tail.

“Let go of me!” Cat Noir practically hisses, he tries to twist his body around but finds he can’t, as if the tail being grabbed is preventing his body from fully working.

“Nope.” Ladybug tells him as he turns off the last stove and fryer, the low stakes task helps him think, though Ryland never would have guessed that he’d consider preventing a restaurant from burning down a low stakes task. They need to find a way to stop this weather controlling menace without being blasted, and to do that he needed time to actually think of a plan and not let this cat guy rush into a fight they’d both surely lose. Maybe there was a way to cool Stormy down just like these burners and fryers. He remembered Tikki saying to break her akumatized object, which he assumed was her umbrella, but there had to be a way to get to it without getting blasted by lighting, ice, hail, or whatever other deadly weather she thought up.

Ladybug continued to tug on Cat Noir’s tail as he led the two of them further into the restaurant looking for a place they could hide and strategize, Cat Noir swearing and struggling the whole way. Ryland spots TVs lining the walls playing news footage of Paris’s destroyed streets, a large bar, and ah-ha! Stairs leading to a basement and runs for them dragging his fellow hero along into the open door of a wine cellar before closing it behind them. He turned toward Cat Noir with a stern look that caught the cat boy off guard.

“If I let you go do you promise not to run out that door immediately?” Ladybug asked and Cat Noir felt a strange flip in his stomach.

“Why should I? There’s a crazy asshole on the loose destroying the city!” Cat Noir points out angrily gesturing around. “And we have a chance to stop her so why the fuck are we hiding like cowards?!”

“Because running blindly at the crazy weather powered girl is clearly not flipping working!” Ladybug snaps back, stomping his foot. This makes Simon stop struggling against the other guy’s grasp as he considers that maybe, just maybe, this blue haired bug boy is right.

“Well what do you suggest we do bugaboo?” Simon means it as an insult but Ladybug’s stern face breaks into a snort.

“Bugaboo?” Ladybug asks incredulously, mirth in his tone.

“Yeah Bugaboo, it’s a stupid nickname that fits you because you’re stupid.” Simon answers but the bite in his tone falls flat as Ladybug just bursts out laughing.

“You really need to work on your insults Kitty.” Ladybug tells him as he laughs and Cat Noir feels his face flush as his heart beats faster. He catches a glimpse of Ladybug laughing over his shoulder and hates how infectious it is. Despite himself Cat Noir laughs to.

“Ok ok yeah that one really sucked, I’m usually so much better at insults.” Cat Noir admits, Ladybug’s grip doesn’t slacken on his tail even as he continues to laugh. Damn this guy is strong. “I promise I won’t run.” Simon finally says decidedly turning his head back around and facing the wine racks on the back wall.

“You sure?” Ladybug asks in a teasing tone and Simon wants to scratch off the smirk he can hear.

“Yes.” Cat Noir says and it sounds like a hiss. “Now let go of me.”

“Alright, alright.” Ladybug finally lets go and Cat Noir quickly grabs his tail back then turns to face the other hero who is still laughing. A thought occurs to him that he misses the firm and warm pressure on his tail but he shoves it down into the back corners of his mind.

“Say please next time Kitty.” Ladybug jokes with a shine to his dark eyes that Cat Noir notices for the first time. Simon huffs and leans against one of the emptier wine racks, resisting the urge to make a break for it knowing this dumb handsome bug boy will grab his tail again. Since when do I think he’s handsome? Simon’s brain screams at him but there’s no denying it now as the blue haired hero composes himself.

“So what’s your big plan?” Cat Noir asks with an attempt at venom in his speech but Ladybug doesn’t seem to notice.

“We need a way to get Stormy Weather to cool down, to pause long enough to get the umbrella away from her.” Ladybug tells him while pacing, he holds his chin his hand as he thinks in a way that Cat Noir definitely does not find adorable at all.

“Why do we need her umbrella?” Cat Noir questions. “Don’t we just need to kick her ass and get her to stop.”

Ladybug pauses in his pacing abruptly and stares at Cat Noir. “We need to break her akumatized object then purify the akuma.” He tells Cat Noir slowly who looks at him as if he’s talking nonsense. “Didn’t your kwami explain this to you?”

“Uh no?” Cat Noir huffs, his tail twitching. “Plagg didn’t tell me much of anything apparently.” He’d confront that stupid floaty cat thing later.

“Tikki told me a lot in a very short amount of time, I’m honestly surprised I remember it all.” Ladybug said in a comforting voice that made Cat Noir feel a sense of ease that was usually foreign to him. “I have this power called lucky charm where I can summon some kind of helpful object from my yo-yo and then once the akuma is purified-”

“What’s an akuma?” Ryland stopped realizing he’d been pacing again as Cat Noir asked the same question he had earlier today. Deja Vu.

“An akuma is a butterfly controlled by the holder of the butterfly Miraculous that turns ordinary people in emotional distress into super villains.” Ladybug parrots what Tikki told him and wonders distantly if she can hear him inside the earrings. “The evil butterfly flies into an object they have which is tied to their emotional distress somehow and poof they become a powered up bad guy, or well bad girl in this case.”

Cat Noir blinks at Ladybug in confusion a few times before shrugging. “Makes about as much sense as everything else today.”

“I know right?” Ladybug says with chuckle, and Cat Noir ignores the mosh pit of evil butterflies in his stomach. “I’m still not entirely convinced this isn’t some crazed delusional fantasy I’m having.”

