Chapter Text
Invincibility was only granted to the Ladybug and Black Cat that worked together. Not even the Miraculous Cure could heal them, otherwise.
Ladybug wiped her bloody nose with the back of her hand and spat the residue somewhere on the ground. She didn't let her yo-yo stop — not even for a second. Electragirl cackled, arms spread, head thrown back, approaching Ladybug on top of her great ball of concentrated charge and the akumatized battery pack clenched in her fist.
Ladybug would have to dodge the next one. The last electric bolt was a throw-away, almost accidental attack, yet there was still blood pouring from her nose and catching on her upper lip.
The next one would hurt.
Chat Noir knew this — of course he did. Ladybug had made the mistake of playing his game of cat and mouse (cat and ladybug?) where she did the chasing and he did the running. He had led her straight into a thoroughly-cataclysmed alleyway. The ground had nearly been turned inside out, and all her escape routes had been blocked with rubble.
And, of course, Electragirl.
"You sure that's a good idea?" Ladybug said.
Chat Noir stopped from where he had been about to leave Electragirl's side. "What're you gonna do, Bug Girl? Yo-yo me into oblivion?"
Ladybug spat more blood to the side. "Come any closer and we'll find out."
Their gazes remained locked for three heavy breaths.
Then Chat Noir gave Electragirl a quiet instruction, and began crossing the distance to Ladybug.
This was always the part of their battles that Ladybug never understood.
It always went a little something like this—
Hawk Moth's akuma would throw whatever blows it had — flames, icicles, you name it — and at the first sign of blood, at the first sign of Ladybug's weakness, Chat Noir would halt the attacks.
He'd come up to her, look down his nose, and demand the Miraculous. Sometimes his voice wavered, and once he took her by the shoulder (a mistake — she wrenched his arm back and almost grabbed his Miraculous), but he had never even done so much as raise his hand at her for her earrings.
Then when she refused, he'd call the akuma back over.
Marinette had spent hours with Tikki trying to figure out what on earth that technique was meant to do. Chat Noir was tall, much taller than her, and had strong hands and arms she was sure could easily push her to the ground if she were injured. Why wouldn't he?
Chat Noir stood in front of her.
Ladybug felt more blood well up near her mouth.
This time, she spat it at him.
"Wow," he said. Nonchalantly, he brushed it off the front of his suit. "Not even a thank-you for stopping her?"
"Cut to the chase, Chat Noir. I don't have time for your games."
"And I don't have time for yours." He opened his hand, palm-up. "You want to do good, right? Then give me your Miraculous."
"Never."
He narrowed his eyes. "Can't you see how many people you're hurting?"
"You mean you are hurting?"
His expression flickered. "Aren't you tired?" he said. "Aren't you tired of people getting hurt everyday just so you can put it all back together? Wouldn't you want it all to stop?"
"I'll fix everything every day for the rest of my life if I have to." She took a step towards him. "Because one day, you and Hawk Moth will fall. And I'll take both your Miraculous, and laugh in your faces."
Chat Noir stared at her. She stared back. She let the blood drip out of her nose and off her face.
Electragirl cackled from where Chat Noir had left her.
And then she was gliding towards them, battery pack sizzling with white-hot electricity, crackling like a fire as she drew nearer.
Ready and aim. At Ladybug.
Chat Noir whipped around. "What are you doing ?"
"Let me do this!" Electragirl cried.
"That'll kill her!"
"And then we can take her Miraculous!"
Ladybug watched the battery pack sizzle. Crackle. What was charge measured in, again? Because whatever it was, Chat Noir was right.
It would kill her.
The electric bolt ripped through the alleyway, heading straight towards Ladybug.
Then an arm was around her waist, she was pulled into a side, and she was going up, and up, and up, until her feet landed on something solid.
A rooftop.
With Chat Noir and his baton beside her.
Ladybug almost forgot about her bloody nose.
She could only look at him, but he wouldn't look at her. Chat Noir released her, walked back to the edge of the rooftop, and leapt off without a word.