a criss-cross love.

[meouch]

[ it's all very cliché, adrien supposes, but black cats aren't meant to be very lucky and that's just how it is. when plagg had responded to his inquiries about akuma and ladybug's dealing with them ( "i could do that too, now?" ) with a somewhat aloof and cryptic hum, that had been the first unlucky cliché. when he slipped into the mornings or nights when the hints of trouble finally reached his ears a step too late, as everything slipped back to normal and his lady was nowhere to be found? the second. sometimes he got there first ( three ); his steps were light enough that he could dodge a strike or two or five waiting for her to arrive, until time started ticking. when he had to go, it left him with no other choice but to leave the akuma for her, gift card and all.

for the Lady. cue cat print in the bottom right corner. plagg had gagged a bit.

but, well, fortunately... his streak of "why this" doesn't last. it ends tonight, because maybe it's a stroke of ladybug luck that gets him noticing that movement of red in his peripheral vision as he lounges amongst the shadows on an akuma-free night. a day that had started maybe a little too difficult ( hence why he's even out here ) might actually end up being better than he thought.

or maybe not. see, in the mind of chat noir, he always thought finally managing to meet up with ladybug would entail falling into step with her on the rooftops, maybe offering a smooth greeting towards her--you know, very chat noir things.

he doesn't do that. actually, she's quite fast, and the thought of losing her ( fourth ) again frightens him. she may have already noticed him with the small amounts of noise he lets out when he uses his staff to vault over obstacles with a somewhat shaky ease, or maybe when he almost almost loses his footing in his panic. either way, she'll certainly notice him when he lets out a half urgent: ]

Wait!

[ that's a more adrien kind of introduction, isn't it, and deep within him he knows plagg is snorting.

nailed it. this is the fourth. ]

Comments

[buguette]

[This time, the pun gets an exasperated roll of the eyes. This is going to be a thing, isn't it? She can tell already.

Keeping half an eye on the civilians, Ladybug waits for the right moment. She's coiled up tightly with tension, but she can see that Chat's flamboyancy is doing its job, keeping the akuma's attention on him. There! An opening. Ladybug leaps into action making a grab at the tray. The timing's off--the akuma catching a glimpse of her reflection in the smooth metal surface--and he lets out an angry roar, spinning around and catching her right in the stomach. The hit sends her flying back, rolling to a stop on the street, groaning.]

Okay, time for plan B. [Ladybug jumps to her feet, throwing her yoyo upward.] Lucky Charm!

[...a huge magnet falls into her hands, and she stares at it.] Seriously?

[meouch]

Ladybug!

[ not enough distraction, not enough distraction—

—chat bolts forward to draw back the akuma's attention while ladybug's down for the count, mostly to avoid any additional strikes he may have for her. his staff meets the tray, a loud pang echoing through the chaos. he barely registers ladybug picking herself up and using her power before he's also thrown in her direction. it's one of those rare moments where he actually lands on his feet. skidding to a stop a bit of a ways away from her, he stares at the magnet in her hands (was her miraculous always so... unique? eccentric?).

and then: ]

Is that why I was drawn to you?

[ nice, chat. nice. ]

[buguette]

[There's a pause as Ladybug simply freezes in disbelief, wondering if she heard right. From the look on his face, it's a yes. Finally, shakes her head, barely holding back the roll of her eyes.]

Not the time for that, Chat Noir.

[She's distracted already, though, looking at their surroundings for something, anything, that will work with the magnet and help them end this fight.]