“Same here Bugaboo.” Simon agrees with a smile, he sincerely hopes he didn’t make this guy up. A thought occurs to him. “I could distract the weather freak for you, I think I could dodge her attacks and piss her off to give you time.”

“Sounds self sacrificial.” Ladybug points out and Cat Noir rolls his eyes.

“Only if I die.” Cat Noir wants it to come off as a joke but Ladybug looks genuinely concerned for his safety and the butterflies in his stomach rise up to this throat.

Ladybug considers this for a moment before sighing. “Distraction could help just promise me you won’t get yourself killed?” He holds his gloved pinky out and Cat Noir stares at it. This guy can’t be serious, a pinky promise how childish, how ridiculous, how-

Simon’s body moves faster than his brain as he pushes himself off the wine rack and intertwines his own pinky with Ladybug’s. “I promise.” Simon looks the other boy in the eyes when he says it and is rewarded with a warm smile that turns the evil butterflies inside him to goo.

They hear rumbling from above them and both head out of the wine cellar and up the stairs to the restaurant where all of the TVs are broadcasting the same news report. The camera is pointed at Stormy Weather who is floating on what appears to be a different roof top from before with billboards behind her.

“Ladybug and Cat Noir better show their faces soon or my weather prediction for Paris will be a new ice age with a side of earth quakes!” Stormy Weather taunts laughing, she then points her umbrella at the camera and a gust of wind turns it around to show a reporter and camera operator frozen in a block of ice.

Ryland remembers Simon, the boy who as far as he knows is now trapped in the same icy fate and his hands curl into fists of rage.

Simon thinks about the clumsy tutor he met today Ryland Grace who he’s convinced at best is somewhere cowering in fear and at worst he’s- Simon swallows. He doesn’t want to think about the worst. He sneers in anger at the thought.

Wind pushes the camera again and the akumatized villain is much closer to it this time. “I’ll be waiting at the top of the news station with a broadcast you won’t want to miss!” Stormy Weather cackles before the TV turns to static.

Ladybug and Cat Noir nod to one another before they sprint side by side out the main door and head for the news station.

“Once we get to her I’ll use my lucky charm.” Ladybug tells Cat Noir as he throws his yo-yo forward and latches it onto a chimney high above them. He grabs Cat Noir by the waist again and propels them up, this time Cat Noir hangs on. “When we use our powers we have limited time before we de-transform, I have a feeling your kwami didn’t mention that either.”

“Of course he didn’t.” Cat Noir rolls his eyes as the two continue their sprint over roof tops getting closer and closer to the news station. “He did say I have the power to destroy things though.” He passes on the only relevant information Plagg gave him.

“Cool, that’ll definitely come in handy.” Ladybug affirms and Cat Noir is annoyed at how happy this makes him.

Once they’re close enough to the towering building Cat Noir takes Ladybug by the waist and pole vaults them to the top. They land on their feet and Ladybug says a quick “Thanks Kitty.” That makes Cat Noir’s face heat up.

Stormy Weather lets out a thundering cackle as dark clouds swirl above her hovering form. “You fools fell right into my trap!”

“Good job Stormy Weather.” The Swarm’s voices invade her ears again. “Now seize their Miraculous!”

“Lucky charm!” Ladybug shouts throwing his yo-yo upwards where it spins but doesn’t fall as tiny dots of light shoot out like sparks and something pops out that drops down to Ladybug as the yo-yo retracts. It’s a red towel with black spots. Ryland stares at it as all the confidence drains from his body. “How is a towel supposed to help?!” He shouts in disbelief. He wants to scream at Tikki, Stratt, Carl, and the rock alien over this but he’s stuck staring at a darn towel.

“Man your power sucks.” Cat Noir tells him unhelpfully. Ladybug wraps the towel around his arm as he looks around thinking. Suddenly his vision turns black and white and he feels disorentented as certain objects on the roof flash red in a specific sequence. Is this...is this his power telling him what to do? The objects flash again first one of the billboards, then a large pipe, then big ventilation tube, and lastly a crane looking device. Everything starts to click in Ryland’s brain he can see the plan laying out like an equation on a white board all happening lighting fast before Stormy has a chance to strike them.

“Use your power on the bottom of that billboard and draw her attention to you.” Ladybug leans over and whispers to Cat Noir as Stormy twirls her umbrella readying an attack.

Cat Noir nods and shouts the one thing Plagg taught him. “CATACLYSM!” Simon’s right hand is surrounded by a black destructive energy that he can feel the weight of immediately, it pulses out longing to connect with something. Simon closes his fist and runs forward.

“Hey ugly!” Cat Noir yells up at the floating villain who stops mid umbrella twirl. “Bet you can’t hit a moving target you stupid freak.”

Stormy Weather sneers as she fires off balls of lighting at him but Cat Noir dodges with his now cat like reflexes, running on all fours with one closed fist until he reaches the billboard. He opens his palm and slides it against the metal feeling it rust and break beneath his touch. The billboard bends inward as the metal holding it up falls apart and the whole thing starts pitching back toward the pigtailed wannabe weather girl.

Ladybug swings his yo-yo up to catch on Stormy’s leg as she fires a defensive lighting blast through the billboard creating a hole so it doesn’t crush her, but the billboard does hit the vent tube knocking it over and exposing a fan facing the sky. Ladybug dashes beneath the large pipe he saw then parkours up the side of the crane device putting it in motion. Ladybug gracefully leaps up over the fan holding out his towel up over his head, the air blasts from the fan propelling him up as his yo-yo string pulls Stormy down.

