Chapter Text
Ladynoir July 2024
Day #31: Partners
Chat Noir was confused by the presence of the three miraculous holders from another dimension; a superhero version of Monarch, aka Betterfly. An evil ladybug miraculous holder named Shadybug. And then there was his own miraculous's evil holder, Claw Noir.
However this happened, they had to stop these guys from destroying their Paris.
Shadybug used her powers to create a giant missal launcher. She fired it at Betterfly, who was on the ground, and Ladybug jumped in front of him and was able to use her yoyo to redirect it. It bounced off her spinning yoyo shield and went up.
As it flew upward, Chat kicked it back downward, back in the direction of Shadybug.
Unfortunately, this girl had more control of her creations. With a wave of her hand, the missal and the launcher both disappeared and were replaced with a motorcycle helmet, which she held in her hand, before it could touch her.
Chat hung from the top of one of the tower's arches, looking around while trying to think of another way to attack. Shadybug was swinging the helmet around on the end of her yoyo like a wrecking ball, trying to hit Betterfly. Then his eyes fell on the other fight going on below him;
Claw Noir was fighting Ladybug.
"What's the matter, Cockroach? No more lucky charms?" the evil black cat boy taunted as he swung his staff at her. She only used her powers once to make a traffic cone, which he was able to quickly swipe and destroy. Why hadn't she made something new that was actually useful? Ladybug didn't reply. She just blocked his blows. A brief look of realization crossed Claw Noir's eyes. "Oh, I see. You can't use your powers more than once. Ha!" he gloated. If these posers couldn't even use their powers more than once before being forced to transform back, there was no way they could beat them.
"You shouldn't be doing that either. There'll be a horrible price to pay if you keep-" Ladybug tried to tell him but he kicked her back, cutting her off.
"Blah, blah, blah. Spare me your lies!" he snapped. This girl was obviously just trying to get into his head by making stuff up and pretending like she actually cared about them. He extended his staff and struck her in the chest, pushing her back more. Ladybug fell to the ground. She reached for her yoyo but Claw stepped on it, trapping it under his foot as he stood over her. He looked down at her and smirked. "I kinda need my Cockroach, for now, so I can't squash her," he said, throwing a quickly glance back at his evil partner as she continued to fight Betterfly. When his gaze went back to Ladybug, his grin wasn't just cocky…it was sinister. "You on the other hand…" he said, raising his hand with the black power of destruction bubbling out. "Squashing you like a bug should be just as satisfying," he chuckled.
Ladybug's eyes widened in fright.
This guy was similar to her partner enough to be startling but so different in all the wrong ways that just made him terrifying.
Then, from above, her actual partner jumped down and kicked him back, away from her.
With her yoyo free again, Ladybug picked herself up and stood in a defensive position beside Chat.
"Don't. You. Dare," Chat Noir snarled, glaring his counterpart down. He had heard everything this guy had just said to his lady and he was not amused in the least. "The only squashing that'll happen is me squashing you if you ever threaten milady again!" he yelled.
As Claw Noir stood there, ready to attack again, upon hearing this, he paused. "Milady?" he repeated with a disgusted face. "Bluh! Is that what you call her?" he asked, glancing between the two of them. After another few seconds, it dawned on the guy. "Oh God, don't tell me…you two actually…" Claw paused, covering his mouth with his fist for a second like he just puked in his mouth. "…like each other?"
Chat and Ladybug glanced at each other. "We're partners. Of course we're friends," Ladybug replied. Chat might be one of the bestest friends she's ever had—the other being Alya.
"Really? I'm partners with this fleabag and I can barely stand him," Shadybug chimed in from across the area before resuming her attacks on Betterfly.
"That's probably because there's so much hate and bitterness in your hearts. There's no room for love," Ladybug said.
Claw Noir's face suddenly went blank. "Excuse me?" he uttered.
No love in his heart?
Underneath Claw Noir was a scared Adrien Agreste who missed his mother and just wanted the power to bring her back. The Supreme promised him a great reward if he returned the butterfly miraculous from the traitor.
He was doing all this for his mother. He loved his mother.
"Take it back," he snarled in a low voice. How dare this do-gooder bug say such a thing! She didn't know him at all.
Ladybug looked confused for a moment. "Wha-?"
"I SAID TAKE IT BACK!" Claw screamed before charging at her again. He shoved Chat away and struck at Ladybug.
The spotted heroine jumped back before he could hit her. But he just kept coming at her, his swings more vicious and brutal.
"You miserable, putrid, pompous-!" he hollered at her with each swing. Until he was stopped as another baton crossed his.
