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a criss-cross love.
[ 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. ]
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. ]
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Though it's somewhat of a relief to finally run into the mystery person, Ladybug shifts into a wary stance when she turns to face him. She has to fight the grin that threatens to escape a second a later. The ears sitting atop his head. The tail. That explains the little cat print he'd always left when they missed each other.]
Yes? [She asks, just a touch impatiently--something she wouldn't have done as Marinette, but feels perfectly fine doing as Ladybug. Ladybug has to save Paris from the newest akuma, after all, and she's not yet experienced enough to feel completely comfortable in the pursuit.]
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so painfully lame? ah. there's no fixing that, no, but he's got her attention for as long as he can get it. that's all that matters at this point. he settles as she does, staff put away as he leans one hand against the nearest chimney, another hand clutched around his tail, twirled as he attempts to recover whatever impression he might've given.
trying to form words to someone who might actually get all this craziness and freedom is actually a bit more difficult than the teases he offered the akuma he'd managed to meet. even the few spectators he'd had awestruck he'd only met with a two-fingered goodbye salute, nothing more. she was neither of those. definitely nothing close to awestruck, considering her expression. ]
Ah, you're really as fast as I've been hearing. [ lightly, hints of breathlessness. maybe it's because she'd given him a run for his money, or maybe it's because he's actually a little nervous. with a quiet chuckle, then: ] Bonjour. Is the lady too busy for a small... chat? [ he says that not like chat, but chat. ] A proper introduction. We keep missing each other, you know.
[ which is unfortunate. he really would like to know who also ended up experiencing this same miracle that fell on his lap. ]
Did you like my presents?
[ she's in a rush, it seems like, but he has to ask. ]
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Cat puns, really? [And just like that, any mystery surrounding the stranger is effectively ruined. Way to go.] Maybe I should have expected that, with those notes you kept leaving behind.
[Unimpressed as she might sound with his introduction, the pun seems to do its job, making her relax out of the tense stance she'd greeted him with. Whoever he is, he's friendly enough and apparently can fight akuma just like she can. That's good enough for her. Ladybug isn't so proud that she would decline help, especially when people are in danger. Finally, she smiles, a tentative offer of olive branch.]
If you'd stuck around longer, you would know if I liked them or not. [Confident, and delivered with just a hint of amusement. There's just something about him that pulls the teasing words out of her.] I'm Ladybug. Do you have a name, kitty?
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no, no, silly cat. ]
It's a theme. Notes, puns, claws, name--Chat Noir. A pleasure, Ladybug.
[ and of course he does sink into a small bow as a nice to meet you. despite this being the first time he's really talked, mask on, with the intention of talking more... there's some kind of natural edge to it all now that she's receptive, less tense.
when he rises again, he returns the smile (though it edges on the side of smirk, coupled with wink), accepting that tentative olive branch. ]
As for sticking around... I would have stayed if I could, really, but time isn't always on my side. Something you... understand, I think? [ understand is honestly the name of the entire game here. ] I worked with what I had.
[ what he had: a whole lot of flips, dives, sidesteps until he needed to use cataclysm. then it was "wear down the akuma and pray that in five minutes she shows up, and then leave slightly disappointed when she doesn't, even as he pushes his maybe a bit more". ]
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Your Miraculous. [Ladybug studies him curiously now, wondering what his could be. The bell? A little obvious, but considering she only knows as much as Tikki told her, Ladybug doesn't completely discount it.] You run out of time after you use your power.
[A loud crash, followed by the screams of civilians, makes Ladybug tense and whip her head toward the commotion. It's a harsh reminder of what she had been doing before Chat Noir caught up with her.]
We'll talk later. Between the two of us, we should be able to take down the akuma much faster.
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—screams. an akuma. he snaps into attention immediately, closing his mouth at that bit of bad luck that strikes him again, maybe, but. ]
Hm... well, I'll see if you like those gifts of mine personally now. [ he's fine. ] Duty calls!
[ a teasing tilt of the head, and he's off, darting with feline accuracy now that he's not quite so panicked. akuma he can handle. ]
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Ladybug catches up with him soon enough, and they race along the rooftops until they reach the source of the screams. It doesn't take long for Ladybug to identify the akuma.] There. [She crouches beside Chat Noir as they survey the scene.
An impeccably dressed waiter--or someone who was a waiter before they were turned, Ladybug guesses--storms out of a cafe, wielding various cutlery and a serving tray that he used as a boomerang to knock people off their feet.]
I am Just Desserts! [The akuma cries as he chases down the cafe's fleeing patrons.] No longer will I be degraded by customers! Now you will answer to me!
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I'd compliment him on how clever his name is if he wasn't claw-sing trouble.
[ so sayeth the pun master when he settles to see what they have in the "i'm angry and paris is going to take it" department. not that chat's lightheartedness lasts very long, however; he's got his "smirk plus smart comment" itch scratched, so both are dropping in favor of the slightest frown as their task is now in their sights.
there's the additional burden of something like having to prove himself, too... considering this is the first time he's working together with the one who's caught paris's (and his) attention. ]
A little note before we go: my power's more of the "destroy anything you touch" kind of thing. Keep that in mind. [ that aside, he's turning back to just desserts, focused, a hand settled on the roof as he's leaning just the slightest bit forward, entirely prepared to jump into the fray; he's aware having some plan before jumping into things is probably for the best, even if he's speaking rather rushed through the foundations of that "plan". they need to be prepared without having ever actively worked together, but also quick, because the people... ]
Now, I can distract him if you need it. Think it's in his tray?
[ it being the akuma, of course. there's been enough attacks so far that he's got that part of the routine down, even if he's never quite been there to witness the job being finished personally. ]
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[Ladybug says immediately--it's one of her first priorities at an attack like this. The less attention on the civilians, the less injuries on them, and the less distraction for her as she's fighting. Ladybug chances a look at Chat Noir, quietly correcting herself in her mind. It's for them now, isn't it?
Her blue eyes study the akuma again intently.]
I think it's his tray, too. It's the only thing that returns to him when he uses it. Give me an opening and I'll get the tray away from him. [She reaches for the yoyo at her side, covering for her nervousness.] Ready?
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[ one last bow of the head and accompanying smirk, and he's jumping off the roof as he grips his baton. the moment he lands (in an area opposite to where everyone's running), he's got "obnoxious" dialed up to 11, weapon waved in the air as he attempts to get their akumatized victim's attention.
priority one: evacuation of the people. ]
Waiter! [ mission: success, as just desserts is whipping towards chat almost immediately with that call. ] This order's not sweet at all. Let's add a little more talking calmly, a little less—
[ chat's not going to finish that sentence, because there's knives being flung at him from the aggravated villain (there's something like "Are you a deaf, dirty cat? This is my kitchen now, and there's no alley pets allowed!" ]
—A [ a flip here, dodging a knife ] little less [ and a duck down onto four legs, dodging another ] of that. Do we need to dish out insults too?
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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?
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[ 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. ]
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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.]