Stormy lets out a high pitched scream as she’s dragged down and then the crane device smacks the umbrella out of her hand where it flies across the roof and miraculously Cat Noir dives up to catch it like a cat to a ball of yarn. Once he lands on top of the fallen billboard he breaks the umbrella over his knee and a tiny black and purple butterfly floats out. Stormy lands on her back with a thud and Ladybug lets go of the towel landing gracefully on his feet next to Cat Noir. On some instinct he can’t name Ryland slides his finger across the front of his yo-yo and it opens up like ladybug wings to reveal a glowing white inside.

Ladybug swings his yo-yo toward the bug and the yo-yo front closes up around the akuma before returning to Ladybug’s hand. Once he has the yo-yo again he opens it up once more and a white butterfly delicately flies out.

“Bye bye little butterfly.” Ryland mutters in a dazed bliss before throwing the towel into the air and shouting: “Miraculous Ladybug!”

There’s a shining light in the sky like a star before a large swarm of sparkling ladybugs emerge and scatter across the city fixing all the damage done by the akumatized villain. Said villain turns back into regular girl Aurore Beauréal who looks around confused and scared.

“What happened?” She asks to no one in particular as she sits up.

“You became a super freak.” Cat Noir tells her bluntly and she squints at him as if trying to see through a thick fog.

“What are you talking about?” Aurore brings a hand up to her head.

Cat Noir starts to walk toward her with an enraged look in his eye but Ladybug holds out a hand in front of him turning to Aurore with concern. Cat Noir hates that he stops walking as soon as that spandexed hand is in front of him.

“Wait.” Ladybug says to both his superhero partner and the villain turned regular teen. “You don’t remember anything about being akumatized?”

“No I- I remember I lost a contest and I was mad and wait…” Aurore trails off tilting her head baffled. “What’s akumatized mean?” She asks in a way that sounds too genuinely baffled to be insincere.

“Fascinating.” Ryland says flipping into curious science geek mode. “I guess akuma victims have no memory of their time as villains.”

“So she gets a free terrorism pass for having amnesia?” Cat Noir deadpans and Ladybug laughs.

“She couldn’t help it Kitty, she got overtaken by the akuma.” Ladybug tells him gently and the fire flies out of Cat Noir’s eyes as his own internal butterflies start up again.

Ladybug walks over to Aurore and offers her a hand to help her up, she looks at him unsure.

“You know it’s okay to be upset when something doesn’t go the way you’d hoped.” Ryland tells the former villain. “But you should let your anger, fear, or sadness control you. The sun will still be shining when the rain clears after all.” He giggles at his own weather joke and somewhere behind him Cat Noir’s face is flushed at the sound.

“Y-yeah I guess you’re right.” Aurore sniffs, returning the hero’s smile as she takes his hand and he pulls her up.

“What an amazing scoop!” A voice rings out and the heroes turn to see the unfrozen reporter with a microphone and her camera operator coming towards them. “Two super heroes in one stormy day, talk about a sunny resolution.” The reporter is shoving a microphone in their faces. “Tell us who are you, what’s with the villain turning into a young girl, what are your powers, and what will you do for Paris going forward?”

“Uhhhh…” Ryland trails off when all of a sudden a swarm of black and purple butterflies appear in the sky and rapidly fly above the news station to form the shape of a giant pulsating butterfly.

“Greetings Paris I am The Swarm.” The butterflies glowed as a cacophony of different voices spoke through them. “I will continue to terrorize tyou all with villain after villain unless these so called heroes relinquish the objects that give them power, their Miraculous! Now what’s it going to be? Hand over your Miraculous and stop innocent Parisians from suffering? Or keep playing hero?”

Everyone seemed frozen in place, Cat Noir scowled up at The Swarm, Aurore cowered in fear, and the news team was backing away in horror, but Ladybug surprised himself by striding forward with confidence.

“Hey there The Swarm, I’m Ladybug.” He announced with a sassy tone. “Let’s not reverse the roles here, Cat Noir and I aren’t the ones making Parisians suffer with our choices it’s you. You are using your akuma butterflies to target people when they’re most vulnerable in emotional distress.” Ryland knew his words were being broadcast so he spelled everything out for the people watching at home, hoping awareness of the akumas would help the citizens of Paris. “The two of us will bring your reign of terror to and end and take your miraculous away, you whiny super villain wannabe!”

Ladybug rapidly swung his yo-yo up wildly again and again capturing every last akuma inside as The Swarm let out an anguished cry. Then Ladybug turned to see everyone else on the roof staring at him with wide eyes and open mouths thankful the camera was still rolling.

“Let me make a promise to you right here and now Paris.” Ryland began, projecting a courage he felt he barely had. “No matter what the swarm does to take advantage of you in your worst hour, no matter what harm they cause, know this: Ladybug and Cat Noir will be here to protect you and we will do everything in our power to keep you safe!” With that Ryland opens up his yo-yo again and hundreds of purified white butterflies fly out scattering over Paris in a breath taking way.

For a moment there is silence and then the entire city erupts into cheers. Ladybug beams a brilliant smile at Cat Noir who is looking at him in absolute awe and admiration.

“You’re incredible.” Cat Noir says before he can stop himself and Ladybug giggles self conciously.

“Nah I’m just a stupid Bugaboo doing his best.” Ladybug walks over to Cat Noir and with one finger closes his mouth shut. “You’ll catch flies if you keep your mouth open Kitty.” He teases.

The butterflies fluttering above are no match for the ones swarming through Cat Noir’s entire body as he falls head over heels in love with his fellow hero. Simon feels his brain float out of his head as his heart takes over. Before he can come up with a half way clever retort they both hear beeping coming from their Mirculous.

“Shoot I think that means we’re running out of time.” Ladybug exclaims then looks to Cat Noir. “Better get yourself hidden before you detransform.”

Simon’s brain crashes back into his skull. “Why?”

“Secret identities, no one should know who we are.” Ryland explains deadly serious before grabbing Cat Noir by the hand and running to the edge of the roof as he flings his yo-yo out and it wraps around another chimney. Ladybug brings Cat Noir in close and holds him by the waist as he swings them around and Simon forgets how to speak when they’re pressed so closely together.

Ava smacks her cane hard against the marble floor of her secret lair letting out a feral raging roar of anger. Of course Stratt would take the two Miraculous Ava needed and give them to fucking teenagers creating a stupid back sassing team of brats.

“It seems I underestimated the strength of teenagers.” Nathalie comments sounding bored as she approaches a heavily breathing Ava from behind. Nathalie presses a cool soothing hand to Ava’s back and rubs in a circular motion she knows Ava enjoys. “I’m sorry Ava, but we will succeed.” Nathalie assures her.

“I want to be alone for a minute.” Ava tells her assistant after a few minutes, her voice has a rasp to it from how hard she just screamed. “Please.”

“Okay if that’s what you think is best.” Nathalie removes her hand and starts walking toward Ava’s office. “But think about it, those two teen heroes are only human.” Ava looks up at Nathalie’s retreating form. “They’re bound to have weaknesses.” Is the last thing Ava hears Nathalie say before she’s out of the lair.

Ava’s eyes find the overhead window again and her breathing steadies. “Exploitable weaknesses.” She says to herself before cracking a grin and laughing maniacally.

The heroes land in the alleyway next to the under construction building Ryland was dragged into just an hour or so ago. Man time flies Ryland thinks to himself. He notices that the SUV is gone and internally thanks Carl for moving the vehicle.

“There’s a dumpster here you can hide behind while you detransform.” Ladybug tells his hero partner before turning to head inside the construction site.

“Wait-” Cat Noir reaches out and grabs Ladybug’s wrist. “Shouldn’t we at least know each other?” His tone is pleading, desperate to know the most impossible, incredible, jaw dropping person he’s ever met.

“It’s safer if we don’t.” Ladybug responds not turning around. If Ryland is honest he too would love to know who Cat Noir really is, this is the one person who can actually relate to his hero struggles right now. But he has this sense, this weird instinct he can’t quite name again, that they can’t really know each other’s secret identities. It would put them at risk. He’s read comics after all, and that’s generally the vibe with super heroes.

Simon doesn’t want to let go but he feels his grip slacken. It probably is for the best that Ladybug doesn’t know he’s a juvenile delinquent, doesn’t know his crooked past of running with a street gang or the stupid shitty things he did. He’s not sure he’ll be forgiven as easily as an akuma victim, there was no evil butterfly taking over his body, he was just an asshole kid. Cat Noir lets go.

“Thank you.” Ladybug gives him a smile over his shoulder that makes Simon melt before throwing the door to the construction site open and shutting it behind him.

Cat Noir has to force himself to move away from the door and head behind the dumpster. As soon as he’s out of sight Plagg flies out of his ring and he feels the super suit peel off of him, back in his raggedy old clothes.

“Cutting it close kid.” Plagg chastises him.

“You little shit!” Simon grabs his kwami and shakes him. “Why didn’t you tell me about the akumas or the time limit?!”

“Because I knew you’d figure it ooooout.” Plagg’s voice is wobbly as he’s shaken around before he remembers he can phase through Simon’s grasp and does so. “Look kid I had confidence in you, plus I knew my sugar cube would pick a great Ladybug for you, so really you had everything you needed anyway.”

Simon pauses in his anger and sighs. “I would have liked a warning about Ladybug too.” He walks out from behind the dumpster and stares forlorn at the door he watched the other hero run into. Unconsciously his hand reaches out toward the handle, if he could just know...Simon quickly comes to his senses and lowers his hand shaking his head. No, it wouldn’t be right, he had to respect Ladybug’s privacy. And if Ladybug knew who Simon really was, he’d hate him.

“Woooow kid, you’ve got it baaaad.” Plagg comments cheekily as he munches on a moldy piece of cheese he found in the dumpster. Simon’s face scrunches up in disgust.

“Oh yeah like you’re not into whoever this sugar cube is.” Simon points out as he starts walking out of the alley, making a conscious effort not to look back at the door.

“Well yeah, my sugar cube is an amazing kwami, totally the sweetest one by a mile.” Plagg tells him in a dreamy tone. “She takes no shit too, complete sass master when she wants to be, and she has the cutest little angry serious face.” Plagg sighs and Simon can’t help the smile that spreads across his face as he thinks about Ladybug.

“I guess she did find the perfect Ladybug then.” Simon says and he and Plagg share a grin, their first real bonding moment. For the first time in a long time Simon feels lighter as he steps into the sun but it all comes crashing down as he hears a man shout.

“WHAT ARE YOU DOING OUT HERE?!” Simon turns and flinches instinctively when he recognizes one of the guards from juvie standing on the sidewalk near him. The large broad shouldered man is wearing a magenta polo shirt with dark blue stripes and khaki shorts, there’s a visor resting on his balding head, and he’d holding a tennis racket in one hand with a duffle bag slung over the opposite shoulder. Simon thinks this guy looks decidedly less intimidating without his uniform on, he never considered how ugly the guards would dress outside of work.