"And I said leave her alone!" Chat yelled, holding him there before pushing him back further. Chat spun his staff around then took a fighting stance. "I love a good cat-fight," he grunted.
He'd rather fight this guy himself then watch him get too close to his lady. Of course he knew she could handle herself, he was just being protective. He did not like the looks of this guy and he did not want him near her.
"You want a cat-fight, you got it," Claw growled back, changing his baton staff into nunchucks and started swinging them.
The two black cats clashed weapons repeatedly. Under different circumstances, Chat would be intrigued by this guy's weapon modification—nunchucks were awesome—but at the moment, he was just angry.
No one threatened his lady like that. Especially with his power.
The chain of Claw's nun-chuck met Chat's staff as the two pushed against each other, facing off close.
"Nice bell. You look like a cutesy-wutesy wittle pet," Claw taunted, glancing at the ridiculous golden ornament at his throat. He much preferred his spiked ball.
"At least I don't look like a crazed, wild animal," Chat growled back.
Claw chuckled. "I'll take that as a complement," he replied. He moved, swinging his weapon again but Chat blocked, making both their weapons press together. "Why so angry, pussy cat? Are you really that protective of your polka-dotted, bug-eyed-"
Chat grunted, putting more pressure on his staff until Claw was forced to kneel on one knee. "Finish that sentence and I'll make you eat those nunchucks," the blonde cat sneered through grit teeth.
Claw was a bit taken aback by this other holder's strength for a second before his amusement in his rage came back.
"See? That's exactly what I mean," he said before jumping back a bit from him to talk more. Claw turned his nunchucks back into a staff so he could lean his arms on it. "You're partners," he rolled his eyes, glancing back from him to Ladybug, who was still not far away. "Friends, even. Fine, whatever," he said in a bored tone. "But that rage…" he added slower, sounding interested again as he stared at him with a grin. "It speaks to me like there's something more."
Before Chat could respond in any way, out of the corner of her eyes, Ladybug saw Shadybug still fighting with Betterfly. And as swung her yoyo with the helmet on it, it suddenly came off, sending it flying right at her kitty!
Ladybug acted quickly, running to Chat and caught the helmet just as it was inches from hitting him in the head.
Chat gasped but then sighed in relief and admiration.
"Thanks, milady," he said to her. Then he grabbed her opposite hand in his. "I always knew you were a great catch," he joked before kissing her hand. Ladybug grinned before rolling her eyes and playfully shoving him away. Shadybug came over, standing beside her partner. With a snap of her fingers, the helmet still in Ladybug's hand disappeared. The two good miraculous holders turned and stared at their evil counterparts. Feeling less angry now and proud of his capacity for love, Chat spoke up. "And just so you know," he said to them, slinging an arm around Ladybug's shoulder. "I'd do anything for milady because I love her more than anything," he announced proudly at them before turning a tender gaze down to his lady.
Ladybug couldn't help the small smile on her lips as she blushed and glanced away. "Chat…" she muttered bashfully.
Why were his flirtings and declarations of love suddenly affecting her so much?
Shadybug and Claw Noir looked at them both with wide eyes.
"No way," Shadybug uttered in shock. The black cat of this world was in love with this world's ladybug holder?! Shadybug snorted and doubled over laughing. "Ha! That…is the most…ridiculous thing…I've ever heard!" she gasped out in between thunderous, uncontrollable laughs.
Since she and Claw hated each other, it was crazy—hilarious even—to think that any versions of them would ever have any other feelings for each other besides unadulterated loathing.
Meanwhile, Claw just stood there the whole time, still in shock. Then he looked sick. "Okay, now I think I really will barf up a hairball," he moaned, holding his hand up to his mouth again. His body trembled for a second like a disgusted shiver went up his spine. After it was over, he snapped back to his normal self. "But not right now," he said, taking a fighting stance again. "Since you're so in love with your bug, I think I'll squash her and break your pathetic heart at the same time," he grunted with evil glee.
"Not if I squash her first," Shadybug chimed in next to him, drawing her yoyo, ready to fight too.
Chat Noir looked mad again, but Ladybug placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, making him look down at her. Sharing a reassuring smile with her calmed him down before they both took fighting stances with their weapons drawn.
"Just try it," Ladybug said confidently as she and her partner were ready to take them on together.
These guys were powerful but they obviously couldn't function properly as a team. And that was where the heroes had the advantage.
They were a team. They watched each other's backs, cared for one another, and made each other stronger.
Like actual partners should.