“I got let out!” Simon answers honestly, trying and failing to keep the defensive aggression out of his tone.

“Yeah, right.” The guard rolls his eyes. “Come quietly and it’ll be easier for you.” The man starts towards him and Simon tries to run away but unfortunately finds his body is slowing down after the day’s activities catch up to him. Plus he’s not nearly as fast in his civilian form as he is as Cat Noir, even when he’s at full speed. The guard catches him, but not before Simon slips the miraculous ring off his finger and stuffs it in his pants pocket, not wanting to risk it being taken from him. The ugly polo clad guard slaps a pair of handcuffs on Simon that the guy apparently keeps on his person at all times, and throws Simon in the back of his shitty old car that smells way too heavily of cheap cologne. Simon presses his face against the window of the car watching the people of Paris celebrate him as a hero as he’s yelled at and dragged back to kid prison. He should have known his freedom was too good to be true.

Of course once they get back to the juvenile detention center the shitty tennis guard is informed that Simon was in fact released to the custody of Ava Agreste and must have just run away. He is then screamed at some more in the back of a different cologne stinking car before he is standing still handcuffed outside the tall iron gate of the Agreste mansion.

“Hello?” A cold feminine voice crackles through the speaker that is not nearly as aggressive as Ava’s.

“Your little delinquent ran away.” The on duty slightly less balding guard grunts. A camera on the side of the gate mechanically whirls toward them and the buzzer sound makes Simon jump again as the gate creaks open.

The guard angrily walks Simon up to the fancy doors of the mansion gripping his arm hard enough to leave marks. Once the door opens to reveal a woman with dark blue nearly indigo hair tied into a flawless bun with a bright red streak across the front. She’s dressed in a sharp black suit with a red turtleneck beneath her jacket, her black heels looking freshly shined. The woman stares down at Simon over her glasses with light blue eyes, her bored expression illuminated by a tablet she holds by her waist.

“Are you Ava Agreste?” The guard asks in a much softer tone than he was using just moments ago.

“I’m her assistant Nathalie.” The woman tells them both matter of factly. “I’ll take him from here officer, thank you.”

“Uh I’m supposed to hand him off to his legal guardian.” The guard’s voice comes out unsure and weak as he loosens his grip on Simon.

“I am his co-guardian.” Nathalie informs him as she holds up her tablet to show him the legal documentation to prove it. “Now if you wouldn’t mind please remove my ward’s handcuffs.”

“Oh yeah right okay.” The guard says sheepishly as he uncuffs Simon and pushes him inside toward Nathalie with a red face. “Do you um need anything-”

“Goodbye.” Nathalie shuts the large door in the man’s face. Simon would laugh if he wasn’t so bitter right now.

Nathalie turns to him and her expression softens the slightest degree. “Are you alright Simon?” She asks and sounds actually concerned for his well-being in a way that makes the boy want to cry, but he doesn’t buy it, not after dealing with Ava.

Simon just turns on his heel and starts heading up the stairs to his room wordlessly, his limbs begging for him to lie down.

“I’m sorry about Ava.” Nathalie calls after him and Simon stops halfway up in shock. “She’s had a rough past.” Nathalie says vaguely as she begins climbing the stairs. “It doesn’t excuse how she treated you today, but she did make a case for your release and she does want you here.”

Simon remains silent stiffening his posture and Nathlie stops a few steps below him not wanting to push the issue just yet.

“She doesn’t act like it.” Simon grunts after a heavy silence then breaks into a run and heads for his room.

Nathalie sighs as she walks in the opposite direction toward Ava’s office. She nearly bumps into a very angry Ava who is speed walking with a grimace.

“Ava, we need to talk about Simon.” Nathalie catches Ava’s shoulder and the other woman shakes her off.

“Oh I’ll deal with him.” Ava snarls and pushes forward but Nathalie catches her by the shoulder and steps in front of her.

“You shouldn’t treat him so poorly.” Nathalie tells her. Icy blue eyes are piercing Ava like daggers, but Ava’s intense anger doesn’t waiver so Nathlie goes on. “It’s a terrible strategy.” Nathalie states and this makes the heat in Ava’s eyes die down a little. “He’ll never listen to you if all you do is bark orders and mistreat him.”

“Then how do you suggest I treat that little convict brat?!” Ava snaps getting in Nathalie’s face but Nathalie doesn’t even flinch looking unimpressed.

“You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.” Her assistant quotes the age old expression. “If you want Simon to do as you say then treat him with more kindness, try relating to him, give him what he wants. Get him an actual bed and call him by his real name at the very least.”

Ava stares down Nathalie who doesn’t budge, and after a long moment the blonde relents with a sigh. “Fine.” She sounds calmer, or at least calmer by Ava standards, and Nathalie lets go of her shoulder before smoothing the material.

Ava walks significantly slower to Simon’s room as she contemplates this whole kindness strategy, dragging her feet until she’s outside the door she labeled Convict and cringes a little. If anyone put that name plate on her door as a kid she would have punched them out. With a heavy sigh she enters the room.

“Simon?” Ava calls out in a quiet voice locking eyes on the boy who is laying on his twin mattress looking up at the ceiling. As soon as he hears her he sits up and faces the opposite wall pulling his knees in, but he’s not quick enough to hide his tears from Ava.

“Look con- Simon I...was a dick earlier.” Ava admits as she walks into the room. “I’m not sure how else to put it, I shouldn’t have screamed at you or locked you away in here I’m just-” she struggles trying to find the right words.

“A bitch?” Simon’s watery defiant voice catches her off guard. Ava clenches her fists and stomps down the rising defensive rage instinct before she snaps at him again. Honey not vinegar. She chants in her head like a mantra.

“Yeah I guess that would be a pretty good description.” Ava admits through gritted teeth. “Look con- kid- Simon.” She says his name like it’s a word in a foreign language that shes just learned how to pronounce. “I really don’t know how to deal with people.” She sighs as she lowers herself down to sit on his mattress which feels comfortable as her butt sinks into it. At least she got that part right. “I’m not sure what Nathalie told you but I had a troubled past, I left home when I was young then find out years later I inherited this whole mansion from my estranged parents.” Ava forces herself to tell a partial truth and it feels like she’s pulling teeth with how hard this is for her.

Simon doesn’t budge from his curled up position facing the wall, Plagg is remarkably silent patting his chest in a way Simon guesses is supposed to be comforting but he barely feels it.

Ava sighs. “What I’m trying to say is: I’m sorry Simon.” She forces her tone into something resembling sincerity and almost means it. “I had this idea about bringing in a troubled youth and starting a whole organization.” She’s improvising now, surprising even herself with how naturally and easily the lie comes to her. It’s way better than telling the truth that’s for sure. “But I’m fucking it up already.” Ava hesitates before placing a palm on Simon’s back and patting him gently, not sure if this would help. Simon’s body goes rigid at the contact.

“Why don’t we pick out an actual bed frame for you while we order dinner.” Ava’s attempt to sound soothing is less natural than the lying. “I’m buying obviously.” She jokes.

Simon doesn’t want to give in, doesn’t want to turn around, he wants to make this as difficult as possible and keep sulking. But he’s so tired and something in him breaks at her lighthearted tone. Simon has to concentrate to push the tears back as he finally faces her seeing his pathetic face reflected in her large black sunglasses. He scowls at his own reflection hating how weak he looks and that’s when Ava removes the hand from his back and shocks them both by removing her sunglasses showing that one of her eyes is white and has a painful looking jagged scar going over it. Her other eye is this cloudy blue-gray color that looks like the sky just before a storm.

“You’re not the only one with a past, kid.” Ava chuckles as Simon stares unabashedly at her scar. “Now come on, I know all the best places to order in.” With that Ava gets up and offers him a hand with a smile that she for once doesn’t have to force. Simon takes the hand and is pulled up with a strength he wouldn’t have guessed an heiress to have and they walk out of his room together making stilted awkward conversation about dinner.

Simon still doesn’t trust Ava, not by a long shot, but he thinks that maybe, just maybe, this new cage won’t be so bad after all.

Tikki flies out of Ryland’s earrings and he doubles over hands on his knees as he breathes heavily, his hero suit peeling off of him with magic light.

“That was a very impressive first outing!” Tikki tells him cheerily then looks confused. “Are you okay?”

“Am I okay?” Ryland looks up at her finding her image blurry, huh guess his eyesight is only healed when in hero form. “Tikki I just swung around Paris and used magical ladybugs to fix everything and I- oh my god I spoke to a news crew?! I met a cat guy! I – is this...this is actually real isn’t it?”Ryland his running his hands through his hair breath still labored.

Tikki giggles and Ryland smiles at her still in disbelief over the insane day he had. Then he hears a gurgling noise from Tikki’s body and she holds, what he assumes is, her stomach.

“Are you hungry?” Ryland asks in concern.

“Yeah, kwamis need to eat to restore our energy after our holders save the day.” Tikki explains floating in the direction staircase, and Ryland follows after her blindly walking into only two pieces of dangling plastic on his way which he considers a win.

“What do you like to eat?” Ryland wonders if it’s some cool thing that fuels kwamis like nitrogen, or some new magic element he’s never heard of.

“Cookies!” Tikki replies in a cute voice. Yeah that makes about as much sense as everything else today.

Ryland pulls the secret lever and they step into the elevator, he then remembers he still doesn’t have an ID to make it work and panics for a second before the elevator doors close abruptly and the elevator starts descending.

When the doors open again Stratt is standing there with L-1101B who is chirping in a way Ryland hopes is good.

“Nice work.” Eva Stratt congratulates him holding out his glasses, Ryland gratefully takes them from her putting them back on and when his vision focuses he notices a proud smile on her lips.

“L dash one one zero B impressed!” The alien tells him.

“Okay you so need a better nickname.” Ryland says, still feeling the confident adrenaline high from his hero form. “How about...Rocky.” He’s thinking of one of his favorite movies, a VHS the orphanage had that he rewound endlessly.

The alien moves it’s rock shape side to side as if considering. “I like! I am Rocky now!” They exclaim as they happily roll around. Ryland starts to think this rock alien is adorable.

“I’ll update our files.” Eva says simply. “Come now, I’ll show you to your quarters.” She turns on her heel and leads Ryland, Rocky, and Tikki down a long hallway.

“That Cat Noir sure is a character.” Ryland makes conversation as he tries to keep up with Stratt’s quick stride.

“He does seem energetic yes.” Eva replies, she has her own concerns over this strange boy Plagg chose to trust with one of the most powerful artificats in the world, but she keeps her thoughts to herself. At least he and Ryland get along which is good for the mission.

“Do you uhh know him?” Ryland can’t help but ask. “I get the feeling I’m not supposed to know his identity but-”

“That is correct you can not know.” Eva cuts him off. “In fact we don’t even know who he is.”

Ryland stops walking and it takes Eva a few seconds to realize she doesn’t hear his footsteps anymore, she stops as well turning back to him.

“Even you don’t know who he is?” Ryland is caught way off guard, he assumed that Cat Noir was another kid that was brought in to Project Miraculous before him. It made sense in his head, Eva Stratt seemed like she knew everything.

“I spoke with his kwamii this morning.” Eva lays out the facts plainly. “We decided it was in the best interest of the project if the kwami kept him hidden from us, in case we are ever compromised.”

“Oh.” Is all Ryland can say, he guesses that makes sense but it only makes him more curious about Cat Noir’s identity and about Project Miraculous as a whole. He knows he needs to just accept that there are secrets he can’t know for the greater good or whatever, but that just makes the questions in his brain fire off more persistantly.

“Want to see Grace’s room!” Rocky demands rolling forward past the concerned looking boy.

Eva turns, continuing down the hallway and Ryland struggles to catch up. Rocky stops at every door asking “This one, question?” To which Eva answers no every time until they get to a white door identical to all the other white doors they passed.

“This one, statement.” Eva says mimicking Rocky’s speech pattern.

The automatic door slides open to reveal room with a circular fluffy looking bed with tan sheets. There’s a large TV hanging on one of the walls and one bookshelf below it with a singular thin booklet that looks like it might be an instruction manual of some kind. A plate of cookies sits on a glass coffee table by a gray bean bag chair, Tikki darts for the cookies practically inhaling one. There’s a white dresser against one wall with Ryland’s bags beside it. A projection of a fake window with rainy scenery behind it illuminates on the wall behind the dresser. Lights come on in open doorway within the room.

“That is your bathroom.” Eva points at the illuminated doorway. Ryland walks into the bedroom looking around, it’s a nice size, and for the first time in a very long time he won’t have to share. He peeks his head into the small simple bathroom with an illuminated mirror, white tiling reflecting in the sterile lighting as he looks over the toilet and shower. There’s a single toothbrush in a holder on the sink and some toothpaste next to it. Much like the rest of the room it’s nice, but very bare.

“You may decorate however you like.” His guardian tells him as if reading his thoughts. “I can have a nice dinner served to you and Tikki in here.”

“Rocky wants to eat with new Ladybug too!” Rocky rolls into the room like they own the place and tumbles around making little ooh and aaah sounds. That’s when Ryland notices that this room too has speakers high up on the wall.

“Very well.” Eva says before striding back into the hallway.

“Wait!” Ryland calls out after her and she turns around confused.

“Is something wrong?” Eva asks, concerned she may have missed something the boy would need going over the checklist in her head. He had the basic essentials in his bedroom, his own bathroom, and a meal would be on the way soon.

“I just...wanted to say thank you.” Ryland tells her, his fingers move at his side. He wants to run up and hug her but thinks better of it. Eva Stratt doesn’t look like the hugging type.

Eva relaxes. “Don’t thank me, thank Tikki.” Is all she says before turning back around and continuing down the hallway. Ryland watches her go feeling a little empty before heading back into his room.

“New Ladybug on screen!” Rocky rolls their ball toward the TV which is turned onto a news channel. Ryland wonders for a moment how Rocky managed to turn the TV on before he sees Tikki hovering over the remote. Ryland plops down into the bean bag sinking in as the reporter who shoved a microphone in his face earlier talks.

“A remarkable display of bravery today as two super heroes take Paris by storm defeating a distressed teen turned supervillain.”

Ryland leans forward gasping when they show him, he never got a look at himself as Ladybug and the image is striking. His hero suit is red with black spots, with straight black on his sides that wrap over part of his legs and under his arms. His eyes which are now pitch black circles against white and are covered by a matching red mask with black dots. What’s most striking is hair which in hero form is a navy blue with cyan highlights that falls more in front of his forehead where it rests neatly. He looks awesome, a word he’d never use to describe himself normally.

“I look so different.” Ryland says to himself.

“Well yeah the Miraculous disguises you in hero form.” Tikki says through a mouth full of chocolate chip cookies.

“Rocky not see difference.” Rocky says rolling to the side of Ryland’s bean bag.

“Really?” Ryland questions because the difference is really like night and day.

“Rocky see through echolocation, sound waves.” Rocky explains and Ryland lets out a small ohhh. “Make no difference how Grace look as Ladybug, still hero, still brave, statement.”

“Rocky is right.” Tikki agrees floating over to Ryland and offering him a chocolate chip cookie larger than she is.

Ryland takes it and feels tears prick his eyes as he chews the most delicious cookie he’s ever eaten. The affection from these two creatures warms his heart in a way he can’t even begin to describe. He remembers Stratt’s words and turns to Tikki with a watery grin.

“Thank you Tikki.” He says as tears stream down his face. Tikki smiles and hugs his cheek, Ryland brings a hand up to gently place it on her head.

“Human leaking, question?” Rocky asks curiously and Ryland laughs.

“They’re called tears Rocky it’s – crying humans do it sometimes.” Ryland sniffs trying to stop the flow of tears but he can’t.

“Humans weird, statement.” Rocky states and Ryland pats his ball.

“We sure are bud.” Ryland tells him. And somehow despite being in a top secret underground base with an alien from another dimension and a magical power granting bug Ryland Grace feels like he finally has something he’s been missing for far too long, a true home.

Eva Stratt flops into bed later than she’d like after such an eventful day: entrusting the Miraculous to kwami selected holders and a few hours of explaining the current stage in Project Miraculous to her board of directors. She argued that no, they could not know the identity of the boy chosen to be Ladybug, and it was in fact in the project’s best interest if Cat Noir were kept secret from everyone including her. Eva reminded them, as she often did, that she was entrusted with this project and her high level of clearance for a reason. She would get the job done and keep the world safe, no matter the cost. It was a burden no one else wanted.

Eva flipped onto her side eyeing her night stand before sitting up and opening the drawer. Inside laid a sleep mask, a bottle of pain killers, and an envelope. Eva picked up the envelope and opened it taking out the gold ring she kept inside.

There was no mistaking that it was a wedding ring, the inside engraved with a message: Je t’aime à la folie. I love you madly. The ring sat heavily in Eva’s palm, as she had no memory of who gave it to her. The facts piled up in her head, a colleague that no one could remember had stolen the butterfly Miraculous. This person used their power to akumatize a child into attacking the city, in hopes of gaining Ladybug and Cat Noir’s Miraculous, no doubt wanting to combine them to make a wish.

The problem was Eva was the only one who knew about the wish, she kept that secret from everyone else on the project putting any information on it behind an impossibly high clearance level only she had access to. She couldn’t remember her colleague who betrayed her. She couldn’t remember her spouse. All photos of said colleague and spouse were erased too, either appearing as blank paper or with an obvious gap where a person should be. There was no doubt in her mind that the current holder of the butterfly Miraculous was once her romantic partner as well as her coworker. Eva has been cut deep with a betrayal but can’t feel the full impact of the hurt as her mind can’t form this person who vanished from her memories.

Her fist closes around the ring before she shoves it back into the envelope and places it in her nightstand carefully. Eva stands with a groan, pain shooting up her legs instantly which sends her back down to the bed. She writhes in hurt, her chronic pains are getting worse. She weakly reaches out to the open drawer and fumbles around for the pill bottle before twisting open the cap and pouring a few into her shaking palm bringing them quickly to her mouth then painfully swallowing the pills dry. Stratt twists the cap back on the pill bottle, not wanting to move more to put it back knowing it’ll just worsen her pain as she cradles the bottle to her. Eva Stratt lies on her side in physical pain from her aches and an emotional longing hurt she can’t fully comprehend.

Nathalie smiles to herself as Simon and Ava make minimal conversation across from her with their take out. Chinese food isn’t usually the top choice in Paris but the two actually seemed to bond over their love of dumplings and Nathalie pulled up restaurant options so fast on her tablet she nearly broke a nail.

The assistant does her part to keep the dinner table conversation going, though she isn’t much of a conversationalist herself, so it remains stiff and strangely formal but Ava and Simon seem like they might kind of be having a good time. At least Nathalie hopes so. She makes the bold decision to rise up from the table and clear the boxes away as Ava talks to Simon about signing him up for a fencing class. Simon doesn’t seem entirely opposed to the idea, which is something.

The assistant searches the bottom cabinets of the kitchen for the large pull out trash and recycling bins she knows are there somewhere. She and Ava only moved in here recently, and while it is Ava’s childhood home, the blonde heiress was a bit too preoccupied to give her an in depth tour. Finally she pulls open the correct cabinet door and the trash and recycling bins come sliding toward her. Nathalie dumps the boxes in the trash then stands straighter as Ava walks in.

“Hey Nathalie, we’re going to order dessert.” Ava says it like she’s instructing troops. Nathalie doesn’t miss the we in her sentence and has to hide her smile.

“What did you have in mind?” Nathlie pulls her phone out of her pocket already typing.

“Chocolate souffles and some sorbet.” Ava states as Nathalie pulls up another to-go restaurant on her phone.

“Consider it done.” Nathalie replies not looking up as she adds the souffles and sorbet to the online cart.

“Right, good.” Ava shifts on her sides awkwardly and Nathalie peers at her over her glasses.

“Is there something els-”

“Thank you.” Ava cuts off Nathalie abruptly and the assistant actually stops typing. “Thank you for talking sense into me about Simon earlier.” Ava struggles to say, not making eye contact, she’s looking at the large kitchen sink instead as if she owes it her life. “And for everything else.”

This elicites a small earnest smile from Nathalie, one she doesn’t break into often these days.

“Of course.” Nathalie responds.

“Ok. Great.” Ava has to stop herself from saluting before she stalks out of the kitchen and back into the dining room.

Nathalie sighs, putting her phone on the counter and reaching into the hidden breast pocket inside her jacket. She takes out a small ring box caressing the velvet material with her fingers but doesn’t dare to open it.

She knows inside there is a silver wedding band with the words Je t’aime de toute mon âme etched into the inside. I love you with all my soul. Nathalie has seen the wedding band and it’s matching pair shining in the light on two ring fingers enough times to have their shapes memorized. Ava told her she needed to forget. Told her only Nathalie could know the truth. And Nathalie agreed to it. Agreed to having herself be erased from the minds of her colleagues in Project Miraculous. Agreed to aide Ava in her plan as they escaped the underground base together hand in hand. Agreed to lead this double life with her and be the only one to know what Ava truly wants to wish for.

All this was agreed to because Nathalie Sancoeur would do anything for Eva and Ava Stratt, no matter the